Title: She Grew Up
Author: Lissa
General Disclaimers



   Giles hung up the phone and turned to the group in
his livingroom. "That was Angel. He is still in Europe
with Kate tracking those demon drug lords. He said his
friend had a vision that something's going to happen
here so he's sending his co-workers up."
   "Co-workers?" Willow asked. "As in Cordelia? This
aught to be a "special" visit." she said
sarcastically.
   Buffy nodded taking a sip of her drink. "I have to
agree with Will. As much as I admire Angel, what kind
of protection is some guy we don't know and Cordelia?"
She went for the bag of popcorn but it was snatched
from her reach. 
   With a cocky grin Spike sat the bag in his lap
chowing down. "The Irish bloke is more than meets the
eye. And Cordelia. The girl can hold her own believe
me."
   Buffy glared. "I'd rather live."
   Spike shrugged. "Fine. Don't believe me but you're
in for a surprise."

* * *

   Cordelia flicked out the light in the back office
and skipped to the main one. Before she could realize
what was going on she was tackled and flung to the
couch.
   Doyle ran his hands through her hair. "That wasn't
very nice." He kissed her softly.
   She sighed happilly. "It got you off the silly
computer didn't it?"
   "I was doing something important." he informed her
wrapping an arm around her waist.
   She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, checking on the races
you gambled in."
   "One day I'm going to make a lot of money that
way."
   "Or you're going to make a huge debt you can't
pay." She ran her hand over his forehead. "I worry
about you. Those guys are brutal."
   He nuzzled into her neck. "I just want to be able
to get you nice things."
   "You know I don't care about that stuff. I used to
but I was wrong. I didn't see what I was missing."
   Doyle smiled. "I love when you say things like
that."
   "Cherish it because it won't happen very often."
Cordelia stated.
   "That's what makes it so special when you do say
it."
   They lay silently in each other's arms until the
phone rang.
   Doyle grabbed it. "Yeah?" He didn't say another
word in the minute conversation. When he hung up he
turned to Cordelia. "That was Angel. We're going to
Sunnydale."

