Eris was covered in bruises and her muscles ached more than she ever felt before in her life, when she woke up she was lying in her bed, head throbbing along with the rest of her. Once she was fully awake Buffy explained to her what happened…Including what Dawn was, she promised she wouldn't tell the others, they wouldn't understand, and the Slayer was grateful for it. She knew that Eris would protect Dawn with her life just as much as the Slayer would.

The only other person they told was Giles, knowing full well that they needed help and knowledge if they were to keep Dawn safe. None of the three wanted to tell Dawn, it would be too much for the young girl to handle.

It was later into the next night when Eris crawled out of her bed and over to her window to let some air in, feeling too stifled by the knowledge of Dawn and the pain she was enduring. As she looked out, she noticed a small orange flame in the back yard, knowing exactly who that was she sighed heavily and waddled downstairs. Her body creaked like an old woman, but she was determined to speak her mind to Captain Peroxide. Once she managed to slowly wobble herself downstairs undetected by the Summers she walked over to where she last saw him, "stop hiding Spike, I could see you from my window," after a moment the bleach blonde stepped out from behind a tree, "what are you doing here?"

Spike shrugged and threw his cigarette to the ground, "going out for a stroll."

"You said that last night and that only works if you're in the front yard, not the back," she went to cross her arms over her chest but pain pierced her back muscles like a dargger and forced her to lower them back down.

Spike saw the pain flicker across her face and frowned, "are you ok?" he asked, feeling concerned.

"Not that you really care but no, I got beat up by a woman who is stronger than Buff…that and I apparently dived out a window."

Spike finally noticed the large bruises littering her face and body, and felt guilt when he realized she dragged herself outside just to talk to him, "look, I've hated Buffy for longer than I have known you, it's hard to just give that up."

"Did you sleep with me to try and get another shot at killing Buffy?" there was no hesitation in her eyes, only anger and pain.

He looked offended at her words, he thought she knew him better, "No I swear! I didn't even think of doing that the first time we slept together…I really hurt you didn't I?"

"Yes you most certainly did, I hate being used and betrayed. That is the one thing I hate most in this world."

"I know the feeling…" he muttered, remembering the memories he shared with Drusilla and how she cast him aside when she became bored with him. It made him feel like a toy, and even he realized he didn't like that he unintentionally treated Eris the same way, "if it means anything, I'm sorry."

Eris looked into his icy blue eyes, hoping to find some truth to his words, and when she found what she was looking for she let out a long sigh, "fine…I forgive you, I'm in too much pain to be angry," she knew that being in pain wasn't the reason she forgave him, it was so much more than that. She had feelings for him, it wasn't love but it was certainly more than attraction and lust. She shouldn't forgive him but a part of her wanted to just so she could keep him in her life, it was selfish but she hey, obsession will do that, "just…if you do it again I'm going to cut off your balls."

"A little harsh don't you think?" she gave him a smirk which showed him she was not being serious. They shared a small laugh with each other, feeling the tense air between then lessen, "you should head inside, the cold is not good for those injuries," she nodded and waved goodbye to him before waddling back inside the house.

The vampire watched her leave, and once she turned off her light he leant against the tree and watched her room until he had to leave. That dream he had of him admitting his love for her seemed to have sprouted into real feelings, and he was at war with himself because of it. He shouldn't love her, it was an abomination, she was human and he was a vampire. Yet it just felt so right, she had been so kind to him, forgiving. She treated him like a man and not the monster he was created to be, in a lot of ways she brought out the human that he once was. The passion they shared with each other was strong and intense, and he find himself more addicted to her mind and body than her blood that sang to him.

He was in it too deep, and there was no way to claw himself out. He had fallen in love with Eris Vanzetti.

The usual bustling and excitable atmosphere of the Magic shop had been changed to one of awkwardness and stress. Tara's family had come to town for her birthday, and treated her so strangely that it left feeling everyone uncomfortable. Eris was forced to stay home as too much movement would take up too much energy that should be spent healing which she was glad for once she was told what happened, she would have made it worse.

