Chapter 44
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After they finished their finals Bianca returned to Pine Valley, with Willow by her side. Willow said she sensed danger, wanted to protect her girlfriend and her baby. Bianca suspected that Willow just needed some space after her fight with her mother. Either way, Bianca was glad to have Willow around. There was definitely danger coming. Buffy and Riley still hadn't found proof that the fraternity cult planned to sacrifice the infants, not for lack of trying. It hadn't escaped their attention that a lot of former members had influence in the government. Riley had some experience in uncovering government secrets, and they all trusted him, but there was only so much one man could do. There was other danger as well. If Erica knew about Bianca's pregnancy, she kept up a good poker face. But Bianca still feared the day when her mother learned the truth. The plan was to say that Bianca had adopted an orphan, possibly a refugee from a war-torn area. But there was always the danger that the truth would come out. Christmas went without incident. Erica even let Kendall celebrate with them, after Bianca made it clear she had to accept Kendall or neither daughter would come over. On December 26th, something unusual happenned. Bianca saw a bug in her room. She didn't recognize this bug, had never seen one look like this. At any rate she crushed it to death. As the bug died it's blood began to form a symbol. Bianca took a picture on her cellphone. She was suddenly very glad that Willow had come to Pine Valley with her.
