Haven't been up to much since the last post. I mostly stayed home (he worked)...but we did have a few outings. Lol. On the 15th we went to the Ballard locks again (just to watch the boats) and found another beer joint that was semi close. =) Then on the 22nd we found another lake (Shady Lake)...went there in the rain...took the dogs and let them play in the water. And on the 29th we drove to Mercer Island (there's a bridge)...just to get out. We didn't take the dogs, but next time we will...there's a dog park there with access to Lake Washington. There were no less than seven dogs playing in the lake. It looked fun...I think two of our three dogs would like it. We also found a bookstore there...which is my favorite place to go. It was a little over-priced, so I took pictures of books I was interested in (to remind me later if/when I need something to read).

Okay, enough babbling...I know no one really wants to hear about all that nonsense! =)

Chapter Fifty
"Voyeurs and Vows"

By the time they'd arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron—which admittedly was just seconds later—their downcast demeanor hadn't changed. Buffy felt guilty about encouraging Tom to make the trip to Little Hangleton and get nothing for it and Edmund was at a loss for words. What did one say to someone who'd been abandoned at birth and who had nothing?! And Tom...his feelings were clearly going back and forth between anguish and rage! He was seething and looked like he was going to explode.

So Buffy, wishing to amend this—or at the very least distract from it—headed toward the entrance to Diagon Alley instead of the door leading out onto Charing Cross Road. This drew Tom out of his inner turmoil and, as Buffy pulled out her wand to tap at the bricks, he grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?! We can't take him in there!" he hissed—clearly still furious.

Buffy stopped and looked up at Tom, then glanced at Edmund. He was just standing there silently. Looking back at Tom, Buffy shrugged.

"Sure we can," she said. "He already knows about our world. His aunts are witches and..." She shrugged again. "I see no harm. And before you can say anything about snapped wands and prison, I'd like to see them try to snap mine!" She smirked. "And good luck throwing me in jail."

Tom just frowned.

"Come on, Tom," she said pleadingly. "Let's just...go have some fun."

At her words, Tom sighed—then nodded. He could use some 'fun'—whatever that was!

Grinning, Buffy looked at Edmund. "Watch this!" she said, then turned back toward the solid brick wall and tapped out the correct pattern. The bricks started to adjust themselves and move out of the way, so that they could enter, but Buffy's eyes—and Tom's—were now on Edmund's face as he watched the magic in front of him.

After the wall had turned into an archway, Buffy took Edmund's sleeve and pulled him through.

"Now, don't be startled if you see strange creatures here," Buffy informed him, dragging him along.

"Strange creatures?" he asked. "What do you mean? Not vampires."

Buffy frowned—then hmm'd.

"There may be vampire here," said Tom. "The wizarding world has them as well as the Muggle one. These are different. Your mother may have told you about them."

Edmund nodded. "She did say something about the one that Buffy didn't stake," he said quietly—as he looked around the narrow alley that was opening up to be much more. This made him wonder how all of this could possibly be hidden in the middle of London.

"How is this possible?" he said—more to himself than to Buffy and Tom. He squinted, trying to see down the twisted alley in front of him. It appeared to stretch on and on...as far as he could see and even farther. "I've walked the streets outside hundreds of times and never knew this was here."

Tom smirked at the other boy's open amazement and Buffy grinned. She was grinning at Edmund's obvious bewilderment—and at Tom's distraction, because Tom desperately needed the distraction!

"I say we start with ice cream!" Buffy said. "And then just...poke around the shops. Oh! We could take him over to Knockturn and show him to that icky severed head store."

"Severed head?" Edmund repeated.

"Are you referring to the shrunken heads at Noggin & Bonce?" Tom asked.

"Yeah. Might be fun to show him those. They're totally creeptastic, you know?" she said. "And hey, we could stop in and see the Ollivanders. And—"

"Why don't we just take him on a tour of Gringotts too, while we're at it," Tom jokingly suggested, cutting Buffy off. "Let him see the goblins."

