Angel was awake.  If he hadn't been, he would've been forced into wakefulness.  To his sensitive ears, the footsteps and quiet voices of Faith and Xander might have well have been a herd of stampeding cattle.

The vampire shifted by his mate's side, trying to tune out the voices so that he could go back to sleep.

Suddenly, Angel's dark eyes snapped open as he heard the door to the suite next to his own, open.  He frowned.  Why hadn't Faith showed Xander up to the other guest rooms upstairs?  The rogue Slayer herself had her own rooms up there.  Besides being more completely redone and comfortable, then the second floor, the third floor had the added advantage of more privacy. Faith had opted to move up there after one night in the hotel.  Personally, the vampire didn't see what the big deal was. But according to her, living near his and Willow's room was like having the soundtrack to a porn video constantly droning in your ear.

The vampire's decidedly evil smirk lit up the dark room.  Faith had given him the absolutely perfect opportunity to torture Xander.  He knew without a doubt, that the Slayer had done so on purpose.

Grinning slightly, Angel turned, propping himself against his pillow. Allowing his demon to surge forth, his eyes bled to their true golden amber color, easily cutting through the darkness of the bedroom.

He gazed lustfully at his sleeping mate.  Willow's slender form, lay unclothed at his side.  Angel drank in her beauty hungrily, his gaze sweeping from the long cinnamon lashes which rested on her cheek, down to the strongly beating pulse he could see flutter in her lovely throat.

A low, rumbling growl rose deep in his throat, and he found himself swallowing a wave of tenderness as his witch shifted at the sound, moving closer to him.

Hungry eyes drifted down to Willow's small, perfectly shaped breasts.  The low growl, rose in depth and pitch, and the redhead murmured in her sleep, a small pink tongue moistening her lips.

Angel groaned, not surprised in the least, that this slip of a woman could arouse him to this extent in her sleep.  Unable to help himself any longer,
the vampire decided to help himself to something else entirely.

Large, gentle hands extended.  With a single digit, Angel traced a light almost non-existent touch down the center of Willow's body.  From her
sternum, the non-touch eased its way slowly down the valley of her breasts to end somewhere above the dark, auburn curls at the apex of her thighs.

The wiccan's lips parted, her breath coming slightly faster in sleep.  The delicate peach nipples which crowned her breasts, beaded in response, and
even as he ached to taste them, his finger lightly brushed against her center.

"Mmmmm...", Willow breathed in her sleep.

Keeping his questing hand still for a moment, Angel bent his head and bathed the redhead's aureole, carefully avoiding her sensitive nipple.  He took a breath, and then forced the borrowed air through his lips.  The dark vampire chuckled under his breath, as Willow murmured incoherently, before taking the highly sensitized bud into his mouth and suckling lightly.

"Ahhh!!", the young woman gasped loudly, arching into her lover's mouth instinctively, even as her eyes fluttered open.  "Mmmm...  Angel", she
moaned, arms reaching to keep his head at her breast.

The vampire grinned, lightly nicking the flesh with a razor sharp fang.  He groaned against her skin, the scent and taste of her blood, igniting his
already enflamed libido.  With a last, almost chaste kiss, Angel abandoned that nipple for the other which he felt he'd been ignoring unfairly.

Willow's head fell back, small mewling sounds coming from her throat, as her mate suckled at her breast.  "Oh", she gasped.  The sensation pulling at
something deep inside her.  It was as if the nerve endings there linked directly to her womb.  She could feel her own moisture drip down her thighs.

She became abruptly aware of the hand resting on her thigh, as it began to move slowly up her leg.  The fingertips barely touching her skin, sent small shivers of pleasure through her delicate frame.

"Please...", she moaned.

Angel chuckled, his fingers flickering away, his eyes intent on Willow's flushed face and wide emerald eyes.

"Please Angel!  I need you!", Willow cried, arching into his hand as a lone finger brushed teasingly against her once more, even as he gently bit the
nipple he still worried, with blunt teeth.

She gasped, her body arching into his hand desperately needing more than his fleeting caresses.  Small, greedy hands, grabbed his wrist forcing his
finger against her core.  Willow bucked into Angel's hand, craving the friction.

"More", she gasped, nails digging into her mate's skin, drawing blood.

The ensouled vampire growled loudly, the small pain, exciting him, and making him all too aware of his pulsing erection.  His fingers slipped inside of her heat, the walls of her vagina squeezing them, as she slammed her clit against the knuckle of this thumb.

He continued to thrust his hand against, as Willow's body practically vibrated on the bed.  Angel's mouth left her aching breast, to move back up
along her neck.

