The next morning found Mistoffelees walking into school in a bright, fuzzy, and long-sleeved orange sweater and dark wash loose jeans. Grids looked up as he neared their lockers, "Hey, Misto. How're you today?"

"Very glad to be among the living," he replied. "Here are your clothes back, by the way."

She took the bag, "Thanks." She glanced around, "Do you know what actually happened last night? I haven't been able to figure out the why."

"Yeah," he said, expression suddenly closing off. "It was a spell by the guy who ran that costume shop."

"Great, so we can't even buy costumes anymore in this town." She looked him over, "You okay?"

"I sorta died last night. Gonna take me a couple days probably," he replied, focusing on the lesser of two evils.

"As long as you're sure. I was thinking of maybe I dunno grabbing some ice cream or something after school, if you're up for it."

"Ice cream would be nice," he said. "Have... you seen Cori at all this morning?"

She shook her head, "Nope, not yet. But I haven't been to the library yet today either so..."

He nodded, and pushed away from his locker. "Alright, I'll see you later then."

"Alright, take care. I'll see you in class later."

"Yeah," he said and slipped off, offering her a distracted wave.

Coricopat entered the school, the card he'd found and the empty costume shop that morning in his pocket. It was a plain piece of cream colored paper with the words "Be Seeing You" written in Franklin's familiar handwriting. He'd considered burning it, and probably still would, but for now he carried the crumpled piece of paper in his jacket pocket. He turned toward the library, stepping around groups of teens talking about their "trippy night".

Mistoffelees froze when he saw the other, his feet having automatically turned to the library. "Mr. Coricopat," he said, though his voice cracked.

The librarian turned, surprise on his features at the formality, "Yes, Mistoffelees?"

The teen floundered for a moment. "H-how are you this morning?"

"I'm doing alright. And you?"

"Well, you know, dying for a couple hours and all that wreaks havoc with my sleep schedule..." He swallowed. "For, you know, starters."

Cori glanced around the hall, motioning to the library, "Come in? Rather than talk out here?"

Pausing, the teen nodded. "Alright. Did you ever get those cards picked up after last night?"

"I was going to get that done this morning." He opened the library door, holding it for the teen.

"Want any help?" he asked, trying to find himself back on familiar ground.

"I certainly wouldn't say no to it." He glanced toward the clock considering how much time there was before Mistoffelees' first class.

"I have a little bit, first period is free, remember?" he offered. "What..." he paused inside the library doors. "What happened last night? After I was gone?"

"Right. And what do you mean?" Cori glanced at him from where he had moved over to gather up the scattered cards.

Mistoffelees frowned, kneeling down to pick up all the cards on the floor. "With... if I ask, would you tell me who that was?"

"Franklin Rayne? He vanished as abruptly as you did. I turned back from breaking the statue and he was gone."

"But, who was he? I mean, those things he said and... I never knew you had that side," Mistoffelees said, looking harder at the cards than anything else.

"I knew him during my University years, back in England," Cori responded, sorting through the cards and carefully returning the ones in his hands, "And I try to avoid letting that side show through. It's not a part of myself I care for."

"I'm not, it's just," Mistoffelees failed for a moment before handing the cards he'd gathered up to Cori. "I don't think any less of you or anything, I'm just, processing I guess what happened."

The librarian continued to concentrate on the cards for another moment before nodding slightly, "I'd...that is..." He drew a deep breath, "I'd prefer if you didn't mention it to the others."

"I wasn't going to," he replied softly. "But that does mean I might need someone to talk to about it."

Cori took another deep breath, closing his eyes slightly before nodding, "You're always welcome to come talk to me."

"Yeah, but," Mistoffelees shook his head. "I'm sorry, you probably don't want it brought up, huh?"

"Well, it appears to have come up whether I wished it to or not. I'm here, and I'd rather be the one to talk with you about it than to have someone who doesn't know be there."

"I..." Mistoffelees stared at him for a long moment. "How's Demeter?" he asked, rather abruptly.

Coricopat blinked at that, "I-I, what?"

"That was... a total non-squinter wasn't it?" Mistoffelees asked, looking a little ashamed. "It's just, some days I wish you weren't so... you, even when I find out you're not and oh god I'm making less sense."

"No, I...it just caught me off-guard." He turned to fully face the student, "What's really on your mind, Mistoffelees?"

