"So she dated a werewolf?"
"That's the story," Riley said.
"I remember him," said Spike. "Scrappy kid, fierce when he had to be. I think."
"He was a pretty good guy," Riley said. "Until he, you know, cheated on Willow."
"Ahhh," both Pike and Spike said, simultaneously.
"This is it," Riley said. He leaned down and slid the manhole cover to one side. "What do you mean 'ahhh'?"
"It just makes sense now, that's all," Spike said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Riley asked as he climbed down the ladder.
"Well," said Spike, dropping down into the sewer, "we just figure. . . girl like that, gotta be some reason she's a rug-muncher."
"Excuse me?" Riley said, offended.
"Look, there's nothin' wrong with it," Spike said. "Don't give toss who she shags, but her history? Gotta be somethin' started the switch."
"You don't think she just kinda fell in love with Tara?" Riley asked.
"Not a chance," said Pike as he hopped off the ladder.
"Why's that?"
"Well, take a look at it man," Pike said. "She's got a major jones for Xander for God knows how long, but he's too wrapped up in other girls to see her, then she jumps at the first guy who looks at her, and he ends up cheating on her. I'm not sayin' there wasn't some interest before, but it's a suckers bet that she wouldn't be lost to mankind before that. Kind of a 'giving up on the men' thing."
"'s too bad, too," Spike said. "I bet she's got some kinks to her. She's a fiery bint."
"I fear you," Riley said. "And not in the 'I'm afraid you're going to kill me' way."
"So what do you think of our theory?" Pike asked.
"I don't know," Riley said. "I mean, I really do think Willow just fell in love with Tara."
"But, all the blokes," Spike said. "I mean, she got hurt every time. Maybe opened up a door she wouldn't have thought about."
"I suppose it's possible," Riley said. "And I guess Moloch would fit in that category, too."
"Who?" Pike asked.
"Oh, this demon robot that she accidentally scanned into her computer, which later infected the internet, brainwashed some kids into helping it, built a body and tried to basically make Willow its bitch."
Riley failed to notice as Pike and Spike stopped dead in their tracks.
"I tol' ya," Spike said. "Every single one of these wankers is nuts."
Pike shook his head before they started walking again. "Fuckin' Hellmouth, man."
* * * * *
"Gang's gotten bigger since I left," Oz said, taking a seat on the curb. "Spike's an. . . interesting choice."
"He's got this thing in his head," Xander said. He and Buffy had wordlessly switched roles. She went to Willy's, he remained unassigned to anything. "Can't hurt humans, so he works with us cuz there's a big bad around who's, well, he took us all out."
"All?" Oz asked.
"Well, Will, Giles and Tara weren't there, and Faith was unconscious, but the rest of us, yeah."
"Weird," Oz said.
"Yeah," Xander said.
There was a pause.
"You and Buffy?"
"Still good," Xander said. "She's moved in with me, uh. . . got my own place now, promoted a couple times."
"Congrats," Oz said.
"Thanks," Xander said, leaning back so he was lying on the side walk. He gazed up at the sky. "And Faith and Riley are still together, and madly in love."
"I kinda gathered from her being on his lap and all," Oz said.
"Yeah," Xander said. "The whole 'in love' thing is all still really new to them. I mean, they had passion before, but the love adds a different aspect. It's really. . . " he trailed off.
"It's really what?" Oz asked.
Xander sat up and looked at Oz intently. "It's a full moon tonight."
"Yeah," Oz said.
"You're not wolfed."
"No."
Xander sighed and lay back down.
"I'm not gonna hurt her," Oz said. "I just. . . I had to come see. If there could be anything."
"Yeah," Xander said. "I get it. If not?"
"I'm gone," Oz said. "Devon's setting up a new band, out of LA. Thought I might hook up with them."
"Is the name as interesting as your last band?" Xander asked.
"Thrashing Death Chinchillas," Oz said.
Xander nodded. "That'll do it."
"So, Tara. How'd you guys meet her?"
"Remember the apocalypse right before you left?"
"Hard to forget."
"Yeah. Well, the thing needed a virginal sacrifice. That was Tara. Turns out she's also into the Wicca stuff, and she's real sweet. She and Will are uh. . . close."
Oz nodded. "It's good Willow's expanding her horizons." Xander somehow managed to stop from letting a snort of laughter out. "Although it's a little weird, her talking to someone other than you about this stuff."
"Yeah, well, you know, they have a lot of things in common. There are some things that Tara just gets better than me, and sometimes, Will just needs to talk to a girl."
Oz turned and looked at the front door of the Magic Box. "So how long will they-"
"As long as it takes," Xander said.
* * * * *
"I don't know anything," Willy said in an attempt to get his head released.
