Refuge
Angel walked into Fred's room and slumped dejectedly against her tarp-draped bed.
"They're all stupid," Fred announced crouching in front of him, her eyes filled with contempt for the trio downstairs.
"They don't trust me," Angel said "Not even a little bit. God, I was insane to think this could ever work."
"So let's leave," Fred said. "Or kick them out since we're the ones who live here."
"I can't. As long as Cordelia is my seer, I have to stay," Angel said. "They were my friends, the closest I'd ever had, my family really. Then I screwed all that up, they'll never forgiven me for that. I miss what we had so badly but now whenever I'm around them I feel trapped. Like I'm being forced into a mold that doesn't fit anymore. I have to act exactly like they expect me to act or out come the stakes, and I can't leave. I don't even want to leave. It would kill me if anything happened to them, but I don't want to around them anymore. What am I suppose to do?"
Fred sat down beside Angel, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head against his chest; with a grateful sigh he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her tightly against him.
After a few minutes he gently untangled himself. "Enough brooding," he said determinedly. "Let get the room painted. I can handle this; I've dealt with worse. And this time I have you, I'll be okay."
Fred gave Angel a quick kiss than picked up her paintbrush. Angel went back to the work on ceiling Cordelia's arrival had taken him away from.
For a while they worked in silence. Fred was doing the edge work, leaning in close, squinting at her work. By chance she and Angel both turned to refresh the paint on their brushes at the same moment. Angel cracked a brief grin.
"What?" Fred asked frowning.
"There's paint on your nose," Angel informed her.
"Where?" Fred asked, looking adorably confused and innocent.
"Right on the tip," Angel said leaning forward to tap the marked spot.
Fred brought up her brush and dabbed it across Angel's face. "Now you have paint there too," she said grinning broadly.
"Oh Fred, Fred, Fred, you know I have to retaliate now," Angel said shaking his head with mock sadness.
"I dare you," Fred said dashing away.
In a flash Angel was after her. He caught her at the door. Fred squealed happily as he lifted her off the floor. Slowly, holding her in front of him, Angel backed Fred toward the freshly painted wall.
"Not the wall!" Fred protested. "We'll have to repaint it!"
"Is this better?" Angel asked setting her down, but still keeping hold of her as he reached toward the roller tray.
"Oh yes," Fred agreed.
"Okay, if you say so," Angel said dipping his fingers into the paint. Delicately he drew a line across Fred's forehead and down her cheek. Fred turned into his touch, nuzzling his hand. The paint and games forgotten, Angel slid his hand through her hair to cradle the back of her head. Fred wrapped her free arm around his neck to pull him into a kiss.
After a moment Angel broke off the kiss to simply hold her close, resting his cheek on top of her head. "I'm so glad we found you Fred," he murmured.