The Magic Box

Giles was in the back of his shop. He was researching. Giles had not been able to find any more of the prophecy. He still only had the snippet that he had been trying to make some sense of.

"In the last years of the new millennium, One will be born who will join the undying. Lover of evil, she will be a great force for good. Guard the child as the forces of darkness will try to...."

Giles suspected that the One it the prophecy talked about was Willow, as she had joined the immortals, who could be described as undying. And she was dating Spike who took great lengths to remind them that he was evil. He just wished he knew what they had to guard her against.

Giles put the prophecy aside for the moment. He picked up one of his books, one he very rarely consulted, as it did not deal with vampires or demons. The book was a treatise on immortals. Giles did not like to check up on his friends. but if there was one thing the hellmouth had taught him, it was that nothing was ever what it seemed. Giles searched through the book until he found an entry on Khalil. The entry was short. All it really said was that Khalil had always been on the side of good. It did not give any details on what Khalil had done, but it did indicate that he could be trusted. Giles was glad of that. He liked Khalil and did not want to have to fight him. Also there was the problem of how do you fight someone that can't die. Giles was brought out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He got up to answer it. He knew you should be careful who you let in when you lived in Sunnydale. He opened the door. It was Khalil.

"Rupert. May I come in?"

Giles did not say anything but stepped aside. Khalil walked in. He was just being polite. "How are you this fine day, my friend?"

"I am well. thank you. And you?"

"I am very well. Are you really OK though? You look troubled." Khalil noticed that Giles looked worried about something.

"Not troubled, exactly. I am just trying to work out what a prophecy means."

"May I have a look at it? Sometimes a different viewpoint can help."

"I do not see why not. I am afraid I have run out of ideas." Giles took Khalil over to the table, where he had been working. He handed the snippet of
prophecy to Khalil.

Khalil read the snippet. "Hmmm. Very interesting. The Undying is a name sometimes given to my type of immortal. I assume the prophecy talks about
Willow then. She is the latest to join the Undying, and she is the lover of evil. At least in the sense that she is dating a vampire. I do not know, nor
do I want to, if they are actual lovers yet. The next bit worries me though. Why should we guard her, and more importantly, against what?"

"Yes. That's what's been worrying me as well. Unfortunately that's all I have of the prophecy. The monastery where the book was kept was put to the torch during the first crusade and the book damage. This is the only copy known to still exist. It worries me about what the rest of the prophecy said may have said."

"I am afraid, my friend, that we will never know. We do not even know that this is the time the prophecy was warning about. Which new millennium?
It could be this one or it could be the next one. When was the prophecy written?" Khalil still suspected that the prophecy did concern Willow, but he had no way of knowing for certain.

"We don't know for certain. The earliest mention of it is in the early 10th century, about 915 or so. Oh...I just thought of something. The immortal that, 'incarnated' was the word I believe you used, in the 11th century, were they male or female?" Giles asked.

"I see what you mean. Yes, as a matter of it was Miranda. She was born outside London in the middle of the 11th century. Around 1050-ish I think it was. I will see if I can contact her and see if it means anything to her. For the moment, I think we should not mention this to Willow. There is no need to worry her about this until we know more about it, don't you agree?"

"Well, she already knows about the prophecy, but I think she may have forgotten about it, what with all that has happened in the last couple of days." At least that was what Giles hoped.

"Well, if we do not mention it, I am sure I can keep her busy enough that she will not have time to think about it. I am going to continue Willow's training tonight. I would like her to patrol with Buffy, if you do not mind. A lot of the skills she will gain are best used in real world situations, and it does not get more real world than combat." Khalil knew that the skills Willow would have to learn would need to be instinctive. Patrolling should put her in situations that would encourage her to use the skills, and the more she used them, the more instinctive they would become. Khalil was just glad that neither he nor Willow were of the Quickened, as they had things much harder when they manifested.

"On a different topic completely, what do you think of Spike, Giles?"

Giles was a little surprised by the question. "In what way?"

"Do you think he really loves Willow? The reason I ask, is that I can remove the chip from his head, but I do not know if I should. If the chip is the only thing keeping him under control, then I should leave it in. If however, he is able to keep control himself, then I think it better if we remove it. I do not like to see anyone forced to act against their nature, even if that nature is evil. Also on that note, is the agency that put the chip in his head still doing so?" Khalil planned on shutting them down if they were. They should know better than to use behaviour modifying devices in this day and age.

"No. They were shut down when one of their experiments got out of control and killed the local leadership. The people in charge in Washington
decided that the group was inherently flawed and let it stay shut down. There is no-one left in Sunnydale that was involved with the group except
Buffy. Her boyfriend Riley was the field leader of the Initiative, which is what the group called themselves. he could not handle Buffy being the slayer and he left. He has not even so much as written since he left." Giles suspected that Khalil had feelings, or at least the beginnings of feelings, for Buffy so it was better if her knew her history.

"And the chip? Do you think it should be left in Spike or not?" Khalil wanted Giles to make the decision, as Giles knew Spike from a more recent time than Khalil did.

"I think that Spike is probably the most in control vampire I have ever seen. He is somewhat unique amongst his kind in that he is able to love wholeheartedly. He was with Drusilla for over a century, but she left him for being soft. Now that he is with Willow, I think it would be safe to remove the chip. Willow will keep Spike from killing, I think. She seems to be able to do more to control him with the lift of an eyebrow than Angel could with all a sires control." Giles felt sure Willow would keep Spike under control.

"Thank you. I will get Willow to remove the chip as part of her training." Khalil then looked out the window at the position of the sun. After all
this time, he still told time by the sun. *Once a desert dweller, always a desert dweller* he thought to himself with a smile. "I will go and see if I can contact Miranda. I will return soon." Khalil then walked out the door.

Giles wondered how Khalil intended contacting Miranda, until he looked out the window. He smiled when he saw Khalil get out a mobile phone and start dialing. It looked like Khalil was more in touch with the modern age than Giles himself was.

Just before dusk Willow headed back to her dorm to pick up Spike. She knew how bored he got, so she wanted to make sure she still had a dorm to go back to. When she got there, she saw the building was still standing, which was a good start. Willow went in, and went up to her room. She found Spike standing outside the door to her room, leaning against the wall. She also noticed that almost every girl in the dorm had found an excuse to be on this floor. She watched as a girl walked past for the third time.

