**********Part one************

"Oz!!!" Willow hollered. Oz smiled, then waved to his beloved girlfriend as he stepped down the terminal. Waving her arm excitedly, she practically bounced into his arms, shedding several cool kisses to his cheek and ears.

"Hey baby," Oz said, stroking her long straight red hair. "You're hair...you got it straightened?" Oz asked, a little disappointed.

"Well yeah. It kind of got on my nerves cause I couldn't do anything with it. Now...I can put it up in a bun, I can put it up into a pony tail...or...I could get it permed again if you don't like it," Willow said, in an optimal voice.

"Well..it's different. I like it," Oz said, after a long critical over look. "It's just going to take while to get used to," Oz replied, before planting a long searing kiss on her lips. Willow pulled away and lead him to a corner where they could have more privacy.

"How is Kevin?" Oz asked, wrapping his arms back around her waist. Willow crooned softly at the feel of being in his warm arms.

"He's good. Took me a while to get him to the doctors but..progress. Samantha is taking care of him right now...I would have brought him with me and all so you could see him, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to bring him down to the NewYork airport at 10 at night. To dark outside. Plus, knowing him, he'd probably get lost."

"Well, that's okay. Just gives me and you more time to ourselves," Oz said seductively, while combing his hand through her hair and placing a chaste kiss on the nape of her neck. Willow sighed in content before combing her hands through his short gelled hair, and motioning his mouth to her lips. Oz had effectively pinned her to the wall, and their tiny, small, private make out session had turned into a rather large, public make out session. Willow blushed when she noticed a camera go off, revealing that the two probably had an audience. Oz's ears turned a bright red color, as he tilted his head to see what all the commotion was about. Bighting his lip, he struggled to breathe when several of the on lookers began pointing and laughing at the two.

"Oh my god," Willow mumbled into his shoulder. Oz held her head to his shoulder before he began to maneuver their way through the crowd and to the baggage claim. Oz grinned the entire time, half out of embarrasment, and half out of Willow being the center of attention. He loved it when she would get embarrassed, and she'd start babbling into his shoulder. By the time they made it outside, the crowd had dissapated to no more then five or six camera men.

"You okay?" Oz asked Willow as they neared her jeep. Willow nodded her head slightly, then departed for a moment to open up the door to the jeep on Oz's side. Oz stepped in, then stepped out when he noticed the few camera men practically jump Willow before she could make it into the car.

"Mam what is your name?"

"Are you and Oz engaged?"

"Are you two having an affair?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"Are you two going to elope?"

"What is your name?"

Willow ducked and squinted her eyes as several cameras were shoved into her face, and she was backed into the railing.

"Get away from her!" Oz demanded, pulling the reporters off of her one by one.

"It's called the freedom of the press, buddy. We can do what ever we want to get our story," One reporter argued.

"If you come any where near her, I'll have your job and a lawsuit against your ass with in the next six hours! How is that for a story?" Oz asked angrily. Willow sighed, thankfully while she rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thankyou," Willow whispered. Oz nodded his head as he stared down the reporters with venom in his eyes. The reporters soon dissapated, and Oz offered to drive while Willow rested in the passenger seet.

"Did they hurt you?" Oz asked worriedly, as he pulled out of the airport parking lot.

"No. I'm fine," Willow said, her voice betraying her words.

"It felt like one of those near death experiences, didn't it?" Oz asked knowingly.

"You could say that. Is it going to be like that everytime?" Willow asked, scared.

"Remember that gun I had in my boat?" Oz asked. Willow looked at him with trepidation in her eyes, before taking a deep breath. "One day, I might need to use it," Oz said, focusing back on the road.

"Yikes," Willow said, tiredly.

"That's the word," Oz said depressed.

"Well at least it's over..for now anyways," Willow said, rolling her head to look out at the stars.

"For now," Oz agreed. The two sat in comfortable silence, both glancing and smiling at the other occasionally, until they were about half a mile from her house. "Okay..what street do you live on?" Oz asked the quiet figure beside him.

"Cloverdale," Willow mumbled sleepily. Yawning, she stretched her arms, then sat up to look at him. "Did I fall asleep?" Willow asked.

"I think so. You're were kind of quiet for the last 10 minutes. I was beginning to feel neglected," Oz said playfully.

"Well maybe when we get home I can make it up to you," Willow said, delighted to see Oz blush at her suggestive tone. Oz put the car into park.

"We're home," Oz said in a clipped voice. Smiling, Willow jumped out of the car, and ran to the front door, Oz right behind her. Shoving the key into the lock, she hurriedly opened the door and turned on the lights. Turning around, she grabbed Oz by the collar of his flannel and tugged at him, bringing his lips to her lips in a long warm kiss. Oz's arms rounded her waist, then lifted her up and spinned her in the air. Willow laughed into his mouth, delighted in the familiar sensation his hands always prevoked in her. Setting her down, he backed her up into the kitchen against the long counter that ran across the center of the room.

Willow hopped up onto the counter, and wrapped her legs around his calfs. Oz smiled as Willow ran her now bare feet up and down the back of his denom covered jeans. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer against him as the kiss grew more heated. Willow's hands found the edge of his flannel and pushed it back off his shoulders, nearly knocking him down due to the force.

"Willow...bedroom," Oz said, attempting to pull her off the table.

"I can't move," Willow replied, kissing him reverantly. Oz breathed into her mouth, then grabbed her legs under the knees and lifted her up and off the table. "Ow!" Willow whined softly, when her back was knocked against the door.

"Sorry," Oz mumbled. He set her on her feet, and twisted the knob until it clicked open. He looked at Willow with hot eyes, and gestured towards the bed. Willow nodded. This was the first time they had ever made love in her house. Lowering her eyes seductively, she gestured towards the buttons on her blouse, making it even more tempting to rip it off her. Ever so slowly, he leaned in and brushed his lips against the skin right below her earlobe, causing her knees to buckle under. He caught her in one swift motion, and guided her towards the feathered comforter on her bed. It was sweet torture as he slowly uhooked the buttons one by one, causing her to moan in frustration. She both loved and hated his methods of pleasing her.

"Stop," Willow moaned in a gutteral voice. Oz ceased his mission and looked into her eyes, confused. Willow rolled her eyes exasperated. "Don't stop!"

*************************Two hours later**********************

"That was interesting," Oz said, pulling Willow's back against his chest. Willow crooned into his neck, delighting in the feel of his short mustache scratching against her sensitive shoulders.

"Mmm hmm," Willow replied in a relaxed tone.

"What do you want to do?" Oz asked, his nose buried in her sweaty hair.

"It's...midnight," Willow said, checking the clock. "Are you sleepy?" Willow asked, curiously.

"Would you be sleepy after what we just did?" Oz asked, hyped.

"I'm not very sleepy, but it's midnight and the only thing we can get off the TV is a bunch of phone sex advertisements off of UPN or USA," Willow quipped, sarcasm evident in her voice. Oz grinned at the use of Willow's words then smiled even wider.

"Got any pictures?" Oz asked, kissing her neck. Willow's eyes widened in delight, and she craned her neck to look at him. Oz leaned down to kiss her gently, then smiled warmly.

"A whole closet full," Willow replied, kissing him back.

"Then I suggest...we..look at them," Oz said in between kisses.

"Okay," Willow replied, unravelling her body from Oz's. Oz's eyes wondered across the room to where Willow's shirt and bra landed. He smiled when Willow came into his line of sight to pick the loose articles up. His eyes wondered accross her elusive body, drinking in inch by inch of her silky skin.

"God, you're beautiful," Oz said, out of the blue. Oz slipped off the bed and pulled on a pair of blue sweats.

"You used to say that to me all the time," Willow replied blushing, as she made her way into the bathroom. She slipped into a pair of black satin pajama pants, then pulled a matching black top over her head. She looked into the mirror for a moment, then lowered her eyes to the sink full of cold water. She ducked until her face was about an inch into the cold burning water. Satisfied with the way her skin felt, she pulled out of the water and gasped as a pair of warm arms circled her waiste, and she had to struggle to breathe for the next several moments. She looked at him through their reflection together and smiled, loving the image the two created.

"I'll say it again. You're beautiful," Oz said, his face expressionless. His eyes were another story. Willow blushed under his intense gaze, then kissed him on the cheek.

"Thankyou," Willow said, taking his hand and guiding him into the living room. "Sit," Willow instructed. He sat down reluctantly, then waited expectantly while she padded off to find the photo albums. She came back with photo albums up to her chin, and Oz stood up to take half the load.

"All of this in five years?" Oz asked, amazed.

"Well yeah...Buffy has the other half..there are three more in the closet, but I'll get those later," Willow replied, sitting down and setting a book down on her lap. Oz inched next to her, and Willow proceeded to rest her head on his shoulder while his arm circled her waist. Kissing her forehead lightly, he reached around and opened the first page. There was a picture of Kevin when Willow was only four months pregnant with him, and then there was a picture of Kevin when he was six, seven, and eight months in her belly. Oz looked at them in awe, amazed to see what was actually going on inside Willow's body when they were apart. "You see...that's him right there..it's kind of hard to see. He's only about four centimeters long right there," Willow said, pointing at a white dot in the middle of the sonogram.

"Wow..is that his..?" Oz started to ask amazed. Willow smiled. He looked like a little boy waiting to open up a christmas present...rather a little boy who opened his christmas present but didn't know what it was.

