Meanwhile....<<< don't you just love how I use the same word over and over. >>>

7 months later. New York city. January 7th, 2002

Labor Day. Throughout the 7 months Willow never heard much about Oz. Buffy was spending the weekend when the night of the birth began. All Willow could recollect was that he was California's hottest rock star...and still single. She made Buffy promise not to tell him anything. Not to even tell Xander and them anything. She said that Oz deserved to know first out of everyone and she was the one who was going to tell him...provided she ever saw him again.

"OH God!!! Buffy!!! Samantha!!!!" Willow hollered as her water broke. Buffy and Samantha heard her holler of pain all the way from the pool out side and quickly ran towards the source of the scream. Willow was in labor.

"Oh god...your water broke. Samantha go get my car. Here are the keys...I'll get Willow out side." She tossed the keys to Samantha and Samantha quickly began to run out towards the car. She closed up the top of the hood and turned on the air conditioner. Even if it was winter cold, it was never cold enough for a pregnant lady. She had learned that throughout the months living with Willow.

They eventually had to get seperate heating systems. A minute later Willow was in the passenger seat, and Samantha was driving at lightning speed. < Not litteraly. > The entire time Willow hollered in Agony everytime she felt a contraction. It scared the hell out of Samantha that the contractions were so close apart. They were coming every 2 minutes when at this stage they were supposed to come only every 4. As they raced their way over to the hospital Buffy dialed on her cell phone to call the hospital, asking them to prepare a room for Willow Rosenburgs delivery. They met up with them at the emergency drop off and swiftly rolled Willow into the delivery room.

The put her on monitor and the doctor came out of the delivery room. His face was not one of happiness. It showed fear, concern. Not a good look. Buffy noticed this look admediatly and stood up.

"Is she going to be Ok?" Buffy asked.

"Oh yes. Ms. Rosenburg will be just fine. The baby on the other hand I can't gaurantee. Her contractions are coming a little to fast and the baby isn't coping well. I want to go in and do a c-section on her but I need one of you two ladies consent and signature."

"I'll sign it." Buffy said quickly.

"Ok. Now, I told this to Ms. Rosenburg and she wasn't to happy about it. If the baby's heart rate doesn't go back up to normal in about 3 minutes I want to go in and take it out. Now please go in and calm Mrs. Rosenburg and I'll be in shortly."

"Thankyou doctor." Both the ladies said. They bothed walked in to see Willow's flushed face. She was no longer screaming but tears were leaking from her eyes. The girls rushed to her side admediatly.

"Are you Ok?" Samantha asked. Willow shook her head 'no' and started sobbing.

"They....they said they weren't sure if the baby would be able to make it." Willow said tearfully.

"Oh don't worry Willow....the baby is going to be just fine. They said that if the baby's heart rate doesn't go up in about 3 minutes they are going to go in and take it out." Buffy reassured her.

"But I don't want to have a c-section. I want to be awake when the baby is born." Both Buffy and Samantha had tears in their eyes, and were suddenly stunned out of their minds when they heard a piercing scream from Willow's lips.

"It's Ok. Willow...just breath....and relax the jaw. Thats good. I'll go get some water." Samantha said. Willow and Buffy nodded.

"Buffy I'm scared. This is Oz's baby and if something bad happens to it I don't know if I can ever forgive myself....Buffy...I'm so scared." Willow cried.

"I know Willow. It's Ok....nothing bad is going to happen. The baby is going to be just fine." Buffy assured her. Just than the doctor came in to check the baby's vital signs. The heart beat was still low. "Ms. Rosenburg, I'm afraid we are going to have to go in and take the baby out. Are you alright with this?" He looked Willow straight in the eyes. She was frightened. Not just for the baby but for herself. She never had to go under surgery and she wasn't to sure, but it was for the baby...it was for Oz. She nodded her head meakly and the doctor signaled his assistants to roll her into c-section 1 delivery room. Buffy held her hand the entire time there until the doctors said she couldn't go past the doors. Buffy let go reluctantly and sat down outside of the room. 2 minutes later Samantha found her.

"I guess I was too late for the water." Samantha said tiredly "Here...I brought some coffee."

"Thanks." Buffy said taking a cup. "I need to wake up." It was 2 am in the morning. Samantha laughed at the comment.

"I'll go with you on that." Samantha said clinging her styrophome cup to Buffy's. She noticed Buffy's sorrowful face. "Whats wrong?"

