Angel silently walked across the wooden floor and pushed the doors open to his bedroom. He peeked inside expecting to see a head covered with a ruffle of spiky, dark hair lying on the white pillows but instead found an empty bed. He swore, pushing the door fully open and barging in, glaring at the empty corners of the room. He should have known the boy would take off.

The appointment with the doctor this evening hadn't exactly been a joyful one. The tests had showed that Xander would never regain his hearing, baring some type of miracle. The boy had been silent, seeming apathetic about the results but once back at Angel's he'd immediately gone into the bedroom and shut the door, leaving Angel and Cordelia standing in the living room exchanging silent looks, not knowing what to say to each other, let alone to Xander.

A vision had sent Angel back to work and after a little research assistance from his new seer, he had convinced her to go home and rest. Now he wished he hadn't left the boy all alone in the state he'd been in. Who knew what thoughts were appearing behind those brown soulful eyes? Angel had seen far too many people harming themselves in order to find peace and he didn't want to witness another lonely soul falling into the pits of misery. Sighing, he once again pulled on his dark coat and headed out to the crowded streets of Los Angeles.

*****

Angel was just about to knock on Cordelia's door when he heard muffled voices from inside. He stiffened, trying to recognize the owner of the male voice. There was something familiar about it but he couldn't quite place it. He shrugged, deciding to disturb his seer and her guest. Who know? Perhaps he needed to have a little talk with this guy and make sure his Cordy didn't come to any harm.

When Cordelia opened the door her hair was ruffled and a smile still lingered on her face. The vampire noticed how it rapidly faded and was replaced with. . .fear? Angel narrowed his eyes when she stuttered his name and he tried to get a look at the presence he could sense behind her.

"Little late for visitors." He told her.

"Visitors?" Cordelia repeated innocently and Angel knew immediately that she was hiding something from him.

"I heard voices." He told her and when he took a step forward she instantly stepped in his way.

"Well, you know I have a ghost." Cordelia explained quickly, wetting her lips.

Angel looked down at her and he could see her gaze waver. "What aren't you telling me?"

Cordelia gulped, trying to find a way to get out of the conversation. When she didn't she sighed and stepped aside. "Come in. There's something I think you should know."

Angel looked around him when he stepped into the living room. There was something in here that made his vampire senses tingle. "What's going on?"

"Angel, meet Doyle, the dead version." Cordelia said, gloomily, and gestured towards the couch. It took only seconds for the Irish man to materialize himself in front of the two. He nodded towards the vampire that was staring at him.

Angel stood dumbfounded while Cordelia and Doyle exchanged worried glances. They watched as the vampire sunk silently down on the couch. "You're not dead."

"I'm a ghost. I think that makes me officially a member of the dead population." Doyle answered with a grin.

"But you're here. Talking. Right?" Angel asked.

"All correct, my friend. Angel, man, are you feeling all right? You're looking a little bit pale. Aren't you eating properly?" Doyle asked him.

Cordelia quickly picked up that her boss' pallor came from rage and not of loss of blood circulation.

"How long has he been here?" Angel asked Cordelia through clenched teeth, still not looking at her. "Cordelia, answer me!" He roared and rose his gaze when she remained silent.

"Just. . .you know, a couple of days." Cordelia responded, rubbing her upper arm.

"And you didn't think it was important enough to tell me?" Angel growled, standing up and walking to her.

Cordelia immediately got defensive when she found herself eye to eye with her angry friend. "Okay, so I was a false bitch and I know this. Do we really have to have a whole conversation about it? Look, Doyle is back. Let's party and move on."

Angel glared down at her and she put her arms across her chest, tapping her foot against the floor and raised her eyebrow. The vampire finally sighed, backing off and Cordelia smiled. She knew she was too cute to be mad at for long.

Angel turned his attention back to Doyle. "Why are you here?"

"Rude much?" Cordelia snapped. "One could almost think you didn't spend all those nights and days brooding in the dark in your office mourning him. Where's the love?"

Angel glared at Cordelia and then turned back to Doyle. "It's not that I'm not happy to see you. I've missed you. It's just that there must be a reason why you're here."

"See?" Cordelia exclaimed. "Didn't I tell you he would be like this? Stupid, brooding guy."

"Cordelia." Angel snapped and she looked up at him, forgetting her ramble. "Shut the fuck up."