* * *

   Giles scurried around his kitchen. "Why do they
have to stay here?" He grabbed an expensive steak from
the oven. "I can't afford Cordelia Chase. This place
isn't big enough for her."
   Spike leaned against the counter a jar of Willow
baked cookies in his hands. "I'm telling you, Ripper.
You're over doing it. She doesn't like that lavish
taste anymore."
   "Shut up." Anya said calmly. "I'm learning how to
bake."
   Spike rolled his eyes. "Whatever...I'm serious,
Giles. She's changed."
   "I highly doubt you would know." Willow stated
rudely.
   "Pipe down, Red. I'm talking to the Brit."
   Willow glared and went back to helping Anya.
   "I'm sure she'd rather nibble on a cookie." Spike
said taking a large bite out of his.
   Buffy glared. "Cordelia told me her life motto is
'I don't buy it because it's expensive but because it
cost more.' I think she'd rather have steak than a
cookie."
   Spike sent her a leering grin. "And setting the
Mick out on the couch is pointless. He'll end up in
her bed anyway."
   Xander slammed his spoon onto the table. "Okay, I'm
sick of you. You're trying to get us to listen to you
so when she shows up we'll look foolish. I think I
would know Cordy better and I know she's never...she
told me."
   Spike raised an eyebrow. "People change."
   Xander glared. "We'll see about that."
   Anya looked up cookie dough on her finger.
"Cordelia's a superficial snob." She ate the dough
with a shrug.
   Xander turned his glare to Anya. "Anya." he said a
warning in his voice.
   "What?" she asked. "I was helping."
   The doorbell rang.
   "I'll prove you wrong." Xander said darkly marching
to the door.
   The rest of the gang followed behind him.
   He ripped the door open to find Cordelia struggling
against some guy. Xander glared. What did this jerk
think he was doing?
   Realizing the door had opened Cordelia stopped and
smiled widely. "Xander, hi!"
   The guy grabbed her by the waist and lifted her
into his arms.
   She squealed and kicked her feet. "Doyle!" she
cried.
   Xander's eyes narrowed into slits. Doyle. The name
ran anger through his body. This guy was acting a bit
too frisky. Especially for a co-worker.
   Doyle carried her into the house brushing past
Xander. "This is your big scene! Do it!"
   Cordelia giggled. "No."
   Doyle shrugged and feigned to put her down. At the
last second he hoisted her back up closer to him.
"Anna! Anna, where are you?!" he cried. He tried to
put Cordelia down but she now clung to his neck. They
both toppled to the floor in laughter.
   Cordelia looked up at Anya. "Oh, Anna-"
   "Anya." Anya filled in. "Remember me?" she gave
them a bemused smile in wonder.
   "Anna, look!" Cordelia cried crawling over Doyle
and jumping to her feet. "Jake is home from war!"
   Anya smiled. "Welcome back."
   Xander glared at Doyle. "Hey, buddy. I don't know
if anyone told you we weren't at war."
   Buffy turned to Giles for an answer.
   He just shrugged in confusion. 
   "Darlin', stop." Doyle admonished. "You'll scare
the poor girl!" He grabbed Cordelia by the waist and
pulled her back down onto the floor. He lunged over
her to his feet. He moved toward Anya. "Oh, Anna. I've
missed you!" He hugged her tightly.
   Cordelia crawled over and punched the back of his
knees knocking him off balance. When he teetered she
pulled him to the floor in front of her.
   "I've missed you too, dear, Cecile." he said
looking into her eyes.
   "And I you."
   Doyle leaned in and kissed her softly. In the
middle of the kiss he began to muss her hair like
crazy.
   Cordelia ingnored him for a minute then did a fake
karate punch to his stomach. She jumped to her feet.
   Doyle followed suit. He clasped her hand and they
bowed. He grrabbed her waist and dipped her backwards.
He tipped her until her hair drug the ground. He left
kisses against her throat. He pulled her back up and
they bowed again.
   Spike shoved off the wall clapping. "You did it!
But when I read the script I thought that was a
serious scene."
   Cordelia looked sheepish. "It's his fault." she
said nudging Doyle.
   Spike nodded. "I figured as much...how've you
been?"
   The group's eyes widened in surprise as Spike
pulled Cordelia into a crushing hug.
   'This isn't right.' was Buffy's only thought. So
very, very wrong. Spike hugging. This threw her whole
environment into disarray. And what did she do when
she felt threatened? She yanked a stake from her back
pocket.
   Spike's face vamped and he lowered his fangs to
Cordelia's throat.
   Buffy glared. She knew it. Ulterior motives. She
took the offensive.
   Spike pulled back his face normal. He laughed in a
way that was usually reserved for his drunken self.
