"Bloody hell!" Wesley looked out at the pouring rain, then down at the very expensive, very old, very rare book in his hand. He nearly stumbled out from under the restaurant's awning when Xander bumped into him.

"What's with the stoppage?" Xander asked, reaching out to steady Wesley with a firm grip on his shoulder.

"Rain," Wes replied, an edge to his voice.

"London," Xander said, his tone suggesting that the comment explained everything about everything. He reached up to adjust his patch and stepped back, putting a little more space between his front and Wes' back.

"We need to return to Wolfram and Hart," Wesley said. "Angel needs this volume."

"Umbrella?" Xander asked.

"No," Wes said.

"Some Boy Scout you are."

They stood looking at the rain for a moment. Xander reached out, and smiled when Wesley reflexively hugged the book to his chest.

"I'll put it under my coat," Xander said. "You aren't wearing one."

Wes slowly handed the book over. "Why are you wearing one?" he asked. "It's not cold."

Xander tucked the book beneath his shirt for extra protection, and shivered a little when the clammy leather touched his skin. "London is always cold, compared to Africa. I deeply dread winter."

Wes nodded, and they didn't speak as they hurried the two blocks to Wolfram and Hart. Wes led Xander to his office and reached out a hand. Xander stripped off his coat and hung it on the outstretched fingers.

"The book, Xander," Wes said.

Xander kept one arm crossed over the lump under his shirt, grinning at Wesley's stern look. "What's it worth to ya?"

Wes let Xander's rain-dappled jacket fall to the floor as he reached out again.

Xander danced away, laughing happily as Wes tried to crowd him. He gasped when he found himself being pushed against the wall. He moaned when he felt warm hands digging under his shirt. One pulled the book out, but the other stayed, fingertips resting lightly in the indentations between his ribs. Those fingers rubbed gently as Wes leaned in, and tightened when Xander met him in a tentative kiss. Neither noticed the book thudding to the floor.