Author's note: Hello everyone. I'm currently free from torture so I'm updating in honor of that. hahahaha an now that i'm done with my insane rambles on with the story!

Chapter XV – Amsterdam: The Bound, The Determined and The Found

Amsterdam natives usually avoided the outdoor markets at this time of year, and if they had to go, they never went to the Albert Cuysp market, preferring the less tourist choked alternative of the market on Waterloo Square, only a small ways away.

The three girls chattering in front of a clothing vendor were no exception. However, though they chattered in fluent Dutch and expertly haggled their way to the lowest of prices, none of the three was born and raised in Holland, much less Amsterdam.

"I cannot believe you said that, Sonja!"

First of all there was Sonja, who did not seem at all phased by the accusation. She was the tallest, standing at a little below six feet. She was obviously of Nordic descent, with the pale blue eyes and the pale blonde hair common to the people of Scandinavia.

"Please, Annie, "she said. "It's not as if you aren't thinking it!"

Annie was shorter than Sonja; she had cropped ruddy brown hair and olive green eyes. Her face was kind and awash with a storm of freckles. Her Dutch was lilted with the welsh accent as Annie had moved to Amsterdam from Wales not three years ago.

"You guys, it's me." The last of the trio spoke up. She was petite and tanned with long dirty blonde hair that was pulled back away from her face, showing off delicate features and doe-like hazel-green eyes. "You never have to worry about the whole propriety bit. What is up with you brits and making with the protocol?"

Her name was Buffy.

"Why, does that husband of yours worry about propriety, Buffy?" Sonja asked mischievously. "If you don't want him, I'll take him. A gorgeous hunk who finally gets that diamonds are a girl's best friend!"

She steered the thread of conversation back to the topic that had started it all, Buffy's South Sea Pearl necklace. It had cost a fortune and Spike had had it flown in from the Philippines for their fifth anniversary.

"Technically in this case, pearls are a girl's best friend." Buffy put in wryly.

"Details, details." Sonja said dismissively.

"They really are gorgeous." Annie commented.

Sonja and Buffy had been best friends since Buffy moved here five years ago, Sonja owned a gallery and Buffy was a photographer. They had met for business and hit it off and been best friends ever since. It also helped that Buffy and Spike had saved Sonja and her husband Max from certain death by vampires.

"Please, this makes me want to jump Spike ever more."

Buffy burst out laughing at the sudden bulging of Annie's eyes. No matter how often Sonja expressed her desire to jump Spike's bones, Annie never got over it.

Buffy, however was not at all threatened, she knew how crazy Sonja and Max were for each other so the constant lewd comments Sonja made about Spike didn't phase her.

"And here I didn't think that was possible." she said.

Annie shook her head, smiling indulgently at her two friends.

"You two are the impossible ones." She said. "I don't care how many times I have to repeat this, Buffy, I can't believe you let her talk like that about Spike."

The petite blonde grabbed a green hat and plopped it on Annie's head.

"Anne," she said. "You have seen my husband, right? I get worried when girls don't want to jump his bones."

Annie shook her head again.

"I've never really met Spike." She said. "But from what I hear about him, he has an ass that I really, really, really should get up close and personal with."

The three girl giggled and went on their way purchasing some things and scoffing at others. Buffy was talking to a fruit merchant about some watermelon when a familiar prickling stung the back of her neck. They were not Spike tingles. She caught eyes with Sonja.

"Vampire." She hissed in English.

Sonja frowned, and grabbed Annie's arm-the welsh girl looked startled.

"You guys-"

"Shh!" hissed Sonja.

Buffy lead them, though the streets. She glanced up at the sky seeing that it was dusk. The wound through the cobblestoned streets away from the Redlight district and towards the more residential part of Amsterdam where Sonja and Buffy lived.

"Keep heading home." Buffy ordered in Dutch. She had shifted smoothly into what Sonja privately liked to call, 'super slayer'-mode. "Who ever the bastard is, he's tailing us."

"Who's tailing us?" Annie asked.

"I'll fill you in later," Sonja said.

"Take her home for now," Buffy said authoratatively. "I'll deal with the tail."

Sonja nodded, she shoved Annie behind her and pulled a cross out of her purse. She held it out in front of them before backing away.

Buffy turned around and found herself staring into a pair ofbrown eyes that she remembered all too well.

"Hi, Buffy." Angel greeted.