Whatever good feeling vibes had been building up on Cordelia coming back had totally left the room when Fred had to go the route of not everyone. He hadn't been given a lot of time to deal with the death of what had once been his best friend. There was that battle to end all battles about to take place and a sizable wound to the gut that was taking up the forefront of Gunn's mind at the time. Then there was the whole coma, on the verge of death part he liked to call Sleepy Time.
Then he died, and only woke up just in time to realize he'd already been buried. Without a soul, things like remembering Wes didn't come easy. Seeing it written on Fred's face made it more of a reality.
Lifting his hands, ready to comfort her though he wasn't quite sure how, Gunn stood awkwardly still for a second while she excused herself. Then Veronica had to ask him how he felt. Hungry. "Up until just a second ago, I would have said good. Better than. Not so sure right now." Turning to give her his full attention for the first time, he couldn't help himself when it came to sizing her up.
I'd let you kick my ass any day of the week, girl. "Fred's got the kind of power to make it seem like the world's stopped turning when she's upset. And her an' Wes . . . so, where are you from, Veronica?"