"Spike, it'll just make it harder to find them if you get pulled over for speeding …"

Buffy was holding on to her seat belt for dear life. The vampire growled in frustration, and eased up on the gas. Lydia, in between them, was whining faintly. Buffy put a hand on the girl's arm, in comfort.

Things were tense in the back seat as well, albeit for different reasons. Willow couldn't even put a name to how she felt, being near Oz again, knowing that he was seeing someone else. And she wasn't too happy with Tara at the moment, so she didn't feel so guilty as she thought she ought to. Tara should be feeling some guilt of her own, by Willow's reck.

Lydia had come to the Magic Box once after they had met her in L.A. Tara was there helping Anya with things, and Willow was in a class. Tara remembered the girl, and struck up a conversation with her. She found out that Lydia had been seeing Oz. The werewolf girl had come to the Magic Box under the pretense of getting some hard-to-find items, but was really curious about Willow. She knew there was a lot of pain in Oz's heart over the red-head, and Lydia thought the two should talk and work things out. After all, they were both seeing new people, right? But Tara didn't think it was a good idea, at least not just yet. So they talked about their loves, and then moved on to Wicca. Tara was happy to have met another Wiccan with such strong ties to the supernatural world. She and Lydia talked on the phone every now and again after that, and had lunch a few times.

Willow suspected her of cheating.

Oz suspected Lydia of cheating.

Tara secretly feared Willow wanted Oz back-or that Willow might find she liked Lydia better than her.

Dawn reflected that the back seat was not a good place to be at the moment.

"I feel him!" Spike and Lydia cried in unison from the front.

Dawn sighed in relief. At least one thing was going right.

"Wait! It's gone again!" Lydia wailed.

Ok, so maybe things were still tense …

"Get outta here!" the bartender yelled at the animals, throwing a bucket of water at them.

Cerberus and Nicky put on their game faces, snarling at the man. He backed up, suddenly afraid. Cerberus had come here once before, with Spike, and the bartender had insisted he wait outside. Spike had taken a pretty bad beating while Cerberus was out there.

"N-nice doggy! Nice … b-bunny?"

One of his patrons stood up from the bar and walked over to the scene. "Oh goody, snacks!" he cried, licking his lips.

The vamp-animals shared a look, before leaping at the demon.

"There! He's that way!" Lydia pointed.

"Yeah, I fe-DAMN!" Spike hit the Desoto's horn in frustration. The tug of the bond, when they could feel it, kept going in different directions. They had found themselves doubling back towards L.A., and that last blip had been somewhere west of them. It was like every time they started to get close, they rushed off faster than the speed of light of somewhere else.

"Maybe we should go to our place?" Oz suggested. "They seem to be moving closer to L.A. now, and we might find a clue there."

"No! We should go to the Magic Box!" Willow told them. "With some supplies, I bet we can divine what's going on!"

Lydia didn't turn around to reply. "I have supplies at my place. I'm a witch too, y'know."

"But you won't have anything of the caliber we have-"

"CHILDREN!" Dawn snapped, disgusted with the lot of them. "We're closer to L.A. now, we'll go to L.A. This isn't a contest, Willow! You're with Tara, she loves you, Oz and Lydia love eachother, and can you blame Tara for being afraid of telling you about them? You're all jealous of Lydia, but did you think for one minute that maybe Tara might be jealous of Oz? Or that you might fall for Lydia? And Oz, Willow had every reason to move on with Tara, you didn't exactly leave any indication that you were going to come back. Don't blame her for losing what you didn't try to hold on to! And Tara, you can't expect Willow to forget her first love, but you should trust her more! She chose you before, didn't she? When she knew you a lot less than she does now! And Oz, I'd say you should offer Lydia the same courtesy, if you love her! And if you can't let go of your love for Willow, then you should say so! Your "man-of-few-words" routine is what lost you Willow in the first place! So be happy with Lydia, 'cause you can't have Willow back, and Willow be happy with Tara, and remember why you chose her in the first place, and Tara trust in your love, not your fear! There's no reason you can't all be friends!" She ended in a pant.

