Once her tears subsided, Spike and Amalia laid together in silence as the sun completed its journey into the sky.  The only sounds were Willow's gentle snores and Amalia's soft, even breathing while the vampire held his lover firmly in his arms.

    'I would do anything for you, Amalia,' he told himself.  'If I could keep whatever transformation from claiming you, I would.  I don't want to see you nor Willow suffer.  You've done nothing to deserve it.  Hell, Willow is one of the purest souls I've encountered in over two centuries.  And you, hells below, after only two days of being with you, I know just how amazing you are.  How loving and beautiful and intelligent.  How a creature like me happened to be blessed with the two of you is beyond my comprehension..........more pouffy thoughts,' he thought with irritation. 'Great.  But at least I can see the truth in them, pouf-like or not.' he realized with a slight smile on his lips.

    At that moment the clock next to he bed turned to seven o'clock and Amalia loosed herself from his arms.  Without a glance or acknowledgment to the man in her bed, she got up and began to dress.

    "Malia, what are you doing up?" he asked worriedly.  "Come back to bed and get some rest.  Please," he implored.

    "I've got work to do, Spike," she replied tonelessly.

    "Kitten, research can--"

    "No, Spike.  Work.  What I came to the Hellmouth to do.  My non-demonic job.  My one outlet that has nothing to do with the underworld.  I have books to shelve," she added a little shrilly.

    The vampire climbed out of bed and faced her.  "Amalia, pet, you need to rest.  You have been through a terrible ordeal.  You're in no shape to work a full day."  He looked upon her ghostly pallor and the dark circles bruising the flesh beneath her eyes.  "Please come back to bed, Flame.  We need you to be strong."

    "He's right, Malia."

    The vampire and the dark tressed woman, with a start, brought their attention to the voice coming form the bed.  Willow laid there, her eyes full of sleep and worry, gazing upon the two she was bonded with.  She had awakened once Amalia left the bed, missing the warmth of her lover's body near her own.

    "Rest is what you need."

    Amalia's eyes took on a desperate, frenzied glimmer.  "Y-you don't understand," she began, almost hysterically, "I have to go, 'cause Reed might
get my job, and I have people to train, and I have to go....they're counting on me.  And I have to forget," she sobbed, crumpling to the floor.  "I have to forget how wonderful I felt as I drank the life of another being. I have to forget," she ended in a soft whimper.  "Have to."

    Willow watched in anguish and Spike dropped to his knees to take their lover into his arms, cradling her as she shed more tears. 'Gods, Goddesses, what is happening to her, to us?  Please give us your aid, I implore you.' As the witch finished her silent prayer, the phone rang.  She scrambled to the next room the answer, in case it was any of the Scoobies.

    "Summers residence."

    "Yes, hello, may I please speak to Amalia Summers?"

    "Um, I'm sorry, but she's ill right now and in no condition to take your call.  May I take a message?"

    "Oh, yes, of course.  This is Carol from Borders.  I've been trying to contact her for days and I was able to procure this number as her current
residence.  Anyway, I'm calling to tell her that the Sunnydale preparation has been canceled indefinitely.  Due to faulty wiring, there was a fire and
parts of the store were severely damaged.  We'll contact Amalia once a new assignment opens.  And please tell her that I hope she feels better soon," Carol added in a warm, non-businesslike tone.  "We all adore her here."

    "Yes, ma'am.  I'll be sure to tell her."

    "Thank you, dear.  And your name is?"

    "Willow.  I'm her roommate in Sunnydale."

    "Thank you again, Willow."

    The witch hung up with the rep from Borders and sighed.  'I thank you for your help.  I didn't realize it would be so speedy,' she added with a slight grin.  'At least Amalia will be able to rest without guilt pertaining to her other life.'

    Willow returned to the bedroom that she had shared with her lovers. Spike was still cradling the not-so-hysterical Amalia in his arms, holding
her tightly to him.  She knelt before them and stroked Amalia's hair from her face.

    "Malia, honey, that was Carol from Borders on the phone.  It seems that the store isn't quite as ready as they thought and work has been put on hold for a bit.  Now you can rest with no worries, OK, and she sends her best wishes to you."

