*******The next morning. Part 21******

Willow woke to the sound of whimpering and scratching at the door. Squinting while she yawned and opened her eyes, she dragged her feet over the bed the shuffled her way to open the door to see who or what was interupting her slumber. She soon regretted it when a huge 75 pound boxer knocked her down, sniffed at her face and neck then began licking her. Willow held her breath and pushed at the dogs snout, telling it to go away.

"Bad dog!" Oz said pulling Rusty off of Willow. Rusty sulked for a moment, then wagged his tail and bounded out the door and down the stairs, giving Willow the impression that there was a stampede in the house. "Are you okay?" Oz asked concerned, while helping her up. Willow picked diligently at her skirt and blouse then made a disgusted face.

"Uggghhhh. Uh yeah...I will be," Willow said, making a face when she pulled her hand away from her face to have it covered with slime.

"Oh...here...he does that sometimes, when I bring over people he doesn't know. I think he likes you though. Usually he attacks other adults," Oz said, surprised. He handed her a hankercheif then stuck his hands in his pockets, unsure as to what to say.

"Well I can't say that I am enthused but thanks for the explanation...wait a minute. What am I doing at your house?" Willow asked perplexed. She took in her surroundings. "And which one is it because this room alone is bigger then the house you have in SunnyDale," Willow observed, shock evident in her features.

"This is my house in LA. It seemed reasonable at the time cause my house was only 30 miles away from where your jeep broke down...by the way I called to get that fixed, so I just assumed to let you sleep in the master bedroom," Oz said, explaining.

"I like it," Willow said in awe while looking up at the ceilings and then out the clear wall that some people like to call a window. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she walked like Frankenstein while she made her way over to the window. "Oh my god, this place is beautiful," Willow said, opening the glass door so she could step out onto the balcony. The wind blew at her hair, and Oz felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. She crossed her arms over her chest at the sudden rush of wind, then shook her head as if to clear it and walked back into the house.

"I thought you'd like it," Oz said, nodding his head. There was an akward moment of silence. Willow was still trying to wake up and Oz was trying to think of a way to bring up last night. "Soooo...Breakfast?" Oz suggested. Willow yawned and nodded her head, then proceeded to follow Oz out the door and down the stairs to the dining room which was also part of the living room. Willow sat in a nearby chair, while Oz proceeded to pour her a mug of coffee. She accepted it greatfully, then took a big sip to wet her throat. It was way to dry for her liking. Maybe she was coming down with something? Who knew? Then Oz went to the cabinet and grabbed a small loaf of bread and proceeded to slice, toast, and butter it. He scrambled the eggs, then whipped up one of Willow's most favorite breakfast foods...mashed potatoes and served it with a side of hot sausage. Willow picked and poked at it for a while, occasionally stabbing the sausage with her fork so she could pick it up and eat it.

"Make breakfast often?" Willow asked, simply to make conversation.

"No...not really. Usually I just have a cup of coffee, then head out to the studio. I'm also on the road a lot too so I usually have someone come here to take care of Rusty for a while," Oz said, stuffing his mouth with the eggs.

"Excited about going to Europe?" Willow asked, giving Oz the indication that she hadn't forgotten last night. Skeletons were just begging to come out of the closet.

"Not particularly. I'm not going to know half of what they're saying, and it's nothing I haven't seen before. To be honest, it will probably just end up giving me a headache because my head will hurt so much because I'm constantly going to be deciphering french half the time." There was about a minute of silence and Oz was just begging to ask her about last night. "So...am I still dead to you?" Oz asked

"Are we still aquaintances?" Willow asked, retaliating. Oz sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Willow...we can't...we won't ever be just friends. We have to much of a history to be considered friends," Oz said, putting his fork down on his plate.

"I didn't say anything about being friends," Willow said, averting her eyes to her plate as she ate hurriedly. Oz sighed, some what frustrated.