"Want to come with you", the redhead moaned, her small hand closing about his shaft, pumping him lightly.

"Gods!", the vampire groaned.  "Willow..."

"With you--", she repeated, before sighing as his hand left her trembling core, and his large body moved over her.  Cool hand, went beneath Willow's
knees, placing her legs over Angel's shoulders.  She could feel the tip of his broad cock nudge slightly at her opening, and she strained her body
toward it.

Angel rubbed along the length of her wet core, as he tried to draw out the moment of their joining.  He lived for this.  He lived for her.  But he was
fighting a losing battle, and slipped slowly inside of her, inch by silken inch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander groaned, glaring at the paper thin wall behind him as another loud growl came through the wall.

He was going to kill Faith, that was all there was to it.  He was sure she'd done this on purpose.

"ANGEL!"

Willow's scream of ecstasy pierced Xander's eardrums, along with a powerful roar that sent a shudder of fear through his spine.

"Ack...", the dark haired young man mumbled.  God he hoped they were done for the night.  There was blessed silence and Xander sighed, his body
relaxing in relief.

"Thank G--", Xander's words were abruptly cut off as a definitively male voice called out his former best friend's name.

"Willow! Oh Gods, what are you--", a growl abruptly cut off whatever else Angel was going to say, and Xander found himself very happy for that fact.

He wondered if he and Anya sounded like that.  If they did, it was no wonder no one ever stayed very long when they visited his apartment.  Actually, the construction worker found himself hoping he and Anya did sound that way since.... since well, it seemed Willow and Angel definitely knew what they were doing and how to go about getting it.

Xander closed his eyes and placed one of the pillows over his face and head. Maybe if he was lucky, he'd suffocate.  At least then things would be nice and quiet.
 

~Part 22~

Oblivious to what was going on below, Faith helped Wesley settle in to the empty furnished room, by her own, on the third floor.  He'd been oddly
quiet, and Faith found herself wondering about what he was thinking before shrugging to herself and quickly hurrying down the steps.

Thank God, he'd remembered the old elevator.  She may have a hankering to get her hands on his bod, but she certainly didn't want to carry him up
three flights.  She paused for a moment thinking.  A wicked smile emerging on her face. Well actually....

She busied herself grabbing some clean towels from the hotel's communal linen closet and some fresh sheets before running up the flight of stairs
again, easily taking them two at a time.  The dark Slayer had a small smile on her face.  She wasn't sure why exactly.  It just felt sort of... nice, to
be doing something for someone else.  Well, a certain someone else to be specific.

Still, she was aware something was off.  The air felt heavy, charged.  As if something momentous was going to happen.  The feeling of foreboding made her skin crawl with awareness.  It was a feeling akin to the Slayer 'Spider Sense' she got when vampires were around, but not.  The raven haired beauty found herself torn, feeling both impatient, and yet anxious.  Something big was going to happen.

She was still pondering this sensation when she walked back into Wesley's room, and heard the door slam shut behind her.  Startled Faith dropped the clean towels and sheets, whirling to face--

"Wesley?", Faith squeaked in disbelief.  "What are you doing out of that chair?  You're going to hurt your ankle more..."

"You slept with Xander", the Watcher said quietly.

The dark Slayer blinked.  It had been a statement more than a question.  She nodded in silence, eyes taking in the fact that he didn't wear his glasses, and that his dress shirt was unbuttoned to almost the middle of his chest. Wesley's hair was ruffled, and his blue eyes looked darker than usual.

Faith swallowed, suddenly nervous.  Wesley looked slightly dangerous.  When the hell did Wesley learn how to look dangerous?

The former Watcher gracefully uncurled his wiry form from where it leaned against the door, and stalked towards the young woman, ignoring the searing pain shooting up his leg.

"Why?", he asked quietly.

Faith backed up.  The question hadn't computed.

"Why did you sleep with Xander?"

"Afterslayage horniness really....", she began hesitatingly, "if I'd known how clueless he was, I wouldn't have done it, I'd have found somebody else.
But he was convenient."

Wesley smiled grimly, crossing his arms, his eyebrow arched.  "Afterslayage horniness?"

"Well yeah", Faith said, relaxing slightly.  "Its like this buzz after all the adrenalin and violent energy is released with the fighting, you know... like an itch."

"So this month that you've been with us, slaying by us, have you had to deal with this-- itch, often?", Wesley asked, his tone strangely flat.

The Slayer squeezed her eyes shut, and bit her lip.  "I guess."

Wesley tipped her chin up.  "Look at me Faith."

"No", she hissed, pulling her chin out of the ex-Watcher's grasp.

