Cordelia yawned. "Oh...man. I wonder what Wes and Fred are up to."

"Perhaps we don't want to know." Angel replied. He smiled over at Cordy, who sat next to him.

"Aww...I bet the two little love birds are having great fun. I'll get her to sing for me tomorrow." Lorne grinned.

"They're probably sitting in his office plotting out some weird ass mathematical equation. They tend to do that." Gunn sipped his drink. He looked over at Angel and Cordelia, who hadn't quit looking at each other since they'd last spoken. "Umm...earth to vampire and seer."

"Hmm?" Cordy asked, not taking her eyes off of Angel's.

"Get a room." Lorne said, drinking the last of his drink. "I'm off to bed, so get your little human and undead hoo-ha's out of here." He stood up.

Cordy frowned at Lorne and grabbed her jacket. Angel followed her lead up the stairs. Gunn trailed behind, wondering what he would do with the rest of the night.


"Do you remember that M'hercoloc demon that we fought last month?" Wes laughed.

"Yeah! The one with the six horns on his head and the terrible inferiority complex?" Fred joined his laughter.

"It amazes me that demons have such personality. You'd never think it. They're almost like normal human beings. Like you and I." He sipped his wine and set it on the table behind him. He leaned back in his chair and looked over at Fred. She was looking at him.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." She smiled. "I just can't believe I never really knew you before now. I mean...you've always been there, and I'd noticed you, but never really thought to get to know you. Now I'm glad that I have."

Wesley reached over and combed a strand of hair behind Fred's ear. "I noticed you the moment we met. I've been...wanting to get to know you ever since. You're an extraordinary woman, Fred."

He watched her blush in the firelight. "Thank you, Wesley." She sipped her wine and held the glass in her lap. She stared into the fire.

Slightly disappointed that he didn't hear the same response, Wesley frowned.

Fred sat her glass on the table. "Wes...I..." She looked up at him again. He turned to face her.

"Yes?"

Fred moved close to him, her face centimeters from his. She took a deep breath as she gazed into his sparkling blue eyes.

Wesley's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest. He leaned towards her, his lips almost touching hers.

Suddenly, a black-clad figure dropped down through the skylight onto the table.

Fred screamed and Wesley covered her from falling glass. A piece fell on him, slicing his cheek open. He hissed in pain and looked up at the figure on the table.

The blonde vampire grinned at Wesley evilly. "Hello...I haven't met you yet." She kicked him in the face. There was a sickening crack as Wesley fell to the floor, motionless. "Too bad you're dead."

"Wesley! No!" Fred screamed. She looked up at the vampire with tears in her eyes and gritted her teeth.

The vampire leaned close to Fred's face. She sniffed her with a grim smile. "Run."