Buffy grinned—then realized he wasn't being serious and pouted.

"He shouldn't even be here," Tom said under his breath. He was extremely concerned about the consequences of bringing a Muggle into a wizarding location. "Let's have ice cream...but stay in Diagon if you want to poke around. It's safer for us here... and for him."

Buffy opened her mouth to argue and, realizing she wanted to give Edmund the grand tour, Tom shook his head.

"No, Buffy," he said firmly. "We can't do it. We might be able to get away with the Leaky Cauldron and a few shops in Diagon, but not...everywhere else. Someone is bound to notice."

"I don't know how," she hissed. "It's not like any of use can use magic here."

Tom frowned. It was true. But if someone did figure it out, they would be in serious trouble. It wasn't worth the risk to him. He sighed. "Could we just...not risk it?"

Buffy huffed. "All right!" she grumbled—but started thinking about bringing Edmund back another time. On a day that Tom wasn't with them.

Thinking she'd capitulated much too easily, Tom eyed her. He could see that she was thinking... something. He didn't trust her not to find a way to take Edmund further into Diagon.

"So, no shrunken heads?" Edmund queried.

"I suppose not," Buffy replied—at the same time that Tom quite firmly said, "No!"

Edmund chuckled.

~oOo~

Sitting at a table outside of Fortescue's, the three were now quietly enjoying their ice cream.

Tom had taken Edmund inside to see what they had to choose from—everything was strangely different from any ice cream Edmund had seen before—while Buffy had waited outside at the table. There weren't many of them, so she'd grabbed it as soon as they'd arrived.

"This is...interesting," Edmund commented after a few minutes. He hadn't had ice cream in quite some time—since before the war—so this was a treat. Even before, his parents didn't think it was necessary.

Buffy eyed what the boy was licking. "Looks tasty," she said.

Edmund instantly held it out to her to take and, with a smile, Buffy leaned in and took a lick.

After swallowing, Buffy licked her lips. "Hmm. That is interesting," she said, making a face. "Odd. I'm not sure if I like it. What is it?"

"Earl Grey and Lavender," he said.

Buffy snorted. "Leave it to you to order that. How very British."

Edmund laughed. "Just like everyone else here, I am British," he countered. "It's good though. Admit it."

Buffy laughed as well, then shrugged. "It's... okay," she said. That was as far as she'd go. Then she looked at Tom. "What did you get?"

Tom had been watching them. Their easy friendship was confusing to him. He seemed to constantly struggle over the simplest interactions with Buffy. But not Edmund. He took every oddity in her in stride.

"I ordered...chocolate-raspberry," he responded, looking down at the cone in his hand.

"Hmm. Safe order," said Buffy.

Tom shrugged—then followed Edmund's lead and held it out to her.

Smirking, Buffy leaned forward and took a taste of his ice cream as well—then moaned obscenely. "Ooo. Yummy!"

Instantly Tom rolled his eyes—and Edmund blushed.

"Must you always behave shamelessly?" Tom asked. "It's as if you do it intentionally to make me uncomfortable."

Buffy just laughed—neither confirming or denying—then held her ice cream out to him. After a moment, he shook his head, causing her to laugh again. She held it out to Edmund next, but when he also shook his head, she shrugged and said, "Your loss!" then gave her ice cream another scandalous lick.

Tom did his level best to ignore her, but this time Edmund shook his head and chuckled.

And then Buffy was distracted by movement across the alleyway. Someone thought they were being stealthy, but she saw them shift in the shadows and take a quick step backward. They were being watched!

Frowning, she stood up abruptly and started in the direction of the flash of movement.

Tom and Edmund watched her for a split second, then got up and followed, abandoning their ice creams immediately.

"Buffy!" Tom hissed as he hurried after her.

Behind him, Edmund used his Watcher training and quickly realized what the Slayer was after—a vampire!

