Title: None

Author: Ricki

Rating: G/PG

- Six months after "Wild at Heart"

- * * Denotes thought

Oz checked his watch, 9:00 pm; it was twelve hours since he had started driving. He yawned as he pulled away from a green light; he had to get some sleep. Thankful that he had somewhere to stay he headed for UC Sunnydale and then to the west.

The old green van shut off with a death rattle. Pulling a duffle out of the back he headed for the front steps. He found the key in the usual place, in the evil looking garden gnome used as a doorstop. Once inside he noticed that is was deserted. A note sat on the kitchen table.

Oz,

We're playing in Bakersfield. Be back tomorrow. You room's still open.

Devon

Oz couldn't help but smile. He crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash on the way to his room. It was early but he was tired from his drive.

The next morning Oz awoke to banging and crashing in the kitchen. After he managed to get up, shower, and dress he walked into the kitchen. All the members of the Dingoes Ate My Baby were there. *Of course, they live here. * He knew a few of then would be hanging around the house all day, Benny, the drummer would be cleaning and the others would be going back to bed or to class.

"Oz man! How ya been?" Devon was reclining on a kitchen chair taking his feet off another and offering it to Oz.

"Okay. How was Bakersfield?'

"Pretty nice." Devon gave a little arch of his eyebrow meaning he had had several young women dripping off of him the previous night. "But we want to hear about you. What have you been up to?"

"Well." he started with a sigh, " I drove until I couldn't drive anymore and then I used alternate transportation." It was clear to all that he wasn't going to say any more. With that Oz left the kitchen and headed back to his room. He could hear Devon yelling behind him that they were playing at the Bronze that night and he was welcome back for practices. He just shut the door.

He moved across the room to the shelf under the window and started to unpack what he had come to call his *gear*. This is the collection of charms, herbs, and other stuff that he'd accumulated during his adventures to keep the wolf at bay.

Ad he set things on the shelf he let his mind wander to his dream last night. It was about Willow. All his dreams were about Willow. This one was different though. This one was intense. He had gotten a good night's sleep despite the intensity but he could remember every moment of it. Previous dreams had been of her under trees, in the ocean, on a hilltop, and out in t he moonlight. Last night was just Willow though. Her bright hair, her big eyes, her cute little nose.

The crash of glass hitting the floor awoke him from his reverie. He had realised too late that the brackets were too weak to hold the amount of stuff he had. With a shrug he picked up the mess and left for the hardware store.

It was a beautiful day so Oz decided to walk. *That and my van will need surgery. * The shortest way to Sunnydale Hardware was straight across the campus. Oz was almost tempted to take the long way around to avoid seeing the Scooby Gang. *Just until I can catch my breath. * At least that's what he kept telling himself. The truth was that he was scared of seeing Willow. Would she hate him? With a deep sigh he stepped into the University grounds and crossed the lawn.

He was almost to the parking lot when he saw her. Actually it was just her hair but he knew it was she. That red made his heart beat just that much faster and his eyes to sparkle with desire. He never could get the image of that fire spread across his pillow out of his mind. She was already gone when his mind returned to the task at hand so he walked on.

~~~

Willow felt him. She had hung her head off the balcony to talk to a friend and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She wasn't completely sure but she had a hunch that Oz was out there somewhere. She wouldn't mention it to anyone because they would think that she was just a victim of wishful thinking.

As she walked down the hall her stomach growled. With a small smile she rubbed her tummy. She was always hungry lately the only decision now was to decide what she wanted. "I think its time for toast. What do your think?" Her stomach gurgled in response. "Your right, with marmalade." With that she walked into the cafeteria.

Buffy waved to Willow so she would sit with Riley and herself. "She looks happy. Doesn't she look happy?"

"Very happy." Riley knew that Buffy was worried about Willow, and he was too. Not that she was in physical danger, or anything but she had a lot on her plate, and not just the one she was carrying. "Hey Willow. What you got there?"

Willow plunked her full tray dawn with a sigh and sat with an even heavier sigh. "Toast and marmalade. Oh! And milk." She saw him nod in silent approval. It was almost funny because lately he had been struggling to suppress his gag reflex when she approached to eat.

"That seems uncommonly normal Will," Buffy said with a smile, "other that the fact that you don't like marmalade." She was worried about Will but not as much now and she was a few months ago. That had been a bad time. The drastic mood swings, between non-stop crying and incessant humming, had everyone even the ever-patient Xander ready to kill her. The bucket by her bed at all times wasn't that pleasant either.

"I figure it's the most normal this I can hope for at this point." Will answered simply as she took a huge bite of the first piece of toast.

