Oz woke up to a stream of unfamiliar images of Willow and felt depression swamp him. The guilt and the grief pulled at him until he forced his eyes open and sat up looking for Buffy. These were her thoughts and emotions. He found her sitting on the ledge looking out into the night. Her naked back lit by the warm glow of the recently stoked fire.
"So, regrets?" He asked as he walked towards her.
"No. I love you. I was just thinking about how she'll hate me."
He sat down behind her and pulled her back against his chest.
"Maybe not."
"Oz, we are best friends. I am so breaking the girlfriend's code here. I'm not just putting a crack or two in it. I shattered the thing."
"So, regrets." He stated, and leaned his chin on her shoulder.
"No, it's not regrets for what we've done, more like sorrow that she'll lose it when she finds out. I want them all to be happy for us, but the chances they'll even understand are slim." She pressed back against him.
"They'll deal."
"They'll have to. I just wish we could have done this the traditional human way."
"You mean with the movies, the hand holding, the slow dances, and the stolen kisses?"
"Well, I was thinking more the rings and the white dress things, but yeah. It would be easier for them if they saw that build up."
"Buffy, we've had build up. This didn't happen fast or easy."
'It'll seem that way to them."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Giles. I can feel Giles and he's moving slower than ever. He's usually like quicksilver. His mind never stops, but it's barely moving now. When I went into hell last summer it was like that, but not slow. He went into hyper drive."
"Can you pick up his thoughts?"
"Never, I used to think it was just a thing, but now I'll bet he uses some meditation or mojo to control it."
"Why couldn't he find you last summer? I mean our bonds are different, but I think I could use it to find you." He wrapped an arm around her and held her closer.
"I'm not going anywhere, honey." She rubbed her hand along his. She looked up at the giant moon. "It'll be full soon. I wonder what the bond will be like when you're wolfy."
"You like to borrow trouble." Oz smiled against her hair as he felt her indignation. "You worry about what Willow will feel, how everyone will react to us. Hell, you tried to avoid there being an us because you were worried about dying. I know you're a big picture girl. You save the world all the time, but I just want to share your world. Think we can try to find balance between the small things and the world saving? I mean does it need saving right now?"
" No it doesn't need saving, not tonight." She twisted in his arms and pressed him down, kissing him.