    Amalia turned in Spike's arms so she could bestow a small smile upon the witch.  "I adore Carol.  She's my at-work-mother," she relied softly.  "I
guess I should get some sleep now," she admitted.  "I-I'm sorry that I freaked out just now," she whispered while avoiding Spike and Willow's eyes.
"I'm just really, really scared."

    Willow wrapped her arms around Spike and Amalia.  "I know, Amalia, I know.  So are we, but we're here for you, and each other, so we're gonna be fine."  She kissed Amalia's damp cheek.  "Just fine."
 

(Part 32)

    Once more Spike and Willow sat watch over their third.  Once the news about the Sunnydale Borders had arrived, she calmed down a great deal. Amalia protested none as Spike laid her in bed and tucked the blankets about her.

    "Sleep, kitten," he murmured as he kissed her lovingly on the cheek. "Red and I are here, so fear no more."

    Amalia brought a hand up so she could stroke the angled plains of his face.  "Thank you, Spike," she whispered as sleep began to claim her.  "And Willow."  The vampire squeezed her hand and gently laid it at her side.  His lover had finally fallen into a deep sleep.

    Spike and Willow curled up in the easy chair next to the bed, their eyes on Amalia.  Spike was the one to break the silence.

    "We have to call the watcher."

    Willow gazed at him in surprise.  "You willingly want to talk to Giles?"

    "We have no choice, Red."  He rested his eyes on Amalia's sleeping form. "Ugh, God, the Big Bad admitting he needs the help of a bloody watcher," he whined.  "I bet the slayer would love this."

    "Spike, face it, you're right. We do need Giles.  We need his guidance. The man's been deciphering prophecy since he was in his teens.  I may have the research skills, and you have the beating demons up for info skills, but we need more than that if we're gonna be able to find out what's happening with Amalia.  And each other."

    Silence claimed the two once more as they succumbed to their thoughts.

~*~*~*~

    "Time to wake up, Malia.  I'm sorry that I had to leave you so soon last time, but I'm here now."

    For the second time in the span of 48 hours, Amalia Summers heard her mother's voice.  The young woman opened her eyes as saw that she was no longer in her aunt's home.  She was in a place she never thought she'd be again.  The garden outside the house she had grown up in.  The place she had lived before Gabriel left them.  The home where everything was perfect.  Her life was no longer perfect.  And she missed that.

    Sarah sat amongst the daisies and tulips, the sun catching on her long auburn hair.  'The hair she lost once the chemo started.'  Amalia angrily
wiped at a tear before it could leave her eye.

    "Don't be so sad, honey," Sarah asked of the daughter standing before her.  "It was my time to go.  I had a wonderful life.  I have a beautiful
daughter that brings me more joy than I ever deserved, I found my true love, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I had on this earth.  Not too many people can boast that."

    "I just miss you, Mom," she stated, sitting next to her in the flowers. "And I'm scared.  I've never been this afraid in my life.  I don't know if
you know about this, but my last assignment for the family was in Dublin, at the same time I was working at the bookstore.  In that time I faced an entire clan of vampires so I could retrieve the Book of Vigeous, the writings of patron saint of vampires.  I almost didn't make it out alive, but I wasn't afraid.  Because I knew that if I fell, there would be another to take over for me.  I had the whole family at my back.  Here, it's just me and Spike and Willow.  And we don't know what the hell is going on.  I left my bed last night and drained a vampire, Mama.  Did you know that?  Somehow Spike's demon has become a part of me.  And He's been all sensitive like Willow.  And if Willow has changed any, I don't know yet.  There are three people, confused as hell, on the Hellmouth that are supposed to save the world.  At least when I was working for the family my missions were always cut and dry--go to said location, retrieve said object.  Just don't get killed in the meantime.  And I haven't.

    "After only a year of training and schooling, I was deemed fit to begin the fight.  And I managed to find and keep a job that has kept me on the
normal level.  All of that's changing now, Mom.  My life is changing yet again and it's scares the living hell out of me."

    With a sigh, Amalia ended her rant and glanced at her mother.  Sarah had a smile on her face that could light up a city.  'My daughter.  I couldn't love her more or be more proud of her.  I just wish she could share my faith.'

    "I know you're scared, baby doll.  You have every right to be.  I know you're confused.  After all, no one's given you that much to go on.  Have you told Willow about the Scroll of Aberjian yet?"

