Title: A New Dress.

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy & 20th Century Fox are the owners not I.

By: Lorna Dominey.

Summery: This is a ATS fic. Cordelia needs a new dress for a party and well she gets one.

Spoilers: None really but it would make for a interesting show I think.

Distribution: It stays here.

Author's Note: Feedback please.

Cordelia stood there counting the money in her wallet. She really needed a new dress for the party she was going to this Saturday. She didn't have enough money to buy the one she wanted.

Cordelia sighed and glanced at Angel's office door and shook her head not this time don't want to make him feel bad if he doesn't have it to give.

Cordelia looked up when Lupe the cleaning woman came in. "Morning Lupe, what can I do for you?"

Lupe smiled, "My money came to get paid, Senor Angel told me to come this morning."

Cordelia sighed and knocked on Angel's door before sticking her head inside. Angel sat at his desk looking through some files.

"Yes Cordelia?"

Cordelia frowned, "Lupe is here for her pay."

Angel opened up a drawer and handed her an envelope. "Here make sure she gets it.

Cordelia took the envelope and took it out to Lupe, "Here you go."

Lupe smiled, "Senorita Cordelia looks sad."

Cordelia shrugged her shoulders, "I need a new dress for a party but don't have enough money."

Lupe smiled and looked around, "My sister she has a dress shop she has many pretty dresses real cheap, you go look, it's just the next street over Rita's."

Cordelia looked at Lupe and smiled, "Thanks I'll go check it out this afternoon."

Lupe smiled and nodded as she left the office. Cordelia sat down and thought about what Lupe had said well who knows.

Cordelia stood up and yelled, "Angel going out will be back later." Cordelia quickly left the office and headed for Rita's.

Part 2

Cordelia found Rita's Dress Shop and opened the door and went in.Looking around she smiled not bad. Cordelia stood there a moment trying to figure out where to start looking first. A woman came out of the backroom and smiled at Cordelia.

Cordelia smiled back, "Are you Rita?"

The woman smiled, "No she is at lunch, maybe I can help you."

Cordelia sighed, "I need a party dress for Saturday, something in red or black."

The woman smiled, "I am Gracie and the fancy dresses are over here."

Cordelia smiled and followed the woman to the back of the store, "Wow there is some nice things here."

Cordelia looked at a price tags and smiled even more. Cordelia looked through the racks and found two red, three black and one dark blue dress.

"I'd like to try these on." Gracie smiled, "This way and I think we might have a dress or two in back that you might like."

Cordelia followed Gracie to the dressing room. Cordelia started trying on the dresses. First one too tight in the butt, second two tight in the bust line. Third, one of the black ones a maybe, Cordelia tried on the rest and was left with one black and the blue one.

Gracie knocked on the door, "Here is a pretty red dress."

Cordelia opened the dressing room door and stared at the red dress. It was gorgeous and perfect. Now only if it'll fit. Cordelia slipped the red silk dress over her head and it fit like it was made just for her. It showed off what she had to perfection. Cordelia carefully took the dress off and put on her own clothes and stepped out of the dressing room.

Cordelia smiled, "I'll take this one it's perfect."

Gracie rang up the sale and smiled at Cordelia, "Have fun at the party."

Cordelia grinned, "In this dress I don't doubt it and thanks for all your help."

Cordelia quickly headed back to the offices of Angel Investigation quite happy with her purchase.

Part 3

Saturday night Cordelia was downstairs getting ready for the party in Angel's apartment. She didn't have any hot water at home. Angel and Wesley were waiting for her in the offices upstairs. Playing chess of all things.

Cordelia stepped into the room and both men gasped. She was stunning. The dress clung to her body in all the right places. She seemed to almost glow.

Both Angel and Wesley suddenly felt sexually aroused by Cordelia it was almost painful.

Cordelia swirled around, "Well how do I look will I knock them dead or what?"

Angel gulped, "You look fantastic, never better."

Wesley fidgeted with his collar, "My oh my Cordelia you will be the envy of all the women at the party."

Cordelia beamed, "Thanks guys."

The door opened and Stevie from upstairs a lawyer for gay rights and other injustices of the sexually oppressed stepped in. He stopped and stared at Cordelia,

"Oh Miss. Chase you look divine that dress is so alluring."

Cordelia smiled, "Thanks well gotta go, see you later."

Soon after she left all three men shook their heads.

Angel smiled at Stevie, "What do you need?"

Stevie looked over at Angel, "Ah huh?Oh yeah man that was weird I've never had a sexual attraction of any kind for a woman. I need oh light bulbs I need two."

Wesley frowned and pondered his own reaction to Cordelia. He had feelings for her but never so strong or intense.

Angel stood and went over to a supply closet and found two light bulbs. He handed them to Stevie,

"Here will these do?"

Stevie smiled, "Yes perfect well later guys."

After he'd left Angel turned to Wesley, "Did you have an instant sexual arousal for Cordelia, cause I did and that's never happened before?"

Wesley nodded, "Yes it has me puzzled."

Angel nodded, in agreement.

Part 4

Angel and Wesley were sitting there discussing the possibilities of why
they had been so aroused by Cordelia.

