Ash came down the stairs, aware of the humming undercurrent of activity that denoted a house filled with people.  He considered it a moment and concluded it didn't denote an imminent crisis.  Satisfied he made his way outside to the terrace, already home to the majority of his guests.  They'd been arriving all day and now that the sun had set the rest would appear...literally.

The first thing he did, automatically, was find Lynne with his eyes, making sure she was alright.  She was standing talking to Phoenix and Eliot, Anders in Phoenix's arms for the moment.  Ash grinned.  That wasn't going to last long.  Anders had definite opinions about how long strangers got to hold him.  It had taken Mrs Peacock a week or more to stop being a stranger.

Ai and Maharet were being regaled by Griffin about something and Kiril were talking to Kalana and Carl.  And scattered about, Dec, Cayden and Damon were schmoozing with the others they'd brought.  And so far there'd been no swords drawn, no blood shed and no other disasters.  He had no idea how long that would last, especially after...

He poured himself a drink and started making the rounds.

Kalana, flanked by Marty and Karen, were staying inside the group as much as possible. Marty insisted.

"I may be paranoid, but if Monterey tries something here, he'll have to go through a hell of a lot of trouble before he gets to us," was his idea. Karen had agreed.

Kalana was feeling rather tensed, being so far away from her little 'kingdom'. Karen noticed. "Relax, girl. Nothing you can do about things from here. And this is important. Keep your cool, okay?"

Marty chuckled: "Want some ice, perhaps?"

Kalana growled at him.

"I love wild women," Kiril said from behind Kalana. "Do that again."

Kalana whirled round and looked up at him. "Oh, hi Kiril." Then she growled again. "But that was for stupid here, offering me some ice."

Marty snorted.

"How are things with you? Long time since we met," Kalana asked the big man.

Kiril grinned. "Things are good with me. So long as Skylar shuts up about vegan eating habits. I'm sorry to hear you're having so many problems. We should join up forces and try to erase those guys for good."

Kalana nodded. "That would be good. The things that are happening at the moment are really bad. I hope something workable comes from this meeting."

Karen nodded. "Veganism is good, you know."

"Ranks right up there with fascism," Kiril commented.  "Or maybe Republicanism."

"No way in hell it don't!" Karen remarked.

"Hullo, who's that?" Kiril asked as a guy with a tattoo wandered by. "Wait. Hi, I'm Kiril, this is Kalana and that's Karen."

"I'm not a K,"  Guy commented with a grin. "I'm just a Guy."

"And quite a guy," Karen said with a smile. "Hello there..."

"Karen, behave, we're in company," Marty grinned.

Kalana nodded. "Kalana Hong. Nice to meet you."

"Guy Wolfe, Namaste," he said bowing to each of them.

"What's with the tat?" Kiril asked.

"Oh," Guy said, reaching up to touch it. "It's religious. Sort of."

"Ah. Interesting place for it. Not much chance to hide it."

Guy nodded glumly at Kiril. "All too true."

Karen studied the tattoo. "Interesting design. And interesting place also."

Kalana nodded. "Our Kung Fu Masters have them on their forearms."

"Namaste?" Marty wondered. "Sounds foreign."

Guy nodded. "Indian. Subcontinent. It is a greeting of respect. Sanskrit. It means, literally, I bow to you."

"Indian. Wow. You don't strike me as Indian, really." Marty, paranoid as he could be, moved himself a bit more between the man with the tattoo and Kalana.

Kalana saw Lynne walk by. With a precious little package on her arm. As Marty was going on about the tattoo with Guy and Kiril, she slipped away from his attention and made her way towards Lynne.

"Hello," she said, "I think we haven't met properly yet. I am Kalana Hong. You must be Lynne."

Lynne smiled. "Anders gives me away, doesn't he," Lynne replied with a laugh.  The baby gurgled.

"He's cute!" Kalana said with a big smile. "And his eyes! So bright! He must be a very special child." Then she frowned. "Maybe I am off by a few years, but... how long have you known Ashley? I don't think he mentioned being in love when I last spoke to him..."

Lynne smiled ruefully. "It's been a shock to the both of us, let me tell you. Including Anders. Especially Anders.  Would you like to hold him?"

"Oh, please!" Kalana took the little man in her arms and babbled to him. Somehow it was uncanny to her that he seemed to object to babbling. This was an exceptional child, for certain. "It is nice to be here," she then said. "Less tension here than at home. It is nice to hold a child for a change."

"Well, don't take it personally if he begins to fuss. He's been rather shy of strangers lately. It took us a week to convince him to let his nanny hold him."

"That is long. I think." Kalana showed her ignorance in having children. "But you look very happy, and so does he. So the nanny must be a good one."