"You probably don't want to know," he said finally.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," was his reply.

"No, really, it's nothing. I should," he handed some more cards to Cori. "Just go."

Coricopat took the cards, concern lighting his features, "I-I..."

Mistoffelees glanced up at him. "Anyway, just saying, last night was fine, I don't think less of you, and I'll be heading out nowish I think."

Cori glanced toward the clock, "You don't have to go, unless you really want to." His tone was quiet and his gaze had moved back to sorting the cards.

"Think I should," he replied, voice small.

"I...I was going to brew some tea, if you stick around?" the librarian offered mutely.

"Oh, god. Alright, I could probably stick around for tea." The teen was sure he would regret it, since he almost could feel himself dwelling on that crush he was not supposed to have even more after last night. Which was probably not the correct reaction to be having.

Cori offered him a faint smile, "Just let me finish with the last couple of these and I'll get that made."

"Alright," Mistoffelees said, sitting on the edge of the library table.

The librarian finished quickly and then slipped into his office to get the water boiling, "How are classes going?"

"Same as ever," the teen replied.

He nodded slightly, "That's good to hear." Cori moved so that he was leaning on the doorway to the office, listening for the little kettle to boil.

"Yeah," he said, fiddling with his bookbag and the sleeves of his orange sweater. "Gave Grids her clothes back too."

Coricopat cleared his throat, looking away and praying he wasn't blushing at the thought of exactly which clothes Mistoffelees meant, "Yes, well, what you have on today rather suits you."

"Really? I sorta look like I'm trying to win "best pumpkin of the year" honestly, but thanks," Mistoffelees said, blushing for Coricopat. "I just, really didn't like being called a toy."

The librarian's jaw tensed at that, "I apologize for that. Franklin has never been... the most polite company."

"It's hardly your fault," he replied and hesitated. "Why did you bother with him then anyway? Why would he think that I was your..." he failed at actually saying the word again though.

Cori opened his mouth, seeking an answer, but the tea kettle cut him off, whistling. He turned back to the office, brewing the tea for several long moments before he returned, handing Misto a cup and sipping at his own, "Because I wasn't always as sensible as I can be now."

"That's a really vague answer," Mistoffelees replied, taking a sip of tea as well.

"Well, I-I'm not exactly certain how to respond to that question. Those questions," he corrected himself.

"Truth's a good place to start," was the reply and Mistoffelees blushed again. "Sorry, it's your choice."

Cori sighed, sinking down into a chair, "I was rather rebellious in my late teen years and on into University. Franklin was one of those rebellions."

The teen took another long sip of tea. "You were... together then?"

"For a time. Some things happened, he ended up a servant of chaos and I returned to my destiny as a Watcher."

Mistoffelees bit the inside of his lip. "Did you always want to be a watcher?"

"No. There was a time I wanted to be anything but."

"What made you change your mind?" Mistoffeleed inquired.

He considered answering and then shook his head, "Some things are better left unspoken."

"Right," Mistoffelees drew back. "Of course, sorry."

Cori sighed, shaking his head, "Don't be. I just, I try not to think about it, honestly. It's a time of my life I'd much prefer to forget."

"But you shouldn't. All those part of your life are what made you who you are now and I-" he cut off abruptly, taking another sip of tea. "And you're great who you are, but I should probably go…" Before he said anything worse.

The Englishman looked at him for a long moment, trying to find a response to that. He rose, setting his teacup down and still trying to seek a reply, "I..." He shook his head very slightly and, before he could think better of it, leaned down and kissed the teen.

Mistoffelees froze, counting his heartbeats, realizing he'd dropped the half empty cup of tea. This was... Finally he moved, pressing up into the kiss and sliding his arms around Cori's back. He had no idea where this was coming from but he refused to question it just then, trying to memorize the feeling of the kiss as quickly as he could.

Cori's hand came up to tangle in Misto's dark hair, tilting down into the kiss, the wrongness of what was happening fading under the feeling that this was right. But that did not change the fact he should not be doing this.

Vaguely aware that some of the spilled tea was soaking into his pants, Mistoffelees pulled down slightly at Cori's back, fingers twining in the tweed the librarian always wore.

Cori's breath caught and he drew away just enough to murmur, "I-I think I may be in love with you."

