In A New York Minute was nominated for Golden Frog Awards in the categories of Best Drama,Best 7+ Part Fic, and Best representation of any character other than Willow Rosenberg (for Xander).
Summary: When something happens between Willow and Xander, the whole group
has to deal with it. Set a couple years in the future.
Spoilers: Minor through GD2.
Disclaimer: Joss made the characters. I like to think he did it to keep
me amused.
Rating: PG13-R
Thanks to Tracy, who takes time out of her schedule to help me when I
need it. Also, thanks to my sister for being who she is and magnificently
presenting me with another nephew.
Laura rocks. 'Nuff said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In A New York Minute was nominated for Golden Frog Awards in the
categories of Best Drama,Best 7+ Part Fic, and Best representation
of any character other than Willow Rosenberg (for Xander).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In A New York Minute
by: Amy
* * * * * * *
PART ONE
Xander stirred, wetting his dry lips. He coughed softly as he woke up, and let himself nestle closer to the warm body in his arms. She was soft, everywhere. Soft hair wrapping around his arm, soft lips against his collarbone, soft breasts crushed against his chest. She shifted and purred, her voice as soft as the rest of her, and Xander knew he could die happy.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open in alarm as the memories came flooding back to him. He looked down at the red hair his hand was clinging to gently, and at the ethereal smile on Willow's face. Staring down at her for a moment longer, worrying about the possibilities of what this could do to their friendship, he decided he didn't care. He closed his eyes again, holding her tighter to him.
The worry was worth it. All of the years leading up to the previous night had been worth it.
Willow had shown up at his door in tears. As he ushered her into his tiny apartment and tried to calm her down, he had finally been able to piece together what had happened. She had sobbed it all in his arms, brokenly, uncertain for once if she could trust him with her secrets and heart.
It had been a fight, a simple fight. Willow had said something about wanting children someday, and Oz had gone off on an angry, un-Ozlike tangent about her not thinking things through sometimes. He had accused her, in a rare display of macho insecurity, that she was still in love with Xander. Grasping at straws, she had sobbed, looking up at Xander with tear filled eyes. And the worst part was, Willow said softly, that Oz might have been right.
She realized after Oz left that they had had the previous conversation about a year before. Which was when she discovered that Oz might never be able to have children. Willow thought he might be right about that influencing her feelings about him, because she wanted children so badly someday. Selfish, she had cried, she had been so selfish.
Xander had soothed her as best he could, smoothing back the hair that was in her eyes, rubbing her back gently. Trying to ignore the hammering in his heart when she said she might still be in love with him. And then she had stared up at him with trembling pink lips and sparkling eyes; she had never looked prettier or more desirable, and he had never felt more of a longing to protect her from all things that could bring her harm.
The moment had stopped as they gazed at each other, the words falling into a secret hiding place in eternity, and their mouths met for a wonderful, sweet kiss that ignited everything either of them had ever known. Without thinking, he had carried her into his room, lifted her small, shivering body as easily as he would have a down pillow, and laid her across his bed, stretching out beside her.
His eyes had met with hers for several unsure seconds, several seconds where he waited years for her to tell him to continue or stop. Finally green eyes latched with hazel, and Willow had nodded slowly. "Make love to me, Xander," she had whispered.
And he had. All night, their energy had seemed boundless; they reached the heights of passion again and again, not wanting to stop touching each other for a single moment, as if afraid the other would disappear forever. As if letting go for then meant letting go for always.
Xander had realized, the moment that his hand touched her skin, that he knew every curve and nerve ending in her body, knew how to pleasure her in the best ways, when to be gentle and when to not. As she had known him, had known what would make him kiss her hotly, what would make him whisper of his love, what would make him bite down on his lip so as to not cry out.
Everything love making was supposed to be was finally realized in that night, in those hours, in that bed.
So he closed his eyes after this all folded out in his mind, content in his knowledge that they were both in the place they were supposed to be, secure in his heart that this was what they both wanted. He kissed her sleep softened mouth and rubbed his chin against her hair.
And he slept.
* * * * * *
Willow sighed, throwing one of her legs across his. In a sleeping response, he kissed her earlobe, playfully nipping at it before he became still again. Willow's fuzzy mind slowly worked to figure out what was different from the position she was in.
Oz seemed taller, more muscled that he usually was. She let her hand drift up to the pillow and she pawed at his hair softly. Different hair, smoother. Different face, too. Willow opened her eyes with a start.
And found herself looking at her best friend.
Xander was smiling peacefully, as if he had just figured out the secrets of life. Willow's eyes widened in shock, and she wiggled out of his warm, tempting embrace, trying not to wake him up. When she was released from his arms, she sat up on the mattress-- The mattress that was devoid of most of its sheets, she noticed, with the others tangled around them wildly-- and looked down at herself.
Her breath slowed; seemed to stop as she remembered the previous night.
As everything fell into place, she had the almost overwhelming longing to return to his arms, wondering how she could have forgotten, even for a second, the magic that had happened between them.
And then she thought of Oz. Thought of him in is room all night, wondering how much he had hurt her by exploding like that. Wondering if things would be okay between them, hoping she hadn't cried when he'd left. Willow remembered the sweetness of their love-making that, while it didn't really compare to the explosiveness of being with Xander, meant something incredibly special to her.
She lifted herself off the bed, searching the room for her clothes. A shoe here, her shirt hanging from the knobs on the drawers, her skirt underneath the bedcovers they had shoved off the bed last night. Methodically, she located everything and dressed in a hurry, stopping before the mirror for just a moment to examine herself, see if she looked any different.
I do, she thought sadly. I look like I've made love with Xander, I look like I don't regret it. Oz is going to know. She bit her lip. He can never know.
She smoothed her hair back, intending to take a shower as soon as she got home, and hoping with a dull, hurting heart that Xander wouldn't have any memories. She began flying out of his room.
But his voice stopped her.
He sounded relaxed; happy. "Going somewhere?"
Willow halted, turning to him with a guilty smile. "I'm going home."
"Why?" Xander looked genuinely confused. He wiggled his eyebrows at her and then rolled over, propping himself up on his elbow. "You can stay here, you know." When she didn't respond to his teasing manner, Xander sighed, and then gestured to his bed. Willow slowly sat down, not looking at him.
Xander laid a hand on her thigh. "Look, Wills, I know we have a lot to talk about after last night. That's okay with me. I just know that I don't want anything to come between us." He smiled, lifting his hand and laying it over hers. "I told you last night that I loved you. That hasn't changed just because the sun is up now. Last night was the most... perfect, perfect way we could have ever admitted our feelings for each other, you know? Here I had been, thinking I would never have another chance with you, and then this happened. And I'm really glad for it." He paused, searching her eyes. "I know it'll be hard to tell Oz, but I'm sure that after a while, he'll under--"
"Why do you have to be so wonderful about this?" she broke in, releasing the tears she had built up. "Why do you have to be so romantic, so great? Why did it have to be so perfect with you? Why couldn't I have seen all of this before Oz?"
Xander looked alarmed, but then calmed as he realized that the guilt must be eating her alive. "Willow, it's really okay. Don't worry. Even if it takes a while, things will be fine between you two. You'll still be friends." He kissed her hand. "And we'll finally be more."
