"DON'T WANNA LOVE YOU IF YOU
DON'T LOVE ME!
DON'T WANNA NEED YOU IF YOU DON'T
NEED ME TOO!"
Wesley rolled over and looked at his alarm clock, then looked out his window. The sun was barely up, and it wasn't even 6 am yet. He sat up and reached blearily for his glasses. Wesley struggled to his feet and wandered out into his small hallway. The loud, obnoxious pop music was coming from the kitchen.
"DON'T WANNA TELL YOU THIS NOWBUT IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT
IF I DIDN'T TELL YOU THIS TONIGHT!"
Emma bopped around the kitchen with her back to him. She had a butterknife in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. And she was singing along with the radio at the top of her off-key voice.
"Why are you up so early?" Wesley grumbled. "You're not at home, you know. No one's going to lecture you for staying in bed till a decent hour."
"Faith is coming over and we're going jogging."
"Faith. Jogging." Wesley opened a box of cereal and poured it into a bowl. Emma danced around him to open the refrigerator.
"Yes, Wesley. She wants to start training again. Not with you, of course, but she wants to start training again. " Emma gulped down a glass of orange juice. Spraying toast crumbs all over the place, she continued. "It's really neat, having aother Slayer to pal around with. Probably doesn't happen often."
"No, it doesn't." Wesley sighed. "Will you be jogging in your pajamas?"
"Oh migosh! No!" Emma gasped. She thumped her glass down on the counter and ran off to the living room to get clothes out of her suitcase. Wesley picked up a paper towel and wiped up the wet ring left on the counter by her drink. He'd get used to this new living situation. Someday.
The doorbell rang, Wesley went to answer it.
"Hey, Wes." said Faith. "Niiicce pjs.." She waited outside the door, they stood in uncomfortable silence until Emma hopped by with one shoe on. The girls left, with a solemn promise to be back in one hour.
Wesley closed the door and went back to bed.
******
"Hows it going, you know, with your sister?" Cordelia asked when Wes went to work.
"Pantyhose on the shower rod, diet shakes in the refrigerator, pop music blasting at ungodly hours, she takes up the bathroom with her hair washing, and nail painting and leg waxing. In short, the girl is driving me mad."
"That's life with a teenage girl. "Cordelia laughed. "Regretting your desicion?"
"No." Wesley smiled. "No, I'm not. And how is Angel doing this morning?"
"He's been really quiet. "said Cordy. "He's been doing the broody, non talking thing again."
"I imagine the loss of one's Sire is quite hard."
Wesley knocked on Angel's office door.
"Yeah?" Angel said from where he sat in the dark.
"Angel, I, thought you might want someone to talk to? I-If you don't, I'll leave."
"Come on in, Wes." Angel said in a tired voice. Wesley sat down gingerly in the chair opposite Angel's desk. It made him feel like he was in his father's study, waiting to be yelled at. The scared little boy trying clumsily to comfort his grieving father and always being rebuffed. He was sure Angel would throw him out.
"I miss her too." Wesley said timidly.
"You'd think I'd be used to losing people." said Angel.
"It doesn't get easier the more it happens. In fact, sometimes it gets harder. She was a good woman."
"Yeah."
"Angel, I think this was a kind of, redemption for her, even though it hurts to think about it in that way. She had a soul, and I know it's gone on to a better place. She's earned her rest."
"I know."
"I've found a publisher for the book. If you'd like to read the draft?"
"I'd like that."
"I'll bring it in tommorrow." Wesley smiled with relief. "I want it to be accurate."
"Thanks for doing this, Wesley."
"Not a problem." Wesley left the office and closed the door behind him.
