"We're done!" Nadja shouted as she ran out of the building, heading right toward where Beth was waiting by her car. She was surprised that Nadja didn't slip on the patch of ice; she didn't even slide.

"Did you do okay?" Beth inquired as Nadja came to a stop beside her, using the side mirror to halt her forward motion. With all the ice, friction was not on their side.

"I did fine," Nadja enunciated, her tone suggesting that she was not really answering Beth's question. "It's History. I know American History."

"Do you?" she asked with a smile.

"Hey, I had the most time to study for this final so I'm sure I absorbed a lot of information. And we're done now so stop pestering me about my grades," Nadja huffed, going around the car to the passenger's side.

"Well I was done four hours ago," she remarked. "Remind me why you couldn't just drive yourself? You left me standing around campus with nothing to do. I could have been home watching the telly."

"You told me you hated being home right now," Nadja reminded her, earning herself a half-hearted glare from Beth. "You've been spending time with Daniel and Eddie in their dorm room to avoid being at home. I thought I could offer you a different reason without having to spend time around those two."

"I don't mind spending time in their dorm room," she grumbled, starting her car somewhat viciously.

"You're starting to lose sight of normalcy," Nadja claimed. "I saw you muttering at a squirrel yesterday."

"People can talk to things!" she argued. "And that squirrel stole my Cheezits."

"I was just trying to be helpful. Besides, you'll see the both of them later this evening when you force us all to hang out together at that music scene you picked out. How punk is it, exactly?"

"It's not punk," Beth reminded her. "I know my likes differ from everyone else's. And I'm not forcing you to do anything. Exactly who is it that you have it out against—it's Zack, isn't it? I thought you were over that."

"That? I'm never over that," she told her. "Zack is still somebody that I think is way below you but for some reason you graduated to boyfriend level—something I will never understand."

"You just think I should be the strong, independent woman," she accused, though she did so with a smile.

"Yes!" Nadja cried. "In my head, the fantasy is you, no romantic attachments, fighting crime while I admire you from afar."

"Not everyone is like you, Nadja," Beth reminded her.

"I know and it sucks," Nadja grumbled.

"Just keep that fantasy for Maea," she laughed. "I don't think I could ever see her dating anyone."

"Fine, she's my new hero. You just got demoted," Nadja claimed and Beth snorted.

Beth drove them directly to her house, where they'd hang out until Zack came by to take them to the music venue. She'd heard a few students in one of her classes raving about it and Nadja always complained that they never went out and did things. Her parents were fine enough with it, since it served eighteen and up; they'd be in a group, which satisfied her father mostly.

"Does Margaret ever go out?" Nadja asked suddenly when they pulled up into Beth's driveway.

She shrugged. "She sometimes leaves the house, but I don't know where she goes. It's not like she has any friends here, or a car even. She has a bus card though, so the world is her oyster."

"Has she been really nasty?"

"She's tried," she answered. "She's been subdued lately though, so I don't know if that means she's done trying or if she's just building up for a real explosive moment. I can tell she's not really into it; it's like it's not fun anymore."

Nadja snorted. "I never understood people like her. What do you get out of picking on people?"

"Uh, don't you pick on Zack?"

"That does not count," Nadja said. "He's family. I'm allowed to make fun of him however I want."

"I don't think he sees it that way though," she muttered.

"He doesn't?" Nadja demanded. "Has he told you? Do you two talk about me when you're making cutesy calls with one another?"

"Now you sound paranoid," she complained as she got out of the car. Nadja was quick to trail behind her, still demanding to know what they said about her on the phone.

"We do talk about other things that don't involve you," Beth informed her lazily.

"Okay, but you do talk about me," Nadja pointed out. "What do you say?"

"Nadja, I mention you as I do with other people like Daniel and Maea, so calm down," she placated.

"Well, now I'm going to have to ask Zack," she realized. "He's less likely to hold up under pressure. He breaks so easily."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that," Beth sighed.

"Too late; you might as well already consider it done," Nadja replied and she sighed again.

Entering her home, she was surprised to see her Watcher, Andrew, making himself comfortable on the couch. He was speaking amiably to Margaret, who did not look as enthralled as he did. Upon noticing Beth's entrance, her expression, if possible, got even more dour and she looked away moodily.

"Hey, Mr. Wells," Beth greeted, eyes jumping between the two. While she didn't like the idea of there being slayer business that didn't involve her, she also didn't like the idea that he was here for something that she was needed for; after all, she had plans tonight.

"Oh good, Beth, you're here!" he responded, turning around and smiling at her. "I was told you were expected to be home much earlier than you were."

