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Rivalry

By Rach

DISCLAIMER: Because I'm obviously jolly well English, pip pip, I jolly well don't have any claim to these people, because they're jolly well Joss's. Pip pip.
DISTRIBUTION: The usual haunts!
SUMMARY: A version of what might have happened after "Tomorrow".
TIMELINE: Set post season 3, before the S4 premiere
AUTHOR'S NOTE: *hugs* for Regina and TopazAngel, wouldn’t have got it finished without some encouragement - I’m head procrastinator!
RATING: PG-13
FEEDBACK is something I thrive on!

***

Fred looked around the corridor nervously, her hand hovering centimetres away from the door. She caught herself almost examining the quality of the wood – something she’d had more than enough time for in Pylea – and knew she was being ridiculous about this whole situation. It’s true, she wasn’t overly confident about the reception she was going to receive, but if she didn’t try, she’d never know.



She raised her hand and rapped sharply. After a few minutes passed, she pressed her ear to the door cautiously. She was sure she’d heard voices inside. Sighing, she knocked again, louder this time. For some reason she felt more confident when there wasn’t much likelihood of someone actually opening the door.



She was caught off guard as she heard someone start to fiddle with the locks, so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath as the door swung open. She had it all worked out, what she wanted to say, as long as he’d give her chance to say it.



“Wesley, I know you probably don’t want to see any of us right now, in fact scratch that probably, I know you don’t want to see any of us right now, but –“



“Why don’t I stop you right there?” This wasn’t right. In fact, this was very, very wrong. Fred opened her eyes, and was faced with Lilah, standing in Wesley’s doorway, and not wearing a lot. "What is it with you people running to Wesley for help all the time? Besides, right now, he's otherwise occupied," she said coldly with a glance down at her lack of clothes.

Lilah slammed the door with a sarcastic little wave and a smirk, leaving Fred, shocked and upset, in the corridor.

****

Wesley lay in bed, listening to this encounter with interest. Just hearing Fred’s voice had roused feelings in him that he’d tried to forget about. Something had made her come here, and as clear as he'd made it he didn't want to see any of them again, she'd still been brave enough to do it. As Lilah closed the door, Wesley sat up.

“Did anything in our arrangement happen to give you the impression you could treat my flat as your own?”

Lilah shrugged as she went about picking up her clothes. “Figured seeing as I’m your boss now, I get some privileges.”

“You figured wrong. Weren’t you leaving before you so rudely answered my door for me?”

Lilah shot him a look as she dressed. “So, the words ‘your boss’ mean nothing these days, huh?” she joked.

Wesley wasn’t playing. “Still here?”

“I’ll see you at the office,” she smirked, as she picked up her jacket and headed for the door.

Wes watched as Lilah left his apartment. Every time she left, he swore to himself, if not to her, that this would be the end of things between them. It couldn’t go on any longer. But it always did. She was like a drug to him – for brief moments, she made him forget about the real world, the things that were going on around him, things that he wasn’t part of any more.

He lay for a while before picking up the phone. Fred had roused his curiosity - as much as he wanted to leave that part of his life behind him, there must have been a reason she’d called round. He’d been clear about not wanting them to come to him, and he knew Fred had meant what’d she’d said to him in the hospital.

As he dialled her cell phone, he let himself think about her properly for the first time in the last few months. Every time something had reminded him of Fred, he’d pushed it out of his mind, bringing Lilah even closer to him - something he knew would be his downfall in the end.

“Hello?” His mouth dried up as she answered. He hadn’t actually thought about what he was going to say to her. “Hello?”

“Did you want something?” He spoke quickly, not wanting Fred to think it was okay for her to start dropping round, but equally not wanting to piss her off.

There was a pause. “Wesley?” Fred breathed.

“If you want something, meet me at the entrance to Sorensen Park tonight. Around ten.” He hung up quickly, not wanting to get into a long conversation. Lilah had been in and out of his apartment all summer, and she’d had a million chances to bug his phone. Especially now he was an employee of Wolfram and Hart – a fact that still made him shudder – he wouldn’t put it past them.

“I’ll be there,” Fred whispered, even though she knew he’d gone. As she placed the phone back on her nightstand, she looked around the room, sighing. She missed having Wesley around – there was a time when she’d have gone to him about anything, before Angel, and before Gunn. She knew Wesley would listen to her problems and try and sort them out rationally, whereas the other two preferred to solve things through violence.

