Let me state here and now that Denise is a slave driver. Thank you.

Plus, thanks go to her for a section of dialogue in this story. The characters went and attacked her brain for that <g>. Also, thanks to my executive producers, Shirl and Tink, for helping me get right into the characters' heads. Now, I want out. Please?

This story is set after Buffy Season 3, during that summer vacation. Also, this is set in the BloodTies universe after the story Vampires Wild (AKA Death Takes a Holiday).

Disclaimer: I own them all! All! Well... Except Methos. Oh, and Buffy. And let's not forget Spike, and LaCroix, and Cordelia, and Amanda, and... Oh hell... All the characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Forever Knight and Highlander belong to their prospective owners. The characters created by the owners of the Blood Ties universe (Yes, ladies and gents, I'm one of those) are not to be used without their permission.

If you wish to archive this story, please ask beforehand.

"'Ello, luv. You're lookin' lonesome," the tall, platinum blonde man said to Cordelia, who was sitting by herself in a corner of the dance club.

"Oh, shove off," Cordelia replied, rolling her eyes.

"Wot, you don' like me? Wot's wrong with me?"

"Do you really want to know?" Cordelia held her hand up and started to count her fingers. "One: You're wearing all black. That is so last year. Two: the hair. Please! If that's natural, I shop at JC Penney's. Three: Tell me, have you thought of plastic surgery for whatever that is on your eyebrow? Need I go on?"

The man's eyes widened, and Cordelia was positive she heard him growl. Before anything could happen, Terese and Lauren wandered over.

"Hello, handsome!" Terese exclaimed on catching sight of the man. She then turned to Cordelia, "The rest will be here in a few moments. They detoured for the bar."

Cordelia nodded, then turned to glare at the man. "Don't you need to be elsewhere? Like, the Goth club or something?"

The man was cut off yet again when the rest of the group Cordelia was with wandered over. "Spike!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Bloody 'ell!" the man snarled. "Can't I get a moments peace?"

"Why are you following me?" Buffy asked as a wooden stake appeared in her hand.

"I ain't! You're following me! I go away from Sunnyhell, just like I promised. You're the one who showed up on me doorstep this time," Spike growled in reply.

"Wait a minute," Stephanie asked, looking from Buffy to Spike with narrow eyes. "He's a demonling?"

"That's vampire, ducks," Spike replied, still watching Buffy. "And, you won't try anything here, it's too crowded."

No," Triona replied with a shake of her head, "But, we can always go outside. Stephanie?"

"Sure," the young vampire said with a wide grin before clamping her hand around Spike's upper arm. "Shall we?"

"What the 'ell?" Spike exclaimed as he was dragged to the back of the club. "Where did you get so strong?"

The group pushed through the door in the back marked 'Private'. After a few moments of searching, they found a corridor leading to the back entrance to the club. Soon, they were in an alley behind the building.

"So, let's stake him and get back to partying," Stephanie said as she grabbed Spike's other arm, her tone bored.

"You're not staking me!" Spike said as he started to thrash in Stephanie's hold. His backwards headbutt to Stephanie was met by a kick to his ankle and a growl to stop.

"So, from what I remember you guys telling me," Lauren said over Spike's grunts as he tired to get loose, "being a demonling means he has no soul, and is basically a demon in human form."

"Wait a minute!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Isn't he the one who called the Order of Tanaka on Buffy?"

"Don' forget I 'elped you stop Angelus from destroying the world!" Spike added as he discovered that he couldn't escape from the hold on his arms.

"That's true," Buffy said with a nod. "Then, you came back to town and threatened to kill Xander and Willow if they didn't help you put a love spell on Drusilla. Which reminds me, where is she?"

Spike growled. "She said we need a trial separation, 'to find ourselves'. I was never lost! I'm a bloody demon!"

"Oh, just stake him, already. I want to go dance," Stephanie said.

"We can't kill him," Terese exclaimed.

"Why not?" Buffy asked, her arm poised to drive a stake through Spike's heart.

"He's too cute," Terese replied. "Kill him, and you'll take away a great asset to the world."

"He's a bloodthirsty killer!" Willow exclaimed.

"So's Stephanie," Terese replied.

Stephanie looked outraged. "Hey!"

"What? You are. You just control it better. So, maybe, if we hang around with him, we can teach *him* better control."

Turning to Spike, Lauren raised an eyebrow. "So, what *do* we do with demon-boy? Do we stake him?"

"I beg your pardon!" Spike replied, drawing himself up to his full height and trying to look civilized. "I do have a name you know!"

"Yeah, it'll be dust if you don't shut up," Stephanie growled in reply.

"Stephanie, calm down," Triona said before turning to the demonling. "Well, I guess we'll have to keep you with us, at least for tonight."

Spike wasn't happy. "Don't I have a say in this?!"

"Terese just made you her pet project," was Triona's calm reply. "And you should be happy we decided not to kill you."

"I like being evil," Spike said as he started to stalk down the alley.

"You stay with us," Buffy said. "The moment you try to leave, I stake you."

"We both know I can take you, Slayer," Spike growled. "So, make me."

"Okay!" Stephanie replied with a blinding grin. She grabbed Spikes arm and pulled a pair of handcuffs out of her pocket and handcuffed herself to the vampire. "There. You try to get out of those, I'll kick your ass."

"From the looks of you, didn' think you'd be into the kinky stuff," Spike said before trying to get a good look at the handcuffs.

Deciding it was too early to go home, they went searching for another club to party at. Spike and Stephanie brought up the rear, causing many people on the street to think they made such a cute couple. Of course, if they had known that Stephanie was literally dragging Spike down the street, they would have thought different.

After entering a club they decided look interesting, they all homed in on a set of tables in a corner of the room and sprawled in the seats. A waitress soon came over and took their drink orders and everyone began to relax.

"You know, this feels good," Willow said to Triona, who she was seated next to.

"I know what you mean. Being able to just sit here, not thinking about responsibilities, jobs that need to be done. Just relaxing," Triona replied with a heartfelt sigh.

The two soon became engrossed in a detailed conversation about how much responsibility their friends and family piled on them and how it felt good to let go every once in a while. The others in the group were also chatting quietly and sipping their drinks, waiting for the set of slow songs to end. Stephanie spent the time glaring at Spike, while Spike tried to find a way out of the handcuffs that wouldn't alert the vampire he was cuffed to.

"Ladies, the love of your lives have arrived," a man said as he arrived at Willow's and Triona's table, pointing to himself and his friend, both of which were leering at the two women.

"I don't think so," Triona replied.

"Thank you, but no," Willow added.

"We won't take no for an answer," the man replied as he and his friend moved closer and made a grab for the arm of each woman. "We're going to have a good time."

Willow and Triona looked at each other, gave a small smile and shrugged, then turned to the men and punched them on the nose.

Terese stood up and yelled, "BAR FIGHT!"

"You know, it's bad enough that I have to be in a confined space when I'm starting to get hungry, but having to share it with *that* is intolerable," Stephanie growled, glaring across the holding cell at Spike.

Spike glared back. "It wasn't my bloody fault that we're all here. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for those damn 'andcuffs. Besides, if you're 'ungry, there are lots of tasty morsels right 'ere."

"*I* don't eat my friends," Stephanie sniffed in reply.

"Are you suggesting I do? Not that I have friends."

"Umm... guys? Let's all calm down," Willow said, trying to keep the two creatures of the night from each other.

Spike gave a quick glare towards Willow's bench. "Stay out of this, witch-girl. The day I can't 'andle a little girl like 'er is the day I turn in my fangs."

Stephanie snorted. "You've obviously missed the reality bus. I could take you out with one hand."

"I'd like to see that!" Spike yelled as he got up and towered menacingly over the young vampire.

"Guys..." Buffy started to interrupt.

Triona put a hand on Buffy's arm. "It's all right. Let her."

Stephanie slowly got up and looked down her nose at the demon in front of her. Which was quite a feat, considering he was at least half a foot taller than her. "Come on then, macho man."

Spike snarled and grabbed for Stephanie's throat, only to have her evade his grasp and suddenly disappear. "What the..."