"I picked up Nadja," she explained, pointing at her friend, who waved.

"Hey Watcher," Nadja greeted.

"Uh, I hope this isn't something important," she began, "because I sort of have plans tonight."

"Oh," Andrew said, his expression falling. Behind him, Margaret snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Do you have something to offer up to the conversation?" Beth asked her snidely.

Margaret almost looked like she didn't want to say anything, but at the last moment decided to have her say. "I think there are more important things than hanging out with your friends," she told her. "Being a slayer comes first. I don't need her help, Mr. Wells; she'll only slow me down. I can handle it on my own." Standing up, Margaret brushed past them and out the door, ignoring Andrew's sputtering calls.

"But you're supposed to be learning to work together," he muttered sadly, the door frame rattling after Margaret's exit.

"She says she's got it," Nadja repeated back.

"What was she going to be doing anyway?" Beth asked.

"It was supposed to be your first mission out on your own without your mother," he explained, "but now that Margaret's out, she's going to need someone to watch over her." He paused. "And that should probably be me." Without another second's wait, he jumped off the couch and raced out the door, calling out for Margaret.

"Aren't you upset she's going off to do this without you?" Nadja asked after he left. "You were originally very excited to start your field training."

"I'm excited to be a full-fledged slayer," Beth corrected. "I've been doing field work since I became a slayer. And besides, out on my own with Margie? That sounds like my nightmare."

"You're going to have to do it eventually," Nadja reminded her. "And you said she's been letting up."

"For now," she added. "And she was always worse when the adults weren't around. I bet she'd be unbearable on a mission. She definitely doesn't like listening to me."

"Well, enough about her, what do you got in terms of TV?" Nadja inquired, making herself quite comfortable on the couch.

"The same thing we've always got," Beth replied as she shook her head at her friend.

It was only a few hours later when Zack rolled up in front of her house, and Beth bounded outside to greet him. Nadja trailed after her, feet dragging, making disgusted faces at them.

"If you two could quit with the P.D.A. when I'm here, I'd really appreciate that," she told them crossly.

"Nice to see you too, Nadja," Zack retorted once he pulled away from their kiss.

"You saw me a few weeks ago," she replied. "In fact, you saw Beth a few weeks ago! No need to act like you've been separated for months!"

"We can act however we want and you can't say anything about it," Beth claimed, wrapping her arms even tighter around Zack, and sticking out her tongue rather childishly. She'd have looked singled out in her immaturity, had Nadja not done it right back.

Once they reached the venue, Maea was already there, having reserved seats for them as well. She'd done so by looking at the other patrons rather menacingly, especially those who had been eyeing the empty seats.

"Hey, Maea!" Beth greeted, waving at her.

Maea smiled lightly at the approaching group. "I have not seen you out as of recent," she stated. "You have been spending a lot of time doing training rather than patrolling."

"It's because I'm in my field work period," Beth informed her. "Despite the fact that I've been patrolling on my own for years now, there's apparently 'rules' that I have to follow, no questions asked. Besides, my parents said it wouldn't be fair to Margaret."

"Hm, yes, the other slayer," Maea intoned. "I have not met her yet."

"Consider yourself lucky," Zack told her. "She's about as sweet as a lemon."

"A nasty, old, dried-up lemon," Nadja added.

"Have you seen Daniel?" Beth asked Maea as the band started up another set.

"Not yet," she replied. "I would have expected his arrival some time ago, though."

"You think he got held up?" Nadja inquired.

"Maybe," Beth answered. "He did say he was trying to bring Eddie along."

Maea's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "Who's Eddie?"

"Oh, just Daniel's roommate in college," Nadja explained. "He's kind of odd, though."

"He writes in Latin," Beth added.

"And that is odd?" Maea asked. "Well, I suppose it is, considering the time. Though, it was not long ago that the educated could read and write in Latin."

"Maea, your idea of not long ago and our idea of not long ago are very different things," Beth told her with a smile.

"I am sure your father can write Latin," she insisted.

Beth snorted. "Yeah, I don't think that was one of the Victorian traits that stuck with him throughout the ages. That likely got thrown out to make room for punk music."

"But that's not the weirdest thing about him though," Nadja claimed. "He talks…to a rock."

Maea blinked. "Are you sure Daniel's roommate is not some sort of medium or even a seer?" she asked. "I would not be surprised if the empath made way with another person of extra-natural powers."

"A seer?" Beth repeated. "He didn't seem particularly enlightened."

"I don't think most would to the common world," Maea said. "After all, does your culture not depict your prophets as outsiders and crazy men?"