Suddenly, Faith found herself pressed up against the wall, Wesley's tall body, trapping her there.  A startled gasp escaped her lips.  She could feel
her body's reaction to the position.  The way her heart sped up, the feeling of her nipples beading under the shirt she wore.  She fought her instincts. Fight, flight or fuck, were not the ways to handle this situation.

"So these convenient, anonymous strangers were just that, convenient?", Wesley's voice rasped in her ear.  The dark Slayer could feel him hot and
insistent against her leg.  She nodded jerkily.

"But I wasn't", he continued, blue eyes searching out her gaze.

A hazy understanding finally dawned on the rogue Slayer.  'Oh so that's it', her mind sneered, 'he wants you.'

"No. Yes! No! Shit! I don't know Wes.  I was trying to be your friend.  I didn't want to do that to you too, to use you and discard you like I did
Xander", Faith said hotly, glaring at the Englishman.  "I didn't want to fuck it up!"

"I wouldn't have let you fuck it up, Faith."

"Wes.. what are you getting at here?"

"I'm in love with you Faith."

The Slayer couldn't help it.  She started to laugh, and laugh and laugh. When the laughter began to take on a hysterical tinge, Wesley slapped her.

"Thanks", she muttered semi-sarcastically.

"You think the fact that I love you is funny?  Or is it just that I turn your stomach?", Wesley said after a moment, his expression closed off and
distant.  He backed away from her abruptly, leaving Faith feeling cold.

"You don't love me.  No one can love me Wesley, didn't you know that?  Its one of the friggin' natural laws.  Shit, its probably written in the
goddamned Watcher Diaries.  'Slayer, comma The Rogue-- Faith Spencer. Murderer, misfit, ex-con.  Not even her mother loved her'", she spat out in
a rush.

The British man's eyes lost their chilly glare.  "You truly believe you don't deserve love, don't you?"

"I don't believe in happy endings Wesley.  Its right up there with the tooth fairy."

"Angel and Willow--"

"There story isn't over yet... who knows if its going to end happily", Faith murmured under her breath.

Wesley frowned.  "I love you Faith.  I truly do.  I admit to having always been attracted to you, even before.  But now its more than that, I've seen
you for the truly remarkable women you are.  You owned up to your responsibilities, you did your time in jail.  Now your here, helping us, doing your sacred duty when you could be anyplace else.  I admire you."

The dark Slayer's eyes widened in shock.  Was he serious?  Or was he just talking out of his ass?  Brown eyes met blue.  He meant that?  She
swallowed, and bit her lower lip, blinking back weak tears.  Sighing Faith buried her face in his neck, in an effort to control her emotions.

His arms went about the strong woman huddled there, automatically.  He hoped he'd gotten through to her somehow.  He gasped, surprised when Faith's mouth found his in a harsh, insistent kiss, that left his knees weak and his back against the wall.  The pain in his ankle faded away.
 

~Part 23~

She groaned quietly.  Something was weird... not right.  Her hand twitched as she struggled through levels of wakefulness, hitting something on her
bed.  Something warm, and hard, and breathing.

Instantly, Faith's eyes opened.  She was greeted by the site of a handsome, and completely naked Wesley Wyndham Pryce, in her bed.  She looked around. Wait... not her bed, his bed.

Panic set in quickly after that, and she wiggled desperately under the arm flung possessively beneath her breasts.  She stopped immediately, when he shifted closer.  She watched, tender tears almost coming to her eyes, when he smiled in his sleep and sighed her name.

"Faith...."

'I've got to get out of here', she thought, looking around desperately. Taking a deep breath, the dark haired woman grabbed Wesley's hand carefully, lifting it and placing it on the bed at his side.  She didn't dare breathe, as she slowly slid from beneath the bedspread and over the side, ending up on her hands and feet on the floor.

Wild eyed, the Slayer searched the floor for any sign of her discarded clothing.  It was in relief that she closed her eyes when she spotted her
black thong under the bed.  She opened them quickly, and reached for the scrap of material.

'I've GOT to get out of here!', her mind screamed in confused desperation, a reaction to the home movie that kept playing out behind her closed eyelids. Scattered moving images of Wesley making love to her.  Faith shivered in longing, wanting nothing more than to curl up by him, but knowing that was impossible.  Why did he have to do that?  Why did he make love to her?  Why couldn't they just have fucked?  It would all be so much easier and straightforward. That way it wouldn't hurt so bad when he came to his senses, and kicked her out of his life.