"I'm going back to Oz," she said softly. Xander's eyes jerked up, shocked. "I have to go back. This was wrong, Xander. It was wrong and it can't happen again. I'm... sorry." Her voice was choked. "I'm so sorry."
Xander simply stared at her, speechless, as she gazed down at him for a final, painful moment, and ran out of the room.
* * * * * *
Xander woke out of his dazed stupor in enough time to realize he needed to stop her from leaving. Standing, he threw on some pants and raced out his door, knocking things over on his way out of the apartment. The pavement cut at his bare feet in the parking lot, and he let himself slow down and sigh in relief when he saw that her car was still there.
He approached uncertainly, rounding over the the passenger door and slipping in. Willow paid him no notice; her face was buried in her arms and she was crying. Xander coughed, making himself known, and Willow finally looked up, her face wet with tears.
"You have to leave, Xander," she whispered, glancing away. "I don't think... I don't think this is very smart of us. And last night..."
"Last night," he growled defensively, "Was the smartest thing *I've* ever done. And I know you feel the same way, deep down. You can't do this, Willow. You can't go back to him now that you've realized you're in love with me."
"But I'm not," she protested weakly.
"Yes you are. Hell, even Oz probably knows it. This is unfair, to all of us. I can't let you go. I can't let you leave here without at least admitting your feelings for me." He set his chin stubbornly.
Willow's guilty expression melted into one of fondness; complete affection. The words slipped out. "I do love you, Xander. I always have."
Xander nodded decisively. "Good then."
"But," she continued, ignoring his groan, "It's not right for me to lead you on. I have no intention of staying here. I have no intention of leaving Oz, or even letting him know what happened last night. As it is, he's probably worried sick about me, worried that I hadn't called." She set her resolve face, telling herself to stop crying. "Now, you need to get out of the car and let me go."
Xander stared at her, frustration building in his system. "So that's it?" he half yelled, banging his fist against the dashboard. "Everything was for nothing? Our whole damn friendship is wasted because we're in love and you're too stubborn to leave the guy you're *not* in love with?!"
"I am in love with him," Willow said softly. "And if you leave now, we can work out the rest later. I'm also not willing to give up this friendship." Her hand found his and her breath caught; his grip was trembling. "Go inside, Xander. I'll talk to you... later. When I can."
Xander shook his head in empty denial, letting himself out of the car. He slammed the door behind him, and walked towards his apartment. He heard her car start up.
And he didn't watch her drive away.
He staggered into his room heavily, and fell on his bed. Rolling onto his back, he placed his hands over his eyes and sighed deeply. The pillow, the entire room, was covered with the lingering scent of Willow, and he wanted to fall asleep to it, and cry a storm of tears.
He just wished things had been simpler. If he had made the move before she met Oz... Maybe she still would have left him, he admitted to himself. Maybe meant to be wasn't enough for her because he had hurt her so many times. Maybe she just needed... "Stability," Xander whispered, then shook his head. She didn't need just stability.
"She needs love," he ground out. "*My* love."
In the end, and for the first time in a long time, the tears won out.
PART TWO
Willow drove home, wishing she had the answer that would solve this problem. "I never should have told him I loved him." She shook her head angrily. "I never should have gone over there last night. I might have some sort of excuse, if I was drunk or something, but I don't." Her last word was broken, and she had to work to keep herself together.
Finally she arrived at her apartment. Checking the clock as she let herself in, she was surprised to find out that it was barely nine in the morning.
Buffy walked out of the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee, and startled Willow out of her thoughts. Willow jumped, and Buffy laughed.
"Late night with Oz?" she teased.
Willow looked at her shoes; smoothed her hair back again. "Something... like that."
Buffy sat down and made herself comfortable on the sofa before looking at Willow intently. "Or maybe you were getting cozy with someone else," she finally grinned.
Willow burst into tears.
Buffy got up in alarm, spilling her coffee on the carpet, and ushered Willow over to the couch to sit down. Willow let Buffy hold her for a few moments, relaxing in the comfort her friend supplied. Buffy petted her hair back, tears coming to her own eyes. "What is it, Will? What happened? Is Oz okay?"
Willow shook her head against Buffy's shoulder. "It's not that, not really," she choked out. "Not in the way you mean."
"What way then?" Buffy prodded gently.
Willow was silent for several minutes, calming herself, and then she sat up, looking at Buffy bashfully. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Then, with a sad smile, "I seem to be saying that a lot today."
"Willow, what happened?"
Willow looked at the concern in Buffy's eyes and nodded tightly, not wanting to cry anymore. "I was with someone last night-- All night. And it wasn't Oz."
Buffy gasped, and then looked at Willow appealingly. "I- I'm sorry... But why?"
"Oz and I got into a fight," Willow said miserably. "And he stormed out. You know he sometimes gets edgy the night before he turns... I don't blame him at all. I blame me. All me."
Buffy touched her hand. "I'm sure..."
"You don't understand," Willow interrupted. "When he left, I was a basketcase." She looked up with a small smile. "Guess that's not too different from this morning. Anyway, I really needed someone, really needed a friend..."
Buffy's eyes widened. "Xander?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Xander," Willow confirmed numbly. She lifted her shoulders helplessly. "And I don't even know if I came over there *for* that. I might have. I needed closeness, Buffy, real closeness. And I kissed him, and he kissed me, and everything seemed to fit in the right spots. Like a puzzle or something. It was just a case of bad timing, I'm sure."
Buffy shook her head, trying to understand. "What did Xander say this morning? Was he horrible or something? Did he want to forget it had ever happened?"
Willow gave a sharp, angry laugh. "It would have been better that way. He was so sweet, so romantic... So not Xander-y, but Xander-y at the same time. Telling me that he loved me and that it was about time. And last night... Oh, Buffy... He was wonderful. It was... everything you dream about before you know anything about love and sex." She looked up at her friend with pleading eyes. "And I told him that I was sorry, that I love Oz. That it couldn't ever happen."
"What *are* you going to tell Oz?"
"Nothing," Willow snapped out. Her chest heaved and her throat ached with unreleased tears. She tugged on Buffy's sleeve. "He can't ever know. Please, I know it's not fair of me to ask you, but please... I can't ever tell him. No one can."
Buffy sat back, confused by the mornings revelations. "Well, I won't. But, are you sure that Xander's going to keep the silence? I mean, you know, considering that he..." she stumbled over the words, not sure if they should be happy or sad, "Loves you?"
"Xander won't do anything I don't want him to," Willow said, almost certainly.
Buffy's eyes lit up with curiosity, and she glanced down to disguise it. Willow looked at her, and then let her face fall into a tired smile. "What?"
"Well," Buffy said delicately, "I was just wondering... Never mind. I shouldn't ask."
Willow laughed sadly. "Like I didn't ask you every question in the book about Angel," she said dryly.
Buffy nodded. "That was pretty much it. I was just really wondering if you had finally realized... I mean, if you were in love with Xander too."
Willow shook her head. "I can't be. I won't allow myself to be. I mean, I said yes to him, but that's just impossible because I can't be in love with two men at the same time."
