Despite her father's promise to find what he could, his search proved to be rather fruitless. He had taken it upon himself to ask around Monday and Tuesday night, but to no avail. Either people didn't know or they didn't want to tell. He had even taken the liberty of dressing less punk and more concerned parent on Tuesday night, but all answers were the same. If Beth and Spike were to assume everyone was being truthful about their answers, they might just have to think the town was full of clueless idiots. Well, at least she would think that. Her father had other ideas as to what their answers meant.

"I think you might have some school legends circulating," he admitted over breakfast Wednesday morning. He sounded weary and itching for a fight. He probably didn't enjoy his late nights of questions instead of ass-kicking.

"But I don't think Nadja was lying. I even asked a few other kids yesterday and they said the same things. Kids have been disappearing and they don't know why. None of the adults will say anything! Is that it, are you only asking adults?" she demanded.

"I can't bloody well as approach kids an' ask 'em. I'd look like a pedophile or some crack dealer," he argued. "'M saying that they're stretching the truth a bit. Can't imagine much happens here. Sure, they got their vampires and demons, but no ritual sacrifices or hell-portals. Can be a bit dull."

She couldn't believe this. Her informants were panning out; in fact, she had amassed quite a collection of personal stories from the students. They were all reluctant at first, but as long as it was just them and no administrators, they spouted out their stories like oil out of a field. She was sure she was onto something. Her dad didn't.

"But how come everyone seems to think so? I haven't met one skeptic. Sure, not everyone thinks 'cult,' but they all think 'weird,'" she continued.

"Look, 'm picking up my patrols again so you mum isn't bombarded when she gets here," he informed her with a voice so resolute he left no room for argument. "If I hear anything or see anything, I'll follow it, but for now, m' dropping it. And so should you."

She sighed, dropping her chin to her chest and leaving her cheerios to turn soggy in their bowl. Never once had she been allowed to participate in the business of her parents'. Sure, ever since she was eleven, Spike had taught her how to drive so he could make a getaway after a rather overwhelming raid, but other than that, she was left out of the missions. She knew her demon lore, their names, and where to hit them to make them bleed real good, but field work was beyond her. She wanted to go out and slay something like her mom had before her, like all the others slayers did. But she was too young. Maybe she was fourteen and naïve and silly, but she was also more aware and better prepared than most children her age. And she wanted a chance to prove she could.

"Fine," she grumbled, placating her father. Sure, she would tell him she dropped it, but doing and saying were two totally different things. She never lied, at least not when it was unimportant.

"Good. Focus on your studies and go out with the other kiddies your age. Sure they got some sort of hang-out 'round here," he speculated.

She ignored him and dragged herself upstairs to grab her bag and brush her teeth. If her dad wasn't going to help, then somebody else would.

-.-

"You want me to what?" Nadja hissed that morning after Brit Lit.

"It's risky, I know, but I think we can handle it," Beth promised her.

"The woods are the most dangerous place to go at night in Bellevue!" she argued. "You do not, under any circumstances, go into the woods, whether it is an adult or authority figure who tells you to. If it is an authority figure, contact their supervisor or captain."

Beth blinked at her. "Are you quoting something?" she asked.

Nadja nodded. "Everyone here takes the Defense Class. There's a handbook."

"Handbook?" Beth repeated, sounding dubious.

"Yes, the Defense Against Local Demons and Attack Prevention. It's this summer class everyone takes when they're ten," Nadja explained.

"And what exactly does this handbook say?"

"Common sense really. Abandoned buildings are not playgrounds, avoid poorly lit, lightly-populated areas after sunset, don't use alleyways as shortcuts—unless you want a shortcut to death—, don't allow strangers to take you to isolated areas, don't go somewhere with someone you haven't seen in the light, carry a cross with you at all time or holy water if you can get some. You know, usual stuff. Weren't you taught all this?"

"Well sure," Beth responded, though her tone was unsure. "I mean, they lacked a handbook, but sort of the same."

"Sort of the same?" Nadja parroted.

"Yeah, like the same except I was also told how to fight back and escape. I can play offense if I have the advantage."

"Well, I'm not going into the woods with you. Besides, what would happen there? You think you'll find some old cabin where the evil guy lives? Demons live in the woods, Beth. Not kidnappers," Nadja informed her.

"But if it's some sort of ritualistic act? My aunt says those are the best places to do those. Or caves. Caves are also good," Beth said.

