A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. Keep em' coming. Hope you enjoy the next chapter. I wanted to update sooner, but stupid real-life got in the way.

Also, as a reminder to those who haven't read any of my It's A... series, Sarai is Angel and Darla's daughter.

Around seven that night, Wesley and Fred were getting dressed. "Do I look okay?" Fred questioned, showing off the pink dress she had on.

"You always do," he answered as he tried to tie his tie. Under normal circumstances it was an extremely simple task, but he was so frustrated he ended up tying it into a knot.

"Here," Fred offered fixing it for him. "You need to relax. It won't be that bad," she tried to soothe.

"Unless of course he breaks out the gun again and goes for the full on death shoot," a voice taunted from the bedroom doorway.

"Thank you for that reminder, Sarai," Wesley sarcastically replied to Sarai, Sophia's babysitter for the evening. "How did you get in here?" he added.

The teenager held up a key, "had it made a few weeks ago, I never mentioned it? Oh well. So, will you be packin' heat or not? And are you really sure this one's human? cause you were pretty positive the last time, too."

Fred gave the girl a strict glared. "Leave him alone," she requested.

"He loves it when I harass him," she replied breezily.

"It's the highlight of my life," he sarcastically said, as all three left the bedroom.

"But seriously, Wes, let me know if he says anything insulting to you that I've said. Cause if he does, then as a personal favor from me to you I'll sue him for copyright infringement, or something."

"You're too kind."

"Well, I've decided to give this kindness thing a trail run. To be honest, it kinda sucks. Hey you guys don't mind that I invited someone to join me since Sophia's gonna be going to bed soon do you?"

Before either one could answer Lorne came through the door. "Hello, all," he happily greeted. "Oh, someone does not look pleased," he observed looking at Wesley, "and the vibes that are waving off you, so not good."

"Don't know what you're talking about. Everything will be fine," Wesley lied.

"Yeah, he already worked out all his murderous tendencies on the fake one," Sarai added.

"Will you stop with that?"

The teenager shrugged before going over to Sophia who was watching a cartoon, "so, ready to have fun before bedtime?" she asked. Sophia looked at her and nodded. "Perfect!"

"Don't have too much fun or she won't want to go to bed," Fred advised.

Sarai blinked, amazed that after months of being employed as Sophia's babysitter, they still told her things she already knew. Some of which, Sarai figured out before they did and told the parents. "Somehow I'll handle it."

"Yeah," Lorne assured them, "we'll be just fine with the mini-muffin, go on already."

They left and made their way to the hotel after saying goodbye. When they arrived, they saw from a distance Roger was already waiting at a table. Wesley turned around and headed for the door, only to be stopped by Fred. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"This is a mistake," he told her.

She put a hand on his shoulder, "no, it isn't. Come on, you know you have to do this."

Sighing, he turned around and walked toward the table. Fred followed. "I was beginning to think you were going to stand by the door the entire night," Roger greeted his son.

Before Wesley could reply, Fred covered for him, "I'm sorry, that was my fault. I... don't really like leaving Sophia at night." She extended her hand. "I'm Winifred Burkle, you can call me Fred though. It's so nice to meet you."

"You too," Roger replied, shaking her hand. They sat down at the table. "So, Winifred, Wesley tells me you too work at Wolfram and Hart. What is it that you do there?"

"Oh, I run the science lab."

"She's brilliant when it comes to science," Wesley complimented.

Fred blushed slightly, "I have a really good staff."

"You mean to tell me there is something to be considered good at Wolfram and Hart?" Roger questioned indignantly.

"Yeah, now there is," Fred replied calmly.

There was something about her, the way she spoke with ease, and her over all low key attitude, that Roger found himself liking. "I see," he uttered before looking at the menu. "Shall we start to order?"

"Yes," Fred enthusiastically replied. It had been four hours since she last ate. She was starving.

"Let's start with a cocktail," Roger suggested, "I could go for a gin and tonic."

"I need a scotch myself," Wesley muttered.

Fred looked over the drink menu. She wasn't much of a drinker. "I guess I'll have a Seabreeze," she finally decided, knowing Lorne would be proud. They ordered their drinks and then looked at the meal selection.

They ordered their food and made small talk until it arrived. Mostly Roger asked Fred questions regarding everything from her job, to her hobbies. After they ate Fred excused herself to go to the bathroom. "Alright, let's get it over with," Wesley insisted, "tell me, did Fred pass your test?"

