Disclaimer: Joss is God, Joss is King, Joss our Lord owns everything!
Notes: I'm German, so sorry if there are any mistakes :( .
2 Note: Cologne is reachable from Maastricht in one hour. It's where I come from! :) !
Dedication: To Sara-Lee, Ryan, Joana, Jo, Anna, Leisa, Ashley, Doc, Lisette, Sarah, Heather, Christy, Nimisha, Elizabeth, Kasiya, Blaze, Jenn, Lindsay, Peter, Patti, Crystal and of course my sweet Eva. Thank you, guys. And sorry if I forgot anyone :( .

They had just passed the `Willkommen in Deutschland' sign. They were on their way to Cologne.

It was the last day of their vacation and since they'd already seen everything in Maastricht they'd decided to visit the former Roman capital.

"You know- They have the Cinedom, Aqualand, Phantasialand, Cologne Cathedral, Rhine river, Zoo, Botanical Garden, Museums, old Roman walls, Philarmonie, old churches. the only chocolate Museum of Europe ." Willow said.

"Oooooh, Chocolate!" Xander beamed.

They'd drawn lots anew. It was Xander's idea, but it didn't bring him everything, he drew himself in Angel's car a second time. Besides Buffy, Angel and Xander there were now also Willow and Anya in their car.

"And tonight, there's the zoo night!" Willow chirped.

"Sorry, but `Huh'?" Buffy asked from the passenger seat.

"The Zoo Night, the only night you can be in the Zoo and the Flora, that's the Botanical Garden, at night! They have some serious cool acts!" Willow explained.

"Sounds good, we go there?" Buffy chirped brightly.

"What ever you want, my love" Angel smiled over at her.

"Keep your eyes on the street, Dead Boy. HEY! WAIT. But we go to that chocolate museum, too, don't we??"

"Yeah, Yeah" Willow replied half heartedly, she was reading a city guide of Cologne.

Anya suddenly looked back and forth confused. "Angel, that would have been our drive out."

*~*~*

They were all standing infront of the Cologne Cathedral and looked up impressed.

"Wow. That's one of a big church!" Xander commented.

"Y-you can c-climb on top!" Tara smiled.

"509 stairs" Angel said. "And in the basement are the remains of the church that was here, before. They simply built it over the old one in 1248 and weren't able to finish it until 1880."

"Remember what I told you about the history book thing?" Buffy teased her husband.

Angel pulled her tighter to his chest. "But I also know that this." He turned 90° and pointed the beginning of a crowded street. ". is one of the best shopping streets you can find in Germany."

She squealed happily and grinned up at him. "Well, I like that one! You pay??"

"Ooooh, shopping!" Cordy shouted excited.

"NO! Bloody Hell, not again!"

"Yes, man. I can't that any longer."

"Who is for shopping?" Dawn asked into the gang and rased her hand.

Five female hands soon followed Dawn's into the air.

"HA! 6 to 4! SHOPPING!!!" Cordy chirped and headed into `Hohestraße'.

*~*~*

"Was kann ich ihnen bringen?" // What can I bring to you?// The waiter asked.

"Vier Kölsch, eine Kölsch-Cola, zwei Apfelschorlen, drei Colas und eine Fanta, bitte" Angel replied.

"What's a `Kölsch', anyway?" Cordy asked.

"A German beer from Cologne, ya know- like Irish Guiness!" Spike explained to her.

The waiter soon came back with the four Kölsch, one Kölsch-Coke, three Cokes, one lemonade and the two applejuices mixed with soda (Sorry, but guys have no word for `Apfelschorle' in your language.)

"I still can't believe my boyfriend can speak nearly every language." Buffy mumbled, playing footsy with her honey under the table.

Dawn only rolled her eyes and made her `not-again' grimace.

"But `Miss Sixty' was a wonderful shop. They have EVERYTHING!" Cordy dreamed.

"What are girls having with shopping?" Gunn wondered aloud.

"Well, you buy stuff, then you wear it one single time and buy some more and then you let everyone see how beautiful you look in them and your ego grows and grows and then you are Cordelia and." Xander mocked until he got slapped on the arm by said person.

"Very funny" She replied sarcastically, the she spotted something behind Xander, jumped up and ran towards it.

Only a few moments later she came back with three lighting necklaces and handed two to Buffy and Dawn.

"Cool" Dawn remarked.

"Good, Huh?" Cordy said. "They glow in the dark. Very bright in all rainbow neon colors!" She chirped.

"My god, please tell me you're NOT gonna wear this tonight" Gunn yelped.

"We are" They all said unison.

*~*~*

All that could be seen of the gang in the night were three glowing necklaces.

It was awesome. The Flora itself was beautiful all along with all the flowers, lakes, exotic trees and wells, but at night it was simply amazing. All the wells were beamed on in all colors and the lakes were on fire; the water was burning!

On the biggest lake was a pianist playing on a white concert grand piano on the flaming water.

"My God, how cool is that?" Dawn yelped excited.

Gunn, Cordy, Willow and Tara had been at the apes' house while Buffy and Angel had gone to see the sleepin' tiger. Dawn, Spike, Xander and Anya remained at the water and waited for the others to come back. *Somehow* they lost Buffy and Angel.

"Well, somehow I can guess what they're doing right now" Gunn grinned.

"God, can't they wait till we're at home? Cordy cursed, the two obviously were getting on her nerves. "Where are they, yet again?"

They strolled along outside the now closed Zoo, searching for the couple. They needed nearly half an hour to notice a certain glowing necklace strolling along the Rhine. But the two didn't notice any of the yelling from the others. They were lost in their own little universe.

It was beautiful. The Cologne Cathedral was beamed on and the stars and moon were shining on the water.

Really, it was perfect. The perfect way to end such a perfect vacation.

Go to the next story Just a Cold

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