April 4, 1998

The waves lapped at Willow's feet and her white chiton flapped slightly in the breeze. She turned her face up toward the crescent moon and lifted the pearl necklace up.

"Aphrodite, great goddess of love, pure and true, hear me and answer my prayer."

She cast the necklace into the water, almost entirely without cringing at the cost. "Foamborn one, Aphrodite, hear my prayer."

A larger wave broke around her knees, and, as it receded, the water foamed around the spot that had received the necklace. As the next wave passed over the spot a figure swiftly rose from the water, a pale and shining, nude woman who held the necklace in her hand, looking at it for a moment before turning her face toward the witch.

Willow was speechless as Aphrodite approached her, eyes full of mirth and compassion. The goddess ran cool fingers over the witch's face and caught her gaze. Willow felt lost inside those deep, blue eyes.

"You do have purity of purpose, but this guilt, why this guilt, my lovely one? You are all innocence. This guilt does not please me. Give it up. Let the water take it away and it will return the knowledge that you desire. I hear your prayer with favor, little Willow."

The goddess pressed a kiss to the witch's brow. Willow could not help but close her eyes, and when they opened, the shining form was gone. She felt strange and bereft, but uplifted. The mix of emotions swirled within her, opening something within her that had long lain closed. Tears poured down her face, and as they hit the water at her feet, she felt something swiftly drawn from her. Just as quickly, she felt knowledge flow in, an understanding that left her warm despite the cold water and night air.

The next morning

The slayer and the witch strode toward the school, deep in conversation.

"So Aphrodite told you how to cure Oz? Willow, you are the best witch ever. You rock!"

Willow shook her head. "Not cure, exactly. But the spell will give him some control when he's in wolf-form. Like, he won't be out of his mind anymore."

"Wow, is it a big, hairy spell? You don't have to raise any demons, do you?"

"Nope, no demons."

Buffy stopped and looked at her best friend.

"Why does something in your voice say that a demon might not be so bad?"

Willow blushed deeply.

"Well, as you may know, Oz and I haven't exactly — gone very far yet..."

Buffy frowned as the implications became clear to her.

"And since this spell is from a love goddess —"

"Yeah, basically."

"Will, I hate to be a downer, but I think given the circumstances..."

"I know, I know. What happened to Angel. But that wasn't exactly under divine supervision," the witch explained as the two started to walk again.

"No, it wasn't," the slayer admitted. "Nothing like that at all. Do you think Oz will be okay with it?"

"I don't know. He's not one to rush into anything, and I think he's kind of tired of the whole wolfsbane thing. I mean, he was really sore the morning after I did the last spell and I don't know how patient he's going to be with more rituals, even without the s-e-x part."

They reached their lockers and Willow started to open hers.

"I guess you could tie him down," Buffy said, smiling.

"Actually, that part is mandatory," Willow said, then dashed off to class.

That afternoon

Oz caught up with his girlfriend as they passed the social studies room, sneaking a quick kiss to her cheek. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

"Uh oh," he said.

Her radiant smile turned to a frown.

"Uh oh? What uh oh?"

"That look. It either means you aced another computer science class, in which case those suits are going to snatch you off the streets, or you figured out a new way to make wolfsbane incense smell even worse."

"Nope, no wolfsbane. I do have a new lead on something to do for your furry problem. But I don't know that this is the right place to discuss it." She marked her words with a kiss to his nose.

"Uh oh," he said. Again.