She realised that meeting Wesley would mean cancelling a date with Gunn, but she knew this was more important. They were suffering without Wesley to help, and this was the first time he’d made an effort to make contact with any of them in months.

She called Gunn and blew him off, telling him she wasn’t feeling great, and she couldn’t make it. She hoped he wouldn’t try and come round to see her – she mentioned she was planning to go right to bed for some rest, so with a little luck, it should be okay.

****

He saw her coming, and felt more relieved than he’d expected to. He hadn’t been sure she’d show up, and he couldn’t really have blamed her if she hadn’t. Seeing Lilah in his apartment in her underwear couldn’t have been what she was expecting to see, and must have come as somewhat of a shock to her.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” he started.

“I wasn’t sure you’d be here,” she countered. They stood in awkward silence for a few moments, before both speaking at once.

“So, Lilah, huh?”

“Did you want something?”

They laughed, nervously. Wesley led Fred over to a nearby bench, and looked at the floor. After all he’d been through over the last few months, he didn’t understand why this was so difficult for him.

“Fred, I want to be straight with you, and I don’t know how much of it you’re going to like.”

“I want you to be straight with me, too, Wesley. I think you owe us that.”

“I’ve been sleeping with Lilah, which I think you already know.” He paused. “And I’m working for Wolfram & Hart.” He watched as Fred attempted to digest this information. “I completely understand if you want to leave now.”

“I’m … I’m not mad, Wes. I’m disappointed … I thought you were stronger than that. I thought you were on our side, and we were fighting for the same cause. Turns out I was wrong.”

“You weren’t wrong, I-“

“I must have been wrong, otherwise we wouldn’t be here having this conversation now. I came to ask you for help, but now I can see that you need it as much as I do.”

“Fred, I don’t think I quite follow –“

“Angel and Cordelia have gone missing. Lorne left town, and God knows what Connor is up to. Everything’s falling to pieces, and I feel like I’m the only one who cares. You’re not around any more, and I’m no good at the research, or the organising. And all Charles is interested in is dating. He seems to think that now you’ve gone, and Angel’s gone, he’s got a right to do what he wants, and usually, what he wants is waste what money we have left on taking me out to expensive places, just because he can.” Fred was almost in tears by this point. “I’m starting to feel like I’m just a trophy girlfriend, like he only wants me so that he can *say* he he’s dating someone, and anyone would do. And now you tell me you’re working – and sleeping - with the enemy? I don’t think I can take it any more, Wes, unless I have someone around that I can count on.”

Wesley looked at the girl in front of him. She seemed to have lost so much of the confidence that she’d gained since they rescued her from Pylea. Bearing the brunt of the workload was obviously taking its toll on her, and now that he looked more closely at her, he could see bags under her eyes. Moving closer to her, he wrapped his arm around her protectively, and she curled into his chest.

“Fred, you know how much I care about you, I know you do. But after what I did – I can’t expect to just show up again, and everything be hunky-dory.”

“I’m not saying you should, or you could … I just … I miss you. I miss having you around, and I’m starting to feel like if you were, the company definitely wouldn’t be in this mess, and maybe, just maybe, the rest of my life might be going a little better. You know I cancelled a date with Charles to come here, and I didn’t even feel guilty about lying to him? I tried to kid myself that I did feel bad, and I love him, and I wouldn’t be able to cope without him, but … it’s just not there any more. The spark we used to have.”

Wesley smiled at the thought of giving Fred advice about her relationship with Gunn. He wasn’t exactly the most qualified person, but if it meant she was talking to him, then he would do his best.

“When we first started dating, it was the most exciting thing in the world, and I loved every second of it. But lately, I’ve felt more and more like an afterthought. We’ll be out somewhere, and he’ll see couple kissing, and he’ll kiss me. He thinks I don’t notice, but I do, and it hurts.”

“Fred … I don’t want to sound selfish, and I want you to know that if anyone else were in this situation, I’d give them the exact same advice. I’m not saying this because I want you for myself, whatever Gunn might think, I’m saying this as a friend. I think it’s time you got out. If you’re feeling used, then he’s not the one for you. Nobody deserves to be treated like this, and definitely not by somebody who claims to call himself your boyfriend.”

Fred nodded, and smiled. “Thank you. I just wish I hadn’t left it so long to come and see you – maybe all of this could have been avoided.”