"You know, I really wanna believe you," Faith said as she sat at a table, her feet kicked up on top of it. "But somethin' about your eyes just screams out 'liar.' What's with that, Willy?"
"Look, I don't know nothin'!" he yelled. "All I know is this: this guy, Adam? He's one seriously scary guy. He's havin' the demons flood the cells where your boy works."
"Why would he do that?" Buffy asked, allowing Willy a little freedom of movement. "And why would they agree to it?"
"I don't know what he's doing," Willy said. "That's God's honest truth. As for why, these demons, they think this Adam guy is like their messiah. They'll do anything for him, including getting captured."
"Where's he headquartered out of?" Faith asked.
"You know, I don't even know why you guys are still so interested," Willy said. "Word has it he wiped the floor with all of you. I was you? I might just get out of Dodge, if you know what I mean. Why stick around?"
"Why stick around?" Faith asked, suddenly angry. She swung her feet off the table, stood and stalked over to where Buffy was holding him. "Why stick around? That robotic son of a bitch fucking drugged me, you little rat! Now tell us what you know, and I'll think about not giving your spleen to my boyfriend as a birthday present!"
"Okay, okay," Willy said, smoothing his clothes out a little. "Let's not go doing any spleen removals. Okay, here's what it is. I don't know where Adam's HQ is, but I can tell you this. There's a lot of demons come in here complaining about the walk from here to the caverns. Got it?"
"Yeah," Faith said. She shoved Willy and he flew backwards into the bar, knocking over some bottles of liquor and smashing them. "We got it. Come on, B, let's roll."
The two slayers exited the Alibi Room and hopped into the car, Faith behind the wheel. "You know," Buffy said. "The phrase 'let's roll' would be a lot cooler if we weren't getting into a used Ford Taurus."
"Don't blame me," Faith said as she started the car up. "Your honey picked this one out, not mine."
Buffy turned and looked at her. "Do you find it at all ironic that we two, Slayers, who would be embraced by the feminist movement as great examples of the independence of women, are completely dependent on our boyfriends for transportation."
"Hey, I've got my own means," Faith said. "I may not have a car, but I got a job and money on my own. You're the only one betrayin' the cause."
"But I'm educating myself for higher positions," Buffy said.
"While at the same time recognizing the patriarchal authority of a figure trained by an antiquated system which was designed completely for the control and subjugation of girls around the world."
"Giles doesn't work for them anymore," Buffy said, pouting.
"Face it, B. You're on track to set the women's movement back 40 years. You rely on your man for money, for transportation, for shelter, food when you're not takin' from your mom. . . you're a regular June Cleaver, except without the cooking skills."
Buffy sat there, continuing her pouting.
"Ah, don't worry about it," Faith said. "You're still a hot chick with superpowers. Anyone gets in your face about it, just beat the shit out of 'em. That'll shut 'em up."
* * * * *
"So w-what do you think. . . I-I mean what are you. . . h-how. . . "
"I don't know," Willow said, sitting across the table from Tara. Giles had gone to do some inventory in his office. "I mean, I don't know what I'm going to say to him."
"What about t-the. . . I mean, he's probably. . . I don't think he'd come back if he didn't want to get back together."
Willow frowned. "You're probably right. He probably does. Oh, man, I don't want to have to. . . you know. . . "
"I-it's okay," Tara said. "I-I mean, whatever you choose. It's okay."
Willow looked up sharply. "Choose?" she asked. She slid her chair over as close to Tara as she could. "Sweetie, no. No there is no choice here."
"B-but you said. . . we needed to talk," said Tara, bowing her head and swiping some hair out of her eyes. "Th-that's usually n-not good."
Willow took Tara's hand in hers and forced her lovers chin up so she could look in her eyes. "There is no choice," Willow said. "I am with you. I love you. Tara, I am so sorry if I made you think I was choosing between the two of you. I-I needed to talk to you to clear my head. I mean, I do love Oz, but that part of my life is over."
Willow stroked Tara's face with her palm, wiping away a tear with her thumb. "You're the one I need, baby," Willow said, leaning in and kissing her girlfriend softly. "Don't ever doubt that."
Willow stood up. "And there we have it. I figured out what to say to Oz. Okay, I'm going to-because, this is important."
"I know," Tara said. "I'll be here."
Willow checked the clock. "It's getting a little late, and I don't know how long this will take," she said. "Maybe, have Xander take you back to the dorm, and I'll see you later tonight?"
Tara nodded, and Willow leaned down and embraced her. "I love you," Willow whispered.
Tara smiled brightly. "I love you, too."
Willow smiled back at her and headed outside.
"Hey," Oz said, standing as Willow left the store. Xander jumped up as well.
