Chapter Two- What Happens Tomorrow
If you love me, I'll protect you
However I can
You've got to believe
It'll be alright in the end
And nobody knows
What's gonna happen tomorrow
We try not to show
How frightened we are
Oz was hunched over the trophy case inspecting Catherine Madison’s cheerleading trophy. He stared at its eyes as he moved his head from one side to the other. Willow came up to him.
“Hi.” she smiled.
“Oh, that’s what I was gonna say.” Oz straightened up.
“Whatcha lookin at?” Willow asked, looking into the trophy case. Oz pointed.
“This cheerleading trophy.” He moved and watched it. “It’s like its eyes follow you wherever you go. I like it.” He stood up straight again and gave Willow his full attention. The two began walking down the hall together.
“So, did you like the movie last night?” Willow asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. T-today’s movies are kind of like popcorn. You know, you forget about them as soon as they’re done. I do remember I liked the popcorn, though.” Oz said and stopped walking. Willow smiled brightly.
“Yeah, it was good. And I had a really fun time with the rest.” Willow replied. Oz shot her a confused look. “I mean, the part with you.”
“Oh, that’s great. My time was also of the good.” he smiled.
“Mine too.” Willow agreed. They stood in silence for a moment before the awkwardness set in. “Well then…”
Oz raised his eyebrows at her expectantly. Willow looked past him and saw Buffy walking down the hall.
“Oh! There!” she pointed at Buffy. “I have my friend. So I will go to her.” she walked away towards Buffy glad to leave that awkward silence.
“I’ll see you then. Uh, later.” Oz said and smiled. Larry and some other jocks came walking from the other direction and stare at Willow and Buffy walking away. arry bit his fist and came over to Oz.
“Man! Oz, I would love to get me some of that Buffy and Willow action, if you know what I mean.” Larry said laughing. Oz nodded.
“That’s great, Larry. You’ve really mastered the single entendre.” Oz commented. Larry noticed a pretty girl coming down the hall and ignored Oz’s insult to stare at her. As she walked by he tapped her books and they fell out of her hands.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, annoyed.
“Oops!” Larry replied. The girl bent down to pick up her books and Larry and the other jocks stared at her legs.
“Ohhh! Oh, thank you, Thighmaster!” he laughed. The girl gave him a dirty look and left.
“So, Oz, man, what’s up with that? Dating a junior? Uh, let me guess. That innocent schoolgirl thing is just, uh, just an act, right?” Larry asked nudging Oz.
“Yeah. Yeah, she’s actually an evil mastermind. It’s fun.” Oz said with as much sarcasm as Oz could have. Which isn’t much.
“I mean, she’s gotta be putting out, or what’s the point? What are you gonna do, talk?” Larry asked, laughing at his own dumb joke. “Come on, fess up. How far have you gotten?”
*~*
“Nowhere! I mean, he said he was gonna wait until I was ready, but I’m ready. Honest. I’m good to go here.” Willow exclaimed.
“Well, I think its nice that he’s not just being an animal.” Buffy said. (with a play on words actually…I just noticed and thought I’d inform everyone…ok I’m leaving.)
“It is nice. He’s great. We have a lot of fun. But I want smoochies!” Willow complained.
“Have you dropped any hints?” Buffy asked.
“I’ve dropped anvils.” Willow answered rolling her eyes.
“Ah, he’ll come around. What guy could resist your wily Willow charms?” Buffy assured her.
“At last count, all of them. Maybe more.” Willow answered deadpan.
“Well, none of them know a thing. They all get an ‘F’ in Willow.” Buffy said nodding.
“But I want Oz to get an ‘A’, and, oh, those little gold stars!” Willow sighed. The girls sat down on a bench.
“He will.” Buffy reassured.
“Well, he better hurry. I don’t want to be the only girl in school without a real boyfriend.” Willow said annoyed. Buffy looked down sadly. Willow realized her insensitivity and started apologizing immediately,
“Oh, I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t even be talking about…Do you want me to go away?”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Buffy said softly.
“How are you holding up, anyway?” Willow asked gently.
“I’m holding. I was going on two minutes there without thinking about Angel.” Buffy sighed.
“Well there you go!” Willow said, trying to be cheerful. “By the way, are you still having that whole sickness thing?”
“Yeah, its been going on for a whole week.” Buffy moaned.
“I’m worried that you might have a virus…what else-symptoms I mean- did you have?” Willow asked.
“Uh, headaches, dizziness, not hungry at all even though I’ve been puking all over the place, and nonstop exhaustion no matter how much I sleep.” Buffy said counting them off on her fingers.
“You should go in and see a doctor.” Willow said, concerned.
“I’m ok, but I would do a lot better if you and Xander and I could do that ‘sharing our misery’ thing tonight.” Buffy answered, changing the subject.
“Great. I’ll give Xander a call. What’s his number? Oh yeah, 1-800-I’m-Dating-A-Skanky-Ho.” Willow exclaimed, rolling her eyes.
“Meow!” Buffy said surprised.
“Really? Thanks. I’ve never gotten a ‘meow’ before.” Willow smiled.
“Well-deserved.” Buffy nodded.
“Darn tootin’ I’m just saying, Xander and Cordelia? I mean, what does he see in her anyway?”
*~*
At the park that night, Xander and Cordelia are in her car making out. Suddenly Xander broke it off.
“But what could she possibly see in him?” he asked.
“Excuse me? We didn’t come here to talk about Willow. We came here to do things that I can never tell my father about because he still thinks I’m a…good girl.” Cordelia pointed out.
“I just don’t trust Oz with her, I mean, he’s a senior. He’s attractive—okay, maybe not to me—and he’s in a band. And we know what kind of element that attracts.” Xander exclaimed, perturbed.
“I’ve dated lots of guys in bands.” Cordelia replied.
“Thank you.” Xander nodded.
“Do you even wanna be here?” Cordelia asked finally.
“I’m not running away.” Xander pointed out.
“Because when you’re not babbling about poor, defenseless Willow, you are *raving* about the all-powerful Buffy.” Cordelia said ignoring him.
“I do not babble! I occasionally run-on and every now and then I yammer…” Xander started.
“Xander?” Cordelia interrupted.
“Yeah?” he replied.
“Look around. We’re in my daddy’s car, it’s just the two of us, there is a beautiful, big full moon outside tonight. It just doesn’t get any more romantic than this.” Cordelia insisted, “So shut up!”
The two began making out again. Outside a large hairy best watching them came out of the bushes. It growled menacingly.
*~*
Xander and Cordelia are still making out when Xander hears rustling outside and pulls away again.
“Did you hear that?” he asked.
