Rhythm of the Moment
by Lara

SUMMARY: While in New York for the firm, Wesley, Fred and Lorne run across a bar and stop in for a drink and much more.

CROSSOVER: Angel/Coyote Ugly

RATING: FRT [SR] [AU]

SPOILERS: Through “Smile Time” in 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 the usual haunts. 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: Happy Birthday, Rachael! I promised her I would write this after Steve and I came up with strange crossovers. Takes place after “Smile Time”...whether it fits or is AU...

“’Let’s go for a walk,’ she says. ‘It’ll be fun,’ she says. Notice that she said nothing about us getting lost!”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Come on, Lorne. We’ll just find a cab and have it take us back to the hotel.”

“Wesley...Romeo...darling, do you see any cabs around here?

“I’m sure if we just walk to the next block—.”

“Fred, you know I love you, pumpkin, but you said that four blocks ago! I don’t know why I agreed to come along on this particular little outing anyway. You two are too old for a chaperone.”

“Chaperone? I don’t know you mean. Fred and I—.”

“Oh, please. You two have been giving off ‘get a room’ vibes since your little televised Battle of the Puppet Stars. Which – really – I don’t want to think about how wrong the implication of that possible connection sounds.”

“Lorne!”

“Winifred!”

“Children!”

“Okay...that there? Given what I was just talking about? Really disturbing, Wesleykins.”

“No more than you calling me ‘Wesleykins’.”

“Would you rather I call you Percy?”

“I’d rather call you—.”

“Hey, guys. Come on. We’re lost in New York City; that’s no reason to pick on each other.”

“I so need a drink.”

“I’m with Lorne. I wouldn’t mind one either.”

“I think we’re in luck. If I’m not mistaken, that’s a bar up ahead.”

“She gets us lost, but she can spot a bar masquerading as a rundown warehouse. Speaking of masquerades, you do realize that other than my hat and glasses here, I didn’t bring my Super-Lorne disguise kit. This ain’t L.A., kiddo, where you can be green, blue or plaid and no one will give you a second look.”

“Tell anyone who asks that we’re one break from a location shoot for a movie and you can’t take your make-up off yet.”

“Did your mother teach you to lie like that?”

“No. Pylea did.”

“Oh, that was low, Freddles.”

“But you still love me.”

“Always, pumpkin.”

“I love you too, Lorne.”

“Hey, what about me?”

“Of course I love you, Wesleykins.”

“Not exactly the person I was aiming that comment at, but thanks, Lorne.”

“Shall we go get that drink?”

“Definitely,” answered the two humans.

*****

The bar was packed when they walked in, bodies filling practically every available space as music played at top volume. Up on the bar, two women – a blonde and a brunette – danced to “Wild Wild West” by Escape Club, cheered on by the crowd. The brunette grabbed various bottles and juggled them before pouring them over people while the blonde flirted with a couple of men pressed up against the bar.

“Why do I feel like we’re back at the firm’s Halloween party?” Fred asked, barely making herself heard over the music.

Lorne glanced over at his friends. “Don’t look at me! They were doing this before I got here!”

Suddenly, a voice came from next to them. “Hey, are you in or out?”

Wesley turned to see a man who was obviously the bouncer sitting with a book in his hands next to the entranceway. “Excuse me?”

“You in or you out? You’re blocking traffic.”

The three looked at each other. “Since we’re here...?” he shrugged. “We’re in.”

They moved away from the door into the crowd of people as the bouncer returned his attention to his book, barely giving Lorne a notice. In fact, the place was so loud and busy, no one would have really noticed anyone else outside their groups unless they tripped over each other. Wesley grabbed Fred’s hand as they weaved their way toward the bar. The girls who had been dancing were the bartenders, they now saw, and were serving out drinks as fast as the orders were being yelled out.

“What’ll you have?” another woman with shaggy blonde hair and a tattoo around her upper arm asked Wesley just as they reached the bar.

“Beer?” He looked back questioningly at Lorne and Fred, who nodded. “Three beers... bottled.”

She ducked behind the counter to pull out three Buds, which she pushed in their direction. “That’ll be ten bucks.”

As Wesley pulled out his wallet, he took a quick look around. “What’s the name of this place?”

“Coyote Ugly.” Taking the bill he proffered, she moved down the bar to take care of another customer.