"She has a point," Zack said. "I want to meet this guy. I keep hearing things about him and yet I don't have a face to put to all the stories."

"Well, when he shows up, you'll finally have one," Beth told him.

"It's not that impressive of a face," Nadja decided. "He looks pretty normal."

When Daniel arrived a few minutes later though, he was alone.

"Hey Daniel," Nadja greeted. "I thought you said Eddie would be coming with you."

"I did," he started, "but after I told him a little about who else he would be meeting—namely Zack and Maea—he claimed to be occupied with other tasks. He said he could not attend, though he sends his sincerest apologies."

"Did he actually say that or did you add that?" Nadja asked.

"Well, I may have elevated the speech somewhat," he claimed, "but the meaning rings true."

"So what, are Maea and I now intimidating individuals?" Zack asked.

"Maea will always be intimidating," Nadja answered. "You? Not so much."

"Hey, I can be threatening when I want to," he replied.

Beth rolled her eyes at the two. Only a few minutes together and already they had riled one another up. "So, how did your finals go, Daniel?" Beth asked, turning away from the bickering pair (best let them get it out of their system now).

"I believe I did exceptionally well," he decided. "I have a good working knowledge of business schematics and accounting. I've always been rather good with such things. And as for you?"

"I think I did okay," she decided. "Though it's not like it makes much of a difference for me. I'm not going to be using my degree later. I'm a slayer, after all. That's my job."

"There's nothing wrong with developing extra skills or interests," he told her. "Have you ever considered doing something besides History?"

"Like what?" she grumbled.

"Well, music," he said. "You like to play the piano. Or you could go into new territory and try something like computer science or advertising."

"Oh great, I could try and rebrand the slayer name," she muttered. "You do realize how pointless this is, right? Why send me to college? It's just four years and thousands of dollars that'll mean nothing in the long-run. Let's face it: I'm going into the family business and I've got all the skills I need."

"I like to see it as a worthwhile opportunity," he told her. "A chance to do something no one else like you will."

"Maybe," Beth sighed, turning to Zack. "Hey, can you get me a drink?"

"Oh, and get me one too!" Nadja asked, cutting herself off mid-rant to make the request. Zack shot her a dirty look, but acquiesced regardless. Daniel offered to come along, since Zack only had two hands.

"Couldn't you be nice to him?" Beth asked Nadja once the two left.

"Beth, do you even know what's it's like to have a family member so close in age like that?" she inquired. "Maea, tell me: you had siblings, right?"

Maea smirked. "I can assure you, we were much worse."

"See?" Nadja said. "She gets it."

"Zack's not your brother," Beth reminded her. "In fact, he has a sister, Rebecca."

"But he's like a brother," Nadja asserted. "We've grown up side-by-side, just a few streets over from one another. We might have different parents, but we grew up together and we've been mistaken for siblings before. And besides, I can't go easy on him. Then he'd expect better of me all the time."

"You're incorrigible," she accused.

"I do not see it as harmful," Maea said. "Zack doesn't seem to mind. I believe their interactions might be described as 'harsh teasing.'"

"Which still contains the word 'harsh,'" Beth pointed out.

"Oh, don't baby him. He's fine," Nadja assured with a wave of her hand.

Zack and Daniel returned with drinks a short moment later, Beth taking hers gratefully.

"So has anything exciting been happening in the monster world?" Zack inquired when he sat down beside Beth.

"No, it's been pretty quiet on my front," she replied. "It's kind of relieving though, after the last couple of years. I'm finally ready to take a nice break."

"You do know it's only December," Nadja pointed out. "Anything could still happen at this point."

"Nah, we would have heard about it by now," Beth said.

"After Baba's doomsday message, I was expecting something to occur," Daniel mused. "Maybe, in his addled mind, he mixed up the dates."

"Yeah, yeah, soon death and destruction will rain down upon me," Beth mimicked.

"It does seem like Seattle has settled into relative peace again," Maea agreed. "With three slayers running around, it seems almost like excess."

"Well, it'll be back down to two soon enough," Beth grumbled.

"What about you though?" Nadja inquired. "Don't slayers usually get assigned to some outpost or something?"

"Sure, normally," Beth agreed, "but I think we can all safely say that I'm not normal. None of the other slayers would want to work with me. I've got a bit of a reputation, you see. 'Does not play well with others,' they say, although it is others who do not play well with me."

"So, you are going to stay here in Bellevue?" Daniel inquired.

She shrugged. "At least until I'm finished with college, or talked my way out of it. After that, who knows where I'll be."

"Same place as Zack, I imagine," Nadja muttered. "By the way, what are your plans, MIT-Boy? Looking to work at some fancy-schmancy start-up?"

