A/N - Sorry for the delay folks! Some plot, some feel good and some juiciness for our little witch await.

Warnings: Drug use.

Marie and Marko sat just outside the cave. He sat close and when Marie shivered just a little at the cool air, he was shrugging his jacket off and making her wear it. It felt heavy on her shoulders and smelled profoundly of him, not that she was looking for it, but nonetheless she found it oddly comforting. "I know you're a big bad witch and all, but one of us doesn't feel the cold as much as the other." Marko half teased and half reassured as he rested his head on his hand, his body facing hers.

Marko looked oddly relaxed despite the cold of the ocean wind messing with his hair. "Thanks." She brought her knees a little closer to her chest as she allowed the thick work of art to keep her warm. The gruesome show had still affected her but despite her logic kicking in, it had still affected her even now as she leaned against the blond maniac.

"Don't sweat it." Marko didn't pry and it was oddly peaceful despite the growing winds. Almost as if he understood her reaction but Marie still didn't understand why they were being so nice. Vampires usually weren't as thoughtful but the boys had slowly but surely and most definitely unintentionally had been proving her wrong. Perhaps she made the right choice following her gut.

"Sides' it's least I could do- I mean you did somehow manage to pull us from the gutter and back home."

Marie was about to wave him off again but then she wondered if he was told why. "It's not that big of a deal especially for the return."

Marko nodded. "The mutually delightful return." She noticed from the corner of her eyes as his claws flexed, down to the playfulness dying down ever so slightly in his demeanour. Then again, from what she knew- It made sense that Marko would be on board, hell maybe even dying to spill blood.

"Anyway, it's a small price to pay for something to ease my worries."

"What do you mean? You're a big bad witch are you not?" He asked, almost incredulously or perhaps he was teasing her with the curl at the corner of his lips. Either way, Marie found herself struggling to keep her secret at bay. Marko scooted closer when she went silent and he could tell why she was hesitating. It's fun how a vulnerable witch could lose control after all.

"I suppose I am. Been around for... a whole ass while." The tension was cut quickly, Marko not bringing up her clear avoidance.

Marko snorted, "Like us."

When Marie felt better and Marko could confirm that they cleaned up the mess including Paul, she came back inside. Marko refused to take his jacket back, shaking his head when she tried to give it back to him with a, "You hold onto it for now. Don't want you to freeze or anything."

Marie wasn't one for assuming things but the way he had said that, made her think that there was something more to it than just simply being nice. Either way she held onto it, thanking him anyway only to be waved off. It did actually help as she was being led to the couch where the others had congregated.

"Hi witchy babe sorry about that." Paul greeted her, parting her shoulder as he moved to sit by her, clean thankfully. No more blood could be seen on him or his clothes for that matter- not that she was searching his frame so adamantly for it. "S'okay." Marie drawled accepting the joint he held out for her, she felt more relaxed to accept it as she brought it to her lips, inhaling the smoke and letting it linger in her throat before exhaling.

At first it was smooth but after the next three puffs, it hit her.

"Shit." Marie coughed. "What did you put in this, blondie?" She asked, taking the water bottle Paul had in-between them. The cool water soothed her dry throat and she quickly passed it back over deciding that was enough.

"Damn babe, you don't know? Only Santa Carla's finest!" Paul laughed, as if she should have known that. It seemed someone enjoyed being back among the living.

"Dude the herbs I work with aren't usually this strong if that's what you are implying."

"No way!"

"You surprise us sometimes." David said, as if she had done the impossible.

"Oh I do? Have you guys ever encountered a zombie before?" Marie asked, wanting to go further. That or show him up. She was in a better mood after the buzz set in. What better way than talk about the undead with the undead?

"Technically speaking, they will surprise you." Marie finished, taking in the excitement that practically buzzed from Paul. "Aw sick!"

"The moany groany type like in the movies or do they sprint?" Marko asked. A pigeon flew from his finger after he fed it what looked to be an earthy mix of whatever he kept in the small pouch hanging from his wrist.

