"Cage?"

"Check."

"Tranquilizer gun?"

"Check."

"Caffinated beverages?"

"Check."

"Privacy towels?"

Willow looked up at her boyfriend. They were making a last-minute check on the essential tools needed for the full moon. "I think I left them at my house." She paused. "Do you think we need them?"

Oz looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before replying. "I'm not feeling a need for them. But don't you think Giles might notice?"

Willow shook her head. "I don't think so. Giles never bothers me during the Full Moon. He knows we're having quality time. And we're alone for the night. Buffy said she might stop by after patrol, but she knows anyway."

Oz nodded, with a smile. "Then we've graduated from the privacy towels."

Willow returned the smile, "It feels so official. Should we throw hats?"

Oz grinned, and pulled her closer, into a hug. She clung to her boyfriend for a moment, burying her face in his neck and breathing him in.

"I'm going to miss you tonight." She mumbled into his shoulder. He stroked her hair.

"I know. I'll miss you, too. The part of me that won't be hairy will, anyway."

She nodded, and they fell into silence for a few moments, just holding eachother. "Do you think tonight will be different?" She finally asked.

Oz pulled back to look at her, while quickly glancing out the window so he could estimate how much time he had. He pulled off his bowling shirt. "What do you mean?"

She sighed, leaning against Giles' desk. "Well... it's a new place for Wolfy-you, so what if that causes problems?" She paused, then went on. "And... we've... will wolfy-you sense that?"

Oz, who was in the process of taking off his shoes, contemplated. "No. I mean, it might be different, but I don't think I--"

"Wolfy-you." She reminded him. He smiled. She always did that.

"Wolfy-me will cause any trouble. If anything, he might be more dormant. And If I... Wolfy-me does start freaking, there's always the tranquilizer gun." He took off his socks as Willow frowned.

"I don't like shooting you." She replied, her voice soft.

"I know," He said, gently. "But I don't like the thought of you getting hurt." He kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about me. Or tonight. I'm sure as long as nothing out of the ordinary happens, everything will be fine."

Willow nodded, feeling better. Oz cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly several times. Just as Willow had wrapped her arms around Oz's neck and drawn him closer, Giles saundered into the office. They broke apart quickly, and Oz turned and walked to the other side of the room.

"Things are all going to plan?" Giles asked, eyeing the couple as Willow dropped a couple of books and a magazine onto the couch, and Oz put his change of clothes for the next day on top of the file cabinet they'd placed in his new cage.

"All to plan. We're pretty much done setting up." Willow closed her eyes and prayed that Giles wouldn't notice the towels were missing. Luckily, he didn't.

"Good, I'd imagine the Ozwolf may be a bit more excitable this evening, but I'm sure things will be fine." He nodded at Willow, then at Oz. "Erm, good luck. I'll be in the other room if you need any assistance."

Willow and Oz waited until Giles had left to look at eachother.

"Close." Oz smirked. Willow supressed a giggle.

"It's getting dark, you'd better change." She walked over and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "Goodnight."

Oz kissed her hair. "Goodnight."

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

1:45 AM

Willow stifled a yawn as she reached for her fourth bottle of Jolt that night. It was beginning to coat her throat and taste like dried monkey poisen, but it kept her awake. In his cage, Ozwolf paced back and forth, adapting to it's new surroundings, and not loving them. Everytime Willow so much as moved an inch, he would growl. She liked to think that was because he enjoyed her company, though it was probably just because he was anxious for a Midnight snack.

She checked her watch. Four and a half hours until sunrise. She already had it all planned out. She was going to sneak into the kitchen as soon as Oz changed, make him breakfast, and bring it to him. Kinda like breakfast in bed, except without the actual bed part.

Idly, she flipped through a magazine, laughing when she came across a "Is he the one?" quiz. She'd used to take those all the time, before Oz, but when he'd come into her life, she realized that relationships that fit into Cosmopolitan's mold of the "Perfect couple" probably ended up miserable. She liked taking things as they came, and didn't want to rely on some magazine to tell her how her relationship should be.

The magazine bored her, even the part about ways to improve her sex life. She didn't have any problems with that, either. Tossing it onto the desk, Willow stretched her arms, and opened another bottle of dried monkey poisen.

"Hey Will..." Xander said, wearily, as he wandered into the office. Willow jumped, suprised by his sudden entrance into her quiet sanctuary, and then shushed him. "What's wrong?? Ozwolf having problems finding a new place to pee?"

"Xander, SHUSH." Willow whispered harshly, irritated at her friend. His eyes widened and he looked a bit suprised, as he sat down next to her on the couch.

"Sorry..." He said, his voice considerably lower. "Just thought you might want some company."

She gave him a polite smile, glancing quickly over at Oz's cage. Then she remembered the lack of privacy towels, and her stomach turned. << Please don't let him notice, oh Please oh PLEASE don't let him notice... >> Xander was the king of over-reacting. If anyone could make a big deal out of this, it would be him. "Thanks. I'm okay, though."

"What, you're enjoying watching Ozwolf slobber?"

Willow forced a smile. "Nah. Just liked the peace."

He nodded, leaning his head back agains the couch. "I know what that's like."

Willow looked at him nervously. The longer he stayed, the more chance he had of noticing. "So, why are you here?"

He shrugged. "Helped the Buffster patrol, she's still down about Angel leave-age. Can't figure out why, after what the bastard did to her."

"She loved him, Xander. She still does. And she sacrificed for him. That's what people do for people they love. They sacrifice."