The dark Slayer crawled forward on the floor, before hazarding a peek over the bed.  Thankfully, the former Watcher was still asleep.  She stood
hesitatingly, body poised to run, on the off-chance he awoke.  He didn't, and for a minute, Faith allowed herself to look at him.  Lean, tall, not
muscular exactly... but with the wiry physique of a swimmer.  His hair hung carelessly in front of his forehead.

Faith bit her lip angrily.  Damn the man.  Why'd he have to go and look totally hot even the morning after?  This was just not fair.  Turning towards the door, she immediately located her shirt on the floor by it.  She had absolutely no idea where her leather pants went and she really didn't want to risk spending the time looking for them.  Frowning, she took one last look at the sleeping man, before retreating rapidly to her room.

She locked the door behind her, and cursed herself for being an fool. Flinging herself on her bed, Faith stared at the ceiling.  Images flitted across her mind.  Kissing Wesley ferociously, trapping him against the wall, even as her hand reached for the fastening of his pants.

'Argh!', she thought desperately.  'Stop it Faith.  Stop torturing yourself.'  But it wouldn't stop.

Sighing in defeat, the rogue Slayer closed her eyes and let the memories play themselves out.

~~~~~~~~

Initially, he had seemed surprised when she'd kissed him.  That didn't last long, though, and soon he was kissing her back with enough passion and
fervor to make her head spin and her body thrum with excitement.  And then, somehow Wesley had taken control away from her, slowing the out of control embrace.

The kiss became a meeting of mouths and tongues.  A slow, sensual dance that felt like a form of worship.  Faith moaned, her hand falling from his pant zipper to tangle in his hair, her haste forgotten.  Their lips parted, as Wesley trailed moist, chaste kisses along her eyelids and cheeks before
moving to her ear and nipping lightly.

She sighed, her lips forming the syllables for his name without uttering a sound.

He'd looked at her then.  Blue eyes piercing and bright, even though she could tell they were darker than normal.  Like a blue sky when night began
to fall.

"Wesley?", Faith asked softly, uncertainty painting her features.  The Englishman pushed her slightly away from him then, and she'd felt something
squeeze her heart painfully in her chest.  He stepped away from her, further into the room.  She could tell his foot still bothered him when he winced slightly.  But then, it was gone, his face was placid once more, and he was still looking at her.

His arm reached out to her.  She stared at his hand in bemusement.  She didn't understand.

"Faith?", Wesley asked.

Slowly, without her conscious consent, her hand reached out to touch his fingertips.  The slight contact made her gasp.  Wesley smiled at her then,
his fingers caressing her palm lightly before closing around her hand.  He pulled her gently towards the bed, stopping when he reached one side.
Turning, Wesley captured her lips in a gentle, teasing kiss, as his hands crept up her arms leaving behind sensitive gooseflesh.

Faith shivered, realizing suddenly that somewhere along the line when they were kissing she'd lost her shirt.  Her breasts were bare to his gaze, and
she could practically feel his gaze traveling across her skin.  She felt naked, vulnerable, and she found herself wishing she'd actually worn a bra today.  It would have been extra protection, another wall she could hide behind.

Artistic, long fingered hands reached gently for her arms, and the raven haired Slayer felt her cheeks burn with the realization that she'd actually
folded them in an attempt to shield herself from his gaze.

"Don't hide from me Faith", Wesley purred into her ear.  "You're so beautiful... Don't you know that?", he said, his breath warm on her neck.

She shook her head in denial, reacting automatically to his question.

"You are Faith.  You're beautiful."

"Wesley", she groaned, at a loss for words, before leaning into him.  Her mouth captured his in another scorching kiss.  "Shirt", she growled under
her breath, "take off."

He nodded, and as they continued to explore each others mouths, their hands worked in concert to divest him of the button down shirt he wore.  Her fingernails scraped through the light sprinkling of dark, crisp hair on his chest, pulling gently.

"Oh Gods!", Wesley murmured against her mouth, jerking her forcefully against him.  She smiled against his mouth, lightly suckling on his lower lip.  This raw need, this pace... This she understood. She could feel his length against her belly and moaned.

"Fuck, Wesley...", she gasped.

The raven haired beauty didn't know if it had been the sudden passion of their embrace or perhaps even the naughty language she'd spouted, but in
that instance the former Watcher pushed her back against the bed.  The back of her knees met the mattress, and instinctively she sat.  Instantly, Wesley was kneeling before her, between her legs, his talented mouth blazing a red-hot trail of kisses down her collar bone to her left breast.