“What is it now?” Cordelia asked, aggravated.
“I thought I heard something.” Xander said, his eyes darting around.
“I-I Willow sending out some sorta distress signal that only *you* can hear?” Cordelia cried, exasperated. Xander smiled at her sheepishly and they went back to it. An instant later Xander heard more rustling, louder this time, and pulled away again.
“Ok, now I *know* I heard something!” he said..
“Alright. That’s it. You know, your mind hasn’’t been here all night. How about I just drop you off…” Cordelia began.
Suddenly a hairy arm with a clawed hand punched through the convertible top. Cordelia screamed and made a grab for the keys.
“Get us outta here!” Xander yelled. The creature on the roof of the car snarls as it reaches around for them inside. The keys aren’t in the ignition and Cordelia frantically searches for them on the floor.
“Where are the keys?” Cordelia screamed.
“We should be moving, let’s go!” Xander urged hysterically.
“Oh! I got ‘em! Got ‘em!” Cordelia cried as she found the keys. She fumbled with the keys but managed to get them in the ignition and started the car. She put it in reverse and screamed as she gunned the car backwards a ways and slammed on the breaks. The beast tumbled off the back and into a tree. Cordelia got the car in drive and sped away.
“I told you I heard something!”
*~*
At school the next day, Buffy was inspecting the hole in the roof.
“And you’re sure it was a werewolf?” Buffy asked as she hopped off the top of the car. She felt so tired that she thought she would faint dead away.
“Well, let’s see, um, six feet tall, claws, a big old snout in the middle of his face like a wolf. Um, yeah, I’m sticking with my first guess.” Xander said sarcastically.
“Seems wise.” Oz nodded.
“Oh, oh and there was that little thing where it tried to bite us!” Xander added anxiously.
“It was so awful!” Cordelia exclaimed putting her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her,
“I know.”
“Daddy just had this car detailed!” she wailed pulling away. Giles came up behind Buffy with a newspaper.
“So, what’s the word?” she asked.
“Well, it seems there were a, a number of attacks by a wild dog around town.” Giles said and handed the newspaper to Buffy. “Several animal carcasses were found mutilated.”
“Y-you mean like bunnies?” Willow asked upset. “No, don’t tell me.” She looked at Oz.
“Oh, don’t worry. I mean, they might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.” he told her reassuringly.
“Yeah.” Willow said calmer and smiling.
“Yes, uh, um, fortunately no people were injured.” Giles said taking the paper back.
“That falls into the ‘that’s a switch’ column.” Buffy said, relieved.
“Well, for now. But my guess is that this werewolf will be back at next month’s full moon.” Giles said.
“What about tonight’s full moon?” Willow asked.
“Pardon?” Giles asked, confused.
“Well last night was the night before the full moon, traditionally know as…’the night before the full moon’.” Willow explained.
“Meaning the accepted legend that werewolves only prowl during a full moon might be erroneous.” Giles observed.
“Or it could be a crock.” Cordelia pointed out.
“Unless the werewolf was using last year’s almanac.” Xander joked.
“Looks like Giles has some schooling to do.” Buffy commented.
“Yes, I must admit I, I am intrigued. Werewolves, it’s…it’s one of the classics. I’m sure my books and I are in for a fascinating afternoon.” Giles said smiling and left. Buffy and Cordelia watched him go and Xander smirked at the typical Giles behavior.
“He needs a pet.” Buffy pointed out.
*~*
The class sat on the bleachers listening to the female self-defense coach.
“Sunnydale is becoming more dangerous all the time. And a full moon like tonight tends to bring out the crazies, but with some simple basics of self-defense each of you can learn how to protect yourself.” the coach announced as she stood in front of the students.
“Here’s a suggestion: move away from the Hellmouth.” Buffy whispered to Willow.
“What you wanna do is gain advantage of the situation as quickly as possible.” the coach continued. Willow smiled at Buffy’s suggestion. Behind her Oz reached up and turned the tag sticking out of her sweatshirt back inside. She looked back at him with curiosity.
“Tag.” he explained and patted her on the back. Willow smiled at Buffy brightly.
“Your attacker may have the benefit of surprise.” The coach droned.
“Would you look at that? He’s all over her!” Xander complained quietly. Cordelia looked over at Buffy, Willow, and Oz with very little interest.
“But if you plot ahead…” The coach said, still not finished.
“Psst! Hey buddy, this is a public forum here!” Xander whispered loudly. Cordelia looked back at him as did Oz, Willow, and Buffy.
“Then you can turn that advantage to yourself.” the coach continued relentlessly.
“I think you splashed on just a little too much ‘Obsession For Dorks’.” Cordelia said sarcastically.
“By being prepared, you have the power. Okay, everyone get into your assigned groups.” the coach finished.
The students all got up from the bleachers and went down to the floor. Larry took off his sweat jacket and went to the table in front of them to check which group was his. Xander saw his arm all wrapped up in a bandage just above the elbow.
“What happened?” Xander asked pointing at it.
“Oh, last week some huge dog jumped out of the bushes and bit me. Thirty nine stitches. They oughta shoot those strays.” Larry answered.
“I’ve been there man.” Oz said from next to Larry, holding up his finger. “My cousin Jordy just got his grownup teeth in? Does not like to be tickled.” Xander laughed and Larry just shook his and went over to Theresa. She was doing stretching exercises.
“Theresa!” he said into her ear and she straightened up immediately. “Be still my shorts. We’re in the same group. I *may* have to attack you.”
“No, a-a-actually, I think, uh, in our group there are a few us of.” Theresa said quietly.
“And I’m one of the few.” Buffy cut in, standing next to Theresa. Willow came up behind her quickly, took her arm and pulled her aside. Buffy kept her eye on Larry another moment, then looked at Willow as she explained.
“Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be a meek little girlie-girl like the rest of us.” Willow scolded and walked away.
“Spoil my fun.” Buffy pouted.
*~*
Everyone was lined up and paired off, girls in front, boys in back.
“Okay, everyone, listen up. I wanna show you what to do should you be attacked from behind.” the coach said and looked at Buffy. “In this situation, bend forward, using your back and shoulders…” The coach bent Buffy over to demonstrate, “to flip the assailant over to the ground.” The other girls all bend over as well. The boys follow Larry’s lead and put their arms around the girls’ necks. Buffy grabs Larry’s arm and pretended at a few attempts to flip him over. Willow gave her a smile and nod.
“Uhh! Uhh!” she grunted as she kept ‘attempting’ to flip him.