Okay, so maybe she wasn't all forgiven. Cordelia gave him a little apologizing smile and planted herself on a chair and crossed her legs.

"I don't know exactly why I'm here and why now." Doyle said. "The Powers That Be aren't a big with details. I just know I'm needed."

"Needed for what? By whom?"

"They didn't say." Doyle shrugged. "I know I'm just happy to be around watching Cordelia walk around in her underwear. If that's what I'm needed for you won't hear any complaints coming from me. I can tell you that."

"Very funny. Any minute now I'm sure to laugh." Cordelia mumbled. Doyle gave her a sexy grin and she felt her cheeks blossom with color.

"Right. Well, right now we have a bigger problem. Xander's missing." Angel said.

"Oh no." Cordelia groaned. "What did you do? Did you give him a lecture again?"

"No!" Angel said. "I haven't yelled at him for a long time now."

"Well, goodie for you." Cordelia said sarcastically. She knew her friend usually handled things with violence and force.

"I don't seem to get through to him. After he was attacked it got worse." Angel said.

"You know, most people feel rather lousy after being beaten half to death. It's funny what bruises and broken ribs can do to you." Cordelia said and silenced when Angel stared at her. "Um, I'm not helping, am I?"

"Surprisingly enough, no." Angel snapped. Cordelia had to give him points for the sarcasm. She knew he picked it up from her and she couldn't help but feel a little pride.

"So. We'll go find him, we'll put whatever is left of him back together and then you can make him want to live again." Cordelia suggested into the silence. "Sounds like a plan to me."

"How come it feels like you're giving me all the work here?" Angel asked her.

"Experience?" Cordelia suggested and Angel couldn't help but smile.

*****

Xander stared at the half empty glass of beer in front of him and sighed heavily, thinking that there just wasn't enough beer in the world to drown his sorrows in. The news he'd received this evening had just added a bit more spice to his life than he could handle. Why'd his spice always have to be so fucked? Why nothing good? Nothing tasty? Life really seemed to have a tendency to suck.

"There you are, boy."

Xander slummped a bit beneath the heavy hand placed on his shoulder and raised his drunken gaze to the vampire looking down on him.

"What do you want?" He slurred.

Angel sighed, sitting down at the empty chair beside Xander. "You got a lifetime or two?"

"Nah, sorry, man." Xander hiccuped, returning to his beer.

"Figures." Angel said and gestured for Cordelia to not come up to them just yet. She shrugged, recklessly dragging an invisible Doyle out on the dance floor.

Angel took hold of Xander's glass and tried to pull it way from him. He gave a grimace when the boy fought him and they sloshed beer all over the bar.

"Act your age!" Angel hissed.

"I would tell you to do the same but then you would be lying six feet under and oh, hey, wait, I don't have a problem with that." Xander said, glaring at the older man. Angel glared back and then froze when he suddenly found the boy's eyes devoid of all emotion. There wasn't even a spark of anger in the eyes that stared at him. Angel licked his lips and lowered his gaze, fingering the napkin that lay on the bar next to a bowl of peanuts.

The vampire could feel something stir inside him as he watched Xander, something apart from the usual stirrings in his lower regions the boy had begun to arouse. Something deeper. Xander was beginning to get to him. Angel glanced at him, noticing that Xander was watching him from beneath lowered lashes, his eyes still dull. The vampire watched, fascinated, as Xander's tongue darted out, licking at his still swollen lips, moistening them.

"I should get you home." Angel mumbled.

"Yeah. Your bed." Xander nodded, drunkenly and Angel groaned as the image of him actually taking Xander to bed played in his mind.

"Don't move." He ordered Xander and went to Cordelia. "I'm going to take him home. Do you two need a ride?"

Cordelia shook her head, clinging sensually to a body she couldn't see but could most happily feel.

"You kids have fun." Angel told them and went to walk, mostly carry, Xander to his car.

*****

Angel stumbled onto the bed with Xander still in his arms. Carrying the boy wasn't as easy as he had thought, especially since Xander had an odd habit of rubbing himself against certain stirred parts of his body. Angel groaned as Xander lay heavily on top of him, resting his head against his chest.

"You're like a big, soft mattress." Xander mumbled.

"Gee, thanks." Angel responded, trying to gently roll Xander off him.

