Rated 'R' for violence.

[_wes_pryce_]

Continued from hereLilah never ceases to amaze me. I smile at her and kiss her forehead. She's looking so worried, even though she's trying to hide it. I can still see it in her eyes. "Oh I'm very tired. In fact you wore me out completely," I tell her, still gasping for air

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[_wes_pryce_]

I don't think she believed one word I said. I used to be able to hide things from people, how I felt, what I thought. But she has this knack of seeing right though me. Of course, I seem to have that same knack when it comes to Lilah and her facades.

At least she's not going to make a point about it. For now, I have a feeling the last hasn't been said. Though, there really isn't much she can do about it. They're there and they probably always will be.
Not that I don't deserve them. My own personal hell.

"They were concerned?" I let out a short laugh at that. Who was concerned? Certainly not Angel, or he would've come by to see me. Or any of my other former friends. Or course they could've come by without me noticing. I think, I'm not sure. Everything is a bit of a blur after I...died.

"I'm not sure Angel or Lindsey would want to talk to me. But I feel fine. I see no reason not to return to...err...work." And what will Lilah be doing then? Does she still have a job? "What about you? Do you feel like going back to work?" Forcing myself to loosen my far to tight grip on her, I look into her eyes. I'm not sure if I want to go back to...work...without her there.

[da_lilah]

"They were concerned?"

The laugh Wesley gives is lacking in mirth. There's a bitterness there that is ingrained. I suppose I'd nurtured some of that, and yet it still jars to heair it in his voice.

"I'm not sure Angel or Lindsey would want to talk to me. But I feel fine. I see no reason not to return to...err...work. What about you? Do you feel like going back to work?"

"Like I said, you can't get rid of me that easily." I murmured with a small smile playing on my lips. "I'm going to be your liaison, Wesley. In more ways than one it seems."
I draped my leg over his hip suggestively and gave a low chuckle. "We'll still be joined at the hip, even at the office. If that's what you want of course..."

[_wes_pryce_]

Sliding my hand down her back, I look at her with a raised eyebrow. "You're going to be my liaison?" Chuckling at that, I pinch her arse. "I think I might enjoy that." If only to see the face of everyone else. But what would they remember Lilah? Or more specifically, about Lilah and myself? Actually, I don't really care what they think.

Pulling her on top of me, I slide my hand in her neck, pulling her down for a kiss. Tangling my fingers in her soft, silken hair, I take my time to taste her until we need air. "Joined at the hip. We'll need a special chair then." Mustering up a more real smile, I can feel the cold of the nightmare that was clinging onto me starting to fade away.

"We'd better get dressed then. Wouldn't want to be late for our first day on the job." Technically it wasn't the first day of course. But I don't think any day's counted for me after I've come back from the dead. I don't even remember coming back, I just remember dying. And then she was here.

"I'm sorry about, you know...Lilah."

"That wasn't you, Cordy."

"That wasn't you," I whisper, staring at the wall over Lilah's shoulder. Shaking myself I look back at her. "Shall we get ready then? Can't be caught lazing around on the job now can we?" Certainly not, I've been lazing around enough apparently.

[da_lilah]

"You're going to be my liaison? I think I might enjoy that."

I gave a yelp when Wesley pinched my bottom and grinned at him saucily, rubbing my hips slightly against his side. He pulled me on top of him and kissed me soundly.

"Joined at the hip. We'll need a special chair then."

"Mmmmhmm, gives new meaning to the word attache." I leaned down and licked the side of his neck, his skin was so hot, it was amazing how much heat the man could generate. At least the nightmares seemed to be the last thing on his mind now.

"We'd better get dressed then. Wouldn't want to be late for our first day on the job."

I nodded reluctantly. Back to the real world again. I didn't want to admit it, but this past day, finding each other again, I didn't want it to end. But time never stops unless you fiddle with the natural order of things, and look how that turns out. I guess I'd just have to grab what pleasure came my way and be thankful. Borrowed time, after all.

"That wasn't you," I turned to see Wesley looking past me at nothing again. It made me uneasy, but there was nothing I could do but try to keep him grounded, and speaking to real people.

"Shall we get ready then? Can't be caught lazing around on the job now can we?"

"Would hardly call what we were doing 'lazing' - damn hard work actually as I recall. You know, bringing each other up to speed..."

I dipped my head down and teased Wesley's mouth with my lips and tongue, tasting him one last time.

"Alright, let's make a move. I get first dibs on the shower, if it's back working again, and maybe sharing won't be a such good idea this time, that way lies more tardiness and 'lazing'." I winked at him and finally crawled off of his body and out of bed. I stretched my arms above my head, and yawned. Mmm I liked this kind of tiredness. Then went to see about coaxing a shower out of the place.

[_wes_pryce_]

"Just be careful the plumbing doesn't come down." Frowning, I watch her naked backside disappear into the bathroom as she saunters off. That ceiling had better not come down, with the noise it was making yesterday.

Sighing, I slide out of bed myself reluctantly. I don't really want to leave the sheets where the warmth of her body still lingers, her smell still clings to the fabric. But she's right, real life is waiting again. Or at least a version of it. I'm not sure what version is the right one anymore.

How long have they been doing that? The Senior Partners and the Powers that Bugger you. Everytime it doesn't go their way they create a different version. Only this time we noticed, or some of us did. But how long have they been doing that? Rubbing my temples I pad over to my clothes, these so called higher beings are giving me a headache.

Pulling on my jeans, I wrinkle my nose. Maybe I should go by my apartment first. I don't think I've put on anything fresh in a...long time. Pushing my hands in my pocket, I turn to look out the window toward todays version of the universe while I wait for Lilah to return.

Or the ceiling to come down.

