This is a really, really loose interpretation of the prompt. I apologize. Timelinewise, season 4 of Angel, and sometime after season 3 of TVD I guess.
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When Cordelia comes back from the realm of the Higher Beings, she's different.
It's not just the amnesia, though that certainly throws Stefan off. He wonders what did it, if it was a medical after effect of changing realms, or something done to her. He's had memories forced from his head before, he can't help but think that something similar happened. He doesn't want to leave her like that, but Damon calls him away. He's needed in Mystic Falls.
"I'll be back soon," He promises her, hugging her. He doesn't want to upset her in this state, so it's all that he allows himself.
"Okay," She whispers. She sounds alien. Cold. But he supposes it's because she doesn't remember who he is.
At least that's what he tells himself.
-
Next time he visits LA, she has her memories back. He's happy, ecstatic even, to see that she's okay. Or so he thinks. But when he draws her close, when he kisses her, she freezes up in his arms.
"I can't do this anymore, Stefan," She whispers.
"Why?" Because he doesn't understand. Something's not adding up. Something doesn't make sense here, and he can't quite figure out what.
"I don't love you anymore." Her words are sharp. And while Cordelia's always been honest in all the time he's known her, she's never been deliberately cruel like this. It feels like she stabbed him in the gut.
"I don't believe you." He challenges her, placing his hands on her cheeks, lifting her face up so their eyes would meet one another's. He's hoping to find answers in those depths. He doesn't.
"When I was in the Higher Realm, they showed me what you were like. What you used to do. Do you really think I could love a Ripper like you?"
He'd learn later on she gave a similar speech to Angel about his time as Angelus. That she was playing everyone. But in this moment, he doesn't know that. He doesn't know anything yet, except that the Cordelia he used to know would have never said anything about that.
He leaves.
-
When he hears about the rain of fire in Los Angeles, he finds himself making his way back to the hotel despite his better judgment. Though Cordelia made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him, he can't just let her die either. He's incapable of just completely turning his back on those he cares about.
When he finds her, she's even stranger than the last time he saw her. She's standing too close to Connor, and if he inhales, he can smell the young boy all over her. The young boy who was once like a son to her (she had described him as such to Stefan on more than one occasion).
He sticks around for a few weeks, trying to help them against the Beast the best he can. But mostly, he's trying to look for signs. For clues. Something to confirm his suspicions that this isn't Cordelia. He's paying attention to any details he can pick up.
And then he hears it. Her basically goading Angel into letting them remove his soul. It's careful, manipulative. It almost like something Katherine would say.
It's not Cordelia.
-
It'd be too far to call in Bonnie, he realizes. But he remembers a witch Cordelia used to mention who lived in Sunnydale, Willow. It turns out, him calling her into town is useful on a few levels. She's able to return Angel's soul once it goes "missing". But she's also able to inspect Cordelia.
Not that Cordelia's exactly willing. She's trying to squirm, trying to run, but when Willow puts her mind to it, she's not something easily reckoned with. She manages to knock Cordelia out, giving her time to scour the seer's soul.
Stefan waits for an answer, and when he gets it, it's what he's suspected for a while.
"Cordelia's out of the driver seat. It isn't her."
-
The next few days are a blur. He talks to Willow. He calls Bonnie. He watches as Cordelia's body swells up in pregnancy from the being she's been possessed by for months. There has to be a way to stop it. He's not going to give up on her.
Bonnie's the one who finds an answer. There's a section on possession in her Grimmoire. But it's not a spell Willow can do alone. She needs help.
Needless to say, Stefan wires the money to fly Bonnie in as quickly as possible.
-
It's takes four tries and five days before they manage it. They expel Jasmine, and Cordelia's body goes back to normal.
Cordelia herself? Not so much. She's quieter. She can't look anyone in the eye anymore. She cries at night. Stefan notices. He's gotten so used to watching her carefully, he can't stop now.
People try to reassure her it's not her fault. She smiles, and says she knows, but it doesn't reach her face. -
Stefan stays at the hotel for the time being. Bonnie's gone back home, but he can't just yet.
One night, Cordelia crawls into bed with him, and surprises him as she presses her lips against his.
"What's that for?"
Her voice is shaking as she speaks. "For noticing." There's a pause, and then she adds. "I can't stay here, Stefan. I can't -- not after that thing -- what it did --"
He nods, gathering her close. "Come with me then. You don't have to be alone anymore."
And she does. Go with him, that is. Starts anew. Tries to forget everything. Well, not everything. She'll never forget how Stefan saw what no one else did, the way he paid such close attention to what was going on with her. Caught it before it completely consumed her. No, that she'll never forget.