"No...I think that's his arm.. it was a little too early to determine his sex. I didn't find out until the sixth month sonogram," Willow said, pointing to the other pictures. Oz's hand idly danced in her hair, petting her as if she were a jewel.

"I wish I could have been there," Oz said, in his usual Oz tone, doing his best to cover his dissappointment and hurt. He was hiding it well, but Willow could hear behind his words. Bringing her legs up onto the couch, sitting indian style, she turned her self to face him. Her pensive gaze made him crack a smile, causing her to smile as well.

"I'm sorry," Willow confessed, sorrow evident in her features. Her hand instinctively made it's way up to his cheek bone, caressing the smooth texture with her thumb. Oz leaned in to her touch, seemingly like a cat would rub up against your leg when you petted it, then grabbed her hand and held it in his.

"I know," Oz murmered reasurringly. He kissed her knuckles tenderly, then tugged at her arm. Willow aloud him to tug her into his embrace and she soon found herself sitting on his lap, her legs out stretched on the right side of the couch while her arms wrapped around his neck, preparing herself for the inevitable kisses.

"I just..I'd assumed that it would bother you to be around me, because of what I did. It's different now," Willow said saddly.

"It's different, but I can make it better. We can make it better," Oz replied, leaning in to kiss her soft lips. Willow licked his lips, igniting a soft, tender, make out session. His hands moved up and down her back, softly combing through her silky hair, causing pleasuring vibes to run down from her ear to her lower spine. Willow's hands played with his standard muscles in his arms and abdomen, initiating another flair of passion to transgress through their bodies.

"You know I think the world of you," Willow said, sighing into his neck.

"Baby...you know I'm not going anywhere. Not by a long shot," Oz said as if that would settle things. He held her head to his shoulder, reveling at the feel of her soft breath blowing against the tiny hairs on his chest.

"I love you," Willow whispered mournfully. Willow noted his hesitant breath. She knew that breath a mile away. That was the breath he got when he was obligated to say something that he wasn't sure about saying.

"I.." Oz started, but was immediately interrupted by Willow's rambling.

"and I know that every thing between us is still fresh, and I know it's going to take a long time before you can trust me again, and just because I feel that way about you, doesn't mean that you have to feel that way too, and I...I know you can't help the way you feel and I understand because I put you in that position and I know that..that..." Willow said panicking. Oz shushed her by putting a finger to her lips, then replaced them with his lips.

"I'll get there. Tonight, tomarrow, maybe by the end of the week. But I know it doesn't matter because I know this is right. I've known since the first time I met you. I just have to dig out all the dirt before I can say anything," Oz whispered, replacing his words with soft kisses. Willow met his eyes sweetly, holding his hand to her cheek.

"I'll do anything," Willow said, closing her eyes and closing the short distance between their lips.

"Just..let me back into your life. I want to know everything about you. Everything about Kevin. Everything about your work, your friends...I just..I want to know you again. And I'm pretty sure that now that I know about Kevin I've discovered about 80 percent of your life," Oz said, reassuring her. Willow smiled lovingly. She adored him.

"You've got two weeks to learn," Willow replied, brushing his lips with her thumb.

"No...I've got an eternity," Oz said, smiling. He adored the sweet image three inches from his eye. It seemed so foreign to him that he didn't know what to make of it. Was he ready to trust her? Her words were sincere, but it took him five years to hear them. He could only imagine what other secrets were running through in her busy head.

"No more secrets," Willow said, reading his mind. Oz flinched audibly, then smiled in relief.

"You're sure?"

"I know," Willow said seriously. There was a long moment of silence. "So..pictures, or cartoons?" Willow asked changing the subject. Oz sighed in relief, then nodded towards the pictures.

"Pictures..then cartoons...if we're still up," Oz said, blinking away some sleepy dust.

"Kay," Willow replied opening up the photo album on her lap. She started showing him all the pictures of her and Kevin at the beach and a few pictures of Kevin at kindergarden and at the lake, leaving Oz to fall in love with her more and more as the time progressed. The two soon fell asleep in a comfortable embrace just as soon as the rain began to fall and the thunder began to roll. It was bliss.

***********Part 2**************

Oz woke up to the morning sun beaming it's golden light on his sensitive eyes. Then he smiled sleepily when he felt a soft warm wind breathing against his throat. He craned his neck to look down at her and he couldn't help but sigh in utter bliss. He could live like this for the rest of his life. Just to watch her sleep and mutter gibberish into thin air. He was captivated by her. He was at her mercy. He was suddenly aware of being the center of her attention.

"Morning," Oz said, his eyes warm. Willow smiled lazily, then stretched her arms. His heart grew warm at the very sight of her half asleep.

"Good morning," Willow said, bracing her hands on the couch to support her as she sat up on his lap. She stared into his eyes, then leaned in slowly to kiss his lips. Her eye lids lowered in content and she found her hands playing with the waist band of his sweat pants. She broke away and looked down suggestively and Oz's heart skipped a beat as he became fully awake. He licked his lips, deciding whether he would be better off with food or sex. He'd let Willow make the call.

"Are...you hungry?" Oz asked, his voice scratchy. His thoughts, how few there may have been, were deafening. Willow smiled knowingly.

"No," Willow said, tilting her neck to nibble at his ear. He was breathless. The air had been knocked out of his lungs. He remembered this feeling. He recieved it ever since she kissed him for the very first time in highschool.

"What..do you want to do?" Oz asked, one hand carressing her arm and the other hand making it's way up her shirt.

"Watch cartoons," Willow said teasingly. Oz shook his head desperately, his eyes closed. He found the remote control with his free hand and he threw it until it hit the wall and the batteries fell out. "What do you want to do?" Willow asked, seductively. Oz's face was red with tension. He let out a harsh breath, when she lightly scraped her nails against his arm.

"You know what I want to do," Oz replied, gaping in delight when she switched to the other ear.

"You want to eat?" Willow asked inquisitively. She loved doing this to him. Teasing him, making him beg. She loved watching his ears turn red.

"No," Oz growled, picking her up and tossing her onto her back on the couch.

"You wanna...?"

**********************One hour later***************************

"Are you hungry?" Oz asked, breathing hard.

"Yeah," Willow replied, equally spent.

"How about...Shoney's?" Oz suggested.

"Yeah. Give me a minute." Willow replied, standing up and grabbing her pajamas off of the glass table. Oz smiled when she blushed under his intense gaze. She slipped her top over her head, then padded her way up the stairs. Oz smiled and gathered his sweats. There was a knock at the door moments later, when the two were fully clothed. Oz sat on the couch as Willow made her way to the door. He glanced at the door curiously when Willow let out a gasp of happiness. "Kevin!" Willow said happily. "Samantha...oh you two come in, come in. I want yout two to meet someone," Willow said, rushing the two in. Samantha stepped in and gaped when she saw the famous rock star clothed in blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a red flannel.

"Don't I know you from some where?" Samantha asked, trying not to be too obvious.

"Oz Larkin," Oz said holding out his hand when he stood up and made his way over to the three. Kevin looked at him in something he would have gratified as shock.

"Yes, the rock star," She turned her head towards Willow and mouthed an 'oh my god', a goofy smile playing on her lips. Willow smiled at her friend's obvious excitment, then remembered her son and squatted down to his eye level.

"Hey kiddo," Willow said, tossing his spiked hair. He looked exactly like Oz, only he had a black and green Nirvanna t-shirt on and he was about three feet shorter.

"Mommy," Kevin said, hugging his mother.

"Kevin..do you know who that is?" Willow asked, unsure of the current situation...she had never seen the two together. She wasn't sure how Kevin would react to seeing his father.

"Thats Dad," Kevin said, somewhat upset that he wouldn't have his mother to himself today.

"Are you okay with this?" Willow asked. Kevin nodded his head slightly. "Really?" Willow asked, happily.

"Yes mommy," Kevin replied. He looked up at the man who was now smiling warmly at him.

"Hey," Oz said, nodding his greeting. Kevin had to force a smile on his face. He was jealous, and it was obvious to all the occupants in the room.

"Hey," Kevin said, walking up to him. Oz squatted down to meet him at eye level. Kevin flinched, as if offended. "I may be short, but you don't have to rub it in my face," Kevin said, in a tough kid voice. Oz had to force a smile. He knew what the kid was feeling. He felt as if his mother was his territory. He wanted to protect her. He couldn't blame the kid. He may have been sweet in the hospital, but the kid was on morphine and he probably wasn't coherant of 90 percent of the situation. Willow, was shocked at her son's words.

"Honey. He's not trying to rub it in your face," Willow said, averting Kevin's attention to her. Oz remained silent. The last thing Kevin needed was to feel neglected. Kevin looked into his mother's soulful eyes, then averted his gaze to his feet. He was defeated.

"I'm sorry," Kevin apologized. Both Willow and Oz, looked at him, understanding.

"Do you mind if I leave you two alone while I go talk to aunt Samantha?" Willow asked, quietly. Kevin looked in Oz's general direction then back at his mother.

"Yeah, I'll survive," Kevin said in his tough kid voice. Oz smiled, half embarrassed and partly out of sympathy. "Don't laugh at me," Kevin glared. Oz nodded, biting his lip. Willow glanced at Oz, then at Kevin, then stood up and rushed Samantha into her bedroom.