Anders, as if on cue, started squirming in her arms. "Oh... I think he wants to go back to you," Kalana grinned, and handed the little boxer back to Lynne.

"Kalana?" she heard Karen call out to her.

"How-lar... okay... I have to go on again, duty calls. It was really nice to talk to you, Lynne," Kalana said.

Lynne took back Anders who was, thankfully sleeping, and watched her walk off.  "Well, little man, so far so good," she whispered to Anders.

Eliot wandered over to Lynne who'd just taken the fussy Anders out of Phoenix's arms.  "You are looking lovely," Eliot said with a smile.

"I don't feel like it," Lynne confessed. "I'm feeling frazzled."

"Well, everything seems quite perfect, so I don't see why you should. Not a sword in sight!"

Lynne grinned and waved at Uriel as he walked in with Amanda and Jareth.

"I hope you all are doing better," Lynne asked, a frown on her face. "I'm so sorry about the club, Jareth. But at least you got nearly everyone out. It could have been so much worse."

"Almost," Jareth said softly, but he smiled. "Thank you, Lynne. I'm glad to see you're well after the ordeal at our last meeting. And I'd finally like to introduce you to my chronicler and girlfriend." He said, pulling Amanda forwards.

"I'd like you to meet Amanda Rose, Amanda this is Lynne Winters." He introduced.

"Hello Amanda. I've heard so much about you it's great to see you," Lynne said, shifting Anders in her arms. He seemed to want to see who was standing near them.

Amanda smiled. "You too, though Jareth tells me I am the loner once more. But I would definitely trade my mortality for that little one." She said warmly, dropping her gaze to the baby. "What's his name?"

"Anders," Lynne replied with a smile. "Would you like to hold him? He's been very good tonight. So far," Lynne warned with a laugh.

Amanda lit up. "I'd love to! It's been a long time since I've held a baby though."

"I'm not worried in the least," Lynne said handing Anders off and smiling at the way Amanda took him. "A pro. Let me tell you, this is all news to me.  I hardly had processed the whole you're pregnant thing when someone was handing him to me."

"Oh, I bet you're a pro at it by now." Amanda said as she cradled the baby. "You're so lucky, Lynne, he's gorgeous."

Jareth watched Amanda hold Anders quietly before smiling at Lynne, his smile a little different as he watched his girlfriend.

Lynne watched him for a moment then said, "Ash believed it was impossible too."

Jareth nodded, but spoke in a voice only Lynne could hear. "And she's right, Lynne. You're very lucky and I'm happy for you both."

Buffy commed Ash's tiny mic to let him know that something was up in the air. Confused a bit, Ash looked up. He grinned.  Everyone else began looking up then as the dying light of evening was blotted out by... dragons.  Three of them, cavorting in the sky, two smaller ones diving down toward the house then climbing back up to the adult dragon with them.  As the larger dragon approached they saw two people aboard her.  Who else would make such a splash of an arrival but Carmine?

Ash set his glass down and wandered out on the lawn, waiting for Briony to land.

"Kalana, behind me," Marty said.

"But I want to SEE THEM!", she said, punching him in the back.

"What the *hell*??" Luke muttered, quickly scanning the crowd to see where Carl had gotten to.  He'd been talking with the other security people and hadn't been watching the sky, damn it!  Working his way through the assembly, he finally reached the boss.  "Carl, maybe we'd better get undercover?  Where's Mark?"  He looked around, and spotted Anton, but didn't immediately see their other companion.

Carl shook his head. "He's over there, talking to some of the others. As for the dragons--wait. Let's see what they do first."  He looked around again and saw that Anton was still nearby, which was also good just in case.

"Hello, beautiful," Ash said to her when she touched down, ignoring Carmine totally.  "Watching you fly is amazing."

Briony gave him a smug dragon smile and turned to watch Nicki and Carmie touch down.

"Welcome to Cliff House," Ash said to Carmine.  "Nice taste in transport."

As Marty saw that Ash was friendly with the strange arrivals, he dared to let Kalana have a better look.

"Ohh... Dragons..." The halfblood queen stood and stared. "I want one!"

"In Los Angeles? Where'd you park it, girl?" Karen asked.

Briony looked her in the eye and said, "We aren't pets."

"And they talk!" Kalana said. "That is amazing." She turned to Karen. "Parking. Woman, grow up."

Carmine smiled at Kalana. "Buono notte, signorina. Carmine of Italy at your service. Oh, forgive me, one moment."  Carmine turned to Nicki who had been sneaking up to stay close by him.  "Nicki," he said to her. "You must stay on the lawn. I will be only on the patio and you can see me there. You are getting too big to negotiate such traffic, carissima. Va bene?"

Nicki nodded sadly and retreated.