“Coyote Ugly. Charming name,” Lorne said as he took his beer and sipped it, making a face. “Who thought beer was a good idea? And don’t even think of giving me a lecture about the Dark Ages and how they had to make beer because the water was so bad, Book Guy.”

“My lips are sealed,” Wesley told him before taking a swig of his own beer.

Fred leaned up against him as he wrapped an arm around her. “Why would they call a bar Coyote Ugly? I mean, it doesn’t sound exactly...nice.”

Come over here...

“Not meant to be!” the woman told her as INXS’ “Need You Tonight” began playing. After she pushed a drink to another nearby customer, she whirled around and grabbed a bull horn. The two bartenders who had been dancing before jumped back up on the counter. “All right, everyone. Rachel and Cammie need a few good women to join them! Who’s going to show us how they strut their stuff?”

All you got is this moment.

Rachel and Cammie began reaching down to tug women out of the crowd. A few refused while a couple jumped up eagerly. Then the blonde came to where Fred, Wesley and Lorne were standing and knelt down, holding her hand out to Fred.

The Twenty-First Century's yesterday.

“Show us your moves!”

Fred blushed a bit and shook her head. “Oh, no...no...”

You can care all you want.

“C’mon! It’s fun!”

“Really, I ca—.” Before she could finish her protest, the brunette had joined them, and Fred was being hauled up onto the bar.

Everybody does. Yeah, that's okay...

Wesley raised his bottle in front of his face to cover his chuckles as Fred stood on the bar, staring at the other women, who began to shimmy to Michael Hutchence’s suggestive lyrics. Seeing that she wasn’t moving, the blonde took her beer bottle away and tossed it down to Wes, then grabbed both of her hands, pumping them back and forth to the beat. After a moment, Fred began to loosen up and allowed the girl to pull her down towards the bar and then back up again. Soon, she was giggling hysterical, her cheeks flushing a bright pink.

So slide over here, and give me a moment. Your moves are so raw.

Fred lifted her skirt a bit and slid down the bar to right in front of Wesley, who practically dropped the bottles in his hands when she lifted her leg and placed her foot on his shoulder. She gave him a grin that went straight to his heart and then pushed off his shoulder, back into the blonde, who grabbed her hands again and danced with her a bit.

I've got to let you know. I've got to let you know.

“I thought you guys were wallflowers when you weren’t drunk,” Lorne said.

“Yes, well...” Wesley murmured, his eyes never leaving Fred.

You're one of my kind.

“All right, ladies – time to get the guys involved!” the woman with the bull horn announced. “Grab a man, any man, and let’s make some noise!”

At this, Fred immediately turned away from the blonde and moved back down the bar to where Wesley was standing. She crooked her finger at him and gave him her best come-hither gaze.

I need you tonight. ‘Cause I'm not sleeping.

Wesley stared up at her, the bottles falling out of his hands this time and crashing to the floor. Fred knelt down in front of him on the bar, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him closer. His breath caught in his throat as her lips brushed against his.

There's something about you, girl, that makes me sweat.

When she pulled away, she drew him with her, pulling him up onto the bar to join the other couples now up there dancing. Turning around, she pressed against him, swaying her hips as her arms reached up behind her to wind around his neck again. Wesley’s hands found her waist, holding her tightly against him as they danced.

How do you feel? I'm lonely.

Lorne stared up at them in amazement. “Man, the others would never believe this.” Sighing, he readjusted his hat and leaned against the wall next the bar. He raised his beer bottle to his lips, grimacing before the liquid even touched his lips and setting it aside on the bar with disgust.

What do you think? Can't think at all.

“Hey, what’s wrong with the beer?”

He looked over to see the woman who had served him, standing there with her hands on her hips, the bull horn hanging loosely at her side. “Nothing! Would just—would rather have a Sea Breeze.”

Whatcha gonna do? Gonna live my life.

“A Sea Breeze? Man, you have come to wrong place!” She leaned against the bar, clasping her hands together in front of her as her brown eyes studied him for a moment. “Hey...don’t take this the wrong way ‘cause I’m all for expressing yourself, but wasn’t Halloween four months ago?”

So slide over here. And give me a moment. Your moves are so raw.

Lorne glanced past the woman to Wesley, who was dipping Fred in time to the music. When he raised her up, he kissed her. “We were on a movie shoot. Haven’t had time to remove my make-up.”