Buffy stood, a knowing smile on her face. "Maybe you're only in love with one," she said softly, tugging Willow off the couch by the hands. "Come on. You need to go shower. Oz is going to call at ten like he has every morning this summer and..." She blushed, and Willow looked at her, bewildered.
"And what?"
"And... you know that he has a really strong sense of smell. Especially this time of month. Even if he doesn't know that it's Xander, he's sure to smell someone on you."
Willow looked surprised, and nodded quickly, heading off for the bathroom.
* * * * * *
Buffy headed to the phone as soon as the water started. Hitting speed-dial two, she waited until the other line was picked up and then began speaking rapidly. "What happened? What happened this morning, I mean? And are you really in love with her? I mean, I could have called it three years ago, when you guys first kissed, but no.... Nobody listens to Buffy about these things...."
"Buffy," Xander broke in with a short laugh. "Calm. God, you're gonna give *me* a heart attack, and I'm not the one talking so fast."
Buffy grinned. "Willow's in the shower, and I can't be on long. So?"
"I love her," he confirmed simply. "And I know she loves me. It was... I can't even find the words to describe how last night was. Even if it was wrong because she hasn't broken up with Oz yet." He paused, then rushed ahead. "Do you know if she will?"
Buffy sighed. "I don't think she's planning on it. You know how loyal she is, Xander," she said logically. "Willow sees herself slotted into these little... uh, slots, I guess, where she's one person for each person she knows. For Oz, she's his girlfriend. For you and me, she's the best friend. Giles's protégé. She's stubborn in that once she thinks she's figured out her place, she wants to stay there... Wants to give it all she's got."
Xander was silent for a long moment, and then he spoke up hopefully, "But, if I talk to her some more about it, then maybe she'll understand that she's not *being* loyal by being in love with me and seeing him at the same time."
"Xander," Buffy said wryly, "You're not going to win her heart by telling her that she's not loyal, and that she's wrong about her own feelings." She hesitated. "Even though she is this time."
The sound of the shower went off, and Buffy glanced at the door, nervously. "Xander, I need to go. Willow just turned off the shower."
"The shower?" He asked softly. "Is she doing that to get rid of me?"
Buffy's shoulders sagged helplessly. "Sort of. But not because she didn't..." she coughed, embarrassed, "Love last night. She thought it was wonderful, special. She told me that..."
"What?" he pressed urgently.
Buffy weight the consequences of being disloyal for just a moment. Then she decided she didn't care. "That it was everything she had ever dreamed about. And this had better be helping Willow, me telling you this, because it's private, and I shouldn't be saying anything in the first place."
"Even if it's not helping Willow at all, Buffy," he said quietly, "It's helping me a lot. Thanks."
"Sure. Call later, okay?"
"You got it."
They disconnected just as Willow emerged from a steaming bathroom. She hugged her towel a little closer to her and looked at Buffy curiously. "Who was that? Was that Oz?"
"Uh, no. I was calling time. I thought our clocks were a little fast or something. But I was wrong. ...About that."
Willow nodded, slipping into her room and sitting on the bed. Buffy followed her and Willow looked up, melancholy on her face. "I don't smell like him anymore," she said softly, "And I don't look like... But I feel different. I feel so different now, and I don't know what to do."
Buffy looked at her for a long moment. "I wish I could tell you, but this one is yours. I could tell you what I think about telling Oz..."
"What's that?"
"I think you should tell him the truth. Even if he doesn't forgive you, it'll eat away at you if you don't. And any lie, especially one as big as this one, will ruin a relationship anyway." Buffy nodded and left the room quietly.
And Willow was left alone with her words.
* * * * * *
An hour later, the phone rang. Buffy, walking through the hall, checked in Willow's room and found her asleep, curled up and holding her pillow. She grinned to herself at how peaceful her friend look, at the smile on Willow's face. Hearing the phone ringagain, she raced to pick it up and answered it, breathless.
"Hello?"
"Buffy." Oz sounded guilty. "Is Willow there?"
"Yep. She's asleep right now. Want me to wake her up?"
"No," he said slowly. "Would it be okay if I came over and woke her up myself? We have some things to talk out."
Buffy bit her lip, hesitating. "Okay," she finally answered. "I'm sure that'll be fine."
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"Is..." Oz cleared his throat. "Is Willow okay? We got in a pretty bad fight last night. I don't know if she told you. I'm a little worried. I tried calling there around three, and neither of you picked up. I figured you might be out patrolling."
Buffy stared at the phone, shocked that it had produced such openness from Oz. "Well... Was out slaying, yeah," she mumbled, hoping he wouldn't ask directly if Willow had been with her.
He sighed. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine, Oz. She was a little frazzled when she finally talked about it. But maybe you should come over and talk to her yourself."
"Yeah, I'll be there in a while," he said quickly.
They disconnected, and Buffy set the phone back in the cradle gently. She looked at her wall, which contained a photo taken of the Scooby Gang on graduation day. Oz and Willow, Xander slinging his arms around Buffy and Cordelia. Giles had been taking the picture.
Buffy had always hoped it would work out for the best, no matter who was in love with whom, that they would always be friends. No matter what.
She whispered to herself in the quiet of the room.
"I guess this is the time for faith."
PART THREE
Willow was dreaming. Thoughts of Xander floated through her mind, the scent that was so uniquely him, the way his eyes had darkened when they kissed. And then Oz's scent invaded the dream, and Willow saw herself standing in front of them, the two men in her life, wondering who she should choose.
"You love me, Willow," Xander insisted. "We've known each other for too long for you to not know it. I *know* you know it. You can't keep doing this. You can't keep pretending that you're going to let this start like it should and then pull back...."
Oz shook his head, glaring at the other boy. "Willow, you know how much I love you. I'm so sorry, Baby, for everything I said. I don't ever want to lose you."
Willow saw herself stepping forward, and she wondered who she was going to pick....
Suddenly, she sat up, her hair, still wet from her shower, clinging to her neck and face. Oz was kneeled on the bed beside her and she tried to force her heart to stop hammering. Oz hung his head in shame.
"Baby, I'm so sorry for what I said last night," he murmured, lifting her hand.
Willow searched his eyes mutely for a moment and then nodded. "I'm sorry too," she said emotionally. "For a lot of things."
Oz stared at her, contemplating, and then leaned forward, scooping her up into his arms. She returned the hug as well as she could with the guilt hanging over her, and waited in silence until he was finished pressing little, soft kisses into her shoulder. Her bathrobe seemed to melt into the sheets, and suddenly the cold air was hitting her skin; she pulled him to her, ravaging his mouth.
Oz started to press her down against the mattress, his eyes filled with love for her and anger at himself. Willow kissed him again reassuringly, and licked at his lips, unconsciously comparing Oz's kiss to Xander's.
With a groan of disappointment, she pulled away from him. Oz stilled, looking at her uncertainly.
"I'm sorry... Are you okay?" he asked quickly.
"No." Her voice trembled. "I'm not. But it's not you, Oz. You're so perfect to me. Please don't worry. It's just some things I need to work out on my own."
