Disclaimer: Joss Whedon don't shoot me. I know that this stuff isn't mine. Mutant Enemy Grrr Arrrgh.

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Kari wanted to thank everyone who has been reviewing, she is extremely happy and has been dancing around not stop since she has started getting reviews. She is really working hard on this fic and getting it out as fast as possible, so we both hope you enjoy. WarmTea


"Ok, do we have everything?" Willow asked.

Tara checked in the box of supplies they gathered. They were in the magic shop. Buffy and Faith had left to patrol once Giles had explained what was going on. The lights were out and white and black candles were lit. The table had been pushed to the wall and Willow was about to close the giant circle that had been drawn around the three of them.

Tara looked in the box next to her. "We have wormwood, for calling spirits, witches hazel for protection, lotus and moonwort to entice him and a branch from a Bohdi tree for manifestations. All of the herbs are here. Giles?"

He checked in his box. "The wand, the chalice, the incense, the sacrificial knife, and the sacrifice." Giles picked up a squirming rat. "I believe we have everything."

Willow made a face. "Are you sure we have to sacrifice that thing?"

"Yes. He won't appear if we don't."

Tara grimaced. "Alright, but I'm not doing it." Tara moved and grabbed Willows hand. "I can't stand doing things like that."

"I will do it. Willow, just close the circle."

Willow drew the last part of the circle and went back over to Tara. She leaned over and picked the witch hazel branches out of the box at her feet. She and Tara walked to the middle of the circle and made a smaller circle with the branches. They then placed the lotus flowers and moonwort inside of the smaller circle. They put the Bohdi branch just outside of the circle facing them. Meanwhile Giles set up his items. He put the chalice on the floor in front of him, set the incense to his right and the wand to his left. He sat down, holding the knife in his right hand and the rat in his left. He motioned the girls to join him. They sat down on either side of him, Tara on the right and Willow on the left.

Tara lit the incense. "With this incense, Loki I beseech you. Come to us and hear our plea.

Willow lifted the wand in her right hand. "With this wand, Loki I implore you. Come to our aid and hear our plea."

Giles sliced the rat's neck and let the blood drip into the chalice. "With this sacrifice, Loki I command you. Appear before us and hear our plea."

A swirl of energy appeared within the smaller circle. There was a blast of energy and then a figure stepped out of the vortex. He was about 5'11and was rather muscular with brilliant blue eyes and thick blond hair. He was wearing a blood-red buttoned shirt with black cargo pants.

"Ripper!" Loki threw his arms out as he realized who it was. "Haven't seen you in ages! How have you been?"

Giles smiled as if meeting an old friend and stood up. "I've been fine. I expect you know why I summoned you?"

"Yes yes. Can't say I haven't been expecting a call from you sooner or later, once you figured out what I was up to."

"Uuummmm, Giles? What's going on?" Willow asked tentatively.

"Do you know him?" Tara added.

Loki turned as if seeing the girls for the first time. "Why hello there. Aren't you two just luscious? I'm Loki, god of Mischief." He bowed. "And you two are?"

"None of your business." Giles interrupted. "I won't have you trying to talk them into your bed."

Loki pouted. "But they're so appealing. Are you sure?" He asked, directing his question at Willow and Tara.

Tara got up and walked over to Willow.

"Quite sure." Willow said, taking Tara's hand.

"We're together." Tara stated as explanation.

"The more the merrier, I say." Loki declared.

Giles cut him off. "Loki, stop it. I'm sure that you know why I summoned you. Care to explain to me why you are trying to come through the Hellmouth?"

"Well, things aren't good at home. In my dimension Ragnarok, our version of an apocalypse, is about to happen, and I already know how this is gonna play out. Not to my favor. I'm not going to stay there and die."

"So you decided to come here to escape your fate."

"Pretty much. And my kids too. Let me tell you, they are not happy with the way things are turning out." Loki sighed. "I figured that if we came here we could lay low until Ragnarok passed and then go back to Valhalla."

"That would seem reasonable, if I didn't know that you or anyone related to you would never 'lay low' as you say.

"This is true. Fenrir in particular wants to wreak some havoc on you 'lower beings' as he calls you."

"I can't let you do that. I'm not going to allow you come into this world and kill people."

"I don't think there is anything you can do about it." Loki said arrogantly.

Giles smiled softly. "I think that you are mistaken. Or have you forgotten the deal we made the last time we met?"

Loki looked cross. "Damn you. I knew that you would bring that up. Well, I'm not going to stay in my world and die like I'm supposed to."

Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them. "I have an idea. I have contacts in England that can summon you for a prolonged amount of time. You can stay there for the time being."

"If I do this, will you consider my debt fulfilled?"

"Yes. Paid in full."

Loki sighed. "Very well. I will stay out of the way. Gotta tell you though, there's not a damn thing I can do about my children though. They won't listen to a damn thing I say. Especially not about this."

"Very well." Giles put his glasses back on. "I will contact the coven as soon as you leave."

Loki bowed, then turned to Willow and Tara. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to join me?"

Giles threw a handful of sand at the demi-god. "Go!" he shouted.

Loki sighed. "Very well." He disappeared with a pop.

Giles broke the circle. "I'm going to go call the coven and let them know what's going on."

Willow looked at Tara. "Want to go home?"

Tara grinned. "Want to try out the new noise-proof spell we found?"

Willow raised an eyebrow. "Thought you'd never ask."


TBC...

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