By Sprout Girl
Oz looked up from his book to study his girlfriend. Willow was frantically searching the net for a way to stop the mayor's ascension tomorrow. Everyone else was hitting the oldest books in Giles' collection. So far, it didn't look like they would be able to save the world this time.
As Oz watched Willow, he thought of all the things they would never get to do. And it occurred to him that there was one thing he really regretted not being able to do with her. Willow glanced up from the screen and saw him staring at her. She smiled at him, and his heart melted. He knew he had to do it. He had to do the one thing before Hell took over. "Um, Buffy, I gotta take a break."
The slayer looked over at Oz. "Sure, go ahead. Would you mind bringing back some sodas? I think we all need the caffeine."
"I meant a big break. Like…away…from here. There's some stuff I need to do." Oz knew he sounded lame, but he had to get out.
Xander was quick to call him on it. "What do you need to do that has to be done before Hell rises? I mean, come on. Priorities, man."
"I just, I gotta go." With that, he turned and walked out the library. He felt bad for leaving them there, but he had to do this. He could feel Willow staring after him, wondering what had gotten into him. He smiled. She would find out soon.
* "What's with him?" Xander turned to look at Willow, who was still staring at the doors.
"I have no idea," she replied. It made her nervous to see Oz run out like that. Was he having trouble handling it?
"Come on, guys," Buffy said, trying to get their attention. "This stuff can make you wig. He probably just needed some air, clear his head. Remember, we've done this end of the world thing before. He hasn't. The last time the Hell Mouth opened, he was in wolfy form, remember?" She went over to Willow and put her arm around her. "He'll be back."
* Oz hurried as he drove through Sunnydale. He had to get to the bank, the mall, and city hall before they closed. Plus, he wanted to get back to the library so he could finish researching. He pulled up to the bank with five minutes to spare. He walked right up to the teller and got out his driver's license.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"I need to pull everything out of my account."
** Fifteen minutes later, he was at the mall. He had four stores to visit, and only two hours left. He knew two hours wasn't much if he wanted everything to be perfect. He ran to the women's formal department.
******* Willow was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She had been up for 36 hours, and no amount of caffeine could help her now. Her eyelids drooped, and her head dropped down on her arms.
Oz walked into the library with one purchase in his pocket, one draped over his arm, one in a bag, and was wearing one. He smiled at the scene before him. Everyone was working hard, everyone except his Willow. She had fallen asleep at the table, her head resting on her folded arms. His breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful. She looked so peaceful amongst the chaos. Amazing. They had been going out almost two years, and she still took his breath away. He put his stuff on the table and walked over to her, gently kissing her forehead. "Wake up, my Sleeping Beauty."
Willow lifted her head to see Oz looking into her eyes. She jumped up and hugged him, almost knocking him down. "You came back!"
"Of course I came back. But before we get back to working, I need to borrow you for an hour or so."
"But, there's so much to do. We should stay here and help."
"We'll be back, Baby. I promise. Besides, it didn't look like you were working to hard a few minutes ago." Oz stroked her cheek as she blushed. "You need a break."
Buffy, who had watched this whole exchange from her perch on the railing, spoke up. "Go ahead, Willow. This is not how you want to spend your last night on earth. Not that it will be…Because we will beat this. But, you know. So go."
"Are you sure?"
Buffy stared at her with that Don't-Make-Me-Turn-Slayer-On-You look. "GO."
"Okay." Willow started to turn to go, but was stopped by her boyfriend.
"Before we go, put this on," he said, handing her the garment bag. "I'll be in the hallway." Oz turned and started to leave.
"What is it?" she asked, stopping him.
"Put it on and find out." He casually strode out the doors.
Willow stared after him, and then came to her senses. What did he just give her? She had a vague thought that it might be lingerie or something, but he wouldn't do that to her. Not with all her friends standing here.
"So, open it," Buffy exclaimed, coming over to stand next to her.
Willow took the bag and laid it on the table. She pulled down the zipper and opened the bag. "Oh," was all she managed to squeak out.