When his lips closed around one rosy nipple, to suckle gently, Faith felt the caress all the way to her toes.  Her eyes flickered closed, her hands
holding his head to her chest.  She barely even noticed when his hands moved insistently up her thighs, before reaching for the button of her leather pants.

Faith moaned throatily as his mouth moved to her other breast.

"Lift your hips Faith", the Englishman demanded gruffly, his voice heavy with need.

The Slayer complied, lifting her hips to aid him as he jerked the tight leather down her legs.  Her underwear went with it.

After a moment, the pants were finally gone.  Wesley's stormy blue eyes raked over her unclothed form.  Faith blinked, her usual confident bluster
abandoning her in that moment as she was laid bare before him, her legs spread in open invitation displaying her hot, pink center, since he still
knelt between them.  The fact that he still wore his pants, made her feel even more vulnerable.  She couldn't remember any other time, that a man had scrutinized her so carefully.  Of course, since most of her experience occurred in cars, against alley walls and in the back of clubs, it wasn't
exactly something she'd ever wanted.  But with Wesley, it was as if he were trying to memorize her.

She wanted to scoot back to lie down on the bed. As she moved to do so, she pulled on his shoulder to indicate what she wanted.  She wanted him on her, in her, now.

Wesley smirked.  The unfamiliar cocky grin was so startling, Faith found herself moaning.  'Fuck, but the man was sexy!', she thought, almost in
shock.

He pulled her back toward him on the edge of the bed, halting her backwards progress, and shook his head.  The dark Slayer frowned in confusion.  Still smiling, he pressed a kiss to her pursed lips before moving slightly back and bending forward to gently kiss one of her knees.  Faith's eyes widened.

"There's no hurry", Wesley he said against her flesh.  "I plan on making love you slowly and thoroughly."

Faith blinked, swallowing harshly.

"As for right now", he said, his eyes meeting her own, even as his lips continued moving up her thigh, "I want to taste you."

That's when his tongue did a long, lingering lick up the length of her femininity.  Faith had been anything but ready for that.

"Oh jesusfuckin'christ!", she screamed, her lower body jerking against his mouth, as his tongue continued to delve into her sweetness.

Wesley held her hips firmly, trying to keep Faith from squirming as much. We wanted to concentrate on what he was doing, and on her taste.  He'd never tasted anything so sweet.  He could feel her body tremble against him, and lightly circled the sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs with his tongue.  The move brought a high pitched sound of pleasure keening from Faith's throat, and he found himself repeating the move just so he could hear it again.

When his lips closed over her clit, and suckled lightly, the Slayer tumbled over the precipice she'd been skirting for the past ten minutes.  The
orgasm, when it hit, went on and on.  The intensity of the pleasure verged on pain, leaving her weak and spent when the last tremors faded.

"God", she moaned, her eyes opening slowly.  She shook her head.  Faith hadn't even realized she'd closed them.  A tingling sensation caused her to
look down.  Wesley's dark head was still bent over her.  His lips and tongue were gently caressing her stomach and belly button.

"Wes", the young woman whispered.

"Yes...", he groaned, his eyes straying to her face.

"I want you."

Wesley managed to smile gently, even though a large part of him had wanted this woman to admit to more than just desire for him.  He would be patient, it was too soon. So he kissed her languorously, allowing her to taste herself on his lips.

Faith groaned.  He seemed to know exactly what to do, how to do it and when. When his hand crept underneath her back to place her further on the bed, she helped, using her legs to propel herself another few inches.  He moved over her, settling himself in the cradle of her hips, gently rubbing his erection along her downy covered mound.

His hand slid up her legs, and hip, moving up along her ribcage to palm the firm flesh of her breast.  She sighed, wrapping her legs around his waist
impatiently.  She wanted to feel him so badly.

"Faith?", he asked, his eyes locked on hers, a question shining in their depths.  Her gaze strayed between their bodies.

"Its okay Wes.  I'm on the pill."

The former Watcher kissed her gently on the forehead, the hand that still caressed her breast continued to knead gently before the short nail of his
thumb flicked at the sensitive nub.  He wanted to kick himself for not considering the consequences of this course of action sooner...  but it didn't surprise him, it wasn't as if he'd ever been able to think logically when Faith was around.

"Mmmmm..."

It was the sound of her desperate moan that was his undoing.  Anymore waiting and he'd lose his mind.  He needed to be inside her-- immediately.
Reaching back, Wesley grabbed her ankles from where they were locked, and moved them from around his waist.  He planted her feet firmly on the