Angel shook his head, "My guess the dress."

A voice spoke, "You're right it's the dress Senor Angel."

Angel looked up, "Lupe, what do you mean?"

Lupe rolled her eyes and shook her head, "May God help us the dress is bad very bad, my sister Rita, can explain it."

A taller, slimmer version of Lupe stood there and sighed, "I was not there when Senorita Cordelia came into my store and bought that red dress, it is cursed I don't know how it came with the store along with Gracie she's a ghost sort of and she sold the dress to Senorita Cordelia."

Angel stood up, "If the dress is cursed why do you keep it?"

Rita wrung her hands together, "I have tried but nothing works, even a priest could not destroy it, Gracie only laughed at our efforts."

Wesley looked at the two women, "What exactly will happen to Cordelia?"

Rita rolled her eyes, "She will die that is the only way to remove the dress when the one who is wearing it dies, it comes back to the shop."

Wesley looked over at Angel, "We must do something."

Angel nodded and frowned, "Is there a time limit?"

Lupe nodded, "Midnight, we call the dress the Cinderella dress."

Angel glanced over at the clock it was 9:15 almost.

He turned to Wesley, "Let's get to work we don't have much time."

Angel turned to the two women, "Thank you for coming and telling us, we'll take it from here."

Lupe turned to Rita and nodded, "I told you he was different now let's go."

Rita nodded and the two women left the office. Angel and Wesley immediately went to work researching possibilities of a cursed dress and how to destroy it.

Part 5

Cordelia entered the house where the party was being held and sighed. There were several famous people in attendance. Cordelia made her way over to the refreshment table and got herself something to drink.She was hot and thirsty. Several men started mingling around her. Cordelia smiled at them wondering what was going on.

A tall blonde stepped up, "Come let's dance."

Cordelia frowned, "Ah there isn't any music."

The blonde smiled, "It does not matter a woman of such beauty and grace I must dance with you and hold you close."

Another man stepped up, "My dear lady is this man bothering you, if so I can take care of him for you it would be an honor."

Cordelia smiled, "No really it's ok ah gotta go I see someone I need to talk to."

Cordelia took off for her friend Lisa, "Oh man I just got hit on big time, it was so weird the way those men were acting."

Lisa stared at Cordelia, "Leave me alone, get away from me why are you here anyway?"

Cordelia looked askew at Lisa, "Ah sorry sure see me leaving."

Cordelia fled to the other side of the room. Men stared or followed her. The women glared at her.

Cordelia was feeling very nervous and hot. She stepped out on the patio and looked around. Not very many people out here thank goodness. Cordelia's beeper went off she sighed and looked at it. Angel it figures. Cordelia left the party and headed back to Angel Investigation wondering what Angel wanted.

Part 6

Cordelia walked into the offices of A.I. and noticed Angel and Wesley deep in research mode.

"Ok guys what's up?"

Angel jumped up and went over to Cordelia and grabbed her by the shoulders, "Are you all right, any problems or odd things happening to you?"

Cordelia frowned, "Well men were swarming all over me and women seemed to hate my guts, I am rather warm and thirsty, why?"

Angel closed his eyes the dress was affecting him again, "It's the dress it's cursed, it makes you very desirable to men and makes women hate and despise you."

Cordelia's eyes opened wide, "Eww get it off me now."

Cordelia grabbed at the dress and began tugging at it.

Angel reached out and stopped her, "It won't come off until well midnight and you ah well die."

Cordelia grabbed Angel, "No don't say that you're Angel you can do stuff you can make this dress go away you have to help me I don't want to die."

Cordelia started crying.

Angel pulled her into his arms and held her close, "I'm trying, I don't want you to die either I care about you too much to lose you."

Wesley watched the two of them feeling rather helpless at the moment. He sighed and went back to the book he'd been reading.

Part 7

Angel finally got Cordelia some what calmed down and began his research anew. He kept looking over at her as she sat at her desk looking through sites on the computer that might be of use. Wesley looked up it was 10:25. He sighed they didn't have long. He turned the page just as the phone rang he jumped then answered it.

"Hello oh Willow hello oh sure one moment."

Wesley looked over at Angel, "It's Willow did you call her?"

Angel looked up, "I emailed her, hand me the phone."

Angel took the phone from Wesley. After a few minutes and a very intense look Angel hung up the phone. He looked at Wesley then Cordelia.

Angel stood and went over to Cordelia, "Willow gave me an idea that might work, you've got to die in order for the dress to be removed so that's what you do die, then we can bring you back."

Cordelia stared up at Angel, "What die how oh no mister you aren't turning me into a vampire I like looking in mirrors and seeing myself, I don't like blood."

Angel laughed, "Cordelia no not a vampire not that you wouldn't make a sexy one but I like you as you are all warm and oh...."

Angel stopped and stared at Cordelia.

She smiled at him, "Fine not a vampire but how?"

Angel picked up a list he'd written as he spoke to Willow, "I'll be back real soon have a few supplies to pick up."

Angel leaned down and kissed Cordelia on the top of her head, "Don't worry you'll be fine I promise."