Kalana beamed as she heard Carmine talk to the small dragon, who paid real close attention to the words of the vampire. "Isn't that just wonderful?" she whispered to Karen and Marty.

Then, when Carmine looked at her again, she introduced herself and her companions. "Nice to meet you, sir. We have heard many things about you."

Carmine laughed. "None of them true, I trust, signorina. I am sorry to hear you are having so much difficulty in California. Perhaps this meeting will garner you assistance, if that is your wish."

"Oh, we heard good things about you also, sir Carmine. Or should I say Prince? I do hope that the meeting will bring some solace for the problems we have. But I should not be bothering you with this now, there are more people who want to see your dragons- eh, and you of course," Kalana said.

"It has been molto bene talking to you and meeting you at last. I'm sure we shall talk again soon," Carmine said with a bow and turned to speak to others who had come to see the dragons.

Lynne, Anders fussing in her arms, walked over to give the baby a view of the dragons. "Magnificent aren't they?" she asked Carl.

Carl nodded.  "I'd agree.  I've seen a lot of things in my time, but nothing like them. Outside of children's stories, that is."

"I know, and totally understand," Lynne replied. "Until quite recently I was completely oblivious to all of you, especially dragons. It's been a challenge to not run screaming to a psychiatrist at times," she added with a laugh.

Briony leaned her nose down towards the baby, crooning a lullabye.  Anders, enthralled, waved his hands at her, gurgling.

Carl looked over at the small child and the dragon hovering over it.  Then he looked back at Lynne.  "He certainly seems to enjoy the attention."

"That he does. A schmoozer like his father, I'm afraid," Lynne replied.

He glanced over at Anton, Mark, and Luke, all three of whom were staring at the dragon.  "You can go mingle, but don't get too far away." he smiled.  "I think we're all right here for now."

The three men nodded and moved off into the crowd, though Luke did not get any further than he could keep Carl and Mark both in sight.

Marty stood a bit away, keeping an eye on the area, and eyeing the dragon lady and the two smaller ones. He could not suppress a feeling of envy, and he was not the envious kind. It would be all too tremendous, he thought, to have a dragon and do surveillance like that. It would make him get around faster than his old car, and he would not be so depending on Karen.

Marty had seen Carl, Luke, and their other companion, whose name he hadn't gotten, move about, Luke almost being the shadow of his principal. "Good grief," he thought, "isn't that paranoid" as he walked up to Kalana again. The two were coming a bit too close to his liking, and he did not know them that well.

As Carl passed Kalana, she nodded. "Hello."

Carl held out his hand.  "Carl Reed Paulson," he said by way of introduction.

Kalana shook his hand. "Kalana Hong. California area. Nice to meet you. They're magnificent, aren't they?" she said, nodding towards the dragons.

Marty snorted. "I'm furniture. Don't mind me."

They didn't.

Carl glanced towards the dragons, then back to Kalana.  "Upper Midwest," he added in response to her mention of California, then smiled slightly.  "And yes, they are magnificent."

Briony swiveled her jeweled eyes to look at him, taking her time about it.  Satisfied she smiled slightly.  "Thank you."  Then she gathered her offspring and moved out onto the lawn towards the cliffs.

"That's where she'll find a lair while she's here," Damon said, walking up from behind, nodding to the cliffs.  "She'll scare the hell out of the boaters, too," he added gleefully.  "Damon Brooks, Ash's favorite whipping boy," he explained.

"I'd love sailing with a dragon over Venice Beach," Kalana said. "That would make heads turn! Oh, Carl, this is Marty. Marty Jacobs, my personal shadow and security guy. And the lady here is Karen Wilson, she is my mage and confident."

Carl nodded.  "I wonder what they'd look like sailing over Lake Michigan."  Then he indicated the dark skinned man standing a short distance away.  "This's Luke Harrell, my 'shadow and security'" he said, borrowing the words she had used.  Then he indicated the other man standing behind him.  "Mark Haley, my successor,  And..." he paused to look around, "over there," indicating a dark haired man with a long beard standing near the drinks table, a tall man dressed all in black, "is Anton Nikolas, my mage."

Luke murmured a "nice to meet you, as did Mark.  Anton looked up on hearing his name mentioned, and came over to hold out his hand to Kalana.

Kalana shook Mark's hand, and that of the man who looked like he was from a Russian court. "Nice to meet you." She greeted Luke in return. "A man of few words..." She cast a frown onto Marty, who greeted Luke, Mark and Anton also. Karen closed the greeting ranks and tried to estimate the extent of powers Anton possessed. Occupational deformation, but she could not help herself"

"Nice to meet you all," Damon said, swallowing some scotch.

Marty peered over the table. "Nice to meet you too. I would however really like to find a decent beer. You have anything like that over here?"

