Buffy discovers Cordelia in the park, and finds a friend in the Ice Queen.
 

~These are semi vignettes, based on the lyrics for "For You I Will", by Monica.  The vignettes are based on friendship, love and togetherness, and it's my tribute to the Scooby Gang. Warning, sappy, tragic, and very, very sad.  This isn't a happy fic. I'll be posting it as I get it done, meaning I 'm not sure when it will be finished.

 The huddled form at the edge of the park startled me, and I quickly checked my watch. It was getting late, any one with any brains shouldn't be out this late.  I squinted my eyes and looked closer, and felt my form stiffen.

The figure was crying.

"Cordelia?" She stiffened, and wiping her tears away carefully, she looked behind her, spotting and recognizing me immediately.

"Buffy." She said softly.  "Hi." Her voice had lost it's edge. There was no animosity, and I felt my heart beat quicken.

I looked at the former Ice Queen, she didn't bother to hold her tears, she just merely looked ahead of her blankly.

I felt at a loss for words. Not even Xander had ever seen her like this, we all thought she had been this heart less bitch, even me, who had seen more into her than anyone. I *was* her, at one time, and I had fooled myself into thinking that maybe I wasn't.

But the wounded eyes wouldn't lie, and even thought I was in no condition to nurse any other problems, I found myself sitting down next to her.

"What are you doing here, Cor?" I asked softly.

She shrugged. "Waiting for Godot."

"What? Waiting for who??"

Her face was grim, but she smiled.  "Waiting for Godot. It's a play. Very funky.  It was my dad's favorite play.  He used to drag us to the Broadway production everytime we went to New York."

I only nodded, she never looked at me, she just kept talking.  "We hated going, me and mom, it was the most boring play, but he would force us, we would get all dressed up, and then I would complain about being bored, mom would pretend to be sick, dad would scream and yell at everyone about the crappy service, and we'd do it again next year."

I had no idea why she was choosing to share this with me, but feeling slightly emphatic, I only remained quiet.   "And?" I finally prodded when she chose to stay silent.

"And it's not gonna happen this year." She said mechanically.  "Cause Dad and Mom went to jail."

For a moment, utter shock filled me. "What? Cordelia- I thought-"

"You mean Xander didn't tell you?" Cordelia's eyes shined for a minute, and she shrugged. "Wow, the dork actually did something nice and didn't tell anyone?"

"Cordy."

"My parents are in jail Buffy, and I'm broke. That's it in a very un neat nutshell."

There was silence as my thoughts whirled, and I could say nothing, do nothing as the former May Queen that once made my life a living hell calmly and methodically told me that everything that had ever meant anything to her was gone.

For a moment, my mind flashed back to three years ago, when I had come home from my first slay,torn and dirty, innocence lost, my parents lashing at each other in the background. My very world broke then, and at that moment, I knew that Cordelia felt exactly as I did.

But she didn't lose it for the greater good. This was her life, that right now, just sucked because someone up there decided that her life should suck.

I could think of nothing to say, the assurances that it would be all better was stupid to me, because I knew that she wouldn't believe me, and even me, in my pessimistiec haze since Angel had departed, could n't even gather the gumption in even  a semi light hearted tone.

"I'm sorry." I knew that I didnt sound pathetic, and she didn't take it that way. She only nodded, never once looking at me.

"I'm moving. To La. I've got nothing here."

I swallowed, gazing at the girl who had risked life and limb for us, for Sunnydale, even when she had been betrayed, even when we had fought so harshly against her.  "You've got us, Cordy." I said honestly.

She did look at me then, a small glance, and I caught sight of her clouded eyes, hazy bits of moisture.  "I know." She said after moment.  "I think I've always known." She gave me a weak grin.  "But I need to do this, Buffy. I need to make it on my own.  Things are too confusing for me here."

"So LA is your Sunnydale."

"What?"

I  gave her a pensive stare. "I left LA because things were too confusing, I thought, and Mom thought, that here, would be different.  Just be careful, cause it wasn't."

"I know." The answer was low and fearful.

There was silence, and suddenly without thinking,I laid my head on Cordelia's shoulder, at the moment all the past anger, all the past bitter fights and torrid arguments, all the hurtful words that flew from the both of was gone in an aura of unity.   She and I were one person then, I began to realize how much I had in common, how much I had envied and despised her, because I thought she had managed to achieve the life I would never have.

But fate was never that clever, or that kind. Because here she was, in my position, three years ago, with even less support than I had.

"You and I are the same, Cor." I said swiftly, looking to the same nonexistant place of refuge she was seeking.   "Never wanted to admit it."

"Me neither." She responded.   "Don't tell anyone I ever said this,Buffy, cause if you do, I'll kick your ass, but I've always admired you, freakish and all."

I let a small grin escape me, and then we both just quieted, both of us not speaking, knowing we didn't need to.

At that moment, we were both right, and for a few minutes, we were of the same mind, the same thoughts, we were one.

That night, we finally became friends.