Oz shouldered one of their carrying baskets, and picked up the handle of the weapons basket waiting for Buffy to quit trying to shove something into her carry basket. Her obvious distress was tearing at him.

"Just let Giles carry it. He's already got the back pack and the weapons bag." Oz watched as she slumped.

"Fine." Buffy turned toward him and pouted. He smiled and winked at her.

Giles rolled his eyes and pulled the small blue skin wrapped item from her hands. He opened it and found several very large crystals. They were different from any others he had encountered.

"They're pretty, and I find them soothing." Buffy shrugged and started checking the rest of her gear.

"Buffy, we are going to walk less than ten paces." Giles spoke patiently.

Buffy slid into the harness on her basket and grabbed the other handle on their weapons basket. Oz felt her crying through the bond, but her eyes remained dry.

"Think about it, Buffy. In a few minutes there will be a hot shower and soap waiting for you." Oz teased her.

She stuck out her tongue at him.

He watched as Giles poured some powder in a circle around them and opened the portal. Giles stepped through first and then they stepped through together.

Suddenly being in the library was shocking. The scents were overwhelming. Oz quickly shed his basket and took several deep breaths. He closed his eyes and shook his head only to be knocked to the ground as Willow hurtled herself into his chest.

"Your home and your safe." She sobbed against him.

"Yeah, safe and sound." He pushed her off of his lap and stood up. He stepped back as she sprang at him again. He felt panic rising within him.

"Willow, let the man be." Giles stepped between her and Oz. He frowned at her, but she was already trying to force her way around him to get to the werewolf.

Xander smiled at Buffy. "What's with the funky leather pants and vest, and what happened to your hair?"

"I made the pants. There was no hair dye and no salons to visit. We were very deprived." She shifted positions until she was standing next to Oz.

Giles watched as the couple started to retreat from their friends and felt a rush of pity. They were already so unhappy. This wasn't helping.

"Perhaps we should let them get cleaned up." He tried to capture Willow's gaze, but failing he turned to Oz and Buffy. "You both have extra gear here. Go shower." He watched as they grinned at each other.

"Showers and soap, shampoo and conditioner." Buffy laughed and bounced as she shed her basket. She squealed and popped into the office with Oz fast on her heals. They emerged with their extra gear and headed toward the double doors. Willow went to follow them and Giles snagged her arm, bringing her to a stop.

"Let them clean up. They've been gone for a long while. They need time to adjust." Giles used his sternest voice.

"They were gone for three hours, Giles." Willow snapped at him.

"Three of our hours, nearly a year for them. They need some time. It was very different there. You need to be patient." He frowned at her.

"But I need to talk to Oz. I need to tell him how I feel." She started toward the doors again. Giles felt anger swell inside him. Willow was usually so perceptive, and her oblivious reaction to their pain puzzled him,

"It's been much longer for him than for you, Willow. Think less of your own needs and more of your friends'." Giles glared at her until she flounced back to her seat at the long wooden table.

"What was it like, where they were?" Willow's voice shook a bit. Her hands worried at the hem of her rainbow colored sweater. "How bad was it?"

"It wasn't bad, Willow. It was, however, very different. Their lives moved on without us. They survived. They even seemed to be thriving. You need to account for that time. Nothing here is fresh in their minds." Giles smiled at the young witch trying to offer some comfort.

"If he's had a year, maybe he's already forgiven me." Her face brightened and Giles wanted to groan. "We can just go back to everything being normal and good."

Giles watched as she turned and started reading a spell book. He wanted things to go smoothly, but it seemed unlikely. He stood watching the young witch twist her hair around her fingers while glancing at the double doors. He looked at Xander to gauge his reaction and found the young man staring right at him.

"It wasn't bad though." Xander looked at him straight in the eye. "They were safe and it wasn't bad."

"They were safe. It was a very pretty place. You don't have to worry Xander. I'm sure they will tell us everything about their trip in their own time."