The vehicle was silent, save for Dawn's breathing. Buffy felt a surge of pride at her younger sister's perceptiveness, but said nothing. She saw Spike grinning slighty, and could see Willow and Tara cringing in the side mirror.

Then Lydia piped up. "Actually, I was thinking the four of us could be more than friends, if y'all would get over this whole 'monogamy' kick. It's fairly common for my people to get together in pack-matings. Tara, Willow, I love Oz as my lifemate, but I do find you both attractive."

Dawn stifled a laugh as the three seated next to her turned bright red.

"I-I love Willow!" Tara protested.

Willow hugged Tara. "And I love you. I'm sorry I doubted you, and I'm sorry I ever gave you reason to doubt me."

"Lydia, what are you doing?? I love YOU, Willow and I are long over!"

Lydia turned around in her seat, and smiled lovingly at him. "I know. But it's okay to still care for Willow-and I would hope you could come to love Tara, too." She smiled at her fellow Wiccans. "Well, the offer is still on the table, girls, but I understand if you don't want to try it." She winked. "But I hope we can all be friends, at least. To quote an old saying among my people, 'Your pack can only be too big if you don't have enough love to go around. Or food.'"

Dawn laughed, breaking the tension. The rest of the vehicle joined her, Tara and Willow snuggling together, and Oz giving Lydia a hug and a kiss over the seat. When he sat back down, he held on to her hand still.

Buffy thought you could feel the love in the car like a thick, comfortable blanket. She wished she were sitting next to Spike, so she could let him know how much she loved him.

**I know, Slayer …** came his voice in her mind, making her jump in surprise.

He caught her jump out of the corner of his eye, and nearly jumped himself as he realised what had happened. He had heard her voice, in his mind, saying that she wished she could let him know how she felt. He had responded as he would to Cerberus, when he didn't want anyone else to hear. But he hadn't really registered that he'd only heard her voice in his head, not his ears, or that he's responded the same way-he'd done it instinctually, not consciously. And she had heard him!

He tested it. **Can you hear me, love?**

When there wasn't an answer, he shrugged it off, figuring he was imagining things. And then- **Yes, I can!** Her mind-voice was filled with awe.

**Well, well, well, love, this is an interesting turn of ev--!**

"I think I can sense them again!" Lydia unwittingly interrupted him.

Spike reached out. Yes, he could feel Cerberus, barely. And as the Desoto ate the road, he realised the bond's tug was getting stronger. He still wasn't close enough to hear any replies to his mind-cries, though-unless something was wrong, and Cerberus couldn't reply.

"So you really think Spike and Lydia don't love you, anymore, huh?" Lorne asked his late-night visitors.

They only nodded in agreement. At the last demon-bar they had gone to, they had fed off some very drunken creatures, taking nips here and there as they fought. Now the animals were a little tipsy themselves-and very, very maudlin.

"Listen, guys, I've heard both of them sing, and I happen to know for a fact that they each love you very much! Sometimes people in love get … distracted from the other parts of their life for a while. It doesn't mean they've stopped loving you! They'll come around, you'll see. When parents bring home a new baby, the older siblings always feel like their moms and dads don't love them anymore, when it's really just that a new baby needs a lot of extra attention until it's strong enough to take care of itself. New love is like that, needing to be nurtured until it's strong enough that it doesn't need constant attention."

The vampire beasts gave him blank looks.

Lorne sighed. "It's a bit late for metaphors, I know. Give me a break, I'm tired. Speaking of which, don't you two think you should be getting home? Spike & Lydia will be worried about you!"

They didn't seem to believe him, and didn't seem too tired, either.

