Xaviers!

Tereza raises an eyebrow at Will before moving to open the box.

Inside was a new leather biker jacket, with studs and asymetric zips -- very Marlon Brandon-esque.

On the back, patched in at a cocked angle, was the artwork from Tereza's Christmas jacket -- the one Sam had gotten for her; the one she had destroyed when shifting out of control. The color of the leather didn't quite match, and it was crooked on the back, but that may have been intentional -- it made it look a wee bit more punk.


"I hope it works for you; the scrap of the artwork was jagged enough that trying to line everything up properly again would have probably looked worse than just leaving it alone..."

"Oh, wow. I thought you were going to frame it or something."

"I thought about it, but I was thinking about it...and jackets are made to be worn. Maybe one day, when it's just gone to shreds, it can find a second life on a wall...but if a little TLC can get it back out there, then it's worth the effort," Will smiled.

Tereza is speechless for a moment, just staring at the jacket in disbelief. Then she scoops Will up in a crushing hug, "Thank you."

"Ack!" Will said, as he was freshly squoze.

"I know you were feeling down, what with the whole upcoming werewolf thing, and my, uh, reaction to your purchase. Just trying to prevent buyer's remorse here," he joked.

"You didn't have to do this, but I really appreciate it," she says, having not yet put Will down.

"It's no problem at all -- this is the kind of stuff I like to do. Finding problems, and fixing them, by hook or by crook. It's kind of who I am.

I'm just glad you like it."

"She's going to make you be a motorcycle on the weekends, just so she can flaunt it."

"You guys can take me for a ride anytime," Will giggled again. "But she's already got one she's been taking care of."

Tereza looks a little disappointed, "Yeah, I had to trade that for a car. Motorcycles only fit two."

"What?! But you spent so much time with it!" Will cried, dismayed.

"Well, now I get to work on the car," she says, obviously looking for a silver lining.

"I'm sure you'll get it looking and running as nice, love."

"Geez. If I had known you needed something larger, I could have helped out," Will frowned. "I'm so sorry."

Tereza sighs and shrugs, "Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I didn't like having to do it, but I've gotta think about the others, not just me."

Will still frowned, but nodded. "Just poor timing, I suppose. We'll make the best of it.

I guess you WILL be needing a motorcycle, then."

"It's not the worst idea," she smiles. "Something to let you be the leader of the pack in other ways."

"I certainly wouldn't mind, if you're good with it, of course, Will."

"Of course! Of course of course of course!

If you can somehow convince the other one, you could have a pair, so you guys could go riding up the coast."

"That would be amusing, but I don't think he'd really be happy with the request."

"I don't think he's very happy at all, about anything."

"We'll have to get that figured out as well, but one hurdle at a time."

"I mean I can't blame him. He just had a glimpse of home and couldn't go there."

"He's impatient. This is fine! We know we get to go home; we just have to wait a little bit longer. We've waited THIS long, what's another few years?

Plus, it means I get to spend more time with you guys, and that's always a win."

"You got most of the patience, eh?"

"All the good bits," Will nodded, smiling.

"I think you each got some good bits, but that's just my opinion."

"Really? I don't really think so, but maybe you can tell me why I'm wrong?"

"Well," Tereza says carefully, "It's kind of hard to describe. More a gut feeling. He's more... outgoing than you are? Tends to throw himself forward. Which has its good and bad points. But you're really helpful, which is good too." She's starting to ramble.

"Outgoing is just a nice word for pushy. You've already got two girlfriends; you don't need someone else trying to have their say," Will grinned.