"Another place you will not take me. Caves? Oh goodness no. Plus, how would we get back? All of the forested areas are several miles from my house," she argued.

"I can drive," Beth stated.

"You drive? Like with a license?" she asked.

"I never said anything about a license."

Nadja groaned. "I have to go to biology. Please, no more crazy, vigilante ideas. I'll hit the books with you, heck, even Google cult rituals, but I will not, under any circumstances, go into the woods at night. I'm not suicidal."

Beth sighed at Nadja's dramatics. It wasn't like it could be that dangerous. Ignoring the large nest of vampires her father had found, plus the warnings her father had told her about caves being perfect for demon habitats—okay, maybe Nadja was right. It wasn't a good plan to go out all half-cocked into a demon infested area and hope for results. Besides, if the kidnappers weren't demons, who would they have to be to be dumb enough to go to where the demons are?

Beth walked into her health class, deciding that it would be better for her to talk to someone who knew a bit more about these kinds of things than go running off into danger.

-.-

The loud, ear-piercing shriek of the whistle cut through the chattering students.

"Alright ladies, today is your first day of actual physical education. I will not tolerate any of your namby-pamby, half-assed running. This is a ten-minute jog and I want to see just that: jogging," the coach ordered in her booming voice.

Beth smirked as the girls around her groaned. She herself had no problem with a ten-minute jog; she was used to the sprints and long-distance running she had been subjected to back at the Slayer academy. She was, all in all, a fit girl.

She did not like the uniform though. The blue shorts were too short for her liking and while the grey tank-top was appropriately baggy, the large jaguar's head of the mascot was a bit cartoonish. She also had a deep-seated dislike of tennis shoes. Boots were so much more her style.

The coach blew her whistle again and the girls began their jog, their muscles loosened from the short warm-up. Beth kept a steady pace near the front of the group, careful not to turn into some flashy show-off. The last thing she wanted was to run several yards ahead of the rest like some overachiever. Sure, she knew she could run faster; no one else needed to be told though.

The ten minutes were up quickly and they coach split the girls into two teams for volleyball. She frowned. This was not a sport she was familiar with. She'd seen it in movies sure, but it also was normally played on a beach. She did not go to the beach. Ergo, she did not play volleyball.

She hovered near the back, hesitating long enough for another girl to go for the ball when it came close to Beth. She watched as the girls batted the ball back and forth over the net, occasionally scoring a hit. When that happened, the team cheered and was awarded a point. It looked easy enough, with just the need of hand-eye coordination, a department she was not lacking in. She had fast reflexes. She could do this. She made a dive for the ball.

She grinned when it bounced back to another teammate and they spiked it over the net, earning the team a point.

For the next half hour, she became an active participant in the game and she could see the envious looks in the other team's faces. What could she say? Athletics were her game. After a particularly devastating hit, the coach blew her whistle and the girls headed into the locker room to change for their next class.

"You're pretty good at volleyball, Summers," one girl with braces spoke up. "You play before?"

"Uh, yeah. A little," Beth fibbed. It wasn't harmful, just avoid-y. Like they would believe she'd never played before anyway. They'd just accuse her of being modest, or worse, lying.

"You're pretty good. You know the school's team has tryouts next Tuesday. I think you should join."

"Are you on the team or something?" Beth inquired.

"Captain, actually. I'm a Junior," the girl explained.

"I'll think about joining," Beth told the girl.

The girl smiled. "I'm Amanda, by the way. It was nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Beth responded before turning towards her locker to change.

At lunch next period, Beth told Nadja how she'd been asked to join the volleyball team. "Should I do it?" she asked her.

"I guess if you really want to. You've never played volleyball before?" Nadja asked.

"No. I mean, I've seen it played in movies and on TV, but I've never actually played it myself. At the Slayer Academy, they focused more on hand-to-hand combat and mixed martial arts. My dad showed me some street fighting too, but never any actual contact sports," Beth replied.

"I think it's cool that you're good at it, but I say only join if you really want to," she advised, picking at her mashed potatoes.

"I'll think about it. I have until next Tuesday to make up my mind. And I thought about what you said. You know, about the woods. I was getting show-offy. You're right, it's dangerous, much more dangerous than anything needs to be right now. We can hit the books though, if you're willing to join me. My mum kind of brought the entire Watcher library with her in the move so we have quite the expansive resources."

Nadja smiled. "Sounds like a grand old plan. When do you want to do it?"