Stephanie picked him up by the back of his neck and threw him against the cell bars. "Next time, I'll tear the door off and go find some wood. Sit down, shut up, and behave."

Spike stared, wide-eyed, at the vampire as she calmly sat down and leaned her back against the wall.

"What was that noise?" the police officer asked, coming into the holding area.

"Nothing, officer!" Lauren piped up. "Must have been a rusty pipe!"

"I still can't believe Cordelia was the only one to get away. I never knew she could run so quickly," Buffy complained as the officer walked away.

Triona, about to reply, stopped herself as her mouth open. She, Lauren, Sarah, and Terese all whipped their heads toward the door leading to the holding area.

A few seconds later, Methos and Cordelia entered the room.

"Woo! The calvary is here!" Lauren exclaimed, jumping up.

"You've all been bailed out," the officer that had accompanied Methos and Cordelia said as he unlocked the cell.

"Coolness," Buffy said with a grin. "Let's get our stuff and get out of here."

The officer led the group to a barred off window where they received their possessions. Stephanie moved to the head of the group and was first to get her possessions.

The officer behind the barred window emptied a manila envelope in front of him. "Stephanie MacAlpine, your personal effects. One Swiss army knife, one cigarette lighter, one folding brush, a ring of keys, money in the amount of two hundred francs and some American bills, a cellular phone, and a pair of police-issue handcuffs."

"Thanks," Stephanie said as she started to put her stuff back into her pockets and made room for the next person in line.

"What the hell do you think you were doing, Stephanie?!" Methos exclaimed, barely controlling his rage. "Starting a bar fight with these *children*!"

"I didn't start it," Stephanie replied coldly. "In fact, I was trying to keep them out of it. "

"Like I'm really going to believe that," Methos replied in the same tone of voice. "You were arrested handcuffed to a man! Why the hell are you carrying handcuffs?"

Stephanie shrugged in reply. "You never know when they'll come in handy."

"Besides, she's kinky like that," Lauren added, trying to lighten the situation.

"I don't want to hear it," Methos said, holding his hand up. "You probably helped her start the fight. After all, you two spend enough time causing mischief."

"We didn't start the fight!" Lauren exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

"All right then. If you didn't, who did?" Methos asked, exasperated.

"Actually, Methos," Triona said frigidly. "I started the fight."

"Triona, don't try to cover for them!" Methos yelled. "They need to take responsibility for their actions. Someone could have gotten killed!"

Triona looked calmly at Methos. "Fuck off." She then turned and thanked the police officer for her possessions as Methos stood there with his mouth open.

Stephanie started to clap and whistle.

"Stop that," Methos growled as he stalked toward the exit. "We'll continue this at home."

"I don't think so," Triona replied. "I'm tired, and I'm going to go to bed. If you want to continue this, you can wait until I'm awake tomorrow."

Striding for the door, she led the group out the door and to the limo waiting for them.

"Woah, wait a minute!" Stephanie exclaimed as Spike climbed into the back with the others. "Where do you think you're going?"

"With you, luv, of course!" Spike replied with a charming grin. "After all, you guys said you wanted to turn me good."

"No! I refuse! Absolutely not!" Stephanie yelled.

"Knock it off," Triona said. "He can be of use. If he gets out of line, you can stake him."

"Oh," the young vampire replied, calming down. Distracted by trying to figure out *how* Spike could be useful, she continued, "All right. I can live with that."

"I really wish you would stop talking about doin' me in," Spike muttered as the limo got underway.

"I want to know what got into you and made you start that fight!" Methos exclaimed.

Triona ignored the angry Immortal and watched the scenery go by.

Methos continued demanding explanations, only to be met by shrugs or silence. Finally fed up, Spike shifted his features and yelled at Methos to 'shut his gob' and the group arrived at the Chateau in silence and everyone piled out.

"What's gotten into you, Triona?" Methos asked, flabbergasted, standing in the foyer with his hands on his hips.

"If you have to ask, you haven't been paying attention," Triona replied, rolling her eyes as she went off to her bedroom.

"Come on, demon-boy," Stephanie told Spike. "Let's get you a bottle to suck on and a shelf to sleep on."

"Sure thing, luv!" Spike said cheerfully, following the young vampire out of the room, a big grin appearing on his face as his eyes watched the sway of her hips.

"What's going on?" Methos asked the rest of the group still in the foyer.

Terese shrugged, "No idea. You'll have to get it out of Triona."

"Good luck," Lauren added with a mischievous grin before jogging up the stairs.

"Too bad Xander and Oz couldn't be here to see this," Willow said. "I mean, we were in *jail*!"

"I'm sure they're enjoying their vacation," Buffy replied. "Just be glad Giles wasn't here. We'd never hear the end of it!"

Methos, still staring at the staircase Triona had gone up, gave a start then turned to the Slayer. "Who said he isn't finding out?"

Rolling their eyes the women wandered off to their rooms to sleep.

"Where are those women?" Methos muttered, looking at the hall clock and then looking up the stairs.

"I'm sure they'll be along shortly," Cordelia replied with a wide, vapid smile as she stared adoringly at Methos.

"Yes, dear, I'm positive they will too," Methos told the teenager with a grin. "How about you get a headstart on all of us and get in the limo."

Batting her eyelashes, Cordelia agreed and sashayed out of the room.

"I hope they'll be here soon, I'm bored," Spike complained, putting his feet on top of the table in front of the chair he was sprawled in. "And, blood flows when I'm bored."

"That's antique!" Terese squealed. "Get your feet off it!"

"An' if I don', luv?" Spike asked, threateningly.

"Then I'll let the owner know who scratched one of her possessions," Terese replied in the same tone of voice. "And, unlike Stephanie, she won't tolerate wannabe-vampire whelps like you."

Spike slowly and calmly withdrew his feet from the table, pretending the threat didn't mean anything to him. "What do you mean, 'wannabe'?"

"You're not a real vampire," Terese replied with a grin. "But, Stephanie is. And so is the owner of this house. I wouldn't piss her off if I were you."

Methos interrupted Spike's reply as he felt the presence of an approaching Immortal "Finally! Triona, what took you so..." He trailed off, his mouth hanging open by what he saw at the top of the steps.

Triona grinned at the reactions she was getting. Smoothing the short skirt of her lowcut black dress, she slowly walked down the staircase in her stiletto heels, giving the people waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs glimpses of the sides of her dress, which were held together only by the ties that criss-crossed from the hem of her skirt up to the dresses spagetti straps.

"Ain't she a treat?" Stephanie said from behind the group. Turning around quickly, everyone raised their eyebrows at Stephanie's outfit. She strode into the middle of the room on thigh-high suede boots with a four-inch heel, a blood red chiffon short jacket covered her black leather bra. A matching leather mini-skirt completed her outfit.

Spike whistled. "What a vision. But, 'ow did you get behind us?"

Stephanie laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Are you wearing anything under that dress?" Methos demanded, grabbing hold of Triona's arm as she reached the bottom of the staircase.

Leaning close to the older Immortal, Triona smiled and slipped her arm out of his grasp. "If I let you untie me, you'd find out. But, I doubt you'll be untying me."

"I feel underdressed now," Buffy complained, looking down at her short skirt, low-heeled boots, and shimmery blouse.

"Don't worry," Stephanie said with a grin. "You guys look fine."

"Umm, I hate to ask," Willow said, watching Triona warily. "But, she hasn't gone vampire again, has she?"

"You mean like last time?" Stephanie asked. "Nah, don't worry about it. She's fine."

"You sure?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, positive. If she was in her loopy mood, she'd have bitten someone by now," Stephanie said offhandedly with a wave of her hand as she sauntered toward the front door. "Let's get this show on the road."

"Wait a minute!" Spike exclaimed. "What do you mean, 'gone vamp'?"

"None of your business," Triona replied as she followed Stephanie out the door.

"I wish I could walk on heels like that," Willow muttered as the rest of the group followed the two women out the door.

Methos glowered across the room yet again at the two cousins, who were surrounded by men of all ages and descriptions.