“Speaking of which – there must have been a reason you stopped by, and I’m guessing it wasn’t for advice on your love life. Did you say Angel and Cordelia are missing?”

“Oh, God. I got so wrapped up in things, I almost forgot. They’ve been gone for months now, and we’ve had no word. We’ve tried everything we can think of, and we’re running out of ideas. You have to help.”

Wesley looked at his watch. “Why don’t you come back to my apartment? You must be frozen. We can talk there.”

Fred shook her head and stood up. “No. I wouldn’t want you to risk anything by taking me back there – you know Wolfram and Hart could be watching everything you do. Besides, I can’t lie to Charles any more. I’m going to have to go and see him, tonight.”

Wesley stood, and pulled her into a hug. “You be careful,” he whispered.

Tears sprung into her eyes. “You too,” she murmured back. “I’ll call you.”

He watched as she walked away. “Oh, and Fred?” She turned back towards him. “This thing with Lilah ... we … I don’t love her.”

****

Fred stood, for the second time that day, outside someone’s door, twiddling her fingers nervously. Knocking lightly on Gunn’s door, she ran what she was going to say through her mind one last time. When the door swung open, and Gunn stood in front of her, it all went blank.

“Fred?” he spoke suspiciously. “I thought you were sick.”

“Charles, we need to talk,” she started, side-stepping the question. He stood back and held the door open as she entered his apartment, smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

“Baby, is something wrong?” He laid a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.

“Actually … yeah. I was going to call you, but then I decided I couldn’t do this over the phone, and I had this whole thing worked out, what I wanted to say, but now I’m here, and you’re there … I’m going to have to improvise.”

“Fred…”

“Let me finish. I was thinking, on the way over here, about what I would call our relationship. At first, I thought maybe I’d call it a serious relationship, but I don’t think it’s that. Because that would involve more than just going out on dates, as if you’re trying to show me off. And then I wondered if maybe what we had was a casual thing, but I don’t think it’s that either. And I decided that I didn’t know how I would categorise our relationship, because I don’t know that we have a relationship any more.”

“Baby, you know we do. We’re always doing things together.”

“But that’s because nobody else is around, not because we want to. And I think that’s part of the problem. We never see anyone else, we’re always with each other, and too much of the time we don’t do anything. We sit, or we’ll go out for a meal, and we won’t talk. Or we’ll go to a movie, or something else that doesn’t involve us communicating. I mean, when was the last time you asked me how my day was?”

“I know how your day was. I was there for it.”

“Exactly. When I was growing up, imagining what the perfect relationship might be like, we’d both be out having our own lives, and then we’d come home, and talk about our day. But we don’t have any reason to do that, because we *are* each other’s lives, and I don’t think that can be healthy in a relationship.”

“What are you trying to say, Fred?”

“Oh, Charles,” she sighed. “I really, really like you, and I love being with you, but … this isn’t working any more, and I think we both know it. I’m just the one who happens to be saying it. It’s over.”

She stood up, and kissed him on the cheek, before heading for the door. “Fred?” He turned towards her. “Are we still good?”

She smiled, sadly. “We’re good.”

****

Wesley entered the office the next morning having had the best night’s sleep he’d had in months. Taking off his jacket, he sat down and turned over the sheet of paper on the top of the pile in front of him. He sighed, picked up a pen and got to work. Hearing a cough at the door, he looked up, expecting Lilah.

“Hey, Wesley,” Fred smiled, poking her head round the doorframe.

He didn’t know how to react. “Fred! What are you doing? Get out of here before someone sees you.”

“Someone’s already seen me.” As she spoke, Gavin appeared behind her, taking her wrist and leading her into Wesley’s office. He stood, his mind already running through ways of getting Fred out of there, but he noticed she was still smiling.

“Wesley, I’d like you to meet Fred, she’s going to be your assistant.” He smiled sarcastically. “Oh, that’s right! You’ve already met.” He turned to leave the room. “Have fun, you two!”

Wesley stared at Fred in shock. “My … assistant?”

“Yup,” Fred nodded. “And don’t I just look the part?” She twirled, smiling, displaying her short black skirt and blouse. She did indeed look ready for a day at the office.

“But – I – you –“ he sighed. It all came down to one word, in the end. “Why?”

