"And then it just. poofed? Like a vampire does? A. rat?" Xander went over the events told to him and the other Scoobies. "Yep, that's about it" Spike nodded his approval at the correctly told assumption of events while comforting Maggie, who was starting to fuss on his lap. "Pet, what's wrong?" The chin wobbled. and the waterworks started. Buffy snatched up her toddler and scolded Spike and Xander. "R-A-T, not the word. She was really scared by the whole ordeal. You don't say the actual word! How many times do I have to correct you on it?" Buffy sighed, exasperated. "Honey, it's ok. You're, ok, nothings going to get you." Buffy soothed the little girl. "Really, I don't want this to have a long term effect on her!" "Sorry" Xander and Spike said simultaneously apologized with their heads down. "It won't happen again, love" Spike added, kind of as an afterthought. "But what do you think caused a ra- R-A-T to turn all fangy?" asked a nervous Willow. Vampires were her top thing on the scary list, and rats were about third, maybe fourth. Putting those things did not seem well to her. The only rat she ever liked was Amy, and see how that turned out? She fidgeted with the hem on her black top. Willow still wore black, but she assured everyone that it was only out of mourning for Tara. She had been magic-free ever since that fateful night. She wore jeans on occasion, but the only time they had seen her in color was the night Maggie had been born. "I mean, was it a weird, practical joke-spell? Or." She trailed off in a grave and sober silence. "Or is it actually possible for a vampire to turn a . a rodent or any animal, for that matter, into another?" All the present Scoobies looked over at Spike, their expert on vampires. "Well." Spike trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed. "It is. possible. but the act of turning a vampire is. well, it's very intimate. You'd have to be twisted and deranged to turn an animal. It's just. just. gross" He finished, flushed. "Who would be that messed up?" Xander asked, as the light of understanding formed on their faces.

End of Chapter