"Spike? What are you doing out here?" She expected to find Spike inside, not outside where he could be seen. She would have some explaining to
do to the other girls in the dorm.

"The Sla...er...Buffy is inside getting changed.  I don't need to see that. I'd be scarred for life. Now come here." Spike took Willow in his arms and kissed her, letting all the girls hanging around know who he belonged to. It was almost possible to here the sigh go from one end of the hall to the other as they saw that Spike was hers, and she did not intend to share.

Willow knocked on the door. "Hey Buff, you decent?" Willow called out.

The door opened and Buffy stood aside, letting them in. "Hey Wills. Thanks for letting me get changed Spike."

"No problem. I wasn't out there long." Spike had started out being nice to Buffy so he could get closer to Willow, but after he had gotten to know her, he had realised that she was not all that bad. It was just her life's job to eradicate his kind from the face of the planet. Knowing how stupid most vampires where, he didn't think this was really that bad an idea.

"Shall we go of to Giles place?" Spike knew Willow had more training to get underway.

"OK. Coming Buff?" Willow called to Buffy.

"I thought that was your area, Wills." Buffy couldn't resist the dig.

Willow blushed. She then looked at Spike "Spike, darling, would you like to add another Slayer to your count? I could hold her down for you." She then smiled sweetly at Buffy, to let her know she was in trouble.

"Nah, that's OK luv. She would probably poison me anyway."

"All right, I deserved that. Come on. Lets get to Giles'. Someone has some training to start."

"Goody. Maybe we will start on the magic tonight." Willow said with a smile.

The three then walked out of the dorm, on their way to Giles.
 

Part 12

Giles locked the front door to the Magic Box. The business was doing very well. He knew he should be surprised, but given the high percentage of
magically active beings in Sunnydale, the need for a good magical supply shop should be obvious. BY being the premier supplier of magical goods, Giles was able to keep track of who was up to what, just by watching what they were buying.

Anya had gone out the back to be with Xander. Giles joined them and Khalil in waiting for Buffy, Willow and Spike to come in for training. While they
were waiting they were eating dinner from the Chinese take away next door. Xander was eating in his usual unique fashion.

Khalil looked at Xander and laughed to himself. It was good to see someone enjoying their food. He thought the current media-driven culture of ultra
thin people was ludicrous. Xander did not care about how much he ate, but as he worked in Construction, he burned off the energy fairly quickly.

Willow, Buffy and Spike walked in the door.

"Hey Khalil" Willow greeted Khalil as she walked in.

"Khalil. How's it goin'" Spike said.

"Hi there. How was your day?" Buffy asked Khalil.

"It was fine. And what did you get up to, my dear?" Khalil asked back.

"Lunch with Willow, where we gossiped about guys. Then lectures all afternoon. I even managed to stay awake through all of them."Buffy said with a smile.

"Good for you. Although should I be worried about the gossip?" Khalil was kidding. He knew how women, of all ages, like to gossip.

"Always. So, what's the plan for tonight? You gonna torture Wills like Giles tortures me?" Buffy grinned at Giles to let him know she did not mean it.

"Train her, yes. Torture her? Well, that will depend on how well she does, doesn't it. Or Giles and I could trade. I could torture you and Giles could
train Willow. Giles, what do you think of that idea?"

Giles looked at Khalil. "Actually, all joking aside, I would like you to spend a bit of time training Buffy. She could do with a different point of view teaching her. I'm always worried that she may develop blind spots in her technique from training with me all the time."

Khalil knew what Giles meant. Having one trainer could lead to blind spots that the trainee would not be aware of, until it was too late. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Buffy, do you mind me training you?"

Buffy thought of the possibilities. Shy looked at Khalil with a sly smile. "Not at all. I'll enjoy it"

"Oh I can very much guarantee that you will not. I will be a hard taskmaster in training. But I will take you out to dinner afterwards, to show there are no hard feelings. How does that sound?" Khalil thought this would be a good excuse to take Buffy out to dinner.

"OK that sounds cool. But I get to pick the place for dinner." Buffy had a plan in mind for the dinner.

"I think I can allow that. Now, Willow it is time for your training. Would you be so kind as to join me in the training room." Khalil looked at the rest of the room, "For this session I would like to train with just Willow. There are some things she needs to know, that are for immortal ears only." With that Khalil walked in to the training room, closely followed by Willow. He closed the door behind them.

Please Willow, be at ease. I just have a few things to tell you that may surprise you. The first thing is that you are truly immortal. There is nothing
that can kill you. I mentioned when we first met that you would not survive a nuclear explosion. This is not true. What would happen, is that your body would be destroyed, that is true, but your spirit would survive. If just one single cell of your body survives, then your body will regenerate form it. It takes a long time, but you will return. There is only two ways to irrevocably die. The first is if every cell is completely destroyed. The only way to achieve this is by extreme, sustained fire. I am talking blast furnace levels of heat, over a period of at least a month. This has only happened once in all our history."

Willow was stunned by this. When Khalil had told her that there were ways to die, she did not expect there to be only two. "Uh...and what is the other way?"

"There is a spell that will discorporate you entirely. It requires the willing participation of the recipient and needs to be cast by no less than six other immortals. It has only been used twice in our history and both times were a great sadness. Nothing is sadder than an immortal that has lost the will to live." Khalil had taken part in the last casting of the spell, when a Mayan immortal had lost the will to live after seeing the destruction of the entire Mayan culture by the invading Europeans. After one hundred years of trying he had finally convinced enough immortals to perform the spell. In the end they all agreed as a kindness to their friend.

"That's terrible. What happens to the immortals soul? Actually, that is a good question in general. What happens to our souls, now that we are immortal?"

"We are no longer on the wheel of life. We do not reincarnate like mortals do. Although, as souls are connected, we do continue to meet the souls that we are connected to. We just remember the previous meetings that they do not. Your soul still has a journey, you just get to remember more of it than most do. My own theory is that we are the next step in spiritual evolution. We are a step above mortals, but we are still below the gods. Some gods meet with some of us, while others stay as aloof as they always do. One day I will take you to meet some of my divine friends. In answer to your first question, what happens to immortal souls when we die? I do not know. I have not met an immortals soul in anything other than an immortal body, so anything I say would only be conjecture. That is a lesson in itself. Never be afraid to admit you do not know anything. Being immortal does not make you any more wise than a mortal, it just gives you more opportunity to learn, which some mistake for wisdom. Most of the wise people I have met have been mortal. I sometimes think that it takes mortality to make one wise. We have the knowledge that whatever we try will not kill us, so we can do things some would think foolhardy without any danger."