Cordelia, who had been trying to draw the oldest Immortal into a conversation for the last five minutes, finally gave up and started across the room to where Stephanie and Triona were holding court.

Arriving at the scene, she found Spike almost glued to Stephanie's side, glowering at all the other men, who were starting to edge away from the glare.

"Having fun?" Cordelia asked sweetly.

"Why do I have to watch him?" Stephanie asked petulantly. "He's becoming a bloody nuisance." After pausing for a moment, she gave a noise of distress. "I'm even starting to talk like him!"

"You and Buffy are the only ones capable of keeping him in line. Besides, he seems to like you," Triona replied.

"I still say we should stake him. Or, at least, drive him out of the city. Maybe the country?" Stephanie replied, glaring at Spike.

"Now, now... You'll spoil Terese's project," Triona replied as she scanned the nightclub.

"What?" Cordelia asked as she whirled around to look, seeing Triona frown.

"Those guys over there keep staring at us," Triona replied.

"We'll protect you," one of the men gathered around their table exclaimed passionately with a heavy French accent.

"Thank you so much," Stephanie replied in flawless French. "But we can take care of ourselves."

"But, little one," the man started to protest in French.

"We're fine," Stephanie said as she caught the man's eyes. "No need to worry."

"No need to worry," the man replied tonelessly, his eyes vacant.

"Bloody 'ell!" Spike exclaimed as he pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against. "The only one I know who can do that is Dru!"

"Yeah, well, live and learn," Triona said before stalking through the crowd to find the others while Stephanie pulled Cordelia and Spike over to Methos's table.

"Your book getting filled up?" Methos asked sarcastically. "Got enough to drink for the next century or so?"

"Oh, bite me," Stephanie replied heatedly as she scanned the crowd. "We might have company."

"Wait a minute," Cordelia said, staring at Stephanie. "How did you do what you just did?"

"Do what?" Stephanie asked.

"You turned that guy into a zombie or something!" Cordelia exclaimed. "And don't say I didn't see anything. I saw it happen. I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I do have two eyes and a brain!"

Stephanie sighed and looked at Cordelia. "Nothing strange happened."

"Nothing strange happened," Cordelia said vacantly. A moment later she shrugged and turned back to the crowd. "So, where's everybody else? And, where's the bad guys?"

"Everybody is closing in on us. The *possible* bad guys are still scanning the room," Stephanie replied after doing her own scan of the building.

Grabbing Stephanie's arm, Methos pulled the young vampire a few feet away to get some privacy.
 
Sighing, Stephanie turned to face the oldest immortal. "What?"

"Just tell me what's going on with her."

"You don't know? Are you that blind? Ever since what happened in Sunnydale, you've treated her like some recalcitrant student. You're not her teacher, you're her lover, damnit!" Stephanie ground out in reply.

"It's a crime to worry about her?"

"Of course not!" the young woman rolled her eyes. "But, is that what it really is? Or, is that the excuse you tell yourself? Maybe it's really because you *still* can't handle the vampire part of her. And, what happened in Sunnydale scared you -- she might have stayed that way. A vampire forever, like me or LaCroix."

Methos looked outraged. "That's not true!"

"Don't lie to me, don't lie to yourself. You don't think she knows how you feel? Don't you think she's scared? Has it ever occurred to you what that fear could do? If she holds back just a fraction during a fight, because she's terrified she might hurt some innocent after it's all over. Then, she won't be around for you to criticize. She'll be dead!"

The eldest immortal just stood there, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"Look... She needs your reassurance and your love. But, you know she's too proud to beg for whatever scraps you feel like throwing her way these days. You might have noticed some of this if you'd stop criticizing her every move long enough to pay attention to what *she's* going through." Deciding the conversation was over, Stephanie went back over to where Cordelia was currently glaring at Spike with a toothpick in her hand for protection.

"So, what's the plan?" Willow asked as she and the others arrived.

"I say we draw them outside and beat some answers out of them," Lauren replied with an evil smile.

"I like that plan," Spike said with his own grin.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "You would."

"No, that sounds like it could work," Triona said after thinking for a moment. "Or, at least threaten them a bit."

"What?!" Methos exclaimed.

"If you don't agree, Adam, just stay here," Triona replied coldly.

"So, how do we draw them out?" Lauren asked.

"Easy, just walk towards the back, the bad guys will follow, and we lead them outside," Stephanie said with a shrug of her shoulders as she pulled a thin knife from her boot and palmed it.

"That won't be necessary!" Methos exclaimed. "Aren't you bloodthirsty enough?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cordelia asked, confused. Her eyes widened as she put the pieces together. "Wait. You don't come out till after dark, you can handle Spike... You're a vampire, aren't you?"

"Damn it, Adam!" Stephanie exclaimed, giving the oldest Immortal a glare before turning to Cordelia with a sigh. "You don't think I'm a vampire. I work a night job, but am on vacation. I can handle Spike because... oh hell, I have no idea."

"No idea," Cordelia said vacantly.

"You just *know* I can handle Spike," Stephanie said as she stared hard into Cordelia's eyes.

Cordelia slowly nodded. "You can handle Spike."

"I wish she bloody well would," the demonling in question muttered to himself, causing Buffy to step on his foot.

"You're getting really good at that," Triona said with a nod of approval.

"Thanks," Stephanie said with an impish grin.

"You can't go hypnotizing people left and right!!" Methos exclaimed "It's unnatural, and it's a crutch."

"I'm going to use what tools I was given to survive," Stephanie replied quellingly. "And, if it were so unnatural, why do I have it? Or, are you saying that *I* am unnatural?"

"Of course you're unnatural, ducks. You're a bleeding vampire!" Spike replied with a snort.

Stephanie growled. "Watch it."
 
"Discussion over," Lauren interjected, waving at Cordelia. "She's coming out of it."

"We'll continue this later," Stephanie said with a glare in Methos's direction.

Methos nodded at the crowd. "We better get that stupid plan of yours into motion. Just remember, they might just be looking for a date."

The group casually moved across the room, and waited in the alley. Buffy, Spike, and Methos hid in the shadows behind some crates while the other stood around in the middle of the alley, looking as if they were in a discussion.

A few minutes later, the three men that had been watching them poured out and the Immortals in the party all stiffened.

"Let me guess," Stephanie growled. "Immies."

"Exactly," Triona replied.

The three men all drew guns and grinned. However, Buffy quickly kicked the gun from the leader's hand as Stephanie and Spike grabbed the two larger men.

"No biting!" Triona yelled as Spike growled and started to push the man he held to his knees.

"Down! No biting! Heel!" Stephanie exclaimed, pulling Spike away from the man.

"I'm hungry. And I'm in the mood ta bite something," Spike growled, shoving Stephanie away and reaching for the man he was going to bite, his demon visage visible.

"You'll be able to bite your own ass if you don't stop flying off the handle," Stephanie growled.

"Luv, I may think you're hot stuff. And I know that you could probably kick my ass, but stuff it," Spike replied with a growl of his own before stalking to the other side of the alley, his ridges still prominent.

"So, how do we find out what they want?" Cordelia asked, peering from behind Methos at the three captured men.

"Easy, if they don't talk, we'll turn them over to Spike," Buffy said with a shrug of her shoulders.

Having seen Spike in his 'game face', the three men paled.

"And, if that doesn't work, we'll turn them over to Adam," Terese said with a bloodthirsty grin towards Methos.

The men looked over that what seemed to be a scrawny, young man and wondered how he could possibly be worse than whatever that *thing* that the women called 'Spike' was.

Methos raised his eyebrows and gave the captured men a small smile.

"Isn't it obvious though?" Lauren said with a sigh. "They're head hunters."

"Ewww! I thought that only happened in 3rd world countries!" Cordelia exclaimed with a wrinkled nose.

"So, they're out to cut our heads off? Or, at least, some of our heads off?" Buffy asked, shaking her head. "And I thought this was going to be a boring vacation."

"Paris is *never* boring," Methos said with a private smile in Triona's direction. Triona's returning grin made Methos's smile widen.

