Buffy walked into the Bronze and saw Oz practicing on the stage. If not for the changes to the club since her second death, it would look exactly like a scene she had seen countless times during high school. "Hey Oz," she announced as she closed in on the guitarist.

"Hey Buff," he replied, almost beaming as he spoke. (Or what passed for beaming with Oz, that is.)

"You sound happy today," said Buffy as she smiled at him. "Did ya win the lottery or something? Because if you did, I'm not below taking handouts, you know."

"No, nothing like that," answered Oz as he smirked at the Slayer's coy suggestion. "Just talked to Willow a while ago."

"That's good," she said, trying hard not to speak her mind in this instance. "Talking usually leads to good things.....right?"

"I'm in love with her, and I feel fine."

"That's good to hear," announced Buffy, though she wasn't sure what to make of Oz's declaration.

"Sorry," answered Oz as he played a few chords slowly on his guitar. "Old song stuck in my head."

"Just as long as I don't start singing for no reason whatsoever, that's fine by me," answered Buffy. "I *so* don't want to go there again."

"Willow told me about that. Somewhere between the story of Dawn going out with a vampire on Halloween and the one about you fighting a lady with giant penis growing out of her head at the Doublemeat Palace." He smirked at that last one. The wild stuff you see on the Hellmouth....

"Trust me, Oz, this hasn't been one of my finer years." Buffy smiled, then began laughing, and continued doing so for a couple of minutes until she said, "I don't even know if I've ever had a finer year in Sunnydale."

"Sophomore year of high school?"

"Died."

"Jun....never mind. Senior year?"

"Well, Snyder died and I blew up the school. Does that count as a good year?"

"I think so," replied Oz with a bit of humor in his voice. "You also got that cool umbrella...."

"Yeah," agreed the Slayer as she fondly remembered her lone reward in all her years of "service". "Did Willow tell you that she and Tara fixed it last year?"

"Not really," he admitted. "Tara didn't come up much."

"She loved her a lot," Buffy noted solemnly.

"Yeah," said Oz, not showing any of his feelings on the matter.

After a long, uncomfortable silence, Buffy said, "So, what did Willow say?"

* * *

"You remember the card I gave her?"

Anya looked at her ex-fiance with her best So? expression before saying, "Was this before or after you bought her the flowers?"

"Before," replied Xander. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm trying to sound like I actually care," answered the demon bluntly. "What does this card you gave her have to do with anything?"

* * *

"She's so glad, she's telling all the world that her baby buys her things, you know. 'He buys her diamond rings.' You know. She said so."

"You're buying her diamond rings?" asked Buffy, again failing to believe her ears.

"Well, no," answered Oz, "still got that song in my head. The lyrics sort of fit."

"Oh," replied Buffy, still a little unsure of Oz's somewhat mysterious meaning. "So she's been telling everyone about the presents you've given her?"

* * *

"Yeah," said Xander as he smiled slightly. "I talked to her today, and she was pretty happy about the flowers. Basically, she's in love with me, and I feel fine."

"She loves him, too," answered Anya, "so I wouldn't exactly call it a colossal victory or anything."

Xander scowled at the woman, or demon if you will, for a moment before responding. "Thanks, An, for that wonderful shot of pessimism."

"Excuse me," she interrupted, "but I still sort of love you, you know. It's not exactly easy listening to you try to win Willow's heart or whatever, you know."

"I'm sorry An, but I need this. I need my Wills."

"Of course," replied the broken-hearted vengeance demon.

* * *

"She's in love you, and you feel fine."

"That about sums it up, Buffy," remarked Oz with one of his trademark grins as he turned his attention back to his guitar.

"Then I'm happy, too," declared the Slayer with a smile as she felt an odd twinge in her heart.