    Malia looked away.  "Um, er, no.  My brain hasn't been as clear as I'd like it to be.  I haven't told her about that detail."

    "Start there, Malia.  Willow is an amazing researcher.  She's helped thwart many an evil in her time assisting your cousin.  You also need to
contact Gabe again.  He's had a little time to absorb the situation.  He needs to know about your transformation last night."

    Amalia looked at her mother in surprise.  "You're so calm about this, Mom.  I killed a demon with my bare hands, and um, teeth, and you act as if it's just another day."

    "Amalia, it is another day.  On the Hellmouth.  And of course I'm calm. I have faith in you.  You're intelligent, strong, and I've seen you kick
plenty of demon ass in the last three years.  I was there when you faced the Dublin vampire clan," she grinned.  "You weren't alone.  I'm there in all of your battles, no matter how big nor small."  Sarah enveloped her daughter in her embrace.  "You are never alone, my daughter.  The Powers That Be have allowed me to be an active part of your life, even now.  Especially now.  And now it is time for me to go, and for you to wake and give your lovers a big juicy kiss in thanks for taking such good care of you last night."

    Sarah plucked a daisy from the ground and stuck it behind Amalia's ear. "I love you, honey.  And I keep my faith in you in my heart.  Always."

    Once again Amalia watched as her mother disappeared from sight and sighed.  "I love you too, Mom."

    But she didn't cry this time.  Instead, she smiled, instrinctively knowing that she would see her mother again.  And she thanked the Powers That Be from the bottom of her heart.
 

(Part 33)

    Amalia woke up as the sun began is descent from the clouds, signaling the end of another day and the beginning of another night.  In the haze of her first few moments of consciousness, she could hear distantly hear voices in animated conversation.

    "Who's here, Spike?" she asked the vampire sitting quietly at her side.

    "How'd y--"

    "I'd say that I can feel your presence, but, well, that's not quite true. I just knew that you wouldn't leave me alone right now.  That, and that
you're not the type to entertain guests."

    She rolled over to face the haggard looking man who had watched over her all day.

    "It's the Scoobies, kitten," he answered tiredly.  "Xander and Anya. Willow called them this afternoon."

    "Is she telling them about, er, last night?" the young woman asked quietly.  'Great.  Just what I need, for Buffy's friends to think I'm a blood
sucking freak......wait, that's the title of a horror flick......er, off-topic, back to matters at hand.'

    "She is, love.  Does that bother you?"

    Amalia curled up in a little ball and gazed at her vampire with wide, fearful eyes.  He couldn't believe how strong and certain she could be one
moment and shy and innocent the next.

    "I guess since they know everything else, they should know that too," she admitted in a hushed voice.  "I'm just used to such secrecy in my work.  I speak with those affiliated with the House and the House only."

    "Well, love," Spike explained, "just think of Willow's friends as contemporaries of the Dragonetti's. They're a family in their own right and
completely trustworthy."

    Spike paused and took a moment to study the young woman before him.  The circles under her eyes weren't quite as prominent as they had been and the slightly crazed look in her eyes had diminished greatly.  "How do you feel, Malia?" he asked gently, all thoughts of the Scoobies aside.

    Amalia stretched languidly and yawned and with a small smile she climbed into Spike's lap and let him cradle her to his chest.  She rested her head against the vampire's firm pecs and relished in the comfort she found in his embrace.

    Spike adored the way Amalia practically purred as he held her, knowing that at least that at that moment she felt safe, that she could feel at ease in his arms.  His lover sighed and stroked his arm absentmindedly.  He tightened his hold on her in response.

    "I'm still scared shitless, Blondie, that's a complete given, but I'm a bit calmer than I was in the wee hours of this morning."

    "I'm glad to hear that, pet, the calm bit, that is.  As for the scared shitless," he added with a trademark Spike smirk, "so are we all."  He looked
down to see her gazing up at him with a brilliant smile.  "What's got you smiling all sudden-like, kitten?"

    "You," she answered simply just before laying a big, juicy kiss on his lips.  "You make me smile."

    Spike responded by claiming her lips gently, but firmly, lovingly seeking and gaining entrance to the warm depths of her mouth by means of soft bites and strokes of his tongue.  When he could feel her need to breathe become as issue, he released her lips and gave her a smile of his own.