"I'm scared. Willow is the best friend I ever had, and at the time she needs us the most, we can't be with her and its killing me. Plus I hate hospitals. My cousin died in one for no apparent reason. She just had a small fever, and then all the sudden she was looking up and screaming as if something was trying to kill her. She was so frightened. I don't want Willow to have to go through the same thing." Buffy said, tears in her eyes. At that Samantha gathered Buffy up into a hug and they embraced eachother for about a minute. They pulled away, and rested their heads against the walls. 20 minutes later they could hear a baby crying. Buffy went rigid and stood up as the doctor came out holding a healthy baby boy. Its skin was a fresh pink color with light red fuzz for hair. He had his fathers eyes, and his fathers nose. The smile was unmistakeable when it blinked its eyes and made a large yawn. Buffy and Samantha giggled at that and the doctor asked if they would like to hold him.

"Sure" Buffy said. She gently cradled the baby against her body, afraid she might drop it. The baby was groggy and was still wining inconsistently. Its arms didn't move much because it was a new born but it was strong. Buffy bent her head to shadow the baby's face as it yawned and its fist went up into the air and hit Buffy in the nose. Buffy backed her head away stunned and teasingly made an offended noise and then smiled one of her wide open mouthed goofy smiles. The baby noticed this and laughed. She handed the boy over to Samantha and Samantha took it into her arms They both sat down in the chairs and started playing a little bit with the alleged newborn.

"He's so gorgeous." Samantha said.

"He looks exactly like his dad." Buffy said smiling at Samantha. She smiled back. Both of them had become good friends while Buffy was in NewYork, especially considering how they both had the same fashion sense. It was unmistakable that Willow wouldn't be able to choose between her two best girl-friends, but neither of them argued about it. The doctor came out about half an hour later and said he needed to take the baby to the nursery. The baby admediatly began to cry when removed from Buffy and Samantha and the girls started laughing at the gesture.

"Ms. Rosenburg will probably be unconscious for the next 3 hours. She needs plently of rest so I don't suggest letting in any visitors in for another 8 hours from now. Is this understood?"

"Yes sir."

8 hours later.

Willow is up and her lower body is throbbing slightly from her previous exertions. The doctor finally aloud Buffy and Samantha to come in and visit. "Hello....mommy dearest." Buffy said coming over to hug Willow and kiss her on the cheek.

"Don't even go there. That woman was a total bitch." Willow said. <<< reffering to the movie: Mommy Dearest. Its a bad way for a kid to grow up. >>>

"Sorry. I wasn't referring to the movie. Still residing from the after effects of labor? How are you feeling?" Buffy asked concerned.

"I'm fine. I'm still pretty sore from before, but I've been in worse situations."

"Have you seen the baby yet?" Samantha asked.

"Not yet. Is it a boy or a girl?" Willow asked.

"Its a boy. Oh god...Willow...it looks so much like Oz. The hair, the eyes, and the nose. I think he shares your smiles though." Buffy said. Willow's eyes lit up at the fact that the baby resembled alot from his father.

"I want to see him." AT that the doctor came in and placed Willow in a wheel chair. Buffy and Samantha roled her to the nursery room to look at him. Willow's eyes went admediatly to the red headed boy. "He has the hair too?" Willow asked.

"Yep. Thats your boy." Buffy said.

"He's perfect." Willow said, tears in her eyes. "Can I hold him?"

"Hold on. I'll go get him." The doctor said.

"So what are you going to name him?" Samantha asked eagerly.

"Kevin Alton Rosenburg." Willow said. "Kevin is Oz's real first name, Alton is my Grandpa's first name, and of course Rosenburg is my last name."

"Your right Willow. He's perfect. You have no idea how strong he is." At that the doctor came out holding the boy and he placed it in Willow's arms. Its skin had faded to a light tan, its eyes wide open. It admediatly started giggling and smiling when he saw his mothers face. As she held him the first thing he did was go after her nose with his hand. He lightly gripped it and pulled on it. As if his hand was strong, Willow ducked her head as if he were pulling it down. He then went after her hair. He didn't pull on it. He just...held it. His tiny fingers ran through her silky red hair and then all the sudden it bursted into a fit of giggles. That made Willow giggle as well, and from that moment she knew that things were going to go right.

