In My Life

By: Lily DeSilva

Summary: AU. Wes and Fred are married. Very romantic.

A/N: Okay, I decided to write a series of short stories, all unrelated, incorporating Beatles songs with Angel. Enjoy!

Rating: G

Song: In My Life (I lay no claim)

Album: Rubber Soul

Artist: The Beatles

Writer: John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N2: This is based on a really bad story we read in French called L'Oeuf de Pâques, which means Easter eggs. My friend suggested an alternate ending, and so I wrote it. Dedicated to Bug, you spawned the Plot Bunny, and it didn't let me sleep. I hate you (just kidding). Thanks!

There are places I remember

All my life

Though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some are gone

And some remain

All these places have their moments

With lovers and friends

I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life

I've loved them all

Every year he did this on her birthday. It started wher they got together, thirteen years ago. He gave her a small teddy bear with a message tied around his neck. 'I love you' it had said, and that was the day they first kissed. This continued for another two years. He would hide a bear somewhere in the house or garden, and she would find it. There were always little notes with it, and she loved every one of them.

On the day of her twenty-sixth birthday, the third year of this tradition, she went looking for the bear as usual. She found it, twenty minutes later, with a small box tied around it's neck. Her eyes wide with wonder, she opened it to reveal a ring glistening with diamonds. She gasped, and he came out of his hiding place behind the door.

Kneeling down, he took her hand in hers. "Fred, will you marry me?" he asked, voicing the thought that had been in his head for months.

Her eyes now glistening with tears, she nodded. He pulled her up into a hug, softly kissing the tears away. She buried her head in his shoulder, sobbing in spite of herself.

Finally, she pulled herself together enough to look up at him and speak through the tears. "I'm so sorry, Wesley! It's not that I don't want or love you; it's just that I want you so much. I love you more than anything! I've wanted you to ask me that for months now. I'm not sad; I just love you so much! See?" she smiled up at him. "Happy tears!"

Wesley jugged her closer, loving her even more, if that was possible. They stood there for a while, not moving, locked in embrace. Fred had her head buried in Wes's chest, tears still dotting her big, brown eyes.

They were married exactly one year later. As per tradition, Wes presented Fred with a teddy bear with her wedding band attached. In her vows, Fred spoke about how Wesley was the best birthday, engagement and wedding gift she ever got.

Life continued for the happy couple, with regular ups and downs, but not enough to cause real distress. The teddy bears continued, every year on her birthday. She kept every one of them on a shelf in her bedroom. They were like a security blanket when she was sad, and symbols of joy when she was happy. Her eight-year-old daughter often asked if she could play with them, but Fred always declined, stating that they were too special.

But, as the years went on, Wesley seemed to loose interest in the tradition. Each year, the bears got easier to find, and the excitement was gone. On the eve of her fortieth birthday, he announced that he had to leave town for a business meeting.

"But Wesley! You never miss my birthday! What about the teddies? And, also, you promised your daughter that you would take her to the movies and her friend's house! What am I going to do without you?"

"Don't worry, I'm still taking Jessie over to her friend's. She's sleeping over. You have the weekend alone, Fred; I think you need it." Wesley paced the room.

"What are you talking about, Wes? I need to be with you." Fred followed him, tears welding up in her eyes.

"You haven't been alone in nearly ten years. And I'll still hide a bear." As he turned away, his eyes rolled slowly. "Aren't you getting a little old for that, anyways?"

"Absolutely not! It's a tradition I plan to keep until the day I die!" Fred glared at Wesley, and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Wesley slowly released the breath he was holding. Temptation was almost too much to resist. His plan for their tenth anniversary was almost ruined.

Fred went to bed early that night. Wesley was supposed to leave at about midnight, and she didn't' want to see him go.

In the morning, she awoke to see a small teddy bear on her pillow. The note around his neck was simple, just a small sentence. 'Look behind the hand towel in the bathroom, and you will find something rather curious'.

Fred's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Why would she look there? Then again, it was Wesley's handwriting. Maybe he wanted to give me a birthday gift, she thought, or maybe a going-away gift. He has been rather distant lately. And after the way I acted, I wouldn't be surprised.

But still, she went into the bathroom. Just as the note had said, there was another teddy behind the hand towel. She pulled the note (which was around it's neck) away and opened it. Only one word, in the neat writing of a former Watcher, was written. 'Microwave'.

Curiosity tweaking her judgment, Fred walked into the kitchen and opened the microwave. Again, Wesley (she presumed) had hidden another teddy bear there. With another note. Fred pulled the note off the bear's neck, thus starting a wild goose chase around the house. She searched everywhere the notes said, always finding new bears with every clue. On and on it went, everywhere; in the fridge, behind the headboard of her bed, even under the couch. With each bear she collected, Fred became more and more excited. When would it end? How many bears? And, more importantly, was it Wesley's doing?

Eventually, after ten clues, it did end. After looking in the plate cupboard, she found a final bear, a note cupped in his hands. 'Turn around'.

"Turn around?" she asked out loud. "What does that mean?"

"It means turn around." A deep voice said form the door. Wesley's voice.

Fred spun around, not expecting what she saw. Wesley. There. Standing in the doorway, slowly walking towards her, pushing play on the CD player on his way over, holding her in his arms, HER Wesley.

"I thought you left me." Fred cried as he hugged her close.

"Never, my love. I'll always love you." He smiled down at her.

He then pulled her closer and they began to sway to her favorite song; their song. It was already halfway done, but Wes sang along softly just the same.

But of all these friends and lovers There is no one

Compares with you

And these memories loose their meanings

When I think of love

As something new

Though I know I'll never loose affection

For people and things

That went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life

I love you more

Fred sighed as she listened to her love sing. How could she have ever doubted him? How could she think he didn't love her? How…

"I love you, Fred, and I always will." Wesley held her closer.

"And I love you, Wes. Forever and always."

And then, the song ended, oh so appropriately.

Though I know I'll never loose affection

For people and things

That went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life

I love you more