"I start an internship this summer with Microsoft here so you'll be seeing a lot more of me this summer," he retorted.

"Bummer," she sighed, shoulder drooping.

"But after that, like Beth, who knows? I've got a lot of doors open for me here," he continued, smiling at her.

"I'm at a crossroads here," Nadja claimed. "I don't want to be anywhere near Zack, but as of current, wherever Zack is, Beth is, and I want to be near her. It's a conundrum."

"Well, just stop conundrumming and let's go dance," Beth decided, grabbing Zack's hand and nearly dragging him towards the dance floor. He was well-known for his two left feet and absolute lack of coordination, but that did not seem to deter Beth. And of course, Nadja had to go, mostly because she enjoyed watching disasters.

"So do you truly believe these coming months will be quiet?" Daniel inquired to Maea.

She hummed. "Where there is a slayer, there is surely trouble to follow."

But you haven't heard anything?" he asked.

"No," she replied slowly, turning to face him. "Why? Have you heard something?"

"No," he promised, "but I can feel it. Some sort of…disturbance. I don't know what kind or even what it could mean, but there is something on the horizon, something big. Sometimes I can feel it more strongly than other times, but it's always there."

She frowned. "You have mentioned that you are an empath. Is it possible you have the gift of foresight as well?"

"No, I do not believe so," he decided. "Although sometimes it feels like such."

"Have you spoken to Beth or Buffy about these feelings?" she questioned.

He shook his head. "No, I do not feel it necessary to spread such information without a better understanding of the circumstances. As it stands, I am still unaware of the greater meaning of this feeling. I could not say if it was related to the prophetic spoutings of Baba."

"He was touched," she reminded him. "He could have been spewing nonsense."

"Not according to Beth's slayer dream," he reminded her.

She stood up straighter in her chair, her eyes calculating. "We have no timeline," she reminded him.

"About once every year seems to be the timeline," he stated. "Do not tell me things have not seemed off for you. I feel it most intensely around you."

She frowned, unsure of why he would feel such a way. She, at the moment, was not conflicted. She was back in the battle, the heat of things, fighting alongside another slayer. And she had not been experiencing any trouble like she normally did within the demon community. Apparently, her relation to such a person like a slayer made people talk to you a lot nicer. Funny, considering she was more of a threat.

"I have heard and seen nothing," she claimed, head held high. "Although, I must admit that in my imprisonment—" she lifted her arms, reminding him of the bracelets on her wrists, "—my skills have been greatly depleted. But even so, they are still better than any humans' and I have felt nothing. Are you sure you are not just simply overreacting to my presence?"

"Something is happening, Maea," he promised, a worried look overtaking his features. "I only wish I knew what it was."

-.-

Slipping on a patch of ice for what was likely the seventeenth time, Beth's arm shot out to grasp a branch, keeping her from completely humiliating herself by falling on her butt.

"Aren't slayers supposed to be graceful?" Jackie asked her as he laughed, walking over as she righted herself. His father had business to attend to over Christmas (i.e. killing demons), and so he'd opted to come to Washington to spend the holidays with her and her family. She had missed him, so she wasn't complaining about his presence, even if currently it was a little unwanted.

"I am," she bit out angrily.

"So then, you just met your greatest enemy: ice," he noted with a grin, one which she wanted to smack off his face. But hitting people was wrong, ooh.

"You know, I have half a mind to throw you into that pile of snow over there," she told him, pointing at the pile of dirty snow the snowplow had pushed off the street. Who only knew what was in there making it such a nasty brown color?

"You wouldn't," he said, still laughing. "You like me too much."

"You don't want to test me," she warned, her tone promising great amounts of trouble if he overreached her mercy.

"Sorry, princess, didn't mean to offend your sensibilities," he snickered, earning himself a glare from her.

"Hey, you two went outside without me," Anya complained, slamming the front door closed behind her. She stood on the porch, arms crossed over her chest, a very contrived look on her face as she stared them both down. "We were supposed to make a snowman together."

"Hey, Annie-kins," Jackie greeted, trying to defuse the sudden mood by acting all innocent. The young girl was having none of it. If anything, her eyes narrowed even further.

"We haven't even started," Beth promised, gesturing to the snowman-less yard.

Rolling her eyes like the pre-teen she was, she stomped over to them, her anger still not placated. "We need to keep it closer to the sidewalk," she stated, already claiming authority. Jackie and Beth exchanged looks; despite both being several years older than her, they unanimously decided it was best to let her have this. "Your dad and my dad are starting with the lights again."