mattress almost smiling when the dark eyed seductress on his bed blinked in confusion.  Still having a hold on her ankles he kept sliding her legs back towards her body, until her heels practically touched her lovely ass and her legs were pressed up to her chest.

When she was arranged to his liking, he gently traced through the short curls that guarded her center, dipping his finger into the heat and warmth
of her body.

The dark Slayer squirmed, craving more.

'So wet...', he thought deliriously, 'so ready... this was like some kind of dream.'

Soon, the head of his arousal replaced his finger.

Faith's chocolate brown eyes widened in wonder, as he sheathed himself slowly inside of her.  "Ohhh... ", she moaned, her body desperately wanting
to arch up to meet him, as Wesley joined them and made them one.

He paused for a moment, and locked his eyes onto hers before beginning to move.  He stroked himself slowly inside of her, withdrawing almost
completely before burying himself once more in her welcoming warmth.

"Wesley", she gasped.  "Jesus... Fuck!"

The Englishman couldn't help the almost smug grin that formed on his face. The sensual pleasure on her face and the almost helpless sounds she was making unconsciously, made his heart swell with love and pride.  That he could do this to this powerful woman, that he could make her forget herself, and give herself to him, even though all her instincts for self preservation were screaming for her not too...

"FaithFaithFaith", he groaned, under his breath, as he sped up his thrusts, mindful not to place to much weight on her legs.  The position he'd placed her in was almost his undoing, as it caused her vagina to squeeze around him like a vice.

Wesley almost sighed in relief when Faith widened her legs, wrapping them around his body again.  The new position allowed him prolong this moment. He wanted to be inside her, a part of her, forever.

Beads of sweat arose on their bodies, and she licked his neck, enjoying his taste.

The Slayer could feel it coming.  The tidal wave of emotion built in her womb.  Ebbing and flowing, ebbing and flowing..... before suddenly releasing
and crashing inside of her over and over.  She keened underneath him, her body spasming around him, even as her fingernails dug into his back and
shoulder, leaving bloody welts.

He was powerless to withstand the intensity of Faith's climax.  Her muscles squeezed around him like a fist, and with a groan he emptied himself inside of her for a never-ending moment.

"Wes.. I... that", she stammered, eyes clouded with a confusion that gave him pause.

The former Watcher, pressed a finger to her mouth, stilling whatever words threatened to spill out.  Wesley didn't want her to say she loved him if she didn't.  He also didn't want to hear that she regretted what they'd just done.  He, for one, did not.  And even if, things were never worked out
between them, Wesley knew that he would cherish the memory of this night always.

Kissing Faith tenderly, Wesley withdrew from her body and lay at her side, drawing her into the safety of his embrace.  Stunned by the intensity of
their joining, she lay quiescent at his side, allowing herself for one blissful instant to believe she belonged there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately, she'd awoken with the knowledge that she didn't.  Sighing softly, Faith forced the sadness and tears deep inside.  They were weak,
stupid.  And she was neither weak, nor stupid.  She'd pretend this night had never happened, and she bet Wesley would as well to prevent any
embarrassment.  Then everything would go back to normal.

'Yeah sure', her mind rejoined, 'everything's gonna just be five by five after this.  I'm bet.'  Her mental voice proceeded to give an unladylike
snort.
 

~Part 24~

Cordelia used her key to open the front door of the Hyperion.  She squinted, trying to hasten her eyes adjustment from the bright, sunniness of this L.A. morning with the darker, practically cave-like atmosphere of the Angel Investigation's office.

Gunn was right behind her, his eyes enjoying the view.  Lord, his girl had great legs.  He closed the door behind them.  "Looks like nobody's up."

"Figures", the Seer muttered, bending over to pick up the mail which had been pushed through the slot, and currently sat in a heap on the floor.

Gunn groaned.

Looking up, Cordelia arched a dark, perfectly arched brow at her boyfriend, hazel eyes twinkling.

'She was such a ball buster, it seriously turned him on', the handsome black youth thought.  Mindful, that at any moment someone could come downstairs, he tore his gaze away.  "Want some coffee Delia?"  He nodded silently... coffee, yeah good idea, keeps mind off her short skirt, long legs and the perfect way they wrapped around him when he--

"Gunn!"

Shaking his head ruefully, Gunn finally emerged from his mental sidetrip. "Huh."

The Seer glared at her boyfriend, folding her arms, and tapping her foot. "Hello... coffee!  I said I wanted coffee, and you've been just standing
there practically all day", she huffed.  Her hazel eyes were thoughtful.

