Okay this is my first fanfiction in (no joke) about 5 years, so hopefully it isn't too rusty. I apologise for any grammar or spelling mistakes (those sorts of things really aren't my strong suit, so if I've missed any I apologise). Anyway, all the wonderful BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and his genius! Oz/Willow pairing, set some time around season 3 (senior year, can't pinpoint when exactly. Also the "fluke" in any way shape or form hasn't occurred. I always thought that it was nice that Xander had Oz around as a male friend - the only one his age he really gets for a while after Jesse dies, so in my universe that wasn't ruined by the "fluke").

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Oz casually strolled across the grass towards the open doors of Sunnydale High. A string of late night gigs had him suppressing a yawn, as the morning air tugged at his open bowling shirt and hair. He nodded casually to a classmate, before continuing towards the rush of students surrounding the main doors. Slipping inside he made his way through the Monday morning hallway rush; eyes peeled for any sign of a certain red head.

"Hey Oz, my man!" Oz looked down the hall to see the unmistakable form of Xander Harris wildly waving his arms in a dramatic welcome. Nodding in recognition he made his way towards him.

Xander grinned to himself and anyone around him that happened to be watching. Being the mate of a guitarist like Oz helped give him the sort of street creed he's geeky self didn't often receive: and he loved it. He bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited for the spiky haired blonde to reach him, finally slapping the shorter boy on the back as he reached his side.

"How was the gig last night? Our good friends at UC Sunnydale loving the Dingoes?" He said, a little louder than necessary. Oz looked up at the highly enthused youth with his regular non-committal expression.

"Well, no vegetables were thrown; so I'd say there were mutual feelings of acceptance."

The two began to make their way down the hall side by side. Oz pushed his hands deep in his pockets as Xander bounced around him, enjoying the attention he gained being seen with someone of Oz's notability. Oz himself had never really been aware of the recognition he received from some of the other students. Today was no exception as he continued his relentless search for Willow.

"All right! College acceptance is a go!" Xander raised his hand for a high-five, quickly retracting it as he realised that Oz's head was somewhere else. They paused as they reached the end of the corridor and Oz finally turned to look up at his friend.

"Hey, you seen Wil anywhere?"

"Off with the Buffmister I presume." Xander responded, finally cluing in to Oz's distraction. "She wasn't expecting you back today, so you're making with the element of surprise there." Xander grinned goofily as Oz nodded, turning back to scanning the crowd. "Hey we bronzing it tonight?" Xander attempted to re-command his attention; bouncing around him on the balls of his feet, and lightly punching him on the arm playfully.

"Can't." Oz said not looking back at him but merely giving a slight incline of his head towards the ceiling. Xander stopped buzzing momentarily, taking on a slightly more solemn tone.

"Right, wasn't thinking." He responded rather awkwardly raising a free hand to run it through his hair. Oz turned back to look at him, feeling bad for killing his friends buzz. In a rare occasion, he felt the unnatural urge to speak up. They were both spared however by an excited squeak from further down the hall.

"Oz!" The boys turned to see a fuzzy jumper clad Willow skipping towards them; Buffy following at a slight distance.

"Hey," Oz smiled at her slightly, closing the distance and embracing her, unconsciously breathing in the smell of her hair and feeling a rumble from deep within himself. He pulled back to see her smiling at him, he took both her hands as she turned to Xander and Buffy.

"It's Oz, Oz is here, with the school and Oz!" Willow babbled. The werewolf couldn't help but slip into his signature half smile. He heard a chuckle.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the ever articulate Willow Rosenberg." Buffy teased, clutching her coat and smiling at the couples blissful expressions. The four resumed their journey down the corridor. Oz looked straight ahead, half-smile still on his face. The banter of Xander and Buffy off to his right went straight in one ear and out the other. He felt Willow squeeze his hand beside him and turned to see her starring at him, a look of concern and curiosity on her face.

"I didn't expect you back this morning; I thought you'd want to sleep after your gig last night. Oh, I didn't ask you how your gig was! I'm being such a bad girlfriend it's just I wasn't thinking because I didn't expect you to be here today, not that I'm not glad to see you! I'm really glad, all with the gladness!" Oz grinned. He really did like her giddy. Willow seemed to take this as a sign that he wasn't offended and allowed herself to slow down slightly. "It's just, you've been gone so much lately. With the band and then catching up on the sleep you've missed. I thought you wouldn't really be turning up 'till..." She paused lowering her voice. "You know 'till you had to be," she finished, slightly inkling her head towards the ceiling just as he had a few moment before.

"Well you know what they say, come for the book cage stay for the books." Willow smiled slightly, but Oz noted it didn't quite meet your eyes. "Plus, you know I was hoping I might run into this little red-headed girl I know. Very cute. You'd like her." Oz noted with care that this time the smile truly met her eyes and made them sparkle spectacularly. He loved it when her eyes sparkled like that. He felt his torso grow warm, and I rumble pass through him. There he was again. The wolf was waking up. He frowned, placing a hand on his torso, attempting to hold him in just a little longer. He saw Willow frown slightly out of the corner of his eye. He was saved the explanation.

"Well, well if it isn't Mr Osbourne, cared to return to us have you? Your sudden string of absences is almost putting your misadventures of last year to shame." The quartet stopped as Principal Snider addressed them, smirk evident on his face. He may not have liked teenagers, but he certainly enjoyed this part of his job. "Anyone would guess that you fancied taking your senior year a third time."

"Not so much actually." Oz replied calmly, using a lot more effort than he would normally require to keep his tone level. He could feel the wolf stirring inside him, egging him on to lose his temper.

"In that case, I would encourage you to start turning up to your classesa little more." Snider smirked at him once again before allowing himself the opportunity to take in the rest of the assembled scoobies. "Though with friends like these I can see why you wouldn't bother showing up." He grimaced at Buffy in particular, as if he had just encountered something particularly unpleasant. He's eyes flicked past them and onto a group of boys playing soccer with a discarded drink can. "This is not a playground people!" He called, moving beyond the group, clearly on his way to ruin someone else's morning.

"He's really such a pleasant guy," Xander said sarcastically.

"I know," Buffy chimed in as they started moving down the hall once again "I just can't think how he's ended up with such a reputation for being so slimy, and repulsive..."

"You're forgetting unreasonable..."

"... creepy, unpleasant..."

Oz listened as they continued to insult Snider, preferring to remain silent off to the side. He's thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the wolf who he could feel getting much too comfortably boisterous inside his torso.

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