Oz nodded in what looked like understanding, and then stretched out beside her, claiming her hands in his. "Is it about what we talked about last night? Because," he added with a smile, "I went to Giles about that last night, after we fought. I hadn't wanted to take the test before, because it's not exactly safe, but Giles found a new formula that might work. When we get back the results..."
"It's not that," she said miserably, his hope and the sorrow in his voice making her feel worse. "It's other things. Other stupid ideas in my head that have been... bothering me for a while now." She graced him by curving her mouth up tentatively. "I just need to clear my mind, I think, and then things'll be fine."
"You're sure?" He kissed her temple, and she leaned against him with a sigh.
"I'm sure."
"And, Willow," Oz added softly, playing with her fingers, "I'm sorry about what I said about you and Xander. It was petty and I hate it when I'm petty."
"That's not often," she defended him with a small smile.
"Still... I just see how much time you've been spending with him lately. And I see how you've always felt about him. I guess I just get a little insecure. And jealous, even though I don't like admitting it. Sometimes I convince myself that, even though I trust you, I see you looking at him with something other than friendship. And I know that's not true. So I apologize."
Willow looked at him for a long moment, touching her forehead to his and meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry too, Oz. And I forgive anything you think shouldn't have been said." Even if it's true, she added silently to herself, and then winced.
"I love you, Wills."
His lips met hers softly, with no passion, but plenty of forgiveness. Willow closed her eyes tightly.
"I love you too."
* * * * * *
Willow woke to the phone ringing four hours later. Oz had left her a note on her dresser saying that he had gone by Devon's to practice before he chained himself up that night, and he hadn't had the heart to wake her when he left. And that he loved her. Willow read this all as she stumbled in a sleepy blur to the phone.
Finally, she answered. "Hhhmmmlo?"
"I think we need to see each other," Xander said, going straight to the point. He paused. "Were you sleeping? It's almost two."
Willow sighed, blinking several times to wake herself up. "Yeah," she muttered dryly, "I didn't get much sleep last night."
Though Xander laughed with hope in his voice, Willow regretted the words as soon as they were out, and she rubbed at her eyes, angry with herself.
"So can we meet?"
"Couldn't we do this over the phone?" she asked.
"No," he said firmly. "I need to see you. Come over."
"I'm not going over there!" she protested instantly.
Xander rolled his eyes to himself. "Fine. I'll come over there. I'll be there in twenty minutes. I hope you're decent. ...And keep in mind that naked is perfectly decent for me."
"Xander," she muttered warningly.
"Fine. But I'm still coming over. See you in a few."
With that, he hung up the phone, cutting off the arguments flying through her mind.
* * * * * *
Xander burst into the apartment without knocking, slamming the door behind him. Willow looked surprised in her chair, and then she gestured to the couch. Xander slowly sank into it.
"Care to tell me about the dramatic entry?" she queried.
"I was trying to impress that I'm serious," he replied.
"About?"
"About us! This whole thing. Willow, you and I made love last night. You keep saying you want to forget that it ever happened, but I don't believe that. I think that you want to remember. I think that you want to break up with Oz, and be with me. I think you're just denying it because you're too loyal to him. When really, you should be loyal to me. I'm the one you're in love with, after all."
"Where did you get that idea?"
"From you!" he burst out. Then he paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And sort of Buffy. Does it matter?"
"First of all, Xander, it was sex. It was just sex, what happened last night. That's it and that's all." Willow breathed in deeply to regain control over her emotions. "Sex. Nothing more."
"So you're saying you make it a habit of sleeping with men you're not in love with?" he asked, the sarcasm thick in his voice.
"Of course not!" she denied angrily. "You're twisting my words! Stop it!"
"Oh no," he shot back, "*You're* twisting your words."
Willow hesitated. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know," he mumbled tiredly. "It just seemed to sound good there." He looked away, his eyes bright. "It wasn't just sex," he said softly. "We both know it was more than that. We made love, Wills. You to me and me to you and it was special. More special than I deserved. Is that what this is about? Me hurting you all of those years?"
Willow opened her mouth and then closed it, thinking over her words. "I love Oz," she said at length. "And maybe, on some level, it's about that, but..."
"But don't you see?" he broke in. "I never meant to hurt you. Most of the time, I was too blind to see that I was. I don't know, I guess deep down I had my suspicions, but I was sixteen when you first started seeing me like that! What was I supposed to to? I was blind, yeah, but you're not and *that's* what makes you so much more wrong here. You know I'm in love with you and you feel the same way, and you're pretending that it's not true."
He looked at her and got up, walking across the room to kneel in front of her chair. Taking her hand in both of his, he kissed the knuckles lightly while Willow held her breath.
"You weren't sixteen," she said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"You weren't sixteen when I started falling in love with you," she explained. At his perplexed gaze, she elaborated. "You were five. And we were in the playground together, and you stole my Barbie to get me to kiss you. That's when it all started."
He looked hopeful, and she sighed again. "But I can't be in love with you now. I can't, Xander. It's just..."
"Stupid," he supplied, letting go of her hands and standing, turning away in angry disappointment. "Which is something I never thought I'd call you. And stop doing that."
"Stop doing what?" she asked, hurt.
"Stop giving me hope about us if you're not planning on ever starting it. Or letting it progress from where it's already started," he muttered.
Willow stood as well, walking over to him and touching his arm gently. "You're right. I have feelings for you, ones that I can't deny, and every time you ask me, I can't seem to pretend otherwise. But that's just me, being unwise about all of it. Do you know how many hearts we would break if we did this?"
"One," he said, his eyes burning into hers. "Just one, just for a while."
"That's enough, though. Isn't it?"
Xander had nothing to say.
PART FOUR
"Buffy?" Willow bit her lip. "Do you think you could take over the last shift for me? I know I usually like to be here when he wakes up, but... I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the past two days."
Willow heard a long silence on the other end of the phone, and after a moment Buffy spoke. "Sure. Are you okay? Are things okay between you and Oz?"
"Yes," Willow said softly. "He doesn't know." She sent a surreptitious glance toward the cage in Oz's house, where her boyfriend was walking around like a caged tiger. Or wolf.
Buffy sighed. "Third watch starts in... what? A half an hour?"
"Right."
"I'll be there soon."
* * * * * *
The door jiggled and then unlocked, and Willow looked up, relieved, expecting to see Buffy. When Xander stepped in, her eyes widened in shock, and she leaned back against the couch, unsure of how to react.
"What are you doing here?" she finally hissed.
Xander shrugged. "Being with the woman I love?"
"Xander," she said, throwing a cautious look at the cage, where Oz was standing on his hind legs to sniff at the air. "Stop it. He'll hear you."
"And understand what I'm saying, I'm sure," he said dryly. He sat down heavily next to her, and Willow tried to scoot away, but he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "You're not going to do this again. I've decided."
"And what about what I've decided?" she asked, breathless by his nearness.
A slow, sexy smile melted onto his expression, and his eyes darkened at the way she licked her lips in unknowing anticipation. "You'll change your mind."