"God, you've been alone with him for 12 hours and he still has his pants on? Are you insane?" Samantha asked, trying to humor her friend. Willow smiled nervously.

"Kevin doesn't like him," Willow said dissappointed.

"He's not supposed to like him. He's five years old. He's no longer the only man in your life. He's jealous and he's going to look for any excuse to get rid of him," Samantha replied in earnest.

"You can't be serious?" Willow asked incredulous. "But, he was so sweet in the hospital. They got along just fine."

"Honey, the kid was on morphine. That stuff is heaven to any kid. It can make him feel so good that he won't let even the biggest problems affect him. You might want to take a good look now though, because that kid isn't on morphine anymore, and you're about to go out there and make a choice. Who is more important to you? Your son or your boyfriend? He's going to make you choose because he knows you'll choose him over his dad. He wants Oz to know that in the end..he's going to lose and there isn't anything his dad can do about it," Samantha said, opening up a tube of lipstick.

"How do you know all of this?" Willow asked, panicked.

"Willow..I have three mothers. I've been in his position. I know how his mind works. He's an only child and he sees Oz as a threat. Have you ever seen that movie called "Man of the House" with Jonathon Taylor Thomas in it? That is going to happen a lot." Willow's face turned an even whiter shade as reality dawned on her. She peered outside the door to see how the two were doing. Kevin had his arms crossed while Oz was trying to be polite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's happening?" Oz asked, standing up.

"Why are you here?" Kevin asked angrily.

"I came here to spend a couple of weeks with you and your mother. I thought we might be able to get to know each other," Oz replied nervously. The kid wasn't acting like he had hoped. Then again, he was half expecting this. He just didn't want to worry Willow. Kevin let out a sigh with a high air like quality.

"You can sleep in my room and I'll sleep in 'my mother's' room while you two get to know each other," Kevin said crossing his arms. Oz panicked, while furrowing his eyebrows. Not good at all.

"I was actually kind of hoping that we could keep our sleeping arrangements the way you're accustomed to. If thats okay with you, of course," Oz said, not wanting to get on his son's bad side.

"You mean...I keep my room while you stay in a hotel?" Kevin asked.

"Well...how about you keep your room and I sleep in your mothers room. That way I can save a little money and I'll get to know you and your mother faster," Oz said, half frustrated with the kid.

"You won't last a week here. Not while I'm in this house. She's 'my mother' and I know she'll choose me over you, anytime," Kevin said proudly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way...but I'm not going to give up. I made that promise to your mother a long time ago and I'm going to keep that promise. You can kill me, and I'll come back from the dead. Can't guarantee that I'll smell very good but uh...like I said..I'm not going to give up." Oz said challenging. Kevin frowned, his eyes watering slightly. He didn't want to let this man see him cry. Oz noticed this, then changed tactics. "I lo...I want to be with your mother, and I want to be your father, but I don't know how I'm going to do that. You would make it a lot easier on the both of us if you and I could just get along.

"When are you leaving?" Kevin asked.

"Two weeks," Oz replied.

"I don't like you," Kevin replied with venom.

"You will," Oz said, sure of himself. Kevin smirked, then grew serious.

"You can't have her," Kevin said defensively.

"I need her. Just as much as you need her," Oz said desperately. Tears were brimming his eyes. Kevin's lower lip trembled.

"She's mine. You may be my bio..biologicfi...bilogical father, but she will never love you. I can make sure of it," Kevin said, unaware of his mother standing 20 feet behind him, listening in on their conversation. Oz looked up to see Willow, his eyes sorrowful, then averted his gaze back to Kevin. Curious, Kevin glanced in the same direction, then turned pale and stubborn when he saw his mother standing there with tears in her eyes. He walked up to her and hugged her around the legs. "Mommy? What's wrong?" Kevin asked, concerned. Willow bit her lip, and said nothing. "Tell him he can't stay here. Please? I don't want him to stay here, Mommy. He doesn't want to go, but I don't want him to stay here. He's mean to me Mommy. Please don't let him stay?" Kevin pleaded. Willow looked up to Oz, his eyes desperately denying her son's words.

"Kevin..sweety..I want him to stay here. I need him to stay here," Willow said quietly, tears streaking her soft cheaks.

"But Why???" Kevin whined.

"I love him sweety," Willow said, stroking his cheek. Kevin backed away and started crying.

"No you don't. You can't love him. It's either me or him. You don't love him Mommy. You don't love him. You love me, not him," Kevin cryed.

"Kevin," Willow reached for his hand desperately. He accepted her hand and came back to her. "Kevin..he's your Dad. You can't treat him this way. If you hurt him, you're hurting me and I know you don't want to do that. Do you really want to hurt me?" Willow asked her son, trying to make him understand. Kevin's lower lip trembled.

"Your my mother. He can't have you!" Kevin screamed, breaking away from his mother and running to his room. A loud slam of the door was the mark of inevitable silence. Willow trembled from head to toe as she stood up and looked at Oz. He noted her tense shoulders, and the disturbing goose bumps on her pale flesh, and he couldn't bare to meet her eyes. He knew the kid wasn't likely to adapt to him very well but he didn't expect to destroy Willow in the process.

"Are you okay?" Oz asked mournfully. Willow bit her lip and walked closer to him, greatful for his welcoming arms. She shook her head no, and began to sob uncontrollably. Oz sighed regretfully. "I knew he wasn't going to like me but I didn't think this whole thing would destroy you like this," Oz said, kissing her temple. It only made Willow cry harder. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight, greatful when he returned the action.

"I am so sorry. I didn't think he was going to do this. He's usually so sweet...he's never done this before," Willow confessed, unaware that her son could hear her.

"He sees me as a threat Willow, and without a doubt he's going to do what ever it takes to break you. I know you love him more then you could ever love me but if you choose me over him he's going to see that as a rejection, and he's probably going to do this again. Do you want me to leave? I don't want to come between you and our son," Oz said, rubbing his hands up and down her back. Willow shook her head 'no'.

"No...I don't want you to go. He's upset. Samantha said it's natural," Willow said, calming down.

"Where is Samantha?" Oz asked, a compassionate smile on his lips.

"She's still in the room. I asked her to stay in there for a while. So all three of us could talk but....apparently that's not going to happen," Willow said dissappointed.

"Willow. It's okay. Just let him get used to me for a little while and if things don't work out, I can always find a hotel," Oz said, holding her lithe form. Willow nodded, then sighed exhausted. She looked up into his caring eyes and lowered her own when she leaned in to kiss him. One hand found it's way to the back of her neck, while the other one continued to support her back. He kissed her tenderly, savoring every second of her warm kiss, somewhat afraid that it might be their last. He was determined to stay with her and Kevin, but secretly he knew that if he couldn't get Kevin to open up to him and welcome him with warm arms, Willow would eventually have to choose Kevin over him. And he knew he wouldn't be able to handle that.

"I just..I can't believe he said those things to you. He was so sweet in the hospital."

"He was on morphine. He remembered my image, but not my existance. If that makes sense. That morphine....it knocks you out Willow. He was probably only 10 percent there. The rest of his mind is in la la land. Or it was." Oz replied.

"That's the same thing Samantha said," Willow replied, a tear rolling down her soft cheek.

"Are you still hungry?" Oz asked, changing the subject. Willow nodded her head, but sighed in dissappointment.

"Yes, but...I don't want to leave Kevin here alone..that is..when or if he comes out of that room, if he doesn't see me here...he's going to be even more upset," Willow replied.

"Let me talk to him. I think I can set things right. Momentarily that is."

"Just...don't do anything to make him angry," Willow said, hugging him. Oz nodded towards her room.

"We'll bring Samantha," Oz said, before walking over to Kevin's room. He knocked on the door.

"Mommy?" Kevin asked before opening the door. He saw Oz and admediately tried to shut it. Oz put his foot at the base of the door as a door stop then stepped in his room, noticing the tear streaks on his son's cheeks. He closed the door as if to make a point.

"You hungry?" Oz asked quietly.

"Not while you're around," Kevin retorted in spite.

"Do you realize how much you're hurting your mother by acting this way towards me. Personally..I was expecting this. I hated my step father. Until I got used to him that is. I had to do it fast though because I knew my mother was suffering more from it then I was," Oz said skeptically.

"The only reason she is suffering is because you're here. We were happy before you came here and now...because you're here, she's crying. And we're not happy," Kevin said stubbornly. Oz grew irritated with his back talk.

"You listen up 'son'. Whether it is my being here or not, you and I have just now destroyed your mother because you and I can't get along. And I'm the one who has to deal with that right now because I want to take care of your mother. I want to take care of you....well actually I'd much rather prefer to take care of someone who isn't a brat for a son, but if I want your mother I'm going to have to accept the package that comes with her. And I want to, also. I want us to have a father and son relationship. Now...what I'm thinking is that you are going to despise anything that benefits me so I'm going to make a deal with you. If you can somehow manage to get along with me, or at least keep your hatred towards me, between you and me only, I can assure you that your mother will love you just as much as she loves me. You come first. To both of us. If you have a problem with me that you don't like, I want to know about it. I want to know why exactly it is that you have a problem with me in the first place. What is it inside your busy head, that makes you spit fire at me?"