“Why not?” She grinned. “It’ll be just like old times, researching together, laughing and joking – except for the location, obviously.”

“Fred – what are you doing? This isn’t some big joke, you know. It’s serious – life or death decisions are made here as often as people deciding what kind of doughnut to have for breakfast, and they don’t think twice about carrying those decisions out, either.”

“I know what I’m getting into here, Wesley. I’m not a little girl anymore, I can make my own decisions.” She looked at the clock, and glanced nervously around the room, knowing they were probably being watched. “I’m not discussing this. I’m here to work, and that’s what I intend to do.”

Wesley sighed again, and sat down at his desk. “Pull up a chair, and I’ll show you what I’ve been working on.” While Fred pulled a chair round to the side of Wesley’s desk, he scribbled on the top sheet. He passed it to Fred, and pointed at the message, reading aloud from the printed words instead. Come to my apartment. 9.30. We need to talk about this. “I’ve been working on these translations – they know it tells us something about Angel, and suspect it could help us discover his whereabouts.” He watched as she concentrated on what he was telling her, and smiled. “Perhaps an extra pair of hands wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

****

Wesley opened the door to see Fred standing outside, a bottle of wine in her hands. She’d changed into a pair of jeans and a slinky blue shirt.

“I’m glad you came. Like I said – we need to talk about this.”

“Why do we?” Fred walked into his apartment, setting the wine down on the table. “Why is it any different for me than it is for you?”

“It’s completely different.” He sat down on the couch, and gestured for her to do the same.

“But *why* is it different, Wesley? You’re going to have to spell it out for me, because I sure as hell don’t understand. As far as I see it, you’re working for Wolfram & Hart, so why shouldn’t I? What do you have that I don’t? Guts? Fighting skills? Because I’ve got news for you – I’ve changed.”

Wesley could see she was getting agitated, and decided to try a different tack. “Okay, forget about ‘why’ for now. Why don’t we go with ‘how’?” He stood up. “And how about I pour us some of this wine, before you start?”

Fred nodded gratefully. She realised she’d come across a little crazy – but this was Wesley, he should expect it from her. Wesley handed her a glass, and sat down next to her on the couch.

“Thanks,” she smiled, and took the glass from him. “So, you wanna know how, huh? Well, you know what kind of a mess I was in the last time I saw you. I didn’t know which way to turn, and I figured that the first step was ending things with Charles, and when I did, it was such a relief. It was like everything made sense again. At first. But then after a while, I started feeling totally like everyone had left me. He was never around, and we’d both pretty much given up on finding Angel or Cordy – we’d tried everything we could think of, and we were pretty much left with hoping they’d just turn up.”

She stopped and looked at Wesley, who was listening intently. “So after a while, he stopped even coming by the hotel. I saw him out for breakfast with his latest trophy, once – and that sounds way more bitter than I meant it to. I still really care about him, and we helped each other grow as people, but it was time for it to be over.” She sighed. “Without Angel, all the work was drying up, and Charles ended up going back to his old crew, which left me with no work, a heap of bills and no money.” She laughed, realising the irony of the situation, and not for the first time. “So when Gavin came to offer me a job, I didn’t really have any other options.”

“Fred, it’s Wolfram & Hart. There are always other options.”

“Then why didn’t you take them? These other options of yours?”

“Well, I-“ he faltered.

“Just because your girlfriend wants you where she can keep her eye on you,” she finished sarcastically, before sighing. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for.”

Wesley smiled. “I think I deserved that, and probably a lot worse, too.”

“See Wesley, the thing is, I spent five years alone in Pylea. Then you all rescued me, and I was so happy to be back. When I decided not to go back home with mom and dad, it was because of you all, because you made me feel like I belonged, and I hadn’t felt that for such a long time. And partly because you saved my life, so I felt I owed you something - anything – that I could do to help. And then one by one, you left me. You were the first, and I think that shocked me more than anything. When I first came back, I know I was a little insane, and you all did your best to help me through it. It was Angel that I idolised, but you were like my rock.” She rested a hand on his knee. “You were the one who finally got me to come out into the open, you protected me in Caritas –“

“I tried to kill you,”

Fred stopped, and looked at him sideways. “Yeah, you did. And despite what I told you, I *was* scared that it would happen again,” she continued, choosing her words carefully. “But I still never stopped trusting you, and I know that sounds contradictory, but it’s true. We live in a crazy world, and if we stopped believing in each other, we’d all be wrecks. I *never* stopped trusting you, even after everything that happened with Connor, I knew that if I needed something, and it was within your power and knowledge to do it, then you would.”