But Buffy paid them no mind. Instead, she crossed the alley—still licking her sticky, sweet, crunchy, and salty ice cream treat—then grabbed the man who was slinking about watching them.

"Out for another stroll, huh?" Buffy asked, squeezing the vampire by the arm—too late realizing she only held him by his coat. Instantly, he'd divested himself of the garment and moved out of her grasp, smirking when she frowned at him.

"Why are you watching us?" she demanded.

The vampire cocked its head and examined her. "You are...interesting," he said, his glaze going to the boys approaching behind her. "In all my years, I have not encountered a witch who is also a slayer."

Buffy hmm'd. "Well, I have not encountered a vampire who is also a wizard. Mind you, I've not met many wizards either though."

The vampire sighed. "I was once a wizard, but now I am...vampire."

"Why are you watching us, vampire?" Buffy repeated. "And don't say that I'm interesting, because I'm just not. How did you find me anyway?!"

The vampire's pale lips thinned. "I do not always stay in the cemetery," he said, his dark eyes shifting to those behind her. "Where is your...Watcher?"

Buffy smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she said snidely.

His eyes widened and Buffy noticed that, though they were sunken in and extremely red-rimmed—with almost blue-ish circles under each—their color seemed to be slightly different. While before they had seemed to be just dark and glassy, now they appeared to be black at pitch—as if the pupils were blown—with an extremely thin ring of hazel around the outside. And he looked as if he were in pain and exhausted.

"Who are these two boys you have with you, Buffy Summers?" he asked her, drawing her out of her thoughts.

Behind her, Buffy heard shuffling and would not be surprised if Edmund had pulled out a stake and possibly a cross—and, despite all his protestations against the use of magic outside of Hogwarts, she suspected that Tom had drawn his wand. She was glad they were in a side alley, as killing this sort of vampire was illegal—or so her studies had told her.

"How does he know your name?" Tom hissed, stepping up on her right.

Buffy glanced at her friends. She had been correct, Tom held his wand. And on her left, Edmund joined them, a stake in one hand and a cross in the other. She almost laughed at their predictability. Both wielding the tools of their trade.

"Oh. We're acquainted," Buffy said nonchalantly instead—and a bit too cheerfully for the situation. "This is my dear old friend Vlady."

The vampire made a hissing noise and appraised them. "Hmm. A slayer, a wizard, and...someone associated with that Muggle council of men and women who make it their life's mission to watch those of your kind."

"You make us sound like one of those bar jokes," Buffy said—then realized none of them knew what she was talking about. "You know, a nun, a priest, and a rabbi walk into a bar and..." She stopped. All three of them were just staring at her. "Never mind. She sighed, then nodded. "So. Um. Yeah. Sure. That about sums it up."

"Buffy, don't answer any of its questions," Edmund said—instantly reminding her of his mother.

The vampire sighed. "Always the same inane comments," he said, looking bored—his strange hazel-ringed black eyes shifting from Edmund's weapons to Tom's wand, then back to Buffy. She appeared to be unarmed, but he knew better. The Slayer was never without a weapon—a slayer was the weapon!

"Why are you watching us?" Buffy repeated. "Tell me now or, so help me, I will eliminate you."

The vampire eyed her. "You have already let me go once...in exchange for my hair. I do not believe you plan to eliminate me," he said. "Tell me, were you able to use it?"

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "You ask questions, but give no answers," she said. "Let's try again...why are you—"

"Following you?" he asked with a bored sigh.

"Or maybe we could start with your name," she said. "Since you didn't tell me last time."

The vampire stared for a moment, then nodded. "I am...Alistair."

"Alistair what?" Buffy asked next.

The vampire blinked and tilted its head to the side. "Just Alistair. To be honest, I have forgotten any names beyond that."

Buffy harrumphed. "I must say, you look hungry...Ali."

Eyes narrowing, the vampire glared at her. "Are you offering me a meal, Slayer?" he asked.

