“Another morning in bright, cheerful Sunnydale,” Xander mused as he sat on the steps in front of the building which he affectionately called “The Cave of Hell”. “Here we have many a fine student walking up this contraption which we like to call steps. Over there, you have the band groupies and Devon the music “god”. And over there, you have all the brain-dead, fashion obsessed, ditzy girls of the school. And, oh, look, there you have two of my favorites. Two lusty lasses, one with fiery red hair and a blond with one hell of a body.” He stopped his observation when Willow and Buffy approached him. “Hey Will, why are you so happy today?”

“Because tomorrow is my one year anniversary with Oz.”

“Oh yes, that’s right and how’s the happy couple?”

“We’re fine, thank you,” Willow said nonchalantly.

“So,” Buffy said, “What’s the game plan for tomorrow?”

“I don’t know! Oz refuses to tell me anything about tomorrow night.”

“Well then, he must have something really special for tomorrow night.”

“Yeah,” Willow started off dreamily until she saw her boyfriend and started off in a run for him. She reached him and gave him a big kiss. “I missed you,” she said as she gave him a hug.

“You just saw me this morning.” Willow blushed and said, “I know.” Ever since prom, Oz and Willow had been spending the night with each other and they didn’t always do “it”. Most of the times, they would lay there in each other’s arms, just content with each other. “So,” Oz started, “Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Of course I am. Can you give me a hint?”

“No.”

“Why not, please,” Willow begged.

“No, that’s why they call it a surprise. It’s when you know something that the other doesn’t.”

“No, that’s called a secret.”

“Yeah, well this is a secret.”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t, you love me.” Willow laughed and grabbed his hand. “Come on, we need to go to class.”

“Yes ma’am,” Oz said, fake saluting her. Willow just laughed and continued walking towards homeroom.

*** “Do you thing Oz will like it?” Willow asked Buffy as she stepped out in front of her mirror.

“Yes, Oz will love it. And stop saying stuff like that. You’re gorgeous.” Willow did a full turn in front of her mirror. She was wearing a cream colored sweater and a full length blue satin skirt with a slit on her right side up to her knee and a dragon spiraling around the dress. She turned around and smiled at Buffy. “I’m so happy, Buffy. I love Oz so much.” Buffy smiled back at Willow and said, “I know you do. And he loves you. I’m happy that you have someone to love you as much as Angel loves me.”

“I know, and I thank the higher powers above every day for giving me Oz. It also helps that Oz is completely devoted to me.” Buffy smiled again and said, “I’m going to go and leave you to your thoughts.” Willow reached out and gave Buffy a hug. “Thanks for helping me tonight.”

“Not Willow, if there’s anyone to thank, it’s you for helping me through life.” They were silent for a few moments when Buffy broke the silence.

“I’ll see you later.”

“Ok, bye Buffy,” Willow said as Buffy walked out of her room. Willow smiled at herself in the mirror before the doorbell rung, announcing Oz’s arrival. With bountiful energy, she raced down the stairs to greet her boyfriend and lover. Opened the door, she smiled at Oz and launched into his arms. Oz pulled her close to him, inhaling the scent of her. He pulled away and his mouth dropped open. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the blue satin skirt and cream colored sweater. She stepped back from him and said, “You like?”

“Oh yeah, I like a lot. Are you sure that we have to go see my surprise? Can’t we stay here and ‘play’ all evening?”

“No, you got me all worked up about your big surprise, so now I have to find out what it is.”

“Ok, fine,” he sighed.

“But,” she mused, “that doesn’t mean we can’t ‘play’ later,” she said, smiling wickedly at him. He appeared to consider her offer then said, “I like the way you think.”

”That’s not all you like about me.”

”No, you’re right. I like everything about you.”

”And I, you.”

“Stop it, you’re making me blush.”

”Aww, are we turning pink?” Willow teased.

“Yeah, but we have no time to contemplate me turning pink. We have to get you to your surprise.” He looped his arm with hers and led her to his van, where he opened the door to let her in. Giving him a nod, she climbed in and he closed the door behind her. Walking over to his side of the van, he let himself in and started the car, thanking God that she was his.

***

When Oz stopped the car, they were up by the forest. “Oz, we’re not hiking on our anniversary, are we?”

”No, we’re having dinner.” Taking her hand, he led her down a path. After about 5 minutes of silent walking, he stopped on the path where tree branches blocked the way. “Now Willow, I want you to close your eyes and close them tight. Can you do that for me?”

”Absolutely.” She closed her eyes tight and heard the rustling of branches. With her eyes still closed, Oz led her down the path a little farther. Standing behind her, he whispered in her ear, “Ok, you can open your eyes now.” Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself on a cliff overlooking the ocean. On the ground, was a blanket spread out that had a picnic basket with two lit candles. The entire scene with the overlook on the ocean and the light of the candles radiating off the trees was enough to take her breath away. “Oh my God Oz, this is perfect.”

