Title: Happy Ever After.

Author: Alan Hitchen.

Feedback: Would be very nice.

Disclaimer: BTVS and its characters belong to Joss Whedon et al.

Rating: R for implied nastiness.

Summary: Willow and Cordelia have set up home together and are blissfully happy until …

…

"Hi honey, I’m home," announced Cordelia, as she swept into the house in a state of some annoyance. "I hate auditions. It was a complete waste of time. All they wanted was the usual busty blonde type. I mean, if they want Pamela Anderson why don’t they just hire her, and save the rest of us time and…"

As she opened the bedroom door she stood transfixed. For a second she thought she had died and gone to Hell as she beheld the vile tableau before her. In shock and disgust she ran from the house and didn’t stop running until she could run no more.

…

"Come back, Muffy! Stop annoying that lady," said Harmony to her dog, as she approached the park bench. "I’m terribly sorry, he doesn’t usually… Cordelia? Is that you? What’s happened? Are you hurt?"

Cordelia raised her anguished, tear-stained face to greet her ex-schoolfriend. "Yes, but not in the way you think. It’s Willow, she’s… she’s… she’s with another woman… in our bed… and they were… were… Oh my God, Harmony, how could she do this to me? I thought we were so happy together. Then I come home and find this. What am I going to do?" she said plaintively, as she hovered on the edge of tears.

"Well, first of all," Harmony said firmly, "you’re coming home with me to get cleaned up, you look awful."

"I feel even worse," Cordelia replied, as she tried to force a weak smile.

"Come on, my car’s over there," said Harmony, as she shepherded Cordelia away. "You too Muffy, heel boy, time to go home."

…

Harmony handed Cordelia a cup of coffee. "Thanks Harmony, this is very kind of you, considering how we fell out."

Harmony sat down and offered Cordelia a selection of biscuits. "That’s all in the past Cordelia. All forgiven and forgotten, on both sides I hope," she said with a smile.

"I must say, I never saw you as the forgiving type. To be truthful, I’m not even sure if you’ve ever liked me at all."

"Oh, I’ve always liked you Cordelia. In fact, if Willow hadn’t got to you first, then perhaps we could have been the happy couple." Harmony said matter of factly, before nibbling on a chocolate finger.

Cordelia looked at her in surprise. "Harmony, are you saying what I think you’re saying?"

"Yes. I’ve fancied you for years, but I never quite managed to pluck up sufficient courage to tell you how I felt, and then it was too late," she said with regret.

"Are you with someone now?" queried Cordelia.

"No. I never had your courage Cordelia. I could never stand out in a crowd. You should know that. I was always the sheep following at your heels."

Cordelia blushed at the memory of her harsh words. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be, as I said, It’s all forgiven and forgotten. So, you and Willow, is it all over?"

Cordelia let out a deep sigh. "I don’t know. I love her so much, but I don’t think I can forgive this, and anyway she’s found someone else."

"Are you sure about that? Did you recognise the other woman?"

"No. Should I? What’s your point?" asked a puzzled Cordelia.

"Well," she said hesitantly, "perhaps she hasn’t found someone else. Perhaps she was just using the services of a – professional."

Cordelia’s face fell as the meaning of Harmony’s words sank in. "A prostitute you mean! You think Willow has been cheating on me with a whore! And just when I think things couldn’t get any worse, they do." Cordelia’s face was grim. "No, we’re finished, I’m sure of that now," she said with finality.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I’ve no idea, find somewhere to stay I suppose," she said, and then added with infinite sadness. "I can’t go home." The unspoken words ‘to Willow’ hung silently in the air.

"You can stay here if you like," proffered Harmony.

"No, I couldn’t."

"Of course you can, just for tonight anyway, then tomorrow you can sort out something more permanent."

"Okay, thanks." Cordelia smiled in gratitude.

Quite why she ended up having sex with Harmony she wasn’t too sure about. Perhaps it was the wine, the need for comfort, or even an attempt to get revenge. She had enjoyed it, but it was pleasure mixed with guilt. It didn’t feel right, but how could it be, it wasn’t with Willow.

Harmony was now fast asleep, but Cordelia could do nothing but mull over the events of the day. She got up to go to the bathroom, but by mistake opened the door of the walk-in wardrobe.

The light automatically came on and dazzled her eyes. As she looked down to avoid the glare she saw the box on the floor. It contained magical potions and equipment, a book of spells, and lying on top was a photograph torn from the pages of a pornographic magazine.