Beth groaned and Jackie chuckled. "They're not seriously drinking and climbing up a ladder, are they?" Jackie asked, amused.

"They claim the alcohol keeps them warm," she muttered.

"They know that's absolutely false, right?" he asked.

She gave him an incredulous look. "Do you want to go tell them that?" she asked him.

"Can we just get started on the snowman?" Anya sighed, hands on hips. "Where'd you put all the supplies?"

"You mean the snow?" Jackie asked, kicking at a clump of it, making it spray through the air.

"No, the carrot nose and such," she explained, brushing the snow off of her pants. "And don't do that."

"Yes ma'am," he replied, saluting her before crouching down to start packing snow.

"We left everything up on the chair up there," Beth informed her.

That was enough for Anya and soon she started helping Jackie with the first part of the snowman. Beth started making the chest some few feet from them as Anya kept up a steady chatter of words, telling them about her school and this boy who constantly teased her. Jackie thought it was absolutely hilarious when she mentioned that she dealt with him by flicking his eraser bits back at him and keeping the pencils he tossed at her. Occasionally, because men were wont for violence, he'd also throw a snowball at Beth. And because she never took anything standing down (okay, and also because she was wont for violence), she'd throw an even bigger one back, cackling when she noticed the snow burns he was collecting on his cheeks. As the youngest, Anya would shout at them for being childish and tell them to stop. Soon enough, the two had abandoned the snowman completely as Jackie tackled her, taking the ball she'd been making and dropping it on her.

"You're both so immature!" Anya claimed as Beth was busy wiping snow off her face. She huffed, shaking her head at the two. "I though adults were supposed to act grown-up."

"I'm only technically an adult," Beth explained with a giggle as she supported herself on her elbows. "We're sorry, Anya. We know you wanted to make a snowman."

"Yeah well," she muttered, kicking at the ground. In a flash though, she bent down and grabbed up a bunch of snow, flinging it at the two before sprinting off toward the backyard.

"Hey!" Jackie yelled, standing up off of Beth finally. He looked down at her as she brushed snow off herself. "Are we going to take that?"

"Never," she assured, "but give me a mo'."

"Come on," he urged, reaching for her arms and yanking her up. She let out a yelp as she was suddenly flung to her feet. "She's getting away!"

"Where's she going to run?" she complained when he yanked on her arm again, trying to get her to move forward. "She went to the backyard, Jackie."

"Oh, don't be boring," he told her, grinning. Rolling her eyes, she did groan softly before heading toward the backyard.

They found Anya dawdling around her dad, who was eyeing them suspiciously.

"Were you two picking on Anya?" he asked critically, his one eye locked on the two of them.

"I don't know what that tiny demon told you," Beth started, "but she's the one who threw the snow at us."

"Yeah, she started it," Jackie added.

"I only wanted to make a snowman," Anya stated, the picture of innocence as she peered up at her father.

"Sure you did, but you had an agenda!" Beth claimed.

"I'm twelve," Anya told her. "What sort of agenda could I possibly have?"

"A twelve year old's one," she stated.

"Are you two gangin' up on a kid?" Beth's dad asked from the back porch. There was a box of lights beside him and a beer in hand, but nothing anywhere else.

"Aren't you two supposed to be working on the house?" Beth inquired, pointing at the unopened box beside Spike.

Sputtering, Xander said, "We were going to start, until Anya came and told us how you two were being mean to her."

Beth looked over at the several empty beer bottles with a skeptical look, but decided not to call either of them out on it. They'd just change the topic anyway.

"We were just having fun, weren't we?" Beth asked Anya.

She leveled her with a disbelieving look. "I wasn't having any fun."

"Guys, while we're all here, we need to get along," Xander told them, "and that means being nice to your cousin, Elizabeth, and doing what she wants too."

"You know, if she had gone to her mum, we wouldn't be facing such criticism," Beth muttered to Jackie under her breath. "She doesn't just believe her."

He nodded minutely. "Alright, we won't mess around anymore. Okay, Anya, we'll do what you want."

Looking satisfied, Anya said goodbye to her father and Spike before skipping over to Beth and Jackie.

"You are truly the most powerful of all of us," Beth told the girl who smiled sweetly at her.

"I want to build a snowman now," she said aloud, then added in a low voice, "They'll never believe you ever."

"So does this sort of manipulation run on your mom's side of the family?" Jackie inquired as they walked back toward the front yard.

"What do you mean?" Beth asked.

"Oh, don't act so innocent," he accused. "You used to do the same thing to me years ago, back when you were even younger than her!"

She gasped, clasping her hand to her chest in offense. "I would never!" she claimed.