Damon grinned.  "See those two guys over there?  Dec and Cayden?  Tell them I said to find you a Carlsberg or St. Pauli Girl.  Unless you'd prefer an ale or a dark beer?"

Marty slapped Damon on the shoulder. "You are my kind of man. I salute you. From behind a Carlsberg, of course." He turned to Karen. "Think I can leave the kid with you?"

Kalana kicked, but he had counted on that and jumped. "See you later. Kid!"

He turned towards Dec and Cayden. "Say, guys..." and he walked off.

"Kalana. You should stop kicking him. He's always too fast for you," Karen said.

"Hah. One day his shins are mine," the petite Chinese woman said, folding her arms over her chest. "Maybe you should get yourself a drink too."

"Hmm. I already looked at the table. I'll have mineral water. And you? Bloodwine?"

"Would be good, come, let's raid the glassware." Kalana and Karen waved goodbye at Carl and his companions and headed for the table with the drinks.

One fellow standing by the drinks table yelped. He bent down to look under the table. "And who are you, sir?"

"Shhh, " said the child putting a dirty finger to his lips. "I'm hiding."

"Well, hello Mr. Hiding, I'm Harrison. Is there anything interesting going on under the table?"

Nicco frowned. "Nothing at all."

Then come on out of there, let's go find something interesting.  Harrison grabbed Nicco by the collar and swung him up onto his shoulders. "There. Far better view from there, Mr. Hiding."

Kalana stared at the child that had come from under the table. "What's that?!"

"It is called a boy, Kalana," Karen said dryly. "Also known as a noise with dirt on it."

Nicco frowned at her. "I'm a mage. FIRST mage to Carmine Abrizzi Prince of Italy!"

"Also the mage who has snuck out of bed and shown up uninvited to a party," came a voice wrapped in silk with a sexy accent from behind them.

"Did you just shiver?" Kalana asked Karen. "Hello, Prince Carmine. It this really yours?"

"Si, I am sorry to say. You see how badly I run Italy when I cannot even control a small boy."

"Harrison Williams," Harrison offered and shook Carmine's hand. "Nicco, you want political asylum?"

"Si!  For the night anyway," Nicco piped up.

Harrison leant close to Karen and whispered,  "He makes me shiver too. Possibly even for the same reason as you."

Karen looked at Harrison. "Get out of here..."

Carl, with Luke, Mark, and Anton following close behind, joined the group at the bar.  All four men paused to stare at the small boy.  Anton's eyes narrowed as he sensed that this was no ordinary child.  Before he could say anything, though, Carl spoke first.   "So whose little boy are you?"

"Mine at the moment," Harrison replied. "He's got political asylum."

Nicco laughed with delight.

"I am very much afraid, caro Carl, that the child is, at least in some sense, mine," Carmine replied with his patented shrug. "We all have our crosses to bear."

"He does not look too bad to me," the vampire queen remarked. "A small cross anyway."

"Don't be fooled, Kalana," Karen whispered in her ear. "This is quite a formidable child. I saw Anton measure him also."

"I am a mage!" Nicco said proudly. "And I have my very own dragon."

"Who is," Carmine commented, "Looking at you quite longingly."

Nicco looked over at Carmie who was indeed standing at the edge of the patio looking frightfully pathetic.  He magicked himself off of Harrison's shoulders and over to Carmie's.

"Ah. Deserted again. It's my fate," Harrison said sadly. From somewhere far away Marty's loud laughter rang out over the crowd.

"I think someone is having too much fun," Karen said. "Maybe we should..."

"No, let him. You're being too hard on him, Karen." Kalana kept a straight face for an eternity of several seconds, then burst out laughing.

"You, missy, are terrible!" Karen said and put her arm around Harrison's and looked at him. "At least you are someone who looks dependable."

"Karen!" Kalana exclaimed in mock surprise. "Don't you love me anymore?"

"Don't worry," Harrison said to Kalana. "Everyone leaves me in the end. I'm never sure why. Perhaps it's my dirty socks I leave lying around."

Anton, more interested in the bar than the conversation, now that Nicco had wandered off, shook his head.  "Is there no decent vodka here?" he said, looking over the contents of the table and still not seeing what he wanted.

Carl, Mark, and Luke all exchanged looks.  They'd been trying for years to get him to even *try* something else and gotten nowhere.   Carl shook his head and poured himself a glass of wine.

as did Mark.  Luke grabbed a beer.

Kalana looked over the table and picked up a bottle. "Perhaps this is something for you?"

Anton stared at the bottle she offered him.  He sniffed at it.  "Tomato juice?"  Almost despite himself a slight smile showed.  Just for a moment, though.  "I do not think so," he said after another moment.  But the faintest trace of a smile showed in his eyes, though he quickly hid it before Carl, Luke, or Mark noticed.

