Everything
Vengeance Girl
Wesley walked into the office, where Angel sat staring at the computer, clicking away furiously.
"You stupid machine! What have you done?!" Angel sat back, and looked at Wesley, exasperated. "Please tell me you've got some good news."
"Not news as such, more ... information. And it's not really related to any of the cases ... more related to ... well, can you manage without Fred and me tonight? We've hardly had a chance to see each other lately and I'd like to cook for her."
"Cook? What are you going to make?"
"Well, I thought I might make spaghetti bolognese. Not particularly romantic, I know, but I can just about make it, and I'm hoping she'll appreciate the effort!"
"Sure. How long have you guys been together now, anyway?"
Wesley didn't hesitate. "One month and three days."
Angel smiled. "I'm glad it's going well for you both."
"So am I." Wesley turned to leave the office. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "Don't tell her! Cordelia is going to take her shopping to give me chance to get things ready and use the kitchen. They'll be back around six."
"Would you like me to get Cordy and Gunn out of the way for you? I'll take them to Caritas ... or I'll think of something more exciting. I'm sure once she hears I'm paying, Cordy will be up for anything!"
"That would be great - one less thing for me to worry about."
The afternoon passed slowly as Wesley prepared. Once Cordelia and Fred had left, he began to rush around. He put the mince into a pan and let it start to cook while he went to get the room ready. He'd chosen the one right at the end of the second floor, because it had been one of his favourite rooms, it had a lovely view of the city at night. He'd been nipping up there over the last week or so, spending every moment he had spare painting the walls and laying a carpet. He still didn't know how he'd managed to get the carpet all the way there, and laid, without anyone noticing. Nor had they noticed that the room had suddenly acquired a lock. It was one of many, and not near any of the other frequently used rooms - why should they?
He'd painted the walls a pale yellow, as he'd heard it could be calming. Of course, that could be complete codswallop, as this kind of stuff usually was, but he did like the colour anyway. The carpet was a deep red that complimented the wall colour, and wouldn't take much cleaning like a light colour would.
He looked at his watch, and noticed that it was approaching 4pm. The furniture people should be arriving soon. He'd been out and ordered a red couch, to match the carpet, and a set of curtains the same colour. He fetched some picture frames, a hammer, and some nails from his room, and set about arranging them on the walls. The first was a Monet, one he'd always found calming - water lilies. The second was a picture of the five of them together, along with Fred's parents, covered in paint after finishing Fred's walls. He loved how happy they all looked, and Fred had a cute spot of paint on the tip of her nose. As soon as he'd seen them developed, he knew it would have to go on the wall, and this was the perfect room for it. The third was a picture of himself and Fred that Cordelia had taken one morning a few weeks ago, and it was the first one he'd had of the two of them together like that. It meant a lot to him, and Fred knew that. The other pictures were paintings that he or Fred admired, photos that made him laugh, or remember a particular moment.
He was just straightening the last picture, a photo of York Minster that he had taken on a school trip when he was about five, when Angel's voice floated up the stairs.
"Wesley? Are you waiting for a couch?"
He jumped up, and ran down the stairs two at a time, at the same time shouting to Angel. "Yes! That's mine! Sign for it will you?" Angel was finishing his signature as Wesley reached the bottom of the stairs, out of breath. Two delivery men were standing in the foyer.
"Where do you want this?" Inquired the short one.
"On the second floor. Can you get it up the stairs?" the younger one nodded as Angel went to help. Between the two delivery men and Angel, the sofa reached the right room without incident, Wesley following with the curtains. Wesley helped them push it into one corner, and then the pair of strangers left, leaving Angel to look around the room.
"You've done a lot here, Wesley. How've you found the time?"
"It's all been done in moments I've grabbed, here and there. Early mornings before anyone else gets up, late nights after Fred's gone to bed, the odd half an hour or so during the day..."
"You've done a great job."
