Just saw the Homicide movie.

Someone remind me what writing a name down in blue meant?

Blue? Black's closed, red's open... maybe pended?

kat! I LOVE IT!

Hee!

there'd be more, except I've got a cat and a husband going "All your attention am belongs to us!" And they wonder why I go out of the house to write. Thank god I don't have kids

On the edge of the failed Sunrise Grove development on the east side of town, Willow paused to carefully speak a chant. She then took a deep breath and paid as much attention to her surroundings as it was witchily possible to do.

She did not take the main street down towards the recreation center. One of the crumbling paved roads circled through the half-built houses to a point on the other side of the vampires' lair. Other creatures had moved into the area, those that didn't mind the proximity of the undead. None of them would be pleased to find a human about, and Willow walked very carefully.

Loud punk music and bright light came from the open garage doors on the south side of the rec center. The red BMW convertible was there, along with three big motorcycles. The center of attention, though, was an old black car with the hood up. Two figures were bent over either fender, heads buried in the engine. Both were wearing black jeans, and Willow identified the one on the right as Spike, from the Doc Martins on the feet. She didn't know who the other one was, wearing running shoes. She crept carefully to the edge of the light.

Spike straightened from the engine compartment and reached for his cigarettes. "Evenin', Red," he called.

The other vampire pulled up and stared into the night, started. She recognized Sammy, who seemed to hang out with Spike a lot. He didn't see Willow until she stepped into view.

"Darn it, Spike, how did you know I was there?"

"Smelled you." He smirked at her over his lit match. "The wind shifted a couple of minutes ago, and I smelled the blonde witch. Left her with pleasant dreams, I trust."

Willow tried to answer, but she was blushing too hard.

"If it's any comfort," Spike went on, "I didn't know you were there till then. You're getting good with that misdirection spell."

Willow beamed.

"But you still need to work on shielding the magic itself," said a new voice. She squeaked and turned. Giles stood right behind her, smiling.

"How did you--" She blew air out in frustration. "Darn it."

Giles put an arm around her shoulder and led her into the garage. "I was watching for you, and I felt the magic when you invoked the spell when you got here. But that was much smoother tonight, no sudden flash of power. I may not have noticed if I wasn't looking for it." He cleared his throat. "The scent matter, though, is relevant." He glared at Spike. "Though someone without specific knowledge may not have realized the significance."

Spike just smiled. "Other than knowing it smells good." Sammy snickered, then smothered it at Giles' pointed look.

"We can," Giles continued, "modify that misdirection spell to cloak all traces of your presence."

Willow sighed. "Every time I think I have something down, somebody pokes a hole in it."

"Nature of the beast, I'm afraid. Magic is more art than science. Come along, we can go over your exercises."

As Willow followed, she glanced at the black car. "Oh, is this the famous De Soto? Or did you get a replacement?"

Spike patted the fender fondly. "Nope, this is the one. I tracked her down and got her back."

"I bet it's a gas hog."

He grinned at her. "She may not be fuel efficient, but she's got it where it counts. I'll give you a ride someday, if you want."

Willow saw Giles' glare from the corner of her eye, but she was used to innuendo from Spike. "Is it a stick shift? I don't like stick shifts, they just don't drive as smooth as automatics."

Sammy let out a guffaw before he could stop himself, then focused his attention on the engine compartment of the De Soto. Spike winked at Willow, who smiled back before following Giles.

"Did you have any trouble getting away?" Giles asked.

"None at all, once Tara went to sleep. Everybody's busy. Buffy's on patrol, and Xander's off with Joyce. They're on a road trip to the Convent of St. Eugene."

Spike turned back again. "Where's Joyce?"

"Road trip to the convent. She's been gathering donations, and she drafted Xander to drive her up there. I guess he and Anya didn't have anything set up this weekend. They'll be back tomorrow."

"Who's looking after Dawn?"

"She's at a sleep over."

Spike frowned. "And Buffy's out patrolling alone."

"She's a big Slayer, Spike," Giles said. "I'm sure she's fine."

Willow glanced at Giles. He sounded just like himself, warning Spike away from Buffy, with just a little growl in the sub-harmonics. But Spike looked oddly confused at he nodded at Giles' words, then turned back to the car. Giles tugged lightly on her arm, and she followed him into the rest of the building.

Willow wasn't sure how many vampires lived at Sunrise Grove. There always seemed to be new faces but not the same ones. When she had begun to come to Giles for magic lessons at the beginning of the summer, he'd made a point of introducing her to the four others living there at the time. Warning them off, she realized. New faces began to appear at the rec center, she got used to covert stares and badly disguised hostility.

A month ago, when she was still practicing the misdirection spell, one of the new fledges ambushed her on the way in, snarling that humans were food, not pets. Giles caught the panic flare of her instinctive reaction, but when he got there all that was left was the fading stench of burning vampire and a witch shaking with the reaction of pulling a fireball out of nothing. He hugged her in relief, but that night's lesson had been short. Spike walked her home, muttering to himself that he hoped Ripper didn't dust the lot of them as a lesson. Two more new vampir

Two more new vampires had been missing the next the next time she went there, and the others kept their distance.

and I shouldn't get long-winded with commentary

Not sure, but wasn't a name in blue killed by a cop?

Oh, presents!

Erika, yummy. That was neat. I could definitely see it.

Kat, that was so fun. Thank you for sharing it. I really, really loved it.

Connie, neat. Giles is building vampire town?

I feel bad about leaving Vamp!Munchkin behind, but I don't know where he's going yet. But if anyone would understand a little something on the side...

Don't feel bad, erika. Tim & Dru & Angelus & Spike are wonderful.

I'll get back to it...