"You th-think?" Mistoffelees stammered, hazel eyes huge as they looked up at the librarian.

"I-I know, but..." He started to pull further away.

Mistoffelees made a strangled sound and pulled him back. "You love me?" Shock and fear and disbelief and joy were all swimming around in his head and it was making him even more dizzy.

The librarian swallowed and nodded, "I do."

"You, how, why?"

"Is there ever a 'how' to loving someone? As to 'why', because you're you. You're amazingly loyal and caring to those around you, even when they don't deserve it."

Mistoffelees' fingers rose, to tangle in Cori's hair. "God. Stop being you, right now. This is supposed to be a crush, something I get over and laugh years later. I'm not supposed to feel like I'm dying whenever I see you and don't touch you."

"I-I..." Cori stammered, looking the teen over, and processing that statement. "God...how long?"

Mistoffelees mouth worked for a moment. "Last year," he said finally.

He sighed in response, trailing a gentle hand down Misto's cheek, "We...God, Mistoffelees, we can't."

"No, really?" Mistoffelees asked, sarcasm evident in his voice. "You think I'm not aware of that?" He swallowed hard and looked ashamed of letting that bitterness in his voice.

The librarian dropped his gaze, "I'm sorry, I just..." He sighed, "Damn it."

"You're putting it much more mildly than I'm inclined to," Mistoffelees murmured, stroking a hand through Cori's hair still.

Coricopat leaned into the touch slightly, meeting Mistoffelees' eyes again, "I don't know what to do with this."

"I don't either."

He hesitated for a long moment before leaning in to gently kiss the youth again. Welcoming the kiss, Mistoffelees leaned back up into it. One of Cori's arms wrapped around Misto's waist, pulling him closer.

Making a small sound, Mistoffelees clung just a little bit closer, vaguely aware they were still within sight of the door and not caring. Running a hand through Misto's hair, Cori finally drew back again. Again Mistoffelees tried to follow him.

Cori took a step back, "We can't." He spoke firmly, though whether more to himself or to the teen even he wasn't sure.

"I know," Mistoffelees murmured. "But right now I don't care. It's like every idle fantasy I had just came true and I don't want to let go of that yet."

"It's not fair to you," Coricopat replied.

"What? Being with you, being in a relationship wouldn't be fair to me? You're the one who would be fired and possibly in prison, I'm not an idiot. Or kissing me isn't fair to me?"

"Kissing you isn't fair to you. And continuing any longer isn't either."

"Screw that then," he murmured, pulling Cori down again.

Cori tensed very slightly this time, but didn't pull away.

"I love you," Mistoffelees finally murmured. "Just, let me have this for a moment-or, eight more-before I have to let it go. Please."

The librarian nodded very slightly, speaking softly, "I love you too. If I could I'd give you far more than that moment."

"What would you give me, if you could?" he asked and regretted it almost instantly.

"I…don't think we should be having this conversation."

"No, probably not," the shorter agreed. "Indulge me?"

"Safety, as best I'm able, security, as much as one can, and as many days as we might have together," Coricopat said, voice even.

The teen let out a long, shuddering breath. "What are we gonna do?"

"I don't know," the librarian murmured, looking away. "There isn't anything we can do."

"And tomorrow? The rest of the week? How am I supposed to be around you without touching you?" Mistoffelees asked, eyes huge in his face.

Cori stepped back, reaching up to adjust his glasses and resisting the urge to remove them and clean them, "I-I, God I don't know."

Mistoffelees made a strangled sound of protest when he moved away. "God, this cannot be happening..."

"We...hell," Coricopat managed.

"That's articulate," the teen said dryly, already shoving up a wall of sarcasm between them. Anything to not have to think about what was going to happen.

Cori managed not to flinch at that, "Yes, well. Your class starts soon I believe?"

Mistoffelees did cringe. "I'm sorry."

The librarian sighed, "So am I."

Hesitating, he slid off the table he was sitting on finally, before leaning up hard against the other and kissing him hard. Cori tensed again, but relaxed almost immediately, his arms wrapping around the other and pulling him closer, kissing him desperately.

Mistoffelees pressed as hard into the kiss as he could just as the bell rang. Taking a breath, he finally pulled away. "End of first period," he murmured.

"You can't risk being late..."

"I know. It's another five minutes to get down the hall though so, I," he paused, taking half a step back. "I'm never gonna get this again am I? Or, should I say, are we?"