"You mean like jumping off a cliff, or climbing up the side of a building with out a rope, that type of thing?" Willow could see where knowing, really knowing, you could not be hurt would give you a sort of freedom to do seemingly crazy things.

"Exactly. Knowing we will not die means we can take greater risks, because if we fail, it is only a minor inconvenience. It gets bad at our meetings
when the oneupmanship starts. We start doing crazier and crazier things until we realise what we are doing. It is like being around a group of
really powerful children at times. When we calm down, we are always suitably embarrassed about the way we act, but it never stops us from doing it again." Khalil grinned sheepishly.

"Getting back on track, you still need to eat and sleep. You still have the needs of a mortal body. You cannot die of starvation, but once you get below a certain level, and pray you never do, you go into a coma just like anyone else. Once you get some sustinence, even what you get from water, you wake up again. Trust me, it is not a nice feeling. I was in that situation back in the 1600's when I got stuck in a shipwreck. Not something I ever want to go through again. You can still get pregnant and give birth. Although I do not think that will be a problem with you and Spike, will it?" Khalil ribbed Willow good-naturedly.

Willow blushed. "No. Vampires cannot have children. So it is not something we have had to worry about. And I can't believe I'm talking to you about
this."

"That's OK. It is none of my business who you sleep with. I will not bother you with tales of my past lovers, just understand that I have had non-human lovers and I am not in a position to judge you. No one can judge you except you. You will discover, as you age, that society's morals change and what is forbidden today will be mandatory next century. You learn to accept anything and everything, although the social mores you were brought up with will always colour your views. You also learn to take the long view." Khalil reassured Willow.

"That is all of the private information. Now we can begin your physical training. You will need to exercise a lot in the next month or so, as your
body optimises itself for your new metabolism. The best way to exercise is to move and the best way to move is to fight. So if you would like to call
the others in, we will get started." Khalil instructed Willow.

Willow got up from where she had been sitting, listening to all Khalil had to tell her, and walked over to the door. She opened it and called the others in. "OK Guys, we've finished talking. Now I get to learn to fight. Yippee." Willow said with a smile.

"That's great Wills. Now we can patrol together. We'll clean up this town." Buffy said, happily.

"Cool. We'll slay all and make this town safe again." Willow said, caught up in Buffy's joy.

"Um, Red? What about me? You don't plan on slaying me do you?" Spike asked playfully.

"Only if you don't come over here and kiss me, right now." Willow was in a playful mood and was going to take advantage of it.

"I think I can do that." Spike then walked over and took Willow in his arms and kissed her long and hard.

Xander walked in. "Oh God. They at it again? Hey, you two. Coming up for air anytime soon?" Xander was happy that Willow as happy. Otherwise he would be freaking out at Willow kissing Spike.

Willow gave Xander the finger and kept kissing Spike.

"Wills. I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you." Xander looked at Buffy. "And she used to be such a nice girl. I blame you for this. You've corrupted my Willow." he said with a laugh in his voice.

Buffy just looked at the happy couple. "No Xan, I think Spike is the one that did that."

This time it was Spike that gave Buffy the finger.

"See. What did I tell you. Now, you two. Time to train. So get ready." Buffy then through herself at them, to see how they would react. Spike ducked and Willow lept backwards. Buffy landed on her hands and did a hand spring back to her feet. She then turned and faced them. "Very good. You were paying attention after all."

Khalil looked at the friends and cleared his throat. "If you are finished now, Buffy, maybe we can begin the real training. Willow. I want you and Spike to train together for the moment. I want you to spar. And Spike, I want you to use your full strength and speed. You cannot hurt Willow and it will help her get used to her new reflexes. Now that she is immortal, she does not have the fatigue buildup that a mortal has, and with that comes faster reflexes, but they need to be trained. So go to it. Buffy I will be sparring with you. Fair warning, though, I will not be going easy on you."

They then proceeded to spend the next 2 hours training. At the end of the two hours, Buffy and Spike were exhausted. Willow and Khalil, on the other hand, were just starting to get warmed up. Immortal physiology was a distinct advantage, Willow thought to herself.

"OK, that is enough training for tonight. Buffy, after you clean up, did you want to go patrol with Willow?" Khalil asked Buffy.

"Sure thing. Wills, you up for some vampire slayage? Except your vampire snugglebunny of course." Buffy asked Willow.

"Yeah, sure. When did you want to head out?" Willow wanted to show the vampires of Sunnydale what she was made of.

"Give me five to get my stuff and we can head off." Buffy then went over and got her slaying gear together, making sure she had plenty of stakes with her. She then went over to Khalil and kissed him. "You owe me dinner. Tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night it is then, my dear. I will pick you up at your house, if that is OK. Wear something nice. I will be taking you somewhere special."
Khalil then kissed Buffy and shoo-ed her out the door so she could go patrol with Willow. Willow kissed Spike goodbye and followed Buffy.

Willow and Buffy walked the streets of Sunnydale, looking for some vampires to slay. Buffy was a little concerned that the vampire population of Sunnydale seemed to be fairly thin lately. Usually when that happened, they were planning something. She said as much to Willow.

Willow tried to put Buffy's mind at ease. "I wouldn't worry about it Buff. It probably just means that the vamps have finally realised they can't win. Not with the Buffster on the job. And if they do try anything, well, we will just have to remind them whose town this is, won't we?"

"We sure will. I just have a bad feeling, that's all." Buffy told Willow

Then, as they came around the corner of a building, they saw three vampires chasing a girl down an alley. Willow and Buffy ran into the alley. "Now
boys, what have I told you about coming to my town? Don't you damn vampires ever learn? The slayer rules Sunnydale." Buffy taunted the vampires.

While Buffy was taunting the vampires, Willow went to help the girl they had been chasing. When she knelt down to see if she was OK, the girl looked up at Willow, with the face of a vampire. It was an ambush. The girl stabbed Willow in the chest with a machete.

Buffy saw what happened and went crazy. She kicked the first male vampire in the groin. She staked him as he went down. She then punched the second one in the face. He stumbled back, and Buffy staked him as well. Buffy then turned around to go after the third one and stopped.