Throughout the first 2 years, the baby was unremarkably quiet. He hardly ever gave Willow any trouble. It was like, super intellegent or something. When ever he wanted something, he wouldn't scream or anything. He would just pound his fist into the table, which wasn't very hard considering he was a baby. When he started to walk and he wanted something, he would just walk over to Willow and pull on her hand. When she acknowledged him, he would point to what he wanted. He started talking at 11 months, and his first word was mommy. Than it was Buffy, than it was Sammy, and then it was Daddy. Everytime Willow would put on the wizard of Oz, Kevin would get on his feet, jump up and down, point at the screen and say Daddy!!! It amazed Willow none the least.

Than one day, Kevin was 3 years old, they were watching MTV, and Oz showed up on the camera. He started playing listlessly and Kevin started bouncing. He was at that age where he could speek full sentances.

"Mommy, that looks like Daddy." Kevin hollered pointing towards the TV. Willow looked up from setting the kitchen table at the TV screen, and dropped the glass plate in shock. Her mouth hung open, and Kevin looked at her. He saw the broken plate and admediatly got off the couch to go get the dust pan. Being that he was to small to actually handle a broom, he had a little trouble at first. Willow noticed his abscense on the couch and looked down and saw him trying to pick up her mess.

"Oh Kevin sweety thats Ok. I'll get it. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. You don't have to clean up after me." Willow said kissing his cheek as a thankyou for the effort.

"But I want to help mommy..." Kevin said tugging on her hand.

"Kevin sweety. Maybe when your a little older, but not now. I don't want you cutting yourself."

"Well I don't want you cutting yourself either, so let me do it."

"Well you see thats why I won't cut myself. Because I'm a little older. Maybe when your about 10 I'll think about it."

"4."

"9"

"5"

"8"

"6"

"8"

"6"

Willow gave him one of her weary looks. "Ok. Rock paper scissors. If you win, I'll think about it when you are six. If I win, we wait until your at least eight. Am I understood." Willow asked looking into Kevin's eyes. She admediatly got lost in them and saw Oz. Kevin nodded his head, breaking Willow from her trance. "Ok. 1," Willow said putting her fist down. "two, three......"

Willow had paper and Kevin had scissors. He admediatly cut into her hand with his two fingers and she laughed in resignation. She lightly tugged on his hand and hugged him.

"Mommy? Why did you drop that plate." Kevin asked.

"Well...Kevin sweety....that is your daddy, and I haven't seen him in a very long time."

"Why?"

"We broke up. We were going to get married."

"Why didn't you?" Kevin asked tilting his head to the side.

"My parents didn't agree with my Judgement. They threatened your daddy, and I couldn't handle that. They told me to never see him again or else.....But I promise sweety, I'll never do that to you."

"Do what to me?"

"Never make you do something just because I don't like your choice. I might try to talk you out of it, but I'll never go as low as to threaten you that way." Willow said. A tear was streaming down her face. Kevin saw it and grabbed a cleanex and wiped her eyes. Willow laughed at the gesture.

"Your so sweet. Your just like your daddy...did you know that."

"How's that?" Kevin asked in wonder. This was the longest conversation he and mommy had in his entire 3 years that had to do with daddy.

"Your sweet...your very smart...you got his eyes, his hair, his nose, and his smile. You got my pale skin and my smile and my hair and some of my freckles." Willow said smiling. Previousley, Willow had gotten a job as a computer advisory. It paid real good money, and usually required a college degree but because Willow was so familiar with computers in highschool, and the advisors liked her work, so they went ahead and offered her a job. She had her own apartment. Considering how in NewYork, they never actually had houses. When she went to work she would drop him off at Samantha's, and pick him up from there 8 hours later. She made so much money she only had to work Monday through Thursday. Cordelia and Xander still never knew about him, nor did Oz or Giles and definately not her parents.

"I love you mommy." Kevin said getting up and hugging her hard. He then let go and kissed her nose and started running in a fit of furious giggles. Willow got up and started chaseing after him. "FREEZE TAG!!!! I'm it." Kevin said pointing to himself on top of the couch. Willow admediatly started running, but not to fast, considering if she did she would have a full fledged advantage over him because her legs were much longer than his.

He finally caught her around the leg and she leaped to the ground in fury of laughter. She pulled Kevin up to her and together the two laughed and played tag, forgetting all about Oz.

---

Continues
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