Wesley laughed. "It's quite possible, unless they killed each other first."

Fred joined in his laughter as they walked down the street. "Why were they so angry at each other? They were in such good moods yesterday, and then they weren't. Faith always yells at me, but she smiles or laughs after she's done. This morning she just yelled at me and scowled."

Wesley sighed. "You know, Fred, I haven't a clue why Angel and Faith were in such foul moods. But I'm sorry if they took their tempers out on you," he said sincerely.

Fred offered Wesley a small grin and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "Oh, it's all right, Wesley," she said. "I know Faith wasn't *really* mad at me, and she'll be all better later, so I'm not too worried about the whole thing, because Faith strikes me as the type of person who'll really tell you when she's mad and she didn't tell me she was mad so she must not be-"

Wesley smiled as he raised a finger to her lips. "Shh, Fred. I'm sure you're correct. If Faith was mad at you, for whatever reason, she would certainly tell you." He lowered his hand and Fred gazed at him in awe.

"Y-you touched my l-lips," she said shyly. "With your f-finger."

Wesley smiled again. "I believe I did," he agreed. He looked around at their surroundings, which had gone unnoticed as they walked. "Say, would you care for some ice cream?" he asked. "I know it's your and Angel's special treat, but since Angel isn't here today..."

Fred smiled up at him eagerly. "I'd love some ice cream," she said enthusiastically. "Y'know, Angel always gets the same thing. It's so dull! Chocolate peanut butter, every time. But me, I like to experiment. One day I might try peach, the next I might want mocha swirl. It's always so interesting to me how I can have all these different cravings. Ice cream is ice cream, it's made up of the same components; sugar, milk, ice, stuff like that. But I always want a different kind, even though essentially I'm eating the same thing. And I always wonder how my stomach can be fooled into thinking it's different if my brain knows it isn't..."

Wesley laughed as Fred chattered all the way into the ice cream parlor. He scanned the offerings, glancing from time to time at the lively brunette standing next to him. He grinned as the kid at the counter asked Fred what she wanted, and she was off on another ramble. Finally she decided on raspberry chocolate chip and the kid, grateful, made her cone and handed it to her.

When the kid looked at him, Wesley, his mind still on Fred's special style of rambling, unthinkingly replied, "I'd like a scoop of Fred with chocolate sprinkles on top."

He only became aware of what he'd said when the kid laughed and he glanced to his side to see Fred staring at him, wide-eyed, her ice cream cone frozen halfway to her mouth. Flushing darkly, he hurriedly amended his order. "What I meant to say, is that I would like a scoop of what Fred's having, only with chocolate sprinkles on top."

The kid shook his head and made Wesley his cone. Wesley shoved some money at him and ushered Fred out of the parlor.

He found it difficult to make eye contact with Fred, so he fell into step with her, but remained silent. They'd walked two blocks before Fred finally spoke up.

"So do you think I should talk to Faith?" she asked suddenly. "Maybe she and Angel had a fight. Although I can't imagine why anyone would get mad at Angel," she mused.

Wesley sighed irritably. "Angel is not near as perfect as you have imagined him to be, Fred," he said, somewhat sternly. "He's bound to disappoint you. Why, look at the fact that it's *me* here with you today, and not him."

Fred's smile faltered and Wesley cursed himself. "I know he's not perfect, Wesley," she said softly. "But he saved me."

Wesley reached out and took her hand. "You saved *yourself*, Fred. You lived in Pylea for five years before Angel ever arrived, and you saved yourself every single day."

Fred's eyes brightened. "I did, didn't I?" she said, a hint of pride creeping into her voice. She pushed her glasses up again and smiled warmly at Wesley.

Wesley smiled back down at Fred affectionately. "You're very extraordinary, Fred," he admitted. "I find that I admire you very much."

Fred blushed, casting her gaze down. Her eyes locked on her hand, still entwined with Wesley's. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She darted a look upwards, blushing more when she saw that Wesley's gaze was still steadily fixed on her.

"Oh, look, we're here," she said, exhaling in relief, when she looked up and saw that they'd reached the Hyperion.

Wesley smiled slightly at her eagerness to get inside. "Maybe Faith and Angel are back. Should we go see how things went?" he suggested.

Fred smiled, relaxed once again. "We should," she agreed. The opened the doors and were greeted with the sounds of Angel and Faith shouting.

"God damn it Angel, when I tell you to get out of my way, then get the hell out of my way!" Faith screamed.

"Maybe if you didn't say it with every other break you take, it would be easier to know you mean it!" Angel yelled back.

"I always mean it!" she hollered, slamming something.

Wesley and Fred looked sideways at each other, identical worried frowns appearing on each of their faces. The followed the sounds of the fighting until they saw Angel and Faith in the kitchen, glaring mutinously at each other, Faith armed with a knife. The two were completely oblivious to the arrival of Fred and Wesley.

"You always mean it, because you always want to take care of things yourself!" Angel insisted loudly.

"Because everyone else will just screw things up!" Faith shouted back. "I'm the only one I can depend on!"

Angel scowled so darkly that Wesley and Fred were afraid that his face was going to cave in on itself. "You can depend on me, Faith, and you know that!" he exploded. "I won't ever let anything happen to you!"

"That's what they've all told me!" Faith screamed. "Right before they all left!" She broke down into tears, but turned away from Angel, hunching her shoulders over and trying to shut him out.

Angel's face fell. He walked over to Faith and turned her around, pulling her into his arms. "I won't leave you," he promised. "I'm just so damn scared that you're going to get yourself killed, Faith. How do you expect me to live if you're not?"

Faith sobbed into Angel's shirt. "I told you to get out of my way because I was afraid that demon was going to decapitate your ass," she explained tearfully. "Angel, I've never had to worry about anyone else when I was fighting. I never cared if the other person lived or died, just as long as I kicked some ass and got the hell out in safety. Angel, god, how was I supposed to watch you get killed right in front of me? Of course I wanted you the hell out of the way, so I could take care of it myself."

She pulled back and Fred and Wesley watched in amazement as Angel leaned down and kissed her. "We're a team now, Faith. You have to let me take some chances, because I can't let you take all of them."

Faith smiled, getting a hold of herself, and nodded. "Just as long as you let me watch out for you," she agreed.

Angel smiled and held her tighter. "I wouldn't expect anything less of you," he affirmed.

Wesley and Fred glanced at each other and by silent agreement, tiptoed quietly away from the now non-explosive atmosphere of the kitchen.

"Well. That was..." Wesley trailed off, unable to voice a comment. He wasn't sure his brain had settled on just one. Suddenly, concern for Fred took precedence above all else and he turned to her, a worried expression on his face. "Fred, are you all right?"

Fred looked up at him, a smile on her face. "Sure, why wouldn't I be?"

Confused, Wesley searched for the most tactful way to say what was on his mind. "Well, we had all assumed you had a certain, err, attachment to Angel..."

Fred nodded. "I did. But I know he doesn't see me that way. And I'm happy that he and Faith are together. Really," she insisted when Wesley cast her a doubtful glance.

"So you're not upset that you can't be with Angel?" Wesley persisted.

Fred grinned shyly at him. "I really haven't been thinking about Angel today, so I guess I'm not *too* upset," she confessed.

Wesley smiled brilliantly at her. "Then may I suggest we go tell the happy couple that their cat is out of the bag?"

Fred stood up and waited for Wesley to follow suit. "I think that's a really good idea."