There she was, the Lady of the Lake, standing right before him.  Dimitri could hardly believe it.  He could barely see her, but deep inside he knew it was her.  And there was her dog, his shiny dark coat shimmering in the moonlight.  They were trying to show him that they meant no harm, that they were his friends.  His first impulse was to run, but he felt very strangely at peace...PEACE?!  His mind took over his emotions and he began to run, run -- why were his legs so slow?!  It was like he was dreaming, he was in some warped surreal nightmare, where he couldn't move, couldn't scream, just feel...

"Rise and shine, Dimitri!" Wiebke said cheerily as she placed the breakfast tray down on the nightstand that both he and Anya shared between their beds.  Dimitri woke up with a start, quickly sitting up in fear.

"Whew, what a drea -- hey, how did you get in here, Wiebke? I locked the door last night!"

Wiebke blushed but continued to hum an old Welsh song she learned from her travels.  "I...do know my way around this house, you know.  Look, I made you breakfast!"

He casually shrank away from her and her probably poisoned food.  He wished Anya would wake up already!  How could she sleep with Wiebke so near?

"Uh huh...it smells great...uh...DOESN'T IT ANYA?"  Darn, no response.  "AHUM, AHUM, ANYA?"  Anya continued to sleep peacefully in her bed.  What would he have to do, scream??  "ANYA!  EARTH TO ANYA!  WIEBKE IS HERE!"  Oh good grief, she was STILL asleep!

Wiebke smiled and gently placed her hand on Anya's arm. Anya opened her eyes and smiled.

"Good morning!" she said happily.  Wiebke and Anya have to be the only people in the world who can wake up with a smile, Dimitri thought.  He was hardly one to wake up in the morning, period.  And he couldn't believe his shouts didn't wake Anya up but Wiebke's touch did.  HUMPH, some people have all the luck!

"I made you breakfast," Wiebke said.  "Ham, eggs, toast, orange juice, everything!  My OWN special recipe even!"

Anya and Dimitri exchanged apprehensive glances.  What if she did Vlad off during the night and was moving in for them now?

"Oh, uh, great Wiebke," Dimitri said as he got out of the bed and started to slowly inch to the door.  "But, uh, Anya and I have a special restricted diet."

"Yeah, yeah, that's right!" Anya chimed in as she hurried beside him.  "It consists of...of..."  She looked at Dimitri for help.

"Rice," he said firmly, "and couscous.  From Morocco only.  And an occasional apple.  Yep, that's it.  So, ummm, we'll go get it now.  Bye!"  They both grabbed their shoes and made a jet for the door and collided into it together.

"Ow..."

"Tsk, tsk!  If you would eat you wouldn't do those things!  A healthy breakfast is the key to a good morning!  Restrictions or no, you're going to try my food!"

Dimitri sighed heavily.  "We really aren't hungry now, Wiebke.  In fact, we're full from last night's Sauerbraten!"  His tummy growled just in time to disprove his point.  Another great coincidence in my favor, he thought with sarcasm.

Wiebke gave him a knowing look.  "Oh, try some, Dimitri!"

He looked at Anya, who was trying to nonchalantly shake her head no.

"I'll go take a morning walk with Anya and...then try some!"  He smiled at Wiebke then ran quickly out the door.  Anya followed as they jetted down the stairs and finally outdoors.

"Oh look at this!  We're still barefoot!  Ew, I hate wet feet."

Anya laughed and nudged him teasingly.  "You were wet enough last night, and the only thing you complained about then was that squishy sound you made!"

Dimitri looked over at Anya as they walked through the meadow.  To his utter astonishment, he realized that this Wiebke thing had actually brought them on good terms.  They hadn't fought or even had too many tart, spiteful things to say to each other since they'd teamed up.  In fact, they were working together without almost killing each other!  This was too miraculous.  For the first time, he wasn't fighting their change in emotions.  He was enjoying it.  He was savoring it.  He LIKED it.

Maybe it wasn't too scary here after all.

© 1999 AnyaMuse@aol.com
© 1999 AnyaCI@aol.com