Willow looked down at the female vampire. "You ruined my shirt, bitch. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a shirt in just this colour? It took me forever to find this one, and you've ruined it by sticking a bloody great knife in me." Willow then pulled the machete out of her chest and used it to behead the female vampire, who was still on the ground, shocked into immobility. Usually when she stabbed someone, they screamed. They did not start berating you for ruining their shirt. These were the last thoughts that went through her mind as she turned too dust. Willow then looked at the last vampire from the ambush, "And don't think you're getting away either."

Willow then threw the machete at him, hitting him in the thigh. "Fuck, too low. Buff, you want to finish him?"

Buffy then went up and stuck a stake in his heart. It was almost a kindness, as he looked so out of his depth he was drowning. He turned to dust, still with a dazed look on his face. Buffy then looked at Willow. "You OK Wills? That looked nasty."

"No, I'm fine. Just pissed off. I only just bought this top and that bitch ruined it. Gods, listen to me. I sound like Cordelia. I just got stabbed in
the chest and I'm more worried about my shirt, than about the fact that I should be dead. Guess I'm getting the grip on this immortality thing after
all. So we finished for the night?"

"Yeah. Let's go home and get some sleep. Khalil wiped me out tonight."

"And are you going to wipe him out tomorrow night after dinner?" Willow stirred Buffy.

"No! I'm not going to sleep with him yet. I want to see what it is like to be courted like a lady" Buffy said. She would have to hit Willow for that
comment.

"That's about as close to being a lady you will get." Willow taunted Buffy as only a good friend can. The two friends kept at each other as they headed back to their dorm, not realising that they had been watched since the beginning of the ambush. The man watching them noted something down in a notebook and walked off in the opposite direction.
 

Part 13

Willow woke from a deep sleep. She got out of bed and spied the top she had been wearing the night before. "Fuck. I liked that top. Shit. Fucking Vamp Bitch." Willow was not a morning person and did not wake up well.

Willow reached over and shook Buffy. "Hey Buff, time to get up."

Buffy just mumbled something incoherent and rolled over. Willow pushed Buffy a bit hard. Buffy still did not get up. Willow looked at the clock. Buffy
had a lecture in an hour, and she took almost as long as Willow to wake up in the morning. Deciding shock was the best option, Willow grabbed the
bottom sheet and gave a good, hard yank. Buffy came flying out of bed and landed hard on the floor.

"Who, what, where...Oh it's you, soon to be dead roomie. What would you like on the tombstone? Here lies Willow, killed by her best friend who she woke up? Buffy was going to get even with Willow. She didn't know when, but it would be something suitable.

Willow laughed and ran in to the bathroom. Being somewhere else would be a good move at this stage, she decided.

Once Willow and Buffy had gotten ready for class, the went downstairs to the coffee shop. They still had time for an early morning bagel and coffee. Willow how she ever managed mornings without caffeine. She did not get bouncy from caffeine any more, not like when she was younger.

"So, Buff, what's the plan for tonight? Where you going with Khalil?"

"I was going to let him surprise me. Why?" Buffy was curious why Willow wanted to know.

"It's just when he asked you to dinner, you said you wanted to choose the place." Willow explained.

"Fuck, I did too. Well, I will let him pick this time and I will pick next time. No biggie. Now, I have to go to a class. We on for lunch?"

"Sure. See you then." Willow then got up and left the coffee shop. She was going to go and visit Giles and see if he had found anything about the
prophecy yet. It was not like Giles to forget to mention a new prophecy like this, so she suspected he was hiding something from her. He probably had her best interests at heart, but she wanted to know, no matter how bad it was.

She was walking down the street when she passed an alley. A tall black man stepped out from the alley. He was about 6'3" and heavy set and wearing a long, dark brown coat that reached to his knees. He loomed over her and said "I am Jamal N'Ghala and I challenge you."

Willow just looked at him. "Challenge me to what? Cards? Dominoes? What are you talking about?" Willow had no idea what he was talking about, but got the impression he expected a response from her.

"Do you not know what you are, girly? Then that'll make this much easier." He then grabbed Willow and pulled her in to the alley, dragging her behind the row of shops. He then reached in to his coat and pulled out a sword.

Willow looked at him and muttered, "Why do I get all of the weirdo's?" She then summoned her fire staff, suddenly glad for the training she had
started the night before. Khalil had drummed it in to her to be able to summon her staff at a moments notice.

N'Ghala swung his sword at her neck, trying for an easy kill. Willow blocked the sword with ease. She parried with the staff and went for his knees.
Since she didn't know what he was about, she decided to just disable him so she could ask a few questions. N'Ghala jumped over the staff and looked at her incredulously.

"Why aren't you using a sword? And where did you get that staff from?"

Part of the training Khalil had given Willow was to make the staff look like wood, not the fire it was made out of. It also behaved as a wooden staff,
which was how Willow was able to black N'Ghala's sword. Willow looked at him and asked "Why would I want to use a sword? You're crazy aren't you? Going around trying to cut peoples heads off...I know what you are. You're a quickened immortal, aren't you? That's why you are trying to cut my head off. You want my quickening. Well, you've got it wrong. I don't have one." Willow had realised what was going on now. This guy thought she was the same type of immortal as him. Now she just had to convince him that she was a different kind of immortal.

"It is no good coming up with stories little girl, my man saw you get stabbed last night and he heard you talking about 'this immortality thing' so I know you are immortal. Why you do not have a buzz, I do not know, but it is something I will have time to work out once I have your quickening inside me." N'Ghala thought Willow was either an anomaly, or a very old immortal. Some of the old quickened immortals could mask the buzz that
all of their kind used to identify each other. It was very rare for one under a thousand to be able to do it, but it was not unheard of.

"Look, I don't have time for this. I guess the only way to convince you is to just let you kill me. So, go on then. Just hurry up, I have to be
somewhere." Willow then banished her staff and stood there, waiting for him to strike.

N'Ghala didn't know what was going through the girl's mind, but he knew what what was going through her neck. He drew his sword back and swung with all of his might at Willow's neck. The sword cleaved through Willow's neck with ease. The only problem was that Willow healed just as quickly as the sword could do damage. N'Ghala did not know how he had missed, but he tried again. The sword passed through Willow's neck, of that he was certain. The problem was her head was still attached and she was now looking even more impatient than before.

"Convinced now? Can I go now?" Willow wanted to go and talk to Giles before he opened the shop up. She then saw that he was getting ready to stab her in the stomach. "Oh no you don't. I had a top ruined last night, I don't want to lose another one."