With that, he pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers. Willow struggled futilely for a moment and then relaxed against him, lowering her eyelashes to savor the feel of the kiss. His tongue sank into her mouth hotly and explored the deep recesses, and she wound her arms around his neck, her fingers lightly brushing his scalp as she pulled him even closer. Quickly losing the internal battle between lust, love, and loyalty, she maneuvered herself so that she was straddling his lap, her breasts crushed against his chest. Xander groaned deeply.
Oz growled dangerously.
Buffy whistled at the moment.
With the shred of self control that Willow found inside, she pulled herself off of Xander with a huge effort. Shoving him back against the couch, she stood, rubbing her lips, and looked down at her feet as Buffy walked toward them.
Xander grinned at Buffy. "My kisses have that effect on her."
Buffy laughed. "Glad I got here early. Now I really understand what you meant."
Willow looked up, licking her lips and trying not to taste Xander on them. "Stop it!" she cried hysterically. "Please! You don't know what we just did. It's awful. He just kissed me in front of Oz. This is... awful," she choked out.
Buffy stood up in concern. "Oz won't remember anything about this. Why don't you go home? I have a feeling you need to think some things over, okay?"
Willow nodded vehemently, and grabbed her purse, heading out. Buffy raised her eyebrows at Xander. "Want to walk her to her car?" she suggested mildly.
"With pleasure," Xander said, standing. On his way past, he touched her shoulder. "And Buffy... Thanks."
"Anytime."
* * * * * *
"What are you doing, following me?" she ground out angrily.
"Making sure you get to your car safely," Xander said simply, walking a few steps behind her. "And still being in love with you."
Willow whirled around, her hand connecting with his cheek sharply. Xander stared at her, stunned, and Willow placed her burning hand against her mouth, feeling sick. "I'm... sorry," she whispered after a long silence. "I just can't be hearing that, Xander. It hurts me."
He rubbed his sore cheek. "Apparently it hurts me too."
Willow started walking again and quickly reached her car. She took out her keys in a trembling grip, trying to find the right one to fit the lock.
Xander was at her side again. "Let me," he said quietly, taking them from her. He found the right key instantly and unlocked her door, opening it for her in a gentlemanly manner. Willow looked at him, her eyes wide.
Xander's mouth quirked up. "Buffy's right, Willow. You need to make a decision. A concrete decision, because this thing of you loving me but not being 'allowed' to love me is a crock. I can't deal with it. It's obvious you can't either. So go home," he squeezed her arms warmly, "Sleep, think, and figure out where your life is going. And who with."
Willow's eyes filled with tears and she nodded brokenly.
Xander nodded too, then smiled. He pulled her towards him and placed a hard, hot kiss against her mouth before letting her go. "I'll see you."
Willow opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. When she finally said, "I'll see you," he was already gone.
* * * * * *
The morning dawned cool and bright, a slight haze in the air. Buffy put down her magazine as she heard Oz's flesh and bones cracking and shrinking, and she waited quietly for him to get up. At length, he stood, glancing at her in surprise, and pulled on some pants before letting himself out of the cage.
He raised his eyebrows. "Where's Willow?"
Buffy stood, glancing away from him. "She was tired. Really tired. She asked me to come."
Oz nodded, watching her expression. He licked his lips. "Buffy.... Is there anything I should ask Willow about?"
"Why?" she questioned instantly, thinking of the kiss that Xander and Willow shared in front of his werewolf form. Buffy's heart ached with a sudden wrenching pain. As much as she wanted Willow and Xander to be happy, she didn't want Oz to be hurt, she realized in that moment. More than almost anything, she didn't want that.
He shook his head. "I don't know... I have a feeling something isn't right. I thought we had fixed it yesterday, but now I'm not so sure."
Buffy backed away from him, her eyes wide as feelings she hadn't known were there came swiftly into focus. Her cheeks grew pink. "I... ah...." She fumbled for words. "I need to go now."
Oz pulled his eyes to her, worried. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she mumbled, separating herself from him even further. "I just.... need to go." She picked up her magazine and purse and smiled at him nervously.
Oz lifted his head, his sense of smell working overtime. Buffy was giving off some sort of smell, a smell that was familiar to him but that he couldn't place. She was partly afraid, but that wasn't all of it... He inhaled deeply.
Buffy's eyes widened the same moment Oz's did.
"You're... You're...?" he got out, practically speechless with surprise.
"I'm not!" she denied rapidly. "Not! Really. Whatever you're thinking, I'm not. I can't be. No."
Buffy turned on her heel and spun around, running as fast as she could out of the house. Oz watched her go in something like awe, heard the door slam, and felt a sad blanket cover his heart. When did this happen? he wondered.
And what was he supposed to do?
PART FIVE
Buffy stealthily crept into his room and sat down on his mattress, gently nudging his sleeping form. When he didn't move, she slapped his face, impatient. Xander's eyes snapped open blearily, and he smiled up at her. "Willow?"
"Buffy," she corrected wearily. "But I think my problems are hers right now too." She slapped him again. "Please get up!"
He knocked her hand away, his lips curving up, concerned. Sitting up on the mattress, he gathered the sheets around his waist and gave a large yawn as he patted space next to him for her to scoot over. Buffy obeyed, curling underneath his heavy and comforting arm. Xander glanced down at her. "So what's wrong?"
"I have feelings for Oz," she blurted. "Big ones; I didn't even know about them until this morning."
Xander raised his eyebrows, suppressing a smile. "This is all a little too coincidental to me. So what's the problem then? You like Oz, I love Willow. Sounds great to me. ...Is it the Angel thing?" he asked gently.
Buffy shook her head miserably. "It's a lot of things. That's a part of it, I think. But there's also the fact that he's with Willow, and even if he wasn't, he's in love with her. *And*, even if he didn't feel anything, it's against all laws of friendship to go after someone your best friend was in love with once."
"Is that why you never fell in love with me?" he teased.
A smile flickered around her mouth. "Only one of the *many* reasons."
He squeezed her shoulders. "So you're not allowed to tell Willow about it, because of the law?"
"The law of friendship," she confirmed.
"When did this happen?"
Buffy was silent for a moment, thinking. "I don't know... Maybe it's been happening for a while. I was thinking this morning, when he woke up, that it would be so hard for me to see him get hurt by this whole mess. You know? But it's not even my place to have it be hard... Or something like that. This is really sticky."
Xander yawned again, running a hand through his hair. "I think I see what you mean. Well, what if Willow tells you it's okay and that she's not in love with him anymore?"
"A, she wouldn't do that," Buffy scoffed. "It would be like passing him around. That's a guy thing to do. And B, I'd have to see her reaction to see if she was telling the truth. She's not a very good liar, so if she really did have a problem with it, I'd know. But that brings up something else. If I told her and she had a problem with it, she would always feel awkward about talking to me about him. I don't want this whole big... thing... to be between us."
"Yeah," Xander agreed sourly, "Oz does seem to be the big thing that's getting in the middle of perfectly good relationships lately."
Buffy rolled her eyes affectionately. "Because you have *nothing* to do with this situation, do you?" she grinned.
"Right," he said innocently. "Absolutely nothing."
Buffy sighed. "So what do I do, Xand?"
