Expectations: Surprises
by lilah_morgan
Chapter 3----Surprises
**Fred is in her eighth month of pregnancy.**
Wesley was exhausted and covered in various demon parts by the time he reached his apartment door. He put the key in and started to turn when he smelled smoke. He hurried inside and ran to the kitchen. Nothing was on fire, but he place was full of smoke. He ran around the apartment opening windows and calling out for Fred.
“I’m in here.” Wesley heard her say.
He went into the bedroom and found her crying on the bed. Fred’s face was bright red and streaked with tears. He kneeled in front of her and looked into her tear filled face. He’d gotten used to seeing her like this over the past few weeks. “Darling, are you alright? What happened?”
“I ruined it *sniff* I tried to cook for you.”
“Calm down for me, sweetheart, Just breath. Remember: deep breath in through the nose and slowly out the mouth.”
“I’m sorry. I was tryin’ to make dinner for you ‘cause I know I’ve been a pain lately.”
“Nonsense,” he lied, “It’s not your fault. You’ve been under a lot of stress.”
“I’ve been a real bitch to you and I know it. And when I wasn’t bein’ ultra-bitch I’ve been a basket case. Kinda like now. I wanted to make it up to you and cook, but I burned it. I put the fish in the oven and I think I dozed off on the couch. When I woke up there was smoke everywhere. So now we’ve got no dinner and smokey apartment.”
“The gesture is much appreciated. And don’t worry about the smoke. I’ve got the place airing out. It’s really not that bad. The alarm didn’t even go off.,” he ran a hand through her hair, “You look lovely by the way.”
“Cordy took me shoppin’. I look like crap with a fat belly.”
“You look gorgeous.”
She wiped her eyes and took a good look at him. “Oh my god, Wes. What he heck happened to you?”
“Slime demon offspring. We cleared out this abandoned building downtown. Took forever.”
“I’ll bet you’re hungry. I don‘t think either of us wants me back in the kitchen. What do you wanna do?”
“Why don’t you call for Chinese while I take a shower. We’ll eat and then I’ll rub your back until you fall asleep.”
“You didn’t go out and turn into, like, a perfect man robot or something, did you?
“Not that I’m aware of.” He then leaned down and kissed her forehead.
*****************************
It was after ten before they climbed into bed. Fred lay on her side so Wesley could make good on his promise to rub her back. Even though she was well into her eight month, the rest of her body had hardly gained an weight at all. Carrying around a huge belly on a tiny frame put enormous strain on her back. Wesley didn’t mind doing whatever he could to make he comfortable.
“Fred? Are you sleeping?” he whispered.
“No,” she whispered back.
“Does your back feel any better?”
“Yeah. Much. Ooh, she’s kicking.”
Wesley reached around and put a hand on Fred’s stomach. If this kid was as energetic outside as he or she was inside, they were going to be extremely busy parents.
“ ‘She’?”
“Of course. Daddy’s little girl.”
“We don’t know that for sure. Maybe that’s little Wes jr. you’re calling ‘she’.
Fred giggled, “Well, if it is, and I’m sure it isn’t, I’ll be sure to apologize.”
“Have you thought of anymore baby names? Are you still thinking ‘W’ names?”
“Yes and yes. I think we should be a whole family of Ws.”
“Does that mean you want me to start calling you Winnifred?” he teased.
“Lord, no.”
“Well, then technically you’re an ‘F’.”
“Just go with it, please.”
“Okay. What have you got?”
“Wendy, Whitney, an Willa are my favorite girl names.”
“And boys?”
“Not that we’ll need them, but I like Wade, Walker, and Wyatt. I really like Wyatt ‘cause the name book said it means ‘little warrior’.”
“They’re all good. What about middle names?”
Fred thought a minute. “Walker Wyatt Wyndam-Pryce?”
“Sounds a little like a law firm or a bank, doesn’t it?”
“We won’t have to worry ‘cause we’re having a little Willa. We’ll give her a middle name later. I’m exhausted.”
“Hey, I was thinking. Why don’t you come into the office tomorrow. The guys haven’t see you in a while.”
“What are you talking about? I was there last week. And I talked to Cordy this morning.”