“I don’t deserve that kind of trust, Fred. I think I’ve proved that by the choices I’ve made.”

“I think you’ve proved exactly the opposite. When I came to see you at the hospital, I knew that coming back to the hotel would be suicide for you, so I warned you off. You respected that. And I know that Charles came to you for help when my life was in danger, and you told him how to cure me. No matter how disconnected you thought you were from us, there was still a link, the whole time.”

She paused, watching him intently. She knew she was getting through to him. “Lorne was next – I never realised how much I’d miss him until he was gone. I mean, he’s not totally gone, but we tried calling him after Angel and Cordy disappeared, and we just couldn’t reach him, however many times we called.” Wesley topped up the two wineglasses as Fred continued to speak. “Angel and Cordelia were supposed to meet each other that night.” She smiled at the memory. “They were going to confess their love for each other – or that’s what Charles and I think, anyway. Angel was very happy about the whole thing – and no, not perfectly happy, before you ask – but he wouldn’t tell us what Cordy had said on the phone to him. We don’t even know if they reached each other – they could be in Hawaii together, having the time of their lives, for all we know – although with Angel’s … affliction … I guess it’s unlikely. All we really know is that the both disappeared on the same night, and neither of them have been in contact with us since.”

“And what about Connor?” Wes questioned, gently. “What have you heard from him?”

“He says he’s still looking for Angel. We were lucky to see him once a month; he’s always off doing his own thing. In that way, he seems like a regular teenage boy.” She drained her glass and placed it on the table in front of her. “And I already told you about Charles. So there you are – the story of my life, people deserting me. I gave up the chance at a normal life with my family to be with you all, Wes, and one by one you deserted me. How can that be fair?”

“Nobody ever said life was fair, Fred. I think we’ve both learned that the hard way.”

“Yeah, well I guess that one’s a given, looking at what the pair of us have been through. I’ve been taken to a hell dimension where I was subjected to various different tortures for five years – while you suffered plenty of your own back here. You’ve been shot, blown up, had your throat slit, and a heap of other things besides, if the stories I’ve heard are true. How are you still in the land of the living?”

Wesley smiled, and placed his own glass down on the table. “I guess we’re both a lot tougher than we look.” He placed one hand on top of hers, and reached up to tuck a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”

“Yeah,” she whispered, staring into his eyes. “I guess we do.” She moved forwards slightly, so that her lips were almost touching his, and his eyes widened with surprise. He stayed still, not wanting to frighten her off by assuming anything, while inside he was desperate to tear her clothes off right then and there. None of his feelings for her had gone away, no matter how far down inside he pushed them. Her mouth lingered tantalisingly so close to his that he thought he was about to explode, until she finally moved forward the extra millimetre. A wave of excitement ran through her, and she pulled him closer, the kiss becoming more and more intense. When they broke apart, she was flushed and breathless, her eyes bright and begging for more.

“Fred…” Wesley began, not wanting her to do anything that she might regret.

“Shut up and kiss me,” she breathed. That was all the encouragement he needed, and seconds later she was fumbling with his belt, kissing him all the while. He moved his arms around her waist, pulling her from the sofa into a standing position, before beginning to undo the buttons on her shirt. While she continued frantically working on his trousers, he slipped one hand under her shirt, causing her to squeal with pleasure as his cool hands met her rapidly heating skin. She shrugged the shirt off, and within minutes they had both been stripped down to their underwear. Pulling away for a second, Wesley stared at Fred.

“My God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, a smile playing at his cheeks. “Come on.” He lifted her up, an arm under her legs and the other supporting her back. Dropping her onto his bed, he straddled her, and leant in hungrily for another kiss.

****

Fred woke, her head pounding. It took her a minute or two to tune in to where she was and who she was with, and the sound that had woken her up.

“Wesley, this is ridiculous. I know you’re in there.” Lilah’s voice floated through the door, muffled by the wood. Fred glanced over at where Wesley lay sleeping, looking more peaceful that she’d seen him in a long time. Grabbing Wesley’s shirt from where it had been discarded on the floor, she slipped it on, and finished buttoning it just as she reached the door.

“Finally, I-“ Lilah stopped as she realised who was greeting her.

