The tension at the table was almost visible. Buffy wondered where it was coming from. She knew that it was coming from Xander and Willow, they hadn't looked at each other more then once in the half-hour since they had all arrived at the Bronze. Buffy wasn't the only one who noticed it either. Cordy had left the table out of boredom fifteen minutes ago, apparently she had had enough with " the quiet game", as she had put it and was now standing by the stage with Harmony and the rest of the sheep. Oz as well seemed uncomfortable, which seemed just plain weird to Buffy, who hadn't seen Oz react to anything in all the time he had been hanging around with them. "So Oz," Buffy said in an attempt at breaking the silence that had fallen over the table. "Our Lady Peace is supposed to be really good live, right?"

The werewolf shrugged his shoulders. "It's what I heard. A friend of mine saw them play in New York. He thought they were great."

"Well, will just have to wait and see, eh Will?" She said toward her best friend. "Or is that wait and hear?"

"Both I think," Willow said without look away at the stage. The stage that just happened to be in the exact opposite direction in which Xander was sitting.

Buffy sighed. So much for trying to start a conversation, she thought in frustration. Maybe I should just ask what's up with them, and get it over with. She considered that for a moment, then disregarded it. Willow would never forgive me if it has something to do with Xander. She thought back to her phone call to Willow earlier today, how distracted she had been, as if she wasn't really listening. Talk to Xander, tell him everything is cool.that's what I told her to do, she thought as she remembered her advice to her friend. What if she did, and everything is not cool? I need to talk to her alone! "Will? Would ya wanna come with me to the ladies room?" The Slayer gave Willow a look that told her she was definitely expected to say yes. "I'll be your bestes friend in the whole, wide world!"

Willow sent a panicked look to Xander, who failed to notice it because he was busy studying his shoelaces. Resigned to her fate, she rose from her seat. "Sure, Buffy." She answered defeated.

The pair walked away from the table toward the washrooms, Buffy walking behind Willow incase she tried to make a break for it. When they were out of sight of Xander and Oz, Buffy spun her friend around so that they were standing face to face. "What's going on?" she demanded.

"W-what?" Willow said startled. Buffy simply stared at her, letting her eyes express her worry. "It's Xander!" The redheaded hacker moaned, her face crumpling.

"What's Xander?" The Slayer asked, putting her a hand on Willow's shoulder. "What happened? What did he do?"

Willow slumped against the wall and stared at the ceiling. "What happened? Nothing except Xander came over to my house today and kissed me!" Her voice was trembling. "H-he came over to talk about how he was sorry about why he's been avoiding me this week, and the next thing I know, kissing!"

Buffy looked at her friend in shock. "Xander kissed you!" she practically shrieked.

"Shhhhhhsh!" Willow whispered fiercely and looked to see if anyone had noticed. "Not so loud!"

Buffy looked around as well before mumbling a "Sorry". The Slayer now grabbed her friend by both shoulders. "So you kissed...?"

Now Willow looked at the ground. "Well, not exactly." Buffy gave her a questioning look. "Well everything started off with him trying to explain why he was acting so weird, then he starts telling me that he's not blind anymore and that he can really see me now." She stops with a sigh and remembers the memory. "Then he reaches up to kiss me, a-and I close my eyes and feel him touch my lips."

Buffy was practically bouncing with anticipation. "What do you mean not exactly? He kissed you!"

Willow's face crumpled again as she tried to speak. "H-he touched my l- lips, and then O-oz knocked on the door and you called! Xander couldn't get away from me fast enough! He jumped away from me like I was on fire!" A sob escaped from her before she could continue. "And then he just left, he said something to Oz and left!"

Buffy was speechless. He kisses her.well almost kisses her and then runs of without saying anything? Seeing her Willow crying gave Buffy the urge to go and pummel her insensitive friend. "I'm sure it wasn't because of you that he left," she told the distraught Willow. "It was probably that everything just wigged him out! Kissing you, your boyfriend at the door, the phone ringing. Guys are timid creatures, the smallest sounds can send them running!" Buffy smiled reassuringly at her closest friend.