"But you did—several times," he said.

"I am offended you would even accuse me of such subterfuge!" she huffed.

"Both of you are so ridiculous," Anya claimed, crouching down to start packing snow. "This time, Jackie you start on the chest and Beth can help me. I think she's the one I need to keep an eye on anyway."

"Hey, he's the one that started all of this," Beth huffed, though she didn't waste time in helping Anya. The girl could be really scary when she wanted to be, and the last thing she wanted was to get lectured by two dads about being nice while they were all together for the holidays.

This time around, both she and Jackie were careful about not frustrating Anya, though there was some snow flicked at one another (Jackie most definitely started it this time around, this she would bet money on). It was funny how quickly some tasks could go when they weren't busy messing around, and soon enough they had pressed the rocks into the snow, finishing the snowman's smile.

Taking a step back, hands on hips, Anya took a critical eye to their work. "Why do snowman always smoke?" she asked. "Are they all your dad, Beth?"

Snorting, she replied, "My dad never smoked a pipe, but I'm sure they're addicted all the same."

"It's because everyone smoked back when snowmen became a popular thing," Jackie explained. "And then they found out about snowman cancer. It's a very serious problem in the community."

Rolling her eyes, Anya shot a "Can you believe this guy?" look at Beth, who returned it with a, "I know, crazy right?" look.

"You know, there's a lot of snow around here," Beth noted. "We could make a whole army."

"Or we could—" Jackie began, and Beth yelped when a snowball stung her cheek.

"No, don't start again!" Anya cried, though she was smiling.

Careful of their snowman, Beth darted around the form before snapping back her wrist and hitting Jackie right in the shoulder. She had been aiming for his chest, but he'd moved, and any hit was worth something. Knowing he was at a disadvantage with her, he started just pelting her with snowballs, hoping whatever could stick would. He didn't have terrible aim though, so soon she was covered in as much snow as she had been before. Eventually though, Anya teamed up with her and she was able to hold Jackie down as Anya dumped a bunch of snow down the back of his jacket.

"Okay, okay!" he cried. "Uncle! Jesus, how many years do I have on the two of you?"

"Too many to lose that easily," Anya quipped, grinning.

"You three aren't going to get each other sick, are you?" Anya's mother, Dawn, called from the porch. She could see how much snow was covering the three of them, soaking into their clothes. "Christmas is in four days and no one wants to be sick for that."

"We'll be fine," Beth claimed, standing up and wiping the excess snow off of her. Jackie shook his head, much like a dog, snow flinging everywhere.

"We'd be better with some hot chocolate to warm us up," Jackie suggested.

"Yes! Hot chocolate!" Anya piped up.

Her mom rolled her eyes before turning around, sighing in agreement. When she came back out with it, they were already sitting on the porch waiting.

"Don't spend too much time outside or soon Spike and Uncle Xander will come around asking for you to help them," she warned Beth.

"Oh, they're too drunk to do that," Beth claimed, waving off the concern. "You know that when those two get too close to one another, they get sloshed."

"Are they going to go out drinking again?" Anya asked with a pouty frown.

"Oh yeah, and they're probably going to drag you into it," Dawn replied, looking over at Jackie.

"Should I be worried?" he asked, amused.

"Only if you think you can drink Spike under a table like my husband does," she muttered under her breath, stepping back into the house.

"Don't try that," Beth warned. "While my dad lost many things in his vampire-to-human transformation, his constitution wasn't one of them."

"He stills gets sloshed anyway," Anya added, sounding a lot like her mother at that moment.

Beth snorted, shaking her head. As she did so, she looked up to see Margaret standing at the living room window. She and Beth made eye contact for a moment before Margaret turned her head and walked out of sight. She was set to fly out to her own family for Christmas and was going to be gone for a week, much to Beth's relief.

It had been awkward beyond belief having her and Jackie around, much more than she had expected (and considering she hadn't expected it at all, it was very weird). Margaret had at first seemed relieved to see Jackie, the only other person that wasn't related to Beth that she recognized from the Slayer Academy. But then Jackie had only acted as polite to her as one did with a racist relative they had to talk to. Beth could remember him being nice enough to the girls at the Academy, especially the ones Beth had deemed members of his fan club—Margaret having been among them. It got her curious wondering what the change was all about; it had been years since he'd been to the Academy. Had he simply grown up?

Obviously, she had no self-control in the matter and she just suddenly blurted out, "What's with you and Margie?"

He didn't even move, not a flinch. Instead, he peered down into his hot chocolate before shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing," he told her.