Beth thought for a moment. "Maybe after school tomorrow? When my mum gets home, she'll probably call dibs on the library so I'd like to get it all in before she does. But we don't have a lot to look up frankly. Without any information on the kids, I don't know what we'll be looking for. It's too broad."

"I'm sure we'll find something helpful," Nadja assured. "How about your dad? Has he found anything?"

She sighed forlornly. "No. No one wants to talk to him about it. He thinks you lot are blowing things out of proportion because you want a good mystery. He says he'll keep his eyes and ears open, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. I think as far as him being helpful means he'll humor us."

Nadja frowned. "That's too bad. Maybe your mom can help when she gets home? Maybe stuff like this has happened before?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "My dad knows a lot of stuff too, and he seems pretty sure nothing's going on. I don't blame him though. We've yet to find any evidence that suggests supernatural activity. Maybe our books search will render something useful and we can get him on full-time. But my mum usually is a lot more suspicious about these things. She once followed a hunch that her roommate wasn't human."

"Was she right?" Nadja asked.

"Boy, was she ever!" she laughed. "I think that should give us a bit more hope."

"Yeah," Nadja agreed. "I think so too."

-.-

Impressed. That was how Beth would describe the expression on Nadja's face when she was brought into the library. It was a good thing her father was gone though, having left rather quickly after he dropped Beth and Nadja off at the house, because she didn't think he would approve or showing a civilian the inner sanctum. Of course, he wouldn't have said it like that, but still.

"How many books do you have? And are all these hand-written? Wow," Nadja praised, running her hands along the spines of the books. "This must have taken years to collect."

"We are talking centuries," Beth agreed. "The council is hella old."

"How are we going to know what to look for?" she asked, turning her attention away from the bookcases. "Where do you start in such a collection?"

"Unfortunately, my dad and I kind of haphazardly threw these books on the shelves, so to answer your question: no clue," Beth responded.

"And your dad? Way cool. Punk, but cool. He looks really young. How old is he?"

And wasn't that the million-dollar question? Spike got a kick out of those carnival "guess your age" games. "He looks good for his age yeah," Beth skirted around the question.

"Definitely. I know my dad wishes he could look like that. His hairline has been receding since he got married," she mentioned and Beth snorted. The day her father starting losing hair would be an apocalypse in and of itself.

"My dad is pretty lucky. Anyway, books?"

"He's British too. That's cool. Did your mom meet him in Scotland when she did the whole Academy dig?" she asked, ignoring Beth's plea to look at the books. Nosy friends.

"No, they met beforehand. He was in California with her. They go way back. Like, he used to help her with the whole 'one girl in the world' schtick," Beth answered truthfully. The only way not to draw attention was to answer all the questions. If Nadja thought she was being all avoid-y girl, suspicions would be raised and Beth didn't know how to properly explain the intricacies of her parents' relationship. What would Beth say? Her parents used to try and kill each other for "funsies?"

"Oh, that's pretty awesome. He's averted some apocalypses too? Your parents are really cool. I can't wait to meet your mom. I can meet your mom, right?"

Faced with Nadja's eager expression, Beth wouldn't ever dream of turning her request down. She smiled. "Of course. I'm sure she'd like to meet you." No doubt Buffy'd be intrigued with the one friend-that's-a-girl-my-age Beth had somehow made.

"Ugh, I wish my family was this cool. My parents are so lame! My mom's a chef at a restaurant, but like that's not as cool," Nadja complained, pulling out an old tomb. "This one looks particularly old and crusty. Shall we?"

Beth smiled, one part agreeing and one part relief. "Yeah, let's crack open some books."

-.-

The research went as well as Beth was afraid it would. Without any information besides the detail-lacking stories the students had told them, finding anything was futile. It was obvious that in order to move forward, they would have to know more about the disappearances.

"Well, that was an unnecessarily long dissertation about cult sacrifices and their relations to the moon cycle," Nadja announced two hours later. "I don't know about you, but I'm finding nothing."

"I found an entry about some guys trying to release some sort of hell god by ritualistic blood-letting in these Watcher diary copies, but the blood has to be willing," Beth sighed, "and I don't think kidnappees are particularly willing in this situation."

Nadja nodded from her sprawled out position on the floor. Beth was propped up on the chair with her feet laying out over the desk. She had kicked off her shoes and jacket a while ago and the two clothing articles made a nice pile on the floor. Her tie had been loosened, but not abandoned. Beth thought it gave her a nice, frazzled look, like she'd been really busy.

