Cordelia and Doyle walked purposefully down the hallway.

Cordelia adjusted her sweater and made sure her stake was still in place.

Doyle opened the door and held it for her. She walked in ahead of her and stood on front of the class. "Settle down." she told the class.

The kids ran to their desks.

Cordelia was about to warn them of Spike when she notice the girls' hair.

Each girl had their hair done in pig-tailed braids as she had hers yesterday..

She smiled. "Girls, your hair looks lovely."

The little girls beamed.

Maggie raised her hand. "Miss Chase? Will you put your hair like this today."

Cordelia smiled. "I'll do it in a minute. I have something I need to tell you." She sat on her desk and looked at them. "Remember how Mr. Doyle and I kill demons? That big demon that has been killing your friends, we found out what it is. It is very dangerous. If you see a guy with really wierd blond hair DO NOT talk to him. Please get Mr. Doyle and I."

The children nodded, their eyes wide.

Doyle figured they had frightened the kids enough for one day so he stood behind Cordelia. "What do you say we get Cordelia's hair in those braids."

The little girls all cheered.

The boys looked disconnected.

Doyle smiled. "Boys don't feel silly because it's hair." He pulled Cordelia's hair down and grabbed a brush from her purse. "I do Cordelia's hair...when she makes me."

The boys rushed forward to watch. If their mentor did it it must be okay.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Girls don't listen to him. He likes doing my hair."

Doyle made a part and began braiding.

"He learned quick." Cordelia informed them.

Abby and Charlie nudged each other and began whispering.

Abby nodded vigorously. "Bobby said Mr. Doyle packs Miss Chases lunch."

Charlie smiled. "Miss Chase drives him to school."

Cordelia smiled and shook her head.

Doyle's eyebrows furrowed but he was almost finished. He put the hair tie in the end. "All done."

Cordelia spun on the desk and planted her feet on the ground. "Time for math."

The kids groaned but took their seats.

Doyle joined Cordelia. "Now. Get out last night's homework."

* * *

Cordelia and Doyle sat on the outside bench during lunch. They had given their class a picnic for scoring high on their history test.

Cordelia took a sip of her Rasberry Iced Tea. "Mmm. I'm glad you packed me this. Though I still don't understand why I can't pack my own lunch."

Doyle took a bite of his sandwich. "It's so if I get sick of you I could easilly poison you."

Cordelia nodded. "Good plan. I am totally gullible this way."

Doyle just nodded back.

Abby ran up with a container in her hand. "Mr. Doyle?" she asked. "Can you open my pudding?"

Doyle took it from her. "Sure thing." He peeled the lid back. "Enjoy."

Abby smiled showing missing teeth. "Thank you, Mr. Doyle."

"You'd better go over there and keep Charlie out of trouble."

Abby giggled and ran off.

Doyle smiled after her.

Cordelia grabbed Doyle's sandwich and took a bite.

"Sorry, I wanted to try that...you're really good with kids you know?"

Doyle looked hopeful. "'Ye tink?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "They only love you. You are so good with them! You would be an awsome parent." She squinted through her sunglasses. "Why did you never have kids when you were with Harry?"

Doyle stole one of her grapes. "I wanted to. I guess part of me, not part I was aware of but part of me, knew what was going to happen so we waited. Once I found out what I was I fell apart. I lost everything, including Harry."

"Why? So your a demon. There's a lot worse you could be. Plus your passing. You may not think so but I think it's kind of cool. I envy you. You have this extra strength if something attacks you. Me. I either have to use what god gave me or scream for you and Angel to save me. I think I would WANT my kids to have something like that. They're already going to know about demons cause check out my life. I would feel so reassured knowing that had that little extra protection from hellish things."

Doyle turned to her with a breathless look. "Are you serious? You would want..."

Cordelia took another drink of her tea. "Why not? You are half demon and you are perfectly normal...well, okay mostly normal but I'm sure you don't get bad style through genetics."

Doyle blew a breath out. "So if you were dating some guy and he was a demon you wouldn't care?"

Cordelia shrugged. "Not if he was like you."

Doyle went to say something else to her when he noticed the frighened look on her face.

"Spike." she whispered. "Over there."

They both jumped up from the bench.

"Let's go." Doyle said grabbing his stake. They snuck around the shadows.

Cordelia reached him first and brought a painful kick to his spine.

Spike growled and spun around. He didn't fight back but Cordelia didn't bother to wonder why.

She punched him to the ground. When he fell she strattled him and raised her stake ready to make the plunge.

"Stop!" a voice yelled and someone rushed forward.

Cordelia looked up. "Xander!"

He faultered. "Cordelia?!"

Doyle watched not sure what to do.

Xander recovered first. "Cordelia, don't! Let him up!"

Cordelia looked at Doyle confused. "No, he killed nine of our students."

Spike thunked his head to the cement. "I can't hurt anything. I didn't touch your students...you teach? Great job."

"Thanks...what do you mean you can't hurt anything? And why are you with Xander?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "The Initiative put a chip in my head. I am physically incapable of harming anything. And Xander is...my...friend." he said it like it pained him.

Cordelia lowered the stake. "Why are you here?" she asked suspiciously.

Spike looked annoyed. "Xander's niece is in fourth grade. We were picking her up from school."