Buffy had no such speech problem. "Oh my god, Will. It's beautiful." She pulled it out of the bag, and held it up. It was a white tank gown with an empire waist and rosettes down the back. The neckline and waistline were outlined in tiny pearls. The skirt was straight, but flowed in movement, and had a tiny little train in the back. Willow grabbed the bag on the table and opened the box inside. Nestled among tissue paper was a pair of white pumps. Buffy grabbed Willow by the arm and pulled her into Giles' office. "Change. Now." She left the office and closed the door behind her.
Willow sat down in Giles' chair and wondered what Oz was up to. He said it would only take an hour. Unless he said that just to throw her off. Well, the only way to find out was to follow his instructions. She slipped on the gown, and was amazed to find that it was a perfect fit, as were the shoes. There was no mirror, so she didn't know how she looked, but she felt beautiful. She started to clean up, but when she picked up the shoe box, she realized there was something else in it. She dug through the tissue until she found them. Two white hair combs decorated with little pearls. She held them in her hand and walked into the main library.
"My, god, Willow, you look beautiful," Buffy breathed.
Willow looked to Xander for confirmation, but all he could do was move his mouth up and down. She giggled, and he nodded to her.
Giles walked down from the stacks, and stopped short. "You look like an angel."
Willow was slightly embarrassed by that, but knew he meant it fatherly, so she smiled and said, "Thanks." She turned to Buffy. "Look what else he got me," she said, holding out the combs.
"That boy thinks of everything," she said, leading Willow to the mirror. She stood in front of her, fussing with the combs until they were perfect. "There." She stepped aside so Willow could get her first look in the mirror.
Willow looked at herself, looked away, and then back again. She couldn't believe it was her. "Are you sure this isn't some Hell Mouth reflection? I don't look like that."
"Yes, you do, Willow," Xander said, appearing behind her. "You do look that beautiful."
She turned and hugged him. "Thank you." She pulled Buffy into the hug. "Thank you both." She released them and ran to the library doors, the tail flying behind her. She stopped and calmly opened the doors, obviously wanting to make an impression on Oz. She sedately walked into the hallway, to find him facing away from her. She saw that he had taken off his overcoat, and was wearing a tuxedo underneath. "I was wondering why you were wearing a long coat."
"Just one of the many secrets in store for you tonight," he replied, turning towards her. One look at her and he knew he was doing the right thing. "You are …" he fumbled, searching for the right words. "Stunning," he finished, when he got his breath back.
"Well it's a gorgeous dress," Willow said modestly.
"No. It is a pretty dress. *You* make it gorgeous." He stepped forward and took her in his arms. "*You* are gorgeous," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
Willow felt his arms wrap around her and knew that she never wanted to leave this place, the shelter of his arms, the warmth of his lips. He was home to her. When the kiss broke, she asked, "So where are we going?"
"First, I need you to sign something," he answered, handing her a paper. It was folded so that she could only see the place for her signature, not the document itself.
"What, a release form, or something? Saying that I promise not to sue if I get hurt on our outing?" she asked, signing the paper.
"Or something." He took it back from her and put it in his pocket. "Now we can go."
* "So how come those two get to take a break?" Xander complained.
"Because this may be their last night together," Buffy replied. "Besides, what would you do?"
"Stuff myself full of Twinkies. Think about it. No repercussions. I wouldn't even get fat."
"Xander," Buffy said, eyeing the pile of wrappers on the table next to him, "You're already stuffing yourself full of Twinkies."
"Yeah, but I don't have someone to share them with."
"That's because you're not in love."
"That's not true. She just doesn't love me back. Not anymore."
Buffy was surprised at Xander's honesty. Funny how the whole End of the World thing made people introspective. "Well, please, for her sake Xander, don't tell her that. She finally knows what she wants, don't confuse her. She's in love with somebody else."
Xander looked up sharply at Buffy's last sentence. "What do you mean 'She's in love with someone else?' Who? Wesley?"