Lorne eyed the gauntlet at Cerberus' feet. "Lorne, my boy, time to take matters into your own hands …"

Lydia looked around. "Well, we're almost home, and the bond isn't as strong as it would be if they were at my place. They seem to be further north…"

"Is it just me, or does the bond seem a bit … fuzzy, to you?" Spike asked the wolfgirl.

She nodded. "Let's stop at my place, since it seems to be on the way. Maybe we'll find a clue to what's going on there, and then we can be better prepared."

Spike nodded, clearly distracted with worry. Buffy could feel his anxiety-unless it was just her own she was feeling. She loved the little dog, maybe as much as Spike did, and was as afraid of something happening to Cerberus as she would be for Dawn under such circumstances. She tried to send Spike a little astral squeeze of reassurance. When she felt it back, she knew it had worked. Long-distance nookie … if only she wasn't too upset to enjoy the prospect.

"Now I'm taking you boys home, whether you like it or not! First stop, Lydia's house! And then, since I've never been to Spike's place, we'll have to hope Oz is there to take you home, pup!"

The animals just sat there.

Lorne sighed and put on the gauntlet. "Right, then, let's hope this works the way my old one did!"

He aimed his hand at the air next to them, and concentrated.

Lydia fussed with her keys while the rest of them waited behind her on the stoop and the walk to her door. She had just about gotten the door open when they heard something behind them. The gang turned to find a rip in the space behind them. Out from it came a green demon.

"Lorne!" Spike, Oz, and Lydia cried.

"The Host!" Tara and Willow cried.

"Who?" Buffy and Dawn asked.

"Ha! I don't believe it! It worked!" Lorne laughed. He turned and motioned to someone behind him. "C'mon, you two! I wanna get back to bed!"

Cerberus and Nicky waddled glumly out of the portal.

"I believe you're missing these!" Lorne proclaimed.

"Nicky!"

"Cerberus!" Spike and Lydia rushed forward and swept up their respective familiars, fussing and crooning over them, tearfully asking what had happened to them.

"They got lonely and decided to use this to go gallivanting off together," Lorne explained, taking off the gauntlet and holding it up.

"My gauntlet!" Willow exclaimed, taking it back from the Host. "How did they manage to use it?!?"

Lydia answered while she hugged her rabbit close. "Animals are closer to magic than we are. They have a natural affinity for it-it takes a lot less effort for them. That's why they were able to break Lorne's shield on Caratos the first night they met, and fight. I'm glad you two are friends now, but next time, tell us when you're doing to do something like that! You sacred me half to death!"

**Ma … mom, you're squishing me …** Nicky squirmed.

**Yeah, put me down!** Cerberus tried to get away.

"Oh no you don't!" Spike reprimanded the pup. "Now that I have you back, I'm never letting you go again!"

"Spike, give him here," Buffy ordered.

"Okay." Spike handed the canine to her.

**Well that didn't last long,** Cerberus muttered.

**Now you listen up!** Buffy scolded him, **Like it or not, we're a pack! Dawn's your sister, Tara, Willow, and Anya are your aunts, Xander's your uncle, Giles is your grandfather, and Spike and I are alpha male and female, the parents of the pack! We're a family, and nothing is gonna break us up, got it?**

Cerberus flattened his ears in supplication, and gave her a tentative lick.

"Heh, well I guess that settles it," Buffy laughed.

Dawn, tired for waiting for her turn to hold the pup, wrapped Buffy and the dog up in her arms. Spike put his own arms around them all.

Oz held Lydia as she held Nicky. Tara thought they looked like a couple with a baby. She smiled, and held her own true love, who couldn't seem to squeeze her tight enough for either of their liking.

"Well, this is all very sweet, but I'm going back to bed," Lorne informed them as he turned to head back through the portal.

"Lorne?"

He looked over his shoulder at Lydia.

"Thank-you."

He smiled. "No problem." He moved to go.

"Hey Lorne?"

"Yes, Spike, I know, you're welcome!"

"Nice pajamas!"

