CONCLUSION

Willow stared fixedly at the pencil she was rolling between her thumb and forefinger only half listening to the conversation that was going on around her in the library.

Ever since she'd returned from L.A. three days before, she had not been able to get the heartbreaking image of Oz kissing Serena out of her mind. At night, her dreams were haunted by it and the daytime was spent feeling miserable and chastising herself constantly for letting him go in the first place.

She rolled the pencil again and suddenly realised that the room had gone deathly quiet around her. She looked up and saw Buffy staring at her in wide eyed excitement. Confused, she glanced at Xander and Giles who, in turn, had their shocked eyes locked on to something by the library doors. Following their gaze, Willow sucked in a sharp breath as déjà vu hit and she saw what they were looking at…Oz.

The young man stared straight at Willow and walked slowly over to her ignoring the other people in the room. "Hey," he greeted her quietly as he came to a stop next to her chair.

"Hey," she responded in kind.

They stared at each other until Oz turned away to look at the three people who were watching them. Silently, he begged them to leave so that Willow and he could have some privacy.

Giles nodded and turned away, followed by Buffy who grabbed hold of Xander's arm and dragged him with her when it appeared he was going to stay. He opened his mouth to object but Buffy just shook her head and pointed towards the door. With a final concerned look at the troubled couple, he turned and went with Buffy.

Oz turned back to Willow but didn't close the distance between them. The silence stretched on until Willow finally asked in a hesitant voice, "Wha…what are you doing here?"

Oz's face gave nothing away as he replied, "I spoke to Angel and he told me about Tara. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Disappointment flooded through her at his answer and she looked down, mumbling, "Oh, I see." It didn't cross her mind that he could've just phoned his condolences over.

"You should have told me, Willow," he said with a trace of annoyance.

She shook her head miserably and looked up at him again. "You just seemed so happy. I had no right…"

"Of course you had the right," he interrupted quickly.

Willow stared at him, a flutter of hope starting to rise in her stomach. "But…that kiss…"

"Was with the wrong person," he interrupted softly but firmly. "I care for Gypsy, but she's not you, Willow."

The witch gave him a tearful smile, then stood up to meet him as he took the few short steps needed to reach her and pull her into his warm embrace. They simply hugged for a while, just enjoying the feeling of being together again.

Oz eventually pulled back slightly and raised a hand to her face, gently tracing the lines of her cheeks, jaw and mouth as if she were made of a fine porcelain that may shatter just by looking at it too hard.

"I love you," Oz whispered as he gently pushed her hair away from her face. "And I’m so sorry I hurt you." He leaned in and softly brushed his lips against hers. Once, twice and then he smiled before covering her lips again, more firmly this time.

Willow kissed him back and wound her arms around his neck pulling him closer as she opened her mouth to allow access to his probing tongue. The kiss deepened and they clung desperately to each other only parting when the need for air overwhelmed them both.

"Oh Oz, I'm sorry I hurt you too. It was unforgivable…the way I sent you away..."

"I've forgotten all about it," he assured her lovingly.

She kissed him again, happier than she'd been in days. "I love you so much," she told him between kisses.

Suddenly, she tore her mouth from his and gazed at him worriedly. "Wait, what about Serena? Was she very upset? I mean…I'm the other woman…"

"No, Willow…you're the only woman," he told her tenderly and drew her to him. "Besides, I have a feeling that Gypsy won't be on her own for long."

Before Willow could ask what he meant, he was kissing her deeply again and she soon forgot about everything apart from the man in her arms.

A while later, Willow was sat on Oz's lap, their arms wrapped around each other as they talked about what they'd done during their time apart.

A noise had them both looking up towards the door and they smiled at the three people who were stood there happily watching them.

"So, I take you're back together?" Buffy asked with a grin.

They both nodded and then stood up to be immediately engulfed by Buffy, Giles and Xander in a group hug. Congratulations, hugs and handshakes took place all around and it was decided that they go out have dinner to celebrate.