"And what will you do to stop me, little girl?" N'Ghala taunted her.

"OK. That does it. I'm pissed off now." Willow then cast a bolt of energy at his head, knocking him out instantly. She then looked around and spied some rope, which she used to tie him up. He was much to heavy for her to carry him, so she just had to leave him there. Willow ran to the Magic Box and banged on the door.

Giles opened the curtain to see a very flustered Willow banging on the door. "Willow what is it?"

"Come with me Giles, quickly, before he gets away." Willow grabbed Giles' arm and took him around the back of the shops, where N'Ghala had attacked her. Fortunately, N'Ghala was still unconscious.

"Who is this?" Giles was confused.

"He said his name was Jamal N'Ghala. He's one of the quickened. He thought I was too and was trying to cut my head off. I tried to tell him I wasn't, but he didn't believe me." Willow explained to Giles.

"I see. Help me get him into the shop, will you? Grab his feet." Giles picked up N'Ghala by the shoulders as Willow grabbed his feet, making sure that he took most of the weight. They carried him back to the shop, making sure they grabbed his sword as well. As this was Sunnydale,no one saw anything unusual in this. Once they had N'Ghala inside, Giles made sure the ropes were tight. He then checked to see that N'Ghala did not have any more weapons on him. Once Giles was happy that he didn't, he relaxed.

"Now, could you please tell me what happened. Start from the beginning." Giles old Willow.

"I was coming here to ask you about that prophecy. When I passed the alley, he came out and said something about challenging me. I didn't know what he was on about and asked him 'challenged to what, cards?' He said something about not knowing what I was and that making it easier. He then got that sword out and tried to cut my head off. I defended myself and then I realised that he was probably one of the quickened immortals Khalil mentioned. Saw I told him that he was mistaken and that I wasn't his kind of immortal. He didn't believe me. So I realised the only way he would go away was if I let him kill me, so I did. That didn't stop him, so I knocked him out and brought him here." Willow then took a breath and sat down. She then swore as she realised that not only had this guy been trying to kill her, but she had let him. More importantly, she was hit by the fact that his sword had passed right through her and she had healed instantly. She did not even have any blood on her.

"Are you OK Willow? No injuries?" Giles was concerned for Willow's health.

"That's just it, Giles. His sword went right through my neck. Twice. And I only just realised that I did not even feel it. It healed even as the blade
was cutting me. Look." Willow stood up and got N'Ghala's sword. She stuck it into her bare arm and pulled it down, then out. Her arm was unmarked.

"My lord. I knew, intellectually, what you are. But to actually see it like that is a shock." Giles sat down. It was all a bit too much to take in, this
early in the morning.

"I know this is a lot to take in Giles. Just think how I feel. But it's all part of living on the Hellmouth." Willow said with a grin. She had decided to
be positive about the whole thing. It was either that or curl up in a screaming heap. And Willow was to strong and had seen to much to do that.

N'Ghala opened his eyes. "Where am I?"

"I will ask the questions here dipshit." Willow was not happy with N'Ghala and was going to let him know.

"Willow! Please mind your language." Giles asked Willow.

"Sorry Giles. I just take a dim view of people trying to cut my head off. Got that dopey? I'm not your kind of immortal, so I don't have a quickening. No quickening means you can't cut my head off. Got it?"

N'Ghala nodded. He had realised he was out of his depth, and thought he would be doing well to get out with his head attached. They obviously knew about his type of immortal, so they would know how to kill him.

Seeing that N'Ghala was under control now, Willow undid the ropes binding him. She was not going to give him back his sword just yet, however. "Now, what is the story? Why did you try and kill me like that?"

"My kind of immortal...that feels strange. I thought there was only the one kind of immortal. Well, there is The Game, which is how we survive. We engage in combat with the winner taking the other's head and gaining their quickening. I do not usually hunt others, but when my man saw you kill those four last night, I thought you were a head hunter. That is what we call those that like taking heads too much. I have made it my job to kill as many of them as possible. I know I will eventually lose, but in the mean time I can do some good. I am sorry that I misunderstood you. But can you explain why you killed those four last night?"

Giles was not sure what he was talking about. "Yes I would like to know as well, you killed four people last night?"

"Vamps Giles. I went on patrol with Buffy after training. We got ambushed by four vamps and we slayed. This bitch ruined my top by stabbing me in the chest. Cow put a big rip, right down the front of the top. I just bought it too." Willow was still angry about the top.

Giles did not see how losing a piece of clothing could get someone worked up, but he was not a teenage girl.

"Ah, excuse me, did you say vamps? As in vampires? Surely you don't expect me to believe that vampires exist do you?" N'Ghala thought he was dealing with a mad woman now.

"Might I point out that two out of three people in this room are immortal. If immortals can exist, why not vampires?" Willow was always amazed at  how blind some people could be.

"Good point. But still, vampires? You can prove this of course?" N'Ghala was at least keeping an open mind.

"When my boyfriend gets here, you will see. He's a vampire. You can see for yourself. Then you'll believe in vampires." Willow knew he would believe after seeing Spike. Spike would make sure of that. "Meanwhile, why don't you go walk around town for a while. Come back here at 1.30 and we will explain what's going on here in sweet Sunnydale. Willow wanted to talk to Khalil before she said anything more to N'Ghala.
 

Part 14

That afternoon Willow sought out Khalil, but couldn't find him. He must have returned to his tower in Jordan. She'd have to catch up with him that evening. Willow decided she would go and visit Spike. She didn't feel like going to class today. She was too worked up.

Willow walked to Spike's crypt. She did not know why he chose to live in a crypt, but it was just mystery in the enigma called Spike. Willow decided, on the spur of the moment, to surprise Spike. She was extra quiet as she entered the crypt.

Willow was not sure what to make of what she saw. The was Spike, sitting in his chair, doing his best to ignore Harmony.

"Come on Spikey, be my blondy bear again. I miss you. I want you back. You want to be my blondy bear again, don't you?" It was a good thing Willow was not diabetic, because she would have gone in to shock from the way Harmony was talking. She could see that Spike was not enjoying it.

Spike noticed Willow. "Red, please kill one of us. I don't care which, just get me out of this hell."

Willow giggled. "Harmony, I will give you five seconds to get away from my man before I turn you into a pile of ash."

