dlg7

~~~Part 7~~~

�So this is where rich and the evil live huh?� Willow craned her neck to get in the impressive building. �Times like these *really* makes me appreciate my honesty and good intent.�

�Yeah kind of sucks that we do all the good deeds, saving lives, the world etcetera, and we�re stuck in cramped apartments and dorm rooms while people like Lindsey are living our Champaign wishes and Caviar dreams.� Cordelia lowered the binoculars, and let out a sigh. �Well at least we have Angel�s car, I couldn�t imagine having to put up with the heat while waiting for Borne Again to leave.�

�Yeah it was nice of Angel to let you barrow his baby, how�d you manage that?� Willow adjusted one of the air vents and relished at the sensation that the cool air on her skin created.

�I know where he keeps his keys and left a note. With any luck we�ll be long back before Angel wakes up.� Cordelia ignored Willow�s guppy face. �Besides this is for the good of the cause. That and I signed your name to the note too.�

�WHAT!�

Cordelia rolled her eyes. �Listen nothing is going to happen. Calm down. One would think that you�re the Drama Queen, talking about drama queens how�s Xander?�

�He�s fine. Him and Anya have a new apartment. Anya is helping Giles with the magic shop; it�s amazing how well that girl can make money. Xander has been working at the same construction company for the last six months. I think it�s a record for him.�

Cordelia felt slightly proud of her high school boyfriend. �So are they still...?�

�Humping like rabid bunnies? Yes, it�s almost nauseating.�

�Not that I really care but how�s Sl--Buffy? She and GI Joe still going at it?�

�Yes, they�re living together this year.� Willow voice caught slightly. Cordelia sat back and started to do the math. Xander plus Anya...Buffy plus Riley...equaled Willow out in the cold...again. Something Cordelia knew a lot about.

�How�s school?�

Willow shrugged. �It�s school. Teacher, books, homework.�

Cordelia nearly dropped the binoculars in shock. �We are talking about the same thing here right? At one time the subject of school used to get you into a verbal frenzy.�

�I don�t know, I�m just not really into it anymore.� Willow shifted uncomfortably in her seat. �What about you? How have things been in your life? We talk through email, but never about what�s going on here in LA for you.�

�Nothing to tell. I work, we patrol, and I go home. I�ve had a few auditions, but they never really pan out.�

�I�m sorry.�

�Don�t be. Face it Willow my purpose in life as Angel�s seer leaves little room for normal things.�

�You consider acting normal?� Willow flashed Cordelia a huge grin.

�Well no, but it just isn�t to be. Then there�s my lack of a social life. You try having a date with three over protected males breathing down your neck, well four if you count Dennis.�

Willow�s heart went out to her formal High School enemy. From her own experience she knew how lonely it was not having someone special to curl up next to at the end of the day. �Okay this is getting depressing, I say we change to another topic... and hey isn�t that your guy that just walked out of the building with the little girl?�

Cordelia pressed the binoculars to her eyes again. �That�s him. Hurry, we need to follow him and I think he�d notice Angel�s car following him as he walked down the block.� Opening the door and slipping out, the redhead followed the brunette that was already in pursuit.

~~~*~~~

Lindsey took a deep lung filled breath of car exhaust trying to calm his taunt nerves. His head was still racing trying to figure out what he was going to do now he had a four-year-old in his life. At the back of his brain he kept questioning himself as to why Molly hadn�t tried to find him when she knew she was pregnant with his child, or when she found out she had cancer. The hell she must have gone through, and alone.

But where did his parents fit into all of this. Why would Molly get herself involved with them? Rubbing his forehead trying to clear out some of the tension in his throbbing temples Lindsey stole a glance down at the girl next to him that was skipping in time with his step. She was his, made of his own blood. He needed to figure out a way to make this all work.

Stopping in front of a cafe that was just up the block from his building, Lindsey was unaware of the two females following him. Walking inside and finding a table toward the back, Lindsey situated Sophie in the seat across from his. Picking up a menu, he scanned the choices, pausing to wonder what a four-year-old would want to eat.

Nothing really seemed to be catered to a child. Finally deciding on a scrambled egg and toast with orange juice for Sophie and a muffin and coffee for himself he waited for the waitress.

�Here.� Cordelia shoved Willow in a both near by and put the menu in front of her face; taking looks over the top.

�She�s so cute.� Willow whispered.

�Isn�t she?� Cordelia drank in the sight of the darling girl, taking inventory of the girl�s physical appearance making sure there were no marks.

�And he�s a lot better looking in person.� Willow wiggled her brows.

�Focus here Willow.� Cordelia let here eyes wander to Lindsey and silently agreed with the redhead. Lindsey was one fine looking man. His hair was in need of a cut, but it looked utterly sexy the way it would slip in front of his eyes. His shoulders were broad, promising that the rest of his body hidden underneath the clothing to be just as adequate.

�You�re drooling.�

�Am not...okay so he�s okay looking.� Willow snorted. �Okay he�s the best looking male we know, but he�s evil.�

�Maybe not the *best* looking.� Willow said under her breath.

�What was that?� Cordelia dipped her menu to see Willow�s reddened checks.

�Nothing.� Willow held the laminated menu in front of her face.

Reaching over and taking the barrier from the redhead�s hands she gave her friend a questioning look. �Who do you think is better looking than that?� Nodding in Lindsey�s direction

�Oh come on Cordelia think about it. You work with him everyday. He�s tall dark and handsome.�

�Gunn?� Cordelia teased.