Cordelia nodded, "Ok but I better be or I'll haunt you for the rest of your undead life."

Angel chuckled and took off for the nearest magic supplies store.

Part 8

Angel returned about an hour later. He looked over at Wesley then at Cordelia.

"Let's go downstairs we don't have much time."

Wesley stood and nodded, he glanced over at Cordelia and smiled.

Cordelia sighed and stood she looked at Angel, "Please is this the only way?"

Angel nodded, "I'm afraid so. I asked Abraham and he even agreed it was the only way. He is the one who made the mixture you'll need to drink and told me how to bring you back. Now I trust him he's a good mage."

Cordelia nodded, she'd dealt with him before and knew he could be trusted. Angel headed for the elevator with Cordelia and Wesley right behind him.

Once downstairs, Angel went into his bedroom area and laid few things out.

Angel turned to Cordelia, "Cordelia come lay down on my bed, ah by the way what are you wearing under that dress?"

Cordelia stared, "Huh...oh...a black lace bra and a black lace thong."

Angel frowned, "Fine, hope you don't mind but I'll have to touch you and so will Wes in order to bring you back."

Cordelia sighed, "I don't care what you have to do just don't let me stay dead."

Cordelia laid down on Angel's bed and looked up at him, trust and fear both in her eyes.

Angel turned to Wes, "Stand there and when I tell you to give her mouth-to-mouth you can do that?"

Wesley stood up straight, "Yes I can I just finished a course in first aide at the fire department."

Angel smiled, "Good."

Angel picked up a small red vial and popped the cork out of the top.

he looked at Cordelia, "Here drink this."

Cordelia took the vial and sniffed the contents. She looked up at Angel before putting the vial to her lips and drinking.

Part 9

Cordelia gasped and then shuddered all over. Angel watched closely he knew he was watching Cordelia die. After she did he had three minutes according to Abraham to bring her back. Angel picked up Cordelia's wrist and felt the pulse slowing down. He was scared about the whole idea of losing her.

Angel heard her take one last gasp. He heard and felt the last heartbeat. He waited and watched as the dress seemed to melt away and disappear.

Angel reached over and picked up a rather wicked looking needle. He filled it from another vial. He turned and quickly plunged the needle into Cordelia's heart pumping the liquid into the heart.

Wesley jumped when he saw what Angel was doing, "Now Angel?"

Angel nodded, "Yes give her your breath."

Wesley quickly did everything he'd learned about CPR. He watched as Angel gave Cordelia's chest several hard thumps. Angel gave a sigh of relief when Cordelia gasped and started panting trying to get her breath.

Angel urging her, "That's it Cordelia breath come on baby you can do it."

Cordelia opened her eyes and looked around wildly She was a bit disoriented, she focused in on Angel and smiled.

"Did it work?"

Angel was so happy he grabbed Cordelia and hugged her tightly, "Yes it did, oh thank goodness it did."

Cordelia pushed Angel away, "Hey don't crush me."

Angel smiled, "Sorry but I was one nervous vampire I couldn't lose you You mean so much to me."

Cordelia stared into Angel's deep brown eyes and smiled.

Part 10

Wesley stood back and waited while Cordelia and Angel hugged each other.

"I hate to interrupt but the dress is still out there."

Angel sighed and turned to Wesley, "You're right, let's go see if we can find it."

Cordelia sat up, "Do you want me to help?"

Angel turned back to her and gently brushed and errant hair off her face, "No stay here and rest."

Cordelia smiled, "I think I will."

Wesley and Angel quickly made their way over to Rita's dress shop. There were lights on and Angel could see the two women inside. He knocked lightly on the door and Lupe came and unlocked the door. She let Angel and Wesley in.

Rita was clearly upset, "Oh no Senorita Cordelia she is dead?"

Angel smiled, "No she's not she'll be ok it's the dress I have come for."

Lupe looked at her sister then back at Angel, "She's not dead but the dress it come back."

Angel glanced around, "Cordelia died long enough for the dress to disappear, I was able to revive her, now the dress?"

Rita sighed and shook her head, "That is why Gracie and the dress disappeared."

Wesley frowned, "Disappeared?"

Lupe nodded, "The dress come back Gracie was hanging it up she all of a sudden screamed and then she disappeared with the dress in her hands."

Angel sighed and turned to Wesley, "I guess that there is nothing else we can do?"

Wesley nodded, "Yes I guess you're right."

Angel turned to Lupe and Rita, "I wish to thank you both for letting us know about the dress."

Lupe grinned, "I like you and the girl."

Angel turned to Wes, "Let's get back to Cordelia and let her know what's happened."

Wesley turned and opened the door Angel followed him as he stepped out into the night.

At the building Wesley turned to Angel, "I think I'll go on home I'm rather bushed."

Angel smiled, "Yeah well see you in the morning."

Wesley got on his motorcycle and drove off. Angel went back inside and found Cordelia curled up sound asleep in his bed.

Angel took off his boots and crawled in bed with her. H pulled her into his arms. He'd nearly lost her tonight and that had scared him deeply.

The End