“Oh, Summers, you are turning me on.” Larry laughed and grabbed her ass hard with his other hand. Buffy wasn’t about to take that, and immediately flipped him over hard onto the mat in for of them, Larry groaned as he lay there and Willow shot Buffy a look as she and Oz stood back up. The coach looked over at her also.
“That works too.” Oz said, pointing.
*~*
In the library, Giles was demonstrating the phases of the moon using a large earth globe with a small moon globe attached.
“And, uh, while there’s absolutely no scientific explanation for lunar effect on the human psyche, uh, the phases of the moon, uh, do seem to exert a great deal of psychological influence. And th-the full moon is, is, seems to bring out our darkest qualities.” Giles continued.
“And yet, ironically, led to the invention of the moon pie.” Xander joked. It takes Giles a while to get the joke.
“Oh…” he chuckled. “Yes, the moon pie.” he laughed harder and stopped abruptly when he got a look from Buffy and Willow. “U-you see, uh, the-the werewolf, uh, is such a, a potent e-e-extreme representation of our inborn animalistic traits that it e-emerges for three full consecutive nights: the full moon and, uh, the two nights surrounding it.”
“Quite the party animal.” Willow commented.
“Quite.” Giles agreed. “And it, uh, acts on-on pure instinct. No conscience, uh, uh, predatory and, and aggressive.”
“In other words, your typical male.” Buffy added.
“On the behalf of my gender…hey!” Xander objected.
“Yes. Let’s not jump to any conclusions.” Giles agreed.
“I didn’t jump, I took a tiny step and there conclusions were.” Buffy explained.
“The point is that our wolfman could also be a-a-a wolfwoman, or-or anyone who was bitten by a werewolf.” Giles pointed out.
“So then I’m guessing your standard silver bullets are in order here?” Xander asked.
“No. No bullets. No matter who this werewolf is, i-its still a human being, who may be completely unaware of his or her condition.” Giles answered.
“So tonight we bring ‘em back alive.” Buffy concluded.
*~*
It was nighttime in a secluded area of the park. The moon was full and several cars were parked there with couples making out. Giles walked by some cars holding his flashlight out in front of him. Buffy meets up with him.
“Anything yet?” Giles asked quietly.
“Yes.” Buffy answered with equal quietness. “You won’t believe what I saw. Britney Podell was making out with Owen Stadeel, but he goes with Barrett Williams, if she ever found out…( a look from Giles) No, um, no, no sign of the werewolf. How bout you?”
“Uh, the same.” Giles said, looking around. “I thought we might uh…I thought we might knock on a few windows, uh, ask if anyone has seen anything.”
“Giles, no one has seen anything.” Buffy assured him, giving him a look.
“Oh yes. No, of-of-of course not, no. Yes.” Giles stuttered. He went off to continue looking. She stared after him for a moment, then headed off into the bushes. She scanned around with her flashlight as she walked into a small clearing. Suddenly she heard a noise like a latch releasing and yelped as she found herself being pulled up in a net trap. Below her a hunter points his scoped double barrel flintlock up at her and pulls back the hammer.
“Gotcha!” he exclaimed. Then he took a closer look at the frightened and annoyed looking girl in the net. “What the hell?”
“GILES! GILES!” Buffy yelled. Giles came running.
“Hey!” he objected then saw the gun and raised his hands. “Whoa!”
“Hands are good right about there.” the man said, pointing the gun at Giles.
“Who, who are you? What are you doing?” Giles asked.
“The name’s Cain. I’m the one with the gun, which means I’m the one who gets to do the interviewing.” the man answered.
“Ahem! Before we get all chummy here, how about we do something about me being in this net thing?” Buffy interrupted. Cain sighed and lowered the flintlock and leaned it against a boulder. He pulled out his buck-knife and cut the rope holding up the net. It fell and Buffy hit the ground fairly hard. Giles reached down to untangle the net and help her up.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Buffy answered as she dusted herself off.
“Gotta say, I’m impressed.” Cain said after seeing Buffy clearly. He checked her out a couple times.
“Excuse me?” Giles asked, obviously offended. Buffy looked up at Giles then back at Cain.
“Well, its good to get the fruit while its fresh.” Cain smirked.
“You’d be wise to take that back.” Giles threatened.
“Hey, what a man and a girl do in lovers’ lane at night is their business” Cain shrugged. Giles made a lung towards Cain, but Buffy held him back.
“Oh, okay, enough, repulsive brain. It’s not what you think.” Buffy said and looked up at Giles. “We’re hunting werewolves.” Cain laughed hard. “Well, it’s funny if you don’t believe it werewolves.”
“No, it’s funny thinking about you two catching one. I mean, this guy looks like he’s auditioning to be a librarian, and, you, well, you’re a girl.” Cain laughed.
“I assure you she’s quite capable.” Giles retorted.
“Uh-huh. Lemme ask you something, sweetheart. Exactly how many of these animals have you taken out?” Cain asked.
“As of today?” Buffy asked.
“I tore a tooth from the mouth of every werewolf that I killed.” he said and held out a necklace. “This next one will bring the total to an even dozen.”
“So you’re just gonna kill it?” Buffy asked, disgusted.
“Well, see, that’s the thing. Their pelts fetch a pretty penny in Sri Lanka, and it’s a little hard to skin them when they’re alive.” Cain explained.
“You hunt werewolves f-for sport?” Giles asked, sounding quite shocked.
“No I’m in it purely for the money.” Cain corrected.
“And it doesn’t bother you that a werewolf is a person twenty-eight days out of the month?” Buffy inquired appalled.
“That’s why I only hunt ‘em the other three. I’d really love to stay and chat,” he started and bent down to puck up the net, “But I’m on a tight schedule. Any idea where else the boys and girls like to get together around here?”
“You’re looking for a party?” Buffy asked, confused.
“No. But the werewolf is. They’re suckers for that whole sexual heat thing. Sense it miles away. Since this little doggie ain’t here, I guess he found another place.” Cain said standing up.
“Sorry. Wish I could help you.” Buffy lied.
“But you don’t know squat?” he shook his head. “Gee, what a surprise.” He turned and walked away and Buffy watched him for a moment. Then she spun around and started towards the car.
“Where are we going?” Giles asked, following her.
“I think I know where to look. We just have to make it there before mein furrier.” Buffy said sarcastically.
*~*
Theresa was walking home and heard some rustling behind her. She stopped and looked around. When she saw nothing, she continued. Then the rustling came again. She turned and looked around, but still saw nothing. Suddenly there came a low growl. She began to run, still looking behind her and ran straight into Angelus. She hit him and let out a high pitched scream.
“Everything ok?” asked Angelus, as he twirled a daisy between his fingers.
