I&#39;m learning to breathe on my own...

No one seems to be around when the doorbell rings, so Cordelia bounces downstairs and answers it, still too shaken up from the crazy weekend to care that she looks like hell warmed over. Her hair's up in a messy ponytail and she's waering an old dark blue pair of too-big sweats, but at least she's clean and comfortable. And not in Vegas anymore.

When she sees Fred standing on the front porch, she grins and throws her arms around her. "You're here! I'm so glad."

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The bag thumps softl on the ground as Fred releases it, freeing her arms to wrap around her friend.

"Cordy!!"

She tugs at her closer, aware that the memory of the moment probally means a bit for to her. This wasn't something she could do a few days ago. Finally pulling away, she picked up the bag and presented it to Cordy.

"For you," Fred announces, smiling. "Though I was actually thinking we might be able to go shopping."

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Kara watches them from the window. She's still feeling sick, but thanks to Darla's disgusting home cure she isn't feeling as sick as she deserves to. She feels something else as she watches Fred and Cordy - maybe resentment, maybe anger, maybe jealousy.

It's hard to tell.

But most of her just wants to be able to be like Cordy is now and hug Fred and have everything be okay.

Everything is okay. And that is Fred.

She presses her face to the glass, something she hasn't done since she was five, and pulls the most grotesque face she can.

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Cordelia takes the bag and nods. "Yeah, shopping sounds great. Let me just go change into something more girly first. It's kind of a full house right now. Oh, and Darla's here. I don't know if you know, or... you know. What anyone's told you. She's human again. Not sure yet if she's good, but she and Kara are pretty close, so we're giving her the benefit of the doubt."

She starts to lead Fred inside, but looks up in time to catch sight of Kara at the window. "Kara!" She laughs and shakes her head. "I guess she's feeling better. Come on in."

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"well, hopefully that is girly enough," Fred announces, nodding at the bag. "I tried to pick what you'd like best, and I didn't exactly have a lot to choose from, which is what really got me thinking about the shopping."

Fred is silent at the mention of Darla, but not dismissive. She simply nods in understanding, almost speaking when she also catches sight of Kara.

Hey there," she grins at Kara, smiling easily as they entered the house. Her eyes glance around quickly before settling on Kara again.

Another small smile.

She had worn the green shirt on purpose.

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"I'll just run up and change real quick." Cordelia nods toward one of the couches in the living room. "Have a seat. I'll be right back."

With her own quick smile in Kara's direction, she dashes up the stairs to get out of those awful sweats once and for all.

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"Hey."

Says Kara - and she turns her attention back to the window, where the glass is smudged and smeared. She's wearing sweats herself, the uniform of the hungover and self pitying, and she uses the arm of her top to rub the glass clean.

"How goes it?"

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Fred grins, watching Cordy making her way up the stairs.

Cordy is making her way up the stairs! Because she can...because she's here. For all of it Fred can't understand why everyone else isn't watching too.

"It goes," Fred shares quickly, with Kara. "Well, it sort of goes."

She studies the girl across from her for a minute.

"How goes it for you?"

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Kara never knew a world without Cordelia - so she can't really appreciate the strangeness of it, the wonder.

"Fine, thanks. How are you?" She says. The words go together in Kara's mind - Fine thanks, how are you. An automatic reply that give when someone asks how you are. Usually you don't even want a reply. You never want an honest one. Problem is Fred has already answered the question.

This is hard. It's one thing on the computer and another thing entirely to see this person who should be right, be so wrong. And maybe Kara begins to understand what happened with Illyria a little. Maybe she began to understand why Wesley would defend her. Because she was all that was left, in the end. And humans are sentimental creatures.

Not that this is the same. This IS Fred. Which is as confusing as hell.

But Kara wants her to be Fred. Her Fred. And that's even worse.

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"I'm..."

Then Fred remembers they did this. She smiles at Kara instead, still watching the stairs.

"I think Cordy and I are going to go shopping," Fred announces to the room. "I was thinking you might want to come too? I know I'd like it if you would."

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She's not sure about that. Shopping seems, well, complicated.

She ignores the question, for the moment, anyway -
"I got postcards but was too busy to send them. Did you want one? You can choose one if you'd like."

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I know I'd really like it if you did," Fred has to add. "I could use the help, and I know Cordy already has a few missions of her own."

Closing a bit of the gap between her and Kara, Fred considers the other girls offer.

"Do you think you could pick one out?"

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"I'm a bit under the weather."

Though thanks to Darla not as sick as she should be.

"Yeah, I can pick you one, I guess. Wait here, I'll go find them."

And then she's almost out of the room before she remembers - she's the hostess, technically.

"Can I get you a drink? And - please take a seat."

She must have been disturbed, distracted, by this - whatever it is, whatever is giving her a weird feeling in her stomach.

The hangover. It's the hang over.

But she must have been feeling off to forget herself like that.

"Can I get you a drink?"

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Feeling a thousand times better now that she's out of those sweats and into something a little more fashionable, Cordy bounces back down the stairs. The clothes are a bit snug, but not too terrible. It's not that she's fat or antyhing. She just... has more curves than Fred.

Right. More curves.

"Okay, I'm back. Did I miss anything?"

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Wow. Fred's clothes are totally tight on Cordy. Cordelia has been living the good life.

"I was just - I was asking - her - if she wanted something to drink or whatever."

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"Oh, right. Are you going shopping with us?" She tugs a little at the top she's wearing. There's not much room for her boobs in it.

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"I don't know. Did you want a drink?"

And, wow. She sounds a bit defensive.

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"Um, no, I'm good." She frowns a little at Kara's tone. "You okay, sweetie?"

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"I'm actually ok."

She isn't sure why she's turning down the offer of food. It's just that way. And now Fred is completely trying not to stare at Cordy's chest, because she'll never be able to look at the shirt the same way. It might even be slightly depressing when she puts it on.

"You could keep it, if you want."

It seems the best idea.

"And please tell Kara she should come with us!"

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Cordelia nods and smiles at Kara. "You really should. It'll be fun!"

But Kara only mutters something about drinks and postcards, then runs upstairs. Shrugging it off, Cordelia turns back to Fred.

"She'll be back, I'm sure."

ooc: Kara's mun had to go for a bit, hence the quick exit. *g*

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Fred's shoulders drop a bit, and she finally takes the offered seat.

And whispers.

"I think I upset her."

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"It's not your fault," Cordelia says as she sits down next to her. "She's still having a hard time with you not being the you she knew. If that makes any sense. But hey, if it doesn't, at least it rhymed."

She laughs, then shrugs a little. "It'll be okay. It might take time, but she'll warm up to you again. She had a rough weekend, too, which probably isn't helping."

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"I know, I do. And I...it hasn't exactly been easy...but..."

It's nicer when Kara smiles. It was a lot being said really, for Fred. At least right now. It probally had something to do with Cordy.

It did have something to do with Cordy.

"Right," Fred tries to brighten up.

"Vegas. Rat Poison."

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Cordelia groans at the reminder. "Tequila. Almost as bad."

She holdls up her hand and looks at the plain gold band there. "I'm never drinking again."

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