"Leave it to me," he told her calmly, giving her another squeeze for good measure. Buffy relaxed against her friend, pliant and trusting, and simply nodded as the morning wore on.
* * * * * *
"Oz. Call me when you can."
As per usual, Oz's messages were short and to the point. Willow sighed, checking the time. He had called fifteen minutes prior to her waking up, and if she didn't call back soon and give off the illusion that she was happy, he would probably worry.
Willow frowned. The illusion that she was happy? "God, I'm not even good at lying to *myself*," she muttered, disgusted. She picked up the phone and quickly punched in his number, wondering idly where Buffy was. Oz answered almost immediately.
"Hey," she murmured softly. "Got your message. Oh, is Buffy over there? She didn't come home this morning, I don't think."
Oz sounded worried. "No, she left. Will, I think we should talk."
Willow sucked in her breath. "Nothing good *ever* comes after someone saying that."
Oz chuckled sadly. "Do you want to do this over the phone?"
Willow closed her eyes against the poignance of the moment. "No. I'll be over there really soon, okay? I'll speed."
"Don't break any laws for me," he warned with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Why not?" she shot back. "I do it for Buffy and Giles all the time."
She saw what was happening, was as sure of it as if it had already been said. But somehow, it was less tense, more amicable than it had been in the last few months between them. She smiled with relief and a feeling a little like pain, and hung up the phone.
After leaving Buffy a quickly scribbled note, she was out the door.
* * * * * *
She knocked tentatively, waiting for Oz to invite her in. He opened the door with a flourish, extending his arm in invitation, and Willow laughed, clutching her bag a little tighter as the moment drew near.
They sat down on the couch together, and Oz looked at her for a long moment, drawing his finger up to tenderly tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Willow trembled, but remained still, and watched him as he watched her. A small smile lifted his features.
"What if," he started slowly, "I was having feelings for someone else? Would you want me to tell you if that was the case?" Willow nodded immediately, and Oz continued.
"And what if *you* were having feelings for someone else? Would you tell me?" His voice was quiet, understanding.
Willow's eyes glittered brilliantly and tears began tracking down her cheeks. She bit her lip; tasted salt. "Probably not."
"Why?"
"Because I would be afraid of hurting you. And because I'll always love you, even if I'm not always in love with you. And because... You've been so good to me, for so long." She looked down. "And because I'm a coward."
Oz sat back, staring at her contemplatively. "First, if I ever hear you call yourself something like that again, I'm going to have to go wolf on you. Second, I'm not the only one who's been good in the relationship. And I think we both might have feelings for someone else."
Willow's eyes snapped up. "The same someone else!?"
Oz laughed. "No. But that doesn't matter, does it?"
Willow shook her head, wiping absently at her tears. "How did you know?"
"It was a lot of things, Willow. For a while now, things haven't been like they used to. Maybe it was wrong of me to say what I said in our fight the other night, but I've noticed more than I would have liked about you two. Sort of transparent. Then there was your behavior when I apologized for saying it. It was almost like you were apologizing for it being true. Not to mention what happened between you two last night."
"Last night?" she asked faintly, surprised.
"When I first woke up this morning, I thought it had been a dream. And then I smelled both of you, on the sofa. Your scents were... mixed... touching. It smelled like the pillow after we... Except with Xander and you instead of me." He smiled softly. "And Buffy was acting strange, too. All in all..."
"I didn't sleep with Xander on your couch," Willow burst out. Her cheeks grew red with that particular sin of omission, but she left it at that and Oz nodded.
"I know. It would have been different if you guys had." He lifted her hand and held it. "We've been fooling ourselves for a while, Willow, that it was working out. Months now. I'm not ever going to love anyone as much as I love you, but maybe love isn't enough anymore..."
She closed her eyes, nodding. "When did this other girl come along? I mean, you don't have to tell me," she corrected, "But I was wondering."
"This morning," he answered cryptically with a grin. "I've actually known her a while, but I never really thought anything of our friendship until now. I'm pretty sure she's having some... reactions to me too."
Willow giggled, her fingers lightly touching his lips. "You and your sense of smell. You're almost like the Pink Panther, Oz."
He caught her hand; kissed the knuckles lightly. "Good. He was cool."
"Are we, though?" she asked softly, almost too softly for him to hear.
Oz met her eyes and grinned, pulling her close for a hug. "Always."
PART SIX
Willow knocked on the door quickly, three fast raps. Buffy answered, and Willow looked at her in surprise as Buffy's face heated. Willow stepped inside and Buffy smiled nervously, gathering her things. "Uh, where's Xander?"
"He's asleep," Buffy answered hurriedly, as if not wanting to prolong their conversation. "He told me I could hang out for a while. I didn't realize you were coming over."
A hot flash of jealousy tore through Willow. "I didn't realize that I would be getting in the way," she said stiffly.
Buffy looked up, surprised. "Oh, no! Not like that." She laughed. "No, Xander was just giving me some help with... a problem I had. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," Willow murmured slowly, believing her words. "It is. Oz and I just broke up."
Buffy coughed loudly, her cheeks red. "Wow. I'm-- I'm sorry."
Willow stared at her. "It's okay, Buffy. Are *you* okay?"
"I'm fine. I need to go, though. I need to swing by Giles's," Buffy muttered, smoothing her hair back tensely.
"Giles went out of town last night. He's going to be gone until tomorrow," Willow said dryly, smiling a knowing smile.
"Oh! Right. I need to go by there... anyway. To pick up some stakes. ...I'm out of stakes. And I need to patrol tonight. So it would be good to have them, don't you think?" she asked, breathing heavily.
Willow nodded. "I guess," she said, deciding to let what was bothering Buffy slide. "So Xander's in his room?"
"In his room," Buffy agreed, overly cheerful. "I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."
"He'd better be," Willow grinned. "Why don't you go home first?" she suggested. "Before the stake hunt. Would you mind.. Picking something up?"
"No," Buffy answered easily.
Willow nodded and slipped into Xander's room.
Buffy was halfway home when she realized that Willow didn't specify what needed to be picked up for her.
* * * * * *
Willow touched his cheeks lingeringly, with a little regret. Her fingertips trailed lightly over his lips and then up to his eyes, where she smoothed his furrowed brow. Xander rolled over onto his side, hugging one of her thighs, effectively trapping her. Willow laughed softly.
She leaned down and kissed his forehead; his mouth. He kissed her back sleepily and then smiled, stroking her thigh with his thumb.
Willow's eyes darkened for a moment, and she gently disentangled herself from his grasp. Standing, she unhooked her skirt and let it pool around her ankles. She stepped out of it quickly, slipping off her shoes as she did so. Lifting her blouse up over her head, she dropped it next to the rest of her discarded clothing, and sat down next to him again. Willow crawled down into the covers, making herself comfortable, and let her hands drift up his smooth arms.
She paused thoughtfully.
Then, after a moment, she took his hands and shifted them until they were around her. Snuggling against him, Willow sighed in contentment.
And closed her eyes.
* * * * * *
Buffy unlocked her door, intending to call Xander's house to find out what it was that Willow had wanted from her. She let herself in, wondering distractedly, and then stopped in shock, hearing her keys clatter to the floor.