"Nice guns they carry," Stephanie added after checking the firearms she had confiscated. "Even though, they left the safeties on."

"Incompetents," Lauren said with a shake of her head. "I say we whammy them into thinking we're in the Louvre and let the authorities take care of them."

"Ooo, evil!" Terese said with a wide grin. "I like it."

Methos gave a small sigh and nodded. "I think that's probably the best way to handle the situation, since there's probably no way we can really take care of them with so many people milling about."

Triona gave a blinding smile in reply and the eldest Immortal linked his arm with hers. Still grinning, Triona added, "And, by the time they get away from the authorities, we'll be set up to settle our disagreement with them in the usual manner."

"Whammy?" Cordelia asked, confused.

"Don't worry, Cordy, we'll explain it later," Buffy said as she and Willow led the other teenager out of the alley.

"Yeah, we'll tell you all about it," Willow added with an empathic nod. "When we get home."

Lauren looked at the three retreating girls thoughtfully. "You know, by the time that girl goes home, we'll probably be able to whammy her just by saying her name!"

"I guess we will have to hypnotize her again because of this," Methos said with a sigh.

"It's either that, or tell her all about us. And, from what Buffy says, that girl has a habit of saying *exactly* what's on her mind, so you never know what she's going to say to who," Triona reminded him as the two followed the teenage girls out of the alley.

"So, she gets to go make lovey-dovey, and I end up doing all the work," Stephanie muttered, her glare at the two Immortals ruined by her smile. Walking around the three men, she turned her head from side to side, trying to choose which to hypnotize first. "This would be so much easier if I could do three at a time."

"Here, give me one of their guns." Lauren said as she held a hand out. After turning off the safety of the gun Stephanie handed her, she pointed it at the three men, who were now almost cowering against the alley wall. "If you move, I'll shoot."

"You can't make use believe anything we don't want to!" one of the strange Immortals exclaimed.

"I bet," Stephanie replied.

A few minutes later, as the three men shuffled out of the alley and headed toward the Louvre, the rest of the group followed them until they had caught up with Triona and the others. "They're getting away!" Cordelia exclaimed as the men started to walk with more purpose.

"The police have them," Triona told the girl as the men turned the corner.

"Police," Cordelia said vacantly with a nod.

"You can do it too?" Spike asked, wide-eyed.

Triona shrugged. "One of the very few pluses of my 'condition'."

"Triona and I are thinking of going off by ourselves," Methos said, slinging an arm around Triona's shoulders. "But, we promised Duncan and Amanda to help keep an eye on Terese and Lauren until they can get back to continue the training."

"I, for one, vote to go home," Lauren said. "I've had enough excitement for the night."

"I'll keep 'em out of trouble," Spike volunteered.

Buffy snorted. "Leave you in charge, and we'll end up dead, or in jail again."

"Probably for inciting a riot," Stephanie added. "Ah, I'll chaperone everyone home."

Lauren started to laugh. "Stephanie... a chaperone!"

Stephanie stuck her tongue out at her friend in reply.

"Actually," Methos said after thinking for a moment. "That should work. Between Buffy, Stephanie, and Spike, you should be able to take care of any problems that might show up."

Stephanie glared at Spike. "Do we really need him? I mean, we've taken care of the men following us, and Terese has given up on him."

"But, he likes you!" Terese quipped in reply. "Who should stand in the way of true love?"

"Spike still might be useful," Triona pointed out, stopping her cousin from doing damage to Terese. "Those men, or others, may come back."

Stephanie sighed. "Okay, okay, I'll put up with him for a few more days."

"Don't worry, luv. By that time, you'll 'ave fallen for me," Spike grinned ferally.

"More like *you* will fall," Lauren muttered. "On some wood, that is."

"Let's get this pony and dog show on the road!" Terese exclaimed as she headed down to where the limo was parked.

"You do know that once I get them home, I'm not going to feel obligated to stay," Stephanie told Methos and Triona as the rest of the group followed Lauren. "I'm not going to waste this outfit at the Chateau. I mean, Buffy, Spike, and the grounds security system should be enough to guard them from anything."

"I thought you might say that," Triona nodded. "Just be careful."

"Of course!" Stephanie said with a broad smile. "Have fun, you two!" She then turned and hurried after the group waiting for her in the limo.

After the half-hour drive to the Chateau, everyone piled out of the car, and Stephanie nodded. "Y'all should be safe now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lauren asked suspiciously.

"I'm going out," Stephanie said

"I'm coming with you. It's been two bloody days, and I 'aven't killed a bloody thing. I wanna kill someti'ng!" Spike pouted.

"While you're under this roof, you won't be killing," Terese said sternly.

"Says who?" Spike growled.

"Do you *really* need to ask?" Buffy asked, moving forward threateningly.

"Behave," Stephanie said sternly before walking back to the limo and stopping in front of the driver, who was waiting for his next orders. "You can go home. We won't be needing the car anymore tonight."

"Yes, miss," the driver said with a nod before he walked around to the driver's side and drove the car away.

"How are you going to get back into town?" Cordelia asked the vampire.

"I have someone picking me up at the gates," Stephanie said with a grin. "Night y'all. See you tomorrow."

"Be careful, Stephanie!" Lauren called to the young vampire, who was rapidly walking down the drive.

Stephanie waved an arm in reply without turning around. After she had reached a bend in the driveway, she stopped walking, and took to the air.

"A park bench?" Triona asked with arched eyebrows.

"Yes. It's a lovely night, it's free, and we can watch the stars." Methos replied as he bowed and waved toward the bench. "Mi'lady."

Triona gave a small curtsey and grinned before smoothing the back of her dress and sitting on the bench. After Methos had sat down beside her, she leaned her head against his shoulder and looked up. "Pretty night."

"Yes, it is," Methos replied.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Triona lifted her head. "Let's go someplace."

Methos nodded, "I know just the place."

Private?" Triona asked with a broad smile.

"Of course," Methos said with a smile of his own. "A secret room in the cellar of a bookshop. How more private can you get?"

"Perfect."

Stephanie gyrated to the pulsing bass beat of the music as she watched the multi-colored lights pulse overhead, illuminating different sections of the crowded dance floor she was in the center of.

Grabbed from behind, she twirled into a pair of arms that closed around her waist to find her gaze locked with a very handsome man. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she let her fingers ruffle his black hair at the back of his head as Stephanie smiled at him.

The man looked at the young vampire intently before pulling her closer. Liking the idea, Stephanie ground her body against his and gestured with her head toward the exit.

Nodding seriously, the man let go of her and pushed his way through the crowd. Following closely behind, Stephanie enjoyed the view, finding the back of the man as delicious as the front.

After exiting by the club's front door, Stephanie grabbed the man's hand and pulled him down the street to a nearby park.

"Where..." the man started to ask, protesting, until Stephanie turned back, grinned devilishly, and said, "We need more privacy."

"Now then," the vampire crooned as she stopped behind a screen of bushes. "What's your name?"

"Brent," the man replied as he stepped closer to the woman, drawn to her.

Stephanie chuckled. "I'm Stephanie."

"Pleased to meet you," Brent said before pulling her into a kiss. Wrapping her arms around the man's neck for the second time that night, Stephanie intensified the kiss, taking an equal turn exploring Brent's mouth with her tongue.

Sliding his hands down the young vampire's back, he cupped her ass and pulled her closer, until she wrapped one leg around his back and started to rub herself sinuously up and down his body.

Finally breaking the kiss to gasp for breath, Brent stared into Stephanie's eyes. "Wait, I wanted to..."

"Later," Stephanie replied. "Sex now, talk after."

"Later," the man nodded as he slipped one of his hands under her very short skirt and reached for the top of her stockings to slid them down.

"There she is!" a male voice rang out.

Groaning, Stephanie dropped her leg to the ground and rested her forehead against the juncture between Brent's neck and shoulder. After regaining enough control over herself that her eyes had returned to their normal bluish hue, she looked up again. "Spike, I'm going to tie you to a fucking tree so you can watch the sunrise if you don't leave now."

"I think we better go," a female voice squeaked.

