The sound of distant bells woke Alice.  She’d grown used to waking up each morning to the melodic chimes from the golden clock in the square, and she rolled over with a groan, gasping when she came face to face with a pair of electric blue eyes.

            “Mornin’” Altair grinned.

            Alice let out a breath and sank back onto her pillow, “Good morning to you too.”

            Altair propped himself up on one elbow and studied her face, “Startled you, didn’t I? You’re still not used to having a man in your bed.”

            “Don’t flatter yourself,” Alice scoffed and folded her arms over the thin cotton t-shirt she wore to bed. “You just startled me, that’s all.”

            “Do you find me terribly alarming?” He reached out and put a hand on Alice’s hip, sending tingles over her skin. “I’m flattered.”

            Alice was about to protest, but he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her firmly. She pulled away, and - seized by a fit of mischievousness – slid one leg over his stomach, straddling his hips and pinning his shoulders to the mattress.

            “Well now,” Altair grinned, “ I can’t say I mind…”

            “You talk too much,” Alice kissed him, but only gently, teasing, pulling away. Altair glared at her, licking his lips. “That’s not nice at all…”

            “But fun,” Alice whispered, “very fun.”

            He reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair gently, and she felt a pleasant chill run down her spin as he pulled her down onto his chest, placing one finger under her chin and tilting her face up to his, kissing her deeply.

            At last she rolled off him, sighing. “We best get downstairs, if we’re late we’ll get amused looks from Shakra and glares from Gabriel.”

            Altair rolled his eyes, “That putz. I feel sorry for Maya.”

            “Why?” Alice picked through her closet, trying to choose an outfit for the day, “because he’s crabby sometimes? You’ve the ability to be just as charming, believe me.”

            “No,” Altair threw the sheets off and sat up, and Alice turned to take in his slim muscular physic as he rummaged through the drawers looking for a pair of jeans.  He was turned away from her, but she liked looking at his back, tanned and freckled here and there, well defined in every way. He stood up, a pair of boxers in one hand, “No, I feel bad for Maya because I think Gabriel still likes you.”

            Alice frowned, “I don’t know about that. He seems to really like Maya.” She settled on a red silk blouse and a loose flowing black skirt with red ballet flats. “they seem really happy together.”

            Altair snorted, “Alice, honey, you have to know he settled. Not that Maya isn’t wonderful, and pretty in her own shy little way, but you turned the Elf down, and he rebounded right into her arms. He can’t stand me because I’m with you.”

            Alice bit her lip, guilt washing over her. She still remembered how awful it had been to tell Gabriel that they would never be anything more than coworkers. It had seemed to really hurt him, and he’d been angry with her for days. Could it be he still nursed feelings, or worse, resentment towards her? He was a friend she didn’t want to lose, and the idea of Maya somehow finding out and being hurt by it was horrible. The girl had already had too much taken from her.

            “I can’t think like that,” she shook her head firmly, “Gabriel likes Maya now, that’s all there is to it. If he snaps at you it’s because he thinks you’re irritating,” she shot him a sideways look, “you didn’t think that might be why?”

            Altair shrugged, grinning, “yes, it’s possible that someone out there somewhere might think I’m irritating.”

            Alice walked into the bathroom and started the shower, before she shut the door she poked her head out and said, “more like it’s possible that someone out there doesn’t.”

            The smell of fresh baking filled the backroom. Azura was perched on the desk, wearing a beautiful blue kimono style top and black jeans, Shakra was at her side. The white haired witch was eating a chocolate chip muffin and feeding bits of it to the tiger.

            “Good morning!” Azura gave her a wide grin, “I baked muffins for breakfast. Fresh out of the oven!” She gestured to the desk, at a plate of still steaming muffins. “There’s chocolate chip and carrot.”

            “Oh my gosh, you’re amazing.” Alice chose a carrot muffin, grabbed herself a cup of tea and headed for the desk, where Maya was getting the shop ready for opening.