Buffy laughed—but Edmund looked scandalized. "As if the Slayer would offer to let you bite her!" he sputtered angrily.

The vampire chuckled—amused. "She might, if there were extenuating circumstances and...I may have been asking about another," he said, his eyes glinting. "There are three of you here after all and...I am rather famished."

"I most certainly am not offering you any of us, thank you very much!" Buffy said quickly. "Or any other human, for that matter. Remember, you made a promise."

"Yes, yes. Do not feed on people," the vampire said flatly—then tilted its head to the side. "Which is why I am... very hungry."

"There are alternate ways to keep yourself fed," said Tom. "Our world has options."

The vampire glanced at him and gave a clipped nod. "I am aware," he said. "The alternates are...less satisfying. Which is why I am so hungry."

"Less satisfying, yet better than starving!" Tom returned.

"So, you've kept your promise," Buffy surmised.

The vampire sighed. "I have," he stated plainly.

"Hmm. I'm mildly impressed," Buffy said. "So again, I will ask why you're watching me...us?"

The vampire shrugged. "I am merely curious. About what a slayer is doing in the company of a wizard and a Watcher-in-training," he said. "And, I think there is the matter of my hair...that you took from me."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Hair that you willingly gave to me."

"It would be interesting to know what use a slayer has for such a thing." He paused, then continued. "In the interest of give and take."

Buffy hmm'd. "All right. I can go with that. That's a negative. I mean, I discovered that I have no use for your hair."

The vampire blinked. "Well, that is disappointing."

Tom leaned close to Buffy and whispered into her ear. "He's wondering if you had planned to use his hair in a potion," he said. "It can be dangerous."

The vampire smirked. "Quite true, young man. It can be most deadly. Think of the potions that can turn one person into another. What if that other has no beating heart?"

Tom cocked his head. "That was never Buffy's intention," he said.

"Stop giving it more information!" Edmund growled.

The vampire cocked his head and looked at Edmund. "This one is annoying!"

Tom snorted.

"He reminds me of your Watcher," the vampire said. "Calling me it, as if I'm not standing in front of you."

"All right, we might be amenable to using your name if it makes you feel better... Ali," said Buffy with a smirk.

Edmund snorted—but he was pleased that Buffy hadn't told the vampire why he was reminded of her Watcher. It just didn't need that information.

"You are also annoying, Slayer," the vampire said, glaring at Buffy.

Buffy grinned. "I do try," she said flippantly. "How about this, you stop calling me Slayer and we'll make every attempt to call you Alistair. I mean, no promises or anything."

Tom snorted at this. "Buffy isn't very good with names," he said, thinking about all the silly things she called everyone.

Alistair shifted his gaze to Tom and narrowed his eyes. "She isn't?"

Tom shook his head. "Not at all. She hardly ever calls anyone by their preferred name."

"Hey! It's all in good fun," Buffy said with a roll of her eyes. "I mean, don't let this blonde hair fool you."

Alistair looked back at the Slayer. "So you expect my promises to be kept, but not your own?"

At this, Buffy huffed. "I didn't actually make you a promise... Alistair," she said. "But, like I said, I'll make every attempt in your case. It's a promise." She smirked. "However, I want a real answer as to why you're watching us."

"I believe I have already told you why," Alistair said. "I am curious about you. You are a slayer who allowed a vampire live."

Edmund snorted. "Not alive."

"Now, now," Buffy said as she turned and looked at her friend. "It's obvious that Alistair is trying here, so...let's give him the benefit of the doubt. For now."

Edmund sighed. He didn't understand the purpose of toying with the evil creature.

Alistair watched them. "I was not following you today," he said. "But when I noticed that you were here, with your friends, I became curious. That is why I was watching you. No other reason. Just that."

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Not following me today..." she said. "Hmm. But you did follow me that night."

The vampire's lips turned up into a smile of sorts. "You are quick, in more ways than one, Buffy Summers."

"You followed me to my home?" she asked, eyes wide.