"Hi," Willow said, then turned to Xander. "Could you take Tara back to the dorms?" Willow asked, also silently requesting that Xander make sure Tara was all right, at which point Xander smiled.
"Sure," he said, shooting a quick look towards the heavens.
"Thanks," Willow said, nodding that she'd look up when she could do so surreptitiously. Xander went back inside the shop and left Willow and Oz to walk and talk, then quickly shot back out of the store.
"Oh, do you guys have protection?" he asked. While some people might have taken offense at the implication of such a question, Willow and Oz merely produced sharpened pieces of wood to allay Xander's fears and went about their business.
* * * * *
"Hey," Xander said as he went back into the shop.
"H-hi," Tara said.
"You alright?" Xander asked, sitting across the table from the young woman. "Old lovers coming back. . . it can be rough."
"I'm o-okay," Tara said.
Xander smiled comfortingly at her. "The night Buffy and I got together, Angel came back from LA. That sucked a whole lot. She had routinely picked him, not just over me, but over the rest of the group. Angel probably caused more problems among the Scoobies than any other person, and not just when he lost his soul. Anyway, that night me and him got into a fight, and he left me in the graveyard and went to win back Buffy. That sucked."
"I-it doesn't sound fun."
"No," Xander said. "It wasn't. And remember, that was the very first night we got into a relationship. I had no idea, at first, whether Buffy would choose me or him. Today? I don't even come close to worrying about that."
"O-okay," Tara said.
"Sorry, I just blab on sometimes. Listen, here's the thing. You don't have to be afraid that Willow's gonna up and leave you, or suddenly not be in love with you. I know Will, probably better than anybody. Trust me when I tell you that she is devoted to you, and to your relationship."
Tara nodded.
"Come on," Xander said, smiling. "Let me walk you back to the dorms. Okay?" Tara smiled at Xander and nodded again. "Giles!"
A moment later, the older man appeared from his office.
"I'm taking Tara home," Xander said. "You'll be all right?"
"No," Giles said sarcastically. "At my age I have been rendered incapable of taking care of myself."
"Hey," Xander protested, "Joyce and Buffy would both kill me if I let anything happen to you. Faith too, probably. I'm just watching my own ass."
"Ah, yes. I am overwhelmed by your caring. Go home, you ponce," Giles said with a grin.
"See ya, Giles."
* * * * *
Willow took a quick look at the sky as Oz played with a string of beads wrapped around his right hand. Willow noticed the moon and turned and slapped Oz on the arm.
"You did it!" she yelled, a grin breaking out on her face. "You - you got control!"
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "About a month ago."
"Well, where have you been? What'd you do?"
"Traveled," Oz said as they walked vaguely in the direction of the Espresso Pump. "Lots of places. Tibet was cool. They taught me a lot about taming my inner beast."
"Which is an even more appropriate metaphor for you," Willow said, smiling.
"Yeah, that was kinda the point. Anyway, I guess I just kind of wandered, learned from whoever could teach me. Guy in England taught me a lot about controlling myself in wolf form."
"You can do that?" Willow asked, an almost innocent hope in her voice.
"Not quite," Oz said, smiling softly at her. "But I'm working on it."
The pair stopped at the Espresso Pump, ordered and sat at a table.
"Okay, so," Oz said. "I guess you probably know why I'm back."
"I. . . I think I've kinda guessed, yeah," Willow said.
"Well, listen, there's no pressure," Oz said. "I mean, obviously, I couldn't pressure you into. . . anything. And I don't really think I have a right but. . . I was hoping for a second chance."
Willow took a deep breath. "I can't," she said, firmly.
Oz's head dropped. "I get it. You can't trust me."
"No!" Willow said. "No, no, not at all, that's not it."
"Then what?" Oz asked.
"It's. . . well, it's me. I've. . . I'm not the same person I was when you left. I've grown. I've changed. I mean, I'm sure you have, too."
Oz took her hand in his. "Well, I was kind of hoping we could get to know each other again."
Willow smiled at him and covered his hand with hers. "I'd like that, Oz. I really would. But, I can't be with you. I've. . . I've found someone."
Oz sat back in his chair. "Oh."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"No," he said, staring at his drink. "No, don't be. Do you. . . are you. . . "
"Yes," Willow said. "I'm in love."
Oz nodded and reached for his coffee. Willow held her hand over the cup to stop him from drinking.
"With Tara," Willow said. Oz's head shot up, and he looked and saw the sincerity in her eyes.
Oz leaned back again without drinking. "Oh," he said.
"Yeah," said Willow.
He chuckled ironically. "When you change, you don't mess around."
"Guess not," she said.
"Xander approve?"
"It took a little time, but yes," Willow said.