Roger took a sip of his drink and sighed before speaking. "Honestly, Wesley, I don't even know how you two got involved with one another. But you better thank whomever allowed it and pray she never realizes she's too good for you."

"I actually do," Wesley replied. "I know how luckily I am."

"I hope so. Maybe this will be one thing you won't screw up. I doubt it though."

Before Wesley could reply Fred returned. "Hope I didn't miss anything," she said. "So, why didn't Mrs. Wyndam-Pryce come here with you?"

"She's not one for flying. Beside, I wanted to visit with Wesley for business purposes, which she finds uninteresting and prefers to stay out of," Roger explained.

"Yes, she never was one to get involved in father's doings," Wesley muttered as he took a sip of his drink.

"So, tomorrow I will be going to Wolfram and Hart with you," Roger told his son. "See what it's like for myself."

"Yes, right," Wes replied, regretfully.

Wesley and Fred said goodbye to Roger, and then headed home. After letting the babysitters off duty when they arrived home they decided to stop in Sophia's room to check on her. What they saw was a four-year-old squirming around her bed like crazy. They got closer to see what was going on, and discovered that she was awake. When Sophia noticed her parents in the room, she decided to wave to them slightly. Wesley wasn't a hundred percent sure because he and Fred were standing close to one another, but he could've sworn she waved to him first, which made him pleasantly happy. Especially after the night he had and the thoughts that were running through his mind. "Hey," he whispered to her, "we missed you when we were gone."

"Aw, what's wrong baby? Can't sleep?" Fred then sympathized to her daughter, who made some sort've sound of confirmation as a reply. As both parents thought of a possible sleep remedy, she ended up falling asleep. They looked at one another, slightly amused by the irony, as they exited the room.

"I knew it. All you needed to do was give it more time, but I'd hate to say I told you so," Fred happily bragged once they were out of the room.

"What are you talking about?" her boyfriend questioned, as he removed his shoes and sat down.

"Oh, the reason why you went from sad sack to happy puppy with one little wave." He was right. She did wave to him first. He tried to hide his grin. It didn't work. "See! Told you."

Wesley was very happy, but he also didn't get it. He couldn't help but wonder. Why? What did he do for her that day that was so great? Allow his father to come into his home and accuse her of not really being his daughter, when she was right in the next room? In his book, that didn't constitute being wave-worthy. "Maybe she just saw me first," he eventually lamented.

Fred frowned. "What? Wes... why..." she stuttered, at a loss of what to say."Where did that come from?"

"Just being logical. No use in living in a fantasy."

"We've lived in fantasy's... well alternate realities before, this isn't one of them," she pointed out. "I don't get it. I thought this is what you wanted?"

"Of course it's what I wanted. I've wanted a lot of things I've gotten that I didn't deserve and/or that I've managed to screw up"

Suddenly, it hit her. "What did he say to you when I was in the bathroom?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Wesley! Come on, this is me you're talking too." She waited for him to say something. He didn't. "I know you guys... you have a complicated relationship. And if he said anything that has brought this on, ignore it," she ordered. "Because it's not true," she softened, "I see everyday how great and patient you are with her, and how much you love her, and now she's starting to respond, don't let him diminish that."

Sighing heavily as he rubbed his forehead, Wes listened to what she had said. "You're right, you're absolutely right, I can't let him do this to me."

"You could just tell him to leave," Fred suggested, as she decided to relax her boyfriend by giving him a neck massage.

"I can't do that. I want to... but I can't."

"Just because you killed a robot that looked like him, doesn't mean you owe him anything."

"I know, I guess. But the way I figure it...oh, a little lower."

"Huh?" Fred questioned, confused.

"Could you rub a little lower, by the shoulders, please," Wesley clarified. Fred went along with it. "That's bloody excellent. What was I saying again?"

"The way you figure it..."

"Right. They way I figure it, I put up with his visit, he'll go back to England soon enough and I won't have to deal with him for a while... a very long while hopefully. Can we change the subject now, please?"

"Yeah, of course. Or... we could do something else." Wesley looked up at the woman standing behind him, smiling suggestively. He leapt to his feet, grabbed her by the hand and lead her into the bedroom.

TBC

A/N: That's all for now. Up next: Sophia has a crisis, Wesley takes Roger to W&H, and there will be a Cordy/Doyle/Wesley chat. Until then, please review.