"Oh hell," Stephanie muttered as she unwrapped herself from around Brent. "Hello Willow." On seeing that Willow and Spike weren't the only two there, she nodded to the third member of their party. "And Buffy."

Brent shook himself, as if waking up and turned to the others, blushing slightly. "I... Oh dear."

"It's all right, I know them," Stephanie said calmly.

Willow looked at the rumpled couple and started to babble, "I'm sorry we interrupted, but Buffy insisted we go looking for you after Spike made it clear that you were probably out here looking for a snack. I tried to explain it to Buffy that you don't do things like that, but she wouldn't listen. And she insisted that Spike and I come along, me for company, and Spike because she doesn't trust him, and did you know that your fangs are still showing? I'll shut up now."

Stephanie sighed again and shook her head.

"Fangs?" Brent exclaimed as he whirled to face Stephanie.

"Yeah, mate. Fangs. As in, you're about to feel mine in your neck for messing with me girl," Spike growled, his face morphing into its demonic version as he reached for the man.

Giving a stifled scream, Brent scrambled backwards, turning to run away.

"That is *enough*," Stephanie ground out as her hand shot out and grabbed Brent's upper arm as he ran by. Whirling him around to face her, she glared at him. "You don't remember anything about fangs or demonic visages or vampires. You just remember being interrupted by three teenagers and decided to leave."

"Decided to leave," Brent said before turning away from the group and stumbling back towards the club.

"All right Spike. That's it," the young vampire said as she turned back to the three. "I've had enough of you. How do you want it?"

"Excuse me?" Spike asked before leering as his facial muscles rippled and his face reverted to normal. "Do you mean here, with the girls watching or in a bed at that castle you live in? That'll be a tough decision, luv."

"Do you want death by fire or death by sunlight, or how about a holy water bath? We've already passed the wooden stake or decapitation phase," Stephanie replied, her voice frigid.

"'Ere! I *saved* you from the loony! He was about to ravish you!" Spike exclaimed as he backpedaled away from the advancing woman. "Buffy and Willow will back me up!"

"Actually, it looked more like a mutual ravishment," Buffy replied. "And, didn't your father ever teach you about safe sex? I mean, one night stands! And, the fangs! Fangs are bad!"

"I'm a vampire. Safe sex for me means either kill them, or make them think they had a freak kitchen accident and cut their neck," Stephanie replied, her attention diverted from Spike. "Besides, my father died before we had a 'safe sex' talk."

"Why make them think they 'ad an accident?" Spike asked as he untensed from his defensive postion. "Isn't it easier ta just kill them and let the mortician sort 'em out?"

"Because, that's against the rules," Stephanie replied, glaring at the demonling before she started to walk back toward the street. After a few steps, she whirled back around. "And, thanks so much for the show of support, Buffy. I may be young, but I wouldn't have been let out by myself if I couldn't control myself.

"Look, Stephanie..." Buffy started to explain, but was interrupted by Stephanie's upraised hand.

"Can it, Buffy," Stephanire replied coldly. "Were Triona and Methos back before you left?"

"No, they hadn't returned," Willow said with a shake of her head.

"You left my family alone," Stephanie stated.
 
"The security system will keep them safe," Spike said nonchalantly with a wave of his hand. "It's not like I'm there to liven their lives up with a spot of terror."

Stephanie became a blur and suddenly appeared in front of the demonling. Wrapping a hand in the collar of his shirt, she raised him, one handed, over her head. "You... left... them... unguarded..."

"They'll be fine. We were worried about you, right girls?" Spike said quickly, trying to get himself out of the vampire's hold.

"Stephanie, he's right. We were worried about you," Buffy said from beside the young vampire, trying to calm her down.

"If even *one* of them was in a sword fight while I was gone, I'm turning all of you over to LaCroix," Stephanie said as she flung the demonling away from her.

"Wooo... I luv when she plays rough," Spike grinned as he jumped up. "Who's LaCroix?"

"He's my Master. Two thousand years old, and he crucifixion used to be his hobby," Stephanie replied, grinning evilly.

"Two thousand?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Crucifixion?!" Willow squeaked.

"So, where does *he* live?" was Buffy's question.

"With the rest of us, he's just out of town on business," Stephanie said with a shrug. "Now, let's get back to the Chateau."

After walking a few feet, the vampire asked, "How did you guys get here anyway?"

"We, uh... we borrowed a car," Willow said, pointing to the car barely inside lines of the parking space in front of them.

"The SUV? Oooo... We better get this back in one piece, or Adam will be pissed," Stephanie said with a shake of his head. "That's his personal property. Where did you get the keys?"

"We didn't use keys," Buffy replied, looking embarrassed.

"You hot-wired it?" Stephanie exclaimed before she chuckled. "Oh, this is going to be good, explaining it to Adam." Sliding into the driver's seat, she reached into the jumble of wires now dangling just below the dashboard and brushed two together. A few seconds later, the vehicle purred to life and she sat up with a grin. "Let's get going."

Spike grabbed the passenger seat while Buffy and Willow slid into the back. After a few moment's argument with Spike to use a seatbelt, Stephanie pulled the car out of the parking space and started back to the Chateau.

"Where did you learn to hot-wire a car?" Willow asked as she leaned forward from the back seat.

"My family and I collect information like that. You never know when it'll be useful," Stephanie replied as she sped down the dark streets.

"What other information do you find useful?" Buffy asked from her seat. "And, aren't you going a bit fast?"

"For this time of night? Nah," was Stephanie's reply. "And useful information? Well... Picking locks, hot-wiring cars, little things like that."

"You sound like you've been in a bloody spy school!" Spike snorted.

Stephanie turned and glared at Spike before returning her attention to the road. A few seconds later, her right arm shot out and she punched Spike in the jaw with enough force for his head to hit the passenger side window.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Spike growled, his face yet again ridged.

"Shut up," Stephanie said, her voice flat and deadly. "I only need one hand to tear your head off."

After twenty minutes of near-silence, the only sound being Spike's growling, they pulled up in front of the house and everyone piled out.

"So, a bookshop with a secret room," Triona said as she casually looked around the room. "That doesn't look too comfortable," she added, pointed to the cot in one corner.

"The shop used to be owned by a member of the Watchers. He left it to me," Methos replied. "And, you'll be far too distracted to notice."

"That's true," Triona said with a nod of her head. "Shall we?" she added with a devilish grin as she started to slip the straps of her dress off her shoulders.

"Uh uh uh!" Methos exclaimed as he grabbed her hands. "I get to do that."

"Then, hurry up," Triona said, still grinning as she waited for Methos to impatiently throw his coat onto the cot.

"Now then, where were we?" Methos asked as he turned back to the younger Immortal.

Triona gestured toward the bed. "Didn't you forget something?"

"I did?" Methos asked, confused.

"Your sword. I'm not laying on top of it," Triona pointed out.

Methos nodded sheepishly. "Oh, yes." After quickly taking his sword out of it's hidden sheath, he leaned it against the wall.

"That's better," Triona laughed.

"I'm glad you approve," the older Immortal replied with quirked eyebrows as he reached out for Triona. "Now, I believe you said earlier that I could find out if you wore anything under that dress if I untied you. Any last words?"

"Hurry up," was Triona's only reply before she leaned forward and covered his mouth with her own.

Methos returned the kiss and deepened it, slowly walking backwards toward the cot. Breaking off to breath as the back of his legs bumped into the metal frame of the bed, he moved his hands up Triona's arms, barely touching her skin. She shivered as he hooked his middle fingers under the spagetti straps of the dress and pulled them off of her shoulders.

Triona grinned at his raised eyebrows when the dress stayed in place. Taking a step back, she raised her right arm and undid the knot that held the cris-crossed ties on that side of her dress tight and loosened the cords. After repeating the process for her left side, she did a full body shimmy, which caused the dress to slide slowly down her body showing that she indeed hadn't worn a bra. The dress stopped at her waist, and she slipped her thumbs between the fabric and her skin. "Shall I continue?"

Methos, who was slightly dazed by the display so far, growled. "If you don't, you probably won't have a dress to wear after we're done."