“You must’ve really wanted that Sea Breeze,” she said, pushing away when someone yelled an order at her around the legs of the people dancing on the bar.

I've got to let you know.

While she served them, Lorne glanced around, a heavy feeling in his heart. He missed this. Well, not this, but he missed this sort of thing. Having a club of his own, watching people enjoy themselves. Caritas had been different in tone and clientele, but the idea had been the same. Running Caritas had been the last time he had truly been happy, doing something he had built and created, not letting someone else manipulate him. No matter how much power being the head of Wolfram and Hart’s entertainment division had given him, it wasn’t his.

“Hey...you okay?”

I've got to let you know.

He blinked and looked over at the woman.

“Look...I have two rules in my bar – no froufrou drinks and no moping.”

You're one of my kind.

“Sorry! Was thinking of the club I used to have. Just realized how much I missed it.”

“Man, I hear you. Don’t know what I’d do without this place.”

I need you tonight. ‘Cause I'm not sleeping.

A few feet away, Wesley jumped off the bar and reached up to lift Fred down into his arms. As she slid down to the floor, she tilted her head to kiss him. The others would definitely never believe this. Wesley and Fred – the self-proclaimed wallflowers – dancing and making out in a bar. Reaching over, he picked up his abandoned beer bottle and sniffed it. Just in case.

There's something about you, girl, that makes me sweat.

When they finally came up for air, the look in their eyes said more than their auras ever could. Lorne watched them, happy that they had finally managed to hook up after so many missteps and a bit envious at the same time.

How do you feel? I'm lonely. What do you think? Can't think at all.

“Lorne, I think we’re going to...”

Whatcha gonna do? Gonna live my life.

“Go on, you two. I think I’m going hang out here a little bit longer.”

How do you feel? I'm lonely.

Fred managed to drag her gaze away from Wesley long enough to focus on their friend. “You sure? We don’t want to leave you.”

What do you think? Can't think at all. Whatcha gonna do, babe? Gonna live my life.

Looking over the bar owner as she clinked bottles with another customer, he nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

So slide over here. And give me a moment. You moves are so raw. I've got to let you know. I've got to let you know.

Fred slipped out of Wesley’s arm and wriggled around the end of the bar to give Lorne a kiss on the cheek. “See you back at the hotel.”

“Have a good time, Freddles. You two deserve it.”

She smiled and returned to Wesley, who wrapped his arm around her as they wound their way through the crowd and out the door.

So slide over here. And give me a moment. I've got to let you know. I've got to let you know.

Lorne watched them leave then turned his head back to where the owner was clapping for the dancers still up on top of the bar. Glancing his way, she gave him a smile.

You're one of my kind.

*****

It was nothing but the best for the top associates of the Wolfram and Hart Los Angeles branch – a three-bedroom penthouse suite in the classiest hotel in the city complete with all the amenities. Of course, they had done a sweep for bugs – technical and magical – as soon as they had arrived. They were under no illusions that they were trusted by the associates of the New York office, no matter that they had been called out to offer advice on taking down a rather nasty demon that had been preying on some of the firm’s upper-class clientele.

Of course, all this was the last thing on Wesley’s and Fred’s minds when they entered. As soon as they stepped inside, he pulled her against him to kiss her while kicking the door closed his foot and reaching back to flip the lock. They headed upstairs together, bypassing Fred’s room and going into Wesley’s.

His suitcase sat in the corner on one of the chairs, closed and locked. The firm had provided clothing in the closets, making their luggage unnecessary, but none of them trusted anything they hadn’t at least bought themselves. A soft-sided briefcase also sat next to the suitcase, containing Wesley’s handwritten notes. He hadn’t needed to bring his templates as the New York office had their own set.

“Music?” he asked, turning on the CD player/radio sitting on the nightstand. He then reached out to draw her down with him onto the bed. As she settled onto his lap, his hand wound through her hair, and they leaned together to kiss again. Both of them kicked their shoes off at the same time.

His free hand trailed up her arm to the collar of the jacket she wore, pushing it off her shoulder. Once it was off and deposited on the floor, she ran her hand up his collarbone before wrapping her arm around his neck, which brought them a bit closer together.

When they broke apart for a moment, they looked in each other’s eyes, both of them smiling. Impulsively, he kissed her nose, causing her to giggle. Then, smothering her laughter with a long kiss, he rolled her over to lie on the bed, coming to rest above her.