I Want You To Notice When I'm Not Around -- Stefan/Cordelia - 975 words
------
When Cordelia comes back from the realm of the Higher Beings, she's different.
It's not just the amnesia, though that certainly throws Stefan off. He wonders what did it, if it was a medical after effect of changing realms, or something done to her. He's had memories forced from his head before, he can't help but think that something similar happened.
He doesn't want to leave her like that, but Damon calls him away. He's needed in Mystic Falls.
"I'll be back soon," He promises her, hugging her. He doesn't want to upset her in this state, so it's all that he allows himself.
"Okay," She whispers. She sounds alien. Cold. But he supposes it's because she doesn't remember who he is.
At least that's what he tells himself.
-
Next time he visits LA, she has her memories back. He's happy, ecstatic even, to see that she's okay. Or so he thinks. But when he draws her close, when he kisses her, she freezes up in his arms.
"I can't do this anymore, Stefan," She whispers.
"Why?" Because he doesn't understand. Something's not adding up. Something doesn't make sense here, and he can't quite figure out what.
"I don't love you anymore." Her words are sharp. And while Cordelia's always been honest in all the time he's known her, she's never been deliberately cruel like this. It feels like she stabbed him in the gut.
"I don't believe you." He challenges her, placing his hands on her cheeks, lifting her face up so their eyes would meet one another's. He's hoping to find answers in those depths. He doesn't.
"When I was in the Higher Realm, they showed me what you were like. What you used to do. Do you really think I could love a Ripper like you?"
He'd learn later on she gave a similar speech to Angel about his time as Angelus. That she was playing everyone. But in this moment, he doesn't know that. He doesn't know anything yet, except that the Cordelia he used to know would have never said anything about that.
He leaves.
-
When he hears about the rain of fire in Los Angeles, he finds himself making his way back to the hotel despite his better judgment. Though Cordelia made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him, he can't just let her die either. He's incapable of just completely turning his back on those he cares about.
When he finds her, she's even stranger than the last time he saw her. She's standing too close to Connor, and if he inhales, he can smell the young boy all over her. The young boy who was once like a son to her (she had described him as such to Stefan on more than one occasion).
He sticks around for a few weeks, trying to help them against the Beast the best he can. But mostly, he's trying to look for signs. For clues. Something to confirm his suspicions that this isn't Cordelia. He's paying attention to any details he can pick up.
And then he hears it. Her basically goading Angel into letting them remove his soul. It's careful, manipulative. It almost like something Katherine would say.
It's not Cordelia.
-
It'd be too far to call in Bonnie, he realizes. But he remembers a witch Cordelia used to mention who lived in Sunnydale, Willow. It turns out, him calling her into town is useful on a few levels. She's able to return Angel's soul once it goes "missing". But she's also able to inspect Cordelia.
Not that Cordelia's exactly willing. She's trying to squirm, trying to run, but when Willow puts her mind to it, she's not something easily reckoned with. She manages to knock Cordelia out, giving her time to scour the seer's soul.
Stefan waits for an answer, and when he gets it, it's what he's suspected for a while.
"Cordelia's out of the driver seat. It isn't her."
-
The next few days are a blur. He talks to Willow. He calls Bonnie. He watches as Cordelia's body swells up in pregnancy from the being she's been possessed by for months. There has to be a way to stop it. He's not going to give up on her.
Bonnie's the one who finds an answer. There's a section on possession in her Grimmoire. But it's not a spell Willow can do alone. She needs help.
Needless to say, Stefan wires the money to fly Bonnie in as quickly as possible.
-
It's takes four tries and five days before they manage it. They expel Jasmine, and Cordelia's body goes back to normal.
Cordelia herself? Not so much. She's quieter. She can't look anyone in the eye anymore. She cries at night. Stefan notices. He's gotten so used to watching her carefully, he can't stop now.
People try to reassure her it's not her fault. She smiles, and says she knows, but it doesn't reach her face.
-
Stefan stays at the hotel for the time being. Bonnie's gone back home, but he can't just yet.
One night, Cordelia crawls into bed with him, and surprises him as she presses her lips against his.
"What's that for?"
Her voice is shaking as she speaks. "For noticing." There's a pause, and then she adds. "I can't stay here, Stefan. I can't -- not after that thing -- what it did --"
He nods, gathering her close. "Come with me then. You don't have to be alone anymore."
And she does. Go with him, that is. Starts anew. Tries to forget everything. Well, not everything. She'll never forget how Stefan saw what no one else did, the way he paid such close attention to what was going on with her. Caught it before it completely consumed her.
No, that she'll never forget.