Giving a soft laugh, she slid the dress off her hips and let it pool around her feet, showing that she wasn't wearing panties either. Stepping out of the dress, she stood there, wearing only her stiletto heels and a large smile at the glazed look in Methos's eyes. "I do believe it's your turn," she said as she slowly walked forward, her hips swaying. "You're overdressed for this."

Methos sat on the edge of the cot and unlaced his boots. After pulling them and his socks off, he straightened up and started on the bottom button of his olive green button-down shirt.

Kicking her heels off, Triona leaned down to help, starting on the top button. After she had unbuttoned two buttons, she leaned in farther and nipped his neck.

Jerking slightly in shock, Methos stopped unbuttoning his shirt and fell back onto the bed, pulling Triona on top. "You are in a mood tonight."

"Yes I am," Triona replied as she straddled him. Twining her hands into his hair, she bent forward and devoured his mouth with her own. Running her hands slowly along his scalp, she ignored his sound of disappointment as she left his mouth and explored his jawline with her lips.

Giving a sensitive spot just below his jaw bone a nip with her teeth caused Methos to jerk, and he tried to pull her even closer. "More," he groaned.

"You're still overdressed," Triona growled as she leaned back and grabbed the front of his shirt in her hands. Giving a hard tug in opposite directions, she tore the remaining buttons off of his shirt and dropped what was left to either side of the other Immortal. "Much better," she nodded as she ran her hands over his torso, tracing his muscles. When her hands had reached the button on his black jeans, she shifted to one side and opened the closure.

Sliding the zipper slowly down, she pushed the jeans down, helped by Methos raising his rear slightly into the air. Raising her eyebrows, Triona grinned. "Looks like I'm not the only one not wearing underwear tonight."

Deciding that he had been passive long enough, Methos grabbed the woman around the waist and pulled her to him. Kissing her passionately, he took his turn exploring her body, running his hands over her breasts, taking time to play with the nipples before sliding his hands to either side of her waist. "Ready?" he panted out as he broke the kiss off.

Triona nodded as she placed her hands on his shoulders. Picking her up by the waist, the Methos positioned her over his cock and slowly lowered her onto him. Gasping, she threw her head back and took control again, impaling herself as far as possible, then sliding slowly back up before driving her body down again.

Commanding Methos's mouth with her own, Triona gave him a soul-searing kiss as she sped up her thrusts. The older Immortal's head jerked back as he neared his orgasm, breaking the kiss off. For a few moments, only their pants for breath broke the silence of the room.

Suddenly, Triona wailed and she pushed his head to one side. She dove to his neck and bit down, hard enough for it to be felt, but not to break the skin as her orgasm overtook her.

The combination of the rippling of Triona's channel around his cock and her bite to his neck caused Methos to fall over into his own orgasm, and he tightened his hold to her shoulders as he screamed.

After resting for a few minutes, the younger Immortal kissed the spot she had previously bit and sat up on one of her arms, pushing her hair off her face with the other. "Wow."

"Wow is a good summation," Methos said, a twinkle in his eye.

"I would say let's spend the day here, but you promised Willow you'd show her some affordable book shops. Besides, you're not the best pillow to sleep on," she replied with a grin.

"I should take offense at that remark, but I'm in too good a mood."

Sighing, Triona hopped off the cot and reached for her dress. "How are we going to get home?"

"Call Stephanie?" Methos suggested, still sprawled on the bed.

"Up!"

"What?"

"I know you, and I know that voice," Triona replied, hands on her hips, her dress only half way up. "You're way too comfortable. Besides I need help tying my dress back up."

"I think I can handle that," Methos grinned as he got up and redid the fly on his jeans. "My shirt!" he exclaimed when he tried to button it together, only to remember that the majority of the buttons were now hidden in different corners of the room.

Triona just stood still and grinned. After a few moments, she raised her arms. "My dress?"

"I should leave it like it is," Methos grumbled. "I liked that shirt."

"I'll take you shopping for a new one."

"No... That's all right. The last time you took me shopping for a shirt, we ended up buying me a closetful of clothes. Thanks, love, but no thanks."

Triona pouted for a moment, then shrugged as she calmly waited for Methos to finish tying the criss-crossed ties of her dress. When he had finished, she slipped into her heels and watched him put his socks and shoes back on. "How are we getting home?"

"We could take a cab. Or, we could call Stephanie at whatever nightclub she's at and have her grab a car from the Chateau and pick us up."

Triona nodded. "She likes to drive. Let's do that." Digging her cellphone out of her purse, she pressed the sequence of keys that would call her cousin's phone.

Stephanie stopped half way across the foyer and looked down. "Who would be calling me at this hour?"

"What?" Buffy asked as she turned around from the staircase.

"My cellphone just went off," Stephanie replied as she pulled the phone from where it was clipped to the inside of her right boot. Turning it on, she put it to her ear. "It's my dime, so make it snappy."

"Heya! Sure... No problem," Stephanie said as she turned back to the front door. "I've just gotten home. Give me the address and I'll come get you."

Stephanie wrote down for a moment and hung up. Turning back to the two teenage girls and Spike, she nodded. "I'm going to pick Triona and Methos up. See you guys tomorrow night."

"What about sunrise?" Willow asked.

"I have plenty of time, no worries," Stephanie replied before she turned to Spike. "And you. You're damn lucky that nothing happened while you were gone."

Spike gave a low snarl in reply. "I wasn't the one who wanted to go looking for you!"

Stephanie ignored his challenge, exited the building, and pulled the door shut behind her. Reaching down to use the wires restart the SUV, she did a 360 turn and drove back to Paris.

Pulling up in front of the bookstore twenty minutes later, she shook her head and waited for the two Immortals to come outside. "Only they would use their evening out to go to the bookstore."

The vampire grinned widely as she saw Methos's doubletake. "What the hell are you doing with my car?" he asked as he pulled the driver's side door open.

"It was already warmed up, so I decided to use it," Stephanie said with shrug.

"Methos has the only set of keys," Triona pointed out as she slid into the passenger's front seat.

"It didn't stop the people who borrowed it," Stephanie said with a shake of her head. "Get in and I'll explain on the way home."

"I'm driving," Methos said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "Out."

Sighing, Stephanie undid her seatbelt and hopped out. Pulling the rear door open, she hopped back into the SUV.

"So, tell us why you have his car," Triona said as she looked over her shoulder.

"Basically, I was out having a good time, Buffy dragged Spike and Willow out on a wild goose chase because she just *knew* I was out hunting, and they hotwired the car to get into town. They arrived just in time to interrupt a private moment."

Methos snorted. "You mean your midnight snack?"

"Watch it," Stephanie replied.

"Wait... How did they find you?" Triona asked, confused.

"Hell if I know. Tracker? They followed my psychic vibes across the astral plane? Or maybe Buffy just has radar. Who knows."

"Hardly," Methos replied. "You went to No Exit, didn't you?"

"Yes, why?" Stephanie asked, leaning forward to rest her forearms on the front seats.

Methos shook his head. "That's your favorite club. All they had to do was ask one of the others where you usually went, and they followed you from there."

"I'm getting too predictable," Stephanie sighed.

Triona gave a bark of laughter. "You'll never be predictable, Steph."

"Neither of you are predictable," Methos added. "And, since I have the two of you alone, who's idea was it to dress like that? And *where* did you get the clothes?"

Stephanie leaned back in her seat with a giggle. "We raided Janette's closet for Triona's dress. I've always had this outfit. And, as to whose idea, that's on a need to know basis. You don't need to know."

The ride back to the Chateau was spent in friendly bickering. Arriving home, Stephanie and Triona piled out of the car while Methos drove it back to the garage.

"Oh good! We caught you before you guys went to bed!" Lauren exclaimed as she ran out to the driveway.

"Of course you did," Triona replied sarcastically. "We just got back."

"Well... We want to ask you something," Buffy said, having followed Lauren out.

Triona raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"We want to go to sightseeing," Buffy said.

"Oh... Well... I guess we can let you borrow one of the cars," Triona replied.