Alistair nodded. "Of course. Did you expect otherwise?" he asked.

Buffy shrugged. "I guess I didn't really consider it," she admitted, frowning. "Huge blunder. Giles would be so disappointed!"

Edmund frowned. "No he wouldn't," he said quietly—as if he knew.

Alistair watched the girl as she mulled over the information. She was clearly upset by her lapse in forethought, but he liked that she seemed capable of considering things that were outside her usual frame of reference. Not all slayers were able to do this, he knew, and they died young for it. Younger, he corrected himself.

And, she appeared to be new to the world of magic as well—he hadn't figured out how yet—but much more open to the differences in supernatural beings. She was quite intriguing!

"But again," he continued. "I have made you a promise to not feed on people and I have kept that promise. As you can plainly see by the state I am in." He gestured at himself.

Buffy looked him over again—then seemed to realize she was still holding his coat. It was the same long coat he'd been wearing that first night in the cemetery. He didn't need it to keep warm, but had always worn it—since taking it from a man he'd killed years before—and it felt odd to be without it, now that he thought about it.

Randomly, he thought about what she would look like in his coat—she was a tiny little wisp of a girl and he was extremely tall—she would disappear within it!

"Oh. Um. Here's your...dustery trench coat thing," she said, abruptly holding it out to him. "I didn't mean to take it, but you're like...a slippery little devil! Might be time for something newer...an upgrade...or at least of this decade. You know, something new instead of something borrowed. Or stolen, as the case may be."

The vampire paused for a moment, eyeing his coat—and reviewing her rambling words—then reached out and grabbed it, then took several steps backward and away from the girl who had far too much power.

"So long as you're avoiding a people diet," she went on, "I suppose I have no right to take it."

Quickly pulling his coat back on, Alistair cocked his head and studied the Slayer. "Not that you are of a mind you care, Slayer," he said—then corrected himself. "Buffy Summers. But I have not been mindlessly killing humans for...quite some time."

"But you have killed humans!" she snapped, angry again.

The creature gave a short, clipped nod. "For a long time, I did not think there was another way."

"And you know this now?" Buffy asked.

The vampire shrugged. "Of course. There is always another way."

"This is true," she said—then frowned. "So, your promise to not feed on people means nothing then...if you were already not killing people."

Smirking, the vampire said, "I did not say I was not feeding on people, just that I was not killing them."

Buffy's eyes widened. "I see."

"Do you?" he queried. "I need to eat to sustain myself, just as you do."

Buffy harrumphed. "I suppose," she said. "But I do not eat the living."

The vampire snorted. "Would it be more acceptable if I killed my meals before dining on them? Sit at a table and use a knife and a fork?"

Buffy's eyes widened. "Absolutely not!" she said quickly. "You eat...people."

"How is that different than eating a cow or a pig?" the vampire countered.

Buffy frowned. "It just is," she said—but didn't feel too confident about her statement.

"I did not ask for this," he said next. "And I cannot change what I am, but I still deserve—"

"To eat," Buffy finished for him—then nodded. "I get it."

"I was going to say that I deserve to live the only life that I have left," he corrected her.

Beside Buffy, Edmund snorted—making it clear that he was nowhere near ready to accept this vampire's words.

"I suppose I can live with that," Buffy said, shrugging. "With letting you exist, as long as you're not maiming and killing and turning others."

"I am doing none of those things," the vampire called Alistair repeated firmly.

Leaning in, Tom whispered, "What he says is probably true, otherwise the Ministry would have had Aurors hunt him down and then they would have either put him in prison or eliminated him."

"Aurors?" the Slayer queried, with a glance at her friend.

"The wizarding world's law enforcement."

"Ah," Buffy said with a nod. It made sense. Hunting and killing his kind was illegal so long as he obeyed the Ministry's laws. If he were going about breaking their laws, his existence would be terminated. But that didn't mean she liked him skulking around and spying on her.