Willow frowned. �I�ve never met him...Angel.�

Cordelia eyes sparkled. �You think Angel�s good looking?�

Willow made a face over at Cordelia and grabbed her menu back. �Please like you never noticed.�

Cocking her head to the side Cordelia studied the blush creeping up Willow�s throat and spreading onto her cheeks. �You have a thing for Angel!� She yelped. Some of the near by tables looked over at them, reminding Cordelia that they were supposed to be under cover.

�Gee Cordelia you�re really good at this cloak and dagger thing aren�t you.� Willow�s face was in full bloom. �And no I don�t have a *thing* for Angel. I was just saying that he�s good looking.�

�Uh huh.� Cordelia grinned and looked down at the menu.

�I don�t.� The redhead tried to convince her friend.

�Oh I believe you.� Smiling brightly at Willow, she tired not to laugh at the sour look the witch sent her way.

�Cordelia bite me.�

Cordelia snickered, and let the subject drop.

~~~*~~~

�I don�t like eggs.� Sophie pushed the plate away, her little nose crinkled in disgust.

�Everyone likes eggs.� Lindsey lamely tried to convince the little girl.

�They�re gooey.� Tears started to form at the corner of her eyes.

�Sophie there isn�t anything else here to eat.� Lindsey pleaded for the four-year-old to understand.

�They�re yucky.� Sophie�s voice was rising.

Lindsey clenched his teeth together. �What is it that you want?�

�Cookie Crisp.�

�They don�t have that here. Eat your eggs and maybe we�ll get some Cookie Crisp for tomorrow morning.�

What started as a small whimper turned into a loud wail. Lindsey looked around helplessly as the other restaurant patrons looked his way.

�Okay see his evil, he just made her cry.� Cordelia�s sneered. Starting to stand, Willow�s hand shot out and pulled the brunette back into her seat.

�What do you think you�re doing?�

�He made her cry. That�s all the proof *I* need.� Cordelia pulled her arm from Willow�s grasp.

�Four year olds do that Cordelia. I�m pretty sure it�s not a sign of child abuse.� Cordelia looked unsure as Sophie�s wail grew. �Fine would it help if I went over there?� Cordelia thought about it and nodded.

Willow stood and made her way to the small table, stopping by Lindsey�s chair. Smokey blue eyes looked up at her; panic was the only way she could describe the lawyer�s expression.

�May I?� Willow stammered not believing that she was doing this, but knowing that if given the chance Cordelia would come in guns a blazing. Lindsey nodded.

Going over to the little girl�s side Willow crouched down next to her chair. Sophie kept wailing, but when she saw the stranger next to her she started to wind down. After a few seconds Sophie was sniffing back her tears starring at the redhead.

�Hi, I�m Willow.� Sophie stared at her, and Willow searched her mind on how she was going to do. �What�s your name?�

�S-Sophie.�

�Oh I like that name. Why are you crying?�

�I don�t want ucky eggs.� Sophie gave a short glare in Lindsey�s direction.

�Yeah I used to hate eggs too.� Willow nodded to the little girl. �I used to through the biggest fits.�

�R-Really?� Sophie looked at the grown up next to her, not believing that such a big person would cry.

�Yup, until one day my friend Xander...� Sophie giggled at the strange sounding name.

�Xander that�s funny.� Willow grinned at her and nodded.

�Well he told me that girls weren�t supposed to eat eggs.�

Sophie�s brow puckered, �Why?�

�Well he said that only boys should eat their eggs, because they are stronger than girls are, and they need them to get muscles.�

Sophie�s jaw dropped in outrage. �That�s not true!! I�m stronger then any dumb boy.�

�I�m sure you are. But what if they eat all the eggs and get stronger than you?�

Sophie looked at her plate; her face set in determination. Picking up her fork she tested a small piece of egg. After a moment, she took another small bite. Willow smiled and stood. Lindsey reached out and stopped her from leaving.

�Thank you, you have no idea what a miracle worker you are.� Willow could see the gratitude in his eyes. �I�m new to this.�

Willow nodded dumbly. Her job here was done. What was she supposed to say to the man in front of her? �No problem.� Turning to leave again, Lindsey stepped in front of her.

�Would you join us?� Willow�s eyes popped open, and held back a groan. Lindsey prayed the young redhead would say yes. After Sophie�s little performance he was actually a little nervous at being alone with her.

�A-Actually I was getting ready to leave...I�m a...I have a job interview.� Willow started backing up.

Something clicked in Lindsey�s mind. �How about a nanny position?�

Willow stopped her retreat. �Huh?�

�I need a nanny, and well you�re so good with her.� Lindsey held his breath.

Willow�s eyes flicked over in Cordelia�s direction. What better way to find out more about this guy then being behind the lines? Willow thought a moment. �You don�t know anything about me.�

Lindsey stopped and realized she was right. He had just offered this girl a job watching his daughter, with out knowing a thing about her. �Fine bring a resume and some references on Monday.�

Willow nodded and tried to smile. She knew she was going to regret this. But the little girl was so important to Cordelia. �Okay.�

�Great. Hold on.� Looking around for something to write with Lindsey stopped one of the waitresses. �Here�s my address. Is eight okay?�

Taking the paper Willow nodded, taking the paper. Turning to Sophie she smiled at the little girl who polished her plate. �See you soon Sophie.�

�Bye Willow.� The little girl smiled back. Willow walked away from the pair and outside. Walking a few feet from the cafe�s door she waited for Cordelia to join her. Oh Goddess what had she gotten herself into?