Prom: The series: Normal - Willow
by Chelle
Here we go.

Lights. Music. Devil dogs from hell. The final big hurrah at Sunnydale High School. Okay, so not the final hurrah, but the final hurrah of funtime merriment. Funtime merriment with hairy demon dogs that have an appetite for formal wear.

That is, if Buffy doesn't take care of them in time. We walk into a room filled with gyrating bodies, loud booming music and a huge fountain over-flowing with punch that probably has at least half a liquor store swirling around with the fruity goodness.

"We got in," I say, realizing that my dress, and my appendages were still attached and in one piece. "Maybe we should dance before we get besieged, bedeviled, or beheaded or something."

"Not gonna happen," Oz says. He seems less than worried.

"You're not even a little nervous?" I ask him, knowing good and well that he was, but knowing good and well that he'd never show it.

"You think Buffy will let ys down?" he returned.

No, she has never let us down before. Not where horrible sticky death was concerned anyway. She ran off once, but she came back to save a few more days. To thwart a few more apocalypses. Apocoli? Does "apocalypse" have a plural?

But, she is reeling from a recent breakup. That might throw off her concentration or something. So...worried? Yes. But only a smidge.

"Want to share some punch?" I say, trying to change the subject from horrible bloody death to deliciously loopy punch.

Xander is dancing with Anya. Well, if you consider trying to avoid the incessant droning of an ex-demon to the rhythm of a jaunty tune as dancing. I'm not sure why he has even agreed to go to the prom with Anya. In a perfect world, or a less perfect world, he would be dancing with Cordelia. I'm afraid that it's at least partially my fault that they aren't here together tonight.

I really can't say much about the date that Xander has chosen to bring. Ex-demons, demons, vampires, werewolves...they seem to be just as good to date as your average Joe Normal. The werewolf is mine.

We've been here for a while now, and not even so much as a flea bite, so Buffy must have saved the day.

Whew. Buffy just showed up. I steal a look at Giles, who has also noticed her. They share a look. I walk over to my blond-haired buddy.

"Buffy, you look awesome," say to her honestly.

"So do you," she returns the compliment. Oh go on. This old thing? I blush a little.

"Everything cool?" Oz pipes in, straight to the point.

"Coolest. Devil dogs are history," she says. "How's the prom?"

"Strangely effecting." Oz replies to her." I got all teared up when they played 'We are Family'."

"Everything is perfect," I say, perfectly content to put on my dancing shoes and enjoy one of our very few nights of normalcy.

Here, with Oz, I scarcely notice anything else. I think I heard Buffy's name being called a moment ago. I realize now that the students of Sunnydale have given her an award. "Class Protector." She really deserves it.

The slow dance begins, and I wrap myself around Oz, enjoying my time with him, pretending that tomorrow we don't have to go back to fighting the scourges of the underworld. I notice out of the corner of my eye that Angel has shown up and is wrapped around Buffy. Buffy's face is content, and almost happy. I can still see flashes of the realization that soon, he will be gone.

The love of her life will be gone, and I know that tomorrow, she will start picking up the pieces. And I will be there to support her in anything.

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