It was a fun time and they eventually all went back to Willow's parents house for a coffee. As the witch and werewolf made drinks, the slayer appeared in the kitchen saying that she had to leave.

"Giles just reminded me of a recent dead person that I have to go wait for to come back," Buffy explained. "Bummer, but I guess I'd better go."

She looked at them both and then hugged Oz. "Welcome back," she said then released him and turned to her best friend.

"Come here," she ordered with tears in her eyes and gave Willow a bone crushing hug. "I'm so pleased for you," she whispered into her friends ear. "You so deserve to be happy."

"You too," Willow whispered back.

The girls broke apart and, with one last wave, Buffy left for her evening vigil.

Willow turned to Oz with tears in her eyes and tried to smile. He immediately wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.

"Do you think Angel and Buffy will ever manage to find a way to be together?" she asked her boyfriend.

"I believe there's a way to overcome every obstacle," Oz replied.

"Yeah, the first one being that they should at least talk to each other," she reminded him with a sniffle.

"It'll only take one of them to gather up enough courage to make the first move for the other to respond," he guessed shrewdly and smiled. "It worked for us didn't it?"

Her answer was a long kiss that left them both breathless. "I'll take that as a yes, then," he chuckled.

She grinned and they companionably went back to making the coffee, each secure in the knowledge that this time their relationship was for good.

***********************************

The Starlight was finally closed for the night and with a weary sigh, Serena sat down at one of the tables to the right of the stage. Calculator in hand, she began to add up the weeks takings.

As she checked through the sheets of paper, some of them slid noiselessly to the floor. Muttering a curse, she was about to pick them up when a hand got there before her. Looking up in surprise, she saw the arm belonged to, Bite The Bullet's handsome drummer, Matt. Flashing him a grateful smile, she took the invoices from his hand and thanked him.

"You're welcome," he replied somewhat shyly.

Serena looked at him curiously and then frowned. "You know, I think that's the first time you've actually ever spoken to me."

"Really?" he asked in mild surprise, knowing full well she was right.

"Yes," she reiterated, then gave him a slow appraising look from head to toe, as if seeing him for the first time. "So, how are things going with the band? Think you'll be able to handle it?"

"Yeah, the new guy seems to fit in OK; course he'll never be as good as Oz but…" He faltered to a halt as he realised what he'd said and looked contrite.

Serena noticed his concern and was touched. Few men were sensitive to a woman's feelings. True, it would take her a long time to get over Oz, but she thought that maybe this man in front of her might just be able to help.

She gave him a sweet smile and reached out to touch his arm in a gesture of friendship. "Don't worry, Matt, you can say his name, I won't dissolve into a mass of tearful hysterics."

The worried look left his face and was replaced by an answering smile that made him look suddenly appealing.

"And if there's ever anything you need to talk to me about regarding the band or anything, then please feel free to come and see me…anytime," she added on impulse.

Matt's smile grew wider and he nodded. "Thanks Serena, I'll remember that."

He gave her a brief nod then strode away, a huge grin on his face. He was sorry that Oz had left as they'd been good friends, but with him out of the picture, he could finally stop feeling guilty about his own romantic feelings towards Serena. He loved her and given time, he was sure she could get her to feel the same way.

A few blocks away in a small office, seated behind a large desk, was a vampire with a soul who was trying to calm himself down. Nerves were stretched to the limit and his mouth felt dry as a bone as he forced himself to remain composed.

"Come on, you can do this," he told himself firmly. In all his years on this earth, he'd never been more afraid than he was right at that moment. Demons, witches, the Master…nothing remotely compared what he faced now.

He wasn't going to make it. He could feel himself weaken…knew he couldn't last out. Suddenly the ringing in his ears stopped and a voice spoke. Angel clutched the telephone receiver to his ear and forced himself to answer. There was no backing out now. "Hi Buffy? It's me…" He felt the tension ebb from his body and his face relaxed into a smile and he leaned back comfortably into his chair. "Yeah, it's good to hear your voice too…"

THE END

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