By Kitt
Oz re-read Willow’s letter for the 17th time:
“It’s been 365 days since you’ve
Made my life complete.
8 o’clock tonight at my house
Is where I want us to meet.
Love,
Willow.
PS I’ve never written poetry before."He grinned to himself as he walked to his locker to get his books for math class. *Math is going to be the last thing on my mind today* He thought. *What is she planning?*
Oz had been looking forward to their anniversary for weeks now. He had found the perfect gift for Willow. *His* Willow. The shy eskimo who had captured his heart one year ago. The beauty who had put up with him, wolf and all. She had a certain quality that he could only describe as “Willowness.”
*Yup, no math thoughts for me today*
~*~*~ Willow searched through her room in a frenzy.
“Buffy, where are my blue shoes?!”
“You mean the ones you’re wearing, Will?”
Willow looked down at her shoe-clad feet.
“Oh, yeah.”
The slayer smiled at her poor nervous friend. “Relax, Willow. I mean, it’s *Oz* we’re talkin here! Why the jitters?”
“Ohh, I just want everything to be perfect! I mean, a year is a pretty long time and…”
“Everything *is* perfect Will!”
Willow gave her friend a desperate look.
“Are you sure?”
Buffy laughed and wrapped the tense redhead in a hug.
“1000%. You’re gonna knock him dead.”
Buffy stopped and looked at her watch.
“7:45. I’d better go. Have *fun*.” She said, grinning evilly.
“Bye.” Willow muttered as she watched her friend’s back disappear out her bedroom door. She looked at the mirror and sighed deeply.
“Here we go, Willow.”
~*~*~ Oz looked at the Rosenburg house and sighed deeply.
“Here we go, Oz.”
Clutching his gift, he stepped out of the van and walked up the driveway. The door was open, and there was a trail of rose petals leading upstairs. He momentarily panicked, remembering what happened to Giles and poor Ms. Calendar, but his werewolf senses reassured him that Willow was nearby, and safe.
He followed the trail to the end of the hallway, where he was greeted with a very pleasant surprise.
“Happy Anniversary, Oz.” The witch whispered.
“You too, baby.” The wolf whispered back.
~*~*~ Willow carefully tied the blindfold over Oz’s eyes.
“C’mon. Where are we going?”
“I want it to be a surprise,” Willow said, giggling at what a little boy he sounded like. “Thus, the blindfold.”
“That makes sense.” Oz grinned.
Willow led him out to her parents’ car. They had finally allowed her to borrow it.
The drive was pleasant; both teenagers were lost in thoughts of their companion.
Willow eventually stopped the car and led Oz outside. *Must be woods*, he realized after smelling the air around him.
They continued walking until Willow stopped.
“Ready, Oz?”
He could sense the excitement in her voice. “Ready.”
~*~*~ “Wow, Will.” Oz said after his blindfold was removed. “This is…so…wow, Will.”
The clearing in which they were standing had been transformed. A blanket with candles and a basket of food and drinks was in the center, surrounded by heart-shaped confetti, and a small package. A boombox softly played slow music, completing the romantic atmosphere.
“May I have this dance?” Oz asked, extending his hand to Willow.
Willow wrapped her arms around his neck, and they held each other close. Oz gently nuzzled her neck with his head, breathing in her sweet smell.
“Mmm. Willow, did I ever tell you how good you smell?”
Willow sighed and rested her head on his chest. “Not recently.”
“You smell like vanilla. Very Willow-like.”
“I’d hoped so.”
~*~*~ After eating the picnic Willow had packed, the young lovers laid on the grass to look at the stars.
“This is perfect, Oz… Oh, I almost forgot!”
She picked up the small package Oz had noticed earlier. She handed it to him.
“It’s not much, but I hope you like it.”
Oz opened the box to reveal a small stuffed wolf.
“Cool, Will. Thanks.”
He reached into his back pocket for the present he had gotten Willow.
Willow gasped when she opened the tiny box and pulled out a gold locket.
“Ohh, Oz! This is so beautiful! It’s just… I…Oh, thank you!”
“Read the back.”
Willow read the inscription on the back:
“My Willow ~
I will love you after
The world stops turning.
Undying devotion,
Now and forever.
~Oz”She turned to him with tears in her eyes.
“I love you too, Oz. Now and forever.”
~*~*~
The End.
e-mail the groovy author~make your own fun