Instead, her akward encouter was her hearing the Slayer couple argue just as she had gone downstairs to get a glass of water and some painkillers. She had to stand behind the wall in the dining room so they wouldn't see her and listened as Riley got frustrated at Buffy keeping secrets. She didn't know which awkwardness she would have preffered dealing with, family business or a couple falling apart. Once he left – more like stormed out – she walked out from her hiding spot and waddled over to Buff, "you know secrets are terrible for a relationship," she commented as she sat beside her cousin who was rubbing her temples in stress.

"I know but…what choice do I have, no one can find out about-" she stopped and lowered her voice to make sure no one could hear her, "what Dawn is."

"I know and I wish I could help you, let's just hope that your relationship stands after this is all over."

"I know, but it has to be this way."

"I understand, speaking of Dawn, we should get cracking on doing some research."

"You, doing research? What has come over you?"

"My family is in danger, I have to do what I have to do."

Spike was once again sitting on his couch, stroking the mannequin he made to resemble Eris. The door slammed open and Harmony waltzed in, making him throw the mannequin to the floor so Harmony couldn't see it, "Hi baby!" Harmony said cheerfully as she closed the door behind her.

"Hello, sweetbreads, have fun?" he asked uncaringly, he was not really interested in the answer.

"Oh it was so exciting, you wouldn't believe it, I went to April Fool's and absolutely everything was on sale."

"You paid for it?" he asked incredulously.

Harmony scoffed, "oh no, I just killed the clerk, still, a bargain's a bargain," she went riffling through her clothing bags as she continued to ramble on, "oh, I ran into Carol Beets, you know? She sired Brandon, Brandon from the sewer gang? And she said the Lei-Ach demon was recruiting his brethren to kill the Slayer!"

That got Spike's attention, "How's that?"

"Apparently, he got recruited by some big nether-wig and now he's on a mission," Spike looked away, an intense look appearing on his face, "you think they might actually do it? Kill her?"

"God that would be…pleasant," it truly would be but that was not what was on his mind, if the Lei-Ach demon was hunting the Slayer then Eris would be beside her to protect her, meaning she would be in danger, meaning he could go save her, he could see her closer than looking through her window at night.

"Well, if they do, I think we should do something," Harmony said as Spike jumped up from his chair, "Like a gift basket or something" she looked over to her lover and noticed he was putting his jacket on, "where are you going?"

"To get a decent seat, if the Slayer's gonna die, I'm gonna watch," he rushed out of the crypt, hurrying to the Magic Shop so he could watch over Eris.

After doing some research at home until the late afternoon, Eris and Buffy decided it might be easier to try and do it at the Magic Shop. They couldn't tell the gang what was happening but they could possibly steer the research onto the mystery woman instead of the Key. Shortly after Eris had gone into the storage room of the shop to grab some extra books on ancient demons, she heard the sound of a scuffle and the group shouting in panic. Immediately thinking that Dawn was in trouble, she rushed out of the room and saw Xander fly across the room, but strangely nothing had been near him to cause his sudden air time.

She could hear more fighting in the training room, and when Giles shouted, "Go help Buffy!" at her, she took a quick glance to make sure Dawn was ok before running into the back to help Buffy who was pinned to the floor by an invisible force.

"Get off her!" she shouted in the hopes something heard her as she kicked the empty space above her cousin. Hearing a grunt and what she hoped was a body landing on the floor, she helped Buffy and prepared to herself to fight incase there was something else.

She was proven correct not long after raising her fists, with no warning she was tripped over, and she could feel a body pinning her to the ground like Buffy had been when she walked in. She struggled against it's strength but was unable to break free until suddenly, the weight disappeared, like it was kicked off her. She heard it beside her and punched it repeatedly, glad to feel the solidness of the invisible enemy under her hand. Buffy had managed to defeat her own invisible monster and rushed to her side, "We need to help the others!" Eris nodded in agreement and they both rushed out the door and into the shop where they saw everyone struggling against their own invisible monster.