            “Morning!” Maya turned the “closed” sign around so it read “open” and flipped the latch on the door, “aren’t Azura’s muffins amazing? I asked her if she used magic and she just laughed. I can’t bake at all.” The younger girl moved to the desk, and Alice noted she had her dark brown hair pulled up in a french braid. She looked beautiful, in a form-fitting green sweater and blue jeans. Alice dismissed Altair’s earlier claims. There was no way that Gabriel could be with someone like Maya and still be mooning over her. Maya was all exotic beauty and sweet shyness. What guy wouldn’t fall in love instantly?

            There was a commotion outside, a flurry and rustle of activity, and Alice walked to the front window and peered outside to see tourists jumping back out of the way, pointing and shouting as a large object descended out of the sky.  Alice’s jaw dropped open when she saw an old fashioned, pioneer style chuck wagon being pulled through the air by a giant winged creature. It landed, less then gracefully, bumping on the cobblestones. Packages spilled out the back of the wagon. A short little man with a beard down to his knees jumped off the front. Through the glass she could see his lips moving, his heavy black brows drawn down angrily as he cursed and ran around picking up the spilled packages, which were all different shapes and sizes and all wrapped in brown paper with yellow twine.

            The creature didn’t appear to want to stand still. It shifted from foot to foot, jittery and impatient. Alice stared at it with wide eyes. It was like nothing she’d ever seen: A long, muscular tawny body that could have belonged to a lion, massive dinner plate paws and a lashing tail. Halfway up the creature the golden fur turned into feathers. It's hooked beak looked wicked, and it turned wide yellow eyes this way and that.

            “A Gryffin!” Maya cried excitedly, “I’ve heard about those! It’s so beautiful.”

            “It looks like it might eat someone,” Alice said nervously.

            Indeed, the tourists were scattering quite quickly as the Gryffin danced from side to side. After the initial shock they continued about their business, as if it wasn’t particularily impressive that a eagle/lion hybrid had just landed in their midst. Some of the toursists walked very close to the wagon, as if they didn’t notice it was there at all, and Alice wondered if they were Regs that didn’t see it there. The Gryffin was eyeing them, clicking it’s beak open and shut. She hoped it had been fed well that morning.

            “Ah,” Azura leaned into the shop from the backroom, “I see our newest shipment has arrived.”

            It was true. The little man had stuffed as many packages as he could fit under his stubby arms and was now shambling toward the shop, grumbling to himself as he did. When he got near enough Alice sprang to open the door for him. He came through, still grumbling, nodding to her curtly.

            “Where do you want these. Damn heavy things they are. Where do you want me to put them?”

            “Uh, back room please,” Alice pointed, “Right that way. Can I help you with any of them?”

            “No, no” the little man grumbled, “no no, too heavy for a skinny waif like you.”

            She blinked, following after him, not sure if she should be insulted or not. It was sort of humorous coming from a man who didn’t even reach her shoulder.

            The little man, it turned out, was from Mr. Duff’s Stuff, and he was dropping off the rest of the shipment that they should have had a few weeks ago.

            “Didn’t know you were moving to Prague.” The man grumbled, “you magic folk do so much flitting about here and there we never can catch up to you.”

            Magic folk? Alice glanced over her shoulder. Outside the Gryffin was still hopping from one foot to another, menacing anyone who came to close.

            “Well that’s all,” he thrust a clip board and pen at her, “sign here for the packages.”

            “Thanks,” Alice scribbled her name at the bottom of the invoice and he thrust a copy into her hand and stomped out. She watched as the door slammed shut behind him. The shop was silent for a few second, and then Maya said faintly, “well, he was something.”

            Alice nodded, “No kidding.” Her attention turned to the little pile of brown paper packages on the back desk. The novelty still hadn’t worn off. It still felt a little bit like Christmas each time a new shipment arrived, “Let’s unpack this. I’m really curious, because I  think I just read ‘miniature pets’ on the invoice.”