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Part 2
Cordelia had been quick to invite Helen in upon learning this little tidbit, inviting her to sit and offering her some coffee, to which the elder woman was quick to respond, "As long as it's not last week's leftovers."
Cordelia laughed. "I can't believe Doyle told you that one. You use recycled coffee grounds for one week, and no one will let you live it down!" She paused, quickly starting up a pot, then turned and settle on the couch across from her visitor, growing slightly somber. "I miss him very much, even though I've only known him a few months. I can't imagine what it must be like for you."
Helen nodded, saddened. "It's hard," she admitted. "Nothing hurts as much as the pain of losing a child, especially when they're still so young, with so many years left unexplored." She sighed, setting the oversized purse she'd been carrying on the cushion beside her. Leaning forward, Helen said softly, "At least he got to spend the time he had left among friends, especially one he adored so much." She broke out into a small smile. "Doyle thought very highly of you, Cordelia. I don't know if you're aware of just how much you meant to him."
Cordelia bowed her head, feeling tears rise to her eyes. "I'd like to," she said after a moment of silence. A pause, then Cordelia launched into a lengthy monologue with, "I've dated a lot of men through high school and even recently. And I don't think any of them became as dear to me as Doyle did... Not even Xander Harris, the only real serious guy I went out with... Your son did a lot for me, in between finding me a fancy new apartment and... and helping me get rid of a poltergeist from said apartment." Cordelia paused again, looking up. "And he never expected anything in return, save for the occasional thank you. Even to this day." She bit her lip, feeling warm inside from talking this over. "The part that really gets me is, I owe him my life and I never got a chance to thank him for that final act."
Helen waited patiently while Cordelia went to grab two coffee mugs and serve up the beverages, then leaned forward, taking a sip. "I think he knew you would've anyway," she answered. "And maybe, I have a way that you can tell him so." Helen set the mug on the table before her, reaching for her bag and opening it.
Looking a tiny bit uncomfortable, the elder woman said, "It's become something of a tradition in my family, starting with my grandmother, Doyle's great-grandmother... The holidays are very important to us, in that they call for family gatherings, for that special closeness that relatives share. And every Christmas, someone in the family would make a new ornament to decorate the tree with. This year was my sister's turn, but--" Helen removed an object wrapped in newspaper from her bag, opening it to present it to Cordelia. "--I found this in Doyle's apartment when I got the courage to go there. I put some minor finishing touches on it myself, but..." Helen handed the ornament to the younger woman. "I thought he might like you to have it."
Cordelia stared in awe at the beautiful ceramic star, admiring the detail that had gone into it. There were six alternate red and green points extended outward from a center painted in silver, each point adorned with a tiny color coordinated Christmas light. "Wow," she whispered in wonder. "It's amazing... I never figured Doyle as an artist as well."
Helen smiled warmly. "He was very talented, my son was, and very patient. I can only imagine how long it must have taken him to put this together." She stood abruptly. "Well, come on. Let's see how it looks on that tree of yours."
Cordelia nodded, accompanying Helen to the tree and climbing onto the stepping stool to put the ornament on top. Clipping it in place, Cordelia then worked at plugging in the attached cord. Once that was accomplished, she and Helen stepped back to get a better look.
A lone tear escaped Cordelia's eye at this juncture, her spirits lifted as she gazed at this one last thing Doyle had left behind. As if sensing what the younger woman was thinking, Helen stepped up behind her, clasping her shoulders lightly. "If he were here right now, what do you think you'd be telling him right now?" Helen asked.
Cordelia bit her lip, hesitating for a very brief moment. "Thank you, Doyle," she said softly, just loud enough for Helen to hear. And, as odd as it seemed, a great weight lifted from her shoulders as she spoke those words, almost as if he too could hear her and was smiling in gratitude.
Helen moved so she was facing Cordelia, meeting the younger woman's eyes with her own. As if reading what Cordy was thinking, she said, "Maybe he is here, watching over us. It's okay to speak your mind to him as if he were, Cordelia. It just may lead the way to making you feel better." Cordelia thanked the elder woman, engaging her in a little more conversation about Doyle and what he was like growing up. Finally, Helen announced she'd best be getting home to spend Christmas Eve with her family. She was kind enough to extend an invitation, but Cordelia politely declined, stating that Angel would be back and that she had plans to spend the evening with him.
It wasn't until ten in the evening that Angel finally returned from his mission, which gave Cordelia plenty of time to wrap the gifts she had previously picked out for him. She greeted him with a big grin, asking how things had gone with Miss Susan Jeffries.
"She's fine," Angel replied, removing his jacket and hanging it up. "Apparently, the big danger was that two muggers saw fit to assault her as she was leaving the clinic to walk to her car... A good thing I got there in time; otherwise, Susan would have been shot... and she had three kids waiting for her at home."
Cordelia smiled. "So, someone else's Christmas was saved," she stated in an upbeat tone. Leading him towards the living room, gazing up at the star, she added, "Maybe ours will be just as promising." She paused, throwing a glance at Angel and saying, "And here's hoping that we'll have many more in the years to come. All three of us." Off of Angel's skeptical look, Cordelia filled him in on the visit with Helen, watching as his gaze darted to the new star as she reached the last bit of the story. And, above all else, it was worth it to see his eyes light up with the same amount of wonder she had experienced earlier.
Later, wrapped in a pink terrycloth bathrobe and prepared to spend the night in the bedroom courtesy of Angel (he graciously agreed to take the couch this time), Cordelia only had three words for him as she went off to sleep. "Merry Christmas, Angel."
He looked up, giving a half smile after a moment as he noted the time to be after midnight. "Merry Christmas, Cordelia," Angel answered, despite feeling a touch of irony at the words. *But,* he thought, *If a half demon can leave behind a Christmas legacy and a mortal woman can find peace of mind, then maybe a good vampire can contribute something as well.*