The Hart of L.A.

Xander and Talia were in Xander’s car on their way to his apartment. Talia was just sitting in the passenger seat with her arms crossed, and a scowl on her face. So far, Wesley had never been that bad, but he’d gone too far today. Frankly, she was surprised at how he was acting towards her, not to mention the lack of attention to Fred lately. Xander wasn’t saying anything, but she knew he was paying close attention to her. Finally, she couldn’t take the silence anymore, and looked over at him.

" Are you okay? You haven’t said anything since we got in the car." He smiled at her.

" Actually, I was waiting on you to speak. It was you that Wesley was being an ass too, and I know you’re pissed about it. I was just waiting to see if you’d approach the subject with me or not." Talia sighed, and uncrossed her arms.

" I’m sorry, Xander. I didn’t mean to not talk to you, but I’ve never felt this angry towards anyone. Okay, so yes I have been this mad at someone before, but it’s been a very long time." Xander reached over and grabbed her hand.

" Look, it’s okay. You should be mad, because I am too. He has no right to talk to you like that. I was about to jump in and tell him off, when Giles surprised even me. He used to order Buffy around all the time, so I was a little confused at t hat display. I am surprised however, that Buffy didn’t say anything to Wesley, because she can’t stand him. It’s funny, I thought with the impending doom and everything, that she’d really tear into him, but she didn’t" Talia bowed her head.

" I don’t’ think Buffy likes me much anymore. We haven’t really talked much lately. I don’t think we’ve said a handful of words to each other since she came back from Cleveland. I thought that she’d be excited that I was here, being old friends an all, but she can’t wait to be rid of me. A part of me thinks she wants me to say to hell with it all, and leave." Xander looked shocked at her statement, but she turned her head away, showing him she wasn’t talking anymore on the subject.

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Buffy was over at Angel’s that evening, cuddling in front of the television. She had her head resting on his shoulder, while his arm was draped around hers. They did this most every night. They might not be able to do most stuff, but they at least had to touch each other. Buffy really didn’t care what they did, as long as she could be with him. She’d missed him so much in Sunnydale after he’d left. She had never told anyone, but even when she was with Riley, she thought constantly of him. She’d try, but he was always there. Not so much with Spike, though. He’d somehow always manage to make her forget all her problems. She felt bad, because she knew he still had feelings for her, but she had Angel. As if sensing the turn of her thoughts, Angel looked down at her.

" Hey, are you alright? You got all tense there for a minute." Buffy smiled at him.

" Yeah, I’m alright, just thinking about some stuff." Angel nodded his head, and squeezed her shoulder a bit."

" I keep thinking about this Demon we’re supposed to be defeating, and we don’t even know what the hell it is." Buffy turned her face up towards his.

" I know exactly what you mean. This thing keeps reminding of ‘The First’. We didn’t know what the hell we were doing there for a very long time. I knew what it was, but it was virtually indestructible, but I know we’ll defeat it. We always have beaten the bad guys, and now that we’re all fighting together, it should be a little easier." Angel smiled at her, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.

" You’re right. I know we’ll be fine, it’s just I want to know what I’m fighting." Buffy smiled back at him, and snuggled back in his arms to finish watching their movie.

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Fred was laying in the guest room of Wesley’s apartment. Since the display downstairs with Talia, she’d packed her stuff from his room. It didn’t even look like he cared. He hadn’t come in there to ask her to return to his room. She’d curled up in a ball, with the covers wrapped around her. She hadn’t even gotten to tell him her news, that she really needed to tell him. she covered her face with her pillow to stifle the sound of her tears.

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Wesley was in the kitchen holding a glass of scotch, while looking in one of his many books. Lorne was sitting there with him, going through his own book, when he stopped.

" I wonder what’s wrong with Fred." Wesley looked up at him, and gave him a weird look.

" what do you mean wrong with her? She’s fine, I think she’s asleep, though." Lorne stood up from his chair, and looked towards the doorway of the kitchen.

" Oh, no my good friend, she isn’t asleep. I sense her inner turmoil, and I think she’s crying. I thought she was upset about something, but now her emotions are running extra high, and I can feel her. Maybe, I’ll ask her to sing for me." With that statement, he left the kitchen in search of Fred.

Wesley just shook his head at Lorne. He didn’t know what he was talking about, because Fred was fine. She was in their room asleep. He knew he needed to say something to her, because he’d been so preoccupied with this Demon, he hadn’t really said anything to her in awhile. He would, though, just as soon as he finished going through his books.

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Fred sniffled when she heard someone knock on her door. She rubbed her eyes to get the tears away, and sat up in her bed. She didn’t even have to say come in, because the door opened, and in walked Lorne. In vain, she continued to try to wipe away her tears, but they kept rolling down her cheek. Lorne walked over to her and sat down next to her on the bed.

" Oh, sweet pea, what’s the matter? You’ve seemed so sad lately, not at all like the Fred we know and love." Fred looked down at her hands. She didn’t say anything, but she started humming " Mary had a little lamb". When she finished, she looked over at him, and he was staring agape at her.

" Are you going to tell him? You really should, and I’m sure you know that. I had absolutely know idea, and I’m sorry I didn’t notice before now that something was wrong." Fred shrugged.

" It’s okay, Lorne. I know everyone is really worried about this Demon that’s coming, so I didn’t want to burden anyone." Lorne wrapped his arms around her.

" Oh, pumpkin, poo on him for not noticing. I’ll make sure he notices." With that he got up and walked out of the room.

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Lorne marched up to where Wesley was still sitting, and grabbed his book from him. When Wesley looked up at him, he flung the book on the other side of the table. He stopped Wesley before he could say anything.

" You have to go to her right now. I can’t believe how you’ve been acting towards her lately, but it’s going to stop." Wesley stood up, and looked at Lorne like he was crazy.

" Have you gone completely bonkers? What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Lorne walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders.

" You have to go and talk to Fred, like now!" Wesley shook his head, and walked past him to get to his room. When he got there, she wasn’t in there. He’d no idea that she was even upset with him. It was weird for him that she wasn’t there, because she’d pretty much stayed with him, since she’d kissed that day in the car.

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Talia and Xander arrived at his apartment a little while later. It was already really dark outside, which only seemed to make Talia even more mad. Once they got inside, and they shut the door, Talia turned and grabbed Xander. He was a little shocked to have her mouth on him all of the sudden. When she broke the kiss, she was a little breathless.

" Sorry about that, just needed...well I just wanted to kiss you." She hid her head to hide her red face. Xander smiled at her, and reached for her hand.

" Oh it was my pleasure. Are you okay now? I know Wesley made you mad, but I hope you’re okay now." Talia smiled.

" Oh, I’m all better. I’m going to hop in the shower...wanna join me?"