“Yeah, I just, uh, I, I thought I heard something…behind me.” Theresa explained. Angelus walked aroundher to have a looked, and saw nothing. He turned back to her and assured,
“No one there.”
“Oh. I guess I was wrong. I could have sworn that…” Theresa started but shook her head.
“It’s okay. It can get pretty scary out here, all alone at night.” Angelus smiled.
“Yeah.” Theresa agreed quietly.
“Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere? Don’t you go to school with Buffy?” he asked, knowing the answer full well.
“Oh, you know Buffy?” she asked, feeling more calm and began smiling.
“Yes, I do, very well.” Angelus chuckled.
“Oh!” Theresa smiled even wider.
“Come on, I’ll get you home.” Angelus said and they began walking off together, taking a quick look behind them.
*~*
The band ‘Lotion’ was playing at the Bronze, with their new hit, “Blind For Now”.
And sweep this town into a Monster Truck of shame
Carved out of soap and steel and clay and salty fame
You are the first to look away and against me
You shake the squirrel out of your tree
Cordelia and Willow were sitting on opposite sides of a couch next to a low table.
“I mean with Xander it’s always, ‘Buffy did this’ ‘Willow did that’ Buffy, Buffy. Willow, Willow. It’s like I don’t even exist.” Cordelia complained and leaned back against the couch, folding her arms.
“I sometimes feel like that.” Willow agreed, looking over at Cordelia.
“And then when I call him on it, he acts all confused, like I’m the one with the problem!” Cordelia exclaimed. Willow nodded.
“His ‘do I smell something?’ look.” Willow concurred.
“It’s all a part of his little guy games. It’s like he’s there, but then he’s not there, and he wants it, but then he doesn’t want it.” Cordelia continued.
“He’s so busy looking around at everything he doesn’t have, he doesn’t even realize what he *does* have.” Willow added.
“Well, he should at least realize that you have Oz.” Cordelia concluded.
“I’m not sure I do.” Willow frowned and raised an eyebrow. Cordelia shot her a confused look. “Oz and I are in some sort of holding pattern, except with the holding…or…anything else.”
“What’s he waiting for? What’s his problem?” she asked, exasperated. Then she rolled her eyes, “Oh, that’s right, he’s a guy.”
“Yeah.” Willow agreed, disgusted. “Him and Xander. Guys.”
“Who do they think they are?” Cordelia asked sarcastically.
“A couple of guys.” Willow nodded.
Suddenly the werewolf dropped down from above onto the table in front of them. They both screamed and ran from the couch in opposite directions. Panic set in around the, and the werewolf just stood there at a half crouch, seemingly confused by all the commotion.
*~*
Outside in the alley Giles and Buffy came rolling up in his decrepit car as teens are running around in blind panic, fleeing for their lives.
“Looks as though your hunch was right.” Giles observed.
“Who could resist Sunnydale’s own house of hormones?” Buffy asked sarcastically as she got out of the car and started towards the door. Willow saw her and stopped, grabbing onto her arm.
“The werewolf! It’s in there!” she cried. Buffy made a dash for the door as it was about to be shut by the bouncer. He immediately closed and locked it behind her.
She slowly stepped around into the main area and looked around. The place had been trashed by the frantic teens. Tables and chairs were lying everywhere, spilled drinks were splattered on the floor. Buffy looked around and saw a shadow behind a bead curtain and head towards it. As she walked she took off her backpack and pulled out a chain. Buffy noticed another bead curtain swinging and climbed a few steps and went in. She went through another door to the stage. The chain was wrapped around her forearms, ready to use against the werewolf. Slowly she stepped out onto the stage. When she passed the drums the werewolf came out from behind the stage curtains, snarling. Buffy spun around to face it and dropped her backpack so that she could fight easier. She quickly unraveled a length of chain from her arms and got ready. She threw the chain out, and it wrapped itself perfectly around the werewolf’s neck. It began to struggle and yanked at the chain, pulling Buffy into the drums. The chain fell from the werewolf’s neck, and it made a dash for a window. It went crashing through and fell out into the alley. It looked both ways and made a break for it.
*~*
The Bronze employees are back and have started to straighten things up. Buffy put her chain back into her backpack as Cain watched.
“You let it get away.” he stated the obvious.
“I didn’t *let* it do anything. I had the chain around its neck.” Buffy spat.
“Chain? What were you gonna do, take it for a walk?” Cain asked sarcastically as he looked down at her.
“I was going to lock it up.” Buffy shot back.
“That’s beautiful.” he said and approached her. “This is what happens when a woman tries to do a man’s job.” Buffy got up and put her backpack on. Giles came up behind Cain.
“Now, you look here, Mr. Cain. This girl risked her life trying to capture a beast that you haven’t as yet been able to find.” Giles pointed out venomously as he took a bag off his shoulder.
“Uh-huh. And Daddy’s doing a great job carrying her bag of milk bones.” Cain retorted. Giles threw down his bag in anger, but restrained himself from attacking the hunter. “You know, sis, if that thing out there harms anyone, it’s going to be on your pretty little head. I hope you can live with that.”
“I live with that *every* day.” she said and stared him down. Cain shook his head.
“First they tell me I can’t hunt an elephant for its ivory…” he started and turned and left. “Now I’ve gotta deal with People for the Ethical Treatment of Werewolves.”
“Pillock.” Giles said under his breath. “Let’s move out.” He grabbed his bag and left. Buffy followed right behind.
*~*
It was still dark in the loading dock area. The werewolf walked into the light next to a trailer and stopped to sniff the air. It looked down and saw a few drips of blood in the gutter. It continued along the side of the trailer. When it reached the far end, Theresa fell to the ground from behind the trailer with a vampire bite clearly visible on her neck. The werewolf looked down at her, but doesn’t make a move to eat her. On the other side of her Angelus stepped up in his game face and growled at the werewolf. The werewolf bared its fangs and growled loudly. Angelus returned the growl, baring his own fangs and stared the werewolf down, warning him away from Theresa’s body. Angelus slowly backed away and left. The werewolf looked down at Theresa again and growled, but made no move to touch her.
*~*
Buffy was walking through the trees and came up behind Giles’s car. She didn’t see him through the back window and started to worry.
“Giles?” she cried. She ran up to it and yelled again. “Giles!” She reached the open window and looked in. Giles awoke and sat up.
“Uhh!” he grunted while taking off his glasses to rub his eyes.
“I didn’t see you there. I though something had happened.” Buffy exclaimed.
