Candlelight Shadows
by Lara
SUMMARY: A year after the betrayal, living in the shadows.
RATING: FRT [A] [AU]
PAIRING: Fred/Wesley
SPOILERS: Through Season 4 of Angel with some reference to general spoilers from Season 5.
DISCLAIMER: I only wish I were as successful as Joss Whedon. He and Mutant Enemy own this; I just write fanfic for fun while waiting for my own big break.
DISTRIBUTION: Permission granted to WNW and Blue Moon Rising. If anyone else wants to archive it, please let me know.
FEEDBACK: Very much appreciated. Please e-mail lara@darling-moon.com. Flames, however, will be used to fuel the fire in Wesley’s next spell casting session.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sequel to “Moonlight Shadows” that actually started as an answer to the Survivor Challenge I posted on Wes/Fred Thread #56 at Forums4Fans.
Words that had to be used in the story:
The sun has been down for a while now.
Holding a candle, Fred exits from the cabin that they have called home for the last year. She swings the light in a wide arc as her eyes search until she finds what she’s looking for. A dim shape, down by the water, almost hidden in the shadow of a large tree. A sad smile plays over her lips. She should have realized.
Silently, she walks down toward the lake, the candle in front of her, her hand protecting it from any stray breeze that might stir up here in the mountains. Once she reaches the bank, she sits down next to Wesley and sets the candle in front of them. The suffused dancing glow plays upon his face, creating gently moving shadows while revealing that he has been crying, the few remaining tears glistening like crystals when the light hits them. Without a word, she wraps an arm around him and lays her head against his shoulder, a lump forming in her own throat.
It’s been a year. A year since everyone they cared about betrayed them thanks to Wolfram and Hart. A year since Los Angeles was overrun by demons and other horrors. A year since they had fled, moving from place to place for months before ending up in one of the few hidden human camps that exist throughout the country. They manage to stay hidden from the demon hordes because they don’t use electricity, don’t do anything to draw attention to themselves.
Living in shadows.
And they will remain here until they are ready, until they have gathered enough people – especially the Slayers – that they can reclaim what has been taken from them.
Suddenly, Fred lets out a little gasp and shifts. Wesley turns his head and locks eyes with her in the candlelight. His hand moves to rest on her abdomen, the gentle caress of his fingers stilling the restless movement within her. The shadowed look in his eyes turns from sadness to that of anticipation and love before becoming sad once more.
Raising his head, he leans over and kisses her softly. He can’t make any promises, but he knows what he wants. Their world back for their child.
So instead, he picks up the candle and blows it out, turning it into a wish. As the shadows fall over their faces again, he reaches out and helps Fred to her feet before guiding her back to the cabin.
© August 2003
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