***<\/p>\n
\u201cYes alright. Absolutely. Thank you very much. I will. Yes, goodbye.\u201d Wesley put the phone down smiling. \u201cCheque\u2019s in the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn gave him a thumbs up from his seat on the couch and Fred smiled. Lorne just grunted. Wesley turned to the stairs. \u201cWhen do you think they\u2019re going to come down?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn smirked. \u201cUh, that\u2019s a tough one Wes. Let me think\u2026never?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred giggled. \u201cCome on Wes, they\u2019ve been through hell for the past few days. It\u2019s only natural that they want to catch up on lost time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I saw down there didn\u2019t look like lost time.\u201d Wesley grumbled, colouring slightly.<\/p>\n
Gunn grinned and put down his gameboy. \u201cYou know you enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s head shot up and he narrowed his eyes at Gunn, the blush now glaringly evident on his face. \u201cI most certainly did not!\u201d he sputtered.<\/p>\n
Gunn\u2019s grin widened. \u201cReally? I dunno English\u2026you\u2019ve always had a thing for Cordy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne snorted. \u201cOh and you haven\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn glanced over at him. \u201cW\u2026what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne rolled his eyes and gave Fred a knowing look. She smiled. Wesley looked relieved to be out of the spotlight and Gunn just looked in shock at the implication. \u201cI don\u2019t have a thing for Cordy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh huh, you keep telling yourself that sugarplum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLorne!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not have a thing for her! If anyone has a thing for her it\u2019s you!\u201d Lorne\u2019s eyes widened and he looked at Gunn who was pointing an accusing finger. Wesley looked slightly disgusted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah, skip the innocent look, aura boy. What\u2019s with all the name callin\u2019 huh? Cordelicious and brown eyes and kitten and sugarplum and all those other things you call her!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re just nicknames!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh huh. Sure, you keep tellin\u2019 yourself that Lorne.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey! That\u2019s my line!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys\u2026\u201d Fred tried to cut in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe he has a point Gunn.\u201d Wesley interrupted. \u201cThose are just nicknames. Lorne calls me sugarplum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn made a face. \u201cYeah, I don\u2019t even wanna know what\u2019s goin\u2019 on there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChrist Gunn, must you make everything sound dirty?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least I don\u2019t make everything sound British!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the bloody hell is wrong with sounding British?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing. If you\u2019ve got a giant stick up your ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, stop!\u201d Fred tried once again to intercede but failed miserably.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you listen to him sugarplum, I adore your accent.\u201d Lorne smiled at Wes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m sure you do.\u201d Gunn muttered. Lorne cut him a sharp glance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re just jealous.\u201d Wes mumbled. But Gunn heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf what exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCos he kissed Cordelicious in high school and you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn looked at Lorne incredulously. \u201cYou call that a kiss? From what Cordy says, he kissed like a fish and drooled on her chin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t\u2026\u201d Wes started.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there you go callin\u2019 her Cordelicious again!\u201d Gunn shouted. \u201cWhat\u2019s up with that, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call her what I like, pimple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPimple?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, please\u2026\u201d Fred was beginning to feel invisible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting a headache.\u201d Wesley massaged his temples. Gunn turned to face him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you go using that I am superior<\/i> tone again!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t\u2026Gunn, stop being an arse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t the one being an ass, English. Go look in the mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPiss off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou piss off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that was mature.\u201d Lorne smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know Lorne, your little names do tend to get slightly tedious once in a while.\u201d Wesley said. Lorne\u2019s jaw dropped in outrage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on your side, fish lips!\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s mouth opened and closed in shock several times. Gunn snorted. \u201cSee? He even looks like a fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne grinned. \u201cAnd somehow he\u2019s the only one who got to kiss her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn glanced over. \u201cDidn\u2019t you once refer to Cordelia as hot-o-rama?\u201d Lorne\u2019s eyebrows shot up and he gulped. Gunn smirked.<\/p>\n
Wesley glared at him. \u201cGunn, just yesterday you were saying that if she threatened you with sexual assault, you wouldn\u2019t refuse!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re always flirting.\u201d Lorne added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not!\u201d Gunn shouted loudly. Fred tried to interrupt again.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on guys\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not flirt with Cordelia!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh Gunn, please! What with the tickling and the teasing and the laughing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh right, cos laughing with your friends is a sure sign of flirting.\u201d Gunn said sarcastically. \u201cAt least I don\u2019t stick my axe into walls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley glowered. \u201cProbably because it isn\u2019t big enough to make any impact!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cAh, hello? Gunn\u2019s axe? This is Wesley. You\u2019re black!\u201d Sarcasm dripped from his tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s surprisingly logical.\u201d Lorne added.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up!\u201d Wes and Gunn yelled at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWanker.\u201d Wes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAss pansy\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop bloody calling me that!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Ass pansy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGUYS!\u201d Fred screamed. Her voice echoed around the Hyperion, walls literally shaking with the assault. The three men winced. Women didn\u2019t need muscle. They had a much better weapon. One hell of a powerful set of lungs.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop it! You know what I think? I think you\u2019re all a little bit in love with her!\u201d<\/p>\n