“Oh, uh, no, I’m, uh…” Giles stuttered, sort of embarrassed at being caught, and not fully awake yet. He yawned and Buffy got in the passenger seat. A newscast was playing on the radio. “I’m okay. I’m just, uh, fine, uh…just, uh, I’m, uh…Uh, any sign of the, uh, werewolf?”
“No. And I’m guessing you didn’t see anything either from that vantage point of having your eyes closed.” Buffy joked.
“It’s, uh, it’s, it’s, uh, gonna be light soon, so we’d better—“
“Wait.” Buffy shushed him.
“Police say that the incident was apparently connected to the animal mutilation which occurred two nights ago. The coroner’s office has identified the body as that of Sunnydale High School student Theresa Klusmeyer, age seventeen. The authorities ask that anyone with further information…” the radio newscaster explained on the radio.
“Buffy, we’re gonna get this thing. We have another whole night.” Giles assured her, and she looked at him, “There’s nothing more we can do now. It’s nearly sunrise. That werewolf won’t be a werewolf much longer.” Buffy looked down sadly, filled with annoyance at Cain’s being right, filled with guilt.
*~*
The sun rose over a Sunnydale hill. The werewolf was asleep on the ground in the woods. When the sunlight hit the werewolf it morphed back to its human form. It’s Oz. Oz wakes up, opened his eyes and looked around confused. He sat up and stared around at the forest. He looked down at himself and realized he was naked. Sounding very confused, he let out a simple,
“Huh.”
*~*
Oz was in his dining room on the phone with his aunt.
“Aunt Maureen. Hey, it’s me. Um, what? Oh! It’s, uh…actually it’s healing okay. That’s pretty much the reason I called. Um, I wanted ask you something. Is Jordy a werewolf? Uh-huh. And how long has that been going on? Uh-huh. What? No, no reason. Um…Thanks. Yeah, love to Uncle Ken.” Oz hung up the phone. He stared off into space as the realization that he is a werewolf sets in.
*~*
In the library, Buffy was pacing nervously. Willow was sitting at the table with Giles behind her and Xander leaning against the counter.
“I can’t believe I let that thing get away. Cain was right. I shoulda killed it when I had the chance.” Buffy said, frustrated. Oz walked in soon enough to hear the last comment.
“Killed what?” he asked.
“Uh, the, uh, the werewolf. It-It-It was out last night.” Buffy explained with difficulty.
“Is everybody okay? Did anyone get bitten or, or scratched?” Oz asked, concerned.
“No, we’re fine.” Willow assured him.
“Gladness.” he replied, relieved.
“Yeah, but he got someone. Theresa.” Buffy informed him.
“ ‘Got’, as is…” Oz began. Buffy looked at him and raised her eyebrows. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“And I coulda stopped it.” she flopped down in a chair.
“Well, we, we have one more night.” Giles pointed out.
“Another night?” Oz asked, sounding a little nervous as well as annoyed.
“Oh, yeah. Believe me, I’m gonna give that wolfie something to howl about.” Buffy said crossly.
“Hmm.” Oz said, trying to keep his fearfulness hidden.
“But while we hang here doing nothing, there’s a human werewolf walking around out there, probably making fun of us!” Xander exclaimed.
“That way werewolves do.” Willow added with a hint of sarcasm.
“But there’s really no way to tell who it is.” Oz said as more of a question.
“Oh, sure there is. Giles knows stuff, and I’m practically an expert on the subject.” Xander assured him.
“On account of once you were a hyena?” Willow asked.
“I know what it’s like to crave the taste of freshly killed meat, to be taken over by those uncontrollable urges.” Xander said portentously.
“You said you didn’t remember anything about that.” Buffy smiled raising an eyebrow.
“I said I didn’t remember anything about that. Look, the point is, is I have an affinity with this thing. I can get inside of its head.” Xander chuckled and became serious again. He closed his eyes and began to *be* the werewolf. “I’m a big bad wolf. I’m on the prowl. (sniffs) I’m sniffing, I’m snarling. I’m a slobbering predator. I’m- Wait a second! It’s right in front of us” he opened his eyes suddenly. Oz’s eyes widened with the fear of being caught. “It’s obvious who I am! I’m Larry! (Oz relaxes) The guy’s practically got ‘wolf-boy’ stamped across his forehead. You got the dog bit, you got the aggression, not to mention the excessive back hair.”
“And he was awfully gleeful about tormenting Theresa.” Buffy added.
“Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean that…” Giles began.
“I’m gonna go talk to him. Gonna force a confession out of him.” Xander left.
“Good. Go. Uh, in the meantime, we need to cover our bases, Willow, um, check the student files. See if anybody else fits the profile. Uh, Buffy?” Giles took charge.
“Wheer are we going?” Buffy asked.
“If none of that works, I think I may have an alternative.” Giles answered and went into the office.
“Yeah, me and the werewolf alone in a cage for three minutes. That’s all I ask.” Buffy joked and followed him.
“Are you ok?” Willow asked Oz. He came back to earth.
“What?”
“Well, you kind of knew Theresa.” Willow said, searching his face.
“Oh, yeah, I, uh, I’m trying not to think about it. It’s…it’s a lot.” Oz half lied.
“It is. But we can do stuff to help. Sometimes it feels good to help.” Willow explained.
“Uh-huh.” Oz said, not really paying attention. Buffy came back to the office door, but stopped, not wanting to interrupt the Willow and Oz moment.
“Well, like…looking up stuff. I’m gonna be doing that most of the night. You could help me, help together?” Willow suggested.
“I can’t. Um, uh, I’m busy.” Oz lied, unsure of what to do.
“Oh. So…” Willow looked deflated.
“I…I gotta go.” Oz said and jogged out of the library. Willow watched him go, confused about how he was acting. Buffy looked at Willow sadly from the office doorway.
*~*
In the boys locker room, Larry was at the sink, splashing water on his face. He grabbed a towel and dried his face off and he headed for his locker. Xander was there waiting for him and kicked his locker closed to get his attention. Larry took the towel away from his face and looked at Xander, startled.
“Harris. Sheesh. Next time wear a bell.” Larry opened his locker without giving Xander a second glance.
“Why so jumpy, Larry?” Xander asked in a rather accusing voice.
“Geeks make me nervous.” Larry retorted.
“Is that *really* it, or is there something you’re hiding.” Xander asked, using the same tone.
“I could hide my fist in your face.” Larry leaned on his locker door.
“I know your secret, big guy. I know what you’ve been doing at night.” Xander said, sounding rather triumphant.
“You know, Harris, that nosey little nose of yours is going to get you into trouble someday.” he grabbed the front of Xander’s shirt. “Like today.”
“Hurting me isn’t gonna make this go away. People are still gonna find out.” Xander said, sounding more nervous then he wanted to let on.
