A Whole New Day
“So, according to my vision that gang of vamps right around here. Cordelia waved her hand to indicate somewhere in their general vicinity, but it was next to impossible for Fred to see in the dark ally.
“Cordelia..” Fred said softly, “Are you sure we’ll be okay by ourselves? I mean, it’s not like I don’t think you’re a good fighter or anything, but I’d feel a little better if Angel were here.”
Cordelia made a “pish” sound with her teeth. “Please. It’s just vampires. I’ve dealt with them thousands of times. Angel needed us to split up so he, Gunn and Wes could go after those demons, remember? And besides, you’re not so bad with a stake yourself, I’ve seen you.”
Fred felt her cheeks warm a little at the other woman’s compliment. Fred had only been out of Pylea for a few months now and during that time, she’d formed the impression that Cordelia didn’t like her all that much. Maybe she was wrong? She certainly hoped so.
Fred didn’t have long to ruminate on that however, as a group of vamps came toward them.
“Well, well. What have we here?” One said slowly with a vicious leer. “What are too fine young ladies such as yourself, doing out at this time of night?”
“Well, gee, let me think..” Cordy slipped easily into her usual witty banter, Fred noticed . “Oh that’s right,” Cordelia finished, holding up her stake, “we’re here to kill you.”
With that declaration, the vampire leapt at Cordelia, growling and baring his fangs.
Fred held her breath, mesmerized by Cordy’s fighting style. Her kicks and lunges were to Fred, poetry in motion.
Fred was so enthralled in watching Cordy finally catch and dust the vamp she had been battling, that she didn’t notice the second vampire sneaking up behind her.
“Fred! Behind you!” Cordelia screamed out, in warning.
Fred turned and raised her stake a fraction of a second too late, as the vampire bared it’s fangs and bit her.
Fred closed her eyes against the unbearable pain and willed herself not to scream against the unbearable pain.
In a flash however, the pain seemed to stop. Fred opened her eyes cautiously.
“Oh my God, Fred! Are you okay!” Cordelia asked anxiously.
“I think so, Cordy... thank you.” Fred felt the world shift around her and she closed her eyes again in a hurry.
Cordelia heard a cry escape her lips as Fred hit the ground. In a hurry, she scooped Fred up in her arms and hurried back to the Hyperion mentally cursing Angel for not giving her the car, every step of the way.
When Fred came to, she was lying in her bed room in the Hyperion. She blinked back her shock at the sight of Cordelia sitting over her with an odd expression on her face. Was that worry?
“Cordy..” she murmured softly, “Thank you.”
“Shhh,” Cordelia said in a surprisingly gentle tone. “Don’t talk, too much, you’re probably still weak.”
“Sorry...” Fred tried again. “It was... my fault...”
“Your fault? Not even. I should’ve been watching out for you.” And that time, Fred could definitely hear the guilt in Cordelia’s voice.
Fred wanted more than anything to rid Cordelia of her guilt, she didn’t know how.
Unable to think much more, Fred let her instincts take over. Pushing herself forward, she leaned over and kissed Cordelia squarely on the lips.
Cordelia pulled away, but it was slower than she might’ve if she didn’t want Fred to kiss her, so maybe Fred thought, she still had a chance.
But then Cordelia softly said “No. No, Fred. We can’t. Not tonight.” And than softly, more to herself. “You must’ve lost more blood than I thought.”
Fred moved quickly to protest. “No, I mean it, Cordy. I want you. I... love you.”
No longer able to keep her eyes open, Fred lay back and drifted gently into sleep.
Cordelia simply couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful girl in front of her. Had Fred meant what she’d said? She doubted it, but she couldn’t help hoping. She hadn’t always liked Fred, at first she’d thought the younger girl was a couple of carrots shot of a diamond, but over time she’d begun to realize Fred was just a shy, sweet girl. She didn’t know when she’d first realized what her feelings for Fred really were about, all she knew was she’d never felt this way about another woman before and while it was a little freaky, she wasn’t going to let her fear stop her from being with Fred.
If that was even what Fred wanted, she thought. She sighed sadly and unconsciously began to stroke Fred’s hair.
Angel smiled slightly at the sight that greeted him as he entered Fred’s bedroom. He wouldn’t ordinarily have invaded Fred’s privacy, but when he and the others had come back and been unable to find either Fred or Cordelia, he’d begun to worry.
Should he wake Cordelia? He wondered. She didn’t look very comfortable.
At that moment, Cordelia stirred.
“Angel?” she asked, sleepily.
“Yes, it’s me.” he said softly. “Are you okay?”
“I am, but Fred isn’t, she got bit, Angel!” she said. a note of panic in her voice.
“How much blood has she lost?” Angel asked, worry in his voice, as well.
“Not much, she seemed fine, but Angel, it’s all my fault!”
“Don’t blame yourself, Cordelia. It can’t be entirely your fault.” Angel tried to be reassuring.”Why don’t you go to bed, Cordy? You’ll feel better that way.”
“No!’ Cordelia whispered fiercely. “I can’t leave her right now!”
“Okay.” Angel said, backing off. “Just don’t get too uncomfortable.” And with that, Angel turned and left the room.
Sunlight streaking into her bedroom, woke Fred the next morning. She closed her eyes and groaned. She had such a headache.
In a flash, the events of the night before came back to her.
Cordelia! she thought and opened her eyes in a near panic,
Her eyes immediately came to rest on Cordelia, the brunette woman still curled up on the end of her bed asleep. Fred longed to reach out and touch her, but held back.
Cordelia stirred abruptly, opened her eyes and than pushed herself into a sitting position.
“Fred? Are you feeling okay?” she asked, tiredly.
“I am now.” Fred said with a hint of gratitude. “Did you sleep here all night?”
Cordelia stretched a little and moved to stand up.
“I guess so. Hard to believe it’s a whole new day out there, huh?”
“Yeah.” Fred echoed softly. “Cordy-“
“You don’t have to say anything.” Cordelia cut Fred off, a little sadly. “I know you didn’t have any control over what you said last night, it’s okay.”
“What? Cordy, I was just going to say thank you for saving me last night.” Fred replied, bewildered.
“Saving you? It was my fault you were bitten in the first place!” she cried.
“How was it your fault? I was the one who was too distracted watching you to defend myself!” Fred cried with equal passion. As soon as she realized what she’d said Fred gasped and covered her mouth in horror.
“You were watching me?” Cordelia asked, with piqued interest.
“I’m sorry, it’s just you’re such a great fighter and you always look so beautiful doing it.”
“You think I’m beautiful.” Cordelia paused in thought. “So, what you said last night, that was true?”
Fred hung her head and nodded.
“Oh, Fred.” Cordelia said with laughter in her voice.
“What is it?” Fred replied, dejectedly.
“You really don’t get it, do you? I have feelings for you, big feelings, monster feelings And I’m not sure where there going, but I want to go there. With you.” Cordelia trailed off quietly, hoping she’d sounded at least coherent.
“Cordy...” Fred said softly and moved toward the other woman.
Cordelia opened her mouth to reply, but found it quickly covered by Fred’s. Fred’s tongue forced it’s way into Cordelia’s mouth and Cordelia moaned in pleasure. Soon Cordelia’s tongue was duelling against Fred’s and both women were rubbing up against each other, both panting in obvious need.
Finally stopping to catch her breath, Fred asked Cordelia in a husky voice “Are you ready to take this to bed?”
Cordelia hesitated for a moment before answering, “I’d like to... but I’ve never done this before and... I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry,” Fred said softly, “I’ll show you.” and she took Cordelia by the hand and lead her back to the bed, where she did just that.