A/N - More plot!

Marie felt conflicted. She chewed her lip as she watched the herbs brew. It had been the day after she had brought Paul back and when... the unthinkable happened. She just had to let herself get comfy. It hadn't even been as much as a month and yet there she was not just making deals with the undead but also kissing them.

It wasn't even just a peck- something that could be brushed off as a joke or for funsies. No it had been something, something she still didn't understand. The tingle, the reoccurring dreams she had been having lately... it didn't add up. How could something so small be so annoying?

The TV flickered on and ahead tried to take her mind off of it. Take her mind off of how awkward things would be now, more awkward than David driving her back and how sure he had been when he asked her to join them tomorrow on the boardwalk. This wasn't business, it didn't sound like it.

Now as she worked her way through little orders here and there, a healing crystal for a customer of hers and a few herb sachets for some rather eccentric neighbours. Nothing too difficult as they could be done in an hour, should have been in an hour. Instead it had taken a little longer than she had planned. Her afternoon walk had been delayed for a little while.

The sunshine soaked into her skin, eyes unblinded by the sunglasses sat atop her nose. It was relatively quiet on the grassy pathway she walked down. Sandals were minimal enough to let her feel the grass on her toes. The energy buzzed with life, vibrating subtly from the ground and she closed her eyes, breathing in the soft sea air. The stress quickly disappeared as she got lost in the hidden treasures of the earth.

A view of the beach could be seen from the grassy incline she followed. The hill was perfect for her. Sitting down, she knew her skirt would be left with green grassy stains but she didn't care, that was what a simple stain spell was for.

When she was finished collecting energy she made her way back home. However it wasn't uninterrupted like she'd thought.

A spirit, cold and wrong was trying to reach out to her. It wasn't visible but rather a nudge- subtle and barely noticeable. A presence- a lingering energy.

"Who's there?" Marie whispered as she came to a stop.

There had been a cool, deep whisper with the Santa Carla breeze. Fields and trees surrounded her. Marie tried to pin point it, then she cuddle determine how to handle it- if infact her senses hadn't deceived her.

Everything was eerily still, almost too quiet before she felt the same sharp coldness running up her spine. She closed her eyes and flinched when it came, taking a jump forward at the contrast.

Perhaps it wasn't a good energy...

Nothing answered her back at least not vocally and she was prepared to toss the small pouch of salt over her shoulder that she always kept in her bag. It was a good way to extinguish annoying spirits or at least keep them at bay until a proper vanishing spell could be performed but that also meant that she would need to buy some more sage.

Like a heavy pressure had been lifted from her shoulder she felt safe enough to finish walking home. It had been late enough, sun sinking low enough that she could only assume it would be close to sunset by the time she got back. Mrs Johnson could get her herbs tomorrow, Marie thought as she unlocked the door and spoke her protection chant.

In the distance a crow landed nearby, beady eyes like a warning of a bad omen on it's way.

The boys were quick to find Marie as soon as they had arrived. There was a little tension within the group considering what had went on- easily hidden but still there. Marie could tell the moment Paul ran up behind her and hoisted her into the air with a laugh of, "Hey Marie- Beary boo~"

"You weren't too hard to find at all." Marko joked as soon as she was put down on her own two feet but just because she was on the ground didn't mean she was immune from Paul's affectionate nature. His arm soon found it's way around her shoulders.

David and Dwayne weren't too long behind, closing her in with the group.

The nervousness creeped back up on her ass much as she tried to not to let it affect her. The kiss, whilst she had had some of Paul's special it had not exactly been as awkward for her as it was for him. David, David, David. David the asshole vampire she helped out, David the vampire who managed to get under her skin and David, the good looking asshole who managed to make her flustered.

"Because I was asked to meet here? And I got bored." Marie responded only to receive some teases and "Ohhh's" She flicked a stray strand of hair from her eyes and ignored the eyes on her.

They seemed a lot livelier tonight, hanging close together but there was a notable energy emanating from them and she could taste it. This was the closest thing she had felt to happiness in her time around them even if Paul was a walking ray of sunshine.

"We're glad you came." Dwayne announced, surprising her as he usually kept to himself- even in the cave.

It was contagious. A smile tugged at her lips and all was forgotten earlier as they bantered. It was a surprise to her that no one thought something was up with them, considering the way they roughly played with each other and she swore she even heard a quick snap of Paul's left wrist as he tried to put Marko in a headlock. Not a scream but a laugh. No wonder their prey is easier to get down here, what with people being oblivious.

"Lookie here, what's this?" Paul asked, plucking the container of sage from her hands. He inspected it and she debated whether or not to tell them or whether or not they really needed to know. Paul sniffed it and pulled a face.

"Running low." Marie explained, short and sweet to hide the fact they had caught her off guard. It seemed they believed her, or at least they didn't worry about what she was doing as much as they might have before.

The boys must have sensed something off. David was the first to take notice and do something. "What's the matter? You're not as much fun tonight."

Marie didn't feel like taking his bait tonight. "Nah it's nothing- just witchy stuff."

Dwayne shared a look with David and somehow she thought they might not have fully believed her but to her relief they didn't call her on it. "So any news on the frogs?" She changed the topic as they walked or more accurately she was guided by Paul who was following the three. There went her plans of saging the house tonight.

Marie thought she might have shat in their cornflakes with the way the vampires had stiffened up ever so slightly. The frogs... the amateur hunters, the ones she offered services to eliminate. Usually she wouldn't care but what she had seen that night. The water didn't lie... Just her luck to find the best people to take care of her problem for her- hell it seemed like more or less an additional benefit to them.

"Lighten up Mair- Bear! We're gonna have some fun tonight- take the edge off of things." Paul squeezed her side gently- only a fraction of his strength. It was enough for her to feel that tingle once again. That strange prick at her skin like a shiver. Unsure if she liked or not, she missed the smirk growing on Marko's face.

"Take the edge of what?" She squirmed a brow. Nothing entirely stressful had occurred... unless. She couldn't tell if he was making a subtle dig at her for the night before. Of course that could just be her paranoia and she was over thinking.

From the hand slowly wandering dangerously low, low enough to play with the side of her belt, she didn't think that her first suspicion had been so crazy. Still she didn't exactly stop him so much as nudge him when he tried his luck.

"Pleasure before business."

"Is it not the other way around?"