Orpheus

Author: Elizabeth5

Disclaimer: Not mine, bla bla bla.

Chapter Thirteen: Aftermath the Second

The once easy-going atmosphere of the café was radically changed as anyone remotely connected to Sunnydale gathered together to brainstorm ideas on how to rescue Lindsey. Anya had initially balked because of the negative effect it was sure to have on business, but had retracted her complaints when she realized how much coffee everyone was ordering.

Right in the midst of the group were Wesley and Fred, both intent upon helping to save the man who had helped to bring them back together. "We'll have to find a new offering," Wesley spoke up, frowning as he absent-mindedly rubbed at his chin. "Tara's song won't be usable again."

"We could make them some DNA chrystals," Fred said brightly, then frowned, "except, the powers are the ones who gave humans the knowledge about science in the first place, so they probably already know how to make them. Also, they don't have DNA..."

"Hold on," Cordelia interrupted, shaking her head. "Something isn't right."

Bristling at this, Faith turned to face her. "What? You think we're not allowed to save Lindsey just 'cuz he made a few mistakes in his life? He's redeemed himself, all right, and it's not an easy thing to do. So just back off."

Cordelia merely rolled her eyes at this. "Over-sensitive, much? What I meant was that there's way too many people trying to help, and we're all just getting in the way. Fred and Wesley, leave."

"Excuse me?" Fred returned, rising indignantly to her full height, which wasn't all that daunting. "I'm the one who owes Lindsey most of all. If anyone's gonna help, it's gonna be me–"

"Cordelia's right," Doyle spoke up, winning himself a huge smile from the ex-cheerleader/conduit to the higher powers. "There are too many people here. Whoever votes Fred and Wesley out, raise your hands."

The hands in the group were unanimously raised. Wesley looked around incredulously. "Well, what an incredibly offensive way to tell us we're not wanted."

Gunn laughed at this. "Come on, Wes, don't get all butt-hurt. We're just trying to let you and Fred spend some time together. Y'all were pulled apart way before your time, and now you just barely get back together after suffering all kinds of crap. So stop arguing and have some quality time, all right? We got this."

Before they could argue any further, they were rather unceremoniously pushed out of the diner. Seeming rather pleased with herself, Cordelia turned back to face the group. "All right, still kinda over-crowded. Giles and Jenny, get out."

"But– " Seeing the faces of everyone around them, Giles and Jenny resginedly left the diner.

Soon, the group had been narrowed down to the original trio of Doyle, Cordelia, and Anya, plus Faith and Gunn this time around. Once Cordelia was satisfied with the numbers, she smiled grimly at the group. "All right, we have work to do. The Powers aren't gonna accept a song this time around. They're big on originality, and all that."

Anya cleared her throat. "I have an idea."

Faith chewed on her lip. "Hey, maybe we could– "

Doyle grabbed her arm, silencing her, and motioned to Anya. "Maybe we better listen to the girl this time around..."

After Anya had explained her idea, everyone sat in silence, pondering. Finally, Gunn shrugged. "Well, it's better than anything I coulda come up with." He looked at Anya admiringly. "Who are you, anyway?"

"Anya Christina Emannuela Jenkins," Anya spoke up proudly. "Former vengeance demon and co-owner of the Magic Shop, once engaged to Cordelia's ex-boyfriend, currently a waitress. I died saving the world from an apocalypse. Oh, and I'm an excellent bowler."

Gunn couldn't help but grin at her. "My kind of woman..."

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"Is it wrong that I'm enjoying this?" Fred inquired.

They were in a bright and sunny park, swinging side by side, lightly holding hands so much as the movement would permit. Wesley glanced over at Fred, smiling at the mere sight of her. He'd been doing that a lot lately.

"They'll save him," he said simply, "I have every confidence in Cordelia, Doyle, Faith, and Gunn. And, oddly enough, Anya."

Fred turned to him and smiled. "I guess you're right," she said, and then abruptly added, "And I love you." Seeing the surprise on his face, she elaborated, "I never got to tell you that. But I did. I think I loved you all along, but I was too scared, you know? 'Cuz it fit too well."