Marie couldn't blame the boys for immediately jumping on what they saw in movies but like before she was glad to fill them in. David watched on, chin resting on his knuckles as it sparked some interest.

"If they did sprint then a good chunk of the population would have had their brains eaten." Marie laughed, light and airy. It had been a good night by her standards, and one that she hadn't had in quite a while.

Marko was about to ask another question, more bold than the last thing he dared conjure up about rigor mortis and other debauchery. He was curious but for all the wrong reasons, each ask being returned with a bit of shock.

"They also smell horrid." Marie added on, eyes fixating on the cave ceiling as she racked her brain for more things to tell them, almost as if she were taking a quiz.

"Like rancid meat or Paul after a vindaloo?" Dwayne piped up, stepping down from his skateboard and carrying it under his arm.

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself, that was gnarly stank ass." Marko joined in.

"How's this for gnarly stank ass?" Paul was about to let one rip- forgetting they had a lady in the cave.

"Hell no!"

"Manners, Paul." David reminded him.

"Alright bud, but only this time."

Marie ignored the joint Marko was quick to drape close to her face from behind the couch, shaking her head to pass it. Apparently that was no fun as Marko took anyone inhale and puffed the silky but pungent smoke inches aside her ear. She twitched from the foreign sensation and waited for him to pass it. It tingled still.

"Then how has that not happened? If they exist and walk around eating brains, what even happens?" Paul piped up and she was then brought back to what they had all been talking about.

"That's where we come in." Marie quipped, fingers rubbed over her other hand, feeling the rings she adorned and the soft chips in her nail polish. Them. As in witches, magic users, and only really them. Not that other species weren't prone to helping out, it was just that witches were the most effective and swift at covering it up.

"Magic can be used to accomplish all sorts... We simply put them back to sleep and have them reburied but worst case?" She whistled lowly. "It's a free for all. It's rare but sometimes a few rogue witches mess around or get up to some... dark shit- ritual or they simply get careless and decide to try and see if they can tame the dead. Never works but usually they get dealt with quick by any surrounding supernatural creatures. Zombies are a major risk when it comes to staying low."

"Boring~ Here I was thinking we had a little badass in our midst."

"Oh honey. You haven't seen nothing yet." Marie replied. It was the more flirty side of her coming out to play as she smirked at him. There was no doubt she was powerful enough to raise the dead, but they had yet to see her in action. The fact that he had underestimated her, brought her satisfaction in a sense. If or should she need to defend herself, she would be a wildcard.

"By all means~" Paul purred, liking her response by the way he had been inching closer. "Tell us, " Marie couldn't tell if this was something he did with just anyone but by the time his hand grew confident enough to land on her knee she had no doubt what he was thinking. Marie wasn't sure what to feel about it especially after his first night alive- reanimated. When it drifted up and began playing with the stray strands by her face she was quick to bring a hand to his chest, pushing him back slightly.

The thought of the blonde doing what she thought he was going to do, had her feeling some kind of way- not that she would admit until she was sure, that is.

If Paul was surprised he hid it pretty well, smile quickly resurfacing as did his determination.

"Well? Tell ole Paully about yourself~"

"No, I think I'll pass."

"Not even any shenanigans you witches get up to?" Paul smacked his thigh repeatedly as if he had just thought of something. "Please tell me, broomstick races are a thing?"

"Bibbity bobbity boo." Marie left it at that, laughing as she was prodded by an insistent Paul. She could tell he was the most fun loving of the group, throwing her a pouty bottom lip whenever she was vague or simply left him brewing in his own silly questions.

Somehow the conversation got onto their first meeting. The newly reanimated boys had a hard time believing it despite the shit Marie managed to pull in their favour.

Paul was the first to point out how David it was of David to be so standoffish. Apparently he had always been like that from what the little things she heard and simply putting two and two together from the way she perceived him.

