Assignment 7

coe42@aol.com

Title: England Revisited
Author: Karen.
Rating: Pg13
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns the characters. I own the plot.
Feedback: Yes please.

For Nickle and Melissa.

In just before the bell...LOL.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
"Hey there, Giles."

I opened my eyes and met a friendly familiar face. On impulse I gave the
young woman a hug. Stepping back I noticed her embarrassed smile. "Cordelia!
How are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"

"Three years! But the phone calls make it seem longer." She smiled. "You look
good. I miss the tweed."

"Yes, well, change is good I suppose." I stammered. "How are you? Can I get
you anything? What brings you to my apartment and perhaps I should shut up
long enough for you to answer me?" I lead her over to my sofa and I couldn't
stop grinning as she sat down. I'd missed her fire. She was always vibrant if
tactless.

"Oh, no, Giles you don't have to, really," another embarrassed grin.

"So, what can I do for you? Why are you here?" I asked, leaning forward. I
was anxious to hear what she was up to but I had a feeling she had business
to get out of the way first.

"Where's your hat what's your hurry, Giles..." She smiled kindly, I thought.
"Actually I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. I had a vision. I get visions.
Someone told you that?" I nodded, "Anyway, I had a vision that I was here. So
here I am." She waved her hands vaguely.

I squinted. "Is it danger?"

"No."

"Impending danger?"

"No."

"Some forethought on impending danger?"

"Nope."

"No semblance of danger whatsoever?" I asked.

"Let the danger go Giles. I'm not Buffy. I'm just supposed to be here. The
clock chimes and that's it." Cordelia folded her hands.

"That's the entirety of your vision?"

"Yes."

"Oh." We were silent for a moment. "Any reason we can't have tea while we
wait for the clock to chime?"

She beamed at me, "None. Oh and maybe those little cookies you always used to
have around?" I nodded.
We ate in silence while the water boiled, both content, enjoying the others'
company. The clock chimed.

Cordelia stared up at it. "Well, that's it. I guess I'm..." She stopped
speaking.

I stared at her. Gold flecks appeared in the air around her. Like a fountain
they sprang from empty space and swirled down around her. Too fast for me to
react she was gone. Replaced by another dark haired beauty. Dark eyes almost
black in their intensity locked on me. "Hello England."

I staggered. "Jenny. Dear. God."

She stood up. "Three years. You still remember me? I'm flattered." She
approached me, flecks of light trailing behind her. I couldn't believe this
was happening.

"I loved you. How could I ever...?" Forget her.

She beamed at me and the same humor and intelligence I remembered hit me full
force. I shook inside. 'How? Ho-w?" Yes, clever and articulate...

"You earned me." She slinked across the room, every ounce of her stunning.
"The Powers that Be, saw how you handled everything in the last few years and
offer me as a gift." She smiled. Her fingertips brushed my face. They were
solid. Of course they were, underneath whatever she was, was Cordelia. But it
was so shocking and real, I felt myself react to her.

"But Cordelia."

"Honestly Rupert, it's only for a moment. She'll never even know." And just
like that, Jenny Calendar who Angel had viciously murdered three years ago,
was in my lap. Hey body was warm, supple, real, thanks to Cordelia and her
eyes were unearthly and breathtaking thanks to her soul.

My soul shattered into a thousand fragments as her lips pressed close to mine
in a kiss that defied death. It was something worse than hell and God knows
better than heaven. The kiss was anything but chaste as she pressed me back
into the fabric of my old sofa. The smell of dust and the musk of something
definitely female aroused me more than anything else. Even the faint aroma of
roses that surrounded her, didn't dispel the wonderful feelings I'd thought I
left weeping in my bedroom.

Then Jenny stood up. I tried to follow her but she pressed me back against
the fabric. "Time's up." Her eyes glowed.

"No. Please don't leave me..." I begged, shamelessly. I loved her. I'd never
forgotten.

"Be a good boy England and maybe you'll see me again."

Gold fell off of her like sparkling sand. Cordelia stood there, disoriented.
She blinked. Glanced at the clock and me. "You all right?" She asked, her
eyes holding all the intelligence and warmth of Cordelia, not Jenny. I was
devastated.

"Yes, yes. Of course I am."

"Water's boiling." She told me. I turned, aware of the water boiling away for
the first time. She waved a hand distractedly, "You know what? I have this
feeling I've done what I set out to do. Forget the tea. I'm just going to go."

"Wait," I wasn't ready to be alone just yet. "Tell me everything you've been
up to since I last saw you."

She rolled her eyes, "That's three years of gossip, Giles!"

"I've got time. I'm tired of losing touch with those I love. Seeing you has
reminded me of that. Please."

"Okay." Cordelia smiled. "I missed you Giles."

"I've missed you to Cordelia." I gave her a gentle smile and went to fetch
the tea.

End.