Wesley stopped, staring at her. He had waited so long to hear those words– he couldn't remember the actual amount of time, per say, but it felt like forever. And here she was, soul completely intact. Telling him that she loved him.

"I'm convinced now," he said.

She smiled at him self-consciously. "What?"

"That this is Heaven."

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Ector the Giant Head rolled his eyes as Cordelia, Doyle, and Anya came into view. "You people again? Can't you read the sign?"

They turned their gazes to the far wall, where a plaque was hanging on the wall. It read quite simply: Repeat Visits Not Encouraged.

Faith smirked at this, stepping forward. "Yeah, well, good thing this is my first time. We're here to make a deal."

Ector eyed her over with obvious admiration in his rather large eyes. "Well, well. You can come visit any time you like, sweetheart."

Faith stopped midstride, looking visibly disturbed. She turned to Cordelia, lowering her voice. "Is the Giant Head hitting on me?"

"Looks like it," Cordelia said, equally creeped out.

"Weird." Faith said, shaking her head.

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"So, this is your room?" Fred inquired nervously, glancing around Wesley's sparsely decorated room. "It's very...roomy. Nice tv."

Wesley smiled at this. "Don't be too impressed. You have your own television. Your own room, in fact. All you have to do is will yourself to be there– "

Abruptly, the room they were standing in changed. The room they were now in was clearly Fred's; there was a Dixie Chicks poster on the wall, a flower-print bed, and various stuffed animals. She glanced at Wesley wonderingly. "I guess each room is designed for the person inhabiting it."

"Guess so," Wesley said, then frowned. "I suppose that doesn't reflect too well on me..."

Fred squealed and rushed forward. "Hey, I have furniture!"

Wesley walked around the room, examining it. "And a walk-in closet. How keen."

When he turned again, Fred was standing very close to him, smiling up at him innocently. "So, we're all alone in my room. What do you wanna do?"

He cleared his throat, resisting the urge to reach up and tug at his collar or fiddle with his glasses as he usually did when nervous. "Well, I suppose we could watch a little television, if you'd like...or perhaps play a card game...?"

The smile faded from Fred's face. "Gee, Wesley, I love ya, but you sure are slow on the uptake."

She leaned forward and kissed him. And then he was kissing her back. And then she was intensifying the kiss, and then so was he. This continued for quite some time, until they finally pulled up for air.

"Not slow on the uptake," Wesley corrected, "just trying to be a gentleman."

She rewarded him with a smile. "Yeah, well...stop that, okay?"

And then they were kissing yet again.

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Faith stood in the Mayor's empty office for a few moments, boredly looking over the books and trinkets on the shelf. Her gaze fell upon the Books of Ascension, and she smiled. "Sentimental old fart," she murmured to herself.

Out of the corner of her eyes there was a blur of light, and then a familiar voice. "Listen, I don't have a whole lot of time so if you could just..."

The Mayor's voice trailed off, and she turned to him, smiling at the look of shock on his face. "Long time no see," she said simply.

"Faith." The Mayor stared at her for a moment longer and then grinned. "I can't believe...well, just look at you. All grown up, and dead." He paused, his face darkening momentarily, and then he smiled again. "I like your hair. Very fetching."

She ran a quick hand through her hair and shrugged. "Yeah, well, it's the style this season." She squared back her shoulders, walking toward him. "But I guess you realize that I'm not here to discuss the newest fashion trends."

"I'd guessed as much, yes."

Faith met his gaze evenly. "I want to be honest with you, boss, 'cuz you're the first person I ever...you know." She took in a deep breath. "Things changed after you left. I sort of wreaked havoc for a little while before I– "

"Did you find the present I left you?" the Mayor interrupted excitedly. "The switcharoo whatchamacallit? How did that work out?"

Faith's face brightened. "Oh, yeah, that was so awesome. No one even caught on for the longest time that it was me and not Buffy, and I totally..." She sobered, remembering herself. "Well, that's not me anymore. I reformed. I died fighting for the White Hats."

The Mayor stared at her for a moment, then gave a short laugh. "And yet they sent you here anyway. See how they never forgive– "

"I got into Heaven," Faith corrected him. "I'm here on a mission, actually."

The Mayor blinked at her. "You got into Heaven?"