Willow looked up at Buffy, her eyes red and filled with tears. "B-but what if it was me? What if, like, the thought of kissing me made him run?" Her voice was just a whisper, breathless from holding back sobs.

Deciding to stick with humor, Buffy tried to reassure her friend. "Oh come on Will, you can't believe that! Xander's kissed a 6-foot insect and a 1000- year-old mummy! I don't think the thought of kissing someone as fine looking as you is going to send him screaming from the room!"

"I didn't say he was screaming." Willow said in an insulted voice, but gave Buffy a half-smile that showed she was kidding. The smile disappeared and was replaced with an uncertain frown. "Why did he do it then? Any of it! Why tell me all this.stuff, and then leave?" she asked.

Buffy paused for a moment before answering. "Maybe he was just freaked out," she said finally. Willow gave her a puzzled look, and she continued. "I mean you are his best friend, and having feelings for you come out of nowhere may have spooked him. Then with Oz at the door." Buffy shrugged. "He might think he's taking advantage of you."

Willow looked toward the table where Oz and Xander were still sitting. Sitting and talking. "Why would he think that?" she said worriedly, not taking her eyes off the talking Xander and Oz. What are they talking about? Is he telling Oz what happened?

"Well you are with Oz now, and Xander does know the way you felt about him.or is that still feel?" Buffy said, trying to get Willow's attention back.

"What?" Willow managed to drag her attention away from Oz and Xander and concentrate on Buffy. "No, you're right, I'm with Oz now! And Xander's with Cordelia." She barely managed to hold back the disgust from her voice.

Buffy couldn't help but smile. "Issues much?"

Willow had managed to get her emotions under enough control to give Buffy a dirty look. "I still don't get what he sees in her," she said somewhat sullenly. " I mean, Cordelia! He couldn't stand her for like, forever! Now they're all with the kissing, and the touching and the." The hacker shuddered at the image.

"Whoa! Easy with the play by play!" Buffy couldn't understand why Xander had decided to.date? Cordelia anymore then Willow did. What does he see in her? She looked over to where Queen C was holding court with Harmony and some girl she hadn't seen before. Buffy had to admit that Cordy did look amazing tonight, dressed in a tight fitting black dress that complimented all the most complimentable features of her body. Buffy felt a twinge of jealousy. I used to dress like that. Pushing those thoughts from her mind, she brought the focus back to Willow. " Well yeah, you're with Oz and he's with the Ice Queen. So just talk to him and tell him that everything is cool. There's no reason to mix things up now. Right?" The Slayer put in when Willow didn't answer right away.

"Yeah." Willow said as she watched Oz and Xander again. Then she seemed to stand taller and looked at Buffy with something that was almost, but not quite confidence. "I mean right! Change is bad! What I have now is good. Oz is good! I'm good! Everything is good!"

"Well that's good!" Buffy said relieved. "So you'll talk to Xander?"

"Yeah, but not tonight." Willow had her eyes glued to their table. Her voice seemed a little faint.

"Why not?" Buffy frowned and looked at the table.

"Because," Willow said pointing to a dark figure moving through the crowed. "Eddie's here."

.----.----.

Xander was as about as depressed as he had ever been in his whole life. The fact that he had ignored Willow for most of the week, then almost kissed her while her boyfriend was knocking on the door. To top it off, Cordy was now ignoring him. He was depressed. This depression was upped a notch when Buffy had dragged Willow off to the washroom, for what he guessed was a brutal interrogation that would crack Willow and reveal all the sordid and disturbing details of what had happened earlier this evening. So, he was depressed, and now Oz was trying to talk to him.

"So Xander, what's up with Willow?" Oz asked as he looked at Xander. His voice was friendly, but a little worried. "She's acting kinda.unWillowish."

"What's up? What could be up? No nothing's up! Everything is DOWN! Way down! So down, that if it were anymore down, it'd be kinda up. But it's not up! No! Up is definitely the wrong direction things are going." Xander was out of breath by the time he ended his little rant. Panting, he looked around the Bronze. "Where are they? What could they be doing that is taking this long?"

