"To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, to throw a perfume on the violet, to smooth the ice, or add another hue unto the rainbow, or with taper-light to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, is wasteful and ridiculous excess."

~Shakespeare: King John iv.2

This is not a love story. It is, however, a story about love. There is a difference, mind you. Sure, the characters fall in and out of love, but that's not why I'm telling it to you. This is a story about cages. My poor boys have locked themselves in so many cages across the different possible worlds over the years, but luckily, at least this time I think they have an actual chance of breaking free. The Powers That Muck Up have finally realized that their 'guidance' never really works out and that my, lets say expertise, on matters of the heart and soul might be more helpful then their methods of shoving moral sticks up their chosen ones' asses.

I have to admit, I was a little surprised when Whistler came and asked for help. I could tell it irked him. Not comfortable with taking risks, that one. And that's what the whole thing is, a big risk. At first I thought he wanted me to help the Slayer. I would've flat out refused. Destiny's got her chains wrapped around her good, doesn't matter which world or what time you're in. I was surprised though when the Balancer asked me to keep an eye out for the boys. In a way though, I'm glad. Its about time someone recognized their worth as more then the sidekicks, more than the Slayer's tools and toys. They're lucky in a way that the Powers don't put much consideration on their roles, otherwise Destiny would've wrapped around them just as much as the Slayer. I wouldn't have been able to help without some serious egg-breaking then to make barely passable omelets if the Powers actually paid attention.

Whistler's the only one who's got any sense up there, probably because he's a demon too. I don't care what anyone says, we demons have got more grasp on humanity than the Great Moral Pricks in togas. Yeah, we demons probably don't have all the best intentions but then again, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Powers and their little Goody-Good Followers just can't grasp what motivates humans and Tainted Demons. What makes them tick, what makes them do what they do, and what makes them feel; they just don't get it. They're just concerned with Point A to Point B and not how or why between them. That's why the Slayers always get so screwed over and don't even get started on their poor Champions.

Anyways, Whistler's the one with some sense. After my fiasco with my last Host I admit I'd been in a rut. The whole thing had left me rather unsettled. I couldn't help but check up on the boys at least once. Their road was bumpy but they seemed to be going right along. But then that whole the First thing happened and up went poor Will in flames and Xander, try as he might, never got over it and drowned in the bottle. Pissed me off, I gave up a really good gig so they could have a happily ever after and the Powers just went and carelessly thrown it all away. I'm glad I wasn't the only one pissed.

So Whistler comes to me and offers me a little job. He asks that I keep an eye on the boys and help them break free of the cages they've gone and locked themselves in so Destiny doesn't go an screw them over, at least not as bad. I had my work cut out for me. They were particularly stubborn in this universe. The Powers wanted me to go by their rules and their means. Fuck that. I've seen where that gets them. I don't care what fuss they put up or if Whistler comes to regret asking for my help. This time things are going to be different. I'm going to help them get free.

So without further ado, here is the story. It is about a boy, a hyena, a vampire, some wolves, an emotive, witches, a Slayer, and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, maybe not the last one. Oh, but there will be a swan, not till later though.

Ok, now stop me if you've heard this one. Once upon a time, in a town called Sunnydale, there lived a dark haired knight with a heart of gold. One day a blond girl blew into his life and he vowed to help her protect the world from those big mean baddies who go bump in the dark. But he had a lot to learn about fighting evil. Sometimes, it not the scary monsters who you need to worry about. Most of the time, true evil dwells inside and locks us up in gilded cages of moral superiority.

Xander missed Oz. Sure, as he held a weepy Willow, he felt righteous anger for his oldest friend, but eventually his anger melted into a not too unfamiliar sense of loneliness.

There was no question that he loved Willow and Buffy, but their extra x-chromosome made their company not always what he needed. He still missed Jesse desperately. While Xander knew the void left by Jesse could never be filled completely, Oz's zen presence eased his ache.

It was during that tough summer when Buffy had disappeared off to L.A. that the two of them got close. When they weren't patrolling, or doing their less ass-kicking version of it, and Oz and Willow weren't being Oz and Willowy (Xander tried not to think too hard about that) he would hang out with the Oz-man.

These were blissful afternoons spent in the sanctum of guy-dom. Xander would bring movies and babble about them, munching on various forms of junk foods, and Oz would smile and nod here and there, sometimes playing his guitar. They would laugh as Xander tried his hand at guitar, clumsily trying to follow Oz's instructions.

And when the Blond Bombshell returned and the Scoobies entered their last year of high school, Oz helped anchor Xander. During all drama, demons, or apocalypses, the older boy's calm demeanor prevented Xander from being lost adrift the sea of estrogen.

There was also the whole werewolf thing too. A Zeppo made a great wolf-sitter, apparently, when girls with super brains and super strength were out doing the actual work. Xander really didn't like seeing Oz all caged up. He hated cages. Watching the restless beast prowl helplessly made something that wasn't supposed to be within himself stir, but Xander knew he had to be there for his friend during his hairy time of the month.

There was an easy camaraderie between them, Xander felt, even after what happened with Veruca and a heartbroken Willow, he still felt the connection and yearned for his friend. When a teary Willow told him and Buffy that Oz's place was empty, that he was really gone, and Buffy took up the role of the angry best friend, Xander went quiet. He was quiet all the way home that night. He drifted into the Basement of Doom and stood before the small cabinet that house his movies sadly. He had reached in and pulled out a movie, not knowing exactly why, but smiled a little when he gazed at the cover. It was his copy of An American Werewolf in London. He remembered that night a few months ago they had watched the movie, uneasily laughing. When he bent back down to put the movie away, he noticed a small piece of paper taped to the back of it. He turned it over and stared at it for awhile as the words in Oz's handwriting sank in: 'cages can't hold forever. Got to find a better way to keep a hold of the beast -Oz'.

He never told the girls about the note. He left it taped to the movie cover and carefully put it back into it's place. 'Cages can't hold forever', the words haunted him. He understood why Oz had to go. Xander understood how terrifying it could be to not be in control, to be caged in your own body, your own mind. He understood why Oz couldn't risk staying, but gods it still hurt to be left behind.

ANs:

So here it is, the beginning of another story! Just so you guys know, this story will feature a few OCs and focus on them just as much as the original BtVS characters, so if that's not your cup of tea I'm warning you now. Its going to be long too. Its rather all over the place too but I'm going to try my best to make a comprehensive whole out of all the odd bits. I may end up re-writing it all. I guess this is more like a test run for the plot. I know you guys hear this a lot but please, I would love feedback! I want to improve my writing style so recommendations are very welcome. Please enjoy the show!