”You really think so? I thought that you might enjoy a fancy restaurant better, but this was more romantic.” Gazing at him, she said, “No, I don’t want a fancy restaurant, I just want you.”

”Well that’s good, because I have something to give to you.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small velvet box. Taking a deep breath, he opened the box and got down on one knee. “Willow, will you marry me?” Tears of happiness sprung to her eyes at Oz’s proposal and she smiled down at him. “Of course I will, you ninny.” Standing up, grinning ear to ear, he slipped the ring on her finger. Willow got a good look at the ring and saw that is wasn’t the classic diamond engagement ring. It was a silver ring with an emerald fixed in the center. “Oh Oz, it’s beautiful.”

“Now, I know we won’t get married until after college, I just wanted you to know how much you meant to me on our one year anniversary. I love you Willow.”

”I love you too. Now let’s eat dinner. All this emotion is making me hungry,” and they settled down to eat dinner.

*** After dinner, they took a walk along a path that ran along the edge of the cliff, arm in arm. No words were necessary between the two. They knew how the other felt and what the other was thinking. For a while, things were silent when suddenly, Oz was snatched from Willow’s arm. Willow turned around quickly in surprise and screamed as Drusilla’s fangs settled into Oz’s throat. She looked into his eyes as Drusilla sucked his blood away and saw everything that he felt for her and to Oz, she reflected the same in her eyes. Tears began to run down her face and she began to cry out his name, but his name was cut off as Spike’s hands grabbed her and he lowered his mouth to her, but before his fangs pierced her skin, he said,

“This is revenge for escaping me that first time. Payback’s a bitch isn’t it?” From then on, Willow felt nothing but pain. When Drusilla finished with Oz, she dropped him and slowly licked her lips, her eyes closed. But before she could open her eyes, Buffy had put a stake through her heart, ending Drusilla’s existence. Spike, who was almost finished with Willow, saw Buffy put the stake through Drusilla, and in rage, dropped Willow and attacked Buffy. But in his rage, he wasn’t very efficient and Buffy quickly put the same stake through Spike’s heart. Buffy then rushed over to Willow’s side, crying profusely. “Willow? Willow, can you hear me?” Willow’s breathing was shallow and she was deathly pale, Buffy knew that Willow wasn’t going to make it. Slowly, Willow opened her eyes and smiled at her best friend.

“Buffy, you’re my best friend, you know? I don’t think I ever told you that.”

”No, you’re going to make it. You have to. I won’t accept anything less then that. You’re going to be ok.”

”No Buffy, we both know I’m not going to make and Oz is dead. I couldn’t live without him. I want you to know that I could have never gone through days of knowing that there were real live monsters out there if it wasn’t for you.”

”Me neither,” Buffy choked out through tears.

“I want you to tell Xander that I forgive him for everything that happened with Cordelia and the thing with me. I want you to tell Cordelia that I don’t hate her and that she is a very sweet person. And I want you to tell Giles that was like a father to me and that I love him for it. Tell everyone that I love them and will miss them dearly. I love you Buffy, you were my best friend.”

”I love you too Willow. And you were also my best friend.” Willow smiled one last time, closed her eyes, and exhaled her last breath. And Buffy cried.

*** *Two weeks later*

Xander and Buffy stood in front of the graves of Willow and Oz, bouquets of gardenias in their hands, Willow and Oz’s flower. Buffy set her bouquet in between the two graves and Xander set his down next to hers. By request of their families, Willow and Oz were buried next to each other where they could be together forever. Standing next to each other, Buffy and Xander stood over the graves of two of the best people they had ever known. After a few minutes of silence, Buffy said, “You know, I don’t think Willow knew how much everyone appreciated her help. Not just help in the library, but also being there whenever anyone had a problem. I knew that if I ever had a problem with anything, I could go to Willow and talk to her about it, knowing that she would give me all of her attention and not judge me for anything that I did. I never knew anyone like that but Willow. And Oz. Even though he didn’t talk a lot, his calm exterior was actually a big help in the group. It’s like it spread through all of us and calmed the rest of us down.”

”I know what you mean,” Xander said, “But you didn’t have the pleasure of growing up with Willow. She was there for everything. We were inseparable. When everyone would gang up on us, Willow and I would just ignore them and be in our own little world. That is, until I started dating Cordelia. Cordelia started taking up more of my time and I got worried that she didn’t have anyone. But then she met Oz and although I was jealous at first, I had always know that he was the best thing for her and I’m so happy that they had the time together that they had.” With sad sighs, the two began to walk off, both of them with tears running down their cheeks. Before they were out of sight of their gravestones, Buffy turned around to look at them one more time and her jaw dropped open. Framed by sunlight were the spirits of Willow and Oz laughing and kissing. Buffy tapped Xander on the shoulder, and Xander turned around and saw the same thing that Buffy saw. Smiling at each other, Buffy and Xander turned around and walked out of the cemetery, knowing that Willow and Oz would be happy, now and forever.

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The End
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