She might as well have said "I got into Harvard" or "I got into the space program" for the naked pride on his face. "That's great, Faith," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "I'm proud of you."

Faith furrowed her brow in confusion. "You're proud of me? But I thought you'd be all upset that I didn't stay evil."

"Well," the Mayor conceded, "that's what I wanted for you at first. I mean, hey, I'm evil, and it's turned out great for me." He motioned proudly around his office, then turned his focus back to her. "But what I really wanted was for you to be happy. Even if that means shunning evil." He reached forward, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We want what's best for the people we love."

They stood like that for a moment, both overcome with emotion. After a moment, Faith reached up and took his hand. "That's not the only reason I'm here, boss. I came for one of your souls. Lindsey."

"Take him," was the Mayor's automatic response.

Faith looked at him in surprise. "But...aren't you supposed to put me through a bunch of trials, or something?"

The Mayor shrugged. "Yeah, well, call me a Nepotist." He reached out and gripped her hand, searching her face carefully. "I want you to be happy, Faith. You are happy, aren't you?"

She smiled at him and squeezed his hand in return. "Five by five."

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The diner was a flurry of activity the next day. Cordelia watched, smiling, as all of the patrons went about their various activities, blissfully oblivious to anything else.

Anya and Gunn were in the corner booth, smiling at each other none-too-subtley as Gunn introduced her to his sister. Cordelia couldn't be quite certain, but she thought she had overheard Anya say something to the effect of, "You must be proud to have such a virile brother..."

Giles, who had appointed himself one of the new managers of the diner, was helping Jenny to enter the finances into the computer. He was trying his best to look exasperated with "the blasted machine", but anyone could tell by looking at him how very happy he was.

Faith and Lindsey were at their own table, speaking together in hushed voices. Faith had taken it upon herself to reintroduce Lindsey to "White Hat Society", as she called it, and Lindsey seemed to have few complaints. They were keeping a careful distance between them, but Cordelia had seen enough furtive glances between the two that she gave it a couple of days at the most.

And then there was Fred and Wesley. They were squeezed into the same side of the booth with each other, smiling and holding hands in a way that would have been borderline puke-worthy if they weren't so darn cute. Smiling, she crossed over to them.

"Hey," she said, grinning at them, "you two look awfully cozy."

Wesley looked rather embarrassed, but Fred merely grinned and snuggled in closer. "Yeah, we do, don't we..." Just to egg Wesley on, she added, "...lover?"

Smiling through his blush, Wesley motioned to the seat across from them. "Care to join us, Cordelia?"

"Don't mind if I do."

Fred glanced over at Lindsey and Faith, smiling. "I still can't believe you guys pulled it off so easily. Have I thanked you for that yet?"

"Only a gazillion times," Cordelia said, with a half-hearted roll of her eyes.

Wesley started to smile at this, then frowned as a sudden thought struck him. "Wait, how did you pull it off? I don't think you've told us yet what you used as a gift to the powers."

Cordelia shrugged. "It was easy. Joyce baked some cookies."

Wesley and Fred merely blinked at her for a few long moments. "Cookies?" Wesley repeated finally.

Fred scrunched up her nose. "And that worked?"

"Yeah, well, they're good cookies." Cordelia assured him. "Plus, I think Ector had the hots for Faith."

"Ah."

Doyle appeared and slid into the seat next to Cordelia. "Who has the hots for who? Besides me for Cordy, I mean..." He kissed her to prove his point.

"Ector for Faith," Fred informed him, "though I think he'll have a run for his money with Lindsey around."

Wesley observed his former slayer. "Yes, I don't think it'll take long for those two to get the romantic juices flowing."

"Romantic juices?" Fred teased. "Who talks like that?"

"Sounds dirty to me," Cordelia agreed.

"I don't know," Doyle spoke up. "I think Gunn and our girl Anya will be the next couple to be gracing the afterlife scene..."

Cordelia snorted. "As if they aren't already a couple. Anya moves in fast, you know. I could tell you a few things..."

And they went on this way, laughing and bantering, for quite some time.

The End.

a/n: You guys are awesome. Thanks for making me finish this. Keep reviewing! Oh, and if anyone has any really good Wes/Fred or Buffy/Spike fics to recommend, send 'em my way.