Summary: Oz's pov in the last few minutes of Phases
Spoilers: Phases
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, no matter how much I wish they
were. <sigh> They belong to Joss Whedon and the WB I have to live with
borrowing them for my stories.
Rating: You watch the show, this is fine.
by: Amy
******
I sat spacing, as Giles pointed to the spinning globe in front of me. I already knew what I needed to know about my condition, but he just looked like he was having so much fun. Well, Giles-fun, anyway. I didn't have the heart to tell him that this was of no interest to me.
Instead, I turned my thoughts to Willow. Easy enough, they were never very far away from her. I wondered what she was thinking, or if she was mad at me. I was telling the truth when I told her I could wait. She probably thought I just meant for the kiss, (true also) but I was really talking about her. I've decided I would wait forever for Willow. It's not like she deserved any less.
And what was up with Xander? That boy had some major issues to deal with. At lunch recently, ever since I had been privileged to be able to eat with her, I've noticed moments where he just stared at her. I didn't like it. He had a girlfriend, and now he was trying to horn in on mi-- wait, wait, she's not your girlfriend yet, man. I chilled. I try not to get angry that often. Wastes too much energy. Energy I could be using contemplating Willow. Now that's not energy wasted.
Giles finished his speech on the effects of the moon and tides and got up. He looked at me expectantly for a minute, and I realized that it was my cue to leave. "Um, okay. I'll do that, Giles." He nodded and I breathed a sigh of relief that he thought I was listening. I was glad I had picked the right answer.
I left the library, stopping by the band room to get my guitar. I went for the quad, hoping I wouldn't be late for Willow. She had asked to talk to me after school, and I would have hated to make her wait. I got to the quad and looked around. Nope, safe. I picked a table and sat down, practicing my E-flat diminished ninth. It was progressive. I started strumming, glancing up every few minutes before going back to it.
I looked up again, and there was Willow. She appeared out of almost nowhere, like some sort of magical mistress. She looked nervous. I tried, mostly unsuccessfully to put aside my romantic thoughts about her. It was pretty clear that she came here to tell me she needed space. Only, it looked like she didn't know how to do it. She didn't deserve a werewolf. My heart dropped as she fastened her eyes on me and started walking over.
"Hey," she said. He voice always had that sweet, almost unsure quality to it. I loved that.
"Hey." I looked at the tree sitting a few feet away, hoping it would tell me what to say to her.
"Um, did you want to go first?" She looked hopeful, so I started.
"I talked to Giles. He said I'll be okay. I just have to lock myself up around the full moon. Only he used more words than that. And a globe." I wrinkled my brow and she nodded understandingly. She had known Giles for longer than I had.
"I'm sorry how all this ended up. With me shooting you and all." *She* was sorry? Willow should never be sorry for anything.
"It's okay. I'm sorry I almost ate you." That's where the blame lies. I was surprised at her next words.
"It's okay." Relief washed over that she didn't hate me. "I kind of thought you would have told me."
"I didn't know what to say. It's not everyday that you find out you're a werewolf. That's fairly freaksome. It may take a couple days of getting used to." I remembered her frenzied little speech the previous night. I should have told her then.
"It's a complication." My heart fell again. I didn't blame her, though. No woman should have to put up with having a werewolf for a boyfriend. Especially not one as special as her. I wanted to let her off the hook. It looked like she was not enjoying this conversation.
"So..." I hopped off the table and we started walking. "Maybe it would be best if I just... sorta..."
"What?" She looked at me seriously.
"Well, you know, like, stayed out of your way for a while." We stopped walking and I waited for her to nod and leave. I shamed myself by underestimating her. Willow, girl of surprises.
"I don't know. I'm sort of okay with you being *in* my way." She looked at me squarely and my heart did little somersaults. Well, it would have if that ever really happened.
"You mean, you'd still..." Hope washed over my mind, and suddenly I felt ridiculous for wishing that I had never been born, like I did when I woke up. For wishing for even a second that I wouldn't have to have this conversation with her. I had been scared, but I pushed that out of my mind as she started speaking shyly.
"Well, I like you. You're nice, and you're funny. And you don't smoke." I felt a soft smile lift my face as she talked. "Yeah, okay, werewolf. But that's not all the time. I mean, three days out of the month, I'm not much fun to be around, either." For a second, it didn't process. How could Willow not be fun to be around? Then I understood and grinned, hardly able to believe that Willow had said that.
She had this weird ability to make me fell like the luckiest guy on Earth.
"You are quite a human." Her eyes lightened at the compliment, and I was bewildered for a second that she hadn't already known that.
She met my gaze bashfully and nodded slightly. "So... I'd still, if you'd still."
Huh? I was startled that she felt she even had to phrase that in a question. "I'd still!" Don't freak her out, Oz. Slightly calmer, I added, "I'd *very* still."
She smiled widely at me, and I grinned in return. Wow. "Okay. No biting, though."I smiled again.
"Agreed."
Her smile warmed me. She looked at me for another second before heading off. I watched her walk away. God, I was lucky. I don't think I had ever done a thing in my life to deserve the affections of someone as exceptional as Willow was. I saw her stop for a minute, not moving, before turning around and walking back to me. Had she forgotten something? The looked on her face was light, but there was something else there. Determination. Before I had a chance to question, she was before me.
She looked at me for an instant and then leaned forward to put her lips on mine. I felt the softness of them and for a second I was paralyzed. When I realized that it was happening, I closed my eyes and supplied pressure to my lips. I was correct again. Wow. I flew. This was better than anything. Candy, dancing, playing guitar. She made better music than I ever could. Than I had ever heard.
She pulled away and walked away without a word. I stared after her, fascinated. My head slowly caught up with my heart and I heard myself whisper.
"A werewolf in love." She got to the edge of the quad and turned around to look at me. Her eyes were shining, and my heart flipped that I had done that. Well, if hearts could flip, mine would have. She gave me another small smile before heading out of my range of vision. Wow.
I guessed that I had underestimated again. She was way more than I had given her credit for. Wow. More than I expected.
The End