Doyle stepped closer. "Then why are you sculking in the shadows? Why couldn't you pick her up at the front gate like normal people do."

"I'm still a vampire. I'm just "impotent". I still don't like sunlight." He glared at Cordelia. "Could you bloody get off of me?"

Doyle helped Cordelia up.

Spike rubbed his spine. "You've been wracking up the muscles."

Cordelia nodded breathlessly. "Thanks."

Doyle brushed off her sweater. "She is a tough one, eh?"

Spike grimaced. "Yeah, she is."

Cordelia fell against Doyle in frightened realization. "If it wasn't Spike..."

"The kids!" Doyle took off running toward the play ground.

Cordelia, Spike, and Xander followed.

Spike went as far as he could.

Cordelia and Xander ran to Doyle.

Cordelia screamed seeing Doyle being thrown against the monkey bars.

He groaned and blood appeared on his head.

Cordelia grabbed a sword from her bag and tossed it to Xander. "Help me!" she begged.

Xander followed her and they both attacked the demon. Like Mr. Jones had said it was 10 times as big as it's followers. It slammed Xander over by Doyle. A few of the children began to cry.

Cordelia angrilly plunged her knife into the demon.

"Doyle!" she cried. "Doyle, get up! Let me know you're okay." She bit her lip hearing no reply. She stabbed the monster again.

Xander was at her side again. He sliced off the monster's tail.

Abby crawled over to Doyle. "Mr. Doyle?" she asked tearfully. "Mr. Doyle?"

Spike waved to her from a few feet away. "Abby! Give him to me."

Abby glared. "No you ugly freak! You are a bad vampire."

Doyle coughed. "It's okay." He limped over to Spike.

Spike touched the wound on his head. "It's pretty deep but I don't think you need stitches."

They watched as Xander was tossed to the side again.

The demon slammed into Cordelia's wrist and she dropped her weapon. It backed her into a tree. Doyle stumbled to his feet. "Cordy..." He grabbed a sword and stumbled over. Just as the thing was about to bite her he brought the sword down into it's neck.

The demon's head severed and it became still.

Once she was sure it was dead Cordelia collapsed to Doyle's arms. "Oh, Doyle. I thought it killed you. I was so worried."

They vaugely realized Spike and Xander ushered the children back to class.

Spike made a sweeping motion with his hand. "Let's go. We are your substitutes Mr. Spike and Mr. Harris.

We'll watch you while your teachers are in the nurses office."

Doyle brushed Cordelia's hair away from her face.

"You were very brave."

Cordelia silenced him. "Doyle? Remember how I said sometimes I have those thoughts? I am having one now.

Could you please kiss me before I chicken out?"

Doyle looked into her eyes wondering if she meant it. Seeing she was serious he kissed her gently.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and he pulled her closer. Her loose hair tickled his face. She ran her hands through his hair and he cringed. She pulled away. "Let's continue this after we get you to the nurse."

* * *

Cordelia held Doyle's hand as the nurse bandaged his head. She brought it to her lips and kissed his knuckles.

Doyle squeazed her hand with a smile.

They both looked up as the principal walked in.

"Well, done." he cried. "You saved many of our students lives."

Cordleia smiled sadly. "So, I guess we're done here?"

Mr. Jones shook his head. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You seems very good for the children. None are dying and since the two of you have been teaching their grades have been imensely better. If it will not affect your detecive agency I want to offer you both full time jobs with our school."

Cordelia turned quickly to Doyle.

It was all he wanted. His teaching job back and they loved the children.

She smiled sadly. "It won't interfere. For Doyle. I...I don't really have teacher's credentials. I didn't even go to college." she said shamefully.

Mr. Jones nodded. "I know."

Cordelia looked up shocked. "You do?"

He nodded again. "I checked your high school grades and decided you were good for our school. You had high grades but couldn't afford college. I find that unfair. We will offer you a job as a teacher with Mr.Doyle. Plus, where else do I find a teacher that kills demons?"

Cordelia smiled widely. "I accept!" She excitely hugged Doyle. "We're teachers!"

* * *

It was a week later and Doyle and Cordelia's first day back.

Doyle walked into the room alone.

The students looked at Doyle. They weren't certain about if their teachers were coming back. "Where's Miss Cordy?" Abby asked.

Doyle sighed sadly. "I have bad news about Miss Cordy."

The students looked depressed.

Cordelia brushed into the room. "She was late to work today." Cordelia filled in.

The students all cheered.

Cordelia walked over to Doyle and smiled. "And Mr. Doyle forgot to turn off his iron." She smiled coyly and brushed her lips to his.

The girls all squealed in delight. "Mr. Doyle and Miss Chase are in love!"

Cordelia pulled away from Doyle with a smirk. "Mr. Doyle and Miss Chase are also checking the math homework Spike and Xander gave you in two minutes."

The students groaned and sat down.

Cordelia turned to Doyle. "We really should thank those two."

Doyle nodded. "We're going to dinner at Giles' after we get rid of the new demon on the playground."

Cordelia sighed. "Another one?"

Doyle nodded. "It's a little one. About the size of a cat. It's only been stealing the childrens lunch but it's annoying. I say we start here." Doyle brought out a map of the school and they settled down to their next demon of many.

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The Field Trip