"She can't love you. She can't love anyone else but me. That's what she has always said to me. That I come first, so that means that if I want you to go, she'll make you go," Kevin replied, crossing his arms.

"Do you love Samantha? Do you love Buffy? Do you love them almost as much as you love your mother?" Oz asked, pensively.

"Yes. I'd never let anything to happen to them," Kevin replied.

"Well..if your mother can't love me...if you deliberately force your mother to make a decision between me and you, that would be like your mother telling you that you could never see Aunt Buffy or Aunt Samantha ever again. You can't ever speak of their names. If I leave, so do they," Oz said sternly.

"My mother would never do that to me. She loves me more then anything," Kevin replied haughtily.

"Well..you think you might ought to return the favor?" Oz asked his son. Kevin looked at him defeated.

"I still hate you. And I'll make sure that as long as you are here...you'll know about it. But, I suppose that..my mother can do what she wants. But if you mess up once, just once, I'll make sure that she never sees you again," Kevin said warningly.

"Kevin. That's music to my ears. I'll go tell her you're coming with us. Pitch a fit, and I'll see to it that Samantha doesn't come with us," Oz said, opening the door and leaving the room. He noticed Willow next to the door, Samantha smiling.

"I like him Willow. He's perfect," Samantha replied, turning around and heading out the door. "I'll be in the car. Let me know when you are ready."

"Thankyou," Oz replied warmly. Once Samantha had left, he averted his full attention to Willow. She was smiling up at him, amusement in her eyes.

"Thankyou," Willow said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

"Anything," Oz replied. The door to Kevin's room opened and the two parted slowly. Willow looked at Kevin, but he refused to look at her. He just stood up straight and looked towards the wall, his mouth in a pout.

"Kevin? Sweety? Talk to me, please?" Willow pleaded, kneeling down next to him. Kevin looked at her guiltily, then glared when he saw Oz in his line of site. Willow glanced over at Oz and he nodded his head and walked out to start the jeep. "Kevin. I need you to be here for me. Okay? I need you to be here for us? Can you just please..try to understand where I'm coming from. I love you so much baby, and as much as I love Oz, nothing is going to change that. Okay? I do feel that you are at that point in your life however where...when you do something that is wrong or very rude, you should be punished. And I want you to know now that the next time you do that to him in public or you do that to him while I'm around...you will be grounded," Willow warned reluctantly.

"But...but.."

"No 'buts'. I don't want you to be mean to 'your father'. He has done nothing wrong. If it weren't for him, you would have never been conceived and I'd never have the chance to love you. And you will always come first to me..but I think you ought to know now that...I will not give up on Oz. I will never give up on your father. Because he's a part of me. He's just like you. He has my life in his hands. I would die for you both, and if you denie me this happiness. I won't be able to defend you when something goes wrong. If you get in a fight at school, I'm going to assume that you're the one who started it. Don't do this to us. Don't to this to you and me. You will love Oz if you will just give him a chance. I know you will. He wants to love you, but I must admit that even I would have a hard time getting along with someone who despises me. He is a very good person, and he means well...and I love him and I'd really appreciate it if you would attempt to respect my decision and stop making them for me. I'm the one who is supposed to be the grown up, okay?" Willow asked. By the looks of it, Kevin was feeling guilty.

"Yes mam," Kevin said nodding. He wouldn't look her in the eye.

"Kevin..tell me that your going to be okay," Willow pleaded.

"I'll be okay," Kevin said half heartedly. Truth be told, he wasn't sure.

"Promise me," Willow demanded in a grave voice. "I don't want to loose you. I'll...go insane if I know that you hate me for the decisions that I'm about to start making."

"I promise," Kevin said reluctantly. Willow smiled, some what relieved.

"I love you," Willow replied, pulling him into a warm hug. He hugged her back, even though his heart really wasn't into it. "Thankyou," Willow replied in earnest.

"Anything," Kevin replied, before walking to the door, his mother in toe.

"We're going to Shoneys," Willow said excitedly.

"Really?" Kevin asked in a dry manner.

"Uh huh...she looked at the two cars. "Do you want to ride with me and Oz or do you want to meet us there?" Willow asked.

"Can't he meet us there?" Kevin asked.

"Me 'and' Oz, or Samantha?" Willow asked.

"Can I please go with Samantha?" Kevin asked quietly. Willow's heart broke, but she nodded. He smiled, then ran towards Samantha's car. Willow frowned, then walked towards the jeep that was heating up in the driveway, with a very eager Oz in the drivers seat.

"He wanted to ride with Samantha," Willow explained.

"I understand," Oz said, even though he was dissappointed.

"Are you sure you're up for this?"

"Willow. We've saved the earth from the Hellmouth, countless times. I think I can handle my own flesh and blood," Oz replied nodding. Willow nodded her head.

"Right. Let's go."

"How do we get there?"

*********Part 3***********

Kevin clung to Willow's hand the entire time in the resteraunt, and as much as Oz tried to get the boy to talk to him, Kevin refused to give him a second glance. "Mommy, I'm going to go get some hashbrowns," Kevin said, excusing himself from the table. He trotted towards the breakfast buffet, leaving the three adults to stare after him in silence.

"He'll get used to you," Samantha reassured. Oz nodded at her, thankfully.

"Yeah. He may try to decapitate me a couple of times, but I'm not going anywhere," Oz replied, patting Willow's hand. A warm fuzzy feeling ran up and down her spine, and she couldn't help but blush in content when she heard his promising words. Oz glanced over in Kevin's general direction, then smiled in sympathy when he saw his son dancing on his tip toes, trying to reach the handle to the hashbrowns. "I'll be right back," Oz said, standing up and making his way over to Kevin. He grabbed another plate, and stood next to Kevin, and proceeded to scoop up several sausage links. Then he glanced at the hashbrowns, and noticed Kevin giving him a dirty look. "Do you mind if I have some of these?" Oz asked politely. Kevin shrugged his shoulders.

"I suppose," Kevin replied, somewhat defeated. Oz could hear his stomach growl. Oz looked down at him again.

"Let me see that plate," Oz said, gesturing towards the plate Kevin had in his hands. Kevin handed it to him reluctantly. "You know, I used to have the same problem. When I was your age, I was about three inches shorter. Grown ups thought it was so cute. I hated it though...but you know what I did. I went and made me some really tall boots. Some people would call them stilts, but..from that day on, I could get on all the rides because I was the perfect height..all the other five year olds would just look at me with a lot of venom in their eyes. You want me to get you some of those boots?" Oz asked, trying to warm up to the kid. Kevin's eyes were softer at the prospect, but he shook his head no. Oz sighed, then handed the plate to Kevin. He saw Kevin struggling weather or not to say thankyou or not, then decided to save him the trouble. "Your welcome," Oz replied, walking back to the table, with a plate full of sausage smokies and hashbrowns on his plate. Kevin trotted behind him, and pulled up a seat next to Samantha.

"God, that's a lot of hashbrowns," Willow replied, smiling at her son.

"I like hashbrowns," Kevin replied smiling greedily at his plate. He grabbed his fork and proceeded to stuff his face. Oz shook his head smiling to himself, then proceeded to do the same with his plate full of smokies.

"Who doesn't?" Oz asked, smiling with food in his mouth. Willow couldn't help but giggle. He looked like the cookie monster with mashed potatoes seeping out through his teeth. Kevin shook his head, as the guy began to make a fool of himself.

"You know, maybe later tonight you can play your guitar for us," Samantha suggested. Kevin cringed. He didn't want to think about tonight.

"Mommy, why are those people staring at us?" Kevin asked, worried. One guy was taking pictures, while the other two were glancing from their note pad to the table. Willow turned her head, then cringed when she noticed a coup of reporters.

"Kevin, what ever you do...don't answer any questions with out asking me first. Even if you know the answer, I want you to ask me first, okay?" Willow instructed.

"Who are they Mommy?" Kevin asked. Willow locked eyes with Oz, then closed them when she heard the flash of a nearby camera.

"Oz, can we ask you a few questions?" Asked one of the reporters. Oz turned red out of frustration.

"Is this your son?"

"What's his name?"

"Kevin," Kevin replied quickly.

"Kevin, I told you to be quiet," Willow scolded worriedly.

"But Mommy.." Kevin started, then flinched when about 15 microphones were shoved into his face. Oz stood up, and pulled Kevin out of his seat.

"Stay with your mother," Oz commanded. Kevin looked at him, confused, but obliged and held his mothers hand.

"Are you two lovers?"

"Mam what is your name?"

Oz leaned in towards Willow.

"Get out of here. I'll call a cab," Oz replied, nudging her towards the door. He slipped in between the massive reporters, and proceeded to help Samantha out of her seet. "Come on, we need to get out of here," Oz replied, bracing her by the elbow.

"Do you have any comments Oz?"

"Yes, I do. Leave them out of this. If you would like an interview, you can call my agent and then he will get back to you," Oz replied, before leading Samantha out of the door.

"That was wild," Samantha replied. "Willow," Samantha nodded towards her friend accross the parking lot.

"You going to be okay?" Oz asked, Samantha. She nodded her head, and smiled. "Let's get out of here while we still can," Oz replied, rushing Willow and her son to the jeep. Three reporters made their way out the resteraunt door, and proceeded to make Kevin their next victim.