"Well I mean it wasn't exactly amicable from day one." Marie mentioned, joining in on their little catch up or in other words, filling him in on the deal. Paul for what it's worth was pretty relaxed although that might have been from the joint he was quick to smoke. Boots rested on the large chest they used as a makeshift table and his arms had spread across the back of the couch. His hand had drifted back to her hair, twirling strands and even diving into the nap of her neck to softly massage the hairs. Marie had soon relaxed into it, the weed in her system heightening her experience as time passed by.

"Remember you threatened me after I offered you a deal?" Marie reminded him. Her tongue playfully showing between her teeth as she recalled how amusing she had found his threats but not the other things she had done as soon as she was safely tucked into her bed.

She was drawn to the shadows of David's face caused by the flames, eyes scanning him for a reaction. How he sat so regally, quite fitting for a leader of sorts- shame he was an asshole.

"I was very close to snapping your neck." David looked to be telling the truth but Marie was satisfied that threat would no longer be a hazard to her. A witch of her word she did as asked and she could say with truth that he had been satisfied.

"Ohhh someone's kinky tonight." Paul teased and Dwayne snorted at his brother's joke, lounging on the one seater with his legs thrown over the end and a bottle of whiskey he had been sipping. Everyone was in good spirits, drinking, smoking and drinking even if she was still there. Marie had thought that they would have wanted a night to themselves, after all they had been affected by a great deal. Long lives... long knives...

Paul waved him off when David barked out a laugh, throwing a piece of nearby rubbish at him for his efforts. It was telling when he didn't exactly disagree with it either. Then again, ever since the four were reunited, David had been al lot less closed off since the night of the massacre. It didn't take a perceptive person to notice it, but even then she didn't want to bring it to attention- preferring him like that- less asshole ish like before but then again he still had that oozing aura of authority.

"Nah he's always like that. Don't take it too personally Marie, that's just David's way of saying he likes you." He added on and she decided despite Paul's huge character, she quite liked him. He was a major goofball and a little bit of a pervert but he was a funny guy.

Marie threw her head back with a laugh. The mere thought of it all was too good. She knew they were teasing but it felt good to have him knocked down peg or two. Besides, Marie guessed pretty well that David wasn't the obvious type. Not at all but as she caught him glancing at her throughout the night, she slowly changed her opinion on that.

"So you threaten everyone you like there, cowboy?" Marie dared to ask. The others oohed and watched on. It was as if she had just propositioned them with their reactions. Perhaps they had mistaken her teasing for something else.

It was a little tense for a moment as David sized her up. She wasn't as intimidated this time, having no trouble meeting his gaze. Something flickered and he was leaning forward in his chair- rather uncomfortable looking from the angle he chose to sit in. There it was, that God awful smarmy smirk on his face again, only it didn't feel quite the same.

Marie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and the energies spiralled around her, less dormant and more flirtatious as David drew her in like a moth to a flame. She suspected he knew it too, otherwise he wouldn't have climbed up and slowly made his way to her.

"Only the ones I intend to keep around." David retorted, his leather gloved hand cupping at her chin and when she nodded slowly, unsure of what to really say to that, he was ducking down slowly but deliberately. He was close up and seemed to be gauging her reaction as he took her features in.

Marie was speechless, blinking up at him and whilst she usually would have freaked and cast every spell in the book, she didn't sense any bad vibes from him. Up close she could make out the small scattered stubble all over his jaw and upper lip. She imagined it would feel slightly rough like him and maybe it was that or how far she got lost in him, but either way she was slowly leaning in until the gap closed.

It was deadly silent all around and maybe it had been a stupid decision that would come back and bite her in the ass one day but she didn't care. David crushed her to the couch, lips moulding to hers as soon as she returned the gesture. He was one upping her in everything she dared to do and she didn't dare stop him, it was intense and rough just like how he was.

Her arms soon wrapped around his shoulders and her fingers pulled curiously at his mullet, only for him to grumble into her mouth. It was almost as if she was tempting the beast within to come out and play.