"Yes Willow. We're still aquaintances and it will probably stay that way for the rest of our lives," Oz said, his facial features set in stone. Willow shuddered unpleasantly, then lowered her fork to her plate, then placed both her elbows on the table and held her head up by her hands. She couldn't, wouldn't look at him right now.

"So...last night didn't mean anything to you?" Willow asked hurt. Oz averted his eyes to a nearby Window.

"I don't know. We were both tired and you were hyperventalating so I...kissed you and one thing led to another...Willow, I'm sorry but last night was a mistake," Oz said, covering one of her hands that she had lowered to the table with his own. Willow could feel a tear sliding down her cheek, and Oz couldn't help but feel insecure about his own words. It seemed like a mistake. He felt bad about it, so it must have been a mistake. He went on though. He was determined to speak his mind. "Willow. We both know that no matter what we do, it's not going to work and we're just going to end up making each other misearable in the end if we get back together. And I'm not so sure...whether or not you and I...are still in love. I thought...no, I knew that something was missing even before I found out about Kevin. It just wasn't right, and at the time I just assumed that things would have gotten better. Kevin wasn't a mistake. We did love each other five years ago...but Willow...we've been away too long. I mean..the entire time you were gone, the only thing I could think about was why you left me and eventually it became my obsession. Willow, look at us. We have two entirely different lives. You live in New York, and I live on the road half the time," Oz said, his throat tightening against his will.

"We have a son though," Willow said, looking up from the table with tears rolling down her cheeks. "We promised eachother...we promised that we'd love each other forever," Willow said in a more bitter voice.

"Well at the time, we also didn't think that anything could seperate us. I don't know where we stand anymore. I'm still pissed at the fact that you lied to me for five years. But I'm dealing," Oz said, looking into her soul full eyes. "We're not the same people that we used to be. We're bitter. We're older. And the only way I can really put this into words is just to say that...we love our past. I want to live in the dark. I'd love to go back into time and switch the clocks to make sure that you never left me. But I can't and neither can you. Do you understand?" Oz asked, putting on a show of puppy dog concerned eyes. Willow could only bite her lip and nodd her head yes. Pulling her hand away from Oz's, she pushed herself away from the table and walked to the door. She made a weak attempt to smile, but her emotions wouldn't allow it. She picked up the phone nearby and called a cab, leaving Oz to watch helplessly. "Where are you going?" Oz asked, confused.

"Back to SunnyDale. I want to see my son," Willow said, turning the knob.

"Willow, visiting hours aren't until 1 in the afternoon. You've got four hours. Stay a while," Oz said, patting the table. Willow opened the door wider then looked at him saddly.

"What's the point if we're just aquaintances?" Willow asked.

"Willow...." Oz said in a hurt-shocked voice. Willow interrupted him.

"Thankyou very much Mr. Oz Larkin for your hospitality. Your son and I will be in New York when you want to see him. Goodbye," Willow said, stepping through the door, giving Oz one last glance, just daring him to stop her, then closed the door. Oz dropped his fork on the table and opened the door to run after Willow.

"Willow!"

"Yes, Mr. Larkin?" Willow asked.

"Would you quit it with the last name shit?" Oz asked irritated.

"What's the matter? We're just aquaintances. We don't know each other. You just picked me up off of the highway because you felt bad for me and you took me into your house," Willow said, obviously pushing the issue at hand. "That's all we are...right?" Willow asked a little louder.

"You're being rediculous," Oz said angry.

