Title: Not David Cassidy

Author: Syn

Content: Fred/Lorne

Spoilers: None

Archive: Take it, spread the love.

Summary: Lorne thinks about singing, the Partridge Family, Fred and moving on.

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me, and I think we all know that.

Setting: Season Three, around Couplet

My Notes: Yeah...Fred/Lorne. I don't know why I'm fascinated by it and I don't really want to noodle it out. It just IS, ya know? This is my first semi-shipper story for them (if you don't count Your Enemies Closer) and it's short, weird and integrates canon. Blah, screw canon! And a special sarcastic thanks to my dad on this one. Don't ask.

I don't know when it started, exactly. Probably from day one, knowing me. Lord knows though, I didn't have a clue until they started dating. Yeah...they're dating and I'm feeling something less than thrilled about it. But I know she's happy; any moron can see that. The fact that my unique gifts are strangely in tune with her right now doesn't help. Her aura is screaming "IN LOVE" in bright red letters and I can't help but flinch whenever I look at her.

Fact is, I saw this coming a mile away and I didn't do anything about it. I didn't even warn Wesley, who I knew had a thing for her. There really wasn't anything I could do so I didn't fight for her. I mean, I couldn't fight for her if I didn't even know I liked (loved?) her...right? I wish I had though, but she loves him and that's that. And it's slowly driving me insane.

Sitting behind the lobby counter, I pour a glass of something alcoholic, not really looking and not really caring what it is exactly. She's sitting not more than twenty feet from where I am, cuddled against his side, her face inches from his. The air around them is charged, setting my hair to stand on end. Oh yeah...she's got it bad and I'm about to die.

Her laughter bubbles up out of her throat like tinkling bells, ripping through the air and jabbing me right in the ass. Er...right in the heart in my ass. Attempting to dull the pain, I down the shot in my hand and grimace. The amber liquid burns it's way down my throat and I wish, not for the first time, that I could get drunk.

"Whoa there, Lorne! Slow down! It's not even noon yet." Gunn's voice calls across the lobby, his hand nestled snugly in hers. I flash him a fake smile and pour another one.

"There something to celebrate?" Her voice rips right through me.

"No there isn't Fred girl." I respond and watch as her brown eyes darken and the corners of her mouth twist down into a frown. "Just opening my throat up. Thought I might sing a little today."

"Oooo...watcha singin'?"

I want to say something angsty and heartbroken, but I just smile and shrug my shoulders, the expensive silk jacket on my frame rustling.

"I don't know. Maybe something upbeat. Any suggestions, sweetheart?" Damn, how did that slip in? She doesn't notice it though and neither does he; I guess they're used to the throwaway endearments from me. Which could be part of my problem...

"How about some Devo?"

One brow arches in Gunn's direction and Fred giggles over at him.

"Umm...no." I respond, taking another fiery drink. "I was thinking of something more...seventies. Not new wave."

"Seventies....how about some Cat Stevens?" Off our looks, he shrugs. "Wes likes him."

"Oh. Well...I need something more upbeat."

"Gloria Gaynor?"

"Not in the mood."

"Creedence? Kool and the Gang?" I shake my head at all the suggestions Gunn throws at me. Fred hasn't said anything and I look over at her, leaning forward against the counter. "Anything you want to hear, sweets? I'll sing it just for you."

This doesn't even phase her OR him and that irks me. He should at least be jealous, right? It's like they don't even see me.

"Hmm...Oh!! Keith!"

"Keith?" Gunn and I both echo at the same time, confused.

"Partridge! He's such a good singer!"

"You mean David Cassidy don't you sweetie?" I suggest, smiling at her as she wrinkles her nose.

"No, Keith sang that one song on the show..."

"Yeah, but the guy's real name was David Cassidy."

"Really? I thought he was actually named Keith...that's weird..."

"What is?" Gunn asks her, leaning back against the sofa cushions. I can see all those wonderful gears inside Fred's head whirring and moving much faster than we can even comprehend. Her eyes take on this I-need-to-know-it-all tint and I suddenly want to touch her forehead to feel the heat of her brain on my fingertips.

"Oh, I was just thinking that Keith sang it on the show and David sang it in real life too. So what's the difference between them?"

"One's a character and one's a real person?" Gunn offers her as I put the bottle of whiskey away. I hold my tongue. I know the difference between them too. In real life, David could flirt with 'Laurie', but Keith couldn't on the show. Hell, David could just have anyone, he was that cool. I mean, what did Keith have? He travelled around on a bus with his mom and siblings. That wasn't cool!

Nope, David definitely had the better gig.

"Good point. Still...I used to watch that show all the time and I had the biggest crush on Keith. Er...David. What's that one song they did?"

"I think I love you." I say bluntly before I can stop myself. Crap...

"Yeah! That's the one! Would you sing that? I really want to hear it.." She glances slyly over at Gunn and he grins at her, his fingers lightly touching the ends of her long brown hair.

It takes me a second to find my voice again. "I can't. I can't sing that."

"Oh...umm...okay." Fred says, the frown returning. I must look pretty pained because she untangles her legs from Gunn and walks over to me. "You okay Lorne?"

I look up into those vast brown eyes and can't help but smile. She really is beautiful and not in the way that would make most men or demons melt into a puddle on the floor. There's just something about her, something inside that manages to shine through and grab you around the heart and squeeze.

"I'm fine, Fred. Actually, I think I'm gonna go check on Connor. You two have...have fun."

With that I leave her standing there, the feel of her eyes on my retreating, cowardly back. I can't look back because if I do, I have a feeling she's gonna see it in my eyes. She knows my kind as well as I do and I know she can read me if she wants to.

And despite the fact that I feel...whatever I feel for her, I can't let her know. She's in love and it's not with me. I don't blame her really; would you love a demon from the place you refer to as hell? I know I wouldn't. Still, I gotta wonder how Gunn got so lucky and why Wesley and I were left with the short end of the stick. Luck of the draw or fate?

Screw it, I never believed in fate anyway.

Maybe I will sing today. I don't know. Maybe I'll just move out of here and go to Las Vegas or something. They don't really need me and I'm just the butler/babysitter around here. Nothing more, nothing less. Yeah...maybe I'll do that.

Maybe.

Right after I sing along with Keith Partridge, wishing I were David Cassidy. At least he could have all the chicks, even Laurie. Er...Susan, I mean.

(end)