"All right. I'm willing to admit that I believe you're not all soulless and out to make munchies of all the tasty humans, but let's get something straight here," she said to the vampire. "I'm not so keen on you hanging about in the shadows, spying on me and my friends. That's totally not cool."

The vampire nodded. "I can understand how that would make you uncomfortable."

"So uncomfortable!" Buffy snapped—hating that she'd admitted that to him. "How about this...no more prowling about," she said, shaking her index finger at him. "If you see me somewhere, then you will immediately let me know you are there. And you will stay away from my family and friends."

"And what do I receive in return?" he countered.

Buffy grinned. "You get to continue to exist without the interference of the Ministry," she responded. "Of course, you're welcome to reject my offer. But if you do, then I will report you. I'm not sure what the Ministry would do with you. Maybe nothing." She shrugged. "But if they do nothing, then I will find a way to take care of the problem."

"Are you threatening me?" he asked.

"Oh no. Not threatening, Alistair," she said, pasting a pleasant smile on her face. "I'm making you a promise."

"You are...an intriguing creature, Buffy Summers," the vampire said.

"As are you," Buffy returned. "I have not met one quite like you." Then, her voice softer, she continued, responding to an earlier comment. "You're wrong though. I care very much. It is my job to care."

"Your job as the Slayer?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "I can see that. And what about your job as witch?" he asked next.

Buffy shrugged. "I'm just a witch, who will be going off to school soon. No need to worry about little old me. My job there will only be studying and learning. Unless you misbehave, of course."

On either side of Buffy, both boys frowned—causing the vampire to smirk again.

"Your little friends are not pleased that you keep giving me information," he said.

"I'm not worried, Alistair," Buffy said to him. "You made me a promise earlier and I believe that you've kept it. Now I'm asking for another one. Stop creeping around and watching me or...I would hate to think about what might happen to you if you can't make me that teensy tiny little promise.

Alistair studied her—studied all of them. He had no doubt that she would do as she'd promised and he wanted no trouble.

"I would be willing to make you a vow that I will not follow you in secret. That if I see you somewhere...anywhere...I will instantly make my presence known to you."

"And that you'll stay away from my family and friends, whether they are with me or not," Buffy pushed.

Alistair nodded. "Yes," he drawled.

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Oh wait. You have but-face."

Alistair just stared at her.

"You know. You look like you're gonna say but..."

Tom chuckled at her wording—he couldn't help himself—then reached out and touched her arm with the hand not holding his wand, then whispered, "If he is willing to make this vow, then I believe him."

"I need to know what he wants in return first," she said.

"Smart. The girl is more than just a pretty face," said Alistair. "What I want is simple. I need to eat."

Buffy shook her head. "I can't allow you to kill people!"

"Not kill people," he said. "Just...feed on them."

"I know a vampire who gets his blood from blood banks," Buffy said. "It's a bit gross, but it's an option. One that does not take human lives."

"What is a blood...bank?" Allistair asked with a frown.

"You know...like, a place where blood is donated and stored for future use. For those in need. For patients in hospitals," Buffy attempted to explain. Her eyes shifted to her friends. "Don't you guys have that here?"

Edmund frowned. "I have heard talk of an Army blood supply depot, but I don't know where it is," he said. And even if he did know, he wouldn't give the information to a vampire!

"Well, there must be a supply in hospitals," Buffy said. "I mean, lots of patients in need there. I know my friend...um...the vampire I know...he sometimes gets his from hospitals."

Alistair's brows rose in thought. "You have known another vampire that you have allowed to live?" he asked with surprise. "He is...your friend?"

Buffy swallowed. She wasn't prepared to talk about Angel. Instead, she pushed thoughts of him aside and nodded. "Yes, but he is...different," she said. "And I will not discuss him!"

"You have hospitals here," she went on. "You can use them. Use your strength to break in and steal blood or...befriend someone who works in one and convince them to give it to you. Or...get a job in one and take it. Or buy it. There has to be a way. There is always another way...as you said."