Buffy looked at him confused. "What do *you* mean 'who?' And Wesley? What the hell are you talking about? Oz!! She's in love with Oz!"
"Buffy, I'm not in love with Willow!! Geez, try and keep up! I thought I was, but you were right. Once again I wanted what I couldn't have. I love Cordelia." He paused. "I guess I always have."
"Oh! Well you can tell her. You should tell her. Go. Find the woman you love and grovel."
Xander shot out of his chair. "Thanks, Buff," he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"But be back in an hour!!" she called after him, realizing how lonely she was going to be. She sat back, and started to stare into space. She was just getting into it when she was interrupted by a shout of "YES!!!" reverberating off the library walls. She jumped up in her seat. "What?"
Giles came rushing out of his office. "I have it, Buffy. The key to stopping the mayor's ascension."
"Great. Are you going to clue me in, or are you just going to gloat.?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Well it seems that the mayor's box of…of…"
"Creepy Crawlies?"
"Yes, the box of creatures can be stopped with another box, one most similar to the one he has." Giles put his glasses back on to continue reading. "It says here that the second box is full of other Creepy Crawlers, as you put it, natural and mortal enemies to the first. If you were to unleash these animals on the mayor's they will stop their part in the transformation and fight to the death with these others."
"Well here's a question, and don't call me a party-pooper 'cause I asked it. What if our guys don't beat his guys?"
"Oh. Yes, I hadn't thought of that. We shall just have to help them."
"Okay, one more question. Are these things completely good? 'Cause it sounds like they're pretty viscous. I don't want them to beat the bad guys, and then turn on the general public. How do we get them back in the box?"
"Oh, well it says that once all of their mortal enemies are dead, they instinctively go back to their nest. Ah, that would be the box."
"Yeah, I got that part. So, one last question. Where do we find this box?"
"Oh, that part, I'm afraid I don't know. But now that we have the name of the box, the Box of Kerinity, perhaps Xander can help you find it in the volumes…Where is Xander?"
"I told him to go find Cordy. He needs to fess up and tell her how he feels. Giles, this may be their last night on Earth. I want them to be happy."
"So, we're all by ourselves? Buffy, we have an inordinate amount of research to do. There is no way we can find this without help." Giles was starting to get a little panicky.
"Don't worry. Oz said they'd back in an hour, and I told Xander to be back here then. We will find the box. In plenty of time to stop the mayor, *and* graduate."
*** "Oz, where are we?"
"We are on a road," he replied coyly.
"I know that, Silly. Where is this road taking us?"
"Oh! To your surprise. You have to be specific when you ask questions." Oz laughed. Willow couldn't contain her excitement and was bouncing in her seat. She was so cute when she was hyper.
"Well, how's this for specific? What is my surprise?"
"I can't tell you that. I can tell you that it is something that I've always wanted to do with you, and that I don't want to die without doing it."
"Ooh! How romantic." Willow could tell that they were headed out towards to forest and their favorite spot. "Is it dancing in the moonlight?"
"I guess we could dance. That wasn't what I had in mind though."
"Well, it isn't making love, because we've done that. Is it making love under the moonlight?"
"I guess we could do that too, but that wasn't what I had in mind either." Oz saw Willow pout out of the corner of his mind. "You'll just have to wait and see."
"But you got me all dressed up, what else could it be?"
"Well it won't be much longer now," Oz said, smiling. Two minutes later, he was pulling off the road, and helping Willow out of the van. She stepped down, and saw where they were. The look on her face let Oz know that he had chosen the right spot. "Do you like it?"
"I love it! The view, oh, it's so beautiful." They were looking down on Sunnydale. The town lights glowed against the backdrop of the setting sun. "This is my surprise?" she asked when the sun had finished its descent.
"No. Come over here for a minute." Oz led her to the front of his van. He fished around in his left jacket pocket for one of the boxes. She looked so beautiful with the halo of the headlights around her.
