Appreciation
an Angel: the series story
by Cimorene
Fred sat happily next to Wesley, her hand placed naturally over his as she babbled in her typical incoherent fashion. "...and so the research is through for that case, at least. But then we have to perform post-operative examinations of all the corpses, and I'm just not completely sure we can do that because..." Her conjoined sentence was broken off by a delicate cough. "Excuse me," she murmured before beginning her tirade once more. "Anyways, the bodies are really..."
"You're not catching my cold, are you?" Wesley interrupted, suddenly concerned. He ran a hand beneath his runny nose as if to drive the point home.
Fred glanced aside, suddenly quiet. "Well, I guess I have a bit of a sore throat, but..."
"I'm so sorry," Wesley murmured in a soft, congested tone, resting his head against Fred's shoulder in a most apologetic manner. "I...I didn't mean to give this to you..." He looked up at her, blinking fuzzily.
Fred merely smiled, snuggling deeper into the embrace and wrapping her arms around the cold-ridden Wesley. "Of course you didn't, and if it's anyone's fault, it's mine." She ran a small hand through his brown hair. "You know when you're like this I can't keep away for too long."
Wesley smiled against Fred's warm skin. "Yes," he said, sniffling wetly. "But I..."
"Don't," Fred whispered, pressing a kiss to Wesley's warm forehead. She swallowed painfully and then added, "It was completely worth it, by the way."
The statement caused Wes to perk up a bit with a mischievous if not hoarse chuckle. "I'll have to agree with that." With a small groan he adjusted himself into a sitting position so that he could see Fred's face more adequately. She looked lovely, skin and eyes glowing as radiantly as ever. A soft smile curved her lips upward, and small strands of hair fell against her face elegantly. Wesley kissed her, unable to resist her unintentional allure. "You care for me in a very special way..."
Fred giggled, moving her hand distractingly up and down his thigh. "That's the idea." She sighed softly and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's only appropriate that we fall ill together."
Wesley sniffled in an attempt to make himself easier to understand through his stuffy nose, which was rapidly becoming more congested. "But I know that's dot whad you like."
"Like I said, completely worth it," Fred reiterated pleasantly. "I got my days to take care of you and I'm glad for that." She paused, thoughtful. "Besides, you're still sick...it's not so bad when I've got someone to be sick with."
"Oh, you shouldn't have to be biserable ad all, though," Wesley interjected, sounding a bit indignant. I like makig you happy..."
Fred gave an amused laugh. "Really, you are," she murmured, giving him a pointed look.
Wes smiled back. "Perhaps we're dot too biserable to have a bit of fud?"
Fred giggled again, stroking Wes' face with the back of her hand. "Especially if you manage to have another sneezing fit like last time."
Wesley looked contemplative. "The odds are good," he finally said, twitching his nose and sniffling.
Fred kissed his nose lightly. "It's all sore and sniffly," she observed in a soft tone. "I really love your sneezes...you're in possession of the most..." She paused, searching for an adjective. "They're just so nice and sneezish."
Wesley gave her a wry smile and a gentle sniffle. "Should I take thad as a comblibent?"
"Definitely," Fred answered in a low voice, pressing her lips against his nose once again. "You sound so congested and sneezy...is your nose running?" Her eyes met his imploringly, searching deeply for an answer.
Wesley nodded, captivated by her urgency. "Ruddy and tigglish...I feel all sduffed ub..."
Fred reached across the floor and grabbed the tissue box that sat resolutely on the carpet. She pulled a few out in an experienced fashion, placing them over Wesley's sniffly nose. "You need to blow?"
"Hehh..." Fred was met with a breathy answer as she watched Wesley's chest rising tentatively. Fred cupped the tissues around his nose, her fingers poised and ready to catch the impending sneeze. She tingled warmly with anticipation.
"EhhCHHHSHHOOO!" The first sneeze sprayed wetly into Fred's tissue-protected hand. Wesley barely had time to recover before another large sneeze overtook him. "HetTSSSSHHH!"
"Mmm," Fred murmured, extremely pleased as warmth spread throughout her. Wesley leaned against her dependently, weak from the over-powering sneezes. Fred wrapped an arm around Wes, cradling him against her as he softly blew his nose into the tissues she held for him. The blow was wet and gurgling, and he sniffled wetly afterwards. Fred tossed the tissues with little care for where they landed, bringing Wesley's head to her level and immediately kissing him passionately. Wes continued to sniffle as they kissed which only made Fred kiss him deeper.
Wes then suddenly pulled back, nose twitching ticklishly. "Ehh..." Fred placed a hand behind his head and guided his nose against her shoulder. "EhhGSSHH!"
His sneeze was muffled against her shirt, the wet spray apparent in the fabric. Fred squirmed pleasurably. "Again?" she begged, and Wesley nodded slowly, his nose sniffly and wet.
Wesley buried his nose into the place where her shoulder met her neck. She could feel the sharp intakes of breath and small twitches of his nose as he fought with another sneeze. His chest expanded with each teasing breath, and Fred could already feel his nose running on her neck. "HitTISHHHooo!" Wes sneezed wetly and powerfully against her skin, nuzzling her with his nose as she pressed him closer encouragingly. "IhhJGGSSHHH!" The sneeze was especially wet, and Wesley's cheeks flushed in embarrassment despite himself. "So sorry," he murmured, his words barely comprehensible through his congestion. He sniffled and pulled away, wiping his nose with his shirt sleeve.