Oz moved his seat away from Xander a little and gave him a worried look. "Um, I'm not sure. In addition, I don't think either of us should really want to know."

Xander let the comment pass, which should have clued off anyone who knew him, that he was not acting himself. I can just picture it! he thought. Buffy holding poor Willows head over a toilet, demanding to know everything! Willow, crying, trying to be strong but eventually caving in under the threat of flushing! Xander resisted the urge to run screaming from the table and into the girls' washroom. Meanwhile, Oz had sat in silence, simply observing the people in the Bronze.

"Who's that with Cordelia and Harmony?" Oz asked as he looked across the Bronze toward the stage. "I haven't seen her before."

Xander looked up distractedly, still thinking about Willow and Buffy. "Uh, I think her name is Melissa.something." He looked over at the newest member of the brat pack. "Cordy mentioned something about a new girl or something a few days ago. I guess that's her." Forgetting about Cordy, her sheep, and Oz, Xander brought his mind back to what had happened at Willow's house. What the hell was I thinking? I go over to tell her that I'm sorry about ignoring her, and then start rambling like an moron about how she's changed and I've changed.and then I try to kiss her! I'm an idiot! I should be put to sleep now to make sure that the gene that causes it doesn't spread into the general population! Xander's brooding thoughts were again interrupted by Oz, this time to mention that the band was setting up.

"Shouldn't be to long now till they start playing." Oz observed. "Willow and Buffy should be back soon too."

Xander managed a "yeah", and returned to his thoughts. She must hate me! I'm supposed to be her best friend and I go and take advantage of the way she felt about me. I am scum. Someone should just go get the pooper- scooper, pick me up off this chair and throw my butt in the garbage. Xander noticed that he had not taken his eyes off where Cordelia was standing, and that he had been staring at her for the past few minutes. Cordy looked slightly bored, not a new look for her, as Harmony talked to her excitedly. She looked up and caught him staring at her. She gave him a small smile, the one she saved for their "conversations" in the utility closet and her car. It quickly disappeared as she looked down at the blithering idiot that was her friend, and said something that Xander couldn't hear, but guessing from Harmony's reaction, it wasn't a compliment.

Cordelia! How did I ever end up with her? Xander thought as he watched his girlfriend from a distance. I mean, Cordelia! She's been the enemy for as long as I can remember, and now I'm dating her. There is something definitely wrong with me. Why do I fall for the girls who are no good to me? Buffy? Cordy? Ampata, Ms. French? It's just a big old line of pain, brushes with death, and humiliation! Xander looked up at Oz, who was busy watching Our Lady Peace set up on stage. I hope he knows how lucky he is to be with Willow. She's the nicest, sweetest, most giving person in the whole world. Plus she's got an amazing set of legs.HEY! Where the hell did that come from? She's practically your sister! Get it out of your head SICKO! But for all his effort, Xander couldn't get the picture of Willow out of his mind.

Memories floated to the surface like long trapped bubbles which were now ready to burst. He saw her smiling at him, waving to him, jumping up and down with excitement. These were found memories for Xander, ones which made him feel good about knowing a person like Willow. Soon these memories were replaced by ones that Xander had done his best to forget or ignore. Now they invaded his mind like an army, rolling over anything that stood in its way. Willow in gym class. Willow getting out of the pool they visited every summer. The memory of Halloween filled his head, with Willow dressed in tight leather pants and a low-cut top. Even this image was replaced by a more resent one, finding Willow in his bedroom, dressed only in his shirt. She had been under the love spell that he had had Amy cast on Cordelia, after she had dumped him on Valentines Day.

The memory played back in his head like a movie reel: Willow rising from his bed, the shirt she wore barely going past the top of her thighs. Willow cornering him, telling him that she wanted him to be her first! Biting his ear! Finally, this memory to was taken over by another. Last week in Giles car, riding home from the cemetery. With space so cramped with books and just sheer lack of sitting space, Willow had ended up practically sitting in his lap. The bad shocks on Giles car had made the ride a bumpy one, causing Willow to bounce and brush up against him the whole ride to school. What had scared Xander was that he wasn't uncomfortable, but he was actually enjoying it slightly! When they reached the school, Xander knew that by the way Willow jumped away from him and out of the car, that she had realized his.excitement. She had bounded up the stairs without looking back, leaving Xander to try and deal with the development in front of Buffy. She had of course noticed as well, and practically laughed at him. He had run away and into the school, embarrassed beyond belief! He had avoided Bronzing with them that weekend, and for most of the week, would not let himself be alone with Willow for more then a few minuets.