~*~*~*~

       "We have to talk to Giles," Xander stated emphatically once Willow finished telling he and Anya what had transpired since they had seen each other last.

    "And I agree with ya one hundred percent."

    Willow, Xander, and Anya's attentions all snapped to the voice from that came from the stairs.  Spike was leading Amalia down the stairs, her arm wrapped around his due to the weakness she was still feeling.  The vampire walked her over to Willow and released his hold on her so she could take a seat next to the witch.  He situated himself at their feet and lit up a cigarette.  Amalia was practically drooling once she caught a whiff of the tobacco.

    "And before I say anything else, gimmie a cigarette, Blondie," she begged.  "I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd had one."

    "Wills, I didn't think you liked smokers," Xander remarked absently as he watched Spike light a cigarette for Malia.  The dark haired woman inhaled blissfully, reveling in the tobacco burning down her throat.

        "Normally I don't," the redhead sighed.  "I just seem to be taking exception for these two."

        "And we appreciate it, darlin," Amalia replied with a little grin for her witch.  "And now that I have my nic-fix going on, we can discuss other
matters.  Like my sudden blood-sucking-freak issues, for exmple."

        Spike looked at her in surprise.  "You seem to be dealing with your 'issues' a tad better now, kitten."

        "Oh yeah.  She's way better right now.  She's feeling some peace at this moment, when earlier she had none.  Her brain was all scattered with the shock and all......why are you looking at me like--oh dear."

        Spike and Amalia stared at Willow with shock apparent in their eyes. The witch herself slapped a hand over her mouth,  green eyes growing wide when she realized what she had just said, what she had just done.  'Oh my, oh gods, goddesses, oh my word..........'

        "I feel your emotions," she gasped.

        Spike just smirked.  'Like at this point anything should still surprise us.'

        "So who's got the watcher's number?" he asked offhandedly.

~*~*~*~

        "Do I have to?"

        "Well, I'm not calling him."

        "Oh, no, don't look at me--"

        "Bloody hell, children, don't even think that I'm going to break this to the bloke."

        Amalia glared at her compatriots.  They four of them all looked like frightened little kids.  And they were glancing from her to the waiting
telephone and back to her once more.

         "Hold up, kids," she stated firmly.  "I don't even know this dude and you're not so subtly suggesting that I inform him that two of his, er,
friends--"

         "Only one," Anya interrupted.

         "Only one what?"

         "Only one friend.  Giles doesn't care much for Spike," the former demon explained.

         Xander unsuccessfully stifled a snort.  "Neither do the rest of us."

         The comment earned him twin growls and glares from both the vampire and Amalia, gestures that chilled him to the bone.  Not because he felt threatened by either of them, but couldn't help but notice the similar light the two pairs of eyes had.  A subtle golden shimmer that he'd seen many times before enter the blue orbs belonging to Spike, letting him know that his demon was always close to the surface.

          Amalia felt her irritation bubble at the boy's disregard for her Warrior, and then back down once she saw his awestricken face.

         "Fuck," the young man breathed, "it's totally true.  You do share the demon."

          Amalia moved as if to back away, but Willow stopped her with a calming hand on her arm.  "It's OK, Malia," she assured her.  "You just kinda spooked Xander."

          "Sorry," Amalia apologized.  "Guess I don't like you poking fun at Blondie," she added sheepishly.  "And it's no secret that he wouldn't like
it."

           "Bloody right, I don't," he spat.  "But back to the matter at hand, children.  Willow can feel Malia's emotions, Malia's sharing my demon
for the time being.  We got any more bombs to drop on the old man?"

            "No, I think that's bomb enough for him," Willow answered nervously.  "So who's gonna do the deed?"  Anya sighed and picked up the
phone.

             "Fine.  I'll do it."  A thought popped into her head just as she began dialing Olivia's number.  "What time is it in London right now?"

              Amalia glanced at her watch and did some quick math in her head.  "About one in the morning.  Probably too late to call, eh?"

             "No, not that.  It's just that he and his girlfriend are most likely having sex right now."
 