Cori swallowed hard and then shook his head very slightly, "We can't."

"I figured," he murmured, taking another breath and picking up his bookbag. "I love you."

"I love you too. H-have a good day."

"Pretty much not going to happen, but thanks," he murmured. "Right, I can do this," he said, to himself, taking a deep breath and finally heading out for the door.

Coricopat watched him go, sinking back down into a chair with a sigh. He couldn't believe he'd done that. It had hurt before, but God, this was not what he expected. His gaze trailed back to the door again and he shook his head, he needed to get work done.

Mistoffelees slipped into the classroom, Tugger glancing up from where he was sitting next to Grids. "Yo, Misto... what's up? Also, your pants are a little wet right there."

Mistoffelees gave him a long look, sitting down. "Spilled tea on them," he murmured.

Grids looked at him, her eyes skirting over his clothes and up to his hair. She reached into her bag and pulled out a hairbrush, offering it to him quietly.

He blinked at her, suddenly deeply uninclined to comb his hair. "Thanks," he murmured, taking it but still not actually dealing with the reason she handed the brush to him. His hair tended toward slight disarray at the best of times... though he figured this disarray warranted a phrase stronger than "slight."

"Are you alright, Misto?" Griddlebone asked softly.

"I'm not sure no is a strong enough answer," he replied as the teacher walked in. Quickly he set about taming his hair back down.

"Do you want to talk about it?" the Slayer offered.

He looked from her to the teacher and shook his head.

She glanced toward the teacher and then nodded slightly, sitting back in her chair.

Mistoffelees managed to make it through the class, though he took no notes, and clearly wasn't paying attention to a single thing said. At the end of class Tugger leaned over his desk and stared at his notebook. "No notes," he pointed out.

"No," Mistoffelees replied, shaking his head slightly.

Tugger blinked at him a couple times before all but manhandling him out of the desk and into the hall. "Misto, what's up?"

Grids followed them quietly, making sure to leave Misto an escape route, but sharing Tugger's sentiment.

"I don't feel good," he replied as Tugger dropped his arm. "I think I just need to go home."

"Misto, what happened?" Grids asked.

He shook his head, and raised his hands and let them fall, leaning back slightly. "My heart already broke about this. Why is it still doing it?"

"Because it doesn't matter that it has before?" She offered quietly, "What happened?"

He fluttered his hands again. "I can't. I just... need to be somewhere quiet right now."

Tugger nodded, looping an arm over Mistoffelees' shoulder and leading him to the corner of the student lounge no one else ever seemed to used.

Grids perched herself down on the other end of the couch, "Misto, what happened?"

"Remember that whole crush on Cori? And Halloween? As in last night?" Mistoffelees replied.

"Yeah?"

Mistoffelees bit his tongue. "Well, it sort of set off a long chain of events that... ended with Cori kissing me." His voice dropped, glancing around to make sure no one could hear. Sitting down beside Tugger he leaned against him.

Grids paled, "He what?" Tugger tensed and Mistoffelees could feel it from where he was leaning against him.

"Kissed me. Is in love with me. I spilled the tea I was holding," Mistoffelees replied.

"Oh, Misto..." Grids breathed.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, voice a shade away from desperate.

"I..." She glanced at Tugger, at a loss.

He shrugged slightly. "I have no idea."

Mistoffelees took a half hiccupping breath.

"We're here to help you in any way we can, but I don't have any idea, Misto," Griddlebone said softly.

He nodded. "Somehow I didn't think you'd know either. Just being hopeful again."

"Did-did Cori have any ideas?" she asked.

"No," he said, shaking his head.

Grids sighed softly, "Can I get you anything?"

He shook his head. "Lacking a new heart, no. I just... have to deal with this like I have before and move on."

"We're here if and when you need us," she murmured.

"Sure," he said and nodded.

"Are you going to be able to get through classes?" Tugger asked, voice low.

Mistoffelees paused and nodded. "So long as no one expects me to pay attention I'll be fine." In actuality he only made it through one more class before he stopped by the nurse's office, told her he was feeling ill, and headed home.

o.o.o.o

The next morning Grids made her way to the library, glancing at Tugger, "Do we have any idea why we're doing this?"

"What are we doing? I was only half planning on actually yelling at him."

