Buffy sat on her bed feeling quite lonely. Xander had gone with Giles to check on the Slayers in Ireland and Willow was in LA. Kennedy and the rest of the former Slayerettes were in various places worldwide, helping to train the other new slayers. Anya was gone. Faith and Wood were off in Australia, on vacation. And so that left Buffy all by herself in the UK.

She almost went to L.A. with Willow but knew that Will and Angel would be able to take care of any apocalyptic events just fine by themselves and she wasn't sure if Angel wanted to see her. After all, according to Andrew, Angel had gone to Europe to quote unquote 'save' her and had found out about her relationship with one of Angel's former rivals. They weren't together anymore but from what Andrew had said, the news had made Angel quite upset. He also said that Spike was still alive but she knew that was impossible, she had seen him die. Andrew had said that Angel was distraught and mentioned something about cookie dough. That made Buffy even more depressed. She had given this speech about not being ready for another relationship, using a cookie dough analogy. She felt as if she had betrayed him some how. The relationship wasn't even a relationship; it was a few dates because she was feeling lonely. Angel was obviously unhappy with her. Word got to Willow that they needed reinforcements big time but there was no word on having Buffy go. Will had exasperatedly explained that it wasn't Angel asking for her, it was sources saying that trouble was brewing. That didn't help any.

Buffy couldn't help thinking of Angel. No matter how many relationships she had or will ever have, she knew that she would never feel for anyone like she felt and still feels for Angel. True, she had accepted the fact that they couldn't be together. But she still loved him more than any other man.

Suddenly, the phone rang, disrupting Buffy from her thoughts. Buffy was actually grateful for it, the silence had become deafening.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hey," a familiar yet unrecognizable voice said. "Is Willow there?"

"Oh, uh, sorry but she isn't. Who's this?" Buffy said, a little puzzled. This was a guy and the only guy that would be calling for Willow, Xander, knew that she wasn't here.

"Oh, it's Oz." The voice said.

"Omigawd." Buffy exclaimed. "This is Buffy!"

"Oh, hey," Oz drawled, "How are you?"

"Good. How are you? Controlling the werewolf thing and all still?" Buffy asked cheerily.

"Yeah, it's going well." Oz said.

"How'd you get this number?" Buffy asked.

"I saw this girl beating the crap out of this demon and I thought 'whoa, slayer!' but it wasn't you. But the girl knew you and Willow and gave this number." Oz said.

"Oooh. So you know about the whole multi-slayer thing now," Buffy said.

"Yeah." Oz said. "Uh, listen, do you know when Willow get's back?"

"I don't but I can give you the number of where she's currently staying," Buffy suggested.

"Where is she staying?" Oz asked.

"With Angel in L.A," Buffy said.

"Oh, really?" Oz said. "Well, uh, just tell Willow hello for me. And to (Oz paused and took in a breath) Tara too."

Buffy was silent then said. "Oz…Tara…Tara died."

"Oh!" Oz said. Pause. "I'm sorry."

"Me too. She's with Kennedy now, a slayer." Buffy said.

"Oh…" he answered, put out.

"Why don't you call her?" she asked.

"No…I don't want to cause any conflict in her new relationship. I think I made things difficult when Tara met me, I don't want to do the same this time." Oz said.

"Oz, she's always going to care about you." Buffy said, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah But I left and broke her heart and she trampled on mine when I came back," Oz sighed.

"I'm sorry," Buffy said. "So, where are you? What's up these days?"

"Actually, I got to go. It was nice catching up though, Buffy. You were a good friend. I miss you. Bye."

Buffy was a little touched but Oz had hung up before she could answer. Wow, thought Buffy, that was the longest conversation she had ever had with Oz… He wasn't a talkative person at all. She hadn't spoken to him in years. Talking to Oz reminded Buffy once more of her life just a few years ago at Sunnydale High. In some ways they were the worst years of her life but in others they were the very best. Having Angel around her every day was something that she had taken for granted then but never again. She smiled, remembering all the times she was supposed to be patrolling with Angel and made out with him instead. She sighed. After all these years, Buffy still ached for his touch.

That night, Buffy had a fitful sleep, reliving the best and worst moments she had had with Angel. Most of the things she shared with Angel were both happy and horrific- their first kiss was also the first time Buffy had found out that Angel was a vampire. The first time Buffy slept with him, he had lost his soul.

Buffy woke with a start. She swallowed and immediately picked up the phone and dialled the number Willow had given to her. She called Angel for the first time in at least two years.

"Hello?" It was Willow who picked up.

"Hi," Buffy said.

"Omg Buffy! Do you want to talk to Angel?"

Buffy paused and quickly changed her mind, "I called to talk to you, Will."

"Oh. Is everything all right? It's got to be, like, three AM in Britain," Will said.

"Fine. I just had a dream and…"

"What was in it? Anything apocalyptic?" Willow asked nervously.

"No! Nothing like that. Will, Oz called,"

"What! In your dream?"

"Real life."

"Oh, God…"

"He says hi. He wanted to talk to you."

"Oh…"

"Oz wishes the best of luck to you and Kennedy,"

"You told him?"

"Well, yeah."

"He's so sweet!"

"He really is."

Silence.

"Angel's doing good. He's not dead."

"I never thought he was in any real danger. I mean, it's Angel. The guy's practically invincible."

"You died twice and you find it hard to believe that Angel could die! There was a huge horde of demons. He nearly did die."

"So how's werewolf lady?"

"They broke up, apparently."

"Oh."

"Buffy, talk to him, you know you want to. I know that's why you called."

"I can't. It's been years. I've moved on and I know he has too. There's no use torturing us."

"You realize that through the years, the only contact you've had is to save the world from something?"

"That was the point of him leaving Sunnydale."

"Spik-" A muffled noise interrupted her.

"What was that?"

"Let me tell-" Another noise.

"Willow?"

"It's nothing. Look, if Oz calls again tell him I miss him, okay?"

"Yeah. I got to go. Bye."