Alistair looked thoughtful. He'd never considered this. He'd heard of bloodletting. Bleeding a person for various reasons had begun thousands of years ago, but the practice had started to be questioned in the late 1800s. He knew about transfusions as well. And blood types. He also knew he preferred some types over others and wondered if getting the type he preferred would be easier by just getting it from one of these blood depots.

But any type would do right now. At the moment, he felt ravenous...like he was starving! It would be easier to just find a willing human. There was always a weak-minded human out there to feed upon! But, with as hungry as he was, would he be able to stop himself before he'd taken too much. He hadn't killed a human in years, but now—all because of the silly promise he'd made to this slayer—he might not be able to stop himself.

Alistair licked his lips. "I do not know where one of these blood depots is and...I am so thirsty," he said, his voice deep and his eyes filled with pain.

Buffy swallowed. "I can help you find one," she whispered.

Alistair nodded. He looked desperate. He hadn't felt desperate until Buffy Summers had started giving him options. He stared at her, his eyes going to her neck. He could see the hollow in her neck pulse with the blood flowing within her. He could hear the rush of its flow.

Then he looked at her friends. They'd all started to look like a meal. Both boys suddenly seemed to realize what was in his eyes and each took a hold of the Slayers arm and attempted to pull her back.

But they were unable to move her.

"I think it is time for you to take your friends away from here, Buffy Summers," he said, licking his parched lips. "My promise to you has made me so very hungry! I fear that you are all in danger."

Frowning, Buffy watched him for a moment, then sighed. "This is my fault."

Alistair shook his head. "No. The fault lies with the man who turned me," he said looking away.

Buffy sighed again, then tilted her head to the side, clearly making him an offer.

"Buffy, no!" both Tom and Edmund said at the same time. Tom grabbed her around the waist and held her to him and Edmund stepped around her, putting himself between his friend and the vampire, and raised his stake. He would make every attempt to prevent this monster from biting his friend.

For a moment, Buffy let Tom hold her. She even leaned her head against his chest. And then she disentangled herself from Tom's arms and turned around to face him.

"I can do this for a starving man," she told him. "And then he can make his vow."

"No!" Tom said—then bit his lip. "You don't know what such a vow means. It's a magically binding contract between two people. It's unbreakable! If either of you should break it, it would result in the imminent death for whoever broke the contract."

Buffy shrugged. "Well, I'm not worried. I'm a woman of my word. I'll feed him and then we can do this vow thing."

"No!" Tom barked again. He felt like pulling his hair out. She was so reckless! And kinder than anyone he knew. Much too giving! "No, Buffy. He must make his vow first!" he demanded.

"What?!" Edmund burst. "No! Have you lost your head?! She cannot do this!"

Buffy sighed. "This will not be my first vampire bite, Edmund," she said as she reached up to touch the scar of the one that was already healed. Then she looked at Tom. "How do we do this Unbreakable Vow thing?"

He knew he couldn't stop her and so he held out his hand. "Give me one of the wands that Vin and Sophie gave you!" he growled. "We can't take the chance with either of our own."

Quickly, Buffy pulled out a handful of wands and held them out to Tom—causing the vampire to shift uncomfortably. He'd never known a witch or wizard to own more than one of them. He'd only owned one...once upon a time. And this girl, she owned several. What did one girl need with multiple wands?

"Will it hurt?" she asked.

"He will be biting into your flesh and sucking blood out of your body, of course it will hurt!" Tom growled.

Buffy shook her head. "No. The vow."

Tom shrugged. "How would I know?!" he snapped angrily. "Do I look like someone who would agree to that?!"

Buffy smiled gently, then patted Tom's chest. "I will be fine."

"And what if you're not?!" Edmund cut it frantically. "What are we going to say to Auntie Vin and Sophie?"

Buffy pursed her lips. "I'm...not worried."

