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Couldn't Get Much Better

By Rach

DISCLAIMER: These characters aren't mine. If anyone has any problems with me using them, they can give me a bell. (a bell can be heard as Literal Woman enters). No dear, not a real bell.
RATING: No reason for it to be any higher than a PG, or even a G as far as I can tell.
SUMMARY: Fred's bored, and Wesley's being distant.
SPOILERS: Up to Billy I guess, for arguments sake - definitely nothing after. Possibly - well, probably - the other fics in the "Kiss and Tell" series - "Kiss and Tell", "Everything", "How Much", and "Serena".

"Wesley?" Fred laid face down on her bed, leaning slightly over the edge. Wesley sat on the floor, with another of his big books, and she'd spent the last half an hour trying to talk to him. He never ignored her, but she still got the impression he wasn't listening.
She leaned further over the edge of the bed and started to massage his shoulders. He shrugged her off. She sighed, and patted the space beside her on the bed.
"I'm lonely up here, and I'm bored. Come and talk to me."
He replied without looking up. "I would, baby, but I'm busy."
"Wesley, how can you be *that* busy? We haven't got any cases on, and you can't even spare any time for me?"
He looked at his watch, and snapped the book shut. "You're right. It's time to have some fun. Get your glad rags on, I'm takin' you out." He stood up.
"Where?"
He smiled and tapped the side of his nose. "I'm going to get ready." He leaned down to the bed and kissed her. As he left the room, she smiled. Those kisses were always fantastic - wherever or whenever they were, they were always from Wesley.

Wesley closed the door to Fred's room, and went back to his own, where Cordelia was waiting for him, a suit laid out on his bed.
"I don't think I can do this any more, Cordelia. I've lost count of how many times I almost told her this afternoon, I had to practically ignore her to stop myself."
"Well you don't have long to go now. Now. I've got you a suit ready, as you can see - this one is perfect for the occasion. You have the ring?"
"I bloody well better had do, it cost me a packet." As he spoke, he produced the small box from his pocket.
"Let me see it again."
Wesley opened the box, the diamond glittering in the light.
"Look at that baby. Fred is gonna lose it!" Cordelia looked at Wesley. "I'm so happy for you both."
"Don't start, she hasn't said yes yet."
"As if she'd say no."

Fred opened her wardrobe door and stared. 'Somewhere special', he'd said. What kind of special? She pondered over and discarded at least a dozen dresses before she decided on one. The long red dress reached down to her ankles, and the straps tied around her neck. Her back was bare besides one other strap tied around the centre of her back, the skirt section beginning at her waist. She dressed, adding a pair of black heels to the outfit, along with the delicate silver necklace Wesley had bought her on their second date.
She pulled her tongs out of the cupboard, and plugged them in. When they were hot enough, she straightened her normally frizzy brown hair, and then curled it carefully into ringlets. She checked her watch, and saw she'd been half an hour already. Wesley hadn't said what time they were going out, but she thought she'd do her make-up now anyway.
Just as she finished applying her lipstick, there was a knock on the door. Wesley's voice floated through.
"Are you ready?"
"Just a second," she replied. She quickly sprayed some perfume into the air, and stepped through it. She checked herself in the mirror. She hadn't needed time to touch up her nails, as Cordelia had insisted they go for a manicure together yesterday. She examined the long talons she now sported, a pale pink that went perfectly with her dress. She took a deep breath, hoping this was the kind of 'special' Wesley had meant. Behind the door, Wesley straightened his tie. He knew he wanted to go through with it, but he was nervous as hell. This was multiplied when she opened the door, and he found he couldn't breathe. She looked absolutely breathtaking.
"Fred, you look … you look absolutely incredible." He loosened his tie some more, and then realised that it wasn't helping. "I've … umm … I've forgotten my wallet, I'll be right back." He dashed back down to the other end of the corridor, and into his room. Slamming the door closed behind him, he leant against it.
"Cordelia I can't do this. I can't ask her to marry me - there's no way she'd say yes!"
"Okay, so what's changed your mind in the last five minutes."
"The way she looks! Why would she settle for me, when she could have any guy she wants looking like that."
"Wesley. Over the last year and a bit, I've gotten to know Fred well enough to know that with you, she's *not* settling. She doesn't want anyone else but you. And I don't know if you've looked in the mirror lately, but you're not that ugly yourself. Just go and get on with it!"
"Right." He turned towards the door, but stopped with his hand on the handle. "Cordelia?"
"WHAT NOW?!"
"Wish me luck."
She smiled. "Good luck, Wesley. Not that you'll need it."
Wesley finally made it back along the corridor to Fred.
"Is there someone in there, Wesley?"
"What? In there? With me? No! Whatever would make you think that?! Well … Yes. Cordelia's there. She's … she's … sorting my wardrobe. Throwing some stuff out."
Cordelia's voice sounded from his room. "Too right I am."
"Cordelia!"
"Sorry."
"Wesley, is something the matter? You've been on edge all day, if not longer, you practically ignored me all afternoon, and now you're telling me that Cordelia is SORTING YOUR WARDROBE?!"
Wesley sighed. "Okay. This was supposed to wait until the restaurant, but I don't think I can manage it. Not going on the rest of today's performances anyway." He sat down on the top stair, and patted it, indicating for her to do the same. "Do you know what today is, Fred?"
"Friday."
"Apart from that?"
She smiled. "It's a year since our first night out together. At Caritas."
He was glad she remembered. That was half the battle done with already. "In the last year, Fred, you've made me happier than I've ever been before." Fred blushed. "But you could make me even happier if you would agree to be my wife." Wesley reached into his pocket and pulled out the box containing the ring. He held it out, and with wide eyes she reached out and opened it. She gasped.
"Wesley, it's … it's … gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe it." His fingers shaking, he pulled it out of the box. He looked at her and spoke with a voice as unsteady as his hand. "Will you let me put it on your finger?"
She looked at him with a glint in her eye, and with a tear running down her cheek, she nodded. Holding out her hand, she clarified. "Of course I'll marry you. If I've made you even half as happy as you've made me, how could I not?" She kissed him, and she mentally retracted her earlier statement. This kiss beat them all.
They rested their heads together for a moment, Fred admiring the jewel that now adorned her finger. Wesley smiled, and pulled Fred's hand up. "Come on. Cordelia must be dying in there!"
They walked over to his door, and Wesley pushed it open to find Cordelia obviously trying to look as if she hadn't been listening at the door.
"So, Wesley, whatcha doing back so soon?" She tried to keep it casual, but she couldn't get the excitement out of her voice. In reply, Fred held out her hand for Cordy to see. Cordelia squealed. "I told you she would say yes! And I told *you* that you should get a manicure - you're gonna be showing off that baby to anyone in sight - you need good nails. Now, there's so much to organise, I need a new outfit, we need to organise an engagement party, for which I will need another new outfit …"
"I can see this is going to be hard on my wallet," Wesley muttered. He raised his voice. "Cordelia, I hate to cut you down mid-planning spree, but Fred and I really ought to be going if we want to make the restaurant in time."
"Right. Got it. I'll be here sorting out your wardrobe …"
"Cordelia!" His tone had a warning edge to it.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave your clothes alone. Are you sure I can't even throw away one shirt?"
"NO!" He held his elbow out and Fred willingly took hold of it, with a huge smile on her face. Fred was glowing - she'd gone from complete and utter boredom to sheer bliss in the space of about an hour, and now she was leaving the hotel with her fiancιe on her arm. Life couldn't get much better.


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