"I don't know what we're doing, I was hoping you did." They'd reached the library by then and Grids pushed the doors open.

"Well, I'm sorta following your lead," Tugger said, before trailing after her to the library.

Cori looked up as the entered, his brows rising sharply, "Yes? Can I help the two of you?"

"Not sure," Tugger replied and that lasted only a few moments. "You know, you're a total moron right?"

The librarian blinked at that, "Excuse me?"

"Not sure how much teacher's gossip, but Misto was only in two classes yesterday," Tugger replied.

Cori glanced at Grids for confirmation. She nodded, but stayed quiet, letting Tugger say what needed to be said. "I..." He sighed.

"I'm just really curious what made you think that was going to be a good plan?" Tugger demanded. So much for following Griddlebone's lead, once he was confronted with Coricopat all his anger from stopping by Mistoffelees' the night before resurfaced. He hated to watch his friend fall apart.

"I didn't. It's not as though I set out with that intention."

"God," Tugger threw his hands up. "I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."

Cori flinched at that, "I can't help what I did. If I could take it back I would for his sake, but I can't."

Tugger glared at him. "You know, he was doing better too."

The librarian dropped his gaze, "What am I supposed to say? I can't change what happened."

"You're supposed to stop breaking his heart. I mean, how did you not notice that the first time through?" Tugger felt like he was bristling he was so angry.

Cori removed his glasses to clean them, anything so he didn't have to meet the students' gazes and to give his hands something to do, "I'm...I di-" He sighed, "I didn't mean to, it does no good now, but God I didn't mean to. Ever."

"Well, your intentions have done nothing," he said and shook his head. "Are you still dating the techno pagan?"

Coricopat flinched again, "We've never said so directly, no."

"Cori, it was a yes or no question," Grids said quietly, having followed Tugger's lead in the conversation.

"And the answer, Griddlebone, is I don't know."

"Right," Tugger said. "I don't actually care. But try not to be in the same room with the three of you, okay? Or you'll be owing someone a whole hell lot of makeup fudge. Actually, no, that's a bad plan too. Just don't."

Cori nodded, returning his glasses to the bridge of his nose, "Is there anything else?"

"Not sure." Tugger paused. "Alright, I've yelled at you. How are you doing then?" Mistoffelees had his loyalty, but he still cared about their librarian. It was hard to face down the forces of darkness weekly and not.

The librarian sighed, running a hand over his hair, "I haven't slept in two days and I've no idea what to do. All in all? Better than I could be."

Tugger shifted slightly. "I should not be pleased by that, I really shouldn't. Why haven't you slept then?"

"Worry, concern, trying to figure out what to do."

"...You said two days, but this only happened yesterday, Cori."

"I'm well aware of that, Griddlebone."

"The night before being Halloween," Tugger said, considering. "Oh. He went to find you." A long pause. "Did anything happen?"

"Between us? No." Cori shook his head.

"Besides that outfit? Alright, around you then," Tugger shrugged.

"Nothing beyond the breaking of the spell," the librarian replied.

"You really don't like giving out information do you?" Tugger asked, shaking his head.

"Why I didn't sleep two nights ago is none of your business, frankly."

"Alright, whatever. Look, just... figure out whatever this is, and then leave him alone as much as possible," Tugger said.

"There isn't much else to figure out, Tugger," he responded, "But I'll leave him alone."

"While not ignoring him," Tugger said, pointing at him. "We fight the forces of darkness together on a pretty regular basis after all."

Cori held his hands up, in recognition of that, "While not ignoring him. Now, don't the two of you have class?"

"Yeah," Tugger said finally, shaking his head again.

Grids sighed, nodding, "Take care, Cori."

Tugger just turned to leave, still fuming on behalf of his friend who would probably have preferred he didn't. Cori nodded slightly to Grids as she followed Tugger out. He really would have rather just have stayed home that day rather than have to deal with any of this.

For those of our lovely readers who thought the Halloween arc was over...

If Coricopat's love confession feels abrupt at all, we would like to point out it's much easier to deal with Mistoffelees being in love with him since he has people to talk to it about-Grids and Tugger for instance whereas Cori could never talk about this to another person, so it was harder to establish over the course of the story. Thus, when it shows up, it shows up rather abruptly.

That being said we hope everyone enjoys the chapter and we'll be back with some monsters next time.