Kalana giggled and took the man by the hand. "Come. Let's find you some vodka." She dragged him along, leaving his three friends standing there with question marks plastered over their faces.

In the meantime Karen had a grin on her face. "You mean," she asked Harrison, "these?" She held up a pair of socks. Harrison noticed that his feet now no longer were in them, so they had to be his. They looked like them anyway.

"You see? What did I tell you. I'm not to be trusted with socks," Harrison said making a moue. He was quite cute and knew it.

"I am glad you put on clean ones for this day," Karen said. "Did you remember that by yourself?"

"No, that's why I have a principal.  Her major responsibility is to make sure I'm more or less presentable to company. She'll be disappointed to learn I've lost my socks."

Karen laughed out loud, putting her other hand on Harrison's arm as well, after stuffing his socks in his pocket. "Now don't lose them, okay?"

"I'll do my best. Can I buy you a drink?" Harrison asked. "I'm in the mood for.... hmmm, let's see."

"That would be most kind, Harrison. I'm having mineral water right now." Karen showed him the glass.

"Let's refill it with wine, shall we?  This stuff looks pretty good." He was holding a bottle of champagne.  He poured himself a glass, and looked around for Phoenix. She was busy elsewhere. "Oh good, mom's not looking."  Harrison filled Karen's glass.

"To... better relations amongst us all," Harrison toasted.

Karen toasted with him. "I will drink to that any day, sugar," she said and sipped some of the champagne. "Oh, that tickles my nose. See, I'm not used to this. The little one over there, who's making Anton crazy with the bottles, never lets me have it. It's just work and nagging." She winked, to make sure he'd understand it was said in jest. Better to be safe than sorry. And with Kalana you could be very sorry.

"I understand completely. Phoenix is the same way. You think they're sisters?" Harrison asked looking over at the tall blonde Principal for the Rockies and then back at Kalana. "Separated at birth, perhaps."

Karen followed where he'd looked. "I must agree. Twins, no doubt about it. Does yours curse in Chinese too?"

"Ah, that's what language it is!" Harrison replied. "Mostly I tune her out. Don't tell her that."

Karen laughed. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Then you don't tell mine that I'm glad I'm not flat. She'd be ridin' my ass like a flying carpet."

Harrison laughed and the two wandered off to mingle.

Down along the table Kalana and Anton were going through the assembled bottles.   Vodka, vodka, where is the vodka," she mumbled, picking up bottles and handing them to Anton who had trouble keeping up with putting them on the table again.

"Anton, this says Slibowitsch. Is that something for you?" Kalana asked, holding up a bottle with clear contents.

"Ahh. Now *that* is a proper man's drink."  Anton chuckled.  "I thank you for your assistance." He leaned forward and taking her hand in his, kissed it.

Kalana grinned. She did not get her hand kissed very often. "Thank you, sir, it was my pleasure. If ever you need some help, just let me know."

"I shall," Anton said, another faint hint of a smile showing momentarily before he turned his attention to the vodka.

A short distance away, Carl, Mark, and Luke watched this entire performance, with goggle eyes. They looked at Anton, then at each other, then at Kalana.  "What the hell just happened?"  Luke said under his breath to Carl.  Mark shrugged.

"I'm not sure.  It looks like she's finally cracked the iceberg."  Carl grinned.

"Maybe we should've brought the camcorder."   Mark put in.

Carl laughed.  Mark and Luke joined in a moment later.

Kalana toasted her glass with that of Anton. "It looks as if your friends over there are in a private discussion," she said as she saw the three men talk to each other.

Anton glanced at the three men, then back to Kalana.  "I would agree."  But there was something in the way they were looking at him that made him wonder.  "Perhaps I should leave them to whatever it may be,  I am certain they wlll tell me later if it is something I need to know."

Another faint smile, as he took a sip of his vodka.  "I think I would prefer to continue this conversation, while we still have time."  He wasn't sure when the meeting would actually get underway, and of course then he'd have to attend Carl.

Kalana, who had refilled her glass, had heard what the men had said. Vampire hearing was very useful. She did not mention it to Anton though. He was just too nice a person. "You are a nice man, Anton. But you seem a very silent person. Don't they allow you any fun?"

"There is always so much to do." Anton replied.  "One must have priorities."  There as once again the slightest hint of a twinkle in his eyes.  "However, I must say that perhaps, with the right, company, one might learn to relax somewhat."

Kalana knew about the dark and gloomy soul of the Russians, so him opening up like this was already a large step for him, of that she was certain. She tugged Anton's sleeve. "Come down here."

He bent over to the small halfblood vampire who then kissed him quickly on the cheek. "Here. Maybe  that might help you to learn to relax a little quicker."