"I'm being rediculous?" Willow asked incredulously. "Let me ask you something Oz. What are you feeling right now? Knowing that I'm about to leave, thinking that we're just aquaintances? Are you upset? Are you pissed, angry, hurt? What are you feeling right now, knowing that once I leave this driveway, all I'm going to know you as is the nice man who picked me up off of the highway last night? It kills you doesn't it? It makes you want to take back everything you've just said in the last two minutes, doesn't it? It was a mistake, right? You can't take it back. No matter how much I wanted to get off that bus and run into your arms, I didn't and I will regret it til the day I die. It was a mistake, but I'm doing my best to make up for it. I want you back. I don't want to be acquaintances, and I don't want to be friends. That's why I came back. I wanted to see you so badly, and I couldn't take it anymore. It was a mistake that I can't take back," Willow said, trying to make a point. He looked at her with hurt, confusion, anger, and sympathy all in one glance. His heart pounded in his chest, stretching the tissue underneath his skin. This wasn't right.

"Willow...this...none of this is right. But I don't know what to do, to make things right. All I can think of right now, is time and distance. That's all I can think of right now," Oz said, breathing hard.

"Oh..right...you're right. Let's wait another five years and say howdy when Buffy and Jesse get married," Willow said sarcastically. Oz stared at her, his eyes flashing yellow out of anger.

"That's not fair, and you know it," Oz said, pointing his finger at her. "You ask me, what I want you to do, and when I come up with the slightest decision, you bitch at me like a hound dog," Oz screamed angrily.

"The slightest decision? Oz, wake up!! You are telling me, that you and I can never, ever, under any circumstances be together. That's not a slight decision, that's a decision that ruins my life. I hate, loving you right now, but I don't have a choice. I can't control anything that I feel for you. I will hate you one minute because I know your right, but then I'll fall head over heals in love with you when I see you walk through the door. I love you, Oz. I've never been so forward in my entire life. I'm putting everything on the line for you, and I'm begging you. Don't make me wish five years down the road that I could have gone back into a time machine and stopped you from leaving me. Can you...honestly tell me that you don't love me anymore?" Willow asked, tears streaming down the nape of her throat. Oz felt his control wearing thin, and even he would have to admit that the tears were getting the better of him. Breathing hard, he allowed a tear to slide off his chin and on to the dry leaves below. Everything was quiet. The wind wasn't blowing, the crickets weren't churping, the leaves weren't rustling. You could hear a pin drop a mile away at that moment. He let out a breath of inevitable doom, then averted his gaze from her eyes to his feet. Willow could feel, what little control she had left, slipping quickly. Where was the damn cab when you needed it? She sighed tiredly, tears choking her wind pipe. Oz sniffed, then looked up to meet the back of her head. There she was, at the bridge of destiny, and all the power in the air rested in his hands. He heard gravel popping in the drive way, signaling that the cab driver was here, cursed silently, then went to stand behind her. Running his hands through her red hair, he said the only thing he could think of.

"I need more time," Oz said quietly. Greatful that he was behind her and greatful that she didn't have to look at him at the time being, she sighed then nodded her head in resignation. This really was it. She just didn't want to say anything. She knew that if they said goodbye now, they'd never see each other again. She aske the cab driver to stay in the cab for a little while and the man agreed.

"If we say goodbye now...you and I both know that we'll never see each other again," Willow said, struggling for air. Oz grabbed at her elbow, silently pleading for her to turn around. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but he stopped himself. Oz struggled to find his voice.

"I..still love you," Oz said in a quiet, hoarse voice. " You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, but I don't want to hate you. And I don't want you to hate me. I never want you to hate me, and I don't want to hurt you anymore then I have to," Oz said, circling her waiste with his arms. Willow tugged at his collar for a few moments, wetting his neck and sleeves with her tears, then sighed deeply. The slightest touch from him could melt her cold wall of ice into an ocean of tears. Oz sighed, giving Willow the indication that he was about to go on. "I need more time. I want more time. This..everything that...seeing you, is like a huge bomb going off in my head and every thing is scrambled. I don't know whether to kiss you, or yell at you. I don't know whether or not I let you go right now, if you're ever going to let me see you again. I don't want you to go back to NewYork because we haven't resolved anything and I want to resolve something. He waited a moment, stopping himself to take a breath into his sore lungs. Willow spoke up, noticing that the driver was in a hurry.