Xander raised his head and Angel went rigid when he felt Xander's lips press against his own. Angel moaned and wrapped his arms around Xander, rolling them so that he lay on top as he deepened the kiss, his tongue thrusting inside, exploring and dominating the soft, forbidden mouth. Xander's hands clutched in his hair, pulling him closer and Angel pulled away suddenly as if burned.

"I can't do this." He protested and got off the boy, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You're not yourself right now. You don't want this and I would be taking advantage of you."

"Let me be the judge of that." Xander said, reaching a hand out towards him.

"And let you hate yourself even more in the morning?" Angel asked him.

Xander rolled onto his side, cutting off communication. "Leave me alone."

"If you just knew what you're doing to me, boy." Angel sighed, wearily running a hand through his hair. He took one last look at Xander's back and walked out the door.

*****
Part 5:

"So, what is it you want to talk to me about?" Cordelia asked Xander as she sipped her coffee.

It was Cordelia's lunch break and the two were sitting and chatting in a nearby coffee shop instead of at the office because Xander wanted to have a "private" chat. He knew Cordelia had noticed how Angel and he had changed around each other. Xander knew she would be the first one to tell them she was a "see'er" and an actress, after all. It was her *job* to read people.

Now she sat quietly watching him in silence as he fidgeted before her, trying to work up the courage to say what it was he wanted to tell her. He looked her in the eye and asked, "Promise you won't freak out?"

Cordelia arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow and gave him a grave look. "Oh God, is there's something wrong with my hair?"

"No! Cordelia, damn it, I'm trying to be *serious* here!" Xander snapped at her, rolling his eyes as she opened her purse and pulled out a little mirror to check that her hair was indeed perfect.

Cordelia rearanged a few strands of her hair before she looked at Xander and smiled. "I only did that to make you crazy, you know."

"You're evil." Xander commented with a sigh.

"The most evil and don't you forget it, " She told him, replacing her compact. "So? Spill. What dark secrets do you want to share with me that can't be spilled within Angel hearing?"

Xander took a deep breath. "I think I'm kinda bi."

"Bi as in bisexual?"

"Is there another kind?" Xander asked her.

Cordelia ingnored him and pulled her mirror out again along with her lipstick. "So? What's the big? Lots of people in LA are gay." She puckered up and began to paint her lips. She air kissed her mirror reflection and lowered the mirror to smile at Xander. "Acutally, it seems to be the new "in" thing, being gay that is. Wow, look at that, Xander is suddenly considered to be cool!" Cordy put her lipstick and mirror away and smiled at Xander. "Miracles really *do* happen!"

"First off, I didn't say 'gay', I said 'bi-sexual'. Second, stop talking about it like it's some kind of trend! It's a big deal for me, okay? It's new and confusing and I don't know what to do about these feelings I'm having!"

"Sorry." Cordelia apologized and then grinned. "Those feelings wouldn't have anything to do with a certain dark, brooding vampire now, would they?"

"Maybe." Xander said, carefully.

"Oh, come on! It's obvious that you have a thing for him! Do you think I haven't been watching the both of you walking aournd the office all hot and bothered with each other and pretending nothing is going on? And the *looks* you guys give each other when you think no one is looking? Ha! We are *always* looking! Really! It's too funny!"

"Thank you for finding my sad life so amusing, Cor." Xander said and she struggled to keep a straight face.

"I know what you're going through, Xand. Doyle never had the guts to tell me what he was or even what he felt for me when he was alive." She told him in confidence.

"Well, gosh, I wonder why not."

"It's not like I can't tell that your voice is dripping with sarcasm." Cordelia said, glaring at him.

"As your ex, I'm entitled to use the sarcasm." Xander defended himself.

"You just had to mention that part, didn't you? And Doyle. God! Why do I always fall for complete losers?" Cordelia complained, cursing her luck.

"It takes one to know one, you know." Xander told her and Cordelia kicked him under the table.

"Okay, enough with the insults. What's the big? You like Angel, he obviously likes you. Nothing is standing in your way. Sure, maybe good, ole Buff would freak out, but it's not like she would slay you." Cordelia said. "Stab you with the stake maybe, but nothing fatal, I'm sure. I'm *almost* sure"

"Gee, I'm so glad we had this conversation." Xander muttered.