When he had finally convinced himself that it was just a fluke, his body reacting without thought, he went over to Willow's house to explain. Then he had seen her, looking at him at the doorway, he had almost lost his resolve. When he had finally started to tell her, the look on her face was just too much for him. Looking at him with worried eyes, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, and sitting so close to him, he had wanted nothing more then to simply kiss her. He knew it was wrong, but he did it anyways. Even with pictures of Oz and Cordelia bouncing around his head like ping-pong balls, he had gone though with it. When she didn't pull away, but leaned forward to meet him, his worries left him. Just as their lips met, Oz knocked on the door and the phone began to ring. It had been like a splash of cold water and he had jumped away from his best friend as if she were on fire. Yet, it was him who was burning up. He had rushed to the door while Willow got the phone, blathered something to Oz about how he had just stopped by to tell Willow something and then ran home to take a cold shower.

And now everything is just so screwed up, he thought glumly, and it's all my fault. I have to talk to her, make this right somehow. Xander tried to think of getting Willow alone sometime tonight to talk things through, when he noticed someone walking their table. He couldn't tell who it was yet, but the way he moved seemed familiar. The figure's face was covered by a shadow as he moved in and out of the crowed of people in the Bronze. Angel! The name jumped into his mind out of nowhere. "I gotta find Buffy!" Xander said aloud.

Oz looked at him and pointed in the opposite direction in which Xander was looking. "Here they come now."

Xander turned around and saw that Oz had told the truth, Buffy and Willow were making their way back to them. Neither were looking at him, but at the figure who had now reached their table. He turned back to look, and was surprised at the relief he felt when he saw who it was. "Hey Eddie." His voice cracked as he said the words.

.----.----.



Eddie lit a cigarette as he set the alarm on his car. He had parked the range-rover a block away from the Bronze. As he walked down the ally that the club was on, he mused about the last time he had hung out with people. Two days before I met Sid, he thought.

He had been in an abandoned building on Upper Westside of Manhattan. He had gone there with about six other kids of various ages. The main purpose of that get together had been to get high. He remembered staring up at the water damaged ceiling, feeling the heroin wrap around his brain like a warm blanket, letting the cool dampness of the ground soak though his clothes. Being both hot and cold, forgetting the hunger in his belly and the dirt on his skin. Not much was said that night, just some moans and groans that echoed though the building, some of pleasure, others not. That was a long time ago, the Necromancer shouted at the memory. That's not you anymore!

That was true, Eddie had been clean for over three years now. Sid had seen to that. Eddie had been dying for a fix ever since Sid had told him about his powers, his potential. It had been too much for him to handle. So he had found a dealer, and set up shop in Sid's bathroom while the older man was supposed to be out shopping. By the time Sid had come home, Eddie had been lying on the bathroom floor for about an hour. Sidney had taken one look at him, dragged him into the bathtub and turned on the shower. As the cold water splashed down on him, throwing him back to reality, the Reanimator shoved some kind of powder into his mouth. Eddie immediately threw up and felt his body cramp. When the pain had subsided, he found that Sidney had left the bathroom. Soaking wet, covered in vomit and freezing cold, Eddie had pulled himself out of the tub and found the older man sitting in his room. They had stared at each other, neither of them speaking. "If I ever find you.like that again, I will kill you," The former Watcher had told him quietly. "You have tremendous power, and equal potential. If you cannot respect that, if you cannot respect yourself, then you are a danger to yourself and everyone who encounters you. I will not allow you to hurt others because you can't control you urges!" These last words were practically shouted at him, Sidney's anger showing on his face.

"Do you want me to leave?" Eddie had asked quietly.

