Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Fred tidied the books. She lined them up neatly, and dusted them off, and arranged the astral physics section first by alphabetizing the authors, then arranging them by book spine size.<\/p>\n
Every few minutes she looked at the clock, and bit her lip, and played with her hair before going back to line up titles like The Astral Travel Workbook next to Astral Projection and Psychic Empowerment. She sighed and looked at the clock again, huffing out a breath as she tried to appear casual about her work.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred.\u201d Angel\u2019s voice jarred her into bumping her head on the shelf. \u201cTheir appointment might take a while. Ending a marriage is\u2026complicated.\u201d Fred turned to look at him, standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Angel.\u201d She giggled a little nervously. \u201cUm. Just putting these back. Some idiot filed Goldberg next to Llewellan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel watched her, a small smile playing about his lips. \u201cWrong order?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, goodness, no. It\u2019s just that Goldberg and Llewellan can\u2019t stand each other. Their books next to each other\u2026\u201d she shuddered. \u201cYikes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d Angel nodded, seriously. \u201cCan\u2019t have battling books just hanging out on the shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, no\u2026\u201d Fred broke off, blushing even as she grinned up at Angel. \u201cOh. You\u2019re making fun\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no.\u201d He strolled into the office and sat, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees. \u201cWell, yeah, but it\u2019s a nice, friendly mocking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s ok, then.\u201d Fred smiled at him and bent to pick up another book, seeming to study it a bit before saying casually to Angel, \u201cSo\u2026\u2026Wesley seems to really want this to be over\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked off into the distance, thinking a bit. \u201cYeah. They both do.\u201d He looked at Fred. \u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019re the only ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
She blushed to the roots of her hair, lowering her gaze. \u201cWell, yeah, you know\u2026\u2026..they seem so unhappy\u2026.I just want\u2026um\u2026.it seems that they\u2026.you know\u2026.\u201d She stopped babbling and looked down, pressing her lips together tightly. \u201cThey\u2019re so unhappy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, being stupid does that to ya.\u201d Angel leaned back and closed his eyes. They were both silent for a moment, and Fred slowly picked up another book, shelving it absently as she thought. She snuck a look at Angel and quickly looked back down, seeing his eyes still closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d She jumped at his voice, low and tired.<\/p>\n
\u201cOH! Oh. Um. Nothing.\u201d She giggled nervously. \u201cI mean, well, something, but you know\u2026.nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFred\u2026.\u201d His eyes opened to slits. \u201cOut with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026.Angel\u2026doesn\u2019t this just eat at you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEat at me?\u201d His eyes opened a bit more. \u201cUh, no\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, sure it does. This has to be just killing you.\u201d She lowered her head and muttered, \u201cIt\u2019s sure as hell drivin\u2019 me crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked down at her a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully. \u201cFred\u2026.Wes doesn\u2019t want to be married to Cordy, and I don\u2019t think she wants\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell no, of course she doesn\u2019t, Angel. She and I talked about this. And cried about it, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia cried?\u201d Angel sat up, leaning forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. Yeah, Angel, she cried.\u201d Fred looked up at him from the floor where she sat. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just being embarrassed for Cordy\u2026although, wow, has she got that market cornered right now\u2026\u201d She thought about sitting in Cordelia\u2019s apartment the night before, and plowing through an entire half gallon of Chunky Monkey and commiserating with Cordelia Chase Wyndam-Price over her current status.<\/p>\n
She thought a moment and came to a decision. \u201cAngel\u2026she\u2019s\u2026\u2026sad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSad.\u201d Angel looked at Fred. \u201cWhy is she sad? Did she really want this? I mean, it wasn\u2019t exactly the wedding of her dreams\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just it. She doesn\u2019t have a dream wedding. She\u2019s not expecting any wedding at all.\u201d Fred rose and walked to sit on the ottoman facing Angel\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about it from her mind, Angel. She told me that she never expected to meet anyone and get married, because, who\u2019s gonna get her life? She just thought, you know, being part demon was kind of a solo gig. She said she feels like this little matrimony faux pas is kind of the Powers That Be\u2019s way of rubbing her nose in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at Angel, sadness in her face. \u201cShe knows she\u2019s never gonna have that life. She\u2019s just kinda sad at being reminded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked at Fred for a long moment, sighing. \u201cYeah. I get that.\u201d They both sat there, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Fred looked up at him, curious.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you mean, it wasn\u2019t the wedding of her dreams? I think that\u2019s the most romantic\u2026\u201d She broke off as Angel looked at her again, amusement creeping into his eyes. \u201cOh, c\u2019mon, it\u2019s not like I have a homemade Starfleet uniform in my closet. I think that it just sounds\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly like Vegas.\u201d Angel finished, rising up.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah\u2026.\u201d Fred\u2019s voice trailed off as she got a dreamy look in her eyes. Angel sighed and turned to go back into his own office just as the phone rang.<\/p>\n
He looked back at Fred, who apparently was writing \u201cFred Burckle-Wyndam-Price in the notebook in her head, and was obviously not going to pick up the phone. He picked up the receiver on his desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel Investigations\u2026We help\u2026.um\u2026.\u201d He broke off. \u201cWesley? What\u2019s\u2026\u201d he listened intently, immediately reaching for a pen. \u201cOk, ok\u2026calm down. Where are you?\u201d Fred came out of her trance and jumped up, looking at Angel anxiously.<\/p>\n
He gave her a glance as he listened. \u201cNo. Don\u2019t let her\u2026.ok, ok. On Penwaite Drive? Got it. Be there in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hung up and walked around the desk, stalking to grab up his coat and slung it on, Fred following him on his heels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it? Is everything alright? Was the attorney\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an attorney.\u201d Angel\u2019s voice was grim. \u201cThey were set up. Cordy is about to be offered as a sacrifice\u2026\u201d His eyes glinted as he yanked open the basement door. \u201cCall Gunn, tell him to meet me\u2026.18801 Penwaite Drive. Down in the old canning district. Tell him to come armed.\u201d And he was gone.<\/p>\n
Fred ran back to the office and snatched up the phone, frantically dialing. Her hands shook as she waited for Gunn to pick up.<\/p>\n
A bogus attorney? No, that couldn\u2019t be. That guy at the bar who gave his name to her seemed to know what he was talking about\u2026.<\/p>\n
what was that guy\u2019s name again\u2026.oh yeah\u2026.Merle.<\/p>\n