Lorne grunted in supposed irritation, but smiled as he walked back into his club, hearing the laughter of a family happy to have its children back as the portal closed behind him.

"Well, I guess we should get going too …" Willow said, and put the gauntlet on. She opened a gate large enough to fit the Desoto, leading to Buffy's driveway.

She turned to Oz. "I'm happy for you, for the both of you. If you're ever in Sunnydale …"

Oz and Lydia smiled. "Yes, and if you're ever in L.A. …"

Willow held up the gauntlet. "I think that'll be happening a bit more often …"

The Scoobies piled into Spike's car, Buffy getting in last. Lydia stopped her.

She whispered to the Slayer. "Ask Spike if he remembers what I told him about the nature of vampires and souls sometime." She smiled, and said more loudly, "I hope you come visit, too."

Buffy smiled, slightly puzzled. "We will."

They pulled through the gate, into the driveway.

"So I think it'll work!" Willow told them all excitedly as they took their coats off. "It'll be a doggy-door of sorts, and allow Cerberus and Nicky to see eachother whenever they want. But no more adventuring with the gauntlet!" she shook her finger at the dog for emphasis.

"Ah, Sweety, I think we better ask Lydia and Oz if it's ok, first …" Tara told her gently.

"Oh, yeah!" Willow blushed.

Buffy smiled and patted the dog reassuringly. "I don't think it'll be a problem."

"Man, I'm beat!" Dawn proclaimed, heading up the stairs. Tara and Willow nodded, and went up too.

Spike and Buffy stood awkwardly at the foot of the stair.

"I .. I had a good time tonight. Thank-you." Buffy smiled shyly, wringing her hands.

Spike licked his dry lips, darting looks at her, but not quite able to face her completely. "Yeah, um, it was fun! We … ah … we should do it again … sometime?" The last word had a hopeful lilt to it, sounding slightly like a question, rather than a statement.

Buffy shrugged, not able to meet his eyes either. "I … kinda thought maybe the fun wasn't over yet tonight…"

His brows went up, and he eyed her sideways. "What-" his voice cracked, and he cleared it. He straightened his shoulders and looked her full in the eye. "What sort of fun did you have in mind?"

She stepped closer to him, her skin suddenly on fire, her heart aflutter, and her lips aching with their own sort of hunger. Her cheeks tingled, and her hands, and she felt like crying, but happy tears. It was hard to breathe. They drew close, her eyes closing, and the tingling spread throughout her body. She reached up and put her hands on his chest

He was warm.

Before she had a chance to wonder, he pulled back. She almost cried out for want of him.

He was looking down at Cerberus, who was staring at them with his head on his paws, his eyes sad.

Spike looked at her, pleading. **You know I love you, right? You know I want this as much as you, but … After what Lorne said tonight …**

She smiled. **It's okay, Spike, I understand. But I'm selfish … I don't want to be alone tonight either. Why don't you both just come up to my room. We'll just sleep, and he can stay in the bed with us. We can do … more … another night … **

He drew her close and kissed her forehead tenderly. Anymore than that, and he knew neither of them could hold back. But like parents with a child who was afraid of the dark, they knew that Cerberus needed to be with them that night. It was enough for them to be together.

And thinking of Cerberus as a child made Buffy think of something else as they made their way up the stairs. In the movie they'd seen that night, the main character had been half vampire, half human. This wasn't the first time she'd run across that idea in the vampire myth. She wondered if Angel was wrong about it being impossible for vampires to have children. After all, he had never tried it, as far as she knew. Maybe that was an old wive's tale. She made a mental note to ask Spike about that, and about what Lydia had said to her. She looked forward to testing her theory …

She put those thoughts from her mind as she snuggled into her bed, Spike's arms wrapped around her, her comforter over them, and the dog at their feet. She didn't even notice this time that both vampires were warm, when they weren't supposed to be.

There would be plenty of time to thing about all those things tomorrow.