Chapter 2:

It had been 3 days since the Scooby gang had heard anything of consequence from Faith. It had been 3 days since anything of consequence had happened at all. Buffy and Willow were getting ready for collage, Xander and Anya had

Absolutely no regard for the rule of P.D.A. making anyone in their company feel uncomfortable everywhere they went. Giles had, had his nose in some musty old demon book, foretelling the next apocalypse. All in all it had been a very dull time.

"Willow this is vital! If you don't want to get lost on campus then you might want to pay attention!" Willow turned her head back to her blond friend.

"I'm sorry Buff. It's just…"

Buffy sighed sympathetically, "I know. The full moon. Willow, I'm sorry. And later I promises we will do that 'sharing our misery thing' that we're so good at, but now we really have to learn this."

Willow looked into her friends once-full-of-life-but-now-sad blue eyes. She knew that Buffy had been there and knew what she was feeling. But right now, on this night she didn't want to share her misery. She wanted to mourn by herself. She needed to. "Buffy, I'm ok…really. Plus I have a bunch of…uh…stuff to do tonight so…"

"Ok Will. Ok"

Willow sat on her porch looking up at the big bright full moon. She remembered all those times she had to lock Oz up in the cage in the library. She remembered right before he became a wolf he would look at her as if to say thank you.

Oz never really said much, he had always been rather quiet. But he didn't need to use words. His eyes told her everything. They spoke of love and gratitude.

He had told her he loved her once but that was right before he left and she was much too distraught to say anything. Willow wished more than anything that she could take back that day. She remembered it all too much. Suddenly she was lost in the memories that tortured her.

"Willow please understand! I can't be with you. I can't be with anyone. I can't ever be with anyone! I'm a monster, Will."

"What if I don't care?!" Willow practically shouted.

Oz looked sadly at her. His green eyes were filled with silent tears. "Will…I do care."

Willow was starting to get frustrated. "WELL STOP!" she shouted in his face. Tears streamed down her face and made it hard to see. Oz walked up to her and tried to brush the tears off her face but she turned away.

"I wish I could Willow but I can't. Will, I love you."

Willow's eyes got wide as she looked at his face. He said it. He finally said it. Now it was her turn to say something back. She opened her mouth for a moment, silently praying that the words would come. They didn't. She sat there like an idiot with her mouth wide open, not making a sound. She knew she couldn't say those words. They would mean good-bye and she couldn't handle that. She looked in his eyes one last time then turned and walked away without a word. She expected to hear Oz shout her name, or run after her, but he didn't. So she walked home in silent tears and fell on her bed and sobbed. Oz was gone.

The next flash was of something a bit more pleasant.

Willow sat on the couch wearing a lavender peasant skirt that went just past her knees and a brown t-shirt with a slight v-neck. Buffy had loaned her the clothes saying that her first valentines day with Oz should be perfect.

A knock on the door brought her out of her daze. She walked to it and let Oz in. He was wearing khaki pants and a light-blue button up (that wasn't buttoned) with a white shirt under it. He smiled at her with his award winning Oz-like smile.

"Wow Willow. You look beautiful!"

She blushed and looked at her feet, "You do too…In a…well…guy-like way…of course and…uh…" Willow finished lamely turning a deep shade of red.

Oz smiled "You wanna go now?" He held out his arm politely. She took it with a smile.

She looked around her. They were celebrating Valentines Day at a carnival. The two of them walked hand-in-hand around the park. They rode a few rides, but mainly they talked and enjoyed being in each others company. After a few hours they wandered over to the 2nd section of the fair. This was the side that had all the booths with those cheap games that no one really wins. Willow spun around enjoying herself by looking at all the different things. Oz was smiling happily. Willow stopped in her tracks. She was looking straight at a booth adorned in giant prize teddy bears.

"Do you want one?" Oz asked pointing at the hanging bears. She looked at him like he was her hero. He took her hand and lead her over.

"Hey, can we get five darts?" Oz asked the worker. He handed him the darts as Oz handed him the money. He took one look at the balloon he had to pop. He closed one eye and threw the dart. It hit the balloon in the center and with a loud POP it burst. Willow was ecstatic!

"What one do you want baby?" Oz asked her affectionately. Willow picked out a soft black and white bear.

"He's so cute, Oz! I'll name him Oz Jr. O.J. for short!" He smiled at her sweetly, and kissed her.

Willow opened the door to her house. Her date had gone perfectly. Oz looked at her not saying a word. Then he leaned in and kissed her softly. He pulled back and took something out of his pocket. It was a small green box with a nice decorative bow. Willow looked confused.

"Open it!" he said sweetly.

She smiled at him and took the box. She opened it slowly unveiling a metal necklace with a small metal heart on it.

"I was going to get you one that was pink and girly with diamonds on it, but I figured this is more like the real thing. I mean this is more like…well…my heart. And now I'm giving it to you. You have my heart, Will."

She leaned in a kissed him passionately. She knew right then that she was in love with him. She just knew.

She sat upright. Tears streamed down her face. She walked into her room and fell on the bed. She picked up O.J. and fell asleep with that bear in her arms wishing it was the real thing,