Anton smiled at her again, and this time the smile seemed to last a wee bit longer than it had before.  "I thank you again." he said quietly.

Back at the bar, Carl, Luke, and Mark were still watching.  "I don't believe this."  Carl said.  "If I hadn't seen it for myself I never would've believed it."

"Me neither, boss." Luke said, equally stunned.  "This's got to be something for the Guinness Book.  The day Anton actually cracked a smile."

"That's for sure.  Oh, for a digital camera right now."  Mark chuckled.

"I'll have to ask Jacobs if there's anything unusual about the air around here."  Carl said.

"Maybe it's the drinks?"  Luke said, looking down into his glass suspiciously.

"If it's that, we'll have to find out what it is and import it."  Carl grinned.   The other two men laughed again.

Kalana patted the tall man on the arm. "You're welcome. I'm glad you are starting to enjoy yourself a bit more. You look so serious, almost sad, Anton."

"It is the first time I have been to such a large gathering."  he replied.  "Perhaps that

is part of it."  Until now the only meetings he'd really had to attend were those of Carl's

associates.  Now this place was packed with all sorts of people, most of whom he only knew

as names in information files.

As Harrison and Karen were moving along through the crowd, they suddenly saw Marty. He was still with Cayden and Dec, and was attempting to juggle with two beer cans and a bottle. From the way the things moved, they were definitely full.

"Oh god," she said, "he has had enough for the day... He always does that when he had four beers. And never manages it."

"Hullo, Cayden, Dec. Marty showing you two a new trick?" Harrison asked.  Then to Marty, "Wait, I'll help." The beer cans and bottle suddenly juggled perfectly.

Marty stared at his hands, which were all of a sudden moving without him having anything to do with it. The cans and bottle performed exactly how he had intended but, so far, never mastered.

"Karen, look!" he said, kind of unnecessarily. She was looking, and grinning widely. Marty got bold and discovered he could now even juggle while standing on one leg. "Woohoo, I can quit this security stuff and join the circus!"

"You wish," Karen said, laughing as she saw Marty having way too much fun.

"Oh now, come on. No circus has what we have to offer. Dragons, sexy Italians. What more could you want?"

Marty stood on both feet again and frowned, thinking about what Harrison had just said, while his hands kept juggling. "Yeah, you might be right there. Perhaps I should stick with my guns then." He nodded affirmingly. "Yeah, that would be good. Say, chaps," he then addressed Dec and Cayden, "would you be so good to scratch my head? I can't seem to do that myself at the moment."

Cayden laughed.  Sorry, I'm with the host.  I have to behave."

"Oh, you're a true friend," Marty grinned. "Now, Karen, could you ask your friend if I can stop this." He nodded towards the flying beer cans and bottle.

"Can he stop that?" Karen asked Harrison.

"Sure," Harrison said.

"Yes, Marty. You can stop that," was Karen's helpful relay of the simple fact.

"Oh, right, marvelous." Marty looked pained. "You don't get it, do you?"

Karen looked at Harrison. "Do we get it? Nah, we don't, right?"

He shook his head.

"No. We don't get it, Marty."

"How do I stop this, you black witch!" Marty was getting less happy now.

"I don't know that, security dude!" Karen told him, loud and clear, enjoying that she could play with him and not be (very) guilty.

"Ask Mr. Smart there, next to you. Will you?" Marty yelped a bit.

"Say please, Marty."

"Please Marty," said Marty.

"Well, since you are so polite," Harrison replied. The bottle and cans fell to the floor and Marty had the use of his hands back.

Guy Wolfe walked over and communed silently with Malachi, who was doing his best to fade into the woodwork. "Namaste," Guy said to Briony as she turned toward him.  "Agni sends greetings and respect to you and your children."

Briony smiled at him and nudged Malachi with her nose.  "He is most gracious," Briony said.

"Agni?" Malachi asked, looking at Guy.

"Mmmm. God of Fire."

"Oh," he said.  "Well, and which pantheon would he belong to?" he asked.

"Vedic, Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese Buddhist as well as a few others. He's fairly international. Don't piss him off though. He's got a nasty temper."

"Don't they always?  Gods I mean,"  Malachi said.

Guy laughed. "Yes, I suppose so."

Carmine wandered over to see Lynne and Anders. They were soon joined by Ash.  "So, this is the future football star," Carmine said chucking Anders under the chin. "I suppose he is too young for a dragon ride?"

"I'm reasonably sure he doesn't think so...assuming they think at this age," Ash qualified, suddenly struck.

"Well then, perhaps you will loan me Lynne and Anders and we will see if he likes soaring through the clouds."

Ash grinned.  "All yours," he said.  Have fun while I stay here and suffer through my responsibilities as host.  Remind again why this is a good idea?"