"Thank you. I appreciate that. Anyway, I'd better get these curtains hung, and you'd better go back downstairs before this dinner ends up being a mourning for your dustiness."
Angel laughed. "I'll leave you to it then. Is there anything I can do?" "You're doing plenty, just by keeping Cordelia out of the way!"
After Angel left, Wesley continued to do little bits and pieces, making sure everything was perfect. He nipped downstairs to finish making the sauce, which he then left to simmer, but the rest of the time was spent taking things from his own room to the new room.
Before long, he'd centred a table in the room, and brought two high backed chairs in and tucked them under. He found a lacy tablecloth, and set the table with place mats, wine glasses and a candle. Making sure there was a lighter handy, he set some other candles around the room - some on the mantelpiece, others just around the edge of the room on the floor. He checked his watch. 5pm. Time for a shower.
****
After his shower, Wesley dressed in his best dark blue trousers, and a beige shirt. Spraying on some after shave, he ventured downstairs to cook the spaghetti.
Ten minutes later, at five to six, Wesley carefully drained the water from the pan and split the pasta onto the two plates. After spooning the sauce on top, he put the plates into the warm oven, and picked up a little dish of Parmesan cheese. Checking his watch again, he decided to head upstairs and wait. He didn't have to wait for long, as he heard Fred's voice floating through the door just as he reached the second floor.
"I still don't understand why you made me wear this now. Surely I could have just tried it on again once we got back."
"I told you. You need to wear it in. Besides, did you *see* how many guys were checking you out?!"
Wesley felt a little jolt inside. Other men, checking out Fred. He shook the feeling away. Was that jealousy, Wesley? Surely not.
"I don't want other men! I just want Wesley." He smiled as he made his way along into the room, and placed the cheese dish on the table. "Speaking of which, where is he? I thought he said he'd be here all afternoon."
"He's upstairs," joined in Angel's voice. He must have finished attacking the computer. "And can I just say, Fred, you look absolutely amazing tonight - what's the occasion?" Wesley felt that little jolt again as he went around the room lighting all the candles, leaving the one on the table until last.
"Cordelia's the occasion. I haven't got anything planned for tonight - in fact I'm going straight upstairs to take this off after I've been to see Wesley."
Wes heard Fred's footsteps at on the stairs and quickly took his seat at the table. Downstairs, Cordelia looked at Angel and whispered "not before desert!"
Fred spun around. "What was that?"
"Nothing!" Cordelia did her best to look angelic, but it wasn't fooling Fred.
"I'd say something clever to that, but I'm too tired to think of anything." Reaching the top of the stairs, Fred stopped, trying to decide where Wesley would be. She turned to head towards his room, until heard shuffling in the room at the other end of the corridor, followed by a small cough, and headed that way instead.
Wesley looked up as she reached the door, and the light from the corridor framed her perfectly. Angel had been right, her new outfit completely took his breath away. She looked amazing in a strapless black dress with her long hair straightened and flowing over her shoulders.
In return, her face was as much of a delight to behold as he had hoped. She looked thoroughly surprised, and as she entered the room she broke into a beautiful smile.
"Have you done all this for me?"
"No," he replied "its all for Gunn. I'm in love with him. Of course it's for you!" As Fred took her seat, smiling, Cordelia appeared at the door, plates in hand.
"Somebody order dinner?" She smiled as she placed the plates on the table, and then turned to Wesley.
"Angel's taking us to Caritas. That's where we'll be if you need us." She left them, closing the door behind her.
Wesley looked at Fred, and almost laughed. Her eyes were wide, her face a mixture of joy and amazement. He reached down to the floor beside the table, and brought up an elegant vase containing a single rose. He placed it at the centre of the table, and when he looked at Fred he thought she was going to cry, she looked so happy.
"Come on, eat! I've spent all afternoon cooking this for you, don't let it get cold!"
She gasped. "You made this? It looks incredible!"