Ooops, busted.  "Oh yeah". He blinked, and headed to the kitchen to make some.

For a moment, Cordelia looked disappointed.  "What?  Come on... no smart aleck rejoinder?"  Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.  "What were you thinking about Charles Gunn?"

"Uhh, nothin'", he said shrugging, and turning to stride into the kitchen.

The former cheerleader grinned mischeviously, following Gunn into the kitchen at the back of the buildings first floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander yawned, slowly wandering down the stairs to the lobby.  Where the hell was everyone?  Didn't they bother to keep semi-normal hours?  He ran a hand through his bed rumpled hair.  In Sunnydale everyone was pretty much up by 9:30.  What with his and Anya's jobs, college courses for Tara and Buffy and...  He frowned thinking about the blond Slayer.  She had had to quit school to take care of Dawn when their mother had died.  He took a deep breath, the noise sounding loud in the cavernous building.

Jeez, this place was amazing.  Art deco, beautiful split staircase, marble floors....  He admired the workmanship and detail, allowing his mind to
drift away from the sadness that seemed to linger around the Slayer and her remaining Slayerettes.  It had all started with Willow's departure, and he sincerely hoped her return would somehow help.  He hoped he wasn't completely being unrealistic.

The rumbling of his stomach, interrupted any further woolgathering.  Xander Harris was hungry and when he was hungry he was... he frowned, wracking his brain.  'Well apparently, hunger made him very unfunny', the dark haired man thought.

'Hmmmm... now if I were a refridgerator, where would I be?'  The Slayerette began investigating the large lobby, finally spotting a door beneath the
right arm of the staircase.

Shrugging, Xander headed for the door, figuring the odds were good that it was the kitchen.  Kitchens had refrigerators.  He only hoped Dead Boy had actual people food in the thing, and not people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wesley awoke alone.  He sighed sadly, his hand reaching out to feel the sheets.  She'd left.  Although he'd expected that eventuality, part of him
had really wished Faith would prove him wrong.

He was such an idiot, telling her he loved her the night before.  What was wrong with him?  He knew better.  How could you put that kind of pressure on a woman who was convinced she didn't deserve love or happiness?  A woman who was a Slayer, and lived in the shadows...

Angry at himself, Wesley's hand formed a fist, pounding on the mattress.

'Failure!', his mind hissed.  'As usual, you've failed.  Honestly, boy, you would think you would be accustomed to this by now.'

The former Watcher's eyes squeezed shut.  He breathed deeply, trying to block out the sound of his father's voice.

He was his own man, damn it.  He was not a failure.  He had loyal friends, did what he enjoyed at something which made a difference.  He, Wesley
Wyndham Pryce, finally made a difference.

Calmer now, Wesley thought about his current dilemna.  How should he handle this situation?  He wanted Faith.  He loved Faith.  He hoped and felt deep down, that she at least cared about him.  But now they'd slept together and she had run.  Should he pretend it hadn't happened?  Perhaps, sparing himself anymore heartache?

No.  He couldn't do that.  That's what the dark haired Slayer would be counting on.  That he would hide behind his natural British pride and reserve.  No, he wasn't giving up that easily.  It was what she expected, to be used and cast aside.  He wasn't going to do it.  He was going to fight for her.  Even if it was Faith herself, he had to battle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A very loud, practically girly scream broke the stillness that lay over the Hyperion Hotel like a cloak.

Xander had found the kitchen, and boy was he sorry.  He ran out, eyes covered by his hand.  "OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGod...", he muttered.

Cordelia followed behind him.  "Get a grip Xander!", she said between gritted teeth, smoothing down her short skirt.  Her face was flushed and her
shirt still hung open exposing the creamy lace of her bra.

Gun was right behind her.  He couldn't believe this.

"What the hell is going on!"

The three young people looked up.  Angel stood on the stair landing a sword in his hand, Willow by his side.  The dark haired vampire's hair, stood up in bedraggled tufts.  He was shirtless, only a pair of lowslung black sweatpants on his tall frame.  Willow's eyes were wide with apprehension.

"Attack?", the souled vampire demanded, looking about the lobby, his nostrils flaring trying to catch the scent of an intruder.

"Ack!", Xander sputtered, pointing at the Seer and the demon hunter.  "They, they--"

Cordelia's hazel eyes speared her former boyfriend.  "Shut up moron!" Gunn's hands curled into fists.

The sound of footsteps pounded on the stairs.  Faith vaulted over the railing, gracefully landing on her feet by the still silent redhead.

"I heard a scream, what's up?", the Slayer asked, dark eyes glinting.