"It is good for the soul," Carmine said, as he lifted Lynne, holding Anders tightly, up onto Briony, and swung up behind her. "To the clouds, if you please, carissima."

"Si, caro," she said and leapt for the sky while the others stared.  "And caro," she said, looking back at Carmine, a glint in her eye.  "I am just too tired to give any more rides after this one."

"Aiee. I am so sorry, bella. Just a short one for the baby."

"Si, for the bambino."

After the debacle in Dallas he'd given up on a number of things when it came to one Elizabeth Anne Summers and her boss.  So instead of driving up he simply arrived as wind and changed back to his human form on the lawn behind the house.   He was marginally relieved he attracted no attention, since every eye seemed to be looking upward as....His brain skittered and then confirmed that he was seeing what he thought he was seeing.

She was beautiful as she flew, swooping through the early evening sky, with the rising moon as her back drop.  He'd heard and sensed that they'd come to Earth but he hadn't yet met them.  Her joy made him want to laugh with her, sweeping aside the residual resentment.  He let his senses free, finding her and the spirit of her as she played, touching it gently in greeting and gratitude.

Buffy met him outside. "Her two children are on the lawn," she said, watching Briony, Carmine, Lynne and Anders.  "Ignore the mob scene. I've been avoiding it all night myself."

He smiled.  "She is magnificent.  And so full of joy."

"Yes, she is. Do you know Carmine?  That's him on her with Lynne and Anders. Nicco is running around somewhere. Possibly getting filthy playing with Carmie and Nicki."

"No I've never met Prince Carmine, though I've heard of him and the Council of Princes."  He lifted her hand to his lips, placing a kiss in her palm.  "How are you?"

"I'm well. I'll be even better when this god-awful meeting is over."

"So will I," he said.  "Your boss and Guy are approaching from behind you," he told her.  Then, his voice changing, "along with a small child who is not at all what he seems."

"That would be Nicco. He's a law unto himself. I think Carmine should spank him once in awhile but that's just me."

He smiled and brushed a kiss across her mouth.  Then he looked up at Ash and Guy.  "Here as requested.  Or was it something stronger?"

"I appreciate the help," Ash said, unaffected.  "And I like the way she glows when you're around."

"Ash," Buffy managed.

"Si, it is true. She's molto bella, signore. I'm Nicco."

"See?" Chase told her, as he shook hands with Nicco.  "It's unanimous."

"Right," Buffy said.

Guy just grinned and kept his mouth safely shut.

Chase pinched her butt and then pointed.  "They're coming in for a landing.  I envy Carmine."

Buffy took his hand. "Then tell Ash you'll talk later and let's go say hello."

Chase looked at Ash for a moment and then grinned.  "It's what the lady wants," he said and let Buffy draw him off.

"Thanks," he said.  "I can't get over them, seeing them in person.  And the joy in them...but I said that before, didn't I?  It's just that that is how it was meant to be, for everything, that fullness of life."

Buffy brought him around the side of the house, nodding to the guards hidden there, and right up to the dragons. "Hullo," she said, rubbing Briony's nose when she presented it. "This is my friend Chase. Chase, this is Briony and the twins are Carmie and Nicki."

The twins practically toppled him in their eagerness to get close, laughing and nuzzling him.  "Mama said you were here," Nicki said.

"She said you'd come to see us, too" Carmie added.

"She was right," Chase said, turning his eyes to Briony.  "They are as marvelous as you are, Lady."

Briony laughed, a dragon sized laugh that turned every head.  "But they are children and should be, along with cute and endearing to everyone but their parents."

Chase took over rubbing her nose, communing with her silently, using his eyes and the hand that stroked her.  She crooned back to him, in a trill of rising and falling notes while the twins pressed closer.  Finally he said, "Lady I would give much to stay here for ever, but I can't."

"I know," she answered.  "But we'll be here tomorrow as well, the Signore has said.  We can talk then, perhaps?"

"Indeed.  And thank you," Chase said, turning to look at the twins.  "I...tomorrow," he finished.

Buffy led him around the side again and through a private entry to Ash's study,  a spacious room with a view on the river, and well away from the mob on the patio.

"I take it Ash and Guy and possibly Carmine are joining us here?  Or," he went on, his eyes gleaming, "have you brought me here to fulfill a longtime fantasy of having sex on his desk?"

"Har har," she replied, but was grinning. "They should be here in a minute. I thought you might want to avoid the crush. Or, if you'd rather I'll take you back out there."

"No, this is fine," he said.  "It gives me a chance to say hello properly," he added as he put his arms around her, filling a hand with her hair and tugging her head back, tilting her face up towards his.  "Like this," he explained as he covered her mouth with his.  He was still saying hello when the door opened behind him.  He decided to ignore it.