"Okay," Oz said, standing up. "I think I have to bail."
"You're going?" she asked, standing as well. "But, you just got here!"
"Well, it's kind of a lot to take in, you know? I mean, I came back hoping for another chance, and instead I find out not only can't I get one, but last time I drove you away from my whole gender."
"It wasn't. . . I mean, I just. . . I fell in love. It wasn't like that."
"I get it," Oz said. "But. . . this is gonna take some time."
"Well, will you stay in touch? I mean, I know I said. . . but, that doesn't mean I don't want you in my life."
"Yeah," Oz said. "No, me either. But. . . I don't think I can do both right now. I don't think. . . with this, I can be both in your life, and not with you." Oz shook his head. "But. . . I'll be in touch. Eventually."
"Promise?" Willow asked.
"Yeah," he said. "I'll be in LA, with Devon. I'll even call with a number, in case, you know, apocalypse. But. . . I'm gonna. . . "
"Need time," Willow said, a little sadly. "Lotta that going around."
"Hey," Oz said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. I may not be able to have what I want, but something's better than nothing."
They walked back to the Magic Box, and Oz's van, in a somewhat uncomfortable silence.
"So," Willow said when they reached their destination.
"So," Oz said, tucking his hands into his pockets. "I'll be in touch. Soon, with a phone number. Later, with. . . more."
Willow nodded, then leaned in and gave Oz a hug. "I did miss you, Oz. And I may. . . well. You'll always have a place. In my heart."
Oz returned the hug sincerely. "There's nowhere better to be." Pulling away from her, he climbed into his van. "I'll call," he said. "Soon."
Willow nodded, and waved as Oz drove away. When he turned a corner and disappeared from sight, Willow headed back into the shop.
"Are you alright?" Giles asked as Willow came back into the shop, hugging her arms to herself.
"Yeah," she said, smiling a little sadly at Giles. "He took it pretty well, considering. I just wish it were easier."
"Telling people?" Giles asked.
Willow shook her head. "Life."
Giles smiled at the young woman. "Life is often unfairly difficult for people like us," Giles said.
"Us?" Willow asked.
"Those who stand against the darkness," Giles said. "The Watcher Diaries are filled with examples of life being unreasonably unfair. However, you have an advantage."
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"The people around you," Giles said. "All of us love and support you, myself included. It is the love of family and good friends that helps us get through the toughest times. With Tara, Xander, Buffy, Faith and Riley, you have something most people could not dream of, and that is a group of friends with bonds so strong, death itself could not cut them. Life is hard sometimes, but with these people around, there is nothing you cannot overcome."
Willow smiled. "You should be on that list, too," she said.
"And for that, I am most thankful," Giles said, smiling. "Would you like to drive back to the dorms?"
"Drive?" Willow asked, perking up immediately. "Your car?"
Giles nodded. "Just don't tell Buffy. She might demand a chance to drive it, and I don't think any of us want that."
* * * * *
"Thrashing Death Chinchillas," Xander said, climbing into bed next to Buffy.
"Um. . . something you killed tonight?" she asked.
"No," he said. "Something Will made possible. It's the name of Devon's new band, in LA. Oz is gonna hook up with them."
"How did Tara deal?"
"Okay, I think," Xander said. "When we were walking to the dorms, Tara said Will had reassured her about them. I told her about Oz being non-wolfy on the full moon, and she was all happy for him, and hoped that he didn't get hurt too bad."
"She's nice. If Cordy came back right now and tried to get with you, I'd beat her into the ground."
Xander nodded and smiled, but decided against mentioning what he would do to Angel. 'The Plan' he called it. He had worked it out a while earlier, when he was still having Angel issues. The Plan involved some chains, a mirror for directing sunlight, some knives he'd had blessed (although he really didn't know if that did anything, and had endured some odd looks from the priest for it), and the liberal use of certain power tools which were readily available in the workshop of any amateur carpenter. In truth, he hadn't thought about The Plan in months.
"Tara *is* nice," Xander said. "And I still feel bad. I don't really know her all that well, but I want to. I really do. It's important to me, and it's important to Willow. There's just that thing."
"That thing," Buffy agreed. "Of, you know. . . "
"Not understanding half of what she says."
"For instance. And that's when she talks at all."
"I think," Xander said, "that we just need to find a way to make her more comfortable in the group. And not force it."
"Yeah, like getting Mom to invite us all for dinner, so we're all in a situation where we kind of have to talk. We do that anytime we need to get to know somebody. Willow would totally know what was going on. We need a different idea."
The couple lay in bed, silent, thinking for a few minutes.
"So then, you'll talk to your mom about that dinner party?" Xander asked
"First thing tomorrow."