"Hey." Cordelia placed a hand over his. "I love you, Xander. If I thought, for one second, that you and Angel weren't great for each other, I'd tell you so. You know I would. Every relationship has its problems but if its meant to be, then the problems are worth the fight. You should know that. If it's happiness you're searching for, well, then, I'm sure you can find it with Angel. I don't know why. *Really* I don't." Cordy laughed and picked up Xander's hand to kiss the back of it before covering it with her own. "But, hey, seeer here...and i *do* know. You two will be happy."

"CC, sometimes you surprise me." Xander told her.

"Yeah, well, don't let anyone know that I actually have a heart." Cordelia said with a smile.

Xander lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, guided by too many hours spent watching old movies. "Doyle's a lucky man, Cordy. Very lucky." He dropped her hand and clocked her upside her head. "And just what is up with Doyle, anyway?"

"Oh, it's a whole big thing with him being dead and a ghost." The brunette answered. "Actually, come to think of it, what's the big? A lot of people are dead around here so it's not like it makes him anything special, right?"

"There must be something special about him since you're crazy about him." Xander said.

"Yeah, when he looks at me I get that tingle, you know?" Cordelia said, absentmindedly. "Like the world disappears around us and there's just *us*. Together." She smile at him. "You know what I mean?"

"I know the feeling." Xander admitted, rubbing his tired eyes. "I'm just not sure Angel feels it. I mean he does speak volumes with his eyes at times but sometimes I need to hear the words. Well, in my case, being deaf, I'd like to see them on his lips. Really read his feelings, you know? How else will I know that he really wants me?"

Cordelia nibbled on her lower lip. "Why don't you just ask him?"

"Maybe I'm afraid of the answer." Xander said after awhile, looking her straight in the eye. "Is there any way I can convince you to talk to him?"

"I don't think I would be the right person for this. I'm not known for asking things smoothly. I can talk to Doyle, if you want?" Cordelia suggested.

"You think he would do that?" Xander asked her.

"I think he's used to being the messenger by now. He's good at the lying too or 'avoiding certain details' as he calls it." Cordelia told him, rolling her eyes. "He'd be the perfect spy."

"Spy is such an ugly word."

"Well, it's not like we're setting a trap for Angel. We're just gonna make him feel safe and lure the answer out of him. Then you'll know and can move on. It's a good thing we're doing here." Cordelia said, taking another sip of her cooling coffee. "Just leave it to me. I'll talk to Doyle."

*****

Cordelia walked into her apartment finding Doyle on the couch, playing with her panties, which she had thrown on a chair the previous night before taking a bath. She glared at him, ripping the flimsy garment from his hands. "I need you to talk to Angel for me."

"If this is the whole 'I need a raise' thing again." Doyle said, shaking his head, as he sat on the couch.

Cordelia gave him a look. "No, although if you manage to get that in somewhere. . .Anyway, thing is you're gonna find out what he feels for Xander."

"Xander? Your ex?" Doyle asked her.

"Why does everyone mention that part?" Cordelia cried out. She wasn't really ashamed of her ex but whining about the people she had loved through the years become a habit.

Doyle grinned at her little outburst. "So what is it about Angel and Xander?"

"As if you didn't know." Cordelia said. "They have a thing."

"Thing?"

"A guy thing! A thing! What aren't you getting?" Cordelia snapped.

"So, tell me stuff. I want details. The ones about the sex." Doyle encouraged her.

"Doyle, you little perverted ghost, this isn't about sex!"

"It's always about sex! It's just a matter of time before they get fleshy with each other. The question is, are we gonna wanna be around when it happens?" Doyle asked her.

"Okay, eww, like I would want to watch that!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"I was talking about the *curse*, not about being around at the actual moment of Angel's. . . fleshy and perfect happiness. Is sex all you think about, Princess?" Doyle asked her, a twinkle in his eye.

Cordelia made a grimace and then sighed, sitting down beside Doyle. Why did men have to be so hopeless?

"Are you going to talk to him or not?" She asked, calmly, staring at the wall.

"If it makes you happy, darling." Doyle answered and she smiled, turning her head to look at him.

"You're a good ghost, Doyle." Cordelia told him, patting his knee. She stood and walked into the bathroom feeling his eyes on her back.

*****

Doyle watched the vampire stand at the edge of the roof, staring out over the streets of LA. The lights in the buildings shone prettily in the dark night, making the city seem a lot safer than it was. Doyle slowly walked up to Angel, putting his hand on the vampire's tense shoulder. Angel turned his head and nodded, obviously having been aware of Doyle's presence as soon as he had sat foot on the roof.