Fred's eyes burned, and she could feel her heartbeat accelerating as she watched Wesley struggle with his cold. The warm sneeze was still wet on her neck, and although she desperately wished to continue, she attended to Wesley. "Oh Wes, you have nothing to be sorry for," she said, her voice sweet and sincere. She drew her arms around him and met his eyes. "I don't know how to make you understand that."
Wesley sniffled again, his nose sounding full and damp. "I dnow, it's just...difficult to ged used to..." He looked at her and noticed how very flushed she was. "You're certain you like this?"
Fred nodded, taking the opportunity to kiss her way up along his cheek. "But only if you don't mind...if you're uncomfortable with it, I can stop...I think."
Wesley acknowledged the joke with a small smile but his eyes went out of focus. "I...I thidk I may sdeeze agaid..."
Fred promptly placed herself in his lap, stroking his hair lovingly and making encouraging sounds.
"Ehh...EhhTUSHHoo!" This time, the sneeze was muffled against her chest, the spray settling gently onto her skin. Fred made a happy sort of noise, listening to Wesley's sniffles and watching as he wrapped his arms around her. Sniffling softly next to her ear, he kissed the side of her face and then met her lips, nose running freely. Continuing the kiss, Fred reached blindly for tissues and located them, pulling a few out and breaking the kiss momentarily to wipe his runny nose for him.
He made a grateful, stuffy sort of sound as he took the tissues from Fred and relieved his congestion. He blew gently into the gathering in his hands, attempting to clear his nose. Wesley then disposed of the tissue, allowing Fred to kiss the bridge of his nose. "I love you," she murmured, moving down and kissing the tip. She delighted in the feeling of his nose twitching against her lips.
He merely smiled and kissed her again, his tongue playing warmly and wetly inside her mouth. Fred pressed her hands against his chest, kissing him simultaneously, attentive. She shifted in his lap, spreading her legs apart and putting a leg on each side of him. Wes slid his arms around her and touched her gently. His eyes studied her with interest, and he shifted to allow for her to sit more snugly against him. Just then, another tickle seemed to overtake him, and his breath hitched sharply. Fred could feel her body respond automatically, and she reveled in the feeling.
"EhhSHHCHHOOO! HetCHHahh! EhhGSSHH!" Wesley misted the air between them, the damp sneezes causing him to bend at the waist vulnerably. He sniffled, wiping at his nose distractedly as he focused once more on the lovely Fred. His nose was still damp and running, but he chose to ignore it. Fred moved her body closer to his, arousal coursing through her blood. She could feel the damp mist settling on her chest as she watched Wesley sniffle in an attempt to keep his nose from running over. He was obviously uncomfortable, so Fred reached for some more tissues and pressed them to his nose.
"IhhGSHH!" Wesley's nose twitched against her hand, wet and pressed against her palm. The sneeze was damp and congested, and Fred could feel the moistness soaking through the tissues. She made a pleased noise as Wesley blew his nose, filling the tissue with warm wetness. He drew back and sniffled, rubbing at his nose with the back of his hand. Although his nose was still runny and wet, Fred liked it that way, so she tossed the tissues aside and ran her hands through his hair. Wesley followed suit and snuffled softly in her ear, pressing kisses against her flushed, warm skin.
A sudden sharp knock on the door caused both Wesley and Fred to jump, completely startled. They glanced at each other with wide eyes, realizing that they had momentarily forgotten their somewhat public location: sitting on the floor in the corner of Wesley's office. Wes abruptly placed his hands on Fred's waist, assisting her out of his lap as he straightened, albeit waveringly, into a standing position. Clearing his throat as best he could, he called out a rather hoarse "Yes?"
Harmony opened the door to Wesley's office, standing abruptly in the doorway. "Angel told me to tell you that...umm...wait a second..." She quickly scanned over the smattering of papers in her hand. "Oh, right! He wants to know if you have the papers finished on that ginormous group of ugly demons that..." Harmony paused, her eyes alternating their focus from Wesley to Fred and then back to Wesley again. She gave them a quizzical look. "Geez! Were you guys just..."
"Ahem!" Wesley cleared his throat loudly, interrupting Harmony with a threatening glare. "Yes, you can tell Angel I have them finished. Does he need them right away?"
Harmony smirked, refusing to let the subject drop. "No...and I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to interrupt anything..."
"Er..." Despite himself, Wes felt his cheeks heat up, while Fred unsuccessfully hid her embarrassed smile. She glanced at Wesley encouragingly, giving him the resolve to at least finish the conversation. "Um, that will be all, Harmony... thank you."
With a wide grin and a wink at Fred, Harmony closed the door.
Fred immediately burst into laughter while Wes groaned in shame. "She's going to spread that all over the office, you know," he remarked dryly.
Fred stepped forward and took Wesley's hands in hers as she looked up at him. "You know what? I don't think I really care."
Feeling his embarrassment drain slowly away, Wesley smiled weakly and offered her a small, damp sniffle. "Well... then...shall we pick up where we left off?"
Fred reached down for the tissue box and returned his smile.
Disclaimer: all rights go to Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, etc...none of this is mine in the least bit!
Author's notes: I realize that this is to a degree AU, because Wesley and Fred had zip time to develop their relationship. But I like to pretend that they did. :) Sorry that this story starts out rather schmoopy...it picks up, I promise.