Chapter Thirteen

Two days later…

Buffy and Willow are sitting on Willow's bed.

Willow: I cared about her a lot, but I think it was for the best, you know?

Buffy: So you're not upset?

Willow: Well I am, and I'm going to miss her. But I want her to be happy and I don't think she was with me. There was always this cloud hanging over us

Buffy: By a cloud, do you mean Tara?

Willow: Yeah. I have moved on from Tara, and I've accepted she's gone but I've only ever loved two people, Oz and Tara. They were both completely different (smiles) and I'm not just stating the obvious here. I think Kennedy felt over-powered by it. But we're still gonna be friends

Buffy: And at least she's not gonna skip town like most of the guys I end up with

Willow: What is it with us and guys skipping town? There was you and Angel, me and Oz, you and Riley

Buffy: And don't forget me and Spike. He left to get his soul back, remember?

Willow: Ah, how could I forget that?

They grinned, reminiscing their past. It was a rare moment the past few days. There'd been so much to do. Willow and Giles had been thoroughly in research mode, rarely surfacing from the books; Buffy hadn't seen Angel since the meeting as he'd been busy with Spike searching through Wolfram and Hart for clues, and visiting Hurst; Buffy and Faith had been training harder, preparing for the coming battle and Xander was in England, contacting the Watcher's Council. Buffy smiled at the thought of Xander surrounded by the stuffy Watchers.

Willow: What are you smiling about?

Buffy: I was just imagining Xander trying to talk to the new Watchers

Willow: (shaking her head) I'm not sure whether that was one of Giles' better plans. Xander and the Watcher's Council. Kinda strikes me as complete opposites

Buffy: Exactly what I thought. But it's good that he's keeping busy, what with Anya

Willow: Yeah. I remember what it was like when Tara died, and for you when you had to send Angel to hell. It's tough. Especially as he didn't get to be with her when she died. But he seems to be coping. Anyway, you spoke to Marcus this morning, right? Anymore news on the battle?

Buffy: Nada

There was a knock at the door and Vi came in.

Vi: There's a guy downstairs, says he knows you two

Willow and Buffy followed Vi downstairs, then stopped in their tracks when they saw who was at the front door.

Oz: Hey, heard there was some big battle. Thought you might need some help

Willow: Oz?

Oz: Looks like it

She rushed up to him and hugged him tightly.

Willow: What're you doing here?

Oz: Here to help

Buffy: How did you here about the battle? We didn't know until a couple of days ago

Oz: Woman at the village I'm staying at has visions

He held out some books and papers.

Oz: She thought these might help you

Giles: Oz?

Oz: Hey Giles
Giles: It's good to see you, what're you doing here?

Oz looked at Willow, obviously not wanting to explain it again.

Willow: Erm a woman at his village had a vision about the battle, she sent him with these books. She thought they might help us figure out what's going on.

Giles eagerly took the books from Oz, hurrying out of the room towards the library.

Buffy: Those'll keep him busy for hours

Willow: So where've you been all this time?

Chapter Fourteen

Later…

Willow: Wow, a colony of werewolves? Only ones who can control it?

Oz: Yeah. They're like me; they don't want to use the werewolf to harm anyone. But they can control it so if the time came that they needed to fight, they could become the werewolf, but have control over their mind

Willow: And you can now?

Oz: Yeah, finally mastered it about a year ago. Took a long time

Willow: So that's it now? You've done all you wanted to do?

Oz: Not quite, still not managed that E minor diminished 9th

Willow beamed at the memory. Buffy smiled, she hadn't seen Willow so happy for a while. She excused herself, wanting to leave the two alone. She knew Willow still cared for Oz, but she thought she was all about girls now…just as she was leaving she heard:

Oz: So you're into girls full time now?

Willow: Er…kinda

Buffy: Giles, I'm gonna go to Angels, see if he's got any more info for us

Giles: Yes, yes

He didn't even lift his head from the pile of books. Buffy shook her head and smiled gently. Giles never changed.

Buffy: Angel? You in here?

Angel: I'm in the bedroom

Buffy walked in and gulped. He was just wearing his sweats and the bed was rumpled. He'd obviously just woken up. She walked over to him and kissed him softly. She started to pull away but he pulled her back again and kissed her more passionately. She sighed happily and relaxed in his strong arms.

Angel: I missed you

Buffy: I missed you too

They kissed again, quickly this time, then Angel pulled on a jumper and they moved into the living room. Angel sat down on his favourite chair then pulled Buffy on to his lap, kissing her neck softly.

Buffy: Mmm, that's nice

He stroked her back with his fingertips and pulled her into an embrace, holding her tightly against him. Her head was buried in the crook of his neck and she pulled away slightly to allow her to nibble his neck. She kissed the skin behind his ear, causing him to growl softly in response. She pulled away and smiled at him mischievously; she loved having that effect on him, and he knew it.

Buffy: Before I forget, did you find anything out about the battle?

Angel had started to trace kisses along her jawline, ending at her ear, which he nibbled gently. She moaned softly in response.

Angel: Mmm, we found an old book with references to a great battle with the great warriors…

He started kissing her jawline again.

Buffy: Really?

Angel: (kisses) Mmm. I've got it here (kisses) Maybe we should take it to Giles

He softly kissed the scar on her neck – his scar – and pressed his teeth to it, teasing it gently. Buffy gasped

Buffy: (breathless) Later

She moved so she was straddling him and kissed him hard and strong, leaving him desperately trying to grasp on to any inch of self-control he had left.