Title: Drive

Author: SLMurphy

Disclaimer: Joss owns these characters, not I. If I did, the PTB would require Angel to be naked while saving humankind. I also don't own any ice cream chains, though the amount of $$$ I spend at them...

Spoilers: None

Type: A/C, as it should be

Distribution: You like? You want? Take! It's yours! Just let me visit.

Feedback: Really, you are intelligent people. Must you ask? [email protected]

This is just a quick-fic, kids! Tonight was a beautiful Indian Summer night, top down on my Jeep, and a little shoulder muse whispering "what-ifs" in my ear, is the cause for this.

*****

Drive

*****

Angel glanced away from the winding, darkened road to look at the woman seated next to him. Her artfully streaked chestnut hair whipped back from her exquisite features in the convertible's man-made wind. The full moonlight sparkled her dark eyes, danced playfully across smooth cheekbones, glistened her lips which parted to reveal pearly teeth in a smile that could have taken his breath away- if he had any to take. It was a face he knew well.

She laughed, tipping her head back on a slender neck, lifting her arms to the sky, fingers spread as if to touch the very moon above.

He believed she could, if she truly wished to.

"Angel", she breathed out on the end of a relaxed sigh. "It is beyond beautiful here."

He again looked from the road, only to study the lines of quiet pines that framed the road ahead and behind them. The city lights sparkled and shone with a life of their own far below, as they climbed. Air, crisp and clean, surrounded them, without the clogging odors his heightened sense of smell had become accustomed to in the streets of LA.

She turned slightly in her seat and laid a hand lightly on his thigh.

He struggled not to suck in an unnecessary breath at her unexpected, but not unwelcome- never unwelcome, touch.

"Thank you, Angel."

His quick grin and sly wink betrayed the deeper emotions he struggled to keep hidden. It was not an unfamiliar battle... but was one he feared he was losing a bit more with each day, each look, each touch.

"You're very welcome, Cordy." His smile turned mischievous. "Besides, I figured Wesley deserved a break."

She pulled her hand back with a feigned hurt expression. He mourned the loss of her touch, but reveled in the humor flashing in her eyes. "Now whats THAT supposed to mean, buster!"

He chuckled and turned his full attention to the sharp curves he knew were approaching rapidly.

Cordelia used his divided attention to study him unabashedly. The moonlight did wonderful things to his pale skin, making him seem to exist for their light alone. His hair, dark and full had long since lost any styling attempt and waved in disarray on the nape of his neck. His matching brows raised as he felt her gaze travel over his each feature, but he dared not turn the soulful eyes to look at her. Eyes she knew could kill with a glance, heal with concern, beg without words, and love without touching. He could never hide much with those eyes she knew so well. His lips were almost as fascinating, firm enough to be utterly masculine, yet capable of a softness that pleaded with her to touch and taste, to match with her own. Lips that were, right now, quirking up at the corners.

"Cordelia..." he warned.

"Mmm, yes?" She flashed her own grin at his obvious unease, pleased to have made him squirm a bit at the close scrutiny. After all, he'd been studying her almost constantly since he suggested a drive some two hours earlier.

He sighed as the road widened and the curves eased, allowing him to smile at his seer and best friend. The amusement in the gesture negating the warning. "We're almost into Bishop, do you need to stop anywhere? Are you hungry?"

She shook her head and settled back into her seat.

Angel slowed as she watched as the sign stating they'd entered the small mountain town, population 568, pass.

She hummed, looking at the old, well loved houses that lined the street. Thinking the small town reminded her of some of Sunnydale's better areas. Ones that realtors still listed as "With small town atmosphere and charm," and her favorite "Great place to raise a family!"

Shaking her head she spotted a Baskin Robbin's Ice Cream sign a few blocks ahead into the business district of the quiet town.

"Oooh! Angel!" She started bouncing in her seat. "Over there!" She then grabbed his arm and pulled in the direction she wanted him to look, while still bouncing excitedly.

He stifled the urge to imitate her enthusasium and followed her outstretched arm. He spotted what had her brimming with joy immediately and dutifully approached the parking lot of the ice cream parlor.

She hopped over the doorframe and leaned in to grab her purse from the backseat, giving him a quick, unexpected view. He was grateful for the inability to blush as she straightened up.

"Come on Angel! This is, it's- BASKIN ROBBINS!" She said the name almost as a prayer. Indeed, as if the institute was a religion unto itself. "Lets go!" She trotted around the car and grabbed his hand as he was exiting the convertible in the correct manner.

He laughed as he allowed himself to be tugged into the establishment, under the neon orange and pink awnings and past the sign that claimed they had more flavors than mother nature ever intended.

Cordelia practically clapped her hands as she pursed the menu above the counter. "What are you gonna have, Angel?"

"Um..."

She tore her gaze away from the glass counter filled with exotic flavors of ice-cream. "Come on, Angel. You HAVE to have something. I thought you liked ice cream? There are 31... count them, 31 flavors here! There *has* to be something."

"I'll get something. You go ahead."

They walked out, happily, with Angel holding a fudge sundae with cherry vanilla ice cream. Cordelia took nibbles of her peanut butter chocolate and very berry strawberry double dip waffle cone.

Angel cringed at the combination, as did the teenage girl who served behind the counter. But, as long as he didn't have to eat it and it kept the fascinating look of ecstasy on his seer's face, he wouldn't complain.

