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Caution: Extremely mushy. Grotesquely mushy. I can't believe I wrote this.
But I was in the mood, and I was thinking how I didn't like the way the
whole "I love you" thing happened in Excalibur #103, so I did a little...
revising. Sure I love Warren Ellis' work just as much as the next Excalibur
addict, I just thought it happened too fast. The way Wisdom looked at Brian
in #101 gave me sort of a little reaction like: "uh-oh, there's something
wrong with him that he can't say it." It was in front of everyone. Sure, the
whole "He fell for it" was cute, but I thought it should have been a private
little thing. LeeLee's ranting now. This is a bad thing. GET ON WITH IT!!!

Disclaimer: Excalibur is Marvel's, Johnny Constantine is DC/Vertigo's. No
money involved. Especially since I don't have any (I splurged and got comics
@college park. I give it a thumbs up. BIG selection). Feedback is very
exceedingly welcome, if you are so kind.

Three Words

"Three words, Pete, thass it. Three words."

"John, you have no idea wot yer talkin' about."

"Yes, you're right. I'm just tryin' ta make ya get the balls ta tell 'er."

Pete Wisdom paced around John Constantine's flat.  "I can't tell 'er that."

"You do love 'er, right?" asked John, who was sitting on his couch, smoking
a cigarette.

"Fuck, yeah," Pete squeaked.

"So, wot's the damn problem? Three words." John got up, holding out three
fingers.

"Three meaningful words. The last time I said them was the day before me mum
died, you know that." Pete took another drag off his cigarette.

"I know. Just think o' this, Pete: I never got to say them."

"Shit, John, I'm sorry." John shook his head.

"Not yer fault. Just don't talk 'bout that." He then turned back to the
problem at hand. "If you don't tell 'er now, you'll lose her."

"I don't know if it's possible fer me ta tell her," said Pete.

"I don't give a rat's fuckin' arse," John replied. "Yer gonna tell 'er, or
I'm gonna send you inta hell, and leave you there. God knows if you don't
tell 'er you might wind up there anyway."

"I can't do it."

"Pete, yer gonna have to."

"I know I have to," Pete said. "I want to, but I don't know if I can get
it out."

"Do it. Just say it."

"I'll try," Pete said. "Ya think you could help me?"

"This is somethin' ya gotta do on yer own mate."

The next day...

Pete Wisdom walked through the rainy streets of London. He had no idea why.
He just needed a walk. He sighed, and lit up a cigarette.

"Hey, stranger. What's a guy like you doin' walking around in a storm like
this?" 

Pete stopped dead in his tracks.  

"Kitty?"

"No. The boogie man," she replied sarcastically. Pete sighed and turned
around to face her.

"How did you find me?"

Kitty smiled. "You left the address to your friend's place sitting on the
kitchen table," she replied. "I was on my way over there, but as luck would
have it I found you easier than expected. Why'd you run off to London all of
the sudden?"  

Pete scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I uh, I just needed some time ta think."

"About?"

"Us, an' the team an' stuff like that," Pete replied clumsily. 

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "Why us?"

"Cause there's somethin' I gotta tell you," Pete replied. He took the
cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled smoke. "I dunno if I can."

"You know you can tell me anything, Pete," Kitty replied, placing a hand on
his face. Pete sighed.

"Kitty, I... I... luv... you." 

She blinked in surprise and then smiled. She walked closer to Pete and hugged 
him.

"I love you too, ya stupid git." 

Pete gently pulled her away and kissed her.

Three hours later: 

"I hate rain."

"So why were you walking in it, ya big goof?"

"I don't even remember." 

Kurt Wagner and Brian Braddock sat on the couch in the sitting room talking.

"Gutten Tag, Katzchen, Herr Wisdom," he said. "Back from your sojourn down
to London for good, or just stopping by for a visit?"

"Naw, I'm back, Wagner," Pete replied. Brian smirked.

"From the way Kitty is pulling you up the stairs, I'd say so."

Pete pointed to Kitty. "I love her." Kitty looked back.

"Pay no mind to him," she said. "He hasn't stopped saying that since he told
me in London." She yanked Pete the rest of the way up the stairs. 

When the two were out of listening range, Kurt turned to Brian.

"I believe, Herr Braddock, that you owe my ten dollars."

End.