"You should have locked the door," Carmine commented. "But I find it most enjoyable to be allowed this view of the indominable Buffy."

Guy grinned. "It is enjoyable."

"I agree," Chase said, lifting his head.  "You could lock it on your way out?" he suggested hopefully.

Buffy sputtered a bit but Chase seemed determined to take his time.

"We will," Ash said, as he rounded his desk.  "Until then would you like a drink, Chase?  Buffy?  Anyone else?"

Buffy finally fought free. "Yes," she said, clearing her throat and shaking her head at Chase who had the cheek to grin. "A triple thanks."

Carmine dropped into a seat and nodded. Guy stood off to the side looking as if he felt entirely out of his gene pool.

"Please, Guy," Chase said.  "Relax.  The fun won't start until later I'm sure.  For now you can have a drink and know you aren't alone in the put upon category.

Guy smiled at Chase, but then added, "I'm sorry. I tried to be circumspect."

"I am sure you did," Chase said.  "So perhaps it was meant to be.  The newest turn of the wheel, the next throw of fate."

Guy nodded agreement and took the scotch Ash handed him.

Buffy made to leave but Chase pulled her down to sit near him.  Then he looked at Ash.  "So here I am, as requested."

"Thank you," Ash said.  "I appreciate the extent of my own presumption and I hope you will over look it.  My excuse is that Guy can't tell me what's going to happen here or what the Kings of Heaven intend.  And out there I have twelve of the most powerful people in North America, all unsuspecting."

"It isn't that I won't tell you," Guy said. "It is that I am sworn not to do so. Besides, I doubt I know it all."

"And you want what from me?" Chase asked.

"A go-between between us and the spirits of the Earth, the guardians of Place, the Lokapala and the Kings.  One we've chosen, not one who's been chosen for us."

"He's remarkably well informed," Chase said to Guy.  "You've loaned him books?"

Guy shrugged.  "Sorry.  I loaned him the library card too."

Chase laughed.  "I suppose I've no choice then?

"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Ash said.

"How far would you go then?" Chase asked.

"I'm admitting that I and the twelve people out there are out of our depths in this.  So I'm making a request."

Chase downed the rest of his scotch.  Then he turned to Guy.  "What can you tell me?"

"The Lokapala went to the Kings to ask that the new organization be bound to their territories. Fully.  As a way to ensure they protect everyone, and all things.  The princes are already bound by blood and stone.  The tie here is more tenuous. They feared it would not be enough."

Chase's eyes hardened.  "They're going to use the triple binding of  the three forms?"

Guy nodded.  "So I've been led to believe."

"What's that mean?" Buffy asked.

Chase answered her without taking his eyes from Guy.  "It means that if they fail, if they are found to be unacceptable to the Spirits or the Guardians, or even the Lokapala, then they'll die.

"They'll kill us?" Ash demanded.

"Not in the sense you mean.  Each one of you will be tested, in ways that are specific to you, through the binding rite.  Failure is signified by death.  To live is to pass," Chase said.

"As I told you when I first met you, Mr. Jacobs, the trials are always to the death. Mine was by fire. It is not a physical trial, exactly, but a mental one. You live through your moral code and your sense of self and conscience. The test is to be judged and found worthy."

"In essence, you will see yourself as the Earth sees you," Chase said.

"And the judging isn't necessarily obvious to us who are not gods. Someone can be a real bastard and still be accepted," Guy added.

Buffy turned white.  "Ash, just say no."

"He can't," Chase said.  "The gods have ordained and the stars have agreed."

"I don't believe in gods," Buffy retorted. "Ash, it's too much a risk. Who knows who these maniacs are. Sorry Guy.  Chase, you can't really think.."

Chase ignored her.  "They've gathered the forms?" he asked Guy.  At his unhappy yes, Chase sighed.  "Then it's already begun."

"What does that mean?" Ash asked.

"The ritual begins with the gathering of a representative of each of the three forms, animal, mineral and vegetable.  Some part of you has already begun the test and presumably passed the first part."

"Then what are the chances that someone who's passed the first part will survive the rest?" Buffy asked.

Guy shrugged. "My guess is that most of them are at some level accepted already.  The question you might want to ask is how will they hold you to any promise they force from you."

"And have you an answer or a presumption?" Ash asked.

"Usually they will settle for nothing less than your life if you fail," Chase said.

"True," Guy added. "But they do not expect miracles. They will provide you assistance and will expect you to work toward their goals.  So long as they believe you are doing that, then they would, I think, be content."

Ash stood and poured himself some more scotch.  "Well, too bad I can't have a steak first then," he said.  "Or must my court become vegetarian?"

"You'll have to give up sex too," Guy commented.

"Then the answer's no," Ash said flatly.

Chase laughed.  "You'll do."