"Well, I am!" the two boys shouted at the girl, both glaring down at her.

Alistair watched the three of them with curiosity—then answered the Slayer's question. "It does not hurt."

Tom's fury filled eyes flashed over to the vampire. "How would you know?!" he asked—at the same time that Edmund said, "Sure it doesn't!"

"I have sworn this oath with another before. It was uncomfortable, but it did not hurt," he responded.

Buffy looked up at the vampire. "And the other?"

Alistair shrugged. "It did not appear to have hurt him at the time."

"And where is this other person?" Tom asked.

"He broke the vow. He is no longer around to be of any consequence."

Buffy hmm'd, then looked at Tom. "All right. Let's do this, then feed him. And then go home!"

"Buffy. Please," Edmund begged. "Please don't do this. Either of these things. This vow is... unwise. And feeding this thing is...insanity!" He waved his hands in the vampire's direction almost manically.

"I know neither of you are happy that I'm doing this, but it's my choice," she said. "You don't have any say in it and...you don't have to stay, Edmund. And, after we've completed the vow, you're welcome to leave as well, Tom."

Both Tom and Edmund huffed angrily. "I am not leaving you alone with him!" said Tom.

Edmund shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "Neither am I!"

"Well, then, fabulous! My gallant bodyguards are staying protect me," she said. "What do we need to do?"

Alistair looked at the girl, then turned and faced her directly holding out his right hand.

"With your right hand, you must take his," Tom hissed.

Nodding, Buffy faced the tall vampire and placed her hand in his. "Ooo. Chilly."

Alistair chuckled. "You are surprised?"

Buffy shrugged. "Not really. Like I said, I've known other vampires."

"There is a story in that, I would imagine," Alistair said. "A story I would love to hear."

"Not gonna happen, buddy!" Buffy said with a shake of her head.

Tom sighed. "Are you two ready—"

"Buffy please," Edmund tried again—only to be silenced by Buffy's determined glower.

"I'm ready," Buffy said, giving the cold hand in hers an unyielding squeeze.

"As am I," replied Alistair.

Tom swallowed, then moved close to the pair and explained to Buffy what was going to happen—then placed the tip of the wand in his hand onto their linked hands and told them to begin.

~oOo~

After they were finished, Buffy looked down at the thin red streams that were wrapped around their joined hands. They were quite warm—hot even—but the vampire had not lied, they did not hurt. And they lasted only moments and then they were gone, releasing her from the vampire.

"Alrighty then," she said taking her hand back and rubbing the sensitive skin where the fire-like strings had been wrapped around her hand and wrist. "Now for part two."

Hungrily, Alistair stared down at her. "You're truly going to go through with this."

Buffy shrugged. "I said I would and I made a vow. Despite being a slayer, I have no death wish."

Edmund snorted, then removed his glasses and started to pace. He'd watched the vow in silence, all the while thinking about how to stop part two of this ludicrous deal.

Alistair looked from one boy to the other. "I also have no wish to die. You both heard me take a vow not to kill Buffy Summers. I do not want to kill her, but...you both must do everything in your power to help me keep that promise."

Edmund stared at the creature, then looked down at his friend. "Buffy, this is madness!"

"Madness or mercy, I'm doing this. Stay or don't!"

Alistair watched the two boys. They were so completely torn. "Stay," he said quietly. "For Buffy. Please stay."

Edmund squared his shoulders and nodded. Tom did the same. Then they both watched Buffy as she took a step toward the vampire and tilted her head to the side, giving him access to her neck.

~oOo~

I'll leave you hanging here. You know what to do now...show me the love! Thank you in advance!

And thank you to Diane, Sharie, Norm, Crossfire, Ailsam, JediKnight, bookworm, Syriope, Chrysicat, elvencrone, Monster King, Last Divine Shadow, and Bee for the reviews/comments. I want you all to know that you keep me going.

And Sharie...extra thanks for going out of your way to post comments other sites! I greatly appreciate it!