“Think you’re gonna have your way with me?” she asked, her fingers running through his hair.

“Absolutely,” he responded before moving down to nuzzle her breasts through her blouse.

“Oh...good ‘cause that was my plan.”

“Was it now?” He grasped the hem of her top and tugged it up over her head.

“Uh huh...put it in my palm pilot and everything.” She began unbuttoning his shirt, pulling the ends out of his trousers.

“What? Nine to five – help evil lawyers track evil demon. Six to seven – dinner. Eight to eleven – get lost, find bar and make spectacle of self with boyfriend. Eleven-thirty – let Wesley have his wicked way?” His shirt and her skirt joined the ever-growing pile of clothes on the floor.

“You got it. Although...” She looked over at the digital clock, which read 11:47. “We’re running a bit late, so you’d better hurry up.”

Chuckling, he kicked his trousers off. “Yes, ma’am.”

Coming to rest between her legs, he captured her lips in another kiss.

*****

Last call had come and gone, and Coyote Ugly was now empty, save for the bartenders, the owner, and the silent demon sitting in the corner. None of them had bothered to ask him to leave, the owner making it clear that it was okay. They simply went about cleaning the mess left over from the night’s activities.

“Rachel, Cammie, why don’t you guys head home,” the owner finally said. “I’ll deal with what’s left.”

“You sure, Lil?” asked the brunette one – Rachel, Lorne had heard her called. “What about...?”

“He’s fine, so go. Go!” After they had taken off, she walked around behind the bar and began wiping down the counter. She glanced over at Lorne. “You just wallowing in memories or trying to avoid something?”

Lorne sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. “A little bit of both, I think. I didn’t realize until tonight how much I missed having my own place.”

“What kind of place did you have?”

“Karaoke club.”

She let out a snort and tossed the cloth she had been using into a bin under the counter. “Karaoke? Oh, man...that had to be painful.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“With some of the clients we get in here, I wouldn’t trust having any of them sing Karaoke. Actually, the only one I ever let actually sing was Violet.”

“Violet?” Lorne pushed away from the wall and leaned against the bar, much like he used to at Caritas.

“Violet Sanford. She used to be one of my bartenders before she finally hit it big.”

“Violet. I know her. Met her a few months ago.”

Lil raised an eyebrow at this. “On the set of a movie? She writing the theme song or something?”

“Uhhhh...not exactly.” He remembered Violet quite clearly – sweet girl, songwriter. One of his eager-to-please lackeys had been trying to raise his profile in the division by getting her to sign on with the firm. Lorne, not about to allow such an innocent girl get sucked into what Wolfram and Hart represented, had told her to run – not walk – for the exit. “We met at my agent’s, actually. Sweet girl.”

“Oh, yeah. But bar life? So not for her. You know what it’s like. When you own a place, you sleep, breathe and eat it. I’d even live here if I could.”

“I did...lived at Caritas, I mean.”

“You lived at your club?” Lil seemed quite impressed by this.

“Had a bedroom in back and everything.” Sighing, he shook his head and stared down at the worn countertop, scuffed from shoes and stained with rings from where damp glasses had been set. “I miss it.”

“What happened? Why did you leave it?”

“There was a—a fire. The place was destroyed, and circumstances kept me from rebuilding.”

“So you went into the movie industry instead?” Lil reached down and started pulling some bottles out from underneath the bar, setting them on counter. She then grabbed a glass and placed it next to the bottles.

“Was pulled into, is more like it.”

“You don’t like it.”

Lorne shook his head again and reached up to squeeze the back of his neck, where his head had been chopped off a few years before. “There were times where I was glad to be doing what I was doing, where it felt good, but now...now, it just feels like a little more of my soul is getting sucked out every day.”

“Then why don’t you quit?” She began pouring the contents of the bottles into the glass.

“I wish it were that easy.”

“Don’t want to walk away from your friends?”

He nodded. “I can’t leave them now.”

“Your friends are really lucky.”

“So am I.”

“Well, then here’s to friends.” She held the glass out to him. “And if you tell anyone I served you one of these, even if it is after hours, I will hunt you down.”

Smiling, Lorne took the Sea Breeze from her. “To friends. May the Powers always protect them.”

© June 2004

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