"Don't sound so surprised!"
"You told me you couldn't cook."
"You haven't tasted it yet!"
Laughing and joking, they tucked into their meal. Wesley couldn't remember ever being so happy, and he had Fred to thank for it. When they'd finished eating, Wesley suggested they go out and get some ice-cream.
"I didn't have time to think of anything for desert. Besides, I only have time to make one fairly moderate meal in one day!"
Fred laughed. "Let's not. That was a fantastic bolognese, Wesley, and I completely enjoyed it. I don't know if I could fit anything else into me. Why don't we just sit? Like we are now. This is nice."
A few minutes later they'd relocated to the brand new sofa, so big that the pair of them almost disappeared into it. Removing her new shoes, Fred tucked her legs under her and snuggled into Wesley. He twirled strands of her soft long hair round his finger as they sat without talking, at first, just enjoying each other's company.
"Fred?"
"mmm?" she replied, sleepily.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"For tonight. For making me happier than I've ever been before. For forgiving me. For everything."
"Then I should thank you, too. Thank you for this meal. For being here for me. For putting up with me when I ramble. For ... for letting me fall in love with you."
Wesley smiled, and tightened his arms around Fred. She settled her head deeper in his chest, and he kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too," he murmured. "I never thought I'd be able feel like I do with you - I couldn't even imagine it before. But this - you and me - it feels like the most natural thing in the world."
Fred sat up and turned around to face Wesley. She kissed him softly on the lips, and then trailed her hands down his chest, where she began to undo the buttons on his shirt. Catching her hands in his, he looked straight into her eyes.
"Are you sure this is what you want? You said -"
"I know what I said, but I've never been more sure of anything. I know you love me, and I love you, and that's all I need."
Wesley smiled, and returned her kiss, while she continued to undo the buttons. As she removed his shirt completely, he started to unzip her dress, the two of them kissing all the while. In those few minutes, if he'd had any doubts left, he knew that this was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. The kindest, gentlest, most intelligent woman he'd ever met, and she loved him back. He was in heaven.
Vengeance Girl
Wesley walked into the office, where Angel sat staring at the computer, clicking away furiously.
"You stupid machine! What have you done?!" Angel sat back, and looked at Wesley, exasperated. "Please tell me you've got some good news."
"Not news as such, more ... information. And it's not really related to any of the cases ... more related to ... well, can you manage without Fred and me tonight? We've hardly had a chance to see each other lately and I'd like to cook for her."
"Cook? What are you going to make?"
"Well, I thought I might make spaghetti bolognese. Not particularly romantic, I know, but I can just about make it, and I'm hoping she'll appreciate the effort!"
"Sure. How long have you guys been together now, anyway?"
Wesley didn't hesitate. "One month and three days."
Angel smiled. "I'm glad it's going well for you both."
"So am I." Wesley turned to leave the office. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "Don't tell her! Cordelia is going to take her shopping to give me chance to get things ready and use the kitchen. They'll be back around six."
"Would you like me to get Cordy and Gunn out of the way for you? I'll take them to Caritas ... or I'll think of something more exciting. I'm sure once she hears I'm paying, Cordy will be up for anything!"
"That would be great - one less thing for me to worry about."
The afternoon passed slowly as Wesley prepared. Once Cordelia and Fred had left, he began to rush around. He put the mince into a pan and let it start to cook while he went to get the room ready. He'd chosen the one right at the end of the second floor, because it had been one of his favourite rooms, it had a lovely view of the city at night. He'd been nipping up there over the last week or so, spending every moment he had spare painting the walls and laying a carpet. He still didn't know how he'd managed to get the carpet all the way there, and laid, without anyone noticing. Nor had they noticed that the room had suddenly acquired a lock. It was one of many, and not near any of the other frequently used rooms - why should they?