It better not come down. It had no idea who it's messing with. I can't help but chuckle a bit at the idea of Lilah suing Angel because the ceiling in the shower came down.

[da_lilah]

"Okay, not as pleasant as the last shower I had," I commented with a half grin as I emerged from the bathroom clad in one of the few towels I could find. "but at least it was hot and the water didn't give out on me."

I went over to the window to peer out at what Wesley was looking at. Just another day in LA, nothing different really. Life just went on, with or without us.

I dropped the towel and reluctantly began to dress in my previously rainsoaked outfit.

"Hmm, at least it's wrinkle free. Still, maybe I should call in some new clothes for us." I reached into another pocket and extracted a cellphone. Lindsey had given it to me, so that I could be in touch at all times, or on call as he'd put it. I'd had it turned off last night though. No interruptions.

There were a few missed messages I'd check on later, but for now I called one of the numbers I'd been given and ordered some transport back to the firm and a new set of clothes for us both.

And some breakfast.

Being alive again, and 'catching up' with Wesley had made me damn hungry. Maybe not having eaten for a full year had something to do with it.

"So, Angel first on our list of people to see?" I asked once I was done with the call.

[_wes_pryce_]

"I'm just glad the ceiling didn't come down on top of you," I say, looking at her over my shoulder. It's drafty here by the window, bit oddly enough I can't seem to feel it. At least not much. It's been a long time since I actually felt anything. Either outside or inside. But last night, Lilah managed to crack several walls, maybe even break away some.

I seem to be back in the real world and a lot of parts of that are damn un-pleasant. It's like waking up from a really long drunken binge. Only the hangover is a little different. I never did like waking up from a night of drinking either. But at least this time Lilah was here with me, I was no longer alone in this harsh reality.

Lilah, still the same alright, at least when it comes to efficiency. Always prepared and if not prepared, she's going to be very soon. Such as getting us some new clothes, transportation and breakfast. "I was just thinking about my...uhm...attire," I glance down at my jeans and then over at my wrinkled shirt. "Mine do not appear to be wrinkle free."

Shivering, I turn away from the window and watch her get dressed in her old clothes. At least until the new ones get here, can't open the door naked I suppose.

"Angel?" I look up startled at that, trying to cover it up by sinking down on the bed. Do I want to go see Angel? I'm not sure, I've no idea how to react to him. It's my fault he lost Connor, at least the first time. I'm not even certain where the boy is now, all my memories are such a jumble. For all I know it's my fault he lost the boy a second time as well. I do know that I died for him, for Angel and the 'cause'. Bloody cause. "I...I suppose so, yes," I say hesitantly, plucking at some imaginary thread there.

[da_lilah]

"Angel? I...I suppose so, yes,"

He'd gone all fidgety and quiet. Guess I said the wrong thing again. I sat beside him on the bed, not touching him though in case he thought I was coddling him.

"Look we can take this slow, just see whoever you feel like seeing. Small steps, right? And I'll be there. You can do this."
I tried to sound confident enough for the both of us, to have not a hint of doubt in my tone. I think I managed it.

The clothing and food arrived. I'd ordered up a simple breakfast of toast with jam and butter, and a pot of tea. I had no idea when Wesley had last eaten and so I'd made sure it was something that wouldn't make him sick if he'd been fasting.

My new Donna Karan suit was spotless and cut just perfectly for my figure. For Wesley I'd asked for a gabardine pair of pants and a plain linen shirt. Stylish and yet not garishly so. I hoped he liked my choices, he didn't complain about them at least, and they were a darn sight better than the clothes he'd been wearing which had practically begun to stick to him.

"Once more, unto the breach....?" I asked tentatively, when we were finally ready to go.

[_wes_pryce_]

"No, it's alright," I tell her. Taking a deep breath, I let it out again slowly. I can do this, I'm not that weak, sniffling coward anymore. If I ever was. Did that happened or didn't it? God, I'm getting confused again. Focus, Pryce! "I'm just not used to seeing people anymore...err...or vampires." Or having someone even care remotely about what I think of feel.

Did my former friends care? I don't know, I can't remember them coming by the office. I can imagine why Angel wouldn't come by to see how the betrayer was doing, but what about the rest? Cordelia? She was back alive as well, what did she remember? Why hasn't she come to see me? Gunn, Lorne...Fred. No, not Fred. Fred isn't there anymore. Or ever. I just don't know.

I looked up startled as Lilah nudged me and held out some clothes. Where had those come from? Oh right, she had ordered them. As well as food. Food? I can't even remember the last time I ate something. I can remember the last time I had tea though.

"I'm sorry, Wes. I-I can't do this."

She ran away from me then. I still don't know why. No, that's a lie, I do know. "I frighten myself sometimes." I scared her away.

Mustering up a smile for her, and I really don't know if its a weak one or not, I put on the clothes she's gotten me. It hurts to smile. When was the last time I smiled? When was the last time I had reason to smile? Not in this life, that's for certain. And a very long time ago in any of my other lives.

Blinking, I glance into the mirror. I look horrible, I can't help but wince at my appearance. But at least the clothes will look nice. Lilah always did have impeccable taste. I've always thought Cordelia admired her for that secretly. At least she wont be able to mock me about these. If I ever do speak to her. Does she even want to talk to me?

Breakfast is...breakfast. I'm not very hungry. I never was, not matter what version of my life. At least some things never change. That's good to know, I only wished other things didn't change as well. Both Lilah and myself have changed though, again, I might add. But somehow we're still the same deep underneath all those layers. We already what was hiding there, we just never admitted to knowing it to one another.

Finally done, I nod at Lilah. "Let's go face the world again, shall we?" Taking another deep breath I will my nerves to calm down. Time to get back to the real world. Or at least this version of it. I wonder how long it's going to last this time.

I wonder how long I'm going to last this time.