Dylan: The Celtic (Welsh) Sea God. Son of the waves and Lord of the Sea.  

That evening after training the gang met again in the library, but this time they had good news to share. Donnie couldn't believe their luck. They were lucky to have a team member with Lauren's intellect. He hadn't even come to that conclusion and he probably never would have. He would have completely overlooked that advantage, and probably exhausted all other avenues as well.

It was unfortunate that intelligence seemed to run in the family, because Liam was turning out to be at least two steps ahead of them at every turn. Remarkably at times they had even been tricked into doing his dirty work for him.

Not this time though, this time they truly had him. If they got their hands on the scabbard they would be nothing he could throw at them that they wouldn't be able to survive. He was getting more excited about the prospect by the minute. A caged cat is an unhappy cat. He couldn't wait to be free to stretch his legs and explore.

His thoughts were interrupted by a bout of loud whining from Xander's direction, "But Lauren, I don't see why she has to use my phone. She's clearly nervous about calling her Dad and she's going to fry it for sure." He pouted, "The last time Kelly insisted on using my phone I lost all my contacts."

Xander, none of us have a phone. I had to stop using mine three months ago. We need your phone." Lauren held out her hand palm up and waited.

It looked like she knew he would come to his senses, but it took him long enough to do it, finally he said with a huff, "Okay. Okay but I'm not really happy about this next time we're using a landline.

Lauren took the phone from his hand with a, "thanks Xan you're a saint," she blew him a kiss. Then she looked around at all their friends with a well what are you waiting for expression until they clued in and chimed, "Thanks Xander."

He seemed placated by being needed and with them seeming to recognize his sacrifice. Donnie made a mental note that the guy really wasn't that bad. Maybe they could even be friends someday, but only if he learned to treat his Bella Donna as she deserved.

Megan had to look up her father's business number online before she dialed which showed how often they talked. When she looked up and saw everyone looking at her quizzically she said, "What? We're working on it, okay?"

Donnie noticed she sounded more than a little indignant.

The phone rang and she went through the usual hoops – the receptionist and then his personal secretary -- before she was finally transferred to her dad. Her hand trembled a bit while she waited on hold. Donnie wasn't surprised that the music that played while she waited impatiently was Vivaldi. The Welsh Lord of the Sea was probably older than dirt. Classical wasn't a huge leap. Maybe he didn't even know the current top forty.

Everyone jumped when her father's stern voice broke across the line, "Megan what is the matter?" She could have put him on speaker phone, but most of them had supernatural hearing so that turned out to be entirely unnecessary.

"N-nothing father," she stammered, "I'm just calling to ask for your help."

"This isn't like the last time is it? They last time you needed help I wiped out a pod for you."

Donnie remembered that moment too as being one of the scariest of their young lives. They thought they were going to lose two friends that day, but two immortal father's had made the ultimate sacrifice to save their young and the thought of it made him hate his father even more.

That fact that it was his fault they were even in this mess made him want to punch something.

"No father," Megan laughed nervously, "It's school actually."

"What youngling? Have your grades gotten even worse? You really need to start concentrating on your studies child."

She flinched over her father's reprimand. Donnie started to feel embarrassed for her. To be stripped down by your father while your friends listened wasn't his idea of fun.

The phone started crackling and breaking up then and the light on the screen started flashing on and off.

Meanwhile in the back of the group Xan could be heard saying, "Just breathe Meg, please just breathe."

Megan took a few slow pulls of air through her nose and let them out slowly through her mouth. She did this until she looked a little calmer.

Finally she said timidly, "Dad I need your help." Then she thought up a lie and it was a brilliant one.

"I've been talking to Helsing -- he's sort of the magical guidance counselor here -- and he told me if I can improve my grades I might qualify for a desk job with the Guard when I graduate that would mean no field duty."

"Really," her father sounded relieved, "that's wonderful."