Oz sat there.
He looked quite comfortable; shoes off, shirt halfway unbuttoned, a chilled Pepsi from the fridge in his hand. Buffy gulped, not remembering the last time she had felt this shy. She slowly set her bag down on the table as his mouth curved up, apparently enjoying her bewilderment.
Sitting down in a chair across from him, she waited for him to speak. At length, he did.
"Had a long talk with Willow."
"Oh?"
He lifted his eyebrows, nodding. "We broke up."
Buffy lifted her head in a sign of acknowledgment. "So she told me. Are you all right?"
Oz shrugged noncommittally. "It hurts. Some. But then, I didn't think it was fair to her, to be having feelings for someone else. And it was funny, when she found out who they were for, she was happy."
Buffy's jaw dropped. "Who?"
"Even though they sort of came out of nowhere," he continued, ignoring her question. "But they were pretty strong. And you know, Willow has the Xander thing. I'm glad for her, really. I want her to be happy. Like I hope to be with..."
Buffy got up, narrowing her eyes. She walked over to him; sat down next to him on the couch. "Who?"
"And, it's okay with me that she has strong feelings for someone else and always will. I'll probably be that way with Willow for a long time, too. I just hope that's okay with her. Love is a hard thing to get over. But... Maybe I won't have to get over it with this girl. That is, if she wants me. Then again, I'm not sure if she..."
Buffy hid a grin. "Who?!"
"Even wants to admit her feelings for me," Oz continued, unfazed. He turned to face her, catching her eyes. Green on blue. "Although one could argue that her feelings were pretty apparent before. I'm a werewolf, you know. I can smell certain... changes... in a human body. Can even hear a heartbeat speed up if I listen closely enough. I heard hers." He shrugged, smiling. "It's impressive."
"WHO?" she demanded, practically growling.
Oz's face softened. She was different from Willow, and they had been friends for much longer than he had been when he had fallen for Willow, but she grew on him nonetheless. "And I hope it doesn't ruin our friendship," he said quietly.
Buffy's voice came out a whisper. "Who?"
Oz smiled, tracing her jawbone tenderly. "Who do you think?"
Buffy laughed as he pulled her close. Their mouths remained separate for a moment, where they both considered the depths of the consequences, the friendship they had gained. The air seemed to tremble in anticipation, and the room was charged with electricity.
And they kissed.
Naturally, sweetly, their lips melting together with an acceptance toward the things they couldn't change, and a love for the things they would never want to.
* * * * * *
Xander woke quickly, certain that he was dreaming the feel of the silk of her body wrapped around him. He didn't want to wake up, he decided petulantly. It was too nice, too warm, too everything he wanted.
His eyes fluttered open.
He smiled.
No dream. Willow was breathing shallowly, her eyes closed peacefully. Her hair tickled his nose and Xander grinned broadly, leaning down to press a kiss against her neck.
Willow's eyes opened and she held him tighter. "Wasn't asleep," she mumbled sleepily. "Just wanted to be next to you like this."
"It's what I wanted, too," he said huskily, letting his hands wander down the length of her back. She whispered some sweet sounding affirmation at him and he kissed her again, this time on the mouth, this time much firmer.
Willow kissed him back, pressing herself against him, letting her mouth open hotly under his. Xander's tongue swept over the heated contours, licking and sucking, gently biting, until Willow gave a soft moan, and then he pulled away. His eyes were dark and he looked at her searchingly.
"Don't stop," she whispered.
"For now?" he asked shrewdly, not wanting to get hurt again.
Willow winced, feeling the pain she caused him, and then shook her head. Xander looked down at her, at her hair that was fanned against the pillow, at her lips, which looked pink and slightly swollen. He waited, the desire filling him, but the silent affirmation not being enough.
"No," she said in a reverent voice. "Forever."
PART SEVEN
Buffy smiled up at Oz shyly, curled into his arms. A commercial came on and he glanced down at her affectionately. "What?"
"I was just thinking," she murmured. "I'm not usually like this."
"I like you like this," he grinned, admiring the way her hair spilled over his arms.
Buffy giggled. "No, I mean, like this... I mean I feel shy around you. I was never like that. And-- I hope you don't mind that I wanted to wait for a while. It's pretty new."
"That it is," he agreed. "I don't mind. I have a feeling it'll be worth the wait, when it happens between us. This much," he kissed her softly, "Has been, anyway."
She cuddled closer. "It really has." Her eyes sparkled. "You coming with me to Giles's in a couple of hours? ...Willow and Xander will probably be here. I know you might not want to see them together so soon..."
Oz licked his lips thoughtfully. "Actually, I don't mind. You might think I would, but I don't. It's odd. And interesting."
"So, you're sure?"
"Sure," he said firmly.
"I like being with you," Buffy murmured sweetly, feeling the words underneath her skin.
"Me too, Buffy," he replied roughly, his eyes soaking her in. "Me too."
* * * * * *
Willow yawned, sated, and pressed her skin closer to Xander's. He brushed the sweaty hair out of her eyes and slowly climbed off the table, helping her up.
"Well," he said after a moment. "I've *heard* about that."
Willow laughed as he threw an arm around her and they made their way to the couch. "But you've never been that adventurous before?"
"Adventurous? It was my table, not a cave."
"A thousand year old table with three loose legs," she pointed out, eyeing him hotly. "I was really impressed with your balance. And that thing you did with your knee wasn't only creative, but it was... very nice." She grinned.
Xander winked. "Thought you'd like that one."
"You did?"
"Okay, so I didn't know until after I saw your face. I was trying to keep from breaking the table. But does that matter?" he defended.
Willow giggled. "Not at all."
They laid down on the couch, wrapped around each other. Willow smiled cozily, loving being in his arms. After a silence, her smile faded, and Xander looked at her in concern. "What's wrong?"
"I was just... I looked at the clock. Buffy asked me to come by Giles's with her, and everyone, to see if he got anything from the dig he was at. I think Oz might be with her, that's all," she explained.
Xander's heart thumped. "And, that's not okay with you? That they're together, I mean?"
"No," Willow rushed to clarify. "That's not what I mean. I was the one who pushed them to get together, after Oz told me it was her. And I've talked to Buffy. I guess I'm just worried that it'll be awkward. I don't want Oz to be hurting still."
Xander kissed the top of her hair. "He will be for a while. Aren't you hurt over him?"
"Not that he's with Buffy," Willow mumbled. "But yeah, maybe a little that we're not together anymore. It's been over three years for us."
"So it's normal," Xander pointed out calmly. "But if we can get through tonight, I'm sure it'll be fine. Should we be... getting dressed?"
Willow glanced at the clock again, a slight smile on her face. She turned to Xander; kissed him playfully. "I think we have a while."
* * * * * *
Buffy unlocked the door, and she and Oz walked in. The apartment was dark, and she went around the rooms flipping the lights on. Gesturing towards the chair, indicating that Oz didn't have to be a gentleman, she headed for the kitchen. "Anything you want to drink?" she called over her shoulder.
Oz followed her, being a gentleman anyway. He spotted her at the counter and approached her, his arms encircling her waist. He nipped the back of her neck; her hands trembled as she put the kettle on the stove. He whispered. "Whatever you're having is fine."