Harmony looked at who was speaking and realised it was Willow. Mousy, little, friendless Willow. *She won't be a threat to a vampire like me* Harmony thought to herself. "Willow. What do you mean your man. Spikey is my blondy bear, aren't you Spikey."

Spike just looked pained. He didn't know why he didn't just stake Harmony. It was not like he couldn't because of the chip. But he could never do it. It was just too much like kicking an over-exuberant puppy. It didn't know any better.

"Harmony? Five...Four...Three...Two...One. Right. Don't say I didn't warn you." Willow then summoned her staff and leapt across the crypt at Harmony. Willow struck Harmony across the stomach to knock her away from Spike and in to the middle of the crypt. This would give them more room to fight. Harmony put on her demon face and swiped at Willow with her 'claws' which were really just her finger nails. Willow lent back out of the way, not even bothering to move. She then reached over and slapped Harmony across the left cheek. Harmony took another swipe at Willow. Willow lent forward and slapped Harmony on the right cheek.

Spike could see that Willow was, by far, the better fighter. Willow knew this as well and was playing with Harmony. Spike lent down next to his chair and picked up the box of cookies he kept there for when he was watching the tellie. This was going to be a good show.

"Enjoying the show, Spikey bear?" Willow chided Spike.

Spike smiled and bit another cookie.

Willow turned towards Spike and glared at him "Any other girl would get jealous at coming over and finding her man with another woman in his home. You wouldn't like to see me jealous Spike. Just remember how powerful I am now."

Spike could see the mischevious gleam in Willow's eye and knew he was not really in trouble, but he would still take Willow out somewhere nice for
dinner, just to show that he cared for her.

Harmony thought she had the drop on Willow, when Willow turned her back on her. She pulled her arm back, winding up for a good punch. She aimed it at the back of Willow's head, hitting him all of her strength. Willow did not even bother to block it, instead making her skin as hard as steel. Harmony's hand hit the back of Willow's head and Harmony squealed. It was like punching the stone wall of the crypt.

Willow turned around and looked at Harmony. "You still here. You're even more stupid than I thought, which is saying something. Last chance to leave."

Harmony was starting to realising that she was in trouble. This was not the Willow she had gone to school with. This was a warrior. Harmony then dropped to her knees. "Please don't kill me Willow. You want Spike? He's yours, just don't dust me."

Willow was having a hard time not breaking up laughing. Harmony was just so pathetic. But, like Spike, Willow couldn't kill her. Not like this. In combat maybe, but not when she was blubbering on the ground in front of her. "Harmony. I want you to get out of Sunnydale. If I see you in town after tomorrow morning, then you will fit in a dust buster. Got it?"

"Yeah, got it. I'm outta here." Harmony ran tot he entry to the sewers that ran under most of Sunnydale. She didn't stop running until she got to
New York and never returned to Sunnydale again.

"Now, you. Explain yourself? Why shouldn't I stake you here? Hmmm?" Willow looked at Spike.

"Willow, my love. You know I only have eyes for you. Harmony wouldn't accept that I didn't want to come back to her. Though why I ever stayed with her at all is a mystery. Gods the chit could talk, and talk, and talk. Never shutting up. Nearly drove me barmy." Spike then stood up and took Willow into his arms. He kissed her deeply.

Willow loved being in Spikes arms. He was just the right height for her, not so tall she had to look up at him, but tall enough that she could lean her
head on his chest like this. "I know, Spike. But you still have to apologise. I'm not letting you off that lightly."

"Then let me take you out to dinner. Let me show you how much I love you." Spike knew just the place. A little cottage restaurant up the coast about a half hours drive away. "I will pick you up at your dorm at six tonight. Does that suit my lady fair?"

Willow loved it when Spike talked to her like she was a lady. She knew she wasn't, but it felt nice all the same. "That sounds wonderful. Until then,
my love." Willow kissed Spike and left.

Willow then went back to the Magic Box to see if Khalil was there. He was. Willow explained everything that had happened with N'Ghala.

Khalil smiled at Willow. "Don't worry about it, Willow. I will talk to this N'Ghala and explain everything to him. In fact, from your description, isn't
that him coming in now?"

N'Ghala walked in to the Magic Box and saw Willow talking to a dusky skinned man. N'Ghala got the same strange not-buzz that he got from Willow. He had not realised it before, but he did sense something from Willow, even though it was not the buzz he was used to getting from his type of immortal. The concept of other types of immortals was still a little daunting to him, but after walking around Sunnydale and thinking for most of the day, he had accepted it. "Willow. Greetings. May I speak with you."

N'Ghala then bowed to Khalil, hand over heart and said "Good day to you sir, I am Jamal N'Ghala."

"Greetings Jamal N'Ghala. I am Khalil al-Raschid ibn Mustapha bin Jamila. Please come in and sit. Willow was just telling me of your meeting."

"Yes. Willow, I am very sorry about that. I have examined my actions and  they were premature. I hope you can forgive me for trying to take your
head."

Willow smiled. She could not stay mad at someone long. "That's OK, it was a misunderstanding." Willow then picked up N'Ghala's sword and handed it
to him. "Here you go. No hard feelings."

"Thank you. Now I will be leaving town. Here is my email address. I would like to stay in touch if I may. I would like more information on the
creatures you told me about. I want to include them in my fight against the darkness" N'Ghala handed willow a card with an email address on it.

"Certainly. Just remember that you asked for this." Willow knew that once you started fighting the darkness, your life would never be the same again.

N'Ghala walked out of the Magic Box, a man with a mission.

Willow looked at Khalil. "Are all the quickened that intense?"

Khalil chuckled. "I am afraid so. They seem to need something to do with their lives and are always on the hunt for a crusade. Methos, the oldest
of them says it as a boy scout complex, although he has it just as bad as the rest of them."

Willow then excused herself. She had to go back to the dorm and get ready for her date with Spike.

Spike walked in to the dorm to pick up Willow. He was not dresses in his usual jeans and t-shirt. In stead he had on black trousers and a smoky
grey, almost silver shirt open at the neck. He still had his leather duster though. Spike knew he looked good.

As he was walking up to the third floor where Willow and Buffy's room was, his vampire hearing let him in on the comments that followed him.

"Oh god, that is sooo fine."
"Where do I get me one of them?"
"Shit. Who's the lucky bitch that gets to play with that?"
"That's what heaven looks like."

