AN: Decided to change the layout/format of the chapters. Hopefully you guys like it. Plus, stay to the end to get a character bonus.

I started noticing that Cerys has been being increasingly moody and sullen as this week continued on. I, being the socially inept person that I've become over the past few years, didn't know how to ask what was bothering her, short of just asking. Needless to say, it didn't go too well.

"Hey, Cerys, you seem a bit down lately." More like 'a bit' of an understatement. Pun points for me. "Anything you want to talk about?" Normally, that would have gotten some sort of tsundere reaction, but not this time. Instead, all I got was an 'I don't want to talk about it.' I didn't even think she knew that phrase.

"I'll be in my room," she told me as she went up the stairs. "Make sure you don't bother me anymore."

"Wait, you're not hungry? I'm making dinner right now." Her only response was a head shake and the sound of a door closing. Cerys not being hungry? Now I know something's wrong. The question is what...

Then I remembered something. Back when Froth dropped of Cerys, he handed me a file. Why didn't I look in it yet? That might be important somehow. Now where did I put it? I'll admit that I'm not the most organized of people, although I have to use the term 'people' loosely considering I have an arachne living with me. But I digress. The file. Yes. Now to find it. Aha. Found it. Right where I left it. Which was in a random box full of other papers, some of which are pretty meaningless. But at least now I have the file again. Oh...

"Well, at least I can't say I forgot if I never knew to begin with. She really should have just said something." Well, I can't say that her personality isn't cute in a way. But enough about that. I have work to do and only a few days to try and get it done. Looks like I'll have to call in the big guns...

It was a hard few days, but we got it done. And by we, I mean Agent Froth and some other agents that came with him. Apparently there's plenty with a lot of free time and nothing to do. Not to mention that I had the hardest job of all. My part was keeping Cerys out of the house whenever possible, but given her mood lately, that was incredibly difficult. Normally, she loves running around the part and eating whatever I buy for her. But this time, all I got was silence broken up with the occasional brush-off. Any other time, I'd be thrilled for a few moments of peace and quiet, but considering I know why she's like this, it's hard to enjoy it. I looked at my watch. I just had to stall for another hour or so. I got a whiff of a delicious smell. Crepes, to be exact.

"Hey, Cerys. Stay right here while I go get us something to eat real quick." A nod was the only response.

The crepes were quick, but unfortunately, Cerys was quicker. In the few minutes it took me to order and pay, Cerys took off...somewhere. Oh great. Now I have to search for her. I asked around, but no one had seen her leave. Apparently, she was that fast. So I did what I normally do when something or someone goes missing: I start calling out. Doesn't work so well for inanimate objects, but it might work on Cerys.

"Cerys! Where are you?!" Wow, my voice doesn't carry as far as I wish it did. "Cerys!"

Almost as if The Man in the Sky was looking out for me, I heard a scream that resonated within me. Oh no, Cerys... Crepes in the air and my feet flying over the ground, following the sound. I had the feeling I was getting closer when I heard a set of words that made my heart sink.

"You and all your kind are nothing but monsters! Go back to where you came from, beast!"

Honestly, I don't remember much after I heard that. Next thing I knew, there was some random guy on the ground at the end of an alley, Cerys was, shockingly, in tears, and I had a burning pain in my arm. To be fair, that part was pretty easily explained by the fat that there was a 3 in. blade in my left bicep. Well, there goes my weekend. Luckily, I'm right handed. I reach in my pocket and call Froth.

"Hey, Agent. Can you get to my location quickly? I got an unconscious guy that may have attempted to assault a liminal species. 2 minutes? Cool. And does anyone there know first aid?"

Cerys, on the other hand, kept worrying about me. It was a good change though.

"I can't believe you did that! Why would you do that?! You're hurt now!"

I waved her off, and once Froth and another agent showed up to collect the guy from the ground, they quickly patched me up. Apparently, I got lucky and the knife missed the important arteries. Success? Well, we started heading home, and I figured it was a good time to let Cerys know why I kept her out for so long.

"Hey, Cerys. I bet you're wondering why we've been away from the house for so long, aren't you?"

Sniffle. "Of course. We usually don't go anywhere for this long. Especially not this many places."

Finally standing at the front door. "Well, go inside and you'll see why." I opened the door and she stepped inside and let out a loud gasp. In the entrance way was a large hand-made banner reading 'Happy Birthday Cerys.'

"You...you knew my birthday? But I never told you..."

All I could do was smile at her, despite the still existing pain in my arm. "Of course I knew. What kind of host family would I be if I didn't?" I should have looked at that file earlier, but all's well that ends well, I guess. "So do you like it?"

She grinned widely, and I could see the happiness in all 8 of her eyes. "Of course I do!" And she's off towards the presents. Thank the gods for online shopping.

So we had a small party. You know, cake, ice cream, presents. The basics, although basic is a strange word to use for a spiders birthday party. Cerys ripped into the presents and I watched from by the sliding glass door to the backyard when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I opened the door and stepped outside. I've never noticed that big plant there before. Where did it come from?

That was my last thought before I heard a loud sound and everything went black.

Character Profile:

Name: Cerys

Species: Green Huntsman Spider

Hometown: Gloucestershire, England

Favorite Colors: Magenta, Silver, Blue

Birthday: August 14

Age: 22

Favorite food: Anything she can eat, although she prefers "hunting"

Cup size (perverts): A-cup