"Still enjoying the brooding parts of life, yeah?" Doyle asked him, sliding up beside him. Angel didn't answer, just continued to stare out over his city. Doyle watched him, feeling that familiar tingle he got whenever looking at the beautiful man. Finally he managed to lower his gaze and look in front of him to enjoy the view from the roof. He nibbled on his lower lip, rubbing his neck. "Still not much with the socializing either, I guess."

Angel looked down at him, his eyes dark and expressionless. "What do you want, Doyle?"

"Just to talk, mate." Doyle said. "I'd like to catch up on what I've missed being dead and all."

"There's not much to tell." Angel mumbled.

"Well, I used to know the story of your life, remember? There must be something to add to that story." Doyle said.

"No." Angel said simply and Doyle could hear that there was a warning behind that little word but he wasn't one to give up easily.

"What do you think of this Xander chap?" He asked the vampire.

"Xander?" Angel echoed. "What about him?"

Doyle was getting tired trying to fish for answers in the vampire's short sentences so he sighed, admitting what he was doing. "Angel, man, I don't mean to pry into something that's none of my business but Cordy told me to talk to you about Xander. The boy obviously has feelings for you and she wants to know if there's any chance it could lead to anything."

"She's worried about the curse." Angel stated, his body becoming more rigid.

"Yeah, that and her friend's heart." Doyle said.

"Well, tell her not to worry."

"So you have no interest in the boy?" Doyle pushed. Angel gave him a look that made him shiver and he took a step back to put some more space between them.

"What could I possibly give him?" Angel snarled. "If I couldn't make it work between myself and Buffy what would make it different with him?"

"You won't know until you've tried." Doyle said. "If you feel in your heart that this could be the one you want to spend eternity with why hesitate? Do you know how rare it is to find a person like that?"

"Why would I deserve love when it's a gift for so few?" Angel asked him.

"All I know is that if you get a gift like that then you're a fool if you don't accept it." Doyle said. "There's a lonely, sad man downstairs, Angel, and the one he needs to make it through life is you. Are you going to deny him what he needs and turn your back on him or are you going to fight to make yourself worthy of him? The choice is up to you, Angel, and I hope you make the right one."

The vampire watched quietly as Doyle walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

*****
Part 6:

Angel sighed as he tossed the bloody ax in the corner of the garage and made his way through the swinging doors towards his apartment. He winced, the sudden movement increasing the pain radiating from a wound he'd received during the latest battle. He pressed his hand over his abdomen and felt the blood flow through his fingers and he groaned out loud as his fingers accidentally slid through a tear in his shirt and touched the open wound.

Angel quickly removed his hand, placing it on the wall as he leaned against it, resting his weight for a moment as he let the worst of the pain pass. He gritted his teeth, let out a low growl, and continued forward, ignoring the bloody hand print he'd left, as he made his way to the kitchen. Once there he stopped and his pain was completely forgotten.

Xander was there. He was leaning against the edge of the table while watching the microwave oven with an intent popcorn surely did not deserve. Xander brushed a stray curl from his face and Angel smiled as it quickly fell back into place over his eyes. He limped to Xander and tenderly pushed the lock of hair from the brunette's thoughtful eyes. Xander yelped, and turned to glare at him.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Plus I didn't sneak." Angel apologized with a smirk.

"Give the deaf guy a break, will ya?" Xander responded and his eyes widened once he noticed the state the vampire was in. "You're hurt." He said, worry shining in his eyes.

Angel groaned again when his vision blurred and then turned black for a few seconds. He gave a sigh of relief when he felt Xander's arms come around him and he let the boy lead him to a chair with an awkward pushing, dragging system that got the job done. He sighed again when Xander settled him into his chair and left. His sigh turned into a grown of dismay when he felt he was in *his* leather chair. His favorite leather chair. The one he preferred be without blood, guts and slime stains. He took a deep breath and heaved him self up, moving back to a less beloved kitchen chair. He glared at Xander's amused smirk once the boy returned with a first aid kit and found Angel sitting back at the kitchen table. He was glad Xander chose to remain quiet, but the boy's smirk brought to mind Spike and Angel was sure his wayward childe would have had plenty to say about his painful move to a less loved chair. Memories of his lost childe were quickly pushed aside as Xander knelt before him, examining his wound. Spike was no longer apart of his life and would never be apart of his life again, he knew. Perhaps, if he could open his heart just a little, Xander could have a place?