“Alright.” Larry let go of Xander. “What do you want? Hush money? Is that what you’re after?”
“I don’t *want* anything!” Xander exclaimed.
“What, you think you have a cure?” Larry asked, now pacing back and forth.
“No, it’s just…I know what you’re going through because I’ve been there. That’s why I know you should talk about it.” Xander said, more gently.
“Yeah that’s easy for *you* to say, I mean, you’re nobody. I’ve got a reputation here.” Larry exclaimed.
“Larry, please, before someone else gets hurt.” Xander tried. Larry pointed at Xander’s chest.
“Look, if this gets out, it’s over for me.” he returned to pacing, “I mean, forget about playing football. They’ll run me outta this town! I mean, come on! How are people going to look at me after they find out I’m gay.” It took a minute for this to register. Xander looked at him in astonishment. Larry smiled like he felt a lot better about himself. “Oh, wow. I said it. And it felt…okay. I’m gay.” he whispered and stepped closer to Xander. “I’m gay.
“I heard you the first time.” Xander said nervously.
“I can’t believe it! It was almost easy! I never felt I could tell anyone.” he said and then gestured at Xander, “And then you, you of all people, you bring it outta me.”
“I’m sure it would have slipped out even if I wasn’t here.” Xander laughed nervously. Larry leaned on his locker door.
“No, no, because knowing you went through the same thing, made it easier for me to admit it.” Larry explained.
“The same thing…” Xander remembered.
“It’s ironic.” Larry put his arm around Xander. “I mean, all those times I beat the crap out of you, it musta been because I recognized something in you that I didn’t want to believe about myself.”
“Larry, no, I am not…” Xander began laughing nervously.
“Of course, of course not. Don’t worry.” Larry patted him on the shoulder, “I wouldn’t do that to you. Your secret’s safe with me.” He gave Xander a thumbs-up and smiled. “Wow.” He threw the towel around his neck, closed the locker, and walked away. Xander stared after him in disbelief.
*~*
In the library Willow is surfing the ‘Net on her laptop. Buffy walked slowly out of Giles’s office and went over to her.
“So what’s the scuttlebutt? Anybody besides Larry fit out werewolf profile?” she asked as she sat down on the edge of the table.
“There is one name that keeps getting spit out. Aggressive behavior, run-ins with authorities, about a screenful of violent incidents.” Willow smiled at Buffy.
“Okay, most of those were not my fault! Somebody else started ‘em! I was just standing up for myself.” Buffy joked.
“They say it’s a good idea to count to ten when you’re angry.” Willow said looking up at her. “Ok, and this is rather out of the blue, but have you gotten worse?”
“Huh?” Buffy asked, confused at the change of subject.
“You know, the dizziness, exhaustion, et cetera.” Willow asked again.
“Yeah, a little, but its nothing to worry about.” Buffy said, beginning to get annoyed. She was probably just worried about Angel and Angelus and all that and it was affecting her more then she’d like.
“Are you sure? Cause we could go to the doctors or something…” Willow tried.
“One…Two…Three…” Buffy joked.
“Ok, I’ll keep looking!” Willow said and looked back at her laptop.
“I, um, noticed you were looking solo.” Buffy said gently.
“Yeah, Oz wanted to be someplace that was away…” Willow answered and looked up at Buffy. “From me.”
“I’m sorry.” Buffy whispered.
“I can’t figure him out! I mean, he’s so hot and cold. Or lukewarm and cold.” Willow leaned back in her chair.
“Welcome to the mystery that is men. I think it goes something like, they grow body hair, and they lose all ability to tell you what they really want.” Buffy exclaimed. (Hehe, another play on words…yeah don’t need to tell me twice! I’m gone!)
“It doesn’t seem like a fair trade.” Willow complained as she stood up and put her lap top in the case.
“Well, if you wanna up the speed quotient with Oz, maybe you need to do something daring. Maybe you need to make the first move.” Buffy suggested as she slid off the table and gathered her books for class.
“Well, that won’t make me a slut?” Willow asked.
“I think your reputation will remain intact.” Buffy laughed. The two walked out of the library and into the hall.
“It used to be so much easier to tell if a boy liked you. He’d punch you on the arm and then run back to his friends.” Willow said.
“Those were the days.” Buffy agreed.
“Hey.” Xander said walking up to them. The two stopped and he punched Buffy on the arm. Buffy looked up at him.
“I’ll see you guys later.” Willow said. Buffy looked at her, confused. “Cordelia asked me to look over her history homework before class. I think that means I might have to *do* it.” Willow shrugged and walked off.
“Wow, those two gals are hanging out a lot together.” Xander laughed. “This would be a good time to panic.” Buffy laughed and the two started down the hall.
“So, how’d it go with Larry?” Buffy asked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Xander asked, suddenly nervous.
“I think it’s supposed to mean ‘so how’d it go with Larry’.” Buffy said giving him a strange look. She stopped at her locker and reached for the combination lock.
“He’s not the werewolf! Can’t we just leave it at that? Must you continue to *push* and *push*?” Xander said anxiously.
“I’m sorry. I was just wondering.” Buffy opened her locker.
“Well, he’s not.” Xander was a little calmer.
“Okay.” Buffy laughed.
“Okay.” Xander agreed.
“But there goes our lead suspect.” Buffy sighed as she pushed her pack into her locker. “Which puts us right back at squared boned.” She closed her locker.
“You’re not boned, you’re Buffy. Eradicator of evil. Defender of, um…things that need defending.” Xander smiled.
“Tell that to Theresa. She could have used my defending before she was ripped apart by that…” Buffy began and then realized that it might not have been a werewolf.
“Werewolf.” Xander finished for her.
“Nowhere in any of the reports did it say anything about her being mauled.” She looked up at Xander. “I mean, they were linked to the animal attacks from the other night, so we just assumed werewolf.”
“What else should we have assumed?” Xander asked.
*~*
In the funeral home, Theresa is laid out in her coffin with a scarf around her neck. Buffy pulled it back and saw the bite mark.
“Vampire.” she confirmed.
“So that’s good right? I mean in the sense of the werewolf didn’t get her and…” he began and got a look from Buffy. “No. There is no good here.”
“No good. Instead of not protecting Theresa from the werewolf.” Buffy began and walked over to the guest register. “I was able to not protect her from something just as bad.” She looked at all the signatures. “She had a lot of friends.” She picked up the pen and added her name.
“Buffy, you can’t blame yourself for every death that happens in Sunnydale. If it weren’t for you people’d be lined up five deep waitin’ to get themselves buried. Willow would be Robbie to Robot’s love slave, I wouldn’t even have a head, and Theresa’s a vampire.” Xander said looking at the coffin.