He suggested, around bites of his own treat, that they take their desserts and head to a small park he knew of on the outskirts of the town.

Cordelia nodded in happy agreement.

The drove to the far side of the town and within minutes were swallowed by the dense pines once more.

Angel turned onto a small, one lane road, trying to ignore the almost purring woman next to him.

He drove to the top of a bluff, in a small clearing that had a beautiful, unfettered view of the moon rising above them. He turned off the car and exited, then walked to Cordy's side and opened her door.

Holding out his hand he smiled at his best friend's enraptured expression. "Oh Angel. This is soooooooooo gooooooood."

He stifled his own groan at her subconsciously husky, sensual voice. "Come on, Cor, before you make a mess of the car."

She grinned, licked at a drip running down her cone, and allowed him to help her out of the car.

He took a seat on a familiar outcropping of rocks.

"Angel!" Cordelia gasped, looking around for the first time. "This spot is beautiful! How did you know-?"

He shrugged as she sat next to him. "I found it when I first moved to LA. Purely by accident." He took another mouthful and looked away from her out into the night sky, watching bats circle and catch insects just above the trees. "I've-I come here when I need to get away, sometimes."

"I didn't realize..." her tone hushed as she followed the bat's flights as well.

"I've never brought anyone else here."

"Oh." She replied, stupidly, thrown off guard by his admission. "This place is beautiful."

"Yes."

She hesitated for a second, unsure of his reaction before she reached out her free hand and threaded her fingers through his. "Thank you, Angel. For sharing this with me."

He turned his hand, palm up and squeezed hers. His eyes gentle and soft in the bathe of moonlight. "You're welcome, Cora."

She felt her own eyes prick with tears and she smiled.

The silence settled between them until Angel broke it with, "Uh, Cordy, your ice cream is melting-"

"Oh!" She jerked her hand back and worked furiously with her small pink tongue to capture the drips of melting strawberry ice cream that threatened to make everything a sticky mess.

Angel's eyes danced with amusement as he watched her fight to regain control of the cone's contents. Setting down his non-messy cup, he held napkins in hand as he stood in front of his seer and friend.

She smiled, victorious, as she regained mastery and found no sticky pink spots on her clothing.

Angel chuckled at her grin and stepped closer, using the napkin in his hand to wipe at the smears that moved from her cone to her face during the battle. As a mother does a messy child, he gently wiped a smear from her cheek. Then caught a drip on her chin, wiping that away.

The both broke into laughter as he brought the napkin to the tip of her nose and he muttered, "Kodak moment."

The mirth faded in his eyes as he noticed a small, sweet, pink streak near the corner of her lips.

Her breath caught on the laughter as she watched his eyes go hot, staring at her mouth. An answering heat rose so swiftly in her that it stunned her, and caused his nostrils to flare in response to the instantous change in her body.

His dark, heated gaze met her stunned, aroused eyes and he saw the acceptance in them.

Slowly he leaned forward, bracing his hands to either side of her hips. His tongue flicked out, touching the spot, lapping so very slowly at the sweet residue.

She gasped slightly at the initial contact, lips parting in surprise, then groaning as the wicked tongue traced her lower lip. A fine trembling started in her and she braced an arm behind her as he moved closer, his hands taking residence on either side on her nape. She groaned again as his lips fleetingly brushed hers, teasing, light as a butterfly, as her own imagination. He did it again, sliding a hand to tangle in her hair. As her moan became frustrated he slanted his lips fully across hers, giving her that which they both needed.

She parted willingly, sparing with her own tongue, tasting his unique flavor with that of strawberry. The erotic taste drove her further and he growled at the rising heat, setting both hands into her hair he held her still for his onslaught. The night spun, danced, then faded from existence until all there was left was the touch, the feel, of heated flesh and cool caresses.

The need for air eventually broke the embrace, though Cordelia would have gladly suffocated in his kiss. He pulled back before she lost consciousness and slid his fingers out of her dark tresses to gently cup her face. And waited for her to open the eyes he'd come to love and need beyond all reason.

When she did, his unbeating heart whirled and landed in his throat at the pure emotion that shone from them. He felt he could see to her very soul and that soul was filled with him.

They spoke simultaneously. "Cora-"

"Angel-"

Then smiled at one another.

Angel took an unnecessary breath. Then stroked his thumb across satin skin. "I love you, Cordelia Chase."

She gasped, tears filled her eyes and sparkled on her lashes.

"I-" she managed to say around the lump in her throat. "Angel, I-"

The vision hit as she screamed out as much in protest as in pain.

He grabbed her, pulling her away from the rocks and cradling her in his arms.

Her violent shaking ceased after agonizing seconds, leaving her trembling and crying in his arms in the aftermath.

Once rested enough she allowed him to help her to her feet then hold her as she swayed.

His hand stroked her hair as she leaned against his chest, the trembling still evident in her slender form. "Cora, what is it?"

"We have to go back, Angel." She pulled back slightly to look into his worry filled eyes.

"As soon as you are okay, Cordy."

"No, Angel." She whispered. "We have to go back..." The pain in her eyes exceeded the physical pain of her vision.

Understanding dawned on him in slow, agonizing waves. He allowed his own tears to stain his cheeks, which she quickly and gently wiped away, but would not forget.

He nodded and released her, making sure she could stand alone.

Then they returned to the car, and without words, headed home.

*****

End.