She recognised it at once; this was what she had seen in her bedroom. She remembered the woman, and what she was doing to the other participant, who had Willow’s head crudely attached to the body.

A deep flush of shame overcame her as she realised she’d been had – literally – with the aid of a cruel illusion. A simple magic trick. How could I have been so foolish, she thought, what would Willow think of me? Willow! I must go home and try to explain.

She quickly threw on her clothes and ran out into the night, trusting that Buffy had made sure she wouldn’t bump into anything unpleasant on the way home.

…

Willow was sitting in the kitchen nursing a stone-cold cup of coffee. Her head jerked up when she heard Cordelia open the front door.

"Where the hell have you been?" said Willow angrily, as Cordelia entered the kitchen. "I’ve been worried sick. Why didn’t you phone me if…"

Her anger was instantly replaced by concern as she saw the dishevelled figure collapse into a chair and burst into tears. She leapt up to embrace her distraught partner.

"What’s the matter, honey? What’s happened to you? Where have you been?" she asked, as she caressed and comforted the sobbing Cordelia.

It was some time before she recovered enough to tell Willow the whole story. As she did so Willow’s face darkened. She had been angry before, but now she was incandescent with rage.

"No-one hurts my Cordelia and gets away with it. No-one!" she half-screamed, as she got up and prepared to go out.

"What are you going to do?" asked Cordelia with alarm.

"Simple. I’m going round there to punch her lights out!"

"Please don’t. I don’t want any more trouble." Cordelia pleaded, as she rose to block Willow’s exit.

"Trouble?" Willow held tight to the still trembling figure of Cordelia. "Cordy, she’s hurt you, and hurting you hurts me. I can’t let this go unpunished. There has to be a consequence for this action."

"I know, but no violence, please! Can’t you think of something else?"

Willow pondered for some time. Then her face brightened as an idea struck her. "Okay Cordy, no violence. How does public humiliation sound?"

"Better," Cordelia said with relief, as she sank back into a chair.

"Okay then, I’ll just phone Buffy, I’ll need her help for this. You go to bed and get some rest."

"But," Cordelia interjected.

"No buts, it’s bed for you while I sort out Harmony. She won’t bother you again, I promise."

"Well, alright, but you take care won’t you?"

"Of course sweetheart. Now off you go and get some sleep."

…

By the time Willow was ready dawn was breaking over Sunnydale. She flipped out her mobile phone and punched in a number.

"Hello, is that Angie Marsh? - My name is Susannah Harker and I represent Sunnydale’s premier performance artist, Harmony Kendall, who is staging a ‘happening’ at Sunnydale Park this morning. I know Good Morning Sunnydale wouldn’t want to miss out on this exciting event, which is sure to be the talk of the town for weeks. - You’ll send a crew out. That’s excellent. I’m sure Miss Kendall will be ready for you when you arrive. - Oh, not at all, it’s my pleasure. Goodbye."

She snapped the phone shut and looked down at Harmony. "You get all that? They’re on their way. Look on the bright side Harmony," Willow said mockingly, "everyone has their fifteen minutes of fame, it looks like you’re going to get a little bit longer in the spotlight."

Harmony stayed silent. Not that she had a choice, as she lay gagged and bound to her bed, which was now located in the middle of Sunnydale Park. A large placard that read; ‘SLUT’ was hung around her neck.

"Now, before I go, I want you to make sure you understand the situation. You will never, ever, come near Cordelia again. Got that?"

Harmony could only nod in mute agreement.

"Fine," said Willow, and strolled away in order to observe from a distance.

…

"So what happened in the end?" asked Cordelia.

Willow frowned. "She talked her way out of it. I couldn’t hear what she said to explain the situation, but it must have been convincing. She had the tv crew eating out of her hands, they took her, and her bed, home in the van."

"Good."

"Good?" Willow looked surprised.

"I didn’t want her hurt too much," Cordelia explained.

"But she hurt you – a lot!"

"I know, but I also know why she did what she did. She was lonely and desperate, and desperate people do desperate things. What she did was very wrong, but I do understand her reasons, and now that I’ve got over the shock, I can only feel sorry for her."

Willow looked at her in admiration. "You’re amazing Cordelia. You do know that, don’t you? That’s why I love you so much," she said, as she clasped Cordelia’s hands.

"And I love you," Cordelia replied, looking deep into her verdant eyes, "and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?"

"True," agreed Willow, as she leaned forward to kiss her. "Happy now?"

"Happy ever after," said Cordelia.