"NO! I want you to stay!" Sidney had said pleadingly. "I want you to stay! I can help you become something that you have never imagined. You can help people! Protect them. Do real good! You can do all of these things and more, but only if you help yourself! I can do nothing for you unless you do this for yourself first!" Sidney had tears in his eyes by the time he had finished.

Eddie had listened to all of this, and couldn't understand why anyone would care what he did. The only ones who had ever cared about him were his parents, and they were dead. His foster parents, while kind in their own way, had never been able to reach the disturbed boy in their care, and had been sad, but not surprised when he had run away at the age of 14. Since then he had taken care of himself, done what he wanted and answered to no one. Now this stranger was asking him, no begging him, to change, to stay with him and learn to be a different person. "Ok. I'll stay, I'll change." Eddie hadn't liked the person he was all that much anyways.

After that night, Eddie had never done anything harder then alcohol. Sid disapproved of this vice as well, but let it be as long as Eddie did it in moderation. As for smoking, Eddie had been doing it before he met Sid, and had told his friend that while he'll throw away everything else about his old self, no one would make him give up smoking.

As he reached the entrance to the Bronze, Eddie took a last drag of his cigarette and thew it away, wondering what had caused his trip down painful memory lane. Oh, that's right! Hanging out! The young Necromancer was still worried about the impression he was going to make with Buffy and her friends. He had cleaned himself up, on Sidney's orders. A shower, a shave, and some clean clothes was the prescription for tonight. He knew he looked good when he cleaned himself up, Sidney had told enough times. Yet, he still felt uncomfortable. Yeah, like a new shirt and some after-shave is going to get them to forget about what happened today, he thought as he paid the cover and stepped into the club.

The place was crowded, with teenagers packing the tables and dance floor. It was dark and stuffy, and Eddie liked it. Feels alive. Seeing no sign of Buffy or anyone he had met this afternoon, he tried to make his way across the club to check out the other side. Looking over at the stage, he noticed that the band was just getting set up to start playing. Well at least I didn't miss anything. Eddie also noticed a group of girls looking at him. The blond one was blatantly staring at him, while another one kept looking way shyly. The last one, who Eddie guessed was the group's "leader", was looking at him as if he were simply something she was considering buying. The feeling of being watched grew as he looked around and saw other girls looking at him, and few guys as well. Well, this is decidedly uncomfortable.

Trying to ignore the various looks he got, Eddie made his way halfway though the Bronze when he noticed Willow pointing at him, Buffy beside her. They started to walk towards him, simply staring at him. What the hell is everyone staring at me for? Eddie was starting to get more then a little upset with all the attention he was getting. Turning slightly, he noticed Xander and a person he didn't know sitting at a table. Xander was staring at him as well, turned and looked at the approaching Buffy and Willow, and then turned back to look at him again. At first his face appeared tense, then relaxed completely. "Hey Eddie," Xander said with a strained voice.

"Uh, hi." The redhead and the Slayer reached the table and continued to stare at him. "What?" the Necromancer asked nervously. "Why are you staring at me? Why is everyone staring at me?"

Neither girl said anything for a moment and continued to look at him, then both jumped a little when Xander cleared his throat somewhat forcefully. "What? Were we staring?" Willow said quickly.

"No we, weren't staring," Buffy said from beside Willow. "We were.uh, you look.different." Xander snickered from the table at both girls.

"Thanks, I think." Eddie didn't notice the slightly embarrassed blush on both girls. "So, is this place usually this crowded?"

Xander shrugged, giving the girls a moment to get themselves together. "Well, yeah. There aren't all that many places to hang out in Sunnydale."

Oz nodded beside Xander. "Yeah it's the Bronze, the mall and.and that's about it."

"I see." Eddie said to the two guys. He then looked at Oz strangely. "Who are you?"

"I'm Oz," Willow's boyfriend answered. "I'm with Willow." He looked over at the hacker and gave her a smile.

Willow returned the smile and took her seat beside him. "So Eddie, did you have any trouble? Finding the Bronze, I mean."

