By Capricorn
Ch. 1-
As Willow sneaked a glance at the currently strawberry-blond haired boy next to her, she could hardly keep from squealing with excitement. She and Oz had reconciled and been dating for nearly 4 monthes now, demonic activity had been low, but not so low that you just *knew* that something big was right around the corner, and her totally adorable 5-year-old cousin Madeliene was visiting her family for spring break. Her life, as of that moment, *RULED*.So Cordelia was being worse than ever, but that was to be expected. I mean, she had sacrificed her entire popularity to be with Xander, and to help the Scooby Gang. Now she was even more unpopular because Xander had cheated on her, so in her Cordelia-logic brain she figured that if she was even crueler than before to them, her ranks might rise again. So far, it had been working. Harmony was actually tolerating her now,and she had been invited to 2 major parties for the upcoming vacation.
Although Willow had never really liked Cordy, she had to admit that she missed the brunett's completely off subject remarks. They lightened the heavy feeling that knowing the continuation of the world depended on you left. It scared her a bit. She, Willow Rosenburg, former secretary of the We Hate Cordelia Club, actually missed the purpose of the club. Oh well, this *is* the Hellmouth, after all. Just then a familiar voice jerked her from her musings.
"So, Madeliene is Jordy's age? Maybe we can have them do something together, or do they have that huge kids-of-the-other-gender-should-be-deported thing going on?" Oz asked.
"I'm not the person to ask. I was friends with Xander and Jesse my whole life, remember?What did you think of girls at 5?" Willow answered to her oh-so- sweet boyfriend, while at the same time gathering up her stuff into her totebag, readying herself to leave the library where she and Oz were studying.
"Honestly, I blocked out my childhood. I can't remember. I say we just wing it. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't. Is it a plan?" Oz inquired of his girlfriend,putting his books into his backpack as well.
"I guess so. Come on, lets go to the Bronze and join Buffy, Xander, and Faith." And with those last words she pulled Oz from his seat and walked outside to Oz's van. She then heard Oz, being the gentleman he is, open the door for her, and then after she climbed in shut it and walk to the driver's side. In almost no time at all they were at their usual table chatting with Buffy,as Faith and Xander were on the dance floor. Xander was doing his infamous thrashing about he called dancing,thoroughly earning the dirty looks shot his way. As he and Faith made their way back to the table, Oz comfortablity pulled Willow onto his lap. Willow, liking this form of affection, nuzzled into Oz's hip. By this time, they had both forgotten the world around them. As they leaned forward to kiss, Xander "acidentally" knocked over his drink. No *way* was he going to see those two kiss. It hurt so much that after the fluke had been found out, Willow had chosen Oz and not opted to stay with him. It hurt even more that Cordelia was snubbing them. He did **not** want to see Willow and her boyfriend kissing.
After this little disturbence, Willow looked at her watch and realized that she needed to go home now to pick up Madeliene from the airport. Her parents wanted her there to meet her Aunt Lacy, Uncle Ryan and Madeliene. Regrettfully, Willow asked Oz if he could take her home. With a nod he lead the way to his van.
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Ch 2-
Willow's house came way to soon, and and soon it was time for Willow to go inside her house. She leaned over to give Oz a kiss goodnight and as she pulled back she felt Oz pull her close for another kiss. Not resisting his arms, she climbed over the gear shifts to Oz's lap. As the kiss deepened, a small part in the back of Willow's head screamed," Your parents could be watching right now!!!! What are you doing???" But the rest of her said "This is so great. Don't stop. Who cares what your parents think." Finally, after a few moments, Willow guiltilly broke away, explaining that she had to go get Madeliene. Promising to be at Willow's the next day with Jordy, they shared one more kiss, and Willow ran to her house. As Oz pulled out of his girlfriend's driveway, he asked himself, "How did I get so lucky? She's gorgeous, smart, deals with the werewolf thing, put up with me, everything." And with those thoughts, he made his way home.Upon entering her house, Willow could tell that her parents weren't in. She found a note on the kitchen counter saying that there had been an emergency and that Willow was to go get her cousin by herself. After grabbing some holy water, a cross, a stake,a few CD's, and the gift for her cousin, she made her way to her parent's Saturn and was on her way for the 30 minute drive to the airport.
******************************************************* After getting to the airport, Willow quickly found her reletives. After saying hello, and passing her neice an envelope with some gift certificates in it, Aunt Lacy asked,Ch 3-
"Not that we don't trust you with Madeliene, but where are Ira and Sheila?"
"Oh, there was an emergency of some sort, so here I am. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, dear. I know how responsible you are. see you in a week!" Uncle Ryan and Aunt Lacy had another plane to catch, so they were somewhat hurried. Waving good-bye, Willow found herself in charge of a hyper 5 year old, totally psyched at the idea of spending a week with her cousin.
As they made their way to Willow's car, Willow remembered the cross that she had bought for her small cousin. But since Madeleiene was also Jewish, Willow made sure that it was a brightly painted, clay, non- religious looking one, but as it was a cross non the less, it would protect her cousin from Sunnydale's nocturnal residents. On the way home, they listened to Everclear, 98 Degree's, and several movie soundtracks. It was a blast.
Once home, Willow made Madeliene a bedtime snack of milk and grahm crackers. After she finished fixing the snack, she heard the phone ring. Picking it up, she said,"Hello?"
"Hey, Sweetie, just wanted to make sure you got home O.K. How's Madeliene?"
"Oz! Hi! Madeliene's fine. She is so hyper, though. How have you been?"
"Fine, now that I've talked to you. Anyway, I need to let you go, I have to go get Jordy from my Aunt have to get Jordy from my Aunt Maureen early, so I better go. Bye baby."
"See ya tomarrow, Oz." Willow said and then, placing the cordless phone on the counter, she let out a sigh of happiness.
Looking behind her at Madeliene, she realized that the child had finished her snack and had come over to listen to her cousin's conversation. Smiling, she said, "Are you ready for bed, sweetie? It's 11 and you have had a big day."
Madeliene said, while yawning, "Yeah. Let's go." So Willow lead the way to her room, saying that Madeliene could get ready in her room while she got ready in her parents' room. After making sure that Madeliene was settled in, she made her way into her parents' room to get ready for bed. After changing into a white sleeveless tank top and navy shorts, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. She had bearly finished doing this when she heard an ear-splitting scream. In an instant she knew that it was Madeliene screaming, and that it was coming from outside. SHe also knew that whatever it was was going down, cause nobody and nothing was going to mess with her cousin and get away with it.
On to part two