PART 7

Willow gestured towards a chair opposite Oz and he nodded. She sat down and leaned her elbows on the table, trying to adopt an air of calm. "So, how have you been?" she asked, smiling nervously.

"Good," Oz replied quietly.

"Really? That's great," she enthused and desperately tried to think of something else to say. "So…uh…I saw you playing when I came in. Sounded good. You have your own band now, huh?"

Oz nodded silently.

"What's the name?"

"Bite The Bullet."

"Cool," she said over-brightly. This was going awful. There was a short silence and then she tried again. "How long have you guys been together?" Just as he was about to answer, Willow hurriedly added, "The band I mean."

Oz raised an eyebrow at her unnecessary clarification but didn't pursue it. "About ten months."

"Oh, so you got together not long after you left Sunnydale that last time?"

"Yeah, we tried different clubs and then wound up here. Gypsy was great, she offered us a job on the spot."

"Gypsy?" Willow questioned in confusion.

"Oh…uh…I mean, Serena," he explained.

"I see." Willow's face fell a little as she noticed the way his voice softened as he said his girlfriends name. "She…um…Serena…she seems nice."

"Yes, she is," he agreed quietly.

The witch felt as though her heart was literally breaking. "You seem very happy," she observed softly.

Oz stared at her and finally nodded. "I am Willow," he replied, equally softly. "I didn't think I could be this happy again but I am. I mean, she doesn't bring the wolf out in me or anything, but hey…that's got to be a plus right?" At her nod, he added, "It's…I feel good when I'm with her, you know? Probably like you do with Tara."

Now the opportunity had arisen to tell him what had happened she felt oddly reluctant. Having just listened to the way he spoke about Serena, she knew he was happy…content. It was the hardest decision she'd ever made but she knew that just like he did a year before, it was her turn to let go.

So, with tears threatening to overflow, she forced herself to smile. "Yeah, just like me and Tara," she finally agreed.

Oz was about to say something more when a man walked up to the table. "Hey," Oz greeted, when he saw it was a very uncomfortable looking, Matt.

The drummer glanced at Willow and then back to Oz. "Hey. Look I'm sorry to interrupt but we've got the last set to do."

"Oh, yeah." The guitarist looked at Willow who immediately stood up.

"Well, I've got to be going anyway," she lied. "Xander and I have to be getting back home. Buffy can't be without us too long, you know."

Oz also stood and gave Matt a look. The drummer quickly made an excuse and then left them alone once again.

Willow turned to go but Oz firmly grasped her arm and held her back. "Wait a minute," he said. His touch sent a thrill down her spine so amazing that she let out an involuntary gasp before turning back to him with a questioning look.

"So, why did you come, Willow?" he asked in a serious tone, apparently not noticing her reaction.

"Xander told you; we were just passing through and thought we'd say Hi…" she began.

Oz shook his head dismissively. "I mean the real reason. You couldn't have known I was here. The only person that knows is…" He stopped and frowned suddenly as he recalled the unusual conversation with a certain vampire. "Angel," he realised with sudden clarity. "Angel told you."

Oz knew from the look on her face that he was right. His brows drew together in confusion as his mind wandered back over the chat he'd had with him.

"What's going on?" he pressed. "First Angel turns up and we have this really weird conversation about you. And now you're here…" His voice softened suddenly as a wave of emotion came over him. "…in the flesh. Like I've dreamed of for so long." His gaze burned into hers, demanding a response, his grip on her arm tightening almost imperceptibly.

Willow noticed the change in him and, unable to stop herself, she automatically leaned towards him, her eyes firmly focussed on his mouth. Oh, to feel those lips against hers, just one more time.

She was scant millimetres away from her goal, when Oz suddenly released her and took a step back. "I can't, Willow," he told her in a shocked tone. "Serena…she…I…I'm sorry."

She watched him walk away from her and up to the bar where Xander and Serena were having a drink, obviously trying not to stare at them. She saw Oz say something to Xander who then left them alone to go back to Willow. As her friend walked towards her, she continued to watch the couple at the bar, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Oz glance briefly in her direction. Just as Xander reached her and asked if she were alright, she let out a strangled cry and pushed past him, running out of the club.

She leant against the outside wall and buried her face in her hands, giving way to the tears that had been brimming all night. Arms engulfed her in a comforting hug. "I know, Will, I know," Xander soothed gently. "I'm so sorry."

The witch appreciated his being there for her but didn't respond. All she could think about was how Oz had glanced her way then pulled Serena into his arms and leant in to kiss her slowly. Then, as if it wasn't torture enough, the kiss over, he had lifted his head and looked her way again. The meaning was clear; he'd done it deliberately for her to see. He had finally moved on.

END PART 7