“I like having you at work with me. At least when you’re there I can keep an eye on you. I won’t have to worry about you burning down the apartment again.”
“Not funny.”
“I know. Sorry. Please come. Please, please.”
“Okay. I’ll go. Maybe I should start getting ready now. It’ll take me that long just to get out of bed again.”
“Nah, I can just roll you.”
Fred gave a sarcastic laugh and pulled Wesley’s hand back over her stomach. He curved around her back like a human blanket and stayed awake until he was sure she was asleep and drifted of himself.
***********************************
It was ten to twelve when Wesley and Fred arrived at the hotel. Wes climbed out and walked around to the other side to help the very pregnant Fred out of the car. As it turns out, Fred wasn’t exactly joking about how slow she’d gotten. After she’d managed to get out of the bed and then in and out of the shower, Wesley had to take almost half an hour to calm her down. The mommy-to-be had a mini-meltdown over a maternity shirt that failed to fit anymore. Eventually, the tears receded and they managed to make it all the way to the hotel without further incident.
“How are you feeling, darling?’
“Like I’m carrying around a hundred pound baby.”
“Well, we’re almost there. The you can put your feet up.”
He as hoping that once they entered the lobby she would cheer up a bit. They did arrive more than an hour later than he’d planned. He could only hope that the guys were still waiting. Wes held his breath and pushed through the doors.
“Sur…prise.”
They both looked around at the lobby which once had at one point been decorated with balloons, but now looked like it had been blown up. Cardboard cutouts of ducks and bunnies were tossed about over pieces of chains and other various rubble.
“What the hell?” Fred was caught between the surprise of the baby shower and the destruction of it all. The walked further inside calling out for the rest of the gang.
“Stating the obvious, but this can’t be good,” Fred said. “What do you think happened? Where did they go?”
“Don’t panic. I’m sure they’re--.”
“Oops. Surprise.” Wes and Fred turned to see Cordelia come in from the garden looking very worse for wear. Following behind her were Angel, Gunn and Lorne all looking just as worn. Wesley watched them all file in before asking the obvious question.
“Would someone like to explain why you all and the lobby look as though you’ve been on the business end of a hurricane?’”
Cordy filled them in as she went behind the counter to get the frequently used first-aid kit. “Those little demon kiddies we cleared out last night has some pretty pissed off parents this morning.”
“They came here looking for a little eye-for-an-eye.” Angel continued.
Gunn hopped up on the countertop and finished, “Came about an hour ago. I guess it’s a good thing y’all were late.”
“Sorry,” Fred said, “My fault. I’m glad you guys are okay. Thanks for the party.”
“Not as spectacular as I would have hoped, Freddles, but you’re very welcome. “ Lorne said as he surveyed the damage.
Wesley found a chair that wasn’t smashed and helped Fred into it.
“Nobody got seriously hurt, right?” Fred asked as she got relief from her throbbing ankles.
“Well we wanted to take most of the fight into the garden. I tried to keep to the shadows but I had a pretty close call. Angel held up a still smoking forearm. He and Cordy took a seat on the couch so she could dress the wound.
“Don’t worry, Fred. All of the gifts are safe in Angel’s office. As well as the cake.” Cordy assured her.
“Ooh, presents and cake!.”
“Yep. Lots of both.”
*****************************************
In Angel’s office, the party of six chowed down on cake while Fred opened her gifts. Pretty soon the floor was littered with gift wrap and various baby accessories. Fred got a little teary when Lorne an Gunn wheeled in the stroller they had all chipped in on. Many pieces of cake later, they were all exhausted.
“Thank you guys so much. Everything was perfect.”
Cordy was wading through wrapping paper to get to another soda. “Everything except the mess in the lobby that I’m trying not to think about.”
“No. It’s better that way. Our lives are in a constant state of chaos. Why shouldn’t the party be? It’s got a nice kinda symmetry. Don’t you think?”
“I get what you mean, Freddikins. It does all kinda fit.”
“Yeah, well I’d still rather not have to clean it.,” Cordy mumbled under her breath.
***Final Chapter coming soon.****Please review****
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