"If you let me go now...I won't come back. I have got to grow up. For Kevin. I'm not going to wait for you anymore. You have issues that you just don't seem to want to get over and I respect that. I don't like it, but I understand," Willow said, pulling away from Oz. She looked up at him, her deep green eyes digging sweat out of Oz's brow. "This," Willow said looking around. "This, is your last chance...to be with me. So...in the next 10 seconds, I'm either going to sit down in that car, or I'm going to go back inside with you, and we're going to live happily ever after...and I promise I won't scream at you, no matter what your choice is," Willow said, grinning slightly as if to lighten the mood. Oz swallowed hard, his cheek ticking sharply. The silence was to loud for her liking. He made no move to answer and Willow felt tears rising in her chest. She turned, walking to the cab door, silent tears making their way down her pale cheeks. Oz hesitated.

"Promise?" Oz asked. Willow nearly jumped out of her skin at his voice. She turned.

"What?" Willow asked, confusion and tears evident in her throaty voice and eyes.

"If we...were to go inside my house...we'd live happily ever after?" Oz asked in a hopeful voice, his voice raw with tears. Willow nearly fell over in happiness.

"I'm not going to have any objections," Willow said, a weary sweet smile playing at her lips. Oz smiled back in relief. It felt so good to smile, especially after crying so hard.

"I want you to stay," Oz said, his voice heavy with relief. Willow couldn't believe her ears. Warm laughter broke out from her soft lips, and her tears stilled. Dropping her purse, she took the wide six steps in stride, smiling the entire time, then jumped into his arms. Oz smiled, exhilerated now that his head was cleared, and held her close, taking in the avid smell of chocolate and strawberrys lingering over her body. "Please don't go?" Oz pleaded, running his fingers through her silky red hair. Willow sniffed into his neck, reveling in the feel of a tension free enviroment.

"Is the broad leaving or not?" The cab driver asked, annoyed. Oz shook his head at the driver. Holding on to Willow with one hand, he dug in his pocket with the other, then pulled out a ten dollar bill.

"For your trouble," Oz said, giving the money to the cab driver. The driver accepted it greatfully, then hopped into the cab, driving off hurriedly.

"What about my trouble?" Willow asked playfully.

"Maybe a dollar," Oz said, playfully. Willow quirked her eyebrows at him, then gave him a cocky grin before, leaning in to bite on his earlobe. Oz held her tighter, running his cold hands up her spine, causing Willow to shiver. Oz pulled away for a moment, smiling. "Willow..I do want to wait a while before we get, physical again...I mean really physical like..maybe we could wait a week before we get that intimate," Oz said, blushing. Willow smiled sweetly and nodded her head. "Why are you so happy?" Oz asked, all ready knowing what she was going to say..or so he thought.

"Out of the 10 years that I've known of your existance, I've never ever seen you blush. Well..not like that anyways," Willow said, hugging him around the shoulders.

"Really?"

"Your ears are wiggling to," Willow said, rising on her toes to kiss him. Oz met her lips in a lingering kiss, wetting her lips with his tongue, allowing that insasiating feeling she prevoked in him to take over his body.

"Are you still hungry?" Oz asked, pulling away slightly. Willow nodded her head as if in a haze, then met his lips in another loving kiss.

"Starved," Willow said, in between kisses.

"When we stop, this is going to get akward," Oz reminded her, tasting her neck.

"Don't stop," Willow said running her fingers through his now wet hair. They pulled away to survey their surroundings. It was raining buckets and they were soaked. "Oh wow," Willow said smiling. Jumping up and down in excitement, she kissed him one last time before jumping up and wrapping her legs around his hips. "I'm to weak to walk," Willow said in a helpless tone.

"I'm too weak to resist."

"It's to be expected."

"Would you just shut up and kiss me?"

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The End....at least until the sequel.