What Happens After
Part Four
by Hjmugillecuty

RATING: FRC [AU]

SUMMARY: While settling into their new home, Angel Investigations learn what happened to Sunnydale.

SPOILERS: All of Buffy and through Season 4 of Angel.

PAIRING: Wes/Fred

DISCLAIMER: These characters do not belong to me; they belong to their original creators (Mutant Enemy, the WB and others) and I make no profit.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: For a
number of reasons, it's taking forever to write this, but I'm still plugging away. I'll try to do better.
Archive permission is granted as always to Whole New World and Blue Moon Rising.

Wesley watched as Fred tried to comfort the teen. Giles followed his gaze and smiled. "Is she the reason you will not leave L.A.?" he asked.

"What?" Wesley was startled.

"Fred. Is she why you want to stay?"

"Yes."

"How long have the two of you been…?"

"We're not, actually."

"Why not?"

"Everything that has happened. I've loved her for years, but first she was with Gunn, my best friend, and I was dating another woman, who ended up dead because of the Power we defeated. There was a point where I hoped, because we had both stopped seeing the others, but our world fell apart and we have not yet rebuilt it to that level."

"Build quickly." Giles sighed. "She will not wait forever. If I have learned anything in the past seven years, it is that you cannot wait for the battle to end to be happy, because the war never ends. So you take your joy when it is offered to you. I learned that by losing Jenny, Xander is learning it now."

"I'm not very good at it though," Wesley admitted.

"Perhaps we can help. Buffy plans to take Willow and some of the Slayers to find as many of the new Slayers as they can. Faith and Robin plan to take another group. I had hoped that Dawn, Xander and I could stay here for a while to organize the council and start some training."

"I have no problem with that. I assume Buffy is asking Angel for financial assistance."

"Yes." Giles laughed and their conversation moved to the books they would need in the library.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the office, Xander had profusely apologized for his joke. Once Dawn had calmed down, Fred began asking Xander about his injury, commenting that it may be possible for her, using the tools Wolfram and Hart gave them, to heal or replace his eye. Xander and Dawn were interested in the possibility and mentioned that they might be staying in L.A. for a while. Finally, Xander noticed the sidelong glances Fred had been sending toward Wesley.

"So, Fred," he began. "What's up with you and Wesley?"

"What do you mean?" Fred asked, blushing furiously.

"Wesley's really changed." Dawn added, "Don't you think so, Xander?"

"Definitely. I remember when I first met him in the high school library, in his suit and tie, all by the book. And at graduation…"

"He was the first to get knocked down," Dawn completed the story she'd heard repeatedly.

"Really?" Fred's surprise was obvious. "When I met him he was organizing an attack on a castle to rescue Cordelia."

"Well, you know…circumstances," Xander cracked. "But seriously, are you two…?"

"No." Fred blushed again.

Dawn smiled. "But you want to, don't you?"

"Well…yes, it's just…complicated."

"Love always is, babe," Xander editorialized.

"Exactly," Fred agreed. "And in the middle of the fight against evil, how do you find time for it?"

Xander shook his head slowly. "You have to make the time. It's much better than being forced to live with the regrets."

"Xander?"

"It's okay, Dawnie. It's okay for me to miss her and the life we should have had. But, it's even more important for me to keep Wesley and Fred from making the same mistake. The fight is important, but it isn't the only thing that is."

"I suppose," Fred answered; blushing again, then quickly changed the subject. "So…any idea where y'all will be staying?"

"Not yet," Dawn replied. "We thought you guys were still working out of the hotel."

"No." Fred shuddered. "That was where Jasmine, the Power that Was, set up her base of operations. Hundreds of people were killed. We just couldn't stay there anymore."

"Very understandable," Xander agreed.

"Well, I know Wesley has a couple of extra beds and I just moved into my new place, but I've got a guest room. So Dawn could stay with me at least. Angel has a suite upstairs but I don't think he has any extra beds. I don't know for sure, `cause I haven't seen his place yet. He's still organizing or something, I don't know. He's been a little off lately."

"How can you tell?" Xander cracked.

"Well, we thought maybe something happened in Sunnydale?"

Dawn shrugged. "We wouldn't know. Only Buffy saw him."

"Huh." Fred suddenly looked up at the wall clock. "Oh shoot. Wesley, Giles!" She called. "We should probably go meet the others."

Wesley looked up, surprised at how much time had passed. "You're right. Giles?"

The five of them, Wesley and Fred leading, left the office to make their way to the lunchroom.

© July 2004

Return to Fanfic