Xander frowned as he began to carefully clean the ugly looking wound across Angel's stomach. When he looked up his eyes were caught by Angel's and the look in them made him more than a little uncomfortable. He dropped the tissue he was using as his hands began to shake. He muttered an apology and grabbed another tissue, continuing to disinfect the wound as he dropped his eyes.

Angel seized the boy's wrist, startling Xander into an increased heartbeat. Xander grinned. Angel's grip wasn't painful, only firm, and Xander reminded himself mentally that he knew Angel wouldn't hurt him without reason. And he hadn't give any reason, had he? Well, the chair. . .but. . .

Angel's eyes narrowed at the heady wave of fear that rushed towards him and he loosened his grip. He was thankful when it quickly ebbed away to be replaced by arousal. He never meant to scare Xander, but always seemed to manage to do just that anyway.

Angel pulled Xander to his feet and with gentle force maneuvered the boy so he was sitting across his lap and they were face to face. Xander remained silent, looking for answers to his unasked questions in Angel's eyes. When Angel moved his head close enough to kiss Xander, tentative and gentle, Xander's only response was a shiver. The cool lips felt so good against his warm ones. Xander had almost forgotten that he'd longed to feel Angel's kiss again, so much so, that now he had a sudden and awkward need to cry with relief. It was the fear of embarrassing himself in front of Angel in this intimate moment that had Xander biting his lip to keep from sobbing.

Angel watched the emotions flicker over Xander's face and frowned, wondering if he had been completely out of line when he had kissed him. A drop of blood formed on the younger man's lower lip and Angel kissed it away, tasting the hidden sorrow. It tasted like fine wine and he was tempted to drink of it, to take one sip of human sadness and feel it reflect his own. Instead he continued to explore those sore lips and the hot mouth they allowed entrance to. The vampire closed his eyes as Xander's fingers unbuttoned his shirt, his warm palm carefully moving over Angel's pale, muscular chest. When he opened his eyes again he only needed one look into the younger man's eyes to know that they would end up in bed tonight no matter the consequences.

* * * * *

Cordelia slammed her door open, pressing Doyle up against it as she ravished his mouth. They ripped at each other's clothes, slamming the door shut as they stumbled towards the bedroom as if in a frenzy.

As they fell down onto the bed, Cordelia ended on top and she straddled Doyle, staring down at her hero with love and lust. She couldn't believe that he had saved her life once again. When he had become furious upon seeing her in danger and had ripped the slime demon's head from it's shoulders, she'd become so aroused, she'd wanted to do him right there in the alley and in front of her broody boss. She didn't understand her behavior and neither did Doyle but he had repeatedly thanked god for "messing up" her mind on the hot and steamy cab drive home.

Cordelia smiled, ripping off her white top, and Doyle's eyes widened at the sight of her beautiful breasts swaying above his face but he wasn't slow to worship them with his tongue and lips. Cordelia wriggled, moaning as her soft, sore body rubbed against his hard one and she pulled at the fastenings to his pants.

"You're a ghost, can't you make your clothes go poof or something?" She complained, frustrated, wanting to feel him inside of her. She yelped as he suddenly turned them over and disappeared from her sight. "Doyle?" She almost snapped and was suddenly embarrassed at the needy way she was acting. Whore was a nickname she had gotten used to through the years but it actually being true frightened her. Cordelia shook her head, she was being silly, and who cared what those jerks had thought of her, she was a free woman and she enjoyed sex. Big deal!

Cordelia cried out in surprise as an invisible force pushed her down on her back. Hands she couldn't see pulled her hot pants and panties down her long legs, throwing them onto a chair in the corner of the room. She moaned as she felt a tongue lick along her slit, separating her folds and when she felt the pressure on her clit she cried out, grabbing hold of the ghost's head.

"Doyle!" She breathed, stroking his black locks. "Make love to me."

Her eyes sparkled when he appeared before her, smiling in his almost boyish way. She pulled him up over her and kissed him passionately, hoping that the night would never end.

*****
Part 7:

Angel Investigations had just gotten themselves a new client, one that was going to be able to pay them for once, and Cordelia was now happily hopping down the stairs to Angel's apartment with Doyle in tow to give her boss the information she had gathered. A noise made her stop at the end of the stairs, frowning.