(Part 34)
 

    The Scoobies, Spike, and Amalia sat about the living room while
Anya, as
tactfully as possible--well, as tactfully as the Scoobies expected
her
to--recount to story to the watcher.
    The entire story.  She seemed to have forgotten that she wasn't
supposed
to mention any sex, anything to do with sex among the three to the
watcher.
She could talk about Amalia's bloodsucking status, Spike's calm, and
Willow's
ability to read Malia's emotions, but not sex.  But, oh yeah.  She
decided to
tell Giles anyway.  The one thing she did leave out was Amalia's
family, for
which she was grateful.  There would be plenty of time to discuss
that
once
the watcher arrived.
    Willow and Xander sat on the couch blushing furiously while Anya
spoke
nonchalantly about the menage et tois that had been formed.  Spike
and
Amalia
shared a seat on an oversized plush chair, grinning at their
discomfort.  The
ex-demon rolled her eyes, waiting for the watcher to finish
stuttering
so she
could finish her story.  But that's when the shouting began.
    "Bloody hell, woman!  You're telling me this now?  Why the hell
was
I not
called as soon all this happened?  What were you all thinking?!  I
should
bloody fu--"
    'And why did I agree to be the one to tell him?  Oh, yeah.  I
apparently
seem to have bigger balls than the rest of them despite the fact that
I'm a
woman," Anya thought bitterly. She yanked the phone from her hear to
save it
from any more of the watcher's bellowing.  Willow stood and grabbed
the
phone
from Anya once they entire room could hear his rant, wincing as she
got
an
earful of the tirade.
    "Giles?" she began cautiously.
    "For heaven's sake, Willow," the watcher sighed, interrupting his
streak
of curses and reprimands, "why did you not speak to me sooner?"
While
the
hacker knew he was angry, she couldn't help but notice the underlying
concern
in his voice.  Even so, she couldn't keep the following words from
leaving
her mouth.
    "Honestly Giles, how anxious do you think I was to say, hey, I'm
having
wild monkey sex with Spike, bonded to him and to Buffy's cousin, and
that
Buffy's cousin is beginning to exhibit vampiric characteristics?"
The
redhead immediately blushed to her roots and hid her face in her
hands.
'I
did not say that, please, let me not have said that too
him..........'
Her
embarrassment was cut short at his reply.
    "All right, I get it.  Please do refrain from anymore references
to, um,
Spike in that nature.  I'll be back in Sunnydale as soon as I can
arrange for
a flight."  Giles shuddered at the imagery her words had evoked and
removed
his glasses, wishing that act would blur the vision in his minds
eye.
'All I
asked for was a quiet summer.  But no.  What do I get?  A
world-in-peril
prophecy involving someone I care for, someone I don't know, and a
vampire
that I'd like to dust right about now.'  His thoughts were
interrupted
as
Willow spoke once more.
    "Giles, I'm so sorry--" Giles winced at the pain in her voice and
cut in.
    "No, Willow, don't be.  You had no idea what was going to
happen.
Don't
feel like this is your fault.  I'll be there soon enough and we'll
sort
this
out.  I just ask that you all be careful until I arrive.  Stay
together
if
you can.  And look after Buffy's cousin, Willow.  If you can, keep
her
from
leaving the house at night, especially by herself," he added.
    "Will do, Giles.  Call when you get a flight so we can pick you
up
from
the airport."
    "Indeed, Willow.  Please do take care," the watcher wished her.
    "You too Giles.  Bye."
    The redhead hung up the phone and sank back onto the couch.
    "He'll be as soon as he can get a flight back to the States."
    Amalia glanced up and shook her head.
    "Call him back.  I'll have a plane waiting for him at Heathrow as
soon he
wishes to leave."
    No one questioned her statement.  The authority in her voice, her
assertiveness spoke for themselves.  If she said that she would have
a
plane
for him, she would.
    Just before Willow hit redial to call Giles once more, she turned
to Anya.
    "Anya, we did ask that you leave out the sex, didn't we?"
 