"Kevin, what is your relationship towards Oz?" One reporter asked, cutting a small gash on his forehead with a microphone.

"Leave him alone," Oz replied, before picking him up and holding his head against his shoulder. Kevin's eyes were in a state of shock. Oz placed him in the back seat of the jeep, and buckled his seat belt, and proceeded to start the engine when he was aware that Willow was completely buckled in. The tires screeched, as he stepped on the gas petal. He made his way out to Cooper Street, and sighed in relief when he noticed that the reporters were no where to be seen. "Are you okay?" Oz asked, referring to his son.

"Uh..." Kevin replied in a high pitched voice.

"Did they hurt you?" Oz asked, concerned. Kevin shook his head no.

"They scratched him, but I think he's okay," Willow replied, looking back at him.

"Just to be safe, I'm going to get you two home," Oz assured, pulling into an avenue. They made it home in 10 minutes, and Oz shut off the engine, and proceeded to open the door for both Willow and Kevin. Kevin accepted his hand while he stepped out of the jeep, then ran to the door. Willow unlocked the front door, and Kevin ran into the kitchen and grabbed a banana. "Are you sure you're okay?" Oz asked Willow. Willow closed her eyes tiredly, and nodded her head, falling into his arms after she closed and locked the front door.

"I'm fine...I'm just..I'm really worried. The way they went after Kevin that way, I just..I don't know," Willow replied, resting her head on his shoulder. He circled her back with one arm, and combed through her hair with the other. Willow slipped her hands inside his red flannel, and played with his breast bone when she tilted her head to kiss him.

"It's going to be alright. I won't let them touch him. It scared me, too," Oz replied, kissing her temple. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and noticed Kevin staring at them. He pulled away from Willow and walked over to Kevin. "Are you sure you're okay?" Oz asked, kneeling down. He noticed a small cut on Kevin's forehead and he cringed angrily. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hankercheif and proceeded to dab at the small amount of blood trickling from his forehead. Kevin nodded his head up and down, then turned around when he felt himself growing emotional. He didn't like it when people he didn't like, began to stare at him. It made it that much harder to hate them. He walked over to the TV and turned it on, greatful that it was set on the cartoon network. He crossed his legs on the couch, then looked around for the remote control so he could turn up the volume.

"Mommy. What happened to the remote control?" Kevin asked, curiously.

"It got broken this morning," Willow replied blushing.

"Oh...okay," Kevin said, standing up and moving towards the TV.

"Kevin. We're going to go into the kitchen for a few moments. Is that okay?" Willow asked.

"I don't care. But if you're going to have sex, could you go into the bed room...it's much more sanitary," Kevin said in a smart ass tone. Willow opened her mouth in shock. Oz noticed this, and proceeded to walk over to Kevin and pick him up from off of the couch. "Don't touch me. Put me down. Mommy, make him put me down," Kevin whined. Oz walked into his sons room, his son over his shoulder and set him down on his bed. He walked back over to the door and shut it, for privacy.

"Tell me this now. Where exactly do you get off on treating your mother like that?" Oz asked angrily.

"You think I don't know what you two were going to do? I may be five, but I'm not blind," Kevin responded, hurt that his mother hadn't come in the room and stopped his father.

"Yeah, well you also may be angry but that doesn't give you the right to treat your mother like that. She loves you. Okay? You've already won. She's your mother and I'm not looking forward to taking her away from you, but I don't appreciate the fact that a boy who claims to love his mother so much, would say such a rotten thing to her," Oz lectured. "I told you already. You leave your mother out of this. If you have a problem with me, you tell me. Don't take it out on her. She's just trying to walk through a door, but she can't do that when you're putting up a lock on it. I'm going to ask you again. Where do you come off on treating her like that?" Oz asked, frustrated. Kevin refused to meet his eyes. He refused to answer. "What have I done to make you so angry that you would take it out on your mother?"

"Please leave," Kevin begged. Oz shook his head, incredulous.

"No. I'm not going to leave. I want to know. I haven't said anything to make you angry have I? Why should I respect you if you're not going to respect me?" Oz asked.

"I told you to leave," Kevin replied, hostility evident in his voice.

"Make me," Oz said, challenging his son. Kevin panicked.

"Mommy!" Kevin hollered, running for the door. Oz grabbed him around the waist and placed him back on the bed before he could make it any further.

"No! Don't make you're mother have to choose between us. It's hurting her beyond belief right now, and I told her that neither one of us is leaving this room until we set things straight. I'm going to be here for two weeks. Two weeks. 14 days, 13 nights. That's it. Drop the attitude. If it wasn't for her, I would have brought the belt to your little butt a long time ago, because to be honest, you're not to young to spank. I was brought up to respect my elders. And until you can calm down and accept reality, I'm going to ask you very politely to stay in your room. I want to be your friend. I want to be a good father. I want to love you as much as I love your mother, but to be honest...you're not exactly making it easy on me. Now...I'm going to ask you to go out there and apologize to your mother for talking to her that way. Neither one of us is leaving this room until you do. If you hate me so much, it would be in your best interest to respect me, because I'm going to be on your tail 24/7 if you do anything deliberately rude to hurt your mother. Do we have an understanding?" Oz asked, curiously. Kevin glared at him, then looked down at his feet.

"Yes sir," Kevin replied, tired.

"Promise me. I won't let you hurt your mother again," Oz demanded sternly.

"I promise," Kevin replied in resignation.

"Thankyou," Oz said, stretching out his legs and sitting down on the bed next to Kevin. Kevin looked at him as if he were crazy, then stood up and walked to the door and opened it. Oz remained seated while Kevin left the room to talk to his mother.

"Mommy?" Kevin called to his mother in the kitchen. He noticed her at the counter, slicing a bunch of potatoes. "Mommy?" Kevin asked again, walking up to her silent figure. Willow stopped slicing the potatoes, but refused to look at him. "Mommy, why won't you talk to me?"

"Kevin, I told you this morning not to do that to him," Willow answered him, tears evident in her voice.

"He told me to come out here and apologize to you. I'm sorry. I was just really mad. I won't do it again. I promise," Kevin pleaded.

"That's what you told me this morning, Kevin. I love you, but i just...I can't believe you would say that to him..or me for that matter," Willow responded, leaning on the kitchen counter, her hands clasped tightly.

"I mean it this time, though. Really, I do. I really mean it. I won't be mean to you anymore. I'm sorry. I really am sorry," Kevin whined. He wanted her forgiveness.

"And what about your dad? Don't you think that he deserves an apology as well?" Willow asked, her tears ceasing their slow trek down her cheeks. Kevin didn't answer. He just turned around and walked back into his room, and closed the door.

"Are you happy now? I apologized," Kevin said, in a quiet voice. Oz nodded his head slightly, then stood up and walked to the door and stepped out.

"Did he apologize?" Willow asked Oz, when he made his way out the door.

"He did what I asked him to do. That's all the apology I need," Oz replied, holding her to him. Willow sniffed, indignantly, then kissed him on the cheek while his hands proceeded to support her back. "Shall I have this dance?" Oz asked, doing his very best to impersonate the voice of Pepe Le Pew, the skunk from looney tunes. Willow laughed at the sound of his voice, then nodded when she made her way over to the stereo and put on one of her Ricky Lee Jones CD's. "In the Ghetto" began to reverberate off of the stereo and the two began to dance gracefully to the music, as if it were old times. As if at the moment, Kevin didn't exist. Nothing could break the peaceful moment. Kevin heard the music playing, and he cracked open his door a little bit to see what was going on. His mother and his father were dancing, and they seemed happy. Better yet, relieved. They danced around the room to his favorite song, causing Kevin to begin to cry. This was their song. His song and his mothers. And they were dancing to it. Sniffing, he walked back over to his bed, and began to cry into his starwars pillow.

"Mommy doesn't want me anymore," Kevin cried to himself. "She doesn't love me anymore," He whined helplessly. He eventually cried himself to sleep with visions of self doom and destruction, dancing in his eyes.

******** Part 4. 3 pm***********

"Kevin? Sweety, are you hungry?" Willow asked, peering into his dark room. Her son lay asleep with tear streaks running down his face, and purple bags resting under his eyes. Willow walked in silently, and kneeled down next to his bed. Her thumb combed lightly through his red hair, and he woke with a start, sweat beading his forehead. "Hey," Willow said sweetly. Kevin looked in the eyes in front of him and let a lone tear run down his pale cheek.

"Do you love him more then me, Mommy?" Kevin asked tiredly. Willow closed her eyes.

"I love you both. I love you more because you're my own flesh and blood. Nothing is going to change that. I love him too though. He's your daddy. I don't have a choice in the matter," Willow replied, whiping away his tear. Kevin stared at her for a while, trying to figure whether or not he wanted to eat something. Knowing his luck, his dad would be there, and he didn't want that.

"I don't like him, Mommy," Kevin said tiredly. Willow sighed and lowered her eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Willow asked again, clearing her throat a bit. Kevin looked at her again, then shook his head no.

"I'll eat something tomarrow," Kevin said, shaking his head and rolling over so he was no longer facing her.

"Are you sure?" Willow asked, concerned.

"Positive," Kevin responded in a clipped voice. Willow sighed, then stood up.

"Okay..I love you," Willow said, stepping towards the door.

