Buffy heard the frantic pounding on the door as she came awake. Oz's arm tightened around her waist. He grumbled as she shifted around to greet him with a kiss. He looked adorable as he blinked up at her. She dropped a quick kiss on his lips.

"I think we have company." She grinned. "Someone was knock, knock, knocking."

Oz nodded and sat up. The sheets slid down his chest and Buffy considered climbing right back into bed. Oz smiled at her and shook his head.

"Don't even think it, Buffy. Giles is probably ready to drag you out of here by your hair. We spent all afternoon and night in bed."

"We weren't in bed the whole time." She stuck out her lower lip and gave him a playful pout.

"Having sex on the window seat doesn't count and neither does the floor." Oz flipped the sheets back and stood up. "If Ethan hadn't put a tray outside the door we would have had to go after food before this."

"I suppose we do have to poke our heads out and tackle the real world." She leaned back against the door to the bathroom. "But, we need to get clean first."

Oz shook his head and followed her into the bathroom.

Giles fussed with his robe as Dawn sobbed and Xander paced. They had called repeatedly the night before, but Oz and Buffy had not emerged from their room. He swallowed as he considered going up to check on them. Ethan had insisted on giving them some time together, but Buffy would want to comfort her sister and her friend. He glared at his hands and rubbed his palms flat against the warm surface.

"She is here, right?" Xander looked at him with haunted eyes. "I mean, we were supposed to have dinner today. Right?"

"Yes, Xander. You were supposed to come for dinner in six hours." Giles sighed. "Your merry band refused to come on New Year's Day."

"Yeah, yeah, we were wrong to do that, but where is she?"

"She's upstairs getting dressed." Oz leaned against the door. "I have ground rules for the both of you If you want to see her."

"You can't keep me from my sister." Dawn snarled. "She'd hate you if you tried."

"Possibly. Not for long though. So, I can keep you away, and I promise I will if I think that she might be hurt by either of you again." Oz crossed his arms across his chest.

"Oz, man, it's us. We're her family." Xander moved toward him with his hands out.

"Yeah. I know what you are to her." Oz sighed. "And, I know what you have done to her. She's been hurting for a very long time, and I know you're sorry. It sucks all around, but she deserves to be happy. She shouldn't have to feel guilty or breaking a curse you laid on her. I don't want her to feel obligated to you in any way. I know she'll accept your apologies, but, if you can't put on a happy face for her, leave now."

"You were around for like five minutes when I was little. You don't have the right to come here and tell me what to do." Dawn glared down into Oz's eyes.

"Actually, we're meeting for the first time." Oz smirked. "You make a lovely first impression by the way."

"Dawn is Buffy's sister." Xander moved next to Dawn, placing a hand protectively on her shoulder.

"I don't need the clarification, Xander." Oz looked at both of them and raised a brow. "I'm not challenging her status."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Protecting Buffy." Oz sighed. "You hurt her, and not just this once with the curse. You dragged her out of heaven and sat in judgement of her afterwards. Hell, you kicked her out of her own damn house. Then, while she was aching over the loss of her lover and loyal friend, you cursed her. I know you want to apologize. You owe her, but keep your pain to yourself."

"He has a point, Xander." Giles sighed. "Have any of you ever admitted to being wrong? It was your actions that allowed the First to gain so much power."

"Not mine." Dawn crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Giles.

"No." Giles stood. "That can't be laid at your door, but you punished her for not being able to be what you needed. She died for you, and you acted like a petulant infant at every turn."

"You ran out on her. You tried to kill Spike. Hell, you put her through that awful test." Dawns advanced toward him with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "So, don't look down your nose at us."

"He's not." Oz growled and all three of the humans turned toward him. "He's making a point. Buffy deserves better from you. She's had it from him. Their relationship is repaired. You have miles to go. Now, are we going to talk like the adults we are?"

Giles shivered as he considered the wolf standing in his home. It was easy to assume Oz was still the same as he had been years before, but it was wrong.

He swallowed as he watched Oz move to a chair. Buffy had a strong arm at her back again. He smiled and relaxed.

Ethan knocked on Buffy's door. Giles might still be denying what was happening between her and the wolf, but he had no such illusions. The curse was broken, but the mating wouldn't make her invulnerable. He touched the small pendant in his pocket. It wouldn't offer much protection, but it would turn back the worst of spells and curses.

"Should have known it was you." Buffy smiled and leaned against the door. "Giles would never have waited so patiently for me to answer the door."

"He hasn't come to the full realization that you have acquired a rather permanent roommate." Ethan shook his head. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Denial isn't just a river in Egypt." Buffy giggled and blushed as Ethan raised a brow at the rumpled bed. "Don't tell me yours looks any better."

Ethan laughed and moved his hands in an intricate pattern. The bed made itself.

"Now they match, my dear." Ethan smirked. "I always make my bed."

"All the better to lie in it?" Buffy raised an eyebrow and twitched her lips.

"You know it." Ethan snapped his fingers and they both dissolved into laughter. It was the kind of silly moment his life had been missing. He pulled Buffy into a hug. "Thank you for giving me a chance."

She hugged him back. Janus, she was strong. He gasped for breath and she let him go.

"Sorry." She blushed and shrugged. Damn the girl was charming.

"I have something for you." He pulled out the pendant and let it dangle on its chain. "It's enchanted to repel strong curses and magic."

"Pretty and purposeful. It's a hard combination to beat." She touched the iolite stone first and slid her finger to the fire agate.

"Yes, it is."