Theresa sat up in the coffin and looked at them. She began growling. Buffy turned around and saw the vampire hop out of the coffin. She lunged at Theresa, grabbed her, and tried to wrestle her to the floor. But Theresa threw her down instead. She dove after Buffy and tried to pin her, but Buffy rolled her over and got on top. She made a quick grab for a wooden easel holding a flower wreath and broke off a leg. She was about to thrust it into Theresa’s chest when Theresa spoke,
“Angel sends his love.” Buffy was caught off guard and hesitated a moment. Theresa kicked Buffy’s arm and sent the stick flying. She grabbed Buffy by the shoulders, wrestled her onto her back and pinned her. Buffy struggled against her. Behind Theresa, Xander grabbed the easel and jammed on of the legs through Theresa’s back. She burst into ashes and Buffy stared up at Xander. He tossed the easel aside and looked down at her. She looked aside sadly and rolled over.
“Angel.” she said to herself as she got to her knees.
“Are you okay?” Xander asked as he leaned down to help her up. She took his hand.
“This isn’t happening.” she used Xander’s hand to pull herself up and hugged Xander. “He’s gonna keep coming after me.”
“Don’t let him get to you. He’s not the same guy you knew.” Xander reassured her and hugged her gently. She pulled back a bit and looked up at him. He looked back kindly. She let go, picked up her backpack and went out. Xander stared after her. “Oh no, my life’s not too complicated.” He shook his head and followed her out.
*~*
Cain’s van was parked n the woods with the curtains drawn across the front so no one could see in. The inside was set up like a hunter’s lodge, with hunting apparatus and traps hanging from the walls and a lab bench full of reloading equipment. He reached down, picked up a small iron pan and set it on the bench. He had a Bunsen burner going and took a long-handled melting up and held it over the flame. When the metal in the cup melted he brought it over to a mold and poured the silver in. He set the melting cup aside and broke open the mold. Inside was a perfectly formed bullet. He held it up to inspect it in the dim light.
*~*
Oz sat in his dining room at the table. He dumped out a box full of shackles and locks out onto the table. He looked at them and considered a moment, then with strengthened resolve, started to put one on. He was about to put the lock on when there was a knock at the door. He ignored it and looked at the lock. As he moved to put it on there was another knock. He looked at it in frustration and set the lock and shackles down. The knocking continues insistently as he went over to the door. When he opened it he found an irate Willow standing there, ready to knock even more.
“Willow! What are you doing?” he asked as she pushed her way through.
“I had this whole thing worked out, and I had it written down, uh, but then it didn’t make any sense when I was reading it back.” she began in a rather annoyed tone.
“Willow, this is not a very good time.” Oz said firmly.
“I mean, what am I supposed to think? First, you buy me popcorn and then you
re all glad that I didn’t get bit. And you put the tag back in my shirt. But I guess non of that means anything because instead of looking up names with me, here you are all alone in your house doing noting by yourself!” Willow said harshly.
“Willow, we’ll talk about this tomorrow. I promise.” Oz tried to take hold of her to lead her out, but she shook him off.
“No, damn it! We’ll talk about this now! Buffy told me that sometimes what a girl makes has to be the first move and now that I’m saying this, I’m starting to think that the written version sounded pretty good, but you know what I mean.” Willow babbled angrily.
“I know, I know, it’s me. I’m going through some…changes.” Oz started.
“Well, welcome to the world! Things happen. Don’t you think I’m going through a lot?” Willow asked hysterically.
“Not like me.” Oz said with a hollow laugh.
“Oh, what, so now you’re special?” she yelled, pacing into the dining room. “You’re special boy…with chains and stuff. Why do you have chains and stuff?”
“Willow please!” he doubled over in pain and hugged himself. “Get outta here.” She stared at him confused. He fell behind the couch out of her view. Then he began rapidly growing hair and began mutating into a werewolf.
“Oz? Oz, what is it?” Willow asked, slowly approaching the couch. “What’s wrong?” Oz moaned in pain. She looked carefully over the couch and werewolf Oz jumped at her growling. She screamed and jumped away from him. She began running through the dining room and Oz chased her. She ran down the hall and out the back door. She ran through the streets with Oz on her tail. She went up to a wooden fence, hopped up and tried to pull herself over. She fell to the other side just as Oz caught up. She quickly grabbed a trashcan and hit Oz’s face with it.
*~*
Cain drove slowly along the streets in his van. Oz howled loudly in the distance and Cain saw the figure of the wolf on the road ahead.
“There you are.” he murmured.
*~*
Giles set the box on the table in the library and opened it. He undid the straps and pulled out the gun. He grabbed the barrel and scope assembly and clicked them into place. Buffy came walking in behind him.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to do some unscheduled slayage in the form of Theresa.” Buffy explained. Giles stopped his assembling to look at her.
“She’s a vampire?”
“Was. Angel sent her to me. A little token of his affection.” Buffy explained.
“Buffy, I’m so sorry.” he said. She held up her hand.
“Not now, Giles. We can all have ourselves a good cry after we bag us a werewolf.”
He plugged in the laser sight and held the tranq gun up to check the scope.
*~*
Willow ran through the woods dodging trees and hopping over rocks and logs. She looked back and when she did, tripped and fell to the ground. She rolled to face the werewolf and looked at it in terror. It doesn’t attack, but instead sniffed the air. It looked around for the direction of the scent and rushed off. Willow quickly got to her feet and ran the other way.
*~*
Giles checked the trigger mechanism on the gun. “All set.” he grabbed a dart. “Let’s go find this thing.” he and Buffy started towards the door.
“One question: how exactly do we find this thing?” Buffy asked. Willow ran in the library looking frantic.
“It’s Oz! It’s Oz!” she screamed.
“Wh-what’s Oz?” Buffy asked, confused.
“The werewolf. It’s Oz!” Willow repeated.
“Are you certain?” Giles asked.
“Can’t you just trust me on this?” she asked frantically. “He-he said he was going through all these changes. Then he went through all these…changes!”
“Where is he now?” Buffy inquired.
“In the woods.” Willow answered, not sounding any more calm.
“Let’s go.” Giles repeated and started towards the door. Willow grabbed his arm to stop him.
“Go where?” she asked hysterically. “You’re not gonna kill Oz! Yeah, he’s a werewolf, but he doesn’t mean to be!”
“Don’t worry, Willow. We’re not going to hurt him.” Buffy reassured. One again they all start out of the library.