----------
End Chapter 20
"That's the story," Riley said.
"I remember him," said Spike. "Scrappy kid, fierce when he had to be. I think."
"He was a pretty good guy," Riley said. "Until he, you know, cheated on Willow."
"Ahhh," both Pike and Spike said, simultaneously.
"This is it," Riley said. He leaned down and slid the manhole cover to one side. "What do you mean 'ahhh'?"
"It just makes sense now, that's all," Spike said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Riley asked as he climbed down the ladder.
"Well," said Spike, dropping down into the sewer, "we just figure. . . girl like that, gotta be some reason she's a rug-muncher."
"Excuse me?" Riley said, offended.
"Look, there's nothin' wrong with it," Spike said. "Don't give toss who she shags, but her history? Gotta be somethin' started the switch."
"You don't think she just kinda fell in love with Tara?" Riley asked.
"Not a chance," said Pike as he hopped off the ladder.
"Why's that?"
"Well, take a look at it man," Pike said. "She's got a major jones for Xander for God knows how long, but he's too wrapped up in other girls to see her, then she jumps at the first guy who looks at her, and he ends up cheating on her. I'm not sayin' there wasn't some interest before, but it's a suckers bet that she wouldn't be lost to mankind before that. Kind of a 'giving up on the men' thing."
"'s too bad, too," Spike said. "I bet she's got some kinks to her. She's a fiery bint."
"I fear you," Riley said. "And not in the 'I'm afraid you're going to kill me' way."
"So what do you think of our theory?" Pike asked.
"I don't know," Riley said. "I mean, I really do think Willow just fell in love with Tara."
"But, all the blokes," Spike said. "I mean, she got hurt every time. Maybe opened up a door she wouldn't have thought about."
"I suppose it's possible," Riley said. "And I guess Moloch would fit in that category, too."
"Who?" Pike asked.
"Oh, this demon robot that she accidentally scanned into her computer, which later infected the internet, brainwashed some kids into helping it, built a body and tried to basically make Willow its bitch."
Riley failed to notice as Pike and Spike stopped dead in their tracks.
"I tol' ya," Spike said. "Every single one of these wankers is nuts."
Pike shook his head before they started walking again. "Fuckin' Hellmouth, man."
* * * * *
"Gang's gotten bigger since I left," Oz said, taking a seat on the curb. "Spike's an. . . interesting choice."
"He's got this thing in his head," Xander said. He and Buffy had wordlessly switched roles. She went to Willy's, he remained unassigned to anything. "Can't hurt humans, so he works with us cuz there's a big bad around who's, well, he took us all out."
"All?" Oz asked.
"Well, Will, Giles and Tara weren't there, and Faith was unconscious, but the rest of us, yeah."
"Weird," Oz said.
"Yeah," Xander said.
There was a pause.
"You and Buffy?"
"Still good," Xander said. "She's moved in with me, uh. . . got my own place now, promoted a couple times."
"Congrats," Oz said.
"Thanks," Xander said, leaning back so he was lying on the side walk. He gazed up at the sky. "And Faith and Riley are still together, and madly in love."
"I kinda gathered from her being on his lap and all," Oz said.
"Yeah," Xander said. "The whole 'in love' thing is all still really new to them. I mean, they had passion before, but the love adds a different aspect. It's really. . . " he trailed off.
"It's really what?" Oz asked.
Xander sat up and looked at Oz intently. "It's a full moon tonight."
"Yeah," Oz said.
"You're not wolfed."
"No."
Xander sighed and lay back down.
"I'm not gonna hurt her," Oz said. "I just. . . I had to come see. If there could be anything."
"Yeah," Xander said. "I get it. If not?"
"I'm gone," Oz said. "Devon's setting up a new band, out of LA. Thought I might hook up with them."
"Is the name as interesting as your last band?" Xander asked.
"Thrashing Death Chinchillas," Oz said.
Xander nodded. "That'll do it."
"So, Tara. How'd you guys meet her?"
"Remember the apocalypse right before you left?"
"Hard to forget."
"Yeah. Well, the thing needed a virginal sacrifice. That was Tara. Turns out she's also into the Wicca stuff, and she's real sweet. She and Will are uh. . . close."
Oz nodded. "It's good Willow's expanding her horizons." Xander somehow managed to stop from letting a snort of laughter out. "Although it's a little weird, her talking to someone other than you about this stuff."
"Yeah, well, you know, they have a lot of things in common. There are some things that Tara just gets better than me, and sometimes, Will just needs to talk to a girl."
Oz turned and looked at the front door of the Magic Box. "So how long will they-"
"As long as it takes," Xander said.
* * * * *
"I don't know anything," Willy said in an attempt to get his head released.