~*~*~*~
 

    Giles hung up the phone and sank onto the bed he was sharing with
Olivia.
His lover sat up and regarded him.  Just moments ago he was happy
and
relaxed.  Now he his head was in his hands, his back hunched over in
frustration.
    "What happened, Rupert?"
    The watcher turned to his love and shook his head.
    "Too much to go into right now, I'm afraid.  Something has come
up
back
home.  I'm needed immediately," he told her sadly.
    Olivia couldn't keep the disappointment from clouding her
features.
For
months she had looked forward to spending the summer with her friend
and
lover.  'Of course the Hellmouth had to muck that up, didn't it?' she
thought
bitterly.  'Just when will Rupert and I have some peace without
demonic
intervention?'
    "I see."
    Giles couldn't help but flinch at her tone of voice--bitter,
angry,
disappointed.  Just the way he was feeling at that moment.
    "I'm sorry, Olivia.  If there was anyway to avoid this--"
    "You would," she sighed.  "I know that.  If you happen to thwart
this
coming disaster, will you come back to me?"
    "Oh, love," he answered sadly, crawling across the bed to take
her
in his
arms, "how can you ask that?  Of course I shall come back."
    The couple sat in silence, trying to soak up this time that they
had
together.  And then the phone rang once more.
 

~*~*~*~
 

    Just moments after Willow had contacted Giles for the second
time,
she
had a departure time to give Amalia.  She dark haired vixen excused
herself
from the quartet around her and ran up the stairs to call her
father.
She
preferred to keep the conversation to avoid a scene that may or may
not
occur--with this situation and her father's involvement, she could
never
know.  Amalia tried to calm herself before speaking with her father.
She
didn't know whether to keep conversation simple and just request the
plane or
to tell him about the new complications that had occurred since they
had
spoken last.  After much contemplation, she decided to ask for the
plane and
leave it at that.  While her spirits were balanced, speaking of the
previous
night might break herm once more.
    After five rings, Gabriel answered his phone. Without waiting for
him to
say hello, Amalia stated her request firmly, insistently, if not
outright
rudely.
    "Papa, I need one of the planes to be at Heathrow tomorrow
morning
at
seven a.m. London time.  It is imperative"
    Gabriel was shocked at the insistence in his daughter's voice.
It
was
rare that she be so bold towards him, rare to make demands of him,
and
rarer
still to not even greet him with a hello.
    "Well, hello daughter.  What makes you so insistent and
disrespectful to
me this day?" he asked, a stern tone in his voice.
    Amalia blushed with a bit of shame.  She couldn't remember being
so
demanding with her father--with others in the House yes, but to her
father,
no.
    "My deepest apologies, Papa.  I meant no disrespect," she stated
softly.
    The Italian patriarch thought a moment and realized that it was
his
behavior that was unacceptable.  'My daughter is tired, confused, and
under
an extreme amount of stress--a whole world of pressure, literally.
My
daughter has been chosen to save the world and I'm chastising her
like
a
child.'
    "No, Amalia.  It is I that should apologize.  You have undertaken
a
huge
task and here I am, treating you like some subordinate.  I have no
idea
what
got into me.  You know I've always tried to treat everyone in this
House with
respect, as an equal.  I'm am sorry for being so stern.  I suppose I
was
surprised by your demand."
    "I have to get Buffy's watcher here as soon as possible.  While
we
all
have our own skills when it comes to matters like this, we need
direction.  I
can't have one of you come out here--it would be too conspicuous."
    "I agree.  I shall indeed have a plane at this man's disposal
tomorrow
morning.  What is his name so I may have someone to look out for
him?"
'As
if I don't know already.'
    "Excuse me one moment, Papa and I will find out his full name."
    Amalia covered the mouthpiece on her phone and bellowed down the
stairs.
    "What's this dude's name?"
    "Rupert Giles," four voices shouted, perfectly in sync.  She
couldn't
help but chuckle before she relayed the information to her father.
    "Rupert Giles, Papa."
    "Very well, Amalia.  I shall take care of everything."
    One minute detail popped into the young woman's mind.
    "But, Papa, how our are people going to find him?"
    "Don't worry.  It is all in my hands.  You will see this watcher
tomorrow."
    "Thank you, Papa."
    "No need, daughter.  You know I shall do everything in my power
to
help
you.
    The father and daughter hung up after their promises to talk the
following day.
 