Buffy twisted in his arms, facing him, and kissed him lightly on the lips. She felt fresh, new, sexy. He made her feel special, and she hadn't had that in a long time.
"Penny for your thoughts," he said quietly against her neck.
Buffy smiled. "They're worth more than that."
"A dollar?"
"More."
"A hundred dollars?" he offered teasingly.
"Nope," she grinned. "More."
"A hundred thousand dollars?"
Buffy thought a moment, kissing him again. "That sounds about right."
"A hundred thousand dollar thoughts?" he asked.
"They're about you," she whispered, and smiled when he did.
His voice was low; his eyes shined. "Thank you."
She slid her arms around his neck. "Thank *you*," she breathed, leaning in for another kiss.
The sound of Xander and Willow spilling in the door interrupted them. Buffy pulled out of his arm, eyeing him nervously. He took her hand and touched her lips with one of his fingers "Don't worry about a thing."
"Buffy? Oz?" Willow called out. She glanced at Xander uneasily, and then shrugged out from underneath his arm. Xander rolled his eyes and placed his arm back over her shoulders, hugging her to him warmly. Willow bit her lip. "Is anyone here?"
Buffy and Oz stepped out of the kitchen, holding hands. Buffy met Willow's eyes slowly. "Sorry. We were making some tea for Giles. ...Do you guys want anything?"
Willow stared at them for a moment, and then smiled in relief. "I'd like a soda. Xander, why don't you go sit down? Buffy and I will get the drinks."
Xander looked at her for a second, and then nodded, letting go of her and heading toward the living room. Buffy lifted her head at Oz, who lifted the hand he was holding and kissed it softly before he followed Xander. Willow approached, and they disappeared into the kitchen together.
* * * * * *
Xander and Oz sat down across from each other, on separate couches. Xander lifted his eyebrows at the older boy, bobbing his head with nothing to say. "So...."
Oz sat back, placing his hands on his knees. "So," he agreed.
"Like Buffy?" Xander blurted.
Oz nodded. "Yeah. You Willow?"
"Very," Xander admitted slowly.
They looked at each other, the tension in the air abating slightly. Xander's mouth quirked. "Hope you and Buffy have a good time. Or something."
Oz smiled. "Yeah. You too. But the something is optional."
* * * * * *
Buffy grabbed four sodas out of the refrigerator, and turned around. Willow gathered the glasses from the cupboard, and then took out the ice trays from the freezer. The silence was filled with curiosity and concern. Finally, Willow broke the silence.
"Are we going to be quiet all night?"
Buffy sighed. "I was hoping not, but you never know. We just might be."
Willow dropped a few cubes of ice in the last glass and then turned to her. She touched Buffy lightly on the shoulder. "I know we talked about it a little, but it wasn't really this situation before. I'm happy for you guys." She smiled, her eyes bright. "And I'm happy for me."
Buffy exhaled deeply, impulsively hugging her best friend. "I'm happy too. Really happy. I don't want to not be telling you things about the relationship, but I don't want to hurt you either. Or bother you."
Willow hugged her back. "Don't keep anything from me. I never did from you."
Buffy nodded against her shoulder and then pulled away. "I really like how he treats me, Will. It feels wonderful."
Willow smiled wistfully, thinking of both Oz and Xander. "Yeah, it's great, isn't it? It's like... He knows what you're thinking, without the demon curse thing. But I'm glad you're feeling so good. Oz stopped knowing what I was thinking a long time ago."
Buffy smiled knowingly. "And now Xander does?"
Willow laughed. "God, Buffy, you have no idea! It's like he's lived in my body for longer than I have. ...Or something that makes sense. You know what I mean."
Buffy raised her eyebrows teasingly. "I think I do. I noticed that you didn't come home to the apartment last night."
Willow blushed. "It's wonderful. Listen, let's get the drinks out there, and then we can talk about this at home later."
"You'll be there?" Buffy grinned.
Willow's blush deepened. "I'll be there," she confirmed.
* * * * * *
The girls walked out carrying the drinks, and handed one to each of the boys. Willow sat down next to Xander and Buffy next to Oz, curling comfortably into their arms. The room was easy, agreeable, pleasant. The conversation ranged from Slaying to Giles's new carpet.
Minutes melted into hours and hours passed quickly.
"Speaking of Giles," Willow broke in, though they hadn't, at that moment, been speaking of him. "When is he coming home? We've been here a while."
Buffy looked at the clock, her eyes widening. "Well, I thought his message said ten, but it must have been two. He did say late."
Willow suddenly giggled. "Does he have any idea what's been going on in his absence?" she asked in a reference to the changes in their relationships.
The rest of them laughed too. Xander answered, nuzzling her ear. "Not a clue."
* * * * * *
Giles fit his key in the lock, but the door opened without him unlocking it. He stared at it for a moment and then stepped inside cautiously, setting his bags down next to the coat rack. He'd unpack later, when he wasn't so exhausted, and there wasn't the threat of someone having broken into his house.
He heard a light snoring coming from his living room and relaxed, recognizing Xander's voice. The children must have let themselves in to wait.
With a sigh, ignoring his immediate irritation that they had no qualms about breaking and entering, he walked over to the room and stopped cold at what he found.
All of them were asleep. Buffy was enclosed in Oz's arms, her eyelids fluttering peacefully. Oz was resting his chin against the top of her hair and she mumbled something pleasant in her dreams.
Willow was enveloped in Xander's embrace. They were lying on their sides, facing each other in what looked like an uncomfortable position, but both of them were smiling. Xander's lips were against her neck and her hands were wrapped loosely around his waist, pressing him even closer to her.
Giles took off his glasses, cleaning them with his handkerchief. He put them back on and reexamined the room.
No, he wasn't imagining things.
He rolled his eyes, turning away to head up to his room. His voice was mumbled as he made his exit, but there and annoyed beyond belief.
"That's it. I'm never leaving town again." He sighed heavily. "I just never know what will happen when I do."
He shrugged and took off his coat as he stepped inside his room.
He'd get them to tell him tomorrow.
The End
He had a home
The love of a girl
But men get lost sometimes
As years unfold
One day he crossed some line
And he was too much in this world
But I guess it doesn't matter anymore
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
Things can get pretty strange
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
Lying here in the darkness
I hear the sirens wail
Somebody going to emergency
Somebody's going to jail
If you find somebody to love in this world
You better hang on tooth and nail
The wolf is always at the door
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
Things can get a little strange
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
And in these days
When darkness falls early
And people rush home
To the ones they love
You better take a fool's advice
And take care of your own
One day they're here;
Next day they're gone
I pulled my coat around my shoulders
And took a walk down through the park
The leaves were falling around me
The groaning city in the gathering dark
On some solitary rock
A desperate lover left his mark,
"Baby, I've changed. Please come back."
What the head makes cloudy
The heart makes very clear
The days were so much brighter
In the time when she was here
But I know there's somebody somewhere
Make these dark clouds disappear
Until that day, I have to believe
I believe, I believe
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
You can get out of the rain
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
--The Eagles