"You know, I really wanna believe you," Faith said as she sat at a table, her feet kicked up on top of it. "But somethin' about your eyes just screams out 'liar.' What's with that, Willy?"
"Look, I don't know nothin'!" he yelled. "All I know is this: this guy, Adam? He's one seriously scary guy. He's havin' the demons flood the cells where your boy works."
"Why would he do that?" Buffy asked, allowing Willy a little freedom of movement. "And why would they agree to it?"
"I don't know what he's doing," Willy said. "That's God's honest truth. As for why, these demons, they think this Adam guy is like their messiah. They'll do anything for him, including getting captured."
"Where's he headquartered out of?" Faith asked.
"You know, I don't even know why you guys are still so interested," Willy said. "Word has it he wiped the floor with all of you. I was you? I might just get out of Dodge, if you know what I mean. Why stick around?"
"Why stick around?" Faith asked, suddenly angry. She swung her feet off the table, stood and stalked over to where Buffy was holding him. "Why stick around? That robotic son of a bitch fucking drugged me, you little rat! Now tell us what you know, and I'll think about not giving your spleen to my boyfriend as a birthday present!"
"Okay, okay," Willy said, smoothing his clothes out a little. "Let's not go doing any spleen removals. Okay, here's what it is. I don't know where Adam's HQ is, but I can tell you this. There's a lot of demons come in here complaining about the walk from here to the caverns. Got it?"
"Yeah," Faith said. She shoved Willy and he flew backwards into the bar, knocking over some bottles of liquor and smashing them. "We got it. Come on, B, let's roll."
The two slayers exited the Alibi Room and hopped into the car, Faith behind the wheel. "You know," Buffy said. "The phrase 'let's roll' would be a lot cooler if we weren't getting into a used Ford Taurus."
"Don't blame me," Faith said as she started the car up. "Your honey picked this one out, not mine."
Buffy turned and looked at her. "Do you find it at all ironic that we two, Slayers, who would be embraced by the feminist movement as great examples of the independence of women, are completely dependent on our boyfriends for transportation."
"Hey, I've got my own means," Faith said. "I may not have a car, but I got a job and money on my own. You're the only one betrayin' the cause."
"But I'm educating myself for higher positions," Buffy said.
"While at the same time recognizing the patriarchal authority of a figure trained by an antiquated system which was designed completely for the control and subjugation of girls around the world."
"Giles doesn't work for them anymore," Buffy said, pouting.
"Face it, B. You're on track to set the women's movement back 40 years. You rely on your man for money, for transportation, for shelter, food when you're not takin' from your mom. . . you're a regular June Cleaver, except without the cooking skills."
Buffy sat there, continuing her pouting.
"Ah, don't worry about it," Faith said. "You're still a hot chick with superpowers. Anyone gets in your face about it, just beat the shit out of 'em. That'll shut 'em up."
* * * * *
"So w-what do you think. . . I-I mean what are you. . . h-how. . . "
"I don't know," Willow said, sitting across the table from Tara. Giles had gone to do some inventory in his office. "I mean, I don't know what I'm going to say to him."
"What about t-the. . . I mean, he's probably. . . I don't think he'd come back if he didn't want to get back together."
Willow frowned. "You're probably right. He probably does. Oh, man, I don't want to have to. . . you know. . . "
"I-it's okay," Tara said. "I-I mean, whatever you choose. It's okay."
Willow looked up sharply. "Choose?" she asked. She slid her chair over as close to Tara as she could. "Sweetie, no. No there is no choice here."
"B-but you said. . . we needed to talk," said Tara, bowing her head and swiping some hair out of her eyes. "Th-that's usually n-not good."
Willow took Tara's hand in hers and forced her lovers chin up so she could look in her eyes. "There is no choice," Willow said. "I am with you. I love you. Tara, I am so sorry if I made you think I was choosing between the two of you. I-I needed to talk to you to clear my head. I mean, I do love Oz, but that part of my life is over."
Willow stroked Tara's face with her palm, wiping away a tear with her thumb. "You're the one I need, baby," Willow said, leaning in and kissing her girlfriend softly. "Don't ever doubt that."
Willow stood up. "And there we have it. I figured out what to say to Oz. Okay, I'm going to-because, this is important."
"I know," Tara said. "I'll be here."
Willow checked the clock. "It's getting a little late, and I don't know how long this will take," she said. "Maybe, have Xander take you back to the dorm, and I'll see you later tonight?"
Tara nodded, and Willow leaned down and embraced her. "I love you," Willow whispered.
Tara smiled brightly. "I love you, too."
Willow smiled back at her and headed outside.
"Hey," Oz said, standing as Willow left the store. Xander jumped up as well.
