After only a month, the number of the newcomers halved as new bars opened to accommodate the unbridled demand for drink. This suited the old boys just fine as they had picked up a habit of coming in earlier to have a little more time to themselves and old Kit. They could even coerce Johnny into playing a few songs only the old remembered. It was a little haven from their troubles. One dwarf, however, had brought his troubles with him.

Diarmiud sat quietly, sipping his drink. He sighed to himself as the conversation carried around him. Many tried to set up the conversation so that he could get a word in as he was usually a centerpiece among the group but he had yet to take the bait. Diarmiud was well respected and liked by the old boys since he could be considered the most successful among the bunch. He owned a lucrative mechanics shop and was always helpful and generous. Whenever one of their cars broke down or needed parts, he would insist of dropping by for him to repair in his spare time. He was also the source of probably half of Johnny's income as he had hired him for many odd jobs in the past years. Not one among them could speak an ill word of the old dwarf. It was old Kit, his oldest friend, that decided to broach the subject.

"Diar, how hav' the last few days been treatin' you? You seem more tire than usual"- O.K.

"Oh, no. . .no, everythings' fine fellas. I'm fine really. Just, lack of sleep is all"- Diarmiud

"Now, I've seen you be more well rested during the Problems than right now, so excuse me for worryin, but I ain't lettin' up until your bags empty."- O.K.

"Kit, I come here for a bit of rest and so does everyone else. Don't wanna ruin that by whining like some tot looking for his wet nurse's tit."- Diarmiud

"Come now, we might be able to help. Stitches and I actually make some decent change from the whole music thing we got going on. Let us help you out for once."- Johnny

"(sigh) It's not a problem so easily solved. It's but a couple of days for ma' wife's and I's Coming Spring."- Diarmiud

Everyone but Stitches gave a sympathetic look at Diarmiud. The dwarves most of all knew what kind of trouble he was in. Downing their drinks in one gulp, the old dwarves averted their eyes in fear of showing more pity than sympathy for him. As quiet fell upon the group, Diarmiud sighed again, scratching his chin through his thick beard. Stitches was very confused as the context of the conversation was lost to him. He looked to Johnny for an explanation. Johnny began to fill him in a softer voice than usual.

" Well, you see, a Coming Spring is basically a dwarf's 50th anniversary. It stems from an old story that says that a couple has to live through harsh times but their spring still comes every year. It's not all romantic stuff though, as the family gets involved. The bigger the better is the name of the game. The family can get judgy if it ain't up to their standards."- Johnny

As Stitches tried to put together the concept he was just explained, the dwarves in the room almost scoffed at the very simplistic version Johnny had provided. He had understated and underplayed the importance of the event by several magnitudes. The old story he was referring to goes back to the old dwarven gods and the Coming Spring was an ancient tradition they had practiced for millennia. They, however, let it go because they knew Johnny well and he was only a human after all.

"I am really surprised that its already your Coming Spring, I hadn't realized it until now. " - O.K.

"That's because we haven't been able to celebrate our anniversary for the last few years. It has been one problem after another. My daughter got sick that one year, son got in a wreck the other, and the syndicate has been demanding more now that they have half the city under their boot. But every year, my dear city flower would look at me and say 'spring always comes'. Oh breaks me heart, that does. But no, I'm outta time and dime to prepare for it now." - Diarmiud

At that, the atmosphere turned somber. The old dwarves now seemed in physical pain from their old friend's tale of sorrow. It wasn't a problem that they could solve even if they all pooled their money together. The celebration called for the gathering of all the family and friends. Not inviting someone or not being invited was considered an incredible insult that could not be forgiven. Once all had gathered, a grand celebration would take place and the husband would prove to all that he both has provided for and loved his wife for fifty years. It was not uncommon for dwarves to save up for up to a decade for the occasion or to sell their cars in a hurry when they accidently go over budget. If Diarmiud truly had nothing for his Coming Spring, with what face would her wife explain this to her family. Their marriage and the legitimacy of their children would be called into question.

The depressing atmosphere seemed to be affecting everyone but Stitches, who had just returned from the cellar with cloth in hand and a smile on his face. Everyone jumped a little, none having realized that he had left. Startled, they all focused on what he was up to.

"We have to start putting a bell on this boy. How can someone so large go sneaking around. Bad for ma' heart."- Diarmiud

"You need gift yes? Me give this."- Stitches

Stitches handed to Diarmiud what he had brought. It turned out to be fabric of the finest silk he had ever seen. He held it in his hands, feeling the 3 different colored bundles he had handed to him. They appeared so fine that he didn't want to place them on the table for fear of soiling them.

"Ay, where in the world do you bunch keep these things."- Diarmiud

"Present good yes?"- Stitches

"(sigh) Yes, these are beautiful, but that's not the way things go. We need something bigger, though I do appreciate the thought. Even if I sold these, I couldn't get together a feast in two days."- Diarmiud

"Maybe not you but maybe we could. Stitches let's go."- Johnny

Stitches nodded and followed Johnny down to the cellar as Diarmiud passed around the fabric for everyone else to see. They looked to old Kit for hints of what was going on as he seemed to be the only one unfazed by Stitches' surprise. He just shrugged and waited patiently for them to return. When they returned, Diarmiud didn't know what to expect since they appeared cheerful but empty handed.