"Just not the SUV," Stephanie added with a grin.

Lauren looked up, suddenly fascinated with the night sky. "Actually, we want to go too."

"But, they said they can't, unless you, Stephanie, or Methos go with us," Buffy added.

"And, since you want to go during the day..." Stephanie broke off and started to laugh. "Oh, man... He *hates* sightseeing."

Seeing Methos coming back toward the house, Triona nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

Methos stopped when he saw the group hanging around the front door, shook his head, then started walking towards the group again. "Something *else* wrong?"

"No, nothing wrong," Triona said. "I have a favor to ask you." After Methos had cocked his head to one side in reply, she continued. "Could you take everyone sightseeing?"

"No, absolutely not," Methos said vehemently. "I am not taking a gaggle of giggling girls around Paris!"

"We don't giggle!" Lauren said vehemently before looking pitiful. "Adam... Please?"

Getting a crafty look in his eye, Methos nodded. "On one condition."

Triona looked hesitant. "What?"

"You have to agree to do anything I ask for a week," Methos told Triona.

"What?!" Triona exclaimed.

"And, just what do you want to do with her?" Lauren asked archly.

"There are children present..." Methos replied as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked smug. "That's the only way I'll do it."

Sighing, Triona nodded. "Three days."

Methos looked thoughtful. "Agreed."

Turning back to the house, Triona glared at Buffy. "You owe me... *big*."

Nodding, Buffy followed the Immortal into the Chateau.

Giggling to herself, Stephanie hopped up the stairs, taking them three at a time. "See you guys tonight! Enjoy yourselves!"

After jogging to her room, the young vampire walked in and closed the door behind her. After three steps, she stopped and growled. "Who the..."

"We need to talk, luv," Spike said from the armchair he was sprawled in.

"What the hell do you think you are doing in my room!?" Stephanie exclaimed as she advanced toward the demonling, her hands curled into fists.

"Because, this is the only place we can get any privacy."

"Get... Out..."

"No, pet. Not till we have our talk."

Snarling, she became a blur and grabbed Spike around the neck, slamming him into the wall. "We have *nothing* to talk about."

"I've learned something in the last few days, ducks. You may be faster than me, and stronger than me, but... you're not impervious to harm," Spike said, looking nonchalant, even though he was dangling from Stephanie's arm.

"What does that mean?"

"Just... this!" Spike exclaimed before his foot shot out and hit her in the knee as the side of his hands hit her on either side of her neck.

Startled, and in pain, she dropped the demonling to the floor and stumbled back. Using his advantage, Spike tackled the vampire and sat on her stomach. "Now, all I want is to talk. So, we're gonna talk."

"Piss off!" Stephanie shouted as she got her hands under Spike's legs, preparing to throw him off of her.

"Uh uh uh," Spike said as he bounced her head off the floor. Using the time he had gained while Stephanie was dazed to his advantage, he scrambled off her and placed himself in a corner of the room, pulling a stake and sword off the table he had left them on earlier for just this instance.

"You think those are going to save you?" Stephanie asked, her eyes glowing red.

"You can't get behind me, and these give me enough of an advantage to give us time to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Stephanie growled as she paced back and forth in front of the demonling, her eyes never leaving him.

"I'd say we have plenty to talk about. Like, why did you go off to party and decide to do the nasty with a mortal when you could have had me?"

"You?!" Stephanie exclaimed. "Don't make me laugh!"

"What's wrong with me?"

"You said it yourself. You're a bleeding demon!"

Spike snorted. "And you're a paragon of virtue. We both live off of blood, we both feed off of killing."

"I have a soul. I don't get joy out of torturing others, and I don't kill for my meals," Stephanie said, her voice raised.

"Bullshit!" Spike snarled. "You may live off of bottled blood, but I saw you tonight. You were all over that mortal. You said yourself, you either kill them, or make them think something else happened."

"I don't get joy out of killing mortals. Demons do. You do."

"You know it tastes better fresh. Don't tell me you haven't looked through a crowd of people and saw them as nothing but a herd of food."

"Yes, I may do that. But, unlike *you*, I don't act on that impulse. I have a code of ethics. I have a set of rules to follow. You, you're just an amoral, soulless being out for his own pleasure." By this point, Stephanie was yelling at Spike.

"You sound like you don't *want* to be a vampire," Spike yelled, his face changing to show his demon side. "There's a cure for that you know. They call it sunlight."

"I happen to like being a vampire. Just because I don't kill, doesn't mean I'm weepy and depressed over the state of my life!"

"You're delusional! Killing is what makes vampires what they are. You're a bleedin' predator, not a parasite!"

Stephanie's reply was cut off by the door to her suite opening. "Stephanie! What's going on here?!"

Stephanie whirled to see a shocked Triona standing in the doorway.
 
Using Stephanie's distraction to his advantage, Spike edged along the wall to a nearby doorway and beat a hasty retreat. He dropped the sword along the way, but kept the stake.

"Oh, no you don't," Triona stated, putting herself in the doorway and crossing her arms so Stephanie couldn't follow him. "You're going to explain yourself, young lady."

"He's getting away!"

"Tell me," Triona commanded.

"He was waiting for me when I got back. He decided we needed to talk. I said get out, he attacked me. By the time I had cleared the ringing out of my head, he was in the corner with that sword and stake. We had a discussion, you came in," Stephanie replied. "Now let me pass."

"He attacked you?" Triona exclaimed. "But, he didn't try to kill you?"

"No. Let me pass!"

"Basically, he knew you wouldn't listen to him unless he got the upper hand," Triona added, ignoring her sister's growls to move. "So, he wasn't out to harm you, right."

"It doesn't matter," Stephanie said. "Would you please move!"

"It'll do you no good," Triona pointed out. "He spent yesterday prowling around the Chateau, and probably knows a dozen hiding places by now. And, you need your sleep."

"Triona!" Stephanie exclaimed.

"Don't 'Triona' me. You know I'm right. LaCroix left strict instructions on the care, feeding, and watering of young fledgings, and you don't want him mad at me, do you?" Triona pointed out.

"Watering?! I'm not a plant!" Stephanie growled.

"Calm down. If you still want to skewer him after sundown, you can track him down then. Don't do something you'll regret."

Stephanie looked suspicious. "You like him, don't you?"

Raising an eyebrow, Triona shook her head as she left the young vampire's quarters, pulling the door shut behind her.

"Argh!" Stephanie exclaimed, running her hands through her hair. Pacing around in a large circle for a while calmed her down enough so that she could sleep.

"Did you guys have fun?" Triona asked as she met Methos and the others after their day of sightseeing.

"Tired as hell, but yeah, we had a blast," Terese said with a grin.

"Of course we're tired. After being out all night, then hopping into a car to do the tourism bit? I'm going to crash," Buffy said with a yawn as she passed Triona and hopped up the stairs to her room.

"Adam?" Triona asked, an eyebrow raised at his bedraggled appearance.

"Don't ask," Methos growled, giving Triona a glare.

"I don't think I want to know," Triona said, trying to stifle her giggles.

"I'll see you in your suite in ten minutes," Methos said before he stomped up the stairs.

Watching the oldest Immortal's retreat, Triona lost control of herself and started to laugh. "What happened?" she asked as she turned to Lauren.

Lauren grinned devilishly. "He fell in the Seine."

"He *what*?!" Triona asked.

"He was trying to dodge a running kid and tumbled into the water. We still don't know how he managed to get over the wall."

"Oh, no," Triona said, doubling over in laughter.

"You better get upstairs," Terese said with an evil grin. "He's seriously cross."

"See you guys later," Triona said with a sigh.

Entering her rooms, Triona raised her eyebrows. "What *are* you doing?"

"Finding you something to wear," was Methos's muffled reply as he continued to search through her closet.

"Excuse me?"

"No arguments," Methos growled as he pulled a red dress out of the closet. "Yes... Put this on."

Triona rolled her eyes and took the hanger from the older Immortal. "And why am I changing?" she asked as she unbuttoned the mandarin collar of the dress and pulled it off the hanger.