Willow watched him watching her. He was hard to read, even for her, but she thought he looked a little nervous. He completely caught her off guard when he stepped in and kissed her. A good, long, hard, passionate kiss. She lost herself in him completely, and when he released her, her mind was spinning, as was her heart. She took a moment to close her eyes and collect herself. When she opened them again, she was surprised to see him not standing, but kneeling in front of her.
"Willow, I was wondering, if, well, if you would marry me?" Oz was looking at her intently, searching her eyes for an answer.
"Oh, Oz. I…I" Willow couldn't say anything else when the tears started to fall. She pulled him up to her and hugged him close.
As much as Oz loved hugging her, he needed to interrupt the moment. He had to make sure. He pulled away from her and asked, "Is that a yes?"
"YES!!" she screamed diving in for another hug. "Yes, it's a yes."
Oz pulled away from her again, taking her hand to slip on the ring. The combination of the moonlight and headlights made the round solitaire sparkle brilliantly. The gold swirl setting shone like fire. Willow studied it, smiled, and grabbed another hug and kiss. This time, Oz didn't pull away.
* Xander wasn't sure where to find Cordelia. He had driven past her house, but the gates were locked and there was a for sale sign in the front. She had really meant it when she said she didn't have a home. So where was she? He had driven around town but had seen no sign of her. She couldn't be at April Fools, they were closed. Well, Maybe they weren't. Xander decided to go check.
When he pulled up to the store, he saw immediately that they were closed. But at second glance, he saw a light on in the back. Was she still there? He cupped his hands against the store window to get a better look. He saw a very familiar silhouette behind the cash register. "Cordy," he shouted, pounding on the glass. "Cordy, let me in!" He smiled when he saw her rush to open the door.
"Xander, get in here! My boss is in the back, so be quiet! Where's the vampire?"
"What?"
"Wasn't there a vampire chasing you?"
"Was there? I didn't see one."
"You mean you almost broke the window, not to mention you're probably going to get me in trouble, and your life isn't even in danger? Why do I put up with you?"
"Because I love you?" Xander asked.
"Oh, sure, that makes all the difference, because you lov….Wait. What?"
"I love you."
"Is this some stupid supernatural thing? Where's the real Xander? Where's the Xander I know and love?"
"You said it. You love me, too."
"No, Xander, I don't love you. It was just an expression. Besides, aren't you hung up on Willow or Buffy or something. How about Anya?"
"Anya? Please, prom with her was torture enough. And I know I hurt you with that whole Willow thing, but I don't love her. Not the way I love you." Xander had to struggle to be so open and honest.
"And how do you love me Xander?" Cordelia spat out. "As a consolation prize? As a groping partner? Why can't you love me as a person?"
"Cordy, I *do* love you as a person. I just never knew it until you broke up with me. And I know what you're going to say," he cut her off. "You're going to say 'Typical Xander'. And you would be right. That was a typical thing for me to do. But not anymore. Please, Cordelia, let me try again."
"Why? Why should I let you?"
"Because, I think you love me too." Xander could see her gearing up for a retort, so he did something he wouldn't normally have the courage to do. He kissed her. He could feel her defenses start to tumble as the kiss deepened. He finally released her and stepped back.
"Xander, is this for real? There isn't any weird Hell Mouth thing is it? Because I can't be pushed around again. I couldn't take that."
"I have to be honest with you. Tomorrow the mayor will unleash Hell on Earth if we can't stop it. That may be what made me realize my feelings for you, but that doesn't mean those feelings aren't true. I love you. And I am so sorry for what I did to you."
"Apology accepted, provisionally." She smiled at him.
"Provisionally?"
"Yeah, if you want it to be permanent, you have to kiss me again."
"You always did like the making up part," Xander whispered as he leaned in.
"Chase! What are you doing!?! Making out in front of the store window on store time! Young lady, you are fired!"
"Okay. I have a new job waiting for me anyway," she said, looking at Xander. "Let's go see what we can do about the mayor."