"How many are there?" Giles asked.

"I've already been injured once this month!" Anya screamed angrily, raising the statue in her hand threateningly.

"Shut up!" ordered Buffy as she stood perfectly still, hoping to hear the monster with her Slayer intensified senses.

"Buffy behind you!" she heard Tara shout before she was thrown over the table.

The Slayer quickly jumped back onto her feet and looked around frantically "Tara, where is it? Can you see it?"

"Blind Cadria, lift your veil, give evil form and break my spell," Tara muttered to herself, and before everyone's eyes, a demon materialised. Not waiting another moment, Buffy sprang into action, attacking the demon that hit Tara after she finished her spell. The witch's family walked in and distracted the demon which gave Buffy time to kill it by breaking it's neck on the stairs. The rest of the demons saw their leader get viciously killed and decided it was safer to run away and not continue the fight.

"What in God's name is that?" Tara's father asked.

"Lei-Ach demon, fun little buggers," Spike said from behind Eris, startling her by his sudden appearance, "big with the marrow-sucking."

"When did you get here?" she asked.

"I kicked that demon off you back in the training room," he looked confused.

"I didn't see you."

"I don't understand," said Tara's father.

Buffy crossed her arms and looked down at Tara, feeling angered and equally confused as the rest of the group, "I'm not sure I do either."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Tara said softly, making everyone look at her, "I was trying to hide, I didn't want you to see what I am."

"Tara, what?" Willow asked.

Buffy uncrossed her arms and asked, "what do you mean, what you are?"

"Demon," Tara's father answered, "the women in our family have demon in them, her mother had it, that's where the magic comes from, we came to take her home before…well, before things like this started happening."

Giles walked over to Tara, realising what happened, "you cast a spell on us to keep us from seeing your demon side, that's why we couldn't see our attackers."

"Nearly got us killed," Buffy looked at Dawn, a deeper meaning behind her words.

"I'll go, I'm very sorry," Tara stood from the ground and prepared herself to leave, she never wanted to hurt her friends that meant so much to her.

"The campers outside," her Father said, he looked smug about having his daughter return to him.

Willow stood up and gently grabbed Tara, hoping to stop her, "Wait! Go? She just did a spell that went wrong, it was just a mistake."

"It's not the point and it's not your concern, she belongs with us, we know how to control her…problem."

Eris decided to step up, having lost her patience with the nasty family, "now hold on just a minute, one, having demon blood is not a problem, I have met some amazing, nice people who have demon blood, and to treat her like this and raise her to hate that side is horrible. None of her fear would have been real if it weren't for you, who cares if she has demon in her, she has a soul, she is kind and sweet and you want to take her away from a life that makes her happy? What kind of family does that, she doesn't need your help, she has friends that can help her and be there for her."

"How dare you-" the father began but was cut off by Eris who raised a hand in his face to shut him up.

She turned to look at Willow, determined to get her point across, "do you honestly think that after years of being treated like a problem that it would be easy to tell you what she was?" Willow looked down at the floor, feeling ashamed, "she was afraid that you would hate her, resent her."

"Do you wanna leave?" the red haired witch whispered, hoping to all the gods that Tara wanted to stay.

"It's not your decision young lady."

"I know that!" willow snapped at the Father, wishing he would just shut up, "Do you wanna leave?" Tara shook her head, giving her all the answer she needed.

"You're going to do what's right, Tara, now I'm taking you out of here before somebody does get killed. The girl belongs with her family, I hope that's clear to the rest of you."

"It is," Buffy said, shooting a short look at Eris who nodded in understanding, "You want her, Mr Maclay? You can go ahead and take her," her cousin walked up and stood beside the Slayer, creating a united front, "you just gotta go through us."