"Yeah, I've got a plan in mind, if you don't mind us meddling with your affairs."-Johnny

"Johnny boy, I'd put a roof under your head me'self if it ever came down to it. I trust well enough to know you wouldn't be up to no good in such a time" - Diarmiud

"Good, because you're just going to have put a lot of trust on us this time cause we're both gonna be flying blind. Also, Kit, we need to close this place till the day of the party. Is that ok? Oh, and can we remodel this place a bit, you know move around a few things?"- Johnny

"Hmm, sure, I can't see why not."- O.K.

"Nice. . .So, everyone has to leave right now, we have work to do. Also, is your guest list mostly men or women?" -Johnny

"Well, the women outnumbers by a smich"- Diarmiud

"Ok, then we are mostly set. 3 days time, hear, 10 in the morning. Come dressed well as can be. Don't worry about anything."- Johnny

"Now Johnny, I'm placing the life and face of ma' family in your hands. For that, I apologize."- Diarmiud

"No worry, we can do good"- Stitches

Sighing, Diarmiud and the rest couldn't really know what to expect from the two vagabonds turned musicians. They had technically never failed a job but this was way bigger than any odd job or errand they had ever ran. The two, however, exuded such a aura of confidence that one began to try and believe in them despite the task ahead. With Johnny ushering them out, the old men left. Only Johnny, Stitches, and old Kit remained.

------------------

Diarmiud spent the next two days in a state of limbo. He could barely eat anything or think straight. All his thoughts would wonder back to Stitches and Johnny. What were they doing? Could two humans and a lycan make a good Coming Spring? Is a bad one better or worse than none all? He contemplated more than once if he should "accidently" blow up his shop with him in it to spare his family the humiliation. There were rocks in his stomach and lead in his boots. He counted the minutes down as his family watched him closely with suspicion.

The event coming up was one that required careful planning and arrangement but he had not asked anyone for any help. Diarmiud hadn't asked anyone to help set up appointments catering or barrels of bitter sweet ales. He didn't ask around the older dwarves for ideas either. The family, however, didn't say anything. The subject was on everyone' mind. It's shadow was cast over every conversation. The one most affected was Muriel, his wife. She was on pins and needles, waiting for something, anything, to reassure her that he husband hadn't gone and done something unforgiveable. It was only on the day before that a clue about the matter surfaced.

All his friends and family across the city found an invitation on their front door. It was ordinate, with practiced penmanship detailing the location and occasion. A few of his cousins who lived in the shop asked more about the invitation and why he hadn't said anything in person but he just avoided the subject.

The evening before the big day, Muriel was at her wit's end. She could not skirt around the issue any longer and had to confront her husband about their Coming Spring. She had heard nothing from Diarmiud, who was acting reclusive and would avoid all conversation. She had nothing to wear, no idea what was going to happen and was the most confused out of everyone when people came to her about the strange invitations to their supposed Coming Spring. If it was a great surprise prepared by Diarmiud, no one in town would have been able to escape his talk and boasting of it but he remained silent. Muriel and Diarmiud were a team and loving couple, talking about everything together. She was not used to being completely unaware of her husband's plans.

"Diar', you've no spoken a word of what's going on. Our Coming Spring is due by 'morrow and still I'm as lost as everyone else. Now you won't even look at me'. What's going on. You send out these strange invitations at the same time to everyone instead of the proper order of things. Father will ignore it but my brother is gonna believe we ain't giving him the proper respect. There were no yellers to announce us and its far too late now. JUST TELL ME. Talk with me." - Muriel

Diarmiud was finally cornered in their kitchen, uncertain how to answer his wife's reasonable pleas. Any other woman would have skinned him alive for what he has had to put her through. Uncertainty in such important matters and with very little time left would've made anyone mad. He sighed, and decided to simply tell her the entire truth. He had run out of money time and again. He had not prepared anything at all. He then left everything to his two favorite vagabonds because they said they had him covered. He had no idea what they were up to, however, and could not explain the invitations.

"How much money did you give them?"- Muriel

"What, I, ah, what do you mean, how much money?" - Diar

" The boys, they are the ones doing all the work. How much money did you give them to prepare"- Muriel

"Well, hmm, none, not a pence. The moment Johnny said he had an idea, he kicked everyone off and closed the bar. Haven't seen 'em since." - Diar

Muriel, who was standing throughout all the discussion, walked to fridge. She moved the fridge a bit and pulled out a box from behind it. Inside was an undisclosed amount of money that Diarmiud was not aware of. She stood in front of a slightly surprised Diarmiud and, in a calm demeanor, began to speak.

"Ey, I've been saving up some incase what you had saved up wasn't enough. Scrape together whatever you've got and we are gonna go help those boys."- Muriel

"You're not angry."- Diar

"I am very angry. I am furious. But I know the fool I married. I married you when you was bastard and I'll be married to you after this whole mess is done. This ain't over but that does no one no good. We are gonna go help those nice boys that decided to try an' bail out your ass and we are gonna go be the laughing stock of half' the town tomorrow. And you will greet every guest, accept every sneer and taunt and we will be just fine. An' you're going to thank those nice boys for given' more of a shit about your own Coming Spring than you."- Muriel

"Ay"- Diar

Diarmiud went to get what little money he had hidden away in the shop and drove in silence with Muriel to the old tavern. He felt lighter than he had in days, now sharing his terrible and self imposed burden with his wife. He had no idea what to expect but knew he would forever in debt to crazy Johnny and Stitches.