"Hi," Willow said, then turned to Xander. "Could you take Tara back to the dorms?" Willow asked, also silently requesting that Xander make sure Tara was all right, at which point Xander smiled.
"Sure," he said, shooting a quick look towards the heavens.
"Thanks," Willow said, nodding that she'd look up when she could do so surreptitiously. Xander went back inside the shop and left Willow and Oz to walk and talk, then quickly shot back out of the store.
"Oh, do you guys have protection?" he asked. While some people might have taken offense at the implication of such a question, Willow and Oz merely produced sharpened pieces of wood to allay Xander's fears and went about their business.
* * * * *
"Hey," Xander said as he went back into the shop.
"H-hi," Tara said.
"You alright?" Xander asked, sitting across the table from the young woman. "Old lovers coming back. . . it can be rough."
"I'm o-okay," Tara said.
Xander smiled comfortingly at her. "The night Buffy and I got together, Angel came back from LA. That sucked a whole lot. She had routinely picked him, not just over me, but over the rest of the group. Angel probably caused more problems among the Scoobies than any other person, and not just when he lost his soul. Anyway, that night me and him got into a fight, and he left me in the graveyard and went to win back Buffy. That sucked."
"I-it doesn't sound fun."
"No," Xander said. "It wasn't. And remember, that was the very first night we got into a relationship. I had no idea, at first, whether Buffy would choose me or him. Today? I don't even come close to worrying about that."
"O-okay," Tara said.
"Sorry, I just blab on sometimes. Listen, here's the thing. You don't have to be afraid that Willow's gonna up and leave you, or suddenly not be in love with you. I know Will, probably better than anybody. Trust me when I tell you that she is devoted to you, and to your relationship."
Tara nodded.
"Come on," Xander said, smiling. "Let me walk you back to the dorms. Okay?" Tara smiled at Xander and nodded again. "Giles!"
A moment later, the older man appeared from his office.
"I'm taking Tara home," Xander said. "You'll be all right?"
"No," Giles said sarcastically. "At my age I have been rendered incapable of taking care of myself."
"Hey," Xander protested, "Joyce and Buffy would both kill me if I let anything happen to you. Faith too, probably. I'm just watching my own ass."
"Ah, yes. I am overwhelmed by your caring. Go home, you ponce," Giles said with a grin.
"See ya, Giles."
* * * * *
Willow took a quick look at the sky as Oz played with a string of beads wrapped around his right hand. Willow noticed the moon and turned and slapped Oz on the arm.
"You did it!" she yelled, a grin breaking out on her face. "You - you got control!"
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "About a month ago."
"Well, where have you been? What'd you do?"
"Traveled," Oz said as they walked vaguely in the direction of the Espresso Pump. "Lots of places. Tibet was cool. They taught me a lot about taming my inner beast."
"Which is an even more appropriate metaphor for you," Willow said, smiling.
"Yeah, that was kinda the point. Anyway, I guess I just kind of wandered, learned from whoever could teach me. Guy in England taught me a lot about controlling myself in wolf form."
"You can do that?" Willow asked, an almost innocent hope in her voice.
"Not quite," Oz said, smiling softly at her. "But I'm working on it."
The pair stopped at the Espresso Pump, ordered and sat at a table.
"Okay, so," Oz said. "I guess you probably know why I'm back."
"I. . . I think I've kinda guessed, yeah," Willow said.
"Well, listen, there's no pressure," Oz said. "I mean, obviously, I couldn't pressure you into. . . anything. And I don't really think I have a right but. . . I was hoping for a second chance."
Willow took a deep breath. "I can't," she said, firmly.
Oz's head dropped. "I get it. You can't trust me."
"No!" Willow said. "No, no, not at all, that's not it."
"Then what?" Oz asked.
"It's. . . well, it's me. I've. . . I'm not the same person I was when you left. I've grown. I've changed. I mean, I'm sure you have, too."
Oz took her hand in his. "Well, I was kind of hoping we could get to know each other again."
Willow smiled at him and covered his hand with hers. "I'd like that, Oz. I really would. But, I can't be with you. I've. . . I've found someone."
Oz sat back in his chair. "Oh."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"No," he said, staring at his drink. "No, don't be. Do you. . . are you. . . "
"Yes," Willow said. "I'm in love."
Oz nodded and reached for his coffee. Willow held her hand over the cup to stop him from drinking.
"With Tara," Willow said. Oz's head shot up, and he looked and saw the sincerity in her eyes.
Oz leaned back again without drinking. "Oh," he said.
"Yeah," said Willow.
He chuckled ironically. "When you change, you don't mess around."
"Guess not," she said.
"Xander approve?"
"It took a little time, but yes," Willow said.
