Chapter 4:
Universe: Angel, Season 3.
Pairing: Fred/Gunn & Fred/Wes
Episodic Timeline: 3.21- Benediction
A/N: (yes, the story line is different. Obviously being told from the minor characters side rather than being all about Angel. Need to reference that ep? check it out on . Characterization should still be Cannon. Feel free to let me know if you disagree).
A loud knock sounded on the door. It repeated again, and again, and,
"Okay, Okay, I'm coming." Cordelia called. "What?" She asked sharply, clearly annoyed from being woken up so early in the morning.
"Fred's missing." Gunn said, anxiously shifting his homemade ax from hand-to-hand. "I already woke up Angel, we're gunna go search for her. I need you to call-"
Cordy held up her hands. "Woah, woah. Wait a minute there big guy. Let's just calm down and think about this rationally before you and Angel start hurling around violence where it isn't needed." Gunn sighed, clearly irritated and in a hurry, but there was no arguing with Cordy. Leaving rudely yes, arguing? no.
"Have you tried paging her?" Cordelia yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"Only a dozen times." Gunn kept fiddling with his ax.
"How about the diner? Did you try looking there?" Cordelia asked.
"No, but she's not there. She was gone all night. That's not like her. Angel figures Wolfram and Hart is up to something we're gunna-"
"You can't just barge into Wolfram and Hart." Cordelia interrupted. "What good is that going to do, besides get you both killed? Listen," Cordelia placed a reassuring hand on Gunn's tense shoulder. "We'll find her. She'll be okay."
Gunn sighed. "I can't let anything happen to her."
"I know." Cordelia nodded resolutely.
Downstairs stood Angel, swishing his broadsword through the air. Cordelia followed down the stairs after Gunn.
"You can't honestly think this is a smart idea!" She called after him, reaching the hotel lobby soon after. "And you!" She pointed her finger at Angel's chest accusingly. "You're just all gun-ho about bursting into Wolfram and Hart and demanding Fred back because it'll take your mind off of Connor." Cordelia huffed.
"We can't let anything happen to Fred." Angel countered solemnly, his eyes filled with pain. The Connor comment had struck him down. It was true of course, Cordelia was always right about these things, but it hurt to hear it all the same.
"Oh, Angel. I'm sorry." Cordelia placed a hand on his arm compassionately, realizing her mistake. Angel glanced away from her to Gunn who was pacing. "Alright," Cordelia sighed, finally hopping on board. "What can I do to help?"
Softly sleeping, the perfect couple lay in bed, the woman in the man's loving embrace. Fred stirred first and glanced at the clock. She realized they had fallen back to sleep, worn out from another exchange of their affections.
"Oh,"She sat up in bed and rubbed at her eyes. Yes, the clock was correct, it was noon. She climbed out of bed and grabbed her jeans, pulled them on and reached for her bra and shirt. She glanced at her pager briefly; knowing the number of messages would be high. She shoved the beeper back into her pocket and headed towards the small kitchen. Fred searched through the cabinets quietly, until she found what she was looking for. She set up the coffee maker and let it do its thing while she scrounged around for something to eat. Finding the kitchen empty, and the fridge stocked with only alcohol, she flopped onto the couch and flipped on the TV; her stomach grumbling unhappily. Fred scanned the channels, trying to find something worthwhile.
The distant sound of chatter filled his ears, and the smell of fresh coffee. He stretched and went to the dresser for a clean outfit. He rummaged through some shirts before finding one he liked. Absently, he stared at Fred, she giggled at the show on TV, and he couldn't help but smile- it was a look of pure joy, as slowly it dawned on him that his longing had been answered. He no longer had to hope, to dream. On his couch sat the most perfect woman he had ever known, and she had chosen him.
He padded into the kitchen and poured two cups of steaming coffee. "Good morning."
She glanced over to him; he handed her a cup and joined her on the couch. "More like afternoon." She corrected, taking a small sip.
"Yes." He agreed, sipping his coffee before setting it down on the table in front of him.
Fred held her cup with both hands, her stomach growling.
"I'm sorry there's nothing to eat." Wesley gave her an apologetic glance. "I haven't been eating much lately."