Spike could not help walking with a strut. He loved Willow, but he was still a guy after all. He go to the third floor and walked up to Willow and
Buffy's door. He knocked solidly and confidently, a Vampire on the prowl.

Buffy answered the door. "Yeah...Spike? Who are you and what have you done with Spike?" Buffy joked as she stepped aside so Spike could come in. She made a point of not inviting him in, even though she knew he had an invite already. No sense getting careless.

"Thank you Buffy. Is Willow ready?"

Willow came out of the bathroom, after putting the final touches on her makeup. She looked like a goddess.

Spike took an un-needed breath. "Willow, you look divine. If I wasn't already dead, I would collapse on the spot, seeing you like that."

Willow blushed. "Thank you. You look damn fine yourself. Doesn't he Buff?"

Buffy agreed. "Can I borrow him when you finish with him? Who knew there was this stud hiding under that demony facade."

"No you may not borrow him. He is mine. In fact, that reminds me. Spike could you come out here for a minute." Willow took Spike's hand and led him out in to the hall. she then gave a sharp whistle.

Once she had gotten the attention of the crowd that had gathered to check Spike out again she spoke loudly, "OK Girls. See this? He's mine. So no
getting any ideas. Got it?" She then put her arm around Spike's waist and walked down the stairs and out to his car.

They then drove to a lovely little restaurant and had a wonderful dinner cooked by a large Italian woman who was a retired master chef. They then
drove back to Sunnydale and spent the rest of the night in each others arms.
 

Part 15

The next week was a blur of training for Willow. She spent the days at college and the nights training with Khalil, Buffy, Giles and Spike. After the training session, Willow and Buffy would go on patrol. The vampire population had been decimated by Willow and Buffy patrolling so vigorously, and the patrols were almost becoming more of a late night stroll than a vampire hunt. The few vampires left in town knew better than to be caught out at night.

"Buffy, you ever wonder if college is the right thing?" Willow asked. Lately she had been asking herself if she really wanted to continue at college. She had to college more out of habit than anything. It was expected of her by her parents, so she had gone. Now she was immortal, it just seemed like a bit of a waste of time.

"Sometimes. Mostly when assignments are due." Buffy joked. "Why? You thinking of dropping out?"

"I don't know. I just don't seem to be as excited about school as I used to. I still like learning. I mean, look at all that Khalil has been teaching me
about magic. I have learnt more in the last week and a half than I did in the last two years, and most of that was learning with Tara. I just feel like I am wasting my time at college lately. You know what I mean?"

Buffy knew exactly what Willow meant. "Yeah, I do. I'm the slayer. Why am I bothering with college, when the slayer is what I'm going to do with my life. Now the Watchers are paying Giles again, do I even need a job? Hey you think the Watchers will pay me as well? Remind me to ask Giles when we go back."

"Sure Buff. I've been seriously thinking about dropping out, but I think I'll stay for the rest of the year. Besides we can't live in the dorm if we're not
students, so I suppose we have to stay students for the moment, don't we?" Willow was talking more to herself than Buffy but Buffy nodded her head.

"OK. We stay 'til the end of the year then. I assume you mean the school year, don't you?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, the school year. We decide at the start of Summer Break." Willow nodded her head. It was decided then. "Time to head back? Khalil said he had a surprise for me tonight. I wonder what it is?"

"I don't know if I like the idea of my honey having surprises for other women. You're lucky I'm not the jealous type." Buffy joked. She and Khalil had become a couple over the week.

"As if he had eyes for anyone but you. You spending tonight at his place? I want to see the tower one of these days. Given the amount of time you spend there, it must be something pretty good." Willow asked Buffy.

"Yeah. And I don't here you complaining about me not being at the dorm. How you manage to sneak Spike in there is beyond me." Buffy knew that when she was with Khalil, Willow had Spike over to spend the night.

"Oh I don't sneak him in. Mary the dorm head knows he stays the night. Spike charmed her with a bag of Belgian chocolate last week. She'll do anything for Belgian chocolate." Willow was glad they did not have to sneak around.

"I'll remember that info. I'm sure it will come in handy one day. By the way, I heard you and Rachel had a 'discussion' the other day. She one of Spike's chick brigade?" Buffy could not believe the changes Willow had gone through lately, becoming much more confident. The old Willow would never have stood up to Rachel.

"Yeah. Walked past Spike, stark naked, when he came to pick me up on Tuesday. I had to remind her that he is mine and she could keep her mitts to herself. And Spike was no help. You should see the way he struts about the dorm, like a bloody Tom cat with a harem. It would be sickening if I didn't know he was madly in love with me. Can you imagine it? Spike, a master vampire, William the Bloody, in love with me." Willow was still amazed.

"And why shouldn't he be? You are beautiful, smart and a powerful witch. What more could he want? And good on you. Rachel needed a good slapping down. I'm just glad you did it. The old Willow wouldn't have slapped the bitch like that. I like the new Willow better. You are the woman we all knew you could be. That's the problem with most of the girls in the dorm, they're still girls, while we have become adults. I guess having honeys that are a couple of hundred years old and over a thousand will do that to you won't it," said Buffy.

"You're right. We have grown up a lot in the last year haven't we. Guess it's hard to stay a kid and fight the good fight. Do you wonder what it'd be
like to be a normal kid? Not knowing what we know?" Willow was in a strange mood.

"OK, when you start getting philosophical, it's time to get you home. Come on." Buffy took off towards the Magic Box Willow in tow.

Back At The Magic Box.

Khalil and Giles were discussing the prophecy fragment.

"Have you had any luck finding any copies of the prophecy?" Giles asked Khalil.

"Yes I have. I have a friend coming in to town who thinks she may have a copy of the full prophecy. In fact she should be here soon. She said she
would be getting in to Sunnydale tonight." Khalil had not mentioned this earlier at his friend's request, although he did not know why.

There was a knock on the back door. Giles opened it to see a woman of about 40 standing there. "Yes may I help you....good lord, Mirriam? I am sorry. You look like someone I knew once. Why, you could be her sister." Giles was shocked. Mirriam was the great love of his life, but she had died over ten years ago. This woman standing on his doorstep could have been her sister, except for the fact that Mirriam was an only child.

Khalil saw who it was. "Miranda, Giles is not being rude. This town has a vampire problem, so he will not invite you in."

"Ahh, I understand. In that case, I will come in, to prove I am not a vampire." Miranda then stepped over the threshold. "No hard feelings."