~*~*~*~
 

    Amalia ran down the stairs once she told her father good-bye.
She
threw
herself in Spike's lap and grinned at her newfound friends.
    "All set, folks.  Mr. Giles will be here tomorrow."
    "That was expedient," Spike remarked.  "And may I say that your
mood has
remained level for an extraordinary amount of time?"
    Malia glanced at her vampire and couldn't help brushing her lips
across
his.
    "I'm not alone," she stated.  "I am not alone," she repeated,
casting her
gaze toward Willow, Anya, and Xander.  "I truly believe in that now.
It's
taken me three insane days of blood and turmoil and confession, but I
now
know that I'm not alone.  I know that I've just met you all, but I
feel
like
I've known you for quite a while.  And having you around makes me
feel
so
much better.  It's as if I'm at home with all of the other Dragonetti
at my
back."  She blushed and turned away from their collective gaze.  "I
must
sound like a simpering sap right now," she muttered and she sunk
further into
Spike's arms.  In response, the vampire tightened his arms about
her.
    "Indeed, kitten--"
    "Spike!" Willow reprimanded as she walked over and smacked the
vampire on
the arm.  She sank onto her knees in front of her two companions and
caressed
Malia's cheek.
    "I'm glad that you've gotten that into your thick skull, Malia.
It's
about time," she joked.
    "Xander, this is better than a movie," she stated
enthusiastically.
"Can
we get some popcorn?"
    Four head snapped towards the ex-demon and stared at her blunt
comment.
Feeling their eyes on her, she shrugged.
    "Well, it is."
    "Way to ruin a moment, An," Xander replied.  "Anyway," he stated,
bringing their conversation to less, well, something less likely for
Willow
or Amalia to kiss Spike.  He shuddered at the thought.  'Way, WAY,
too
creepy.'  "What are we to do for now?  It's still pretty early in the
evening.  We could pull an all night research gig tonight, or we
could
just
wait for the G-Man to arrive."
    "The Scroll of Aberjian, "Amalia blurted out.  "That's where it
all
is,"
she added timidly as the Scoobies stared at the outburst.  "I know I
should've mentioned this, um, earlier," she stammered, attempting to
excuse
her tardy information, "but my moments of clarity have be few and far
between.  Sorry," she apologized meekly.
    Spike couldn't help but smirk at the woman in his arms.  'Hell, I
know
that.'
    "I know, kitten," he purred softly in her ear.  "You've been
either
sleeping, weeping, or screaming my name."
    She turned about as red as Willow's hair before refocusing on the
task at
hand and banishing any and all naughty thoughts jumped into her head
at
that
moment.
    "The Scroll of Aberjian was entrusted to my family in the 1930s
by
a sect
of monks.  My ancestors kept it safe until the late seventies, when
it
was
stolen from a magically protected vault.  As a matter of fact, it was
stolen
the day I was born and my dad's been searching for it ever since."
    "So, do we start with that, or do we wait?" Anya wanted to know.
    With a sigh Willow contemplated.  'We could try to unearth
information,
but our only means would be hacking.  All of the necessary books are
at
Giles' apartment.'
    "We wait," the redhead decided.  "We can't figure out much until
Giles
gets back.  He's got all of the books in his apartment.  I say we
just
relax.
He did mention that we stick together until tomorrow.  I don't know
if
that
means you guys sleeping over here tonight or not," she directed at
Xander and
his girlfriend.
    "But we can't have sex here," Anya whined as Xander rolled his
eyes.
    "Hon, we can make up tonight's lack of sex some other time,
o.k.?"
he
asked.
    "Sure," she conceded after a slight pause.  Anya smiled at
Willow,
Spike,
and Amalia.  "After all, I couldn't disappoint Pietro by not looking
after
his cousin.  I may not have my powers, but I still have my uses."
    "Yeah, ya do," Spike muttered.  "Being loud mouthed nympho."
    Malia glared at Spike.  "I happen to be happy that she's on our
side,
Blondie.  Leave your negative vibes to yourself," she demanded.
    "I'm a vampire, love.  Bad vibes are the only vibes I have," he
replied
with a scowl.
    She shook her head and turned her attention to the humans
present.
"I
would appreciate you staying with us," she shrugged.  "Who knows if
I'll have
to be restrained or not.  The demon will have more control over me
tonight."
    "How do you know that, Malia?" Willow queried, concern evident on
her
face.  And if Amalia was correct a touch of fear.
    "I can feel it," she answered calmly.
 

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