"A lot of rituals relate to having victims for multiple reasons, but they're all at a certain time and we don't know the exact dates that these kids were all taken. Even then we don't know if they've been taken days, or weeks before! I didn't think this would be so hopeless!" she moaned, throwing out her arms.

Beth set down her papers, rubbing her temples. "I know it seems bad, but we've got to find something. My mum will be home this weekend and I can talk to her then. She's got a lot more connections than me, I assure you."

Nadja nodded, but she looked no more hopeful than she did when she had cracked open her fifth tomb.

"You want to get something to eat and call it a day?" Beth asked.

"Yeah. I think my ride'll be here soon anyway."

Nadja and Beth faithfully trotted downstairs, swinging into the kitchen. Nadja slumped down into a stool at the kitchen counter, laying her forehead on the cool tile. Beth rifled through the fridge before giving up and moving to the pantry. Within it she found victory. Beth pulled out a bag of chips and placed it in front of Nadja.

"Eat," Beth ordered, ripping open the bag.

Nadja lifted her head and accepted the offering of food. "You think the Internet can tell us anything?"

Beth shrugged. "Maybe. I once helped my aunt find a really reliable exorcism online."

She stopped eating to stare at Beth. "I won't even ask why you needed to look that up."

"My Aunt's a practicing witch. I don't know why I needed to look it up either."

A few minutes later, there was a honk from outside. Nadja abandoned her seat at the counter to walk into the living room to look out the window. "Oh, that would be my cousin here to collect me," she sighed.

"What, they can't come up and knock on the door?" Beth asked, taking a stand beside Nadja at the window.

"No, because then he wouldn't seem as cool," she mocked. "He already was guilted into doing this by his mom. Do you know where I left my backpack?"

"Library, by the door."

Once Nadja had collected her things, she waved goodbye to Beth and promised to do some searching on the Internet. Beth promised to do the same, shutting the door behind Nadja when she left. Now, alone in her house, she went back upstairs to clean up the library so her dad wouldn't think they were playing around.

-.-

"So, did you have fun studying?" Spike asked when he got home from whatever piece of world he was in.

"As much fun as one can have studying," she admitted.

"Get all your homework done then? We could watch a movie."

"Don't you have patrol tonight?" she asked.

"Course I do. Always do, but I can start a little later tonight," he told her with a smile.

"Do you nap after you drop me off at school?"

"And if I do? I spent a good part of my life sleeping during the day, mind you."

"I was just asking a question," she defended. "No need to get with the defense here."

"Movie night or not?"

She pretended to think about it. "I noticed there was a gas station behind our house. Do you think they sell slushies there?"

The slushies, in case anybody cared to ask, were there and they were delicious. Spike ordered in a pizza and the two settled down on the couch to enjoy their meal and watch a good action movie. He made a lot of comments about how blood didn't bleed like that and she knew better than to ask him to expand on that. He would always make comments that alluded back to his years as a vampire, but anytime you asked him for more details, he got all quiet. After all, being a murderer was nothing to brag about.

"You know, I think Bruce Willis should star in every car-crashing filled movie," Beth decided after the film ended and the titles began to roll.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah. He's got that face, you know. And that look to him."

"I thought it was all about Tom Cruise with you birds," he chuckled.

"Ew no. He's like crazy. I think."

"S'what happens when you try and be human," he responded cryptically.

"Wait. Tom Cruise isn't human?" she asked.

"Do you want to watch another?" he asked, leaning forward to a stack of movies.

"No, you can't just tell me that and leave it there! You have to explain yourself, mister!" she whined, tugging on his arm.

"Maybe a comedy?" he asked, ignoring her as he examined the DVD cases. "Or sci-fi?"

"You are horrendous," she complained, letting go of his arm and sinking back into the couch.

"Not a 'Rom-Com' or whatever you call them," he continued, ignoring her moaning.

Seeing that he really insisted upon keeping that comment vague, she shrugged it off and decided to let him win this round. "Let's do a classic. Did you ever see any of those in theatres when they came out?" she asked, laying out on the couch with her feet over the back and her head hanging off the edge.

"Saw Wizard of Oz," he told her.

"Really?" she asked. She couldn't imagine "Big Bad" Spike going to see the Wizard of Oz. Even now it still didn't make a lot of sense.

"An' what a mess that turned out to be," he chuckled. "Never took Dru to see another movie again."

"Did she think someone was gonna drop a house on her too?" she asked with mock sympathy.

"Right you are, pet. Wanted me to be her scarecrow too."

"She thought you didn't have a brain?"

