Cordelia stood in front of her and Doyle's second grade class. "Now, as you all know we are going on a field trip tomorrow."

The class began to cheer.

Cordelia held a hand up. "Quiet. Quiet."

The students settled down. They sat in their desks eagerly awaiting good news.

Doyle strolled to the front of the room next to Cordelia. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a moment he threw his hands victoriously into the air.

"No math!" he cried.

The students screamed excitedly.

Cordelia crossed her arms and sent Doyle an annoyed look. It wasn't very convincing with the smile that crept up her lips.

The bell rang and the students rushed out of the room.

"Bye, Miss Chase!" Charlie cried.

Abby bounced anxiously on her heels. "Hurry, Charlie! My mom's here!"

The little girls clasped hands and ran from the room.

Cordelia smiled fondly after them. She bent down and picked up a few stray crayons that had fallen to the floor.

Doyle bent down to help her. "You happy?"

She glanced up into his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

He grinned slyly. "Tommorow's a field trip then we have the weekend. I'm pretty happy." His smile was infectious.

"Well, if you put it that way. I guess I'm pretty happy." She threw the crayons into the crayon box.

"You know. I'd be happier if a certain boyfriend of mine stopped by for dinner with a juicy pizza on his arm."

Doyle brushed her hair away from her eyes. "You couldn't keep me away."

* * *

Doyle balanced a large pizza and two cokes in his hands. He knocked on Cordelia's apartment door. He almost dropped the drinks so he banged his elbow against the door. "Cordy, open up!" He sighed greatfully when the door opened. He looked in for his girlfriend. Seeing no one he worriedly sat the pizza on the table. "Thanks, Dennis. Where's Cordelia? Is everything okay?"

The bedroom door swung open.

He walked in and looked around. Not finding her he opened the adjourning bathroom door. He smiled seeing her asleep in the bathtub.

The air was steaming and she was up to her neck in bubbles.

He sat on the pale blue cushion of the toilet. He reached over and grabbed a handful of bubbles. He trailed them softly down her nose.

She mumbled in her sleep and batted his hand away. He grabbed more bubbles and trailed them across her throat.

"Doyle!" she cried jumping awake.

He couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry, I didn't want you to drown. Dennis let me in. I brought pizza." he informed her wiping his hand off on her towel.

She smiled. "That is so sweet!" She leaned over and hugged him.

After a shocked moment he reluctantly hugged her back. "No problem."

Cordelia felt a blush creep up her neck realizing she had nothing on.

Water soaked into his shirt.

"Doyle." she whispered in his ear not pulling away.

"You are going to close your eyes while I slip back into the water. Then you are going to leave the bathroom."

He nodded."Good idea." He awkwardly patted her back. "My eyes are closed now."

She pulled quickly away and dunked her head under the water.

Doyle cautiously opened an eye. Seeing she was safely underwater he scurried to the bedroom. To pass the time while she prepared herself he grabbed plates and the pizza. He set them on her bed and went back for the cokes. He and Cordelia reached the opposite doors to her bedroom at the same time.

She wore only a towel.

Doyle almost dropped the drinks. He quickly put them on the nightstand.

"Why are you in my bedrooom?" she asked annoyed.

She sighed agitated. "Forget it." She snatched her pajamas from the bed. "I'll change in the bathroom."

She slammed the door after herself.

Doyle rolled his eyes with a smile. He sat up the rest of their dinner.

Cordelia came back toweling off her hair. She froze in her silken nightgown. "This is wrong. I shouldn't wear this in front of you."

He walked toward her. "Why? I've seen you in your pajamas before."

She took a step back. "It's different now. Plus, you're annoying me."

Doyle walked toward her again. "You're not as annoyed as you like to say you are. I can tell.

Everytime I push a nerve or do something goofy it doesn't annoy you. It turns you on."

Cordelia had been backing away until her back hit the wall.

Doyle stood inches from her.

She went to deny his statement but her breath was short and her body screamed with want. She couldn't deny it. She decided to go with it. She moved forward to him. "Don't act like you don't want me. You try to turn me on. That's why you do what you do."

He began the nervous backing up. He could dish it but he couldn't take it. He sunk to the bed when the back of his knees hit it.

Cordelia strattled him with a giggle. "Look who's Mr. Cowering now? Don't say you're not affected by me.

You seem just as nervous about this relationship as I am."

He nodded. "Okay, maybe I am just as nervous as you but only because I've never felt this way about anyone else."

Cordelia stopped fooling around at those words. Her heart melted. "Do you mean that?"

He nodded. "Of course I do."

She leaned in and kissed him passionately.

His hands wrapped around her back pulling her closer.

After a few moments she pulled away. She traced her fingertips over his lips. "We have to make next weeks schedule."

He swallowed trying to compose himself. Having her so close to him and having the soft scent of her so vibrant was driving him crazy. He said the only think he could think of. "The pizza's getting cold." he said lamely.

Cordelia grinned. "I'm famished." She crawled off of his lap and grabbed her plate. She leaned back against the pillow and grabbed their planner. She stopped worry written across her face. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

He grabbed his plate and settled next to her. "Why? It's a field trip to the zoo? What's to worry about?"

Cordelia shrugged. "I don't know. I just have a bad feeling."

Doyle soothingly stroked her palm. "Hey, it's okay. You just have that motherly worry in you."

Cordelia shook her head. "It's different. I just have this feeling." She paused her eyes full of dread.

"Something bad is gonna happen."

Part 2 Back to Star Crossed