** When the kissing and cuddling had stopped, Oz helped Willow back into the van. He pulled out onto the road, and continued on their journey.
"Aren't you going to turn around?" she asked.
"No. We're not finished," he said simply.
"But that was the surprise. We need to get back to the library."
"How do you know that was the surprise? There could be more, you know."
"Is there?" Willow began bursting with excitement when Oz nodded. "How on Earth are you going to top this?" she exclaimed, holding out her hand with the ring.
"Just about five more minutes, Baby. Then you'll see."
"Wait, this is the road to the cliff, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. We've never been up there at night, so I thought it would be nice to see it. You know, before the world ends and all."
Willow giggled, and said, "We really should go back. I don't want the world to end."
"It won't. Buffy can hold her own for another forty minutes, and then we'll be back to research mode. I promise."
Willow nodded. "You were right. I did need this break. I could barely keep my eyes open earlier, and now I don't think I could sleep if I tried."
"Good, because we're here." Oz stopped the van beside another car parked back from the cliff's edge.
"Oh, no. There's not supposed to be anyone else here," Willow complained.
"Yes, there is. I invited them." Oz hopped out and walked around to open the other door for Willow. "We're here," he called out.
Willow started as a man and woman she did not know came into her view. "Willow!" cried a little voice. She looked down to see Oz's cousin Jordy running to her. So these must be his parents, but what were they doing here? "Hi, Jordy. What are you doing here?"
"I don't know. Oz came over earlier and talked to Mommy and Daddy, and they got all happy, and then we came here."
Willow looked over at Oz. "What did you do?" she whispered.
He just smiled at her and said, "Willow, this is my Uncle Keith and my Aunt Maureen."
"Hi," she said as she shook Keith's hand. She went to shake Maureen's hand, but got caught up in a hug instead. "Umph."
"So you're Willow. Congratulations, Honey," Maureen said, smiling.
"Um, thanks. So you guys knew in advance?"
"That's why we're here," Keith answered.
"Why is that again?" Willow looked to Oz for an answer.
"Guys, could you give us a minute?" Oz asked his family.
"Sure." The three of them walked to the other side of the bluff.
"Willow, the world might end tomorrow, and the one thing I wanted to do before I die was not propose to you. I want to marry you."
"Oh. That's so sweet. But, what about…"
"But what about what? Baby, you're eighteen, I'm nineteen, it's legal."
"But don't you need a license or something?"
"What do you think you signed earlier?" Oz asked her, pulling out the document.
Willow quickly read over what she had signed. "This says we went down to city hall together. How did you get around this?"
"Mayor Wilkins doesn't employ very capable people. A large donation to a private citizen worked very nicely to smooth our way."
"Huh?" Willow wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"I bribed the clerk. He backdated it, and he'll file it tomorrow. My uncle's here to perform the ceremony. He's a Unitarian minister. My aunt is here as a witness, and Jordy didn't have a baby-sitter. Aren't you happy about this?" Oz was starting to wonder if this was such a good idea. Willow was asking a lot of questions.
"What about our parents?"
"Willow, we may not survive tomorrow. Let's take it each step at a time. Besides, my parents have already left for the summer. And it took your mom, what, like five months to notice you had cut your hair. How will she notice a ring?" Oz had never used many words to express himself, but now he wished he had more practice. There were so many things he wanted to say to her. How could he get her to understand what he was feeling? His intuition was screaming at him that this was the right thing to do, that he *needed* to do this.
"My mom will never accept a non-Jewish ceremony," Willow stated.
"*That's* what you're worried about? Baby, if we live past tomorrow, we will do this all over again, and do it right. We'll have my uncle, and a rabbi, and a reception, and a honeymoon. Anything to make you happy. But I don't want the world to end without you as my wife. I want everyone to know, I want *you* to know that I will spend eternity with you, whether it will be here on Earth, in Hell, or Heaven. I just want to be with you." Oz knew he had said it right. The tears springing to her eyes confirmed it.
"And I want to be with you, too," she whispered. "For eternity.
Continues
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