The next morning, Machiavelli came down cradling Georgette like a baby. Georgette had a bemused expression on her face, bearing it for only a moment before jumping down lightly. Independent minded, the cat followed behind the immortal, stalking airily behind him as he slipped through the pantry hallway to the kitchen. The Italian immortal carefully filled the animals' dishes with dry food before looking around. "Where's Billy?" he asked Perenelle.

"Black Hawk's taking him for his morning walk," Perenelle answered, sipping from her coffee mug. She smiled and he knew that she was joking with him.

"Not the dog," Machiavelli laughed. "Though I was wondering where he was too. But my Billy. The Kid."

Nicholas looked up. "He went to town to get the building permit and supplies for the other cabin. Scathach went with him," he added, answering the Italian's next question. Satisfied, Machiavelli sat down beside the French couple, pulling the plate of pastries closer to him.

"I thought we were just putting an extension on," Machiavelli said, coaxing Georgette over with a piece of bacon. The cat sniffed at it but didn't eat it until he tore the bacon until smaller pieces. Machiavelli rubbed behind her ears.

"That was the plan-," Nicholas began.

"But then we got a call, saying we were going to have company." Scathach broke in. She came into the kitchen, Billy trailing closely behind her. The Warrior remained standing, leaning her elbows on Nicholas's shoulders.

Machiavelli straightened up, distracted. "Who's coming to visit?"

"Germain and Joan," Scathach said happily. "He's doing an American tour for his music and they worked into his schedule a week off. So they'll be able to stop and stay with us for the week."

The boy knocked his fork off the table by accident. He leaned over to grab it and Billy bent over too. The American nudged Machiavelli. "What's the matter?" he asked, pitching his voice low. The other immortals continued talking. Machiavelli could hear the happy buzz of their words.

"I don't think they're going to like me," he whispered back, straightening up. "Want to go play fetch with the Pup with me? Black Hawk's back."

"Sure," Billy agreed. He downed his coffee with one gulp. "We'll be outside," he told the others. He followed Machiavelli out into the bright sunlight, waving at Black Hawk. "Let him loose," he called. Black Hawk unclipped the husky.

Machiavelli tossed a stick and the dog ran to grab it. Turning to Billy, he looked at the American. "I don't think the Germains are going to like me," he said carefully. "Just a month ago, we were on opposite sides."

"So was I."

"I blew up their house. Sicced ancient warriors and a corpse eating monster on their friend. Tried to kidnap their guests."

"Could happen to anybody."

"And then I sent a legion of stone monsters on them," Machiavelli finished, tossing the stick for a third time.

Billy tugged the stick out of the husky's mouth when he came back again. He faked the dog out, before tossing the stick in the opposite direction. "Nobody's perfect," he said cheerfully. "But we won't know if they like you until they get here."

"I suppose."

"Hey, Mac," Billy called out cheerfully. "I can't say if they'll like you or not, but I know this: I'll always love you." The American picked him up and swung him around. Machiavelli gasped in surprise, but began to laugh, especially when Billy began to swing him up and down. The Pup yipped around them, chasing Machiavelli's heels. Billy beamed, settling Machiavelli back on his feet. "Guess who I ran into when I was in town?"

"John?" Machiavelli guessed correctly. "So what happened? Did you talk?"

"We did. He asked where you've been lately." Billy grinned at him. "I told him we were building the cabin, asked if he wanted to help us build it."

"Help us build it?" Machiavelli questioned. "I thought you were going to make it."

"You're going to help me, aren't you?" Billy asked the Italian. "I helped my stepfather build our house in Kansas and in New Mexico. I was about your age at the time."

Machiavelli tilted his head, then smiled. "I'd like to help you," he agreed shyly.

"Good. The supplies won't be here until the afternoon. We can swing by and grab John if you want. Maybe we can convince him to work for a wage." Billy smiled at the Italian. They headed back to the main cabin. "I'm going to read until lunch."

Machiavelli trotted along beside him. "I saw that book. It's all in German. Why'd you decide to learn German?" Machiavelli asked. He arched an eyebrow. "Why not Italian?"

Billy laughed. "Italian's too close to Spanish. I was getting all of my la's and il's and lo's mixed up. German was a relief after all that. Completely different." He jumped over the back of the couch and settled into the cushions. The boy pulled himself over the back of the couch and tumbled into Billy's lap. The American grunted a little, shifting Machiavelli so that the boy's knee was not driving itself into the man's crotch.

If Machiavelli noticed any of this, he didn't acknowledge it. "So you picked up German easily?" Machiavelli asked, looking at the American before grabbing the book away. He looked at the ink drawings on the inside of the book.

"No," Billy commented. "They say 'Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache'. German is difficult," he translated, seeing the expression on the Italian's face. "But I like it. English is a germanically based language. I never got to spend a lot of time in school. There's still a lot I'd like to know."

"So what's the book about?" Machiavelli questioned.

"Die Weisse Rose was a nonviolent resistance movement that happened during the time of Nazi Germany. They sent around leaflets so that people wouldn't be afraid to resist the Nazis. They were tried as enemies to the state and were beheaded." Billy frowned. "Sometimes I get to thinking at night that I should have done more. People were getting persecuted everywhere and I did nothing to help them."

"I didn't do anything either," Machiavelli reminded him softly. "I had long stopped caring for humanity. Remember the faceless masses?" Billy nodded. Machiavelli sighed as he spun the book around on the table, but looked up with a muted smile. "You reminded me of what it meant to be human. I won't forget it again."

"We bring out the best in each other," Billy agreed. He smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Want to teach me Italian some time?"