In that vein, here's another AU where Wesley tries to save Connor from Quor'toth, if you haven't read it already: "Theodicy" (http://thedoublehelix.org/jintian/theodicy.html) by Jintian. Excellent and sad, with a very strong Cordelia who actually gets to wield a sword after all that practice and who cares deeply for Wesley:
"Wes." Fred's voice cut through. "You did what you thought was best. We do all know that, because you always do what you think is best. It's just that this time, things got messed up."
He didn't look away from Cordelia. "And when don't they? Tell me when that happens. Tell me when I have ever made anything better, tell me one good thing I've done in my life that can outweigh this."
"You idiot, Wesley," Cordelia said softly. "You've always been the best thing about us."
Also recommended: the remix "Mortal Taste" (http://remix.illuminatedtext.com/dbfiction.php?fiction_id=669) by karabair, who takes one line from "Theodicy" and leaps into an AU of that AU. The end circles back to canon, but the prospective future diverges significantly from it in a way that matters for all the good guys. A remarkable ensemble work that uses an unlikely, desperate, and at times brutal relationship to explore (among other things) how Angel's still haunted by Darla, and more importantly by Wesley.
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"Wes." Fred's voice cut through. "You did what you thought was best. We do all know that, because you always do what you think is best. It's just that this time, things got messed up."
He didn't look away from Cordelia. "And when don't they? Tell me when that happens. Tell me when I have ever made anything better, tell me one good thing I've done in my life that can outweigh this."
"You idiot, Wesley," Cordelia said softly. "You've always been the best thing about us."
Also recommended: the remix "Mortal Taste" (http://remix.illuminatedtext.com/dbfiction.php?fiction_id=669) by karabair, who takes one line from "Theodicy" and leaps into an AU of that AU. The end circles back to canon, but the prospective future diverges significantly from it in a way that matters for all the good guys. A remarkable ensemble work that uses an unlikely, desperate, and at times brutal relationship to explore (among other things) how Angel's still haunted by Darla, and more importantly by Wesley.