"I guess you'd know, huh." He mumbled. "Anyway, I just wanted to cheer her up."

"You're good at that." She gave him a smile. "She really needs you, someone to make her laugh and help her forget about her problems. See, I can't do that."

Xander nodded. "Gotta be good at something."

"You know, I bet she could use some more cheering up." Willow said, pointedly. "Is she still here?"

"Yep. Putting away weapons and stuff. Big fun. Big fun that I didn't want in on."

"Well, I bet they could use you to lighten the mood..." Willow hinted. << Leave. Please, Xander, leave... >>

Xander looked at her. "Are you trying to be subtle?"

She shook her head. "Uh, no... well, yeah, actually. It's just... you know... I have to do some registration papers and stuff for college. Can't get distracted."

Xander nodded. "Right." He paused. "Wait. College isn't for months."

<< When did he get so fast?? >> Willow fumed internally. "Fine. Maybe I'm just worried Ozwolf will get all upset 'cause he's only used to me." << If anything'll get him out of here, that will... just please don't let him notice! >>

"Well, why didn't you just say so? I don't wanna 'cause some kind of hairy event in this neck of the woods tonight." He stood up, chuckling slightly. "Hairy. Hehe. Even at two in the morning I'm witty... that's almost scary."

Willow smiled extra-specially bright for him. "See you later, Xander!"

He nodded to her. "Have fun Oz watching." He began to stride over to Oz's cage. With every step closer he got, Willow cringed just a bit more. Ozwolf snarled at Xander.

"G'night, Oz. Practice safe lycanthropy."

Willow sat rigid in her seat. << He doesn't notice... He doesn't notice... He ... doesn't... notice!! >>

"Wait a second." Xander froze, looking down at the cage. Willow cringed. "Something's missing."

"The library?" Willow asked hopefully.

"No..." Xander looked back at her, and then at the cage again. Ozwolf was still snarling at the brunette. "Something here..."

"Oh, maybe it's just 'cause it's smaller, you know? I mean, sometimes it's the littliest things that--"

"Those towel-thingies! That's it!" Xander declared. "Gosh, I thought it looked naked."

Willow felt her heart skip a beat. "Oh, oh yeah." She mumbled. Xander turned to look at her. She prayed he wouldn't catch on.

"I knew we'd left *something* off of our "Things to get out of the school before we blow it up" list." Xander chuckled, beginning to exit the room. When he got to the doorframe, he suddenly stopped again. "Wait a second."

<< Dammit! >> Willow braced herself. "What?" She asked meekly.

"We packed the towels. I remember 'cause I tossed them in a box and you made me fold them."

"Did I?" Willow asked, her face contorted.

"Yeah... so, where are they? After all that hard work I put in, it kind of hurts that you forgot to put them up." He feinged hurt.

"Oh yeah." Willow mumbled, her words slurring they came out so quickly. "Forgot."

Xander looked at her pensively for a moment. "Okay, what's up?"

"Nothing!!!! That's what's up, nothing!" Willow cried, trying to keep her voice low when Ozwolf growled at her. "I just... oh..."

"Look, Will, don't feel bad. I understand, you can put them up next time. No harsh feelings." He offered her a smile. "I mean, as long as you still need them, we're problem-free, a-okay." He paused when she didn't answer. "Right? 'Cause you do still need them. 'Cause Oz needs privacy for his... his privates."

Willow blushed, slightly. "Xander, could you just go?"

"Or maybe he doesn't." Xander stared at him for a moment. "I'm feeling like I missed a chapter of the assigned reading here, Will. What's going on?"

"Nothing!" She replied again, feebly. "Nothing that concerns you."

"Oh right, 'cause I'm only your best friend." He replied, the bitter sarcastic edge he usually reserved only for Angel coming through. "You're leaving me, like, ten pieces short of the puzzle. Atleast give me a few more so I can try to make some sense here?"

She looked up at him again. "Think about it, Xander."

He was silent for a moment. "You're sleeping with him?" She couldn't read his reaction.

The redhead nodded, wishing he didn't know. It somehow made it seem less innocent, more complicated. She remembered a time, several years ago, when she'd dreamed about going to Xander after she lost her virginity, telling her best friend all about it. Then again, that had been when she'd also fantasized about her first time being *with* her best friend. And when they'd still actually been best friends.

"That's disgusting." Xander finally spat out. Willow snapped out of her reverie to look at him, shocked. She didn't expect him to be completely okay with it, but she could tell he was really angry.

"Xander, look, maybe we should talk about this later, Ozwolf will--"

"That's BEASTIALITY, Willow!!!!" Xander shouted. Ozwolf began to pace faster, growling at Xander. Willow looked between Oz and Xander, upset.

"Xander, calm down."

"Why should I?? That's just disgusting, Willow! I mean, dating a werewolf is one thing, FUCKING a werewolf is entirely another."

"Xander, get out of here!!!!" Willow shouted, ready to slap him. What right did he have to judge her relationship with Oz? Especially after everything he'd put her through!

Ozwolf, so upset by all the shouting and yelling, snarled and jumped against the cage door. The cage rattled, and Willow screamed. Three seconds later, Giles and Buffy came running into the office.

"What in God's name is going ON here??" Giles demanded.

"Willow is sleeping with Oz!!!" Xander cried.

"XANDER!!!!!" Willow and Buffy shouted in unison.

Ozwolf snarled, again jumping against the cage, almost knocking it down this time. Everyone stepped back, and Giles grabbed the tranquilizer gun.

---

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