   Doyle chuckled. "Oh, ha, ha, Spike. I'm not going
to fall for that...again."
   Spike nodded in Buffy's direction. "She did."
   Buffy lowered the stake blushing.
   Spike shook his hand. "Nice to see you again."
   Doyle nodded. "You too." 
   Buffy threw her hands up. "Whoa! Wait a minute! How
do you know him?!" She turned to Doyle. "And I thought
your name was Doyle. Why is she calling you Jake?"
   Spike rolled his eyes. "Okay, blondie. I visit
them. I told you I knew Cordelia. And for the Jake
thing-"
   "It's a movie-" Doyle cut him off.
   "And I got the lead!" Cordelia squealed excitedly.
"These two have been helping me. I promised Spike that
if I got the part I'd do the end scene next time I saw
him."
   Willow gasped. "You're in a movie?!"
   Cordelia nodded. "I know. Can you believe it?!"
   "No." Buffy said shocked. "I can't believe Spike
helped."
   Cordelia nodded. "Spike's a big help-with cookies!"
She bound over to him and grabbed one. "Mmm." she said
taking a bite. "Yummy."
   Spike shrugged. "Willow baked them. I just eat
'em."
   Cordelia turned to Willow. "Will, these are great!"
   "Thanks." Willow said in wonder. This was Cordelia
Chase? Snobby Cordelia?
   Cordelia nodded. "They kind of taste like the way
Doyle's mommy makes them."
   Doyle's eyebrows raised. "Me mom's cookin'? I gotta
try this." He took one and nodded. "Very good...a lot
better 'an Cordy's. Let me tell you."
   Cordelia slapped him. "Don't run your mouth." She
shrugged. "Or you'll be sleeping on the couch
tonight."
   Xander choked on the cookie he was experimenting
with.
   Spike began to chuckle. "The burden of always being
right." he said with a sigh.
   Xander didn't know who to glare at Doyle or Spike.
   Buffy smiled. "Come on in-I'll be right back." She
ran into the livingroom. 
   Everyone shrugged then followed her. When they
entered the livingroom the blanket and pillow that had
been set on the couch for Doyle was gone.
   Buffy came nonchalantly through the kitchen with
glasses of lemon-aid. "Have a seat." she offered.
   Doyle flopped down on the couch kicking his feet up
on the table.
   Cordelia followed suit, cuddling up against him.
   Everyone else settled down watching Cordelia in
amazement. 
   The silence was broken by Anya. "He's a demon." she
said calmly.
   Xander choked on his drink. "Anya!" he cried.
   She shrugged. "He is. I can tell."
   Everyone turned to look at Doyle who slouched
comfortably in his seat. "Yeah, she's right. I'm half
Brachen demon."
   Cordelia smiled. "Wanna see?"
   Doyle gulped. "Cordy, no."
   She took her finger and spiraled it to his nose.
   He watched in horror as her finger lightly tapped
his nose. He took a deep breath and sneezed. Spikes
sprouted from his face.
   Willow gasped in fright.
   Spike laughed heartilly. "Everytime!"
   Cordelia wrapped her arms around Doyle's waist as
he shook off his demon face. "He has certain spots
that can trigger it. That's just one. The other one I
know of is more...sensitive to the touch." She took
her finger and moved it toward his lap. She poked his
lower, left hip resulting in a more than human growl.
   "Cordy." he begged his eyes squeazed shut.
   She pulled away from him. "But he wouldn't hurt a
fly."
   Doyle opened his eyes recollecting himself. "You'd
better quit before I tell everyone how badly you
snore.
   "I do not!" Cordelia cried indignantly.
   Doyle ignored her and turned to Buffy. "Now about
this demon. It's nothin' special but it's gonna catch
you off guaard. No matter how alert you are it will.
So says fate but we're here to help when that happens.
Then you can get back up kick some butt and live."
   Buffy nodded. "I like that part."
   Doyle clapped his hands together. "That's about it.
Nothing too scary."
   "Not to us anyway." Xander said pointedly.
   Cordelia rolled her eyes.
   Xander was being overprotective and jealous. No
surpirse there.
   What Doyle did surprised her though. "Xander," he
said conversationatively. "Cordelia told me you were
possessed by a hyena. What was that like?"
   Xander glared. "What do you care?"
   Doyle shrugged. "It happened to me. Only I was a
rat."
   Xander looked intrigued. "Really?"
   Doyle nodded. "Yep. Cordelia had to keep me and boy
she wasn't happy. You should have heard her. 'I am not
keeping that THING in my house!'"
   "So? He was dirty and he wouln't quit squealing!"
   Xander grinned. "So how'd you get back?"
   Doyle smiled. "Only a kiss of true love could break
the spell so Cordelia kissed me."
   Xander turned to her agahst. "You kissed a rat? Do
you know the diseases they carry?"
   Anya nodded. "Yeah, we wouldn't want Xander to get
siphilous again."