"Well," Fred said. "We'll just have to change that, now won't we?" She smiled at him and the whole room seemed to brighten. She got up and began searching for her shoes. "Any place you prefer for lunch? I know a place, but..." Fred stopped, she was going to say, 'but it had been her place with Gunn'. But why shouldn't she be able to take Wesley there? She had made her choice, and she felt fairly certain of Wesley affections for her, still, maybe it was just too soon. She had been so wrapped up in thought; she hadn't noticed Wesley come up behind her, shoes in hand.
"Thanks." She took them and bent over to put them on.
"We could always get something to go." Wesley offered, striding towards the hook by the front door that held his keys.
"That sounds like a great idea." Fred agreed, smiling, feeling that things between them were just so right. Suddenly a shrill ringing sounded.
"Hold on." Wesley handed Fred the keys to his SUV before going to grab his cell off the kitchen counter.
Wesley glanced at the caller ID, a familiar number flashing on the screen. Just then, the door came crashing in.
There in the doorway stood a very irritated looking Angel and Gunn.
Angel turned a death glare on Wesley. "You sonofa- first you take my son, now this?"
Wesley dropped his phone and subtly slid his retracting sword up his sleeve. "What exactly am I being accused of?" He asked, stepping forward to meet his once friends, now enemies.
Gunn turned on Wesley, anger flaring in his eyes he pinned him against the wall, ax to his throat. "Taking Fred against her will. You just can't leave well enough alone, can you! You like to ruin everyone else's happiness, is that it?" Gunn accused mercilessly.
"I came here on my own." Fred interjected into the mayhem. Both Angel and Gunn turned to look at her.
"You expect me to believe that, baby? Look, I know you don't hold a grudge against him like the rest of us, but sticking up for him ain't gunna-"
"I came here on my own." Fred repeated, glancing down at the floor.
Seeing an opening, Wesley released his sword and it clanked against Gunn's ax as he pushed the other man's weapon away from his already vulnerable neck.
"Why?" was all Gunn managed.
Fred fidgeted under his hurt look. "I came to thank him. For saving my life."
"What?" Angel asked, lost by the whole context of the situation.
"When the other-worldly slugs took over the hotel and one infected me, Gunn asked for Wesley's help. He's the one who told y'all how to save me." Fred explained for Angel's benefit.
Wesley still held his weapon, ready for another lunge from Gunn, but
Gunn sighed and lowered his ax. The tension in the room changed from anger to awkward; Gunn couldn't decide whether he wanted to throttle Wesley or pull Fred to him to make sure she was all right. Angel could sense the shift in motives and excused himself into the hall, realizing that killing Wesley at this juncture would not be a smart move.
Fred stepped up next to Gunn and placed her hand on his tensed arm. "It's all right." She swallowed, trying to believe the weight of her own words.
"Like hell it is. I wanna know what the hell was goin' on between the two of you. I want an answer. Now." Gunn demanded, throwing a glare Wesley's direction. Wesley, whose weapon was now concealed, grinned cynically. "Actually, I'm rather sure you wouldn't."
Gunn sucker-punched him. "Keep pushin' English and there'll be more where that came from."
Wesley rubbed his jaw and released his sword.
"Stop!" Fred stepped between them, arms held out to keep them apart. She turned to Wesley, apology in her eyes. "I'm sorry Wesley." She couldn't bear to look as a great pain swept over his features.
"Of course, it's all right." He knew it couldn't last. That it had been too good to be true.
"Damn right it is." Gunn snapped, putting an arm protectively around Fred's shoulders.
"Charles." She scolded, allowing his arm on her, she reluctantly followed him out of the apartment, without so much a once backward glance to the man whose heart she had broken.
A/N: Reviews are pretty, please and thanks : ) A little tidbit for y'all, oops, sorry remnants of Fred. What the phone call was all about will be revealed. Not all between Fred and Wes is as bleak as it seems. Thanks for your interest in my little Fresley fic,and this is the second time that Fred has broken Wesley's heart. Can you remember the first? (hint: it's in canon) Winner will get an honorable mention on my Profile page.