Chapter Four

          Pulling into the Hyperion parking lot sealed, for Willow, the utter reality of what was happening and she was gripped by fear. Trembling despite her efforts not to Willow starred out the window of Angel's car unable to bring movement to her limbs. She couldn't do this.

          "Pet?" Gently touching her arm Spike urged Willow to her feet, supporting her around the waist.

          Clinging to Spike, afraid that if he let go she collapse to the ground, Willow allowed him to lead her inside. They passed a small courtyard overrun with ivy and vines, eerily shadowed and cold, before finding themselves standing outside the back terrace.

          Peering through the hazy glass Willow glimpsed a flash of light auburn hair and heard the echo of a familiar laugh. Oz. Willow's heart swelled for a moment as all her past with Oz welled, suddenly, to her mind. Memories long since forgotten surfaced and pains long since shut out broke through. Everything came flooding back and it all felt as though it were happening for the time all over again.

          "I'm going to ask you to go out with me tomorrow night," Oz had almost stuttered over his words the first time he got up the nerve to ask her out but Willow had found it adorable. "And I'm kind of nervous about it, actually. It's interesting."

          Smiling, Willow had calmed his fears, "Oh, well if it helps at all, I'm going to say yes."

          "Yeah, it helps. It creates a comfort zone." Willow had always loved Oz's sarcasm. "So, do you want to go out with me tomorrow night?"

          Willow's answer however, had been different then expected, "Oh, I can't."

          "Oh." It hurt Willow to see Oz's face fall the way it did. "Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable."

          "No, it's just that it's Buffy's birthday," Willow hastily explained. "We're throwing her a surprise party. You could come, if you want to."

          Shuffling on his feet Oz had shrugged and responded, "I don't want to crash."

          "No, its fine," Willow insisted then added, "You could be my date."

          The glow in Oz's face made Willow's heart flutter inside her chest and her cheeks start to blush. "Alright then," Oz smiled. "I'm in."

          Choking out a laugh Willow pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and watched Oz pace back and forth across the large lobby then, letting out an exasperated breath, flop down on the couch beside Cordelia – laughing about something the brunette seer had said. Looking at the former Dingo's guitarist Willow couldn't help but notice, really notice, that lack of passion-filled love she'd held to for so long. Oz had been her first love, true, but he was also her past love and though he would always hold a piece of her heart the stoic werewolf no longer consumed all of it.

          Willow had moved on and given her heart to another.

          "You ready for this, red?"

          Willow looked up into Spike's eyes, taking his hand in her own, and lifted herself onto her toes, placing a kiss on bleached vampire's lips. "Absolutely."

          Returning her smile Spike squeezed his redhead's hand reassuringly and reached his hand out, gripping the door knob. One final, deep breath and Willow was thrown into and encounter she had never dreamed would happen.