Three pairs of eyes looked at her, wide and shocked. Fred sucked in a breath and gave them a sympathetic look as their faces fell and the truth hit them full force. \u201cHell, even I\u2019m a little bit in love with her.\u201d She shrugged.<\/p>\n
Wesley lowered his gaze and fiddled with his glasses, taking them off and cleaning them. Gunn slumped down on the sofa, defeated and disbelieving. Lorne picked up his seabreeze and downed it. Fred looked at the three of them, as realisation and acceptance dawned on their faces. Gunn let out a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can say that again.\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t\u2026I don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d Lorne chimed in.<\/p>\n
Fred\u2019s mouth pulled into a frown. \u201cGuys, come on. You\u2019re not \u2018in love\u2019 in love with her. Just a little bit. And that\u2019s okay. Because from the time I\u2019ve spent with Cordelia\u2026she\u2019s easy to fall in love with. She\u2019s beautiful, she\u2019s caring, she\u2019s strong, she\u2019 has the ability to light up a room\u2026she\u2019s got one of the most wonderful hearts of anyone I know.\u201d Fred sighed. \u201cShe\u2019s Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn rested his head against the back of the couch, breathing hard. Then he looked over at Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry for calling you British.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley gave him a look.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean\u2026I mean, I\u2019m sorry for sayin\u2019 what I said. I didn\u2019t mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne held up his hand. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sorry for the fish lips comment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite himself, Wesley smiled. \u201cYes well, I\u2019m sorry for suddenly turning on you.\u201d Then he turned to Gunn. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sorry for implying that you had\u2026a small\u2026axe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn shrugged. \u201cNo problem. I know I don\u2019t. And uh\u2026sorry about the gay thing.\u201d Wesley and Lorne jerked their heads towards him. \u201cI mean, I don\u2019t think you\u2019re gay. It\u2019s just\u2026sugarplum is a bit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDisconcerting?\u201d Wesley supplied.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Lorne cried.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was gonna say freaky, but that\u2019ll do.\u201d Gunn smiled affectionately at his friend. \u201cI\u2019ve outdone you again, haven\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d Wesley grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s Gunn done?\u201d Cordelia\u2019s voice drifted down the stairs. Four heads swivelled in her direction. Lorne panicked.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, Brown eyes, how long have you been standing there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged. \u201cI just came down. So, who\u2019s Gunn doing? Done, whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley cleared his throat. \u201cNo one. He said \u2018outdone\u2019, not done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. And here I was thinking you actually had a sex life.\u201d Cordelia winked at Gunn, her face lighting up in a smile. Gunn felt something inside him pull a little but he ignored it. Instead, he gave her the finger. Fred gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, sorry.\u201d Gunn muttered, ducking his head at the disapproving look she sent his way.<\/p>\n
Wesley sighed, taking a seat. \u201cWhere\u2019s Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking a shower.\u201d Cordelia answered, without looking up from the files she was putting away. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo reason. Just wondering.\u201d Long pause. \u201cYou didn\u2019t happen to have a vision, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n
This time Cordelia did look up. \u201cNo. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo reason. Just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChrist! What?\u201d He jumped when she yelled.<\/p>\n
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s bored.\u201d Gunn answered for his friend. \u201cWe all are. No cases, no visions, no demons who need an ass kicking. Nuthin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cBe grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t. I wanna use my new axe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone groaned at that. Gunn simply smiled sweetly and went back to playing his gameboy. A few moments later, Angel came down the stairs. He slapped Cordelia\u2019s butt as he went past her and she squeaked, throwing a pen at him. Lorne rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up Wes? What\u2019s the plan? What\u2019s the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing Angel. There\u2019s nothing to do other than sit around and mope about the fact that there\u2019s nothing to do. The demons and evil beings of LA seem to have gone into hibernation for today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel frowned. \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, come on!\u201d Cordelia threw her hands up and walked over, grabbing Angel\u2019s arm. \u201cA day to relax and you people are complaining? Why don\u2019t we go do something fun? Like the movies? Or a walk\u2026\u201d She looked at the sunlight streaming in through the doors of the Hyperion, \u201c\u2026in the sewers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley grimaced and Angel looked down guiltily. Cordelia squeezed his hand and smiled reassuringly. She turned to Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cWanna come?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred looked up. \u201cUm, well\u2026I\u2019m kinda working on this thing\u2026\u201d Cordelia followed Fred\u2019s finger down to a strange device that looked like something between a toaster and a slingshot. She frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, that would be a no?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Gunn?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I have a date with Lara.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn held up his gameboy. \u201cCroft.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Wes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo thank you. I should probably get researching on that new tome that I want to buy. Not particularly keen on the sewers anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRiiight. Lorne?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m drinking myself into depression, sweetie. Can\u2019t be interrupted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia grimaced at the four of them and then rolled her eyes again. She pulled Angel towards the basement door. \u201cWell, we\u2019ll be back in a bit. You losers enjoy your sad, pathetic little lives, kay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee ya.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToodles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia glared and then dragged Angel through the basement door, slamming it after her.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley sat in his office, table hidden underneath dozens of large books that had permanently taken residence there. His temples throbbed and papers were scattered messily around the room, giving him a further headache at the idea of having to clear them up.<\/i><\/p>\n
