Title: Sunshine.

Author: quew

Disclaimer: Whedon, Whedon. Mutant Enemy, whoever else. They all own them, I don't.

Rating: PG

Notes: Fluff, pure and simple.

#

'Hello, Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless.' Cordelia thought she'd grown out of using that phrase, but it passed from her unthinkingly as she answered the phone.

Unfortunately, whoever had phoned also thought the phrase should be retired as the dial tone buzzed sharply in her ear.

'Whatcha doing?' Fred asked, ambling in.

'Paperwork. God I hate paperwork!' Cordy growled.

'Can I help?' The other woman asked. Fred was wearing a light, brightly coloured hooded top and tight jeans. Cordy shook her head.

'That's sweet, but I'm sure you could find something way more interesting to do. It's a nice day. The sun doesn't go down for a few hours…why don't you go for a walk or something? This place can get oppressive.'

'I suppose I could…' Fred gave a hesitant shrug. 'I mean, is there anything you need? An errand or something?'

'No, no Fred, I meant-' Cordy stopped mid-sentence as she turned to look at Fred, seeing the fear and hesitance expressed on the other woman's face. 'Ye-es,' she corrected herself slowly, seeing a little smile play on Fred's face. 'I could use some…ice cream?'

'I can get ice cream!' The slighter woman exclaimed. 'I bet if I packed one of those refrigerated bags full of ice, and maybe ran or something, they wouldn't melt at all!'

The thought has she been drinking too much coffee again? Flitted briefly through Cordy's mind as Fred glanced up at her, mouth working a mile a minute and eyes shining brightly.

She tuned back in in time to hear, 'and the flavours wouldn't mix, you could have as many different scoops as you want!'

Gently she took Fred's elbow and led her to the door.

'Will you be alright?' She asked softly, stopping the other girl's speech.

Fred seemed suddenly shy as they approached the sunlit courtyard's doors. 'I…I guess so. But how will I know what flavour to get you? You haven't told me, and I might get it wrong!'

Cordelia opened her mouth to say that she could tell her now, or in fact that anything Fred got would be fine and not in the least wrong. Instead, she looked at the empty reception and the mountains of paperwork there-in, and then the sunlit courtyard, warm and inviting.

Finally, her eyes settled on the young woman beside her. Fred's hair was messy, strands hanging out at odd angles, and Cordelia had to repress an urge to reach out and smooth it down, saying that Fred could style it any way she wanted.

She wanted Fred to be trendy…To have a chance at fitting in, maybe. But, at the same time, she admired the crazy physicist, who didn't worry so much about things like hair and make-up, and still came out looking…beautiful. In Cordy's mind, there was no other word for it.

She felt her mouth open and heard herself say, 'You know what, you might get it wrong. I'd better come with you just in case.' She slipped her arm through Fred's, and immediately the other woman looked happier…more confident, even, if such a word could ever be used to describe the reclusive woman.

'And anyway,' she added, smiling at the woman on her arm. 'It'll be fun.'