"Nothin'", Gunn replied, looking up at his three friends.  "What you heard was macho Xander here after he got a shock."

Willow's brow furrowed.  "Xander are you okay?  What happened?"

"I--ugh, I'm fine Wills", he responded finally.  "I--"

Cordelia covered the brunette's mouth with one slim hand.  "It was nothing. He thought he saw a mouse", the receptionist improvised quickly, a
staggeringly huge, bright smile on her face.

"Don't you dare say a word", she murmurred under her breath.  "You didn't see a thing got it."  Xander nodded, one eye glued to Gunn's unobtrusively displayed fist.

A *ding* caught everyone's attention.  The elevator doors slid open.  Wesley hopped out, an axe in his grasp.  "My word, what was that horrible
screeching."

Unable to take it anymore, Xander lost it.  He laughed until his sides ached. Cordelia turned away in digust, glad she'd managed to button her shirt before anyone else had shown up.  Otherwise, things would've gotten a bit embarassing....
 

~Part 25~

About forty-five minutes later, with a last kiss to her mate, and hugs all around, Willow left with Xander.

Angel stared at the front door, unable to tear his gaze from the space his witch had just occupied.

"So Fang, you're not seriously just gonna let her go off without ya?  Are you?", Faith asked curiously.

Cordelia nodded in agreement.  "I know what Willow said, but...  I mean what if Slutty's lost it?  What if she flips out and tried to hurt Willow?", the
brunette's brow furrowed.

Angel growled, under his breath.

Gunn, elbowed his girlfriend lightly.  "Do you want to tell him or should I?"

"Uhh... Angel, I'm thinking you're a bit upset about this", Cordelia hazarded to say.

The vampire grunted.  His predatory amber gaze dropping to the ground.

"What Queen C is trying to say is you've gone all 'GRRR' Fang", Faith said.

Sighing, Angel forced his demon down, resuming his human mask, just as the elevator opened once more.  Wesley was back and fully dressed in the
clothing Cordelia and Gunn had brought for him that morning.  Maneuvering slightly better than he had the night before on his crutches, the dark
haired British man, looked around the room.

"Bloody hell, Willow's left already hasn't she?"

"Just missed her English", Gunn replied.

"Darn, I did want to say goodbye."

"She did too, but Xander was driving her and everyone else nuts."

Faith stared at Wesley, her gaze fixated on the patch of skin exposed by the open button at the neck of his oxford shirt.  She'd been right, he hadn't even looked at her yet.

Angel came to a decision as his little family talked.  A wicked smile forming on his face.

"Uh-oh!", Cordelia quipped dryly, rolling her eyes.  "I know that look.  Bad Angel is making an appearance, I just know it."

Faith and Gunn chuckled.

"Let me guess", Wesley began. "Possessive, obsessive vampire tendencies rear their ugly heads, and said possessive, obsessive vampire follows redheaded mate..."  The former Watcher let his voice trail off, watching the small look of surprise on Angel's face in amusement.

"I'm not possessive or obsessive", the dark haired vampire muttered darkly. He looked around at the disbelieving face of his friends.  "Well I'm not--
uh, anymore."

"Uh huh", Gunn said, "I'm seeing that about you."

"So are you?", Faith asked.

"Am I what?"

"Heading to SunnyD?"

The souled vampire had the grace to look slightly guilty as he nodded.

The dark haired Slayer chuckled.  So concerned was she with appearing to take no notice of Wesley, she never noticed his slow and steady progress towards the desk she was leaning on until he was right beside her.  She almost lost her balance and fell on her ass, when the injured male kissed her beneath her ear.

"Wes?", she squeaked, aware that every eye in the house was suddenly on them.

The former Watcher smiled, blue eyes glittering.  "I didn't get to say good morning before."

Faith's mouth gaped open uselessly.  "Huh?", she said eloquently.

"Good morning", he repeated softly.

"Yeah, it is I guess", she replied, unsure of what the hell Wesley was doing.

Gunn and Cordelia shared a look.  Hers said I told you so, while he just grinned and shrugged.

Ignoring his friends, Wesley continued his game.  He was enjoying this. "Come up to my room later, you left your leather pants there", he whispered
a trifle loudly.

Faith blinked, licking her lips.  "Huh?", she said again.

Gunn swallowed a chuckle, while Cordelia's eyes grew large in her head.

Angel smirked, nodding. He'd already known that.  Enhanced senses were really useful sometimes, and those two reeked of one another.

'Faith zero, Wes 1', the blue eyed Englishman thought, before kissing the Slayer quickly on the lips, and making his way towards the kitchen.  Angel
watched his friend and employee walk away, finally registering the crutches. He groaned, wasn't he supposed to be the observant one.

"Uh, guys?", the dark haired vampire stated, breaking through the stunned silence in the lobby.  Faith glared at Angel just daring him to say
something about what had just happened.

"Why is Wesley on crutches?"

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