He removed his glasses and cleaned them, throwing them onto the table and rubbing his forehead with his hand. He heard footsteps outside his door but paid no attention to them. The footsteps seemed to get closer though, and soon they were right outside his door. Then they stopped. Wesley looked up.<\/em><\/p>\n The door opened and Wesley was able to see a blur of exquisite redness. He grabbed his glasses from the table and put them on in order to see more clearly. A woman stood in his doorway. A woman with short brown hair that had been pulled into an elegant clip at the back of her head. Diamond earrings dangled from her ears, a matching choker around the sleek column of her throat.<\/em><\/p>\n Her dress was a deep red and sleeveless, the neckline plunging to entice him with a glimpse of breast, leaving the rest to his imagination. The slit at the bottom of the gown came up to her thigh, revealing more delectable skin, creamy and smooth in appearance. She smiled discreetly, the corners of her mouth quirking up slightly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCordelia?\u201d Wesley asked, shock preventing him from speaking earlier.<\/em><\/p>\n The woman sauntered up to him, hips swaying slowly, captivatingly. Wesley found his eyes drawn to them, then down her long, long legs to the very heel of her foot, contained in strappy red sandals. He glanced up at her and she bent down, neckline plummeting dangerously low as she spoke to him, warm breath on his face.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHi there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here? I thought you went with Angel\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAre you busy?\u201d she interrupted him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026I\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBecause, I was hoping you and I could spend some quality time together.\u201d She winked at him, hand running slowly down his chest. Wesley shivered. She gently took hold of the lapels of his shirt and jerked him up till he was inches from her face.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cKiss me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cKiss me.\u201d She repeated.<\/em><\/p>\n But I\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI want you to kiss me, Wesley. You were always a great kisser.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Wesley blinked at that, unsure as to whether he had just imagined it or whether she was being sarcastic. But there was no sarcasm in her voice, or in her eyes. Just lust. He gulped.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, Cordelia\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDo you not want to kiss me?\u201d She raised a threatening eyebrow.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026I\u2026of course, but\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She silenced him, quickly placing her lips on his and ravaging his mouth, not giving him a chance to protest. And Wesley found he didn\u2019t want to. His arms went around her and he kissed her back, moaning at the taste of her, at the delicious smell of her and the sensations of having her so close, so intimately.<\/em><\/p>\n She turned them so that she was pressed between him and the side of the desk. His hands ran up and down her arms, clumsily, but she didn\u2019t seem to mind. Instead, she grabbed a hand and placed it on her left breast. Wesley jerked away but she kept him close, lips greedily devouring him. The she pulled away and he moaned at the loss.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAre these books important?\u201d She asked, pointing to the litter on his desk. Wesley swallowed. Those were tomes, centuries old and worth millions of dollars, beautifully preserved and stocked full with valuable information on demons and prophecies and the forces of good and evil.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d He answered.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d She placed both hands on one edge and then abruptly moved them along the surface of the desk, pushing books forcefully off the table as her hands ran under them. Wesley winced at every thud that sounded as a book met with the hard ground but when Cordelia turned around and planted herself on the desk, pulling him over her and kissing him again, all thoughts of books and their apparent importance flew out of his head. She jerked up his shirt, pulling it over his head, hands roaming his chest. His own hand slid down the strap on one side of her dress, exposing soft, bronze skin.<\/em><\/p>\n She unbuckled his trousers, pulling the belt out of the loop and yanking the zipper down. Wesley squeaked into her mouth as he felt her grab the top of his boxers and jerk those down too. He was hard as a rock, and visibly so.<\/em><\/p>\n Suddenly, Cordelia pulled away, breathing heavily, chest pushing up slightly against his so that he gave her room to lean up on her elbows. Wesley stared at her, curious as to why she had stopped her delightful assault. She opened her mouth to speak, smirking.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know what you\u2019re thinking.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Wesley jerked his head up, snapping out of his daydream, coffee spilling onto his table. He looked down at the tome he had fallen asleep on and then up at his door. It was wide open. Through it, he could see Fred practicing with her newest weaponry device, crouching on the floor and peeking at it from over her glasses.<\/p>\n He glanced around. No sign of the lady in red.<\/p>\n Wesley gulped, leaning back in his chair, sipping his coffee. He felt slightly guilty after looking at Fred. His feelings for her were still fresh and painful and unclear. And of course, Cordelia belonged to and with somebody else.<\/p>\n Somebody else who just happened to be one of his best friends. He let out a heavy breath, shuddering at the memory of her touch.<\/p>\n He\u2019d always considered Cordelia his best friend, a sister almost, but he\u2019d be lying to himself if he said he wasn\u2019t attracted to her. She was the most beautiful woman he knew. And not just because she was gorgeous.<\/p>\n But to be having this kind of dream about her\u2026He gulped again, breathing heavily and raising a hand to his sweaty forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that was surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n