"We're going out. Be read in twenty minutes," Methos replied before he left the room.

"He's really going to make me pay for taking them sightseeing," Triona sighed as she searched through her lingerie drawer.

"Wow, you guys are really dressed up," Stephanie said as she took in all the formally dressed people in the sitting room.

"Why aren't you dressed?" Duncan MacLeod asked as he came toward the young vampire. "Leather isn't really something you wear to the opera."

Looking down at her black t-shirt and black leather pants, Stephanie nodded her head. "I don't get into opera, you guys know that."

"So, you're not coming either?" Lauren pouted, her hands on the waist of her shimmering green gown.

Stephanie looked confused. "Either?"

"Adam and Triona left a few minutes ago," Buffy replied.

"Maybe we could get that Spike character to come with us," Amanda suggested from the sofa she was perched on.

"No!" Buffy, Willow and Sarah exclaimed together.

"He is *so* not an opera person," Buffy added. "I still can't get how you guys talked me into it."

"Hello? It's an excuse to get dressed up," Cordelia replied.

"And, opera in Paris? It's an once in a lifetime experience," Willow added. "As long as you aren't the performer, that is."

"Where is he anyway?" Stephanie asked, a slightly grim look on her face.

"Haven't seen him," Terese said with a shrug. "Since the sun only went down a few minutes ago, he's got to be in the house or on the grounds somewhere. Why?"

"We have to have a discussion," Stephanie said as she turned to leave the room. "Enjoy the opera."

Waiting upstairs until after everyone had left, Stephanie began searching the house. Deciding to start at bottom, she went down to the basement and searched the rooms and cellars.

After fifteen minutes of opening and shutting doors, she heard a bottle crash into the wall of a storage room a few doors away.

Flinging the door open, she found the object of her search sprawled on a stack of clean towels and drinking from a bottle of scotch.

"Evening," Spike said, waving an arm toward the crate of bottles beside him. "Grab a drink and some floor."

"What are you doing?" Stephanie asked, her anger momentarily forgotten.

"Getting drunk."

"Obviously," Stephanie said as she peered into the crate. "Holy shit! This is Meth... Adam's private stash. He's going to be *pissed*."

"Don' care. Gonna join me?"

Thinking a moment, she shrugged. "The damage is done, why not?" Grabbing a bottle, she turned to leave.

"'Ere? Where you goin'?" Spike exclaimed, struggling to get out of the pile of cloth he was entrenched in.

"I'm *not* drinking with the likes of you," Stephanie replied.

"Go on, then. Leave me. Everyone else does," Spike said morosely.

"Oh hell," Stephanie muttered. "Since when can soulless demons do puppy dog looks?" With a sigh, she nodded. "All right then. I'll be right back."

After placing the scotch bottle on the floor, she left the room and went into the wine cellar. Grabbing four unmarked green bottles, she returned to the storage room and exchanged two of the bottles she carried for a bottle from the crate.

"Wazzat?"

"Dinner," Stephanie said as she picked up the bottle of scotch she had left on the floor.

"Want fresh," Spike pouted. "Is bland in the bottle."

"Uh huh," Stephanie replied noncommittally as she took a long drink from her first bottle of blood, then a drink from her bottle of scotch. As she reached for her second bottle of scotch, she asked, "So, why are you down here, drunk off your ass?"

"I'm not drunk!"

"Yet," Stephanie pointed out logically before taking another long drink from each of her bottles.

"No one wants me. Me sire, me dark princess... 'Ell, even the Slayer thinks I'm not worthy enough to kill. My 'ole life was a mistake. A meal turned into a childe, a demon who can't even keep his mate happy..."

"I know the feeling," Stephanie replied morosely. "I wasn't supposed to be a vampire. If that attack hadn't happened, I'd still be walking along in the sun. I like the sun. It's warm."

"You'd be a happy meal on legs," Spike snorted. "Now, you're above 'em on the food chain."

"Yeah, whoopie. Some step up. I basically drink out of a bottle now."

"So, we're both mistakes, eh?" Spike asked thoughtfully as he moved his position over beside Stephanie. "Well, I say fuck em!"

"Don't want to..." the young vampire muttered in reply as she stared into her empty scotch bottle, contemplating if the effort of moving to get another was worth it.

"You know, pet?"

"What?"

Spike reached over and grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her closer. "Just this." He then kissed her passionately.

"Sex, huh? Is that the solution to all our problems?" Stephanie asked after the kiss ended.

"Maybe, maybe not," Spike said with a devilish grin. "But, it'll take our minds off them..."

Shrugging, Stephanie nodded. "Why not?"

Blinking blearily, Stephanie raised her head from her hard, cold pillow. "What the..." She trailed off as she came face to face with a sleeping Spike, who's chest she had been sleeping on. A sleeping, *naked* Spike.

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"

"Shut the hell up! I'm tryin' ta sleep!" Spike growled before flinging an arm over his eyes.

"I had sex... with you!" Stephanie groaned.

"Good, was I?" Spike said with a leer, his eyes still covered with his arm.

Rolling her eyes, Stephanie grabbed Spike's trenchcoat and her clothes. "Whatever." Hurriedly putting on her outfit and Spike's coat she reached for the doorknob.

"That's mine!"

"You'll get it back. Baby." Stephanie left the storeroom and wandered off, still half-asleep. Shuffling down the hall, she slowly made her way upstairs and towards her room.

"Look what the cat dragged in!"

Turning slowly, Stephanie blinked at Lauren, who was standing in the hall wearing a bikini. "Hey."

"You look... Have you been drinking? And, isn't that Spike's coat?!" Lauren exclaimed, drawing the attention of the others, who were coming inside in a giggling bunch, obviously just out of the pool.

"Huh?" Stephanie asked before yawning behind her hand.

"It is!" Terese nodded. "How did you get it?"

Buffy grinned. "Did you finally dust him?"

Spike took that moment to show himself by coming behind Stephanie and leaning his head against her shoulder. "Not quite."

Stephanie's eyes narrowed and she jerked forward. "One more words, Spike, and I'll stab you."

"With what? I don't remember you having anything pointy on you," Spike pointed out, a leer evident in his voice.

"I'll think of something," Stephanie growled in reply before stomping away, leaving a group of stunned women and a very happy demon behind.

Getting to her room, she slammed her door shut and locked it. After taking a shower and changing her clothes, she threw Spike's duster across one of the armchairs in her sitting room and sat in the other, staring at the coat pensively.

Hours later, she was startled out of her position by a knock on the door. Getting up, she unlocked the door and glared at the knocker. "What do you want, Spike?"

"Think we need to have a discussion while we're sober, pet," Spike replied quietly.

After glaring a few moments, the young vampire nodded and proceeded Spike into the room. "Have a seat."

After grabbing his duster, Spike sprawled into one of the chairs. "We may be different species, luv," he started, remembered the conversation they had the previous night about the differences between demonlings and vampires. "But, we both seem to be in the same situation. A quirk of fate is the only reason we're not dead or still wandering around like cattle."

Stephanie sat down and tilted her head. "Yeah, so?"

"I'm just saying. You obviously need time to think about stuff, and I'm..."

Stephanie tilted her head after his pause. "You're what?"

"Lonely," Spike growled. "So, what say we make a deal. I'm leaving 'ere tonight. Being around the Slayer isn't too good for my 'ealth. You keep me company, I let you think. What do you say, pet?"

Several moments passed with Stephanie deep in thought before she nodded. "Yes. I can do that. Let me pack a bag and write a few quick notes and we'll be out of here." Turning away, she walked out of the room. And, of course, since demonlings have no reflection, she didn't see the evil smirk that flashed across Spike's face as she left.

Dear Trie,

By the time you read this, I'll be gone. Yeah, I ran away. I need to think, and, bizarrely enough, Spike has offered to put up with me while I'm doing my philosophical bit. Don't worry, I'll keep in touch.

Love,
Steph

LaCroix,

I need to think, but I can never seem to do it here. I am *not* leaving you or the family. I could never do that. I don't *want* to do that. I'll send a postcard or two, maybe a letter.

Stephanie.