* * *

   Cordelia sat boredly on the couch. She was sleepy
and hurt.
   Doyle and the Scooby gang had been trading all time
stupid moves made by Cordelia Chase stories. They were
all laughing heartilly but her.
   So she had done a lot of dumb things but she had
done good things too. As much as she had matured they
still held the past against her. They thought she was
dumb. Tears welled in her eyes. Even Doyle. That hurt
worst of all. A tear slid down her cheek and everyone
ceased laughing.
   "Cordelia?" Doyle asked softly. He moved to wipe
the tear away.
   She shoved his hand away. "Leave me alone!" she
cried jumping up from the couch. She stormed out of
the room.
   Doyle chased after her.
   The Scooby gang followed after him, watching at a
distance.
   Cordelia stormed out of the house tears running
down her cheeks. "I don't want you near me ever again!
Just stay away from me."
   Doyle caught her by the pool. "Cordelia, what's
wrong?" he cried.
   Cordelia sniffled. "You. When I lived here I felt
so stupid. I had good test scores, yeah, but I never
felt smart. I was never Buffy with all her strength.
She had Giles always helping her and telling her how
good she was. I was never computer smart like Willow.
I could never help that way. And even Xander helped
with his humor factor. I was nothing. I acted like I
was better because I didn't want them to know how
lonely I was. When Xander went out with me I was so
happy but after awhile a physical relationship wears
off and you want a girl you can talk to. Someone
smart. So he cheated on me with Willow."
   Xander watched her in shock. He never knew she felt
that way.
   "But you." Cordelia continued. "When I was with you
I didn't feel stupid. You actually considered my
ideas. You listened when I talked. I didn't just come 
here to kill a demon. I came here to prove I wasn't a
dumb airhead. Then you started telling them all the
wrong things I've done. You all started laughing and
making fun of me. It's like no matter how much I do
people will still hold me to the things I did. You
think I didn't hear everyone laughing at me through
high school? Oz's 'Oh, look she can spell words with
her arms.'" she wimpered her jaw trembling. "I know
I'm not perfect but I can spell." She yanked away from
Doyle and ran.
   Doyle moved quickly after her. He caught her near
the deep end of the pool. Not knowing how to get her
attention he wrapped his arms around her waist and
jumped. They flew through the air and sliced into the
water.
   Cordelia emerged sputtering and yelling. "Why did
you do that?!" she hollered angrilly.
   He swam over to her. "I needed to get your
attention. If you were running you wouldn't listen."
   "If I'm SWIMMING I'm not listening either!"
   Doyle swam after her. 
   She turned around and dunked his head under water.
   He pulled her under with him.
   When they came up Cordelia stood angrilly. "Have
you lost your mind?!" she screamed. "Get away from
me!"
   Doyle stood next to her. Not until you listen to
me." He looked at her his eyes vulnerable. "I wasn't
making fun of you. I just wanted to fit in with your
friends. I wanted you to be proud of me. I think your
friends wanted to hear funny stories because they
missed you and me...I don't think less of you I think
more. I've done so many stupid things in my life. I
feel that I don't deserve you and you make my life
worth living. I was afraid you were too perfect. One
day you would crawl out of bed wondering why you were
waking up to a loser like me. When I think about
losing you I can't take it. It scares me."
   Cordelia looked in shock at the tears in his eyes.
   "Cordy..." he trailed off emotionally. He didn't
stop the tears running down his face. "I'm a fool for
hurting you. I never intended to. I just wanted to
know things you did befor L.A., what made you my
Princess. Please don't leave me. I...I love you." His
voice was a whisper but Cordelia wouldn't have missed
those 3 words.
   No one had ever said that to her before. Not her
parents, not Xander. Cordelia stared at him in wonder.
   He was crying over her. Their relationship had
statred out as friends. Then it went to dating. Then
sleeping over but never had he told her this.
   She fely her own eyes well up at the pain in his
voice. The old Cordelia would have brushed him off
hurtly but not now. "I love you too." she said softly.
"I'm sorry I-"
   Doyle pulled her to him in the water. He kissed her
gently. "Don't ever scare me like that again." he
whispered into her neck.
   Cordelia ran her hands gently through his hair. "I
overreacted. I'm so sorry." She let her face be tilted
up to look into his eyes. "I love you so much." she
whispered.
   He kissed her cheek then moved placing his lips
gently to hers.
   Cordelia wrapped her arms around his neck and
smiled. She pulled his dripping body to hers and
kissed him.
   There was a collective "Awww!" from the group
watching them.
   Anya watched confused. "What happens when they have
a real fight?"
   Spike nudged her annoyed.
   Buffy smiled and went to answer when she was hit
from behind by a demon. She fell through the air and
hit the pool's water head first. 
   The thing jumped in after her.
   She opened her mouth to yell for a weapon but she
was pulled under.
   Everyone stood frozen.
   "A weapon!" Cordelia cried. "Throw me something!"
   Spike tossed her a sword that hung on the wall of
Giles house for outside emergencies.
   Cordelia caught it and looked at the monster wide
eyed. She took a deep breath and dove under the water.

