I'll Remember
Part 6

Written By: Ragna
Rating: PG
Summary: Angel and Cordelia stop off at a playground.

Disclaimer: I am not in any way affilated with the show.
I don't not own any of the characters from the show. I do
own rights to any characters I have made up. No copy rght
infirgment intended.

Cordelia rambled only a little as she and Angel walked towards the better area of town. It was strange, the connection that they had, and both were lost in heavy thoughts. "You know, I'm surprised," Cordelia said as they approached the Sunnydale playground. "By what?" Angel asked. "The fact you're not brooding as much as usual. Especially after tonight's events." Angel shrugged. "Really? It's not worth it. We never could have had anything anyway." {Mmmm, mmmm Say good-bye to not knowing when The truth in my whole life began Say good-bye to not knowing how to cry You taught me that} Cordelia nodded, then spied the swings. "You know what I used to do when I was younger, and I had a lot to think about? I used to swing." Smiling, she ran to the swings, sat down and started to swing. Angel smiled and sat in the empty swing next to her, not moving, and listening to the song playing out of one of the surrounding houses. {And I'll remember the strength that you gave me Now that I'm standing on my own I'll remember the way that you saved me I'll remember} "You know," Cordelia said, "you really are no fun." "Yeah?" Angel said. She nodded, a look of challenge in her eye. "Yeah." "Well, then we'll just have to see about that," he said, pushing himself off the ground as Cordelia watched. {Inside I was a child That could not mend a broken wing Outside I looked for a way To teach my heart to sing} Finally, he slowed down. "You know, I do feel a bit better," he said. "And your hair's all messed up," she said calmly, taking a good look at him. "Well, so is yours." "I'll get you, Mr. Care Bear with Fangs." "Anything's better than Dead-boy...except that." "Well, I'll just keep that nickname for a while." {And I'll remember the love that you gave me Now that I'm standing on my own I'll remember the way that you changed me I'll remember} "Is this the night for depressing songs or what?" Cordelia said, listening to the song, and swinging just a little. "Well, this one's not so bad. As I've said earlier, there are worse." Cordelia laughed. "Yeah." "You seem a lot nicer now." "You seem less cryptic." "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything." {I learned to let go of the illusion that we can possess I learned to let go, I travel in stillness And I'll remember happiness I'll remember [I'll remember] Mmmmm... [I'll remember] Mmmmm...} "I have to get home soon," Cordelia said. "Oh, well...we can go now, if you want." Angel said, starting to stand up. "Now wait a minute. I decided to come over here, and I decide when to leave." Angel looked at her, a determined expression on her face, and her hair tangled up by the wind. And he started to laugh. "Gee, you'd expect maybe a cryptic response, or even a shrug. You wouldn't expect a laugh." {And I'll remember the love that you gave me Now that I'm standing on my own I'll remember the way that you changed me I'll remember [I'll remember]} Cordelia pushed herself off the ground and started to swing again, ignoring Angel for the moment. As she slowed down, she felt someone grab the swing's chains and slow her down even more, almost like her father had done when she was a young child. "Truce?" Angel asked, looking down at her. "Fine. Going to let me go?" "I was thinking more of giving you a push." {No I've never been afraid to cry Now I finally have a reason why I'll remember [I'll remember] No I've never been afraid to cry Now I finally have a reason why I'll remember [I'll remember]} She nodded, then grinned as he started to push the swing back and forth, almost in the way her father had done so many years ago. She wasn't aware of how comforting it was until he stopped. "You looked peaceful...that's a new look for you, Cordy." "Eh, I was thinking about my dad. He used to push me on swings when I was younger." She hopped down off the swing and grabbed her purse. "And now I have to get home." {No I've never been afraid to cry And I finally have a reason why I'll remember [I'll remember] No I've never been afraid to cry And I finally have a reason why I'll remember [I'll remember]} The song faded as they walked away, not entirely going back to the way they had been before doing the childlike, carefree act. It was as though, by being friendly, a layer of the shield they each erected around themselves had fallen, their truer selves showing. As they approached Cordelia's house, the conversation had returned to it's somber tones, though both of them wore slight grins. "Well," Angel said, "you're here in one piece." Cordelia laughed. "You know, I'm kinda glad tonight turned out the way it did. Thanks, Angel." "For what?" She kissed his cheek quickly. "For being a friend." And with that, she let herself in and shut the door behind her. Angel stared at the door for a moment, then shook his head and walked back towards his apartment, bewildered at the twist of fate that had happened that evening.