"Did you hear that?" She asked Doyle and looked up at him. The noises once more filled the usually silent apartment and she raised her hand to cover her mouth in horror. "It almost sounds like. . .oh God, that was a moan, wasn't it? Please, tell me that wasn't a *happy*, pleasure-filled moan!"

"You're not supposing they're. . .you know?" Doyle asked with a grin on his lips as he descended the stairs.

"This is bad." Cordelia stated, worry lines forming on her beautiful face as she sat down on the stairs.

"Maybe the boy is only giving him a back rub." Doyle suggested halfheartedly.

"When our boss moans like that it's not because he's getting a good back rub!" Cordelia snapped, looking up at him. "That's not a 'oh, that's nice-moan', it's a 'oh my God, it feels so good that I'm gonna turn into a homicidal maniac and kill all my friends-moan'!"

Doyle coughed, his curious eyes moving over the closed doors to the bedroom. "Maybe, you know, I should take a look and see if there really is an emergency?"

"Yeah, and if they're doing *it* you're gonna do what?" Cordelia asked him. "Stand by and watch?"

Doyle licked his lips, his eyes darting from her chest to the floor and then to the wall behind her. Cordelia's idea didn't sound half-bad to him and he knew he was a lousy liar. He shrugged and managed to look her straight in the eye. "At least then we'd know, yeah? Give you a head start?"

"Fine!" Cordelia said, raising her hands in the air. "Go look!"

Doyle stared at her and nodded. He made himself invisible and walked towards the bedroom doors. Swallowing, he walked through the doors and into the dimly lit room. If he had been breathing his breath would have been caught in his throat as he saw the dark blue silk sheets move over the male, muscular bodies. Too his surprise the boy was on top, seemingly riding his boss into heights of bliss. Doyle moved closer, shocked and jealous when he saw the evident pleasure on Angel's face and the fierce, lust-filled look he was giving the boy looming above him.

Xander entwined their hands, leaning down to give the vampire a kiss. Angel let the boy believe that he was in control but not for too long. Eventually his nature took over and the demon was brought to the surface as his orgasm approached. Angel rolled them over, ending on top, and Xander gave him a furious glare when he felt the loss of being inside the vampire and his miserable cock smacked against his belly in protest, the only friction coming from the vampire's belly moving on top of him. Angel grinned at the boy's frustration and kissed those angry lips until they softened in submission and let his tongue slide inside.

When the younger man was lost to passion once more Angel slid his hands under Xander's bottom and lifted him so he could bury himself deeply within him. Xander cried out at the sudden intrusion and Angel reluctantly stilled himself, letting him get used to his size. He ran his strong, large hands over Xander's tensed muscles and felt them relax under his massaging fingers. Relieved, he watched the pain fade away from the youth's expression and kissed him softly as he began to thrust carefully into the tender channel. He almost whimpered when Xander started to raise his hips to meet his thrusts and the long denied pleasure shot through his body.

Suddenly the doors to the bedroom swung open and Cordelia stormed in with a stake clutched in her hand. At the sight of them she gasped, pointing her finger in anger at her vamped out boss and close friend. "You. In the living room. Now!"

Angel, who had turned his head towards the doors, looked down at his lover whose eyes were pleading with him not to murder Cordelia. Angel gave him a smile and rolled his eyes, convincing Xander that he wasn't going to kill his secretary. Of course not. He loved Cordelia as a sister and he was only going to torture her for a couple of unbelievably long hours and then forget the whole thing.

Angel pulled out of Xander and rose gracefully from the bed, walking into the living room, not bothering to put any clothes on. Cordelia gaped for a few seconds then gave Xander the same look his third grade teacher had given him many occasions after putting frogs inside the girls' T-shirts or thrown a ball through a window. He chuckled when she slammed the door closed and wondered outloud which one of them was in the most trouble.

* * * * *

Cordelia took a deep breath, walking up to Angel and managing to keep her eyes on his face and not letting her gaze drift lower.

"Okay, first of all, are you evil again?" She asked him.

"No."

"Good." Cordelia said, sighing. Then she straightened her posture and pummeled his chest. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Angel was surprised how hard she actually could hit him and seized her wrists before it hurt too much and he hit her back in reflex. "Cor, calm down and forget about the curse. It's gone."

"Huh?"