"Oh come on," she cajoled. "Even I can remember she was one of the ones that was more infatuated with you. Sure, it wore off the older she got, but she seemed just as excited to see you as she had when she was twelve."

He shrugged again—a very popular move on his part she noted silently. "I guess."

"I thought you liked her," she stated, though she honest,y couldn't have promised that was true. Jackie was just a nice person, but this, what he had been doing, was odd at best (Invasion of the Body Snatchers at worst).

He made a noncommittal noise. "I never really liked any of them," he replied, looking up.

It was her turn to shrug. "You were nice to them," she said by way of explanation.

"I was nice to everyone," he said in a dry tone. "Mama raised a gentleman."

"So that's what's with the cold shoulder for Margie?" Beth inquired.

"Well, what, do you want me to go gab with her?" he asked. "Swap secrets?"

"You shouldn't do that," Anya interjected. "I like her hair, but that's about it. She's a bitch."

"Anya!" Beth cried, bursting out into laughter. "Where did you hear that word?"

"I go to public school," Anya reminded her. "And dad's not so great about censoring his language when he misaims his hammer. He does that a lot. Mom says it's because one eye makes his vision all wonky. I think he's just sloppy."

"You say that to your dad, kid?" Jackie asked, chuckling.

"No, he wouldn't appreciate my insight," she sighed heavily.

"I think that's less insight and more criticism," Beth claimed.

"Tomato, Tomahto," Anya replied, taking a sip of her cocoa.

-.-

Had death been an option, the wait surely would have killed him. Night in and night out he waited for his foot soldier to return with more news. Virothan had passed most of his time as he normally did, which included lording over his subjects. But he made sure to keep a keen eye on Abechius, though he saw nothing out of the usual. If his brother was hiding something from him, he did not seem worried Virothan would find out. That would be a fool's wish if anything; Virothan did not like to be duped, especially by his own blood.

Thunder rumbled on the horizon when the anticipated foot soldier returned to the kingdom. Virothan was swift to meet him down near the grand entrance, unwilling to wait for the boy to come for council. He had waited too long to hear an answer.

"Ay, soldier," Virothan called out as he paced himself down the large, stone steps. "What news do you bring?"

The foot soldier seemed nervous, his weight shifting from foot to foot. "My Young Lord," he revered, bowing lowly at Virothan's approach. "I have returned from my travels across the dimensions—"

"Yes, I am aware of such," he cut the soldier off irritably. "Tell me what news you bring back of this look-a-like."

"M-my lord," he stuttered. "I observed the female for several weeks, my presence going undetected by her. I watched her day in and day out as she moved throughout a multitude of tasks. She—"

"Get to the point," Virothan stated, his eyes growing hard.

"I did not believe it possible, but I see no other alternative," he stated, his voice wavering. "But that girl, she can only be your sister, the High Princess."

The words reached Virothan through muddled waters, and he blinked slowly, processing the information. His sister—alive? Despite his own disbelief in Abe's account, he had never truly believed the foot soldier would come back with such information. He, in the back of his own mind, had assuredly believed this to be some sort of hoax, a mistake on the part of his men. But now, with this foot soldier's own report, he was beginning to unravel the true story. The one Abe had worked so hard to conceal.

"I will have you recount the entire tale to me later this evening," Virothan requested and the foot soldier nodded vigorously. "For the moment, you speak of this to no one."

"Sire?" the foot soldier asked, perturbed by the request. "Is this not a cause for celebration? Should not the entire kingdom be in pleasant uproar?"

"You dare question a direct order from me?" Virothan demanded.

"N-no, Sire!" the foot soldier quickly sputtered, bowing again.

"Then do as I say and leave," Virothan barked. "I have matters to attend to."

"Of course, my Young Lord," the foot soldier uttered before scuttling out of the hallway. Virothan turned on his heel, heading back up the same stairs he had gone down. He had family matters to attend to.

He found Abechius out in a courtyard below a tree with draping leaves. He looked be relaxing, uncaring of the brewing storm in the distance. As for Virothan, he could feel the static feed into his body, only making his anger rise.

"Abe!" he called out as he approached, his loud voice cutting through the silent air and jostling his brother from his period of rest.

"Roth," Abechius greeted slowly, standing up as he did so. "Have you come outside to see the storm?"

Virothan approached his brother, stopping to stand only a handful of steps from him. "It has crossed my mind," he admitted, looking skyward. "Though, I have come because I have heard the most interesting of news recently."

"What?" Abechius inquired. "Is Father's health improving?"

Virothan shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. Quicker than Abechius could react, his older brother's hand shot out and wrapped around his neck, pressing him into the tree behind him.