"Well, I had a heart if you asked me, an' I sure didn't lack any courage. Had taken on a slayer by then."

She nodded. "Yeah, you'd be there scarecrow then. You were pretty reckless, huh?"

"And thank God you'll never know exactly how much," he responded, pulling out a DVD case. "How about Avatar? Wasn't that big when it came out?"

"I could ask Xander you know," she said. At her father's curious look, she added, "I mean about when you were a soulless vampire. He never skimps on details if it means dragging your name through the mud. Or Angel, but he tends to leave out all the details. You know, Aunt Dawn says you used to tell her stories before Mum came after you with a pitchfork."

Her father sighed. "You got a right curious mind there and too many resources for your own good. Why's the sudden curiosity 'bout yestercentury?"

"I dunno. Nadja was asking questions about us and stuff and she thought my family was all cool and things," she admitted.

"So that makes you want to know about how many people I slaughtered?"

Beth winced at the harsh tone in her father's voice, but she refused to look him in the eye. She didn't want to see the sadness that still plagued him. "No, it's just that I'm curious. I'm not asking for some laundry list. I don't want a body count. I know about vampires, so it's not like I don't get that you did the whole evil gig. That's expected. It's unavoidable. Vampires kill people and like it. I just want to get some of the less gruesome details. You talk about when you first met Mum, but you tell me about it like it was love at first sight and you were some dumb guy who didn't get that he could love thy enemy—quite literally. I want to hear about the before, when it was just you and Drusilla cutting your way through Europe and wreaking havoc."

"I take it a movie doesn't interest you anymore?" he asked, sounding resigned.

She flipped over onto her stomach, meeting her father's gaze. He looked tired, she noticed. And weighed down. He had a lot of lives hanging off his shoulders.

"No, we can still watch a movie," she told him, regretting ever bringing it up. She shouldn't have. She knew better than that, honestly, and now she just wanted that haunted look to go away. She wished Buffy was here right now. Her mother would know what to do. She would swoop right in and kiss away the bad memories. Her mom was powerful like that. Buffy, the Slayer of Vampires and the Mender of Hearts.

"I don't want you to think that I'm hiding things from you," he began, taking a seat by her. She sat up properly, knowing that anything he was going to say was important. "'M not trying to. I want you to understand that I was a bad man. I was even after I met your mum. I did a lot of things 'm not proud to admit an' it would be nice to not have done it, but that's not how the world works. 'M just trying to protect you. Your my little girl, my Little Lizzie."

She smiled. "I know," she told him softly before going in for a hug. He wrapped his arms around his daughter, holding her to him tightly.

"You are the best things that's ever happened to me, you understand? You an' your mum. An' I don't deserve either of you, but 'm not one to throw away such a beautiful gift." He chuckled. "You Summers women, always coming in an' making me all emotional. You lot throw me off right quick."

She grinned. "It's a superpower of ours. We make ex-vampires all mushy inside."

"That you ladies do, pet. That you do."

Beth and Spike still watched a movie, this time with popcorn. She was settled against his side, enjoying the presence her father gave off. She didn't care what he thought, he deserved to be happy. He went through hell and back to find a place where he was loved and where he belonged and he found it, right there with Buffy and Beth in their home.

Once the movie ended, she went off to bed. Her father acted like she was a small child again by tucking her in and giving her a kiss on the forehead. She wanted to whine that she wasn't his little girl anymore, but she felt like he needed to baby her a bit. She was growing up after all, and she wasn't the little girl who used to think her dad was the greatest thing in the world anymore. Not to say her dad wasn't pretty great, but the world also had chocolate and escalators.

"Night Beth," he said softly as she shut off the light.

"What time do you think you'll be back?" she asked, looking at the clock. It was already past eleven and her father usually left on patrol around nine.

"Four, if it's a busy night," he responded. "I'll still be seeing you off to school though, yeah? So no need to fret."

She smiled. "I wasn't fretting. I was just asking a question."

"No more questions. It's time for little kiddies to be off in their beddy-byes dreaming of sweets and kittens and the like," he told her.

"I will once you stop talking," she reminded him with a smile, closing her eyes and snuggling under her covers.

Her father chuckled and closed the door behind him. Beth listened as his heavy steps went down the stairs. She heard the closet door open and she knew he was pulling out his duster. She stayed quiet as the front door opened and closed, the lock set behind it. She didn't dare fall asleep until she heard him start his car and drive down the road, off to face all sorts of monsters by himself.