"No you don't," Kevin murmered softly. Willow stiffened when she took into account, what her son had just said. She turned and sat on the edge of his bed. She combed through his hair again, then leaned over and slipped her arms under his tiny body and sat him up, forcing him to look at her.

"How could you think that?" Willow asked softly. Kevin wouldn't look at her. Sighing again, she picked him up and sat him on her lap, holding his head against her heartbeat. "You hear that?" Willow asked her son. Kevin nodded his head slightly. "Every time it beats, my love for you triples. You're my son. I love you. Your dad. I love him, too. Only..everytime my heart beats my love for him only doubles, which definately gives you the advantage...and I want to make you happy, Kevin. I really do...but you've got to return the favor. You're not going to be here forever. I'm not going to be here forever. In 13 years, you'll be old enough to move out, and there isn't anything I can say about it. And when you do leave, I'm going to need somebody here to love me as much as I do them. That's going to be your father. Thats the reason I loved you so much when you were born, because I knew you were his. I love you..I love you very very very very very very much...and I'm asking you. I'm begging you, to love me too. To accept your father. Can you imagine how I would feel if he were the one taking care of you for five years, and then I came to see you for two weeks, and you treated me like that? Can you imagine how bad I would feel? It's not his fault, Kevin. I'm the one who messed up. I kept you from him, and I'm trying to make things better now that he knows...but you acting this way..it's not going to help me," Willow said, kissing his forehead. She whiped a tear with one delicate nail, then proceeded to pet his head some more. She heard his stomach start to growl, and she smiled, hugging him closer. "Are you sure you're not hungry?" Willow asked once again.

"Is he going to be there?" Kevin asked, somewhat bitterly. Willow held her tongue, but nodded her head, then set her son back in his bed.

"Let me know when your hungry. I'll fix you something when you can lose the attitude," Willow said, walking out the door quickly and shutting it.

"What did he say?" Oz asked, walking up from behind her.

"He's hungry, he just doesn't want to admit it," Willow replied. She walked into the kitchen and set a pot on the stove and filled it with water.

"Are you sure you don't want me to leave? I can find a motel," Oz said, walking up from behind her and circling his arms around her waiste.

"I don't want you to leave. If you leave, I'll never get to see you, and I want Kevin to adjust to you. Are you wanting to leave?" Willow asked, frowning and furrowing her brow at the same time. Oz's arms tightened, pressing her tighter against him.

"Do you honestly think I'm going to let our son come between us? He's five. I understand. I don't like it, but I understand," Oz said, pulling her away from the stove and towards the counter. Willow attempted a half smile, then gave up and just frowned. Oz noticed this, than made a proposal. "I got an idea," Oz stated, his voice soothing.

"And your idea would be?" Willow asked, smiling sweetly. She loved it when Oz attempted to come to the rescue. He locked eyes with her, than placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"Maybe...maybe I should take Kevin with me, when I go back to LA. You know..spend some quality time with him..show him around the studios, introduce him to Mike Meyers and...I don't know..maybe Pamela Anderson," Oz said, grinning. Willow smacked him on the arm, then smiled again.

"I don't know about her. She may be every boys dream, but uh...maybe you could wait until he's at least 10?" Willow suggested playfully. Oz smiled at her, his features giving off that unresistable charm, then leaned in to kiss her. Willow smiled into his mouth, then hooked her fingers through the loops of his jeans, and pressed herself closer into his chest. She tilted her head to get a better angle, then laced her fingers through his short black hair, and hopped up onto the counter. Willow wrapped her legs around his waiste, then moaned when he pulled away for a moment.

"Not in here. Kevin doesn't like that," Oz said breathless. Willow nodded her head, her faced flushed a crimson red, than wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him when he dragged her off the counter and carried her into her bedroom. Oz kneeled on the bed, than left a pattern of light dry kisses from her neck to her chin to the lining of her collar bone, silently urging her to unravel her legs from his waiste. He loved the feeling and all, but he could only support her for so long. Willow pulled away momentarily when his hand tried to make it's way up her shirt.

"Oz, honey..we got to keep it quiet okay," Willow advised, placing a light kiss on his earlobe, then purposely breathing on the tiny hairs on his neck. Delighted when she saw his ears turn red and she felt him shudder under her touch, she propped her elbows up from underneath her and lifted her head to kiss him again. Oz responded in kind, kissing her fervently, running his hands up and down her rib cage and kneeling to her side as he stroked her hair and ushered her to the head of the bed. Willow groaned when her head made contact with a hard corner of the wooden post, then whimpered as the pain subsided and Oz found a sensitive spot right behind her ear lobe.

"See what we've been missing for the last five years," Oz said, maneuvering his hands to the button crotch of her jeans. Willow choked at his words, then frowned and lightly pushed him away. She sat up, then looked at him. Oz gave her an innocent look, his face flushed with blood, then looked at her confused. He locked eyes with her, then frowned in concern when she continued to stare at them, hurt obviously imprinted in her eyes. "What?" Oz asked, his voice hoarse. Willow shook her head slightly as if to clear her confusion, then slid off the bed and rebuttoned her blouse and jeans. "Willow?" Oz asked, both confused and concerned.

"Nothing. It's nothing," Willow responded, shaking her head and walking out of the room. Oz stood up and straightened his shirt, then stepped outside the door in search of Willow. He walked into the kitchen, the garage, living room, Kevin's room, and then the dining room, then sighed when there was no sign of Willow. He looked towards the front door, then sighed when he noticed it was open. He rushed outside, then looked both ways and ran to his right when he saw Willow a good 100 meters away. He neared her, then gently grabbed her by the elbow.

"Willow?" Oz asked concerned, his eyes questioning. There were tears in her eyes and he couldn't understand why. "Baby, say something to me," Oz said, forcing her to face him. Willow stared at the ground.

"Why did you say that to me?" Willow asked, unable to look him in the eye.

"Wha..baby you've got to tell me what I said to you, cause..I was barely conscious of anything other than you," Oz said, placing his finger under her chin, ushering her to look at him. Willow looked at him then closed her eyes. Concerned, Oz leaned in and kissed one of her tears away, silently urging her into his welcoming arms. Willow embraced him rigidly, then relaxed when he started to rub her back.

"It just...when you said, "See what we've been missing for the last five years," It kind of..it..it felt like you were rubbing it in my face. I'm trying to make it better. I swear I am, but..." Willow said, her voice fading away when he ran a finger over her lips. His eyes conveyed his sorrow, causing Willow to melt under his pensive puppy dog face. He made an even bigger pout, causing Willow to smile through her tears, then sniff when he kissed her cheek. She hugged him tighter around his neck, then leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on his nose.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think of it that way..it was more of a compliment cause..to me..the sex..it's great, being with you is great. I was just saying that we've missed a lot. It was a compliment. Honest it was. Don't let anything I say, get to you...especially when we're making love cause..my mind isn't there. It's just you and me," Oz said, stroking her cheek with one hand and kissing her temple. Willow smiled, more content with the current situation, then nodded her head, accepting his apology. "And...to make it up to you. I'm going to take you home, ravage you for the next three hours, make you and Kevin some Chicken Manicotti, then..I might take you and Kevin out to see a movie but I doubt he's going to want to be seen with me in public," Oz said, wrapping one arm around her waiste and walking her back to the house.

"Promise?" Willow asked, grinning wildly. Oz smirked at her sappy expression, then tightened his hold on her and rushed her back to the room, being sure to lock the door behind them.

**************6pm..on the dot!***************

Sweat perspirated on her brow as her heartrate began to slow down. Oz pulled her to the side, squeezing her back againsth his chest, then gaped when he noticed the large hickey he marked her with beeming off the back of her neck. Willow shuddered from head to toe, when she felt Oz breathing against a light pang on the back of her neck.

"You might want to wear a turtle neck for the next three weeks," Oz whispered, his eyes wide from the combination of being shocked and exhausted at the same time. Willow furrowed her brow, then craned her neck to look at him.

"What did you do?" Willow asked. Oz gave her a sappy grin, then bit down on her bruised neck slightly, then pulled away when he felt her tense up.

"You've got a hickey thats the size of a half dollar on the back of your neck," Oz said, concerned. Willow locked eyes with him, then grinded her teeth to give him the impression that she was angry, even though she wasn't. "You look like me when I was wolfy," Oz said, kissing another spot on her neck.

"Well it's only natural. When you get bit by a werewolf, you become a werewolf," Willow said, smiling. She twisted her body so she would no longer have to crane her neck to look at him, then rolled on top of him and nibbled on his ear.

"But, I'm not a werewolf anymore," Oz said innocently, his breath ragged when a shiver ran down from his ear to his lower spine.

"You were a long time ago. And...well you didn't scratch me or draw blood or anything but...you did bite a little. Maybe it soaked into my skin," Willow said, shrugging. Oz grimaced and shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"Is there a remote possibility that sometime within the next 50 years we spend together, are you ever going to let me have the last word?" Oz asked, nuzzling her ear.

"Maybe if you're still here in 51 years...I might consider it," Willow said, scratching his sweaty shoulders.

"How about for my birthday?"

"Your birthday isn't until February," Willow said, kissing his muscular chest, her straight red hair sweeping over his face and neck.

"Is that a yes?" Oz asked. Willow queried for a moment. Then nodded her head and proceeded to nip at his shoulder.