He'd painted the walls a pale yellow, as he'd heard it could be calming. Of course, that could be complete codswallop, as this kind of stuff usually was, but he did like the colour anyway. The carpet was a deep red that complimented the wall colour, and wouldn't take much cleaning like a light colour would.
He looked at his watch, and noticed that it was approaching 4pm. The furniture people should be arriving soon. He'd been out and ordered a red couch, to match the carpet, and a set of curtains the same colour. He fetched some picture frames, a hammer, and some nails from his room, and set about arranging them on the walls. The first was a Monet, one he'd always found calming - water lilies. The second was a picture of the five of them together, along with Fred's parents, covered in paint after finishing Fred's walls. He loved how happy they all looked, and Fred had a cute spot of paint on the tip of her nose. As soon as he'd seen them developed, he knew it would have to go on the wall, and this was the perfect room for it. The third was a picture of himself and Fred that Cordelia had taken one morning a few weeks ago, and it was the first one he'd had of the two of them together like that. It meant a lot to him, and Fred knew that. The other pictures were paintings that he or Fred admired, photos that made him laugh, or remember a particular moment.
He was just straightening the last picture, a photo of York Minster that he had taken on a school trip when he was about five, when Angel's voice floated up the stairs.
"Wesley? Are you waiting for a couch?"
He jumped up, and ran down the stairs two at a time, at the same time shouting to Angel. "Yes! That's mine! Sign for it will you?" Angel was finishing his signature as Wesley reached the bottom of the stairs, out of breath. Two delivery men were standing in the foyer.
"Where do you want this?" Inquired the short one.
"On the second floor. Can you get it up the stairs?" the younger one nodded as Angel went to help. Between the two delivery men and Angel, the sofa reached the right room without incident, Wesley following with the curtains. Wesley helped them push it into one corner, and then the pair of strangers left, leaving Angel to look around the room.
"You've done a lot here, Wesley. How've you found the time?"
"It's all been done in moments I've grabbed, here and there. Early mornings before anyone else gets up, late nights after Fred's gone to bed, the odd half an hour or so during the day..."
"You've done a great job."
"Thank you. I appreciate that. Anyway, I'd better get these curtains hung, and you'd better go back downstairs before this dinner ends up being a mourning for your dustiness."
Angel laughed. "I'll leave you to it then. Is there anything I can do?" "You're doing plenty, just by keeping Cordelia out of the way!"
After Angel left, Wesley continued to do little bits and pieces, making sure everything was perfect. He nipped downstairs to finish making the sauce, which he then left to simmer, but the rest of the time was spent taking things from his own room to the new room.
Before long, he'd centred a table in the room, and brought two high backed chairs in and tucked them under. He found a lacy tablecloth, and set the table with place mats, wine glasses and a candle. Making sure there was a lighter handy, he set some other candles around the room - some on the mantelpiece, others just around the edge of the room on the floor. He checked his watch. 5pm. Time for a shower.
Ten minutes later, at five to six, Wesley carefully drained the water from the pan and split the pasta onto the two plates. After spooning the sauce on top, he put the plates into the warm oven, and picked up a little dish of Parmesan cheese. Checking his watch again, he decided to head upstairs and wait. He didn't have to wait for long, as he heard Fred's voice floating through the door just as he reached the second floor.
"I still don't understand why you made me wear this now. Surely I could have just tried it on again once we got back."
"I told you. You need to wear it in. Besides, did you *see* how many guys were checking you out?!"
Wesley felt a little jolt inside. Other men, checking out Fred. He shook the feeling away. Was that jealousy, Wesley? Surely not.
"I don't want other men! I just want Wesley." He smiled as he made his way along into the room, and placed the cheese dish on the table. "Speaking of which, where is he? I thought he said he'd be here all afternoon."
"He's upstairs," joined in Angel's voice. He must have finished attacking the computer. "And can I just say, Fred, you look absolutely amazing tonight - what's the occasion?" Wesley felt that little jolt again as he went around the room lighting all the candles, leaving the one on the table until last.
