Whatever happens

Right after "Soulless". Wesley visits Fred to confirm the way he feels about her. Romance ensues.

After the gang discovered that Angel's soul was missing and their time was running out, they knew they had to take drastic measures to get Angel's soul back. Wesley took position of leader, as before, and allowed everyone to retire for the night. A good nights sleep would help them all, especially Wesley. He needed to think of a plan and fast. But all he could think about was the kiss. The kiss he gave to the woman he loves. The woman he loved for a long time and he finally got a chance to show her how he felt. He wasn't worried about the fight that preceded the kiss. No, he didn't care about what Gunn thought. All he cared about was what Fred thought. He needed to know if she felt the same way or not, if his instincts were right. She did kiss him back at first. Even though the kiss only lasted 3 seconds, he could replay the scene over and over again in his head. The way it felt to have her pressed up against his body and how romantic it was. He dreamed about the kiss for so long and even pictured her, while with Lilah. But Lilah wasn't as gentle and tender as Fred was. He knew it was right because it felt right. Every motion, every touch, every gesture, was just right. It was perfect and he had never felt that way before. He hoped Fred hadn't either. He knew she loved Gunn, but he suspected she wasn't in love with Gunn. He noticed how he treats her like property, like a belonging of his and Wesley didn't like that one bit. He imagined Fred didn't either.

Well now was his chance to find out. Fred had sent Gunn home. She needed to be alone after what happened during the fight. He understood that but had to risk trying to talk to her. About a half an hour after everyone departed. He decided to go up and talk to Fred. He had to live a little and being as daring as he was today, he knew he had a little more courage than he every had before. He slowly crept up to her room. He could her talking to herself discussing her relationship with Gunn. He found it cute. He knocked lightly. He heard Fred gasp on the other side of the door. She opened the door and once she saw Wesley, had a relieved look on her face, like she was expecting someone else. Maybe Gunn, but Wesley wasn't worried about that now.

"Hi' she greeted, timidly looking at her feet.

"Hi" he replied. "Do you mind if I come in?" he asked being a gentleman, as always.

"Oh, of course" she said smiling as she opened the door for him to step in. It had been a long time since he'd been in her room. It was different, new furniture, a paint job and a new bed. He noticed how neat it was. It was clean and organized. Nothing like when she came back from Pylea. As he looked around though, he saw a patch of writing in the far corner of the room, trying to be hidden by furniture. He guessed, she reverted back to her old ways after the portal opened up at her speech. But he ignored it and looked to her. Even in her pajamas she was beautiful. Her hair pulled into a messy bun with a few strands loose, here and there. "Well, um, your room looks nice" he complimented.

"Oh thanks. I went a little different. I needed something new anyway. I mean the paint is different but every one needs to change and I've been meaning to paint over the writing on the wall, but I never have time and . . ." she stopped herself realizing that she brought up the fact that she wrote on the walls again. "But that was after the whole portal thing with the professor and it was one night, I didn't mean to-" she was stopped by Wesley.

"I understand," he said with a smile. She smiled back, relieved that he wasn't mad or freaked out. " I've been meaning to talk to you. After today, things have changed. Or at least I think they've changed" he said.

"Yeah, they have" she said looking down. Wesley was a little puzzled by her reaction but waited for her to explain. "I mean the whole kiss and the fight, which I am sorry about the fight. Gunn is insane sometimes and I was very upset with him today for how he treated you" she said.

"How he treated me? What about you? He had no right to talk or act like that" he replied. Fred smiled at his concern. "I was meaning to ask you how you are. Are you okay?" he asked walking closer to her.

"Oh me, yeah. I've had worse" she stopped realizing what she said. Wesley knew what she meant though and ignored it.

"Also I wanted to talk to you about the kiss . . . thing" he said.

"yeah" she said walking to closer to him.

"I, well now you know how I feel so I can't deny it and I need to know . . . how do you feel?" he asked. She sighed and turned around. She walked to her bed and sat down.

"I don't know" she said. He walked to her.

"You have to know" he said. "Because I need to know" he explained. "Fred, I haven't felt like this about a woman, ever" he said.

"Oh Wesley" she said sighing as she stood up. He turned around to face him. He caressed her face.

"I love you and I need to know how you feel" he said staring into her eyes.

"I . . . I can't" she said pulling away. "Charles and I aren't over . . . yet. And I need to talk to him too " she said.

"yes, but in order to talk to him you have tot talk to me. Tell me how you feel, please" he said holding her again. "I . . Oh god Wesley I . . " Then they heard a loud bang at her door. They looked to the door. Fred gathered herself and went to opened the door. The banging continued. As she opened the door, Gunn burst in.

"Fred, I need to . . " he trailed off. "What is he doing here?" he asked approaching Wesley.

"I am here to talk to Fred" Wesley replied.

"Well so am I so get lost" he ordered. They began fighting again.

"No" Fred whispered to herself as she closed her eyes. "no" she said out loud. "NO!" she yelled. They both stopped.

"What?" Gunn asked confused. "You're my girl" he said.

"Stop saying that" she replied. "I am not something to own. I am a persona dn I haven't felt more like a person as I do now. In Pylea I wasn't a person I was a thing, a property. Charles I was a slave. And now I feel like your slave because for so long that's all I've been to people. Well I haven't felt more like a person than I do when I . . . when I'm with Wesley. He makes me feel like a human being not a deed. Why can't you understand that" she said tears streaming down her face.

"but you never said anything" he replied.

"I tried, but I couldn't so I went to Wesley" she said.

"Well. Then you'll have to choose. It's me or him" Gunn said.

"I . . I can't decide right now" she said as Wesey stood by and watched. Gunn grabbed Fred by the arms and looked straight into her eyes.

"you have to. You have to tell em to my face that you don't me, that you want him" he said looking to Wesley.

"But. . ." she began.

"Choose!" Gunn yelled. Wesley stepped toward him. Fred began to cry softly again.

"I . . . I choose . . " she began. The she closed her eyes and tried to imagined who she would want to be with. Who she loved, who she wanted. All she could hear was Gunn and Wesley yelling. Wesley was trying to get Gunn away from her. Wesley pried Gunn away form her. She opened her eyes again and her vision began to blur. She thought it was her tears, but then they began to fade and everything turned black as she passed out on the floor. To Be Continued . . .