"I found a cure. Do you really think that I would jeopardize everyone's lives, especially yours, just to get my rocks off?" Angel asked her, slowing letting go of her.

Cordelia blushed, embarrassed, and lowered her gaze. She gulped and raised her eyes again, seeing the twinkle in his eyes. "Can you please put something on! Wet dreams involving my boss is the last thing I need, okay?"

Angel grinned. "How about the real thing?"

"Hey! Back off!" An Irish voice was heard and the two gave a start, glaring at Doyle as he materialized beside them.

"Doyle." Angel said and frowned. "You're here. Hey, that was your hand on my ass, wasn't it? You were in my room!"

"Me? No way, man!" Doyle said, his voice shocked. Cordelia saw his gaze flicker and put her hands on her hips, giving him a lethal glare.

"Don't look at me like that! It's not my style. Okay, so maybe I'm a little attracted to Angel but I wouldn't try to get in the middle of things. Now, that didn't come out right." Doyle defended himself and received a look from both Cordelia and Angel.

"You think?" Cordelia said, sarcastically and Doyle shrugged, scratching his head.

Angel sighed. "Are we all clear on the fact that I'm not evil and never will be again?"

"Sure." Cordelia said, putting her stake back in her purse. "But just in case, I'm keeping this in my purse and if you make Xander miserable it's going to have your name written all over it." At the hurt look on his face she patted his cute ass affectionately. "Doesn't mean that I don't love you. I would treasure your ashes and keep them in a box by my bedside table and that way you'd be with me till the end."

"And they say women nowadays aren't romantic." Doyle commented.

Angel gave Cordelia a gentle kiss on the forehead and Doyle a clap on the shoulder before going back into the bedroom, this time locking the door.

"I never imagined he was that well endowed." Cordelia whispered to Doyle as they walked up the stairs to the office.

"Jealous of Xander?" He asked her.

Cordelia looked at him. "Are you?"

Doyle stumbled on the stairs and Cordelia laughed.

*****
Part 8:

It had been one month since Doyle had come back into Cordelia's life and now when he gestured for her to sit down with him, taking her hand in his and stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, she frowned, butterflies of fear in her stomach.

"Cordelia, I've been thinking about us and perhaps 'us' is unfair to you. What future can you possibly have with a ghost? An Irish ghost at that." Doyle asked her solemnly, and his eyes widened when she clapped her hand over his mouth, silencing him.

"You think I'm going to let you leave me and see you fall for some little cry-Buffy? Not of the likely. You're my man and you're staying right here where you belong. Am I making things clear, ghosty-boy?" Cordelia snapped at him.

Doyle broke out in a smile when he saw the fear of loosing him in her eyes.

"I don't deserve you." He told her.

"This I know." Cordelia muttered.

Doyle grinned and gave her a kiss, making her face blossom into a smile beneath his lips that warmed his dead heart.

* * * * *

Xander gave Angel a curious glance, watching him put a record onto the old gramophone. He scratched his head as the vampire cranked the out dated machine and slowly walked to him, reaching his hand towards him.

"Dance with me?" Angel asked him.

"I can't hear the music." Xander responded as he accepted the hand.

"It's not like you ever had any rhythm anyway." Angel told him, smiling, as the boy broke into laughter.

"You're one to talk, Angel." Xander said, watching the vampire's try at dance. "Nice moves." He commented, wondering how his lover could be so incredibly stealthy and graceful during a hunt but so clumsy when trying to dance. It was as if his coordination had vanished into thin air. Still, Xander found Angel more attractive than ever in the light of the softly flickering candles. He grabbed hold of the front of Angel's black shirt and pulled him close, tilting his head and staring into the vampire's laughing eyes.

Xander wanted so desperately to tell him that he loved him but he knew that they both weren't ready for that step. Instead he crushed his lips against the cold, pale lips of his vampire lover and hoped that Angel could feel his emotions in that passionate kiss.

Breaking apart, Xander let Angel lead him into a slow dance. He laughed at the weirdness of the situation and tried to create a song in his mind, fitting with their sensual movements.

"I always said I liked the quiet. Guess I totally jinxed myself." He told the vampire and Angel looked seriously at him, wondering if the boy was getting one of his depressions again. "But you know what?" Xander continued and Angel listened attentively. "I think the bad luck I was born with went away the day I met you."

"Do you? Me too." Angel responded and they kissed, promising each other eternity.

The End