* * *

   Buffy felt her consciousness leaving her. She
needed air. Her hazey eyes saw Cordelia swimming their
way. She wanted to warn Cordelia that there was a
monster in the pool shed better stay away but her mind
was too fuzzy to remember. Buffy wanted to tell the
monster she needed air. She blinked dizzilly.
   Cordelia pulled back the large sword she was
swimming with. She was careful not to harm Buffy. She
shoved it forward into the demon's stomach.
   It made a screaching noise and came after her.
   She fought the urge to scream because she would
lose the rest of her air that was quickly running out.
She thrust the sword at the monster again. She saw
that she had beheaded it. It was dead. Good but she
still needed to get Buffy to the surface. She was
having trouble finding the slayer because her vision
was blurring and she couldn't see around all the blood
in the water. She felt along the bottom her lungs
screaming. She felt the end of the sword slice into
her palm and cringed. She moved to the left and her
hand wrapped around a wrist. At the contact a hand
weakly grabbed hers. Cordelia grabbed Buffy and began
kicking toward the surface.

* * *

   Doyle watched the water for signs of movement.
"Where are they?!" he yelled panicing.
   Giles searched the water. "I can't see around the
blood."
   Willow felt sick. "So much blood I hope it's..."
she trailed off not wanting to finsh that statement.
   Spike was about ready to lunge in after them when
Cordelia submerged.
   She gasped for breath her body shaking.
   Doyle swam over and took Buffy from her.
   Buffy coughed and choked.
   "Are you okay?" Doyle asked her.
   She nodded still coughing.
   Doyle lifted her up into the arms of Spike. He then
turned to Cordelia. He gathered her into his arms.
"You're crazy." he cried hugging her. "You enjoy
making me worry. Don't you?"
   Cordelia just mumbbled into his shirt.

* * *

   The group sat in Giles apartment getting dry. 
   Cordelia emerged from the bedroom toweling off her
hair. She flopped down on the couch next to Doyle. She
sighed tiredly. "I hope the visions are finished for
the evening, yeah?"
   Doyle smiled. "You and me both." He pulled the
towel away from her head and grabbed the brush from
her hands. "Let me." he said huskilly.
   Cordelia smiled and closed her eyes as he began
brushing out her soft curls. She waited for a moment
then asked the question that was on her mind. "Doyle?
Did you really mean what you said back there?"
   He nodded though she couldn't see him. "Every
word." he kissed the back of her neck softly. "And
more but we can save the more for a more private time
when all your friends are watching us yell in the
pool."
   Cordelia turned around a big smile on her face.
"And when there's no flowery man named Angel in the
room either...or a ghost named Dennis."
   Doyle chuckled. "It could take a while to find that
place."
   Cordelia returned the laugh. "We could find it in a
pub near you."
   Doyle blew out his breath. "Oh, no. I want to tell
you how much I love you not how much you remind me of
Betty Rubble."
   Cordelia giggled. "I don't really feel like walking
you home while you're crying on my shoulder about how
sad you are that Dumbo couldn't fly anyway."
   Doyle watched her shocked. "I don't remember that."

   She rolled her eyes. "I do. Beleive me it wasn't
pretty."

* * *

   Buffy stood in the kitchen helping Giles make hot
chocolate. "I just don't get it. What happened out
there? I was useless and Cordelia saved me. She wasn't
even afraid. She's so different. What happened to the
Cordelia we knew and...well, knew?"
   Giles watched Cordelia who was squealing as Doyle
tickled her. "She grew up." he said softly. He smiled
out at her. "She really did didn't she?"
   Buffy nodded. "She did."
   Giles smile turned to a frown. "I'm still waiting
for other people to do the same."
   Buffy looked at what Giles was glaring at. 
   Spike was running through the livingroom wearing a
bowl on his head. "I'm open! I'm open!"
   Xander rushed into the room with a matching bowl.
"And he goes back for the pass!" He threw a lamp to
Spike.
   It was dangerously not near Spike.
   Giles cringed. Not his lamp.
   Spike lunged catching the lamp but fell over the
couch.
   Cordelia yelped as the couch was tipped over
backwards. Her, Doyle, and Spike fell to the ground.
   Spike jumped up slapping Xander high five. "Touch
down!" they yelled doing a victory dance.
   Giles ran a hand over his eyes. "I don't see it
happening any time soon."

           The End