“Lilah, hi!” Fred grinned. “Would you like to come in? I’m sorry, the place is a bit of a mess, Wesley hasn’t had time to tidy up yet.” She leant towards Lilah conspiratorially. “We were up all night,” she whispered, smiling.

“You’re late for work,” Lilah scowled, before stepping past Fred into the apartment. “I told Gavin he should never have hired you.”

Fred slammed the door behind Lilah. “And I think we both know why he did.”

“Ooh, look at you! You’ve gone and gotten a spine. When did that happen? I must have missed the memo.” Lilah turned to face Fred, and smirked. “Honey, you’re playing in a grown up world now. How about you just run along back to Mommy and Daddy in Texas, and we’ll forget this ever happened?”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To have me out of the picture, so you can have him all to yourself? Because you know that even when he’s with you, he’s thinking of me. And you can’t stand to be second best at anything,” Fred retorted.

“Ouch. It’s like you know me,” Lilah responded, dryly.

“I was an idiot before, choosing Charles over Wesley. I’ve seen the error of my ways now – and the door is that way.” Fred pointed towards the door, and when Lilah made no effort to move, she pushed her slightly towards it. “Nice of you to stop by.” Lilah turned to the door, for once at a loss for words. She was stunned at the change in Fred.

“You won’t get away with this, you know.” Lilah muttered.

“Oh, I think I already have.” Fred grinned, and then threw the door shut in Lilah’s face.

Lilah leant against the wall outside, regaining her composure. “Smooth, Lilah,” she murmured to herself, before heading away down the corridor.

****

Fred slipped back into bed next to Wesley just as he began to stir. He rolled over and his arm curled protectively around the figure next to him. Fred watched, smiling, as his eyes flickered open.

“Fred,” he mumbled, sleepily. His eyes opened fully. “Oh, God, my head. Are you sure that was just wine you brought?”

Fred smiled. “Feeling a bit worse for wear, are we? I’ve a feeling that could be more to do with the bottle of vodka you produced when we’d *finished* the wine, than the wine itself.”

Wesley groaned. “Now I remember.”

“And here’s me thinking you could hold your alcohol.” Fred laughed. “I have some headache tablets in my purse. I’ll go get them.” She leant over and kissed his forehead, before slipping back out of bed.

Wesley rolled over to watch her leave the room. “Fred?” He called, gently.

“Yeah?” She poked her head back around the door.

“My shirt looks good on you.”

She grinned. “Of course it does!”

Wesley lay, smiling, until Fred came back into the room, with the tablets and a glass of water. “You know, I’m suddenly feeling an awful lot better.” He looked over at Fred, a glint in his eye. “Come back to bed.”

She set the items she was carrying down on Wesley’s nightstand, and hopped back into bed, moving until she was sitting on top of him. “Only if I get to be in charge this time.” She kissed him, laughing wickedly, and he reached up to unbutton the shirt she was wearing, throwing it onto the floor.

****

Fred lay on her side, her head on Wesley’s chest, breathing heavily. He wrapped his arm around her, and kissed the top of her head. “You know, we should be at work.” He smiled. “People will start to talk.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Not in the least.”

“Good. Because Lilah knows.”

Wesley raised an eyebrow, but decided not to question it. Lilah had known all along Fred was the one he wanted, so it should have come as no surprise to her when it finally happened. “I see.” He began to shake with laughter. “I suppose I’d better think about cleaning out my office, then. I won’t exactly be welcome there any more.”

Fred chuckled. “You know you’re better than them anyway. And you’ve got me now - we don’t need Wolfram & Hart.”

Wesley stopped laughing, and frowned. “But what about Gunn? You split up with him because you were seeing too much of him - why should things be any different with the two of us?”

Fred pushed herself up so that she could rest her head on her hand, and look at Wesley properly. “Because I love you more than I ever loved him. I know that now, I was just too stupid to see it before. Plus, we’re actually going to get things done. We’re going to find Angel and Cordy, even if we get no sleep until we do.”

Wesley smiled. “*No* sleep?”

Fred laughed. “Well, maybe just a little, baby. If you treat me right.”

Wes rolled over and kissed her on the forehead, pinning her to the bed as he did so. She laughed, delightedly. “So, Fred, when does this ‘no sleep’ thing start?”

She shivered as he started kissing her neck. “We have a little time …”

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