Retry

[thebratqueen]

Okay, here's the fic I wrote at Connexions:



Retry
By The Brat Queen

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Joss Whedon's, Mutant Enemy's, 20th Century Fox's and all that sort of thing. 'tis but a non-profit, amateur effort, and y'all would need to get in line to sue me anyway.

Rated: PG

Summary: Five years in the future, Angel and Wes meet up again.

Thanks to: Cindy, because without her this fic wouldn't exist - I typed it on her computer.

***

Wesley leaned against the patio railing, looking out over the gardens. A faint wind picked up, chilling him slightly. He studied the view before him as though he could memorize it.

"Wow."

He felt surprise, but saw no need to show it. Instead he turned his head only slightly, enough to acknowledge the intruder in his peripheral vision. "Angel."

"I..." the vampire stepped forward from his position by the staircase. He paused, his eyes flickering over Wesley from top to bottom. A sheepish smile touched his lips. "I had this whole speech prepared. On the way over. But... wow."

Wesley decided it was as good a topic of conversation as any. "Wow?"

Angel came closer. "Been a while since I've seen you in a tux."

"Ah," Wesley said. He looked away, finding Angel's gaze uncomfortable now that he understood the intent of it. "Well I hope it was worth the journey for you."

"I'll let you know," Angel said.

"Was the fashion commentary it or did you have more to add?" Wesley asked. He gave a significant look towards the light that spilled out from the open patio doorways. "Because there are things I need to be doing."

"Don't."

"I suppose that is an option," Wesley agreed. "However, these are things I *must* do, whereas your idea is not so much an argument or even a suggestion so much as it is a contradiction."

Angel stepped closer. "That's what I came here to say, Wes. Don't."

Wesley wrapped his hands around the railing. "You know you have no invitation here. In any sense of that word."

"I don't care."

"Apparently."

Angel shot him a look. "That's not what I meant."

"It certainly seems to be your aspiration," Wesley said. He finally allowed himself to truly look at the vampire. "Or have I truly misunderstood? Because five years -"

"You know *you* left *me*," Angel pointed out. "So I wouldn't start playing that 'don't give a crap' card too soon here."

"So why are you *here*?" Wesley demanded. "Yes - it was my decision. However I thought it was one we were in agreement with."

"Hard to agree with an empty bed," Angel replied. "Actually tried *disagreeing* with it a lot, not that it did me any good. Jesus, Wes, why the Hell - "

"You know bloody well *why*," Wesley told him.

"For this?" Angel asked, gesturing towards the house. "This is what you wanted? Seriously?"

"Are you surprised?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah," Angel said. "Wouldn't have figured you for the 'good son' routine, Wes. I thought there was more to you than that."

Wesley stared at him, then looked away. "Go to Hell."

"This is bullshit, Wesley," Angel said. He bent down, trying to meet Wesley's eyes. "This isn't what you wanted. Hell - it's not even what you're *worth*. Are you telling me this - any of this - makes you happy?"

"I'm telling you it's none of your concern," Wesley replied.

"Actually, it is." Angel laid his hand over Wesley's. It was freezing cold, thanks to the weather. Wesley desperately wanted to pull away. His body, however, stood still. "Wesley - don't. I'm telling you don't."

Wesley studied the grass on the grounds below them. A stray ribbon fluttered by, undoubtedly an escapee from the decorations on the lawn. "You know the ceremony is tomorrow."

"I got here as soon as I could."

"*Five years.*"

"*You* left *me*. Okay, yeah," Angel said, "took me this long to figure out - no, to *admit* I couldn't stand it. But are you going to let me being stupid ruin your life?"

"Are you so certain my solution to that problem is the same as yours?" Wesley asked.

Angel met his eyes. "I'm real certain I don't like what you're calling a solution."

Again Wesley thought about pulling away. "My entire family is here."

"You want me to go meet the in-laws?"

"That's not the point," Wesley said, turning away from him at last. "And you're damned presumptuous."

Angel caught him by the arms, standing behind him and holding him back. "Tell me you don't love me, Wes. Tell me that you stopped."

Wesley felt his breath catch. When he spoke, his voice was softer. "That's not the point either."

"So you're going to keep running away?" Angel asked. "Spend the rest of your life choosing the safe option?"

"At least it's a life," Wesley said.

"How's that living?" Angel scoffed. "This isn't you, Wesley. You and I both know it."

"How can you be so sure?" Wesley asked.

In response, Angel moved one arm forward until his hand rested against Wesley's chest. "Because something tells me your wife to be doesn't make your heart beat like that."

Wesley looked back towards the house, where the reception for he and his fiancée still carried on. "Bloody Hell."

"I never stopped caring," Angel said. "I swear to God, Wes, I only - "

"I shouldn't listen to you," Wesley interrupted him. "I told myself I was never going to listen to you again. It was a promise, in fact."

Angel's hand dropped down to his cummerbund. "Break it."

"And go back to the way things were?" Wesley asked. "That's hardly a proposal."

"Wasn't aware I had to get down on my knees."

Wesley looked over his shoulder at him. "It'd be a start."

Angel didn't look away. "If that's what it takes. I'm not going to be stupid again. I know what I want, Wesley. Can you say the same to me?"

Wesley took in the view of the party one more time. "You know the answer to that."

"Then come on," Angel said. "We've got hours until sunrise. We can make a lot of distance before then."

"And what if history repeats itself?" Wesley asked. "I can't say I'm eager to go down that path again."

Angel smiled at him. "Then next time it's not going to take me five years to find you, Wes. Hell, you're probably not even going to make it to the door."

Wesley looked at him doubtfully. "That's your solution?"

Angel leaned forward, brushing his lips over Wesley's in a teasing caress. Wesley found himself responding as he always had. "Nah," he replied. "But it's a start."

Fin.