Eddie didn't answer right away as he was busy staring at Oz. There's something not right about this guy, he thought as he looked at the currently blond-haired boy. Something I've felt before.Oh! He gave Oz one more look before shaking his head and looking over at Willow. "No, not really. This is a small town, not many ways to get lost in it. Though there are a suprising number alleys and side streets."

"Yeah, just more places for vampires to hunt and hide." Buffy put in as she took her own seat in between Willow and Xander. "It's a pain to try and cover all of them while patrolling."

Eddie sent her a surprised look, then glanced at Oz. Buffy noticed and smiled. "Oh, Oz knows about the, you know what. It's no big deal."

Willow quickly nodded. "Yep! Oz is officially a Slayerette!"

Eddie gave her a blank look. "A Slayerette?"

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at the title Willow had coined to describe the group. "Basically a Slayerette knows about me being the Slayer, and helps out occasionally with researching stuff with Giles or keeping me company on patrol."

"I thought the whole Slayer thing was supposed to be a secret?" Eddie asked slightly confused. "You let people go out to hunt with you? Isn't that like, dangerous?"

"Hey!" Xander interjected before Buffy could answer. "It's not that dangerous! Plus we help! Don't we Buffy?"

Looked over her friends and nodded strongly. "Yeah you do. As for Slaying being a secret, yeah in theory!" she said turning to Eddie. "But you try keeping a secret like that when you're constantly running around with a stake, saving people from vampires."

The young Necromancer put his hands up in mock surrender. "Easy there, Summers! I'm not knocking it, just asking is all! Jeez, take my head off why don't you!" Eddie actually sounded slightly hurt.

The look that Willow sent Buffy was one she recognized. Apologize! "Uh, sorry if I sounded harsh," the Slayer mumbled. 'It's just that lately, a lot of people have been criticizing me on how I slay. It wasn't personal."

Eddie seemed surprised with the apology. "Uh, no worries!" he said with a slight smile. "My fault. I don't like it when people comment on how I work, I should have known that you wouldn't like it either." The male Slayer, who was the only one still standing, shuffled his feet slightly in embarrassment.

"Why don't you sit down?" Willow asked, looking up at him.

"Yeah! Take your coat off and relax, the band's about to start." Xander put in.

Eddie smiled again and took off his rather long leather coat. He was wearing a black shirt that Sidney had had tailored for him the last time they were in London. Eddie liked the shirt, but thought the cuffs slightly long, so he had rolled them up to his elbows, leaving his forearms bare. As he hung his coat on the back of a chair and sat down, Xander noticed four deep scars running the length of his left arm. "Nice scars," Xander said as he looked at them. "Looks like a huge dog took a swipe at you."

"Close," The Necromancer replied as he himself looked at the scars. "Werewolf. Thing was friggen HUGE! Guy was a bodybuilder when he was normal."

Oz tensed beside Willow. "Werewolf? You hunt werewolves?" he asked carefully.

Eddie gazed at the teenage boy with strange eyes, then abruptly smiled. "Don't worry Teen-Wolf, I'm not a professional. Just do it when I have to."

Everyone looked at Eddie in shock. "How did you know Oz was a werewolf?" Buffy asked as she found her voice.

The male Slayer shrugged as he looked at the scars again. "Just did. I've got like a supernatural radar or something. Can sense vampires, zombies, werewolves and other creature-features from pretty far off. It's a gift!"

Before anyone could comment, Oz put his hand up to ask a question. "Just out of curiosity, what did you mean by only when you have to."

"Just what it sounded like," Eddie said as he raised his eyes from the scars to look at Oz. "I don't hunt them for fun or profit. The only ones I've killed have been because I had to, not cause I wanted to. So as long as you don't go trying to give me any love bites or piss me off, you're safe from me."

Oz seemed to consider this for a moment, then relaxed. "Cool." He said simply.

"How many have you killed?" Xander blurted out suddenly. Willow and Buffy gave him a dirty look, while Oz just looked at him for a second before turning to Eddie to hear the answer.

"Something around twenty." Eddie answered quietly.

"You've run into werewolves twenty times?" Buffy asked amazed.