"Okay," Oz said, standing up. "I think I have to bail."
"You're going?" she asked, standing as well. "But, you just got here!"
"Well, it's kind of a lot to take in, you know? I mean, I came back hoping for another chance, and instead I find out not only can't I get one, but last time I drove you away from my whole gender."
"It wasn't. . . I mean, I just. . . I fell in love. It wasn't like that."
"I get it," Oz said. "But. . . this is gonna take some time."
"Well, will you stay in touch? I mean, I know I said. . . but, that doesn't mean I don't want you in my life."
"Yeah," Oz said. "No, me either. But. . . I don't think I can do both right now. I don't think. . . with this, I can be both in your life, and not with you." Oz shook his head. "But. . . I'll be in touch. Eventually."
"Promise?" Willow asked.
"Yeah," he said. "I'll be in LA, with Devon. I'll even call with a number, in case, you know, apocalypse. But. . . I'm gonna. . . "
"Need time," Willow said, a little sadly. "Lotta that going around."
"Hey," Oz said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. I may not be able to have what I want, but something's better than nothing."
They walked back to the Magic Box, and Oz's van, in a somewhat uncomfortable silence.
"So," Willow said when they reached their destination.
"So," Oz said, tucking his hands into his pockets. "I'll be in touch. Soon, with a phone number. Later, with. . . more."
Willow nodded, then leaned in and gave Oz a hug. "I did miss you, Oz. And I may. . . well. You'll always have a place. In my heart."
Oz returned the hug sincerely. "There's nowhere better to be." Pulling away from her, he climbed into his van. "I'll call," he said. "Soon."
Willow nodded, and waved as Oz drove away. When he turned a corner and disappeared from sight, Willow headed back into the shop.
"Are you alright?" Giles asked as Willow came back into the shop, hugging her arms to herself.
"Yeah," she said, smiling a little sadly at Giles. "He took it pretty well, considering. I just wish it were easier."
"Telling people?" Giles asked.
Willow shook her head. "Life."
Giles smiled at the young woman. "Life is often unfairly difficult for people like us," Giles said.
"Us?" Willow asked.
"Those who stand against the darkness," Giles said. "The Watcher Diaries are filled with examples of life being unreasonably unfair. However, you have an advantage."
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"The people around you," Giles said. "All of us love and support you, myself included. It is the love of family and good friends that helps us get through the toughest times. With Tara, Xander, Buffy, Faith and Riley, you have something most people could not dream of, and that is a group of friends with bonds so strong, death itself could not cut them. Life is hard sometimes, but with these people around, there is nothing you cannot overcome."
Willow smiled. "You should be on that list, too," she said.
"And for that, I am most thankful," Giles said, smiling. "Would you like to drive back to the dorms?"
"Drive?" Willow asked, perking up immediately. "Your car?"
Giles nodded. "Just don't tell Buffy. She might demand a chance to drive it, and I don't think any of us want that."
* * * * *
"Thrashing Death Chinchillas," Xander said, climbing into bed next to Buffy.
"Um. . . something you killed tonight?" she asked.
"No," he said. "Something Will made possible. It's the name of Devon's new band, in LA. Oz is gonna hook up with them."
"How did Tara deal?"
"Okay, I think," Xander said. "When we were walking to the dorms, Tara said Will had reassured her about them. I told her about Oz being non-wolfy on the full moon, and she was all happy for him, and hoped that he didn't get hurt too bad."
"She's nice. If Cordy came back right now and tried to get with you, I'd beat her into the ground."
Xander nodded and smiled, but decided against mentioning what he would do to Angel. 'The Plan' he called it. He had worked it out a while earlier, when he was still having Angel issues. The Plan involved some chains, a mirror for directing sunlight, some knives he'd had blessed (although he really didn't know if that did anything, and had endured some odd looks from the priest for it), and the liberal use of certain power tools which were readily available in the workshop of any amateur carpenter. In truth, he hadn't thought about The Plan in months.
"Tara *is* nice," Xander said. "And I still feel bad. I don't really know her all that well, but I want to. I really do. It's important to me, and it's important to Willow. There's just that thing."
"That thing," Buffy agreed. "Of, you know. . . "
"Not understanding half of what she says."
"For instance. And that's when she talks at all."
"I think," Xander said, "that we just need to find a way to make her more comfortable in the group. And not force it."
"Yeah, like getting Mom to invite us all for dinner, so we're all in a situation where we kind of have to talk. We do that anytime we need to get to know somebody. Willow would totally know what was going on. We need a different idea."
The couple lay in bed, silent, thinking for a few minutes.
"So then, you'll talk to your mom about that dinner party?" Xander asked
"First thing tomorrow."
----------
End Chapter 20