"Yes," Willow sighed.

"Yes," Oz assured himself.

"Yes," Willow said, edging him on. Oz sighed, rolled his head in frustration, then grabbed her by the waiste and quickly rolled her to the side, pouncing on her admediately after. Willow giggled into his mouth, delighting at the feeling of his weight pressing up against hers, then shushed him when she heard a creaking noise outside the room. "Kevin?" Willow whispered to Oz. Oz sighed, a little dissappointed, but nodded his head in reassurance.

"I'll wait in here. If he wants chicken..well..I can fix it," Oz said, resting against one of the pillows as Willow sat up and slipped on a pair of jeans and a white buttoned down blouse.

"I'll see what I can do. Oh..and just to let you know ahead of time...he hates red meat. He hates eating pigs or cows so...try not to cook bacon or hamburger in front of him cause it makes him nauseas, and more stubborn," Willow replied, standing up and walking out the door. She saw Kevin, jumping up and down, doing his best to reach the apples on the counter, then smiled saddly and sat down behind him, Indian Style. Kevin sensed the nearby energy and turned around. "Hey sweety," Willow said, holding out her arms. Kevin walked towards her and sat in her lap, resting his head against her heart beat.

"I won't be mean to him," Kevin said quietly. Willow looked at him, then smiled one of her proud motherly smiles and hugged him closer to her.

"I'll always love you. There is no competition between you and Oz cause..you're my first priority. I...I just have more people to love now. It doesn't mean that I love you any less," Willow said, kissing his forehead. Kevin nodded his head, accepting her answer, then stood up, turned around and hugged her.

"I'm starving," Kevin said, doing his very best to make one of those innocent puppy dog eyes. Willow couldn't help but let out another one of her proud motherly smiles. Than she grimaced a bit.

"Can..you do me a favor Kevin?" Willow asked, unsure whether or not to ask him this.

"What, does dad want to cook?" Kevin asked sarcastically. He knew this was coming. It was classic in every movie he ever saw.

"I sort of promised him that he could make us Chicken Manicotti tonight," Willow replied, grimacing. She didn't want him to react the way he did this morning.

"What's that?" Kevin asked, confused.

"I think it's baked chicken..it's got a lot of rotel, and it's like a warm thick parmesean cheese, only it's kind of melted to. And the cheese has this tomatoe marinara sauce. Kind of like chicken pizza only without the bread. You want to eat that?" Willow asked. Kevin's mouth watered at the thought of eating pizza without bread. Kevin nodded his head, licking his lips anxiously. "The lack of bread got you didn't it?" Willow asked, smirking. Kevin nodded his head, his eyes wide with hunger.

"I'll go get him," Kevin said, walking towards her bedroom door. Willow panicked, then stood up and caught him just before he turned the door knob.

"Uh..sweety..you might want to let me get him. He's kind of..indisposed at the moment. Why don't you go..set the table," Willow suggested. Kevin gave her one of those knowing looks that every five year old has saying 'I know what you two were doing' then nodded his head and ran back into the kitchen for the plates. "Oz?"

"Yeah," Oz said, peaking out from the bathroom in a pair of black sweats. Willow smiled happily and closed the door. Bouncing over to him anxiously, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waiste and kissed his cheek. "Did I miss something?" Oz asked, grinning wildly.

"He says he won't be mean to you anymore..I think he meant it this time, and I convinced him to let you make him chicken manicotti." Willow said, unwrapping her legs from around his waiste and squeezing him tightly around his neck.

"Well...let me go put on a shirt and...dinner will be ready in 40 minutes. You do have chicken right?" Oz asked.

"Yeah...are you going to make it the way you used to?" Willow asked.

"Uh huh..lots of rotel," Oz said kissing her on the nose. "Now go..shew. Keep him occupied and I'll be out in a second...we don't want to be too cozy in front of him," Oz said, kissing her brow. A distant voice could be heard from outside the door.

"Too late," Kevin said in a high pitched voice. Both Oz and Willow smiled, then looked towards the door.

"Go," Oz said, pushing her towards the door. Willow gave him a coy smile, then slipped through the door and picked her son up and carried him back into the kitchen. She set him on the long counter, then darted for his ribs, tickeling him.

"Remember what I told you about evesdropping?" Willow said playfully. Kevin squealed out in laughter, then squirmed and kicked his feet, surprised that they were kicking thin air. Willow had managed to pull him off of the counter and hold him out in the air at a safe distance from her face while he kicked out.

"Oh wow!" Kevin said excitedly. "I like this," Kevin said, kicking his feet slightly in midair. "Look mom, I'm walking on air," Kevin said, doing his best impression of walking in slow motion...he was doing pretty good for a five year old. Willow giggled, then lowered him to the ground when her arms started to hurt.

"We all set?" Oz asked, clapping his hands and walking into the kitchen.

"Yeah...chicken is on the counter," Willow said, kissing his cheek. Kevin rolled his eyes and walked into the living room.

"Can I watch TV?" Kevin asked, hopping on to the couch.

"Sure honey, just don't sit to close," Willow replied, swatting him on the shoulder. Willow walked back into the kitchen, then hopped up onto the counter, next to the stove where Oz was doing his handy work. Oz smiled up at her, his eyes conveying his emotions, then set the metal spoon to the side, and moved to stand in between her swinging legs. Willow gave him a sappy smile, then leaned forward to kiss him, sighing happily when his hand rested on her thigh. His other hand circled her waiste, then maneuvered it so his hand was resting on the small of her back, underneath her blouse. Willow brushed her tongue against his bottom lip, then sighed when he returned the action and looked into her eyes. Willow heard the manicotti sizzling, then pushed Oz away slowly and gestured towards the burning cheese. Oz's eyes widened..had it really been 10 minutes? Maybe the stove was on too high. He checked his watch. Nope it was 10 minutes. Shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, he sidestepped to the stove and stirred, then simmered the cheese and added the tomatoe sauce. Turning the heat down on the stove, he stirred some more then set the stove time to 30 minutes. He walked over to the cabinet to grab some Rotel, and a cube of baja picante bouillon salt, then walked back over to the stove and started another burner. He poured two cans of Rotel, and put the burner on medium. He waited for about a minute until it started to sizzle, then took the pan and poured the boiling Rotel on top of the manicotti. He stirred again, then turned the burner onto low and covered it. "I love watching you cook," Willow said, dangling her legs again. Oz smiled, then moved back in between her legs and kissed her passionately. His arms circled her waist and he pulled her towards the edge of the counter, pressing her closer against him.

"I love you," Oz said, a reassuring smile playing at his lips. Willow bit down on her lip, unwillingly blushing, then looking down at her dangling feet and then back up to look at him. To her surprise, Oz was still staring at her. She sniffed in happiness. Being told that he loved her again, brought back an old forgotten feeling. Her heart was warm, her stomach was bubbling, she couldn't breathe, and she felt like she was flying. Oz raised his eyebrows in expectation, then looked down, a bit shy. He was always like that. It was hard for him to open up to someone and when he did he was always blushing.

"I love you, too," Willow said after smiling at him for 30 seconds. Oz looked up, a bit relieved, then rested his head on her shoulder as he held her tight. Willow scratched his head for a few moments and they just stayed that way for at least 10 minutes. An artist could have drawn their portrait because they were so still for so long. Sure, Willow would occasionally kiss the top of his head or run her foot up and down his calf, but the image was still present. They looked like a couple in love. They looked like a couple who would stay that way, too. You could stick a sword through one of them and neither one would budge. They wouldn't have been able to feel it. It was just the two of them, and all noise, no matter how loud it was, would be muted into a comfortable hum. It was better then morphine. It was like a dream where you could feel everything, and it was so great that no one could cry, no matter how happy they were. It was love.

Willow noticed something moving out of the corner of her eye, and she moved her head to see Kevin standing in the door way, his eyes averted to his shoes as to not interupt the two.

"Hey sweety," Willow said smiling. Oz turned his head, a bit dazed. Kevin looked up bashfully, his hands behind his back, his feet twitching from side to side, a bit nervous. "You getting hungry?" Willow asked, motherly. Kevin nodded his head, then turned around and walked back into the living room. The stove timer went off and Oz broke away from Willow's embrace to turn it off, then walked back and helped Willow off the counter.

"Go get ready," Oz said kissing her cheek. Willow nodded her head and obediantly walked over to the sink and washed her hands. Oz pulled out a large pan of baked chicken, then placed it on the counter and took a spray bottle full of lemon juice and sprayed it avidly over the large, tender, juicy chicken breast, turning them over here and there until they were completely covered. He grabbed another cube of baja salt, crushed it, then put it in an unused spice dispenser and grinded it up until it covered the chicken.

"What's that stuff?" Kevin asked, walking up next to him. Oz did a double take at the sound of his son actually talking to him without being bitter. Oz looked down at him, then nodded back to the skillet and started dispensing some more of the baja sauce over the manicotti.

"It's uh...Baja salt. It's got like a chili-lemon taste to it. You ever had something like..herbed rotel?" Kevin nodded his head. His mother told him to go over and bond with his dad...he wasn't exactly sure on how to do that. "Did you like it?" Oz asked. Kevin nodded his head again. "Then you'll like this stuff," Oz said, motioning his head towards the chicken on the pan. Kevin cleared his throat.

