A bright, handsome man walked in the doors, looking around the shop. Anya, Buffy, and even Tara perked up and took notice.
"Can I help you?" Anya slid over. "My name is Anya and I own this shop."
"Yes, but you're engaged," Buffy pulled Anya out of the way. "so you should get back to work planning your wedding."
"Hi, I'm actually looking for Diana."
"Oh," the girls said in deflated unison.
"She's not here." Buffy went back to sitting on the counter. Apollo leaned on it and smiled at her.
"I'm her brother, Apollo."
"Her twin brother," Tara piped in.
Apollo flashed her a warm smile and Tara smiled back shyly.
"I have some news about Mars and Eris."
"Tuesday, we know," Buffy said.
"At Miner's Hat?"
"The natural rock formation named in the gold rush days?" Tara piped in again. When everyone looked at her she slumped down in her seat. "Everyone was already thinking it..."
"That's the one. It's not much, but it's the highest spot in Sunnydale."
"The highest spot outside Sunnydale. It looks like Mars and Eris aren't interested in hurting any innocent mortals."
"Or maybe they don't want the police to interrupt them before the finish."
"Well, the next time I see Dee, I'll bring her up to speed."
"I think it would be a good idea if we all met and worked out our plan."
"What's to work out? I go in with the God-Killer and stop Mars and Eris and you two back me up with your powers."
"It might be a little more complicated than that. I'll be back Monday at six. Make sure Diana is here."
"Am or pm?" Tara asked.
"Evening." He gave them all a smile and left.
"Sploosh," Anya said.
"What does that mean?" Buffy asked.
"I'll tell you when you're older."
Willow and Dee walked in at lunch. "Where is he?" Willow asked Anya.
The hedgehog waddled out, grunting furiously.
"He's so cute!" Willow said.
"Oh, you're still alive," Dee sounded surprised. "Good for you." She snapped her fingeres and Spike sprawled on the ground. He climbed up.
"You bitch. I don't care if it hurts." He punched her across the face and stared at his hand. "It didn't hurt."
"I'm not mortal. I don't count."
Spike made a snarling smile and attacked her.
"Guys?" Anya called "Could you do this somewhere else?"
They didn't heed her and Anya and Willow had to rescue several items in the shop before they were knocked over and destroyed in the fight.
Finally Dee's aura flashed and she punched him with a glowing fist. He tripped backward, holding his smoking cheek. When he pulled his hand away, there was a blistering burn on his jaw.
"What did you want to tell me?" Dee asked Buffy.
"Tuesday at Miner's Hat."
"Okay." She gave Spike one last glance and left the shop.
"Not that easy." Spike took off his jacket and held it over his head.
"Spike! Sunlight?!" Willow called as he left the shop.
"Hey! Bitch goddess!" He jogged after her, holding his coat up to keep the sun off his skin.
"Watch it or you'll get a tan."
"I think we should talk."
"Now you want to talk? You weren't interested in talking when you found out your pussy chip didn't work on me."
"I just got back from a week eating beetles and sleeping in dust."
"Two and a half days."
"Really? Well, a week in hedgehog days. I need to ask, while I was chasing after spiders and battling rats, did you... do it with a demon lord?"
Dee stopped. "What do you care? What did Apollo tell you?"
"Triple Goddess, loose cannon, look, I'm all for a good shag and I highly recommend it, but I'm with your brother on this. Put off your next big regret until Wednesday. Listen to me. You didn't want it for the wrong reasons, but now you want it for worse ones. Have you ever even been aroused? Have you ever actually burned for someone? Or has it always been kissing and attempted rape?
"I don't know what your brother has told you before, but this is what I'm telling you now. You've bothered to wait, so don't waste it. I can't tell you how many women I've had or what most of their names were, but I remember Louisa. I remember the barn and the cow shit smell and worrying about her uncle finding us. And I'm glad I have that memory.
"But if you throw it away on some soul-stealing demon in order to get revenge on your brother for something he did a thousand years ago, then that's a waste and I'll pity you."
Dee was silent, but the look she gave him before she walked away gave him hope that his words had sunk in.
Someone slapped his back. "Well done," Apollo came into his line of sight. "I told you she'd listen to you."
"If you'll excuse me, I have the taste of beetles to wash out of my mouth."