"Please forgive me. I know it is rude, but better to be impolite than deceased. Now that you are here, please accept my hospitality." Giles had the nagging feeling that he had met this woman before.

Just then Buffy and Willow came in the front door. They stopped when they saw that Giles had company. "Hey Giles. Hey there honey." Buffy went
over and gave Khalil a quick peck on the lips.

"Oh Khalil, don't tell me you have fallen in love again. Don't you ever learn?" Miranda asked Khalil with a smile in her voice. From her tone this was obviously an old joke between them.

"Come now Miranda, just because you are too old and grisly to keep a man don't begrudge me the love of a beautiful woman." Khalil then kissed
Buffy and stood next too her with his arm around her.

Miranda laughed. "OK your point. Now if you would be so kind to introduce me?"

"Of course. This vision of loveliness at my side is Buffy"

Buffy nodded a greeting. "Hi there. You must be Miranda, since that is what Khalil just called you. Please to meet you."

Khalil continued the introductions, "The other lovely lady is Willow, the latest to join the Undying."

Miranda gasped. "Khalil, it is not like you to be so careless. Can these others be trusted knowing what we are?" Miranda was so shocked she did
not even notice her own slip.

"Firstly, I have no secrets from Buffy. She is fully aware of who and what I am. Buffy and Willow are best friends and have no secrets from each other either." Khalil looked at Buffy "May I?"

Buffy smiled and nodded.

"Secondly, Buffy is the slayer, so she knows what it is to have secrets. Rupert is Buffy's Watcher, from the Council of Watchers. He has the best
occult library in this country, probably on this side of the planet. As I said, we have no secrets." Khalil knew Miranda's preference for anonymity.

"I see. I suppose you know what you are doing. Now, what is it that required me to drop everything and get here as quickly as this?"

Khalil explained, "Rupert has found a fragment of a prophecy, and while I think it refers to Willow, it could also refer to you. Rupert, if you would
be so kind?"

Giles read the fragment of the prophecy that he had.

"In the last years of the new millennium,
One will be born who will join the undying.
Lover of evil, she will be a great force for good.
Guard the child as the forces of darkness will try to...."

"And why do you think this refers to me?" Miranda asked.

Khalil answered, "You were the one born in the last century of the previous millennium. The prophecy was written in the early tenth century, so it could be referring to you. Unfortunately this fragment is all we have of the prophecy. I have an uncomfortable feeling about this prophecy."

"I see. Then you were right to contact me. The prophecy is one I am familiar with, for the same reason you thought it might refer to me. Let me think, the Acre Chronicles I believe," Miranda then reached over for her bag, reached in and pulled out an old book, bound in dark green leather with
thick iron clamps and a large lock. Miranda opened the lock with a word and a gesture and flipped through it. "Ah yes, here we are."

"In the last years of the new millennium, One will be born who will join the undying.
Lover of evil, she will be a great force for good.
Guard the child as the forces of darkness will try to seduce her.
She will be surrounded by the forces of light.
The first will be the evil lover who will join the side of light and become something never seen before.

The forces of light will be few but powerful.
They will join in pairs, becoming a family of power and light.
The greatest slayer and the great one, the father-watcher and the one in hiding.
The heart and the vengeance demon.The Seer-Queen and the Street Prince
The Souled Vampire and the fallen slayer, the former-watcher-rogue-demon-hunter and the sorceress,
The protector and the Sidhe.

Together they will push back the dark.
But they must not destroy the dark."

Khalil sat down to think.

Giles was a little surprised, "Miranda, don't you find it strange that the prophecy is so easy to understand? It seems to be very specific about
the players involved. It does everything but give their names."

Miranda shook her head, "The original prophecy was in ninth century Aramaic. It may read easy in English, but trust me, the Aramaic is a
nightmare to decipher. I spent three centuries working on practically nothing else to make sure this translation is correct."

"Of course. I am not doubting your translation skills. I applaud them in fact. It is just I have come to distrust prophecy's of any sort. They are normally so vague that it's only after the fact that we realise what it meant. It is a pleasant surprise to find such a clear prophecy." Giles was genuinely pleased at finding the whole prophecy so easy to understand.

Miranda looked over at Giles and asked in a quiet voice "Giles before we start working on the prophecy, could I see you in private please?"

Giles turned to face Miranda, wondering what had her so worried. Of course, come out the front. We can have privacy there."

Giles and Miranda went in to the front of the store. Miranda looked at her feet, suddenly shy. "What I am about to say you are not going to like, but
please here me out."

Giles nodded his assent. He was getting worried now.

"When you opened the door, you said I looked like Mirriam. There is a reason for this." Miranda took out a necklace with an amulet on the end. It had an intricate design, with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics covering both sides. "You see, I have this amulet, that allows me to hide my true face. When I do the activating ritual, it creates a glamour. It is slightly different each time, so that I look similar to the previous time, such that I could be a sister or a niece. I then appear to age at a normal rate until the next time I do the activation ritual. I then arrange to inherit all of my possessions and arrange for my old self to 'have an accident' is the vernacular we use."

Miranda's voice broke at this stage. She looked up at Giles "What I am trying to say, my love, is that I am Mirriam. I am so sorry that I had to leave you. I was scared. You were the first mortal I had ever fallen in love with and I could not stand to see you age and die while I stayed the same age." Miranda was crying by now. She sat down, curling in to a ball, hugging her legs.

Giles was shocked. Mirriam's body was never found when she had been swept under the ice, but no one could have survived. Giles could see how an immortal could though. He went over and sat next to Miranda and took her in his arms. He let her cry herself out. The he said "It is all right. I understand why you ran. All that matters is that you are here now. Will you be staying?"

Miranda looked up. She was stunned at how well Giles was taking it. "Would you still want me? After I let you think I was dead, like that?"

"If you want to stay, you are welcome as long as you want. Just promise me one thing?" Miranda nodded, ready to sear to anything. "Don't let me think you are dead when you leave. If you need to go, just say so. I did some things I am not proud of to avenge you and I would rather not let that side out of me again."

"You let Ripper loose? Oh dear. I am surprised London is still standing." She than gave a big smile. "I will stay as long as you will have me. Thank you, my love. I cried for a week when I had to leave you. But I was scared. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Forgiven and forgotten." Giles told her. He then kissed her to let her know how he felt. "Now let's go back inside, shall we?"

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