"Can I see it?" Kevin asked, shaking slightly. He kept telling himself that it was for his mother. Oz nodded, then bent over and picked Kevin up, setting him on the counter. Kevin looked at it, his eyes wide in surprise, then gulped when his mouth started to water. His head started floating from side to side as if it were being controlled by helium and his head was a balloon, when he realized how hungry he was. Oz smiled then nodded his head in satisfaction.

"You like it?" Oz asked. Kevin nodded his head, and made a dive for one of the chicken breasts with his tiny hand. Oz stopped him just in time. "Woah buddy. Go wash your hands first and by the time you get that done, there will be one of those sitting on that plate along with a bunch of manicotti and some smothered potatoes that your mother made for you," Oz said, picking his son up and setting him on the kitchen counter of the sink, next to his mother. Then he rushed back over to the stove, and grabbed a piece of chicken with a spatula and set it on a plate. He stirred the manicotti one more time, then scooped it up with a huge spoon and set it on top of the chicken. He set it on the table, and Kevin jumped into the seet next to the plate. Oz smiled, shaking his head in amazement, then proceeded to do the same with two other plates and added the smothered potatoes at last minute when he rushed Willow over to the table. He placed the food on the wooden table, then pulled out a seat for Willow to sit in, then sat down in a seat across from her. Willow picked up a fork and cut herself a piece of chicken. Bringing it to her lips, she closed her eyes as it made it's way down her throat. Her eyes widened in delight and she nodded her head.

"It's delicious," Willow said, taking another bite. Oz smiled in satisfaction, then lowered his eyes to his plate and did the same. He looked at Kevin who was having trouble cutting it, and he was getting frustrated fast.

"Want some help with that?" Oz asked, whispering in Kevin's ear as if not to embarrass the kid in front of his mother. Kevin nodded his head, his eyes turning red in annoyance everytime he looked at the knife and the fork in his hand. Some reason, it just wouldn't cut. Oz took the knife and the fork and pushed the knife into the chicken as if it were butter. Kevin glared at his fathers hands, then sighed when his father was finished. He took the fork and stabbed the chicken, then picked it up and shoveled it into his mouth. Kevin made a face as if he were choking and he started shaking. "You okay?" Oz asked. Kevin sputtered out.

"Hot," Kevin said, grabbing for a glass of Pepsi. Oz smiled knowingly.

"Sorry about that. Let it air out for a minute," Oz said, looking at Willow. Willow smiled in content, then slid down in her chair and nudged his feet with hers. Oz grinned, then shook his head in amusement. He took another bite of the chicken, then smiled in satisfaction when he noticed Kevin take a bite of the chicken, and smile. Kevin shoveled the chicken into his mouth, then belched quietly into his mouth when he was finished. Willow giggled and looked at her son.

"Good?" Willow asked. Kevin's eyes watered slightly, then he nodded his head and belched again. "Did you want some more?" Willow asked. Kevin nodded his head excitedly, then waited patiently while eating some of his mother's potatoes with the rest of the manicotti. Oz stood up and scooped up another piece of chicken with a spatula and set it on Kevin's plate. He walked back over and grabbed the pot with the manicotti and poured it over the chicken.

"Can I have some of that over the potatoes, too?" Kevin asked, looking up at his father.

"Just say when," Oz said pouring it over the potatoes.

"When," Kevin said, after the potatoes were practically drowned in the manicotti. Oz rounded the table and poured some on Willow's plate until she said when, then poured the rest on his plate and set the pot in the sink, pouring hot water in it through the fosset. "Where did you learn how to make this?" Kevin asked in a curious voice. Oz took a bite of his chicken.

"My step dad taught me," Oz said, looking at Willow.

"Will you teach me?" Kevin asked, shoveling another mouth full of potatoes, chicken, and manicotti back into his mouth. Oz smiled again, then nodded his head.

"That I will do," Oz said, finishing his plate. He got up to put it in the sink.

"Take mine, too, would you?" Willow asked handing her plate to Oz. Oz looked at Kevin's empty plate.

"You going to lick it clean or would you like me to take that up too?" Oz asked, in good humor.

"You got anymore Chicken?" Kevin asked, looking up at him. Oz shook his head no, giving his son a look that said, sorry. Kevin handed him the plate reluctantly, then stood up from his seat and ran back into the living room.

"That went well," Willow said, happily.

"You told him to bond with me, didn't you?" Oz asked, knowingly. Willow gave him a look, then hugged him.

"I only asked him to bond with you for a few minutes," Willow said kissing him. She pulled away, but continued to hug him. She saw Kevin walk back into the kitchen, and wait patiently at the door. "I think he's warming up to you," Willow whispered into his ear. "But don't say anything right now because he's standing at the door, and you don't want to ruin his reputation just yet," Willow whispered quietly. Kevin looked at them curiously, wandering what his mother was saying, then gave up and walked back into the living room.

"Are you still up for a movie? Say..Star Wars?" Oz asked curiously.

"Which one?"

"The one where Ben Affleck plays Anican," Oz said, putting his arm around her waist and walking her into the living room where their son was watching cartoons.

Willow departed to her bedroom, leaving Oz and Kevin in the same room. She was amazed that she didn't hear the windows rattling or something. Kevin's temper and all. Oz walked behind the couch, then rested his elbows on the main frame, while leaning lower to whisper something in Kevin's ear.

"You want to go see that new Star Wars movie?" Oz asked. Kevin's eyes lit up and he bounced in his seat until he was facing Oz.

"Which one?" Kevin asked excitedly.

"The one with Ben Affleck," Oz said, a grin set on his face.

"Can I get nachos?" Kevin asked in a high pitched voice. The voice that all five year olds speak in when they are really excited.

"Yeah," Oz said in a motivational tone. "Do you know any of the theaters that don't have cheese in the cup, but they poor it all over?" Oz asked, curiously.

"The one at Park Cinema. I hate those cups. Not enough cheese," Kevin said shaking his head. "Park Cinema pours it all over..and they have a lot more candy, too," Kevin said excitedly.

"You got a sweet tooth?" Oz asked, grinning.

"Yeah..I like those chochlate caramel mm's." Kevin said, licking his lips.

"I've never had those," Oz said, grabbing his jacket.

"You'll see. You can have some of mine. They're really new. They came out at New Years and mom bought me a whole package of them," Kevin said, walking over to the coat rack.

"Which jacket you want?" Oz asked. "It's kind of chilly outside," Oz said, opening the door and allowing a little bit of a draft run through.

"I don't know," Kevin said in a dilemma.

"Well..if you think you can handle it, I've got a leather jacket in my bag. It's about your size. You want to try it?" Oz asked, trying to warm up to the kid some more. Kevin fidgeted for a few seconds, then noticed the jacket his dad had on, which was a brown suede jacket.

"Is it like that one?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah. It's just about three times smaller than this one because well...when you get older you get fatter so...I need a bigger jacket," Oz said walking towards Willow's bedroom, where his bag was set on the bed. "Try this on," Oz said, walking back over and holding the jacket open for him. Kevin slipped his arms into the jacket arms, then fidgeted a bit until it rested comfortably over his shoulders. "You like it?" Oz asked. Kevin nodded his head quietly, then looked at him.

"But what if I get cheese on it?" Kevin asked, worriedly.

"I'll get it dry cleaned and if that doesn't work, I'll buy you a new one," Oz said, standing up from his crouched position. "Willow? Are you ready?" Oz asked.

"Yeah," Willow replied, walking through the door wearing a little makeup.

"Let's go," Oz said, holding open the front door for his son and Willow.

**********9 pm*************

"Did you like the movie?" Oz asked Willow, doing his best to keep his concentration on the road. He was exhausted, and Kevin was asleep in the back seat of the jeep.

"It was okay. I think they could have done better with a different actor for Anican. Ben doesn't strike me as the evil type, even though he was evil in 'Dogma'," Willow said, resting her head against her seat as she started to drift off. She yawned, when Oz made his way into her driveway, stumbling out of the car and falling helplessly against the front door. Oz jumped out of the jeep and opened the back seat door and unbuckled Kevin's seatbelt. Kevin's head rolled to the side as if it were dead weight. Oz slipped his arms under Kevin's legs and back and carried him into the house and to his room. He pulled back the sheets and covers with one arm and lay his son down, then pulled the covers and sheets over his son, tucking him in.

"Night," Oz said, unconciously leaning forward and kissing his son's forehead. He walked out the door, exhausted, then walked into Willow's bedroom and observed that Willow was undressing and putting on a pair of pajama pants. "Long day?" Oz asked, walking up from behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. Willow yawned, exhausted.

"Very long," Willow said, turning in Oz's arms, and kissing his cheek. Willow slipped out of his embrace and slipped under the goose feathered comforter, then held the covers open for Oz to slip in.

"I'm gonna change first," Oz said, kissing her forehead before heading towards the bathroom to do his nightly ritual. All men have that ritual. He walked back into her room wearing a pair of black trunk boxers and a blue t-shirt. He slipped under the covers and inched towards Willow, slipping his arm around her waist. Willow moaned tiredly, then rolled over until her chest was pressing up against his chest and her legs were tangled with his legs. Oz kissed her forehead again, then started brushing her hair soothingly with his free hand. "Night, baby," Oz said, falling asleep.

"Night," Willow mumbled.

On to the next part...