Eddie shook his head. "No, only once."

This time no one spoke for awhile as they let that sink in. Buffy had only faced one werewolf, Oz, and that had been a fight that she had barely won. The fact that Eddie had killed something around twenty werewolves in one fight gave the group, and especially Buffy, some kind of idea of how successful the Necromancer was at his job. After a few minutes of no one speaking, Eddie sighed. "It was a weird situation, that I was totally unprepared for. I had expected to find a cult, and found werewolves instead. If I had known that they what they were, I would have found another way to deal with it. Under the circumstances, I had no choice but to kill them."

"What happened?" Xander asked, fascinated by the beginnings of what he thought was an amazing story.

"Uh, it's kind of a long story." Eddie told them. "Are you sure you want to hear it? It's not a nice story." This last part was directed at Oz, more then any of the others.

The young werewolf looked around at the others and shrugged. "I don't mind. I'm interested myself." He sent a grateful look to Eddie. "Thanks for asking though."

Eddie took another look at the scars on his arm and took deep breath before starting. "It happened in Venice. Sid had gotten a call from some rich guy there about his missing daughter. The guy thought that his daughter had been kidnapped by a cult. So me and Sid hope a plane to Italy and do our Homes/Watson impression. After some digging around with her friends and co-workers, we found out that the chicks new boyfriend was kind of weird. So Sid tells me to follow him around, while he checks to see if the little princess just didn't get bored and run off with some other guy. So I'm following the dude for a week, and the guy had the most boring life! He was some kind of office worker and spent most of his time there. I drank so many espressos that week I was bouncing! One late afternoon I'm waiting outside his house, doing the lurking in the shadows bit, when a car pulls up and he jumps in. I follow the car into the middle of nowhere, where it stops. Four guys, including mine, get out, pop the lid of a sewer and go down."

"Now, I don't know what you guys know about Venice, but it's the place in Italy with all the gondolas, and water. So I head down into the sewers and the thing is a friggen maze! I'm searching for the guy for like half an hour before I find him. Him and about twenty guys and gals are standing around drinking wine. Behind them are these cells with people in them. There must have been like thirty people locked up. I'm trying to think what the hell to do, when all the cells unlock and the people bolt! I mean they ran like it was for money! They all go different ways, screaming bloody murder the whole way. Now my guy and his friends are laughing their asses off. I'm wondering what the hell is going on, when they all shut the hell up and scream. Turns out that the whole lot of them were werewolves, and that his was like a monthly ritual for them. They'd kidnap people though out the month, lock'em up down there and then let them out right before the changed. Then they'd hunt them all night for fun."

The entire group sat silent as they listened to Eddie tell his tale of how he fought the werewolves with nothing but a Desert Eagle, and a large knife that he had. How one of the werewolves had jumped on his back and almost bit his head off before he put four bullets into it's face, and how another had latched on to his arm and almost torn it off. "I tried to get some of them in the cages but they must have been on some time of timer, cause they wouldn't lock. So did what I had to do, and then got the hell out of there," he finished.

The silence continued for a second before the first question was asked by Buffy. "Did you have silver bullets in the gun?"

The male Slayer shook his head in the negative. "No, just regular ammo. I wasn't expecting werewolves."

"But I thought silver was the only thing that could kill a werewolf?" Xander asked puzzled.

"Technically, yeah it is." Eddie replied, choosing his next words carefully. "But werewolves are like most other living things, they don't last that long without their heads."

Everyone looked puzzled, except Oz, who hadn't said one word since Eddie had gotten his permission to tell his story. "The knife." He didn't say it as a question. Eddie simply nodded and looked at him.

Willow looked at the Necromancer with a mixture of horror and shock. "You mean you cut off their heads?"

Eddie looked away, slightly ashamed. "There was nothing else I could do. I didn't have enough bullets to wound them all enough to stop, and the bullets didn't seem to effect them much unless I hit something vital." He looked back at them, anger slipping into his voice. "I did what I had to do."

They all sat there, not talking or doing much of anything. Then the band started to play, and they had a reason not to talk.