“I put enough Phenobarbital in this thing to sink a small elephant. It should be enough for a large werewolf.” Giles informed. He grabbed his coat from the counter and held the door open for the girls.
*~*
The werewolf finally found what he was looking for: meat. Cain, hiding in the bushes, has as well. He cocked his flintlock’s hammer back and lifted it to his shoulder. The werewolf got closer to the pile of meat Cain left out for him.
“That’s it. Let me see you. Come on, suppertime.” Cain whispered to himself. The werewolf was right on top of the bait and Cain took aim. “Good doggy. Now play dead.” He was about to pull the trigger when he got kicked from beside him. He fell to the ground and his gun fried off to the side. The werewolf looked up from the meat at the commotion. Buffy grabbed Cain’s gun and wrestled him for it. She flipped the rifle over and he followed, landing on his back and letting go of the gun in the process. As he tried to get up Buffy swung the butt of the rifle around and knocked him in the face. He fell to the ground, unconscious. The werewolf came at her and she ducked his lunge. Giles and Willow arrived to see the werewolf grab Buffy and lift her off her feet. She pushed him back using Cain’s gun to keep from being bitten. Giles tried to get a clear shot, but the werewolf turned and held Buffy up between them.
“Careful!” Willow warned.
“Damn it!” Giles said as he couldn’t get a shot. He continued to look for an opening, but quickly got frustrated. Buffy raised the rifle high and smashed it down on the werewolf’s head. It dropped her and fell back, stunned. It quickly got up and swiped at her, knocking the gun from her hands. Then the werewolf shoved Buffy away and right into Giles and Willow, knocking them over. It started to come at them. Willow scrambled for the tranq gun and brought it u to her shoulder. There werewolf charged at her and she closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. The dart hit the werewolf in the chest and it staggered backward before falling to the ground, unconscious. Willow looked up at Giles.
“I shot Oz.” she said, still in awe.
“You saved us.” Giles said proudly, smiling down at her. He took the gun from Willow. Buffy walked over to get Cain’s gun. He got to his feet and straightened his coat.
“No wonder this town’s overrun with monsters. No one here’s man enough to kill ‘em.” he said rudely.
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Buffy replied. He turned to see her with his flintlock. She grabbed the end of the barrel and bent it into an arc right in front of him and thrust it at him. He looked from her to the gun in astonishment. “How about you let the door hit you in the ass on the way out of town?”
Cain made a move to go but stopped to give her another look. She stared back at him then he left. She looked down at Willow crouched next to the werewolf and got down next to her.
“You think he’ll be okay?” she asked quietly.
“He’ll be a little sore in the morning, but…he’ll be Oz.” Giles answered, smiling.
*~*
Xander and Buffy walked past the trophy case and into the lounge.
“This is all so weird. I mean, how are we supposed to act when we see him?” Xander asked.
“Well, it’s gotta be weird for him, too. Now that we know so much.” Buffy answered.
“All I know is I’ll never be able to look at him the same again.” Xander replied.
“He’s still a human being. Most of the time.” Buffy said and stopped at the vending machine.
“Who are we talking about?” Xander asked, confused.
“Oz. Who are you talking about?” Buffy asked, also confused.
“No one.” Xander answered, nervous again. Over by the stairs a bunch of Larry’s jock friends knock the books from a girl’s hands. Larry came down the stairs behind her and quickly reached down to help her pick them up.
“Hey, let me get those.” he offered.
“Thanks.” the girl said, tucking her hair behind her ear, sounding a little shocked. Everyone except Xander gives him a surprised look. He walked over to Xander.
“Hey! Xander. Look, about what you did. I, I owe you.” he smiled.
“What’d you do?” Buffy asked, smiling as well.
“It’s really nothing we should be talking about…ever.” Xander said, aiming the last word at Larry.
“I know, I know. It’s just, well,” he patted Xander on the shoulder, “Thanks.” and walked off.
“That was weird.” Buffy said as she and Xander sat down at a table.
“What, it’s not okay for one guy to like another guy just because he happened to be in the locker room with him when absolutely nothing happened and I thought I told you not to push.” Xander jabbered.
“All I meant is that he didn’t try to look up my skirt.” Buffy said, holding in laughter at Xander’s response. Xander began fidgeting with his hands.
“Oh, oh, yeah, that’s, that’s the weirdness.” he smiled nervously.
“Weirdness abounds lately. Maybe it’s the moon. That does stuff to people.” Buffy said.
“I’ve heard that.” Xander replied.
“Certainly gonna put a strain on Willow and Oz’s relationship.” Buffy observed as Willow walked by.
“What relationship? I mean what life could they possibly have together?” he asked and began counting off on his fingers, “We’re talking obedience shcoo, paper training, Oz is always in the back burying their things, and that kind of breed can turn on its owner.”
“I don’t know. I kinda see Oz as the loyal type.” Buffy objected.
“All I’m saying is she’s not safe with him. If it were up to me—“
“Xander…” Buffy interrupted. “It’s not up to you.”
*~*
Willow walked over to Oz who was sitting on a table outside.
“Hey.” she said.
“Hey.”
“Did you want to go first?” she asked.
“I spoke to Giles. He said I’ll be okay. I just have to lock myself up around the full moon. Only he used more words then that. And a globe.” Oz answered.
“I’m sorry how all this ended up. With me shooting you and all.” Willow apologized.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry I almost ate you.” both of them smiled.
“It’s okay. I just thought you would’ve told me.” Willow said, looking a little hurt.
“I didn’t know what to say. I mean, it’s not everyday you find you’re a werewolf. That’s fairly freaksome. It may take a couple days of getting used to.” Oz explained.
“Yeah. It’s a complication.” Willow agreed.
“So…” Oz began and hopped off the table. The couple began to walk. “Maybe it’d be best if I just…sorta…”
“What?” Willow asked.
“Well, you know, like, stayed out of your way for a while.” he finished.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of okay with you being in my way.” Willow said shyly.
“You mean you’d still…” Oz turned to face her.
“Well, I like you. You’re nice and you’re funny. And you don’t smoke. And you’re, yeah, okay, a 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.” Willow said.
“You are quite the human.” Oz smiled.
“So, I’d still if you’d still.” she said smiling.
“I’d still. I’d *very* still.” Oz answered.
“Okay.” Willow agreed, smiling widely. “No biting though.”
“Agreed.” Oz smiled. Willow walked away with a smile on her face. Oz turned around and watched her go. He smiled as well. Then he’s surprised to see her rushing back. She looked at him for an instant and then kissed him right on the lips. He watched her with a smile as she went off again.
“A werewolf in love.”
TBC...
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