"Cordelia's the occasion. I haven't got anything planned for tonight - in fact I'm going straight upstairs to take this off after I've been to see Wesley."
Wes heard Fred's footsteps at on the stairs and quickly took his seat at the table. Downstairs, Cordelia looked at Angel and whispered "not before desert!"
Fred spun around. "What was that?"
"Nothing!" Cordelia did her best to look angelic, but it wasn't fooling Fred.
"I'd say something clever to that, but I'm too tired to think of anything." Reaching the top of the stairs, Fred stopped, trying to decide where Wesley would be. She turned to head towards his room, until heard shuffling in the room at the other end of the corridor, followed by a small cough, and headed that way instead.
Wesley looked up as she reached the door, and the light from the corridor framed her perfectly. Angel had been right, her new outfit completely took his breath away. She looked amazing in a strapless black dress with her long hair straightened and flowing over her shoulders.
In return, her face was as much of a delight to behold as he had hoped. She looked thoroughly surprised, and as she entered the room she broke into a beautiful smile.
"Have you done all this for me?"
"No," he replied "its all for Gunn. I'm in love with him. Of course it's for you!" As Fred took her seat, smiling, Cordelia appeared at the door, plates in hand.
"Somebody order dinner?" She smiled as she placed the plates on the table, and then turned to Wesley.
"Angel's taking us to Caritas. That's where we'll be if you need us." She left them, closing the door behind her.
Wesley looked at Fred, and almost laughed. Her eyes were wide, her face a mixture of joy and amazement. He reached down to the floor beside the table, and brought up an elegant vase containing a single rose. He placed it at the centre of the table, and when he looked at Fred he thought she was going to cry, she looked so happy.
"Come on, eat! I've spent all afternoon cooking this for you, don't let it get cold!"
She gasped. "You made this? It looks incredible!"
"Don't sound so surprised!"
"You told me you couldn't cook."
"You haven't tasted it yet!"
Laughing and joking, they tucked into their meal. Wesley couldn't remember ever being so happy, and he had Fred to thank for it. When they'd finished eating, Wesley suggested they go out and get some ice-cream.
"I didn't have time to think of anything for desert. Besides, I only have time to make one fairly moderate meal in one day!"
Fred laughed. "Let's not. That was a fantastic bolognese, Wesley, and I completely enjoyed it. I don't know if I could fit anything else into me. Why don't we just sit? Like we are now. This is nice."
A few minutes later they'd relocated to the brand new sofa, so big that the pair of them almost disappeared into it. Removing her new shoes, Fred tucked her legs under her and snuggled into Wesley. He twirled strands of her soft long hair round his finger as they sat without talking, at first, just enjoying each other's company.
"Fred?"
"mmm?" she replied, sleepily.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"For tonight. For making me happier than I've ever been before. For forgiving me. For everything."
"Then I should thank you, too. Thank you for this meal. For being here for me. For putting up with me when I ramble. For ... for letting me fall in love with you."
Wesley smiled, and tightened his arms around Fred. She settled her head deeper in his chest, and he kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too," he murmured. "I never thought I'd be able feel like I do with you - I couldn't even imagine it before. But this - you and me - it feels like the most natural thing in the world."
Fred sat up and turned around to face Wesley. She kissed him softly on the lips, and then trailed her hands down his chest, where she began to undo the buttons on his shirt. Catching her hands in his, he looked straight into her eyes.
"Are you sure this is what you want? You said -"
"I know what I said, but I've never been more sure of anything. I know you love me, and I love you, and that's all I need."
Wesley smiled, and returned her kiss, while she continued to undo the buttons. As she removed his shirt completely, he started to unzip her dress, the two of them kissing all the while. In those few minutes, if he'd had any doubts left, he knew that this was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. The kindest, gentlest, most intelligent woman he'd ever met, and she loved him back. He was in heaven.