Most of them had no clue what qualified you for desk duty, but neither did most fullbloods, so they didn't expect to get caught in a lie, and it might even be true, who knew, stranger things had happened.

"How can I help?" Her father was hooked. Fish pun intended.

"Well I have a paper due about Excalibur for magical history that's worth twenty-five percent of my mark. I was thinking if I could pin point Avalon right down to its longitude and latitude then Ms Long our magic history teacher will be fairly impressed by my research skills and give me at least an A maybe even an A+."

"Is that so child?" there was no denying the pride that could be heard in his voice.

"Yes and through my research I've pin pointed it's general location as being just off the coast of Wales, smack dab in your Sea Daddy."

Donnie suppressed a chuckle. The Daddy part was brilliant. He knew someday if he was ever lucky enough to have children, he'd do anything if they called him that.

It would appear he was right, because Dylan the God of the Welsh Sea commanded, "My pearl grab a pen?"

When she hung up the phone and started to wave the piece of paper in the air above her head they broke out into a cheer. Cam even lifted her up and swung her around. She squealed and ordered him to put her down in a stern but joking manner.

He realized then that he had two brilliant friends.

They sat down after that to hash out the details. Xander generously offered his jet to take them to Wales and his Black Card to secure a boat and a captain to sail out to the island.

Zach addressed Marley, "You'll have to compel him to forget the location." He suggested.

"Or her," Marley interjected.

"Or her," he corrected himself and laughed after Lauren poked him in the ribs hard and gave him a knowing smile.

"Does everyone have a passport?" Zach called out.

It turned out that more than half the group admitted that they didn't.

"I have one and student visa," Donnie announced.

"Oh heck no," Kelly objected. "Sugah you ain't travelling with us. You'd be a sitting duck out there."

Donnie didn't know whether to be happy she had finally spoken to him or mad that she had forbidden him to go.

"Si I go, "He held up the charm that Brenna had made that now hung around his neck and continued, "I will be safe."

"Bless your heart child. I swear if you had a good idea, it would plum die of loneliness. You can't come with us you'll paint a big old target on our backs if you do."

And she was right, but he hated to admit it. He plunked his ass down in the nearest chair and sighed mournfully.

"We can't go until Christmas break anyway. We need time to travel there and back and time to hunt for the scabbard." Lauren rightly pointed out.

"Besides I need time to plan Brah. I have to apply for a passport," Kyle said excitedly. He and Travis fist pumped and several of the other eager travelers did the same.

"Well," Cam announced, "looks like we're up for an icy dip. How does that sound Megan?"

She just smirked and battered her eyelashes at him," It sounds invigorating Babe."

"Okay guys we'll plan to go the day after the Yule Ball in two weeks. Is there anyone who wants to sit this one out?" Zach asked giving everybody the chance to back out gracefully.

The room was silent not a word was spoken.

"Great," he said, "Since we're all in, let's hope our weapons can get passed security." Zach pointed out.

Kelly spoke up again and said, "I normally travel just fine with mine."

"Me too," said Xander.

Quinn spoke up then and said, "I just got to take a moment to shout out to the girls on the team. You guys kick some serious ass. WOOT WOOT!" He crowed as he pumped his fist.

"Yeah," Zach agreed, "We'd be nothing without you."

Lauren went over to Quinn and Zach and hugged them both. All the girls beamed at the praise they were given. Some even blushed over the compliment.

Donnie couldn't agree more each one of them would die for the other and that was when he realized he had the best friends in the world.

He felt lucky all right . . . but luck is a strange thing. It has a weird habit of running out at the worst possible moments and in the days that followed he would experience just that.

Donnie went to sleep that night feeling more hopeful than he had in weeks. His Cara had spoken to him and shown concern for him too. And if that was the case then, she couldn't possibly still hate him and if she didn't hate him there might a chance to win her back.

Well it looks like they have a plan.

Now all they have to do is keep Donnie alive long enough to make it to Christmas Break.

But can they do it?

Tune in tomorrow to find out.