"Roth—" Abechius began, his voice coming out hoarse from the pressure around his neck. His alarmed eyes met his brother's and he tremored from the look he saw there.

"Do not speak," Virothan hissed, his eyes near slits. "I do not wish to hear another sound out of your traitorous mouth! You claimed our sister dead and yet she has been sighted!"

Now aware of the cause of Virothan's mood, Abechius couldn't help but laugh. His change in demeanor threw his brother off some, and the hold around his neck loosened only just. "That is why you are threatening me?" Abechius asked, amusement coating his words. "Traitorous. That's a funny term for you t—"

"It is exactly what I am to call you," Virothan spat, cutting off his brother again and making him frown in annoyance. "You assured me she was dead!"

"As dead as she needed to be!" Abechius spat back. "She is not here, is she? She is incapable of returning to us, so then what is of the matter? She might as well be dead."

"You lied to me! I asked you to—"

"To kill her, I know," Abechius finished with a roll of his eyes. Tired of this game, he finally raised his hands and pushed at Virothan's chest, making the older man fall backward some few feet. Abechius pulled himself away from the tree and angled his body so Virothan could not corner him again. "And as I stated before, she might as well be dead."

"She does not seem dead to me!" Virothan growled, his eyes sparking. Abechius could hear the storm in the background and realized that he needed to defuse the situation before Virothan made good on his past and made an attempt on his life as well.

"What? Are you concerned that she will return?" Abechius inquired. "Though it has not been so long for us, it has been ages for her since she had last stepped upon her home soil. She is of no threat to you or your throne."

"I have always thought you a fool, but even this extends past my own assumptions of your idiocy," Virothan sneered. "Alive she is always a threat to me. I asked you to fulfill one task and you could not even do that! And then you lied to me! Did you honestly believe I would never find out?"

"It has taken you this long," Abechius pointed out and Virothan's accompanying growl reminded him that he was not doing anything useful to help calm his brother down. "And she is trapped where she is, I assure you. You may not think highly of my intelligence, but even I know she is by far the most powerful out of all of us." At that comment, Abechius snuck a glance at his older brother. While his features burned with hatred at the comment, he spoke no words to rebut it. "Her powers have been subdued and her weapon confiscated. There is no conceivable way she could find a way back here."

"How can you be so sure?" Virothan asked, throwing up his hands in an uncharacteristic display of anger.

"Because she hasn't," Abechius insisted. "Like I said, she has been there longer than she has been gone for us; had there been a way for her to release herself, she would have. You must remember how tenacious she is—and why do you insist upon making me repeat myself? I assure you, I handled the entire situation properly."

"Had you done so properly, she would have been dead," he ground out. "Like I told you to do."

"She is a lot harder to kill than you give her credit for," Abechius retorted glibly. "I did what I could."

"And you did not tell me this originally then why?" he gritted out.

"Because I knew that you would react exactly as you are reacting now," Abechius told him, gesturing toward his brother's taut form and furious expression. "How was I to know that some random expedition would be to the same dimension I left her in? I was sure I had picked a rather sad and desolate one. It used to be a hell dimension, I was told. I would have told you then, had I been expecting such an outcome."

"Such a claim does not assure me," Virothan told him. "You failed to do the one thing I asked of you."

"And what did you wish for me to do?" Abechius retorted. "I believe, considering the situation, that I handled it well. I could not overpower her, so I took some liberties. The outcome was the same, wasn't it? Everyone believes she is dead and you ascended to the throne. What is there to be upset about?"

"She is alive! You lied to me!" he hissed.

Abechius rolled his eyes. "You are caught up on those two facts. You got what you wanted, Roth. Father allowed you to be Transient King and not her. What is there to be mad about? Tell the scouts that they were mistaken; who they saw was not our sister. This is a simple thing to fix, Brother. Don't bother yourself with overthinking it."

"You believe I am overthinking it?" he asked, taking a step back and standing up straight.

Abechius wasn't sure if this was a trick question, but he nodded slowly anyway. "Our sister cannot return, so I would not let it consume you. Once the rumors disperse, everything will be back to normal."

"Her existence threatens my own goals," he assured in a tight voice. "Something will have to be done."

"Roth—" Abechius began.

"I was wrong to trust you," he claimed. "And this time, I will remember my mistake." He towered over his brother before striding away.

"Roth," Abechius tried again, making a move to follow, but then decided against it. He sighed, watching the retreating form of his older brother. "He is far more trouble than he is worth. I should have gotten rid of him, instead." He shook his head, sitting back down under the tree again, reclining his head. No doubt the next few long days would be trouble for him; trouble in the worst way.