"What?" the Father asked in shock, not expecting them to fight back.

"You head her," Eris said smugly, "you wanna take Tara out of here against her will, you gotta come through us."

"And me!" Dawn said next, looking confident and determined.

"Is this a joke? I'm not gonna be threatened by three little girls."

"You don't want to mess with us," Dawn said.

"She's a hair puller," Buffy nodded at her sister.

"And I'm a scratcher," Eris looked menacing towards the family as she flexed her fake nails.

Giles stepped up, looking at the family with a stern expression as he moved behind the three girls, "and, you're not just messing with three little girls."

"You're dealing with all of us," Xander chimed in as he joined the group.

"Except me," said Spike.

"Except him."

"I don't care what happens."

"He doesn't care but I'll kick his ass if he doesn't help, he's a master vampire by the way," Eris said nonchalantly as she flicked her hair over her shoulder.

The Father was getting angry by this point, his face had set into a permanent sneer, "this is insane, you people have no right to interfere with Tara's affairs, we are her blood kin! Who the hell are you?"

"We're family."

Donny, Tara's brother, finally spoke up, having enough of this conversation, "Dad? You…you gonna just let- Tara, if you don't get in that car I swear by god I will beat you down."

"God doesn't exist," Eris snapped.

Xander nodded, "And I swear by your full and manly beard you're gonna break something trying."

It was Tara's cousin's turn to step up. Her face took on a look of disgust as she looked at the vile sinners that stood before her, "well, I hope you'll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon."

Anya suddenly raised her hand, gaining the attention of everyone in the shop, "excuse me, what kind?"

"What?"

"What kind of demon is she? There's a lot of different kinds, some are very, very evil, and some have been considered to be useful members of society."

"What does it matter."

"Evil is evil."

Spike smirked, finally realising what was happening, "ah, why don't I make this simple?" he strutted up in between both sides and punched Tara right in the nose, making the chip fire off in his brain and a loud yell to erupt from his mouth.

"Hey!" Willow looked angrily at Spike for attacking her love before it dawned on her that his chip caused him pain, "hey!"

"He hit my nose," Tara whimpered.

"And it hurt…him, I mean!" Willow said cheerfully.

Buffy turned back around, smirking at the family, "and that only works on humans."

"There's no demon in there," Spike said as he clutched his head in pain, "it's just a family legend, am I right? Just a bit of spin to keep the ladies in line? Huh, you're a piece of work, I like you."

"I'm not a demon," Tara said to Willow, happiness welling up inside her.

"You're not a demon."

"He hurt my nose."

"Mr Maclay I'd say your business here is finished," Giles spoke with a finality in his voice, they were no longer welcome in his store. Not like they were in the first place.

"Tara, for 18 years your family has taken care of you and supported you, if you wanna turn your back-"

"Dad," Tara cut her father off gently, "Just go," he glared at her one last time before walking out, leaving his niece in the store.

"Are you happy now?" the cousin said snidely, her nose turned up at them all like she thought she was better than them.

"I'm sorry," Eris walked up and punched Tara's cousin in the nose, causing the woman to cry out in pain, "you sound like a bitch and I don't like you, buh bye now!" the woman held her bleeding nose and ran out to her cousin and uncle. "sorry…what she said about demons annoyed me, Tara's too sweet to be evil."

Everyone agreed and got ready for Tara's birthday party whilst Eris quickly stepped out and raced after Spike before he disappeared into the night, "Wait up!"

He heard her voice and turned around whilst holding his head in his hand due to the chip still firing, punishing him for his kind act, "what is it? I'm in a little pain here."

"Exactly why I followed you, I'd say you are definitely, completely and fully forgiven now."

"Really?"

"Yep, you caused yourself pain just to help Tara," she leant up and kissed his cold cheek, making his heart flutter, "thank you," she waved goodbye and ran off, leaving the stunned vampire alone with his thoughts.