~~~

Oz was practicing with Dingoes at the Bronze. They had played some new stuff and some old stuff and now they were playing what the others just considered the good stuff. These were the songs he had written for Willow. He played them perfectly. Devon thought that he had kept practicing when he was gone but the truth was he wasn't in the Bronze anymore. His mind was six months in the past, with her.

~~~

Dingoes Ate My Baby had just finished their last set of the night at the Bronze and the members were going their respective ways. The drummer went right to the bar to his drink, double vodka. Devon latched onto the two girls waiting in the wings for him. Oz went to the table where his friends were waiting.

Sitting at the table was Buffy, Xander, Anya, and of course Willow. They were all talking and laughing about something a particularly stupid vamp had said. Ad Oz approached Willow turned to meet him. He smiled; she could always tell when he was coming closer. There weren't any more chairs so he stood beside her and slipped an arm around her waist. He could feel her settle into him, it felt so good.

They all stayed there for a few hours. They talked and laughed, Anya and Xander even danced. Then it was time to leave. As per always Oz gave everyone a right just to be on the safe side. Anya and Xander were dropped at his house, Buffy got out there too to do one last patrol and then head to the dorms. Willow came back to the house he shared with the band.

They went straight to his room. No one else was there but he didn't like her seeing the place when it was so messy. Oz had barely shut the door behind them when Willow slid her arms around his neck and kissed soundly.

It didn't take them long to undress each other and fall onto the bed, helpless against the surge of passion they shared. They kissed and ran their hands over the body of their lover and smelled their desire. Scent was always big with Oz now. Ever since he became a werewolf his sense of smell was heightened and he couldn't ignore it. Willow loved it, and did her part with enthusiasm; she would smell him back. She would play games like 'guess that perfume' or 'where am I?' No games tonight however. They both wanted and needed each other, badly.

Oz was always amazed at the amount of passion Willow had. No one would ever suspect the petite red headed academic of being capable of such ardour. It wasn't long before they were both beyond thought. As they both climaxed in wave after wave of ecstasy Oz bent his head down and kissed his beloved with her fiery hair on his pillow. He raised his head and they whispered to each other at the same time "I love you."

~~~

The last thing Oz remembered about that night was that it was one of the best they'd ever had and that it was very special in a way he couldn't tell. That last thought ended on the last note of 'She Sleeps', the song he wrote after their first night together. He finished the set with the Dingoes and then left the Bronze. He just didn't want to stay after anymore.

He had to walk to the house since his van had died after a three-foot lurching attempt to make it to the Bronze. Devon wasn't going anywhere for a while and Oz knew it was useless to even try to ask. It was there in the dark streets that he saw Connie coming up to him. He remembered Connie from his English course; she had always had all the answers. "Hey Oz. Long time no see."

"Yeah. What are you up to?"

"Oh nothing. Just went to grab a bight." With that she shifted into game face and attacked. Oz blocked her successfully and pulled a stake from his jacket. After a few hit and miss punches she got frustrated and charged him head on. Oz, now backed against a tree jumped and caught a branch using it to pull himself clear. Connie hit the trunk and was dazed just long enough for him to swing forward and down. Oz landed on his feet, took hold of her shoulder and swung her around to face him; he then planted his stake in her heart with practiced precision.

"Nice form, but your follow trough's a little off." Oz turned toward the voice he recognised as the best friend of his beloved Willow. She had come up from behind and he hadn't noticed because of Connie.

"Hey Buffy." He tried to sound as if everything was okay but he couldn't hide his nervousness. "How's every."

"You've got one hell of a nerve coming back after what you did. I should kick your ass on principle.but I won't." Her eyes were shooting sparks of anger at him and Oz felt afraid, not of Buffy but the slayer.

"Thanks."

"It's not for you. It's for her." With that the slayer turned around and left. Buffy wasn't really all that angry with him, not after the first couple of minutes. She understood that sometimes guys did things like leave their girlfriend for her own good. Buffy didn't believe it was best for Willow that Oz left but he did. *It was probably best for him emotionally. *

By the time Oz had reached the house he had also reached a decision. Tomorrow he would find Willow.

~~~

Oz woke up as usual and did all his morning things. Not until after he was done did he think on how to approach her. He decided anytime during classes was out, he didn't want her skipping any for him and then worrying herself into a frenzy over missed material. That one decision left him with a lot of time on his hands. After another few minutes thought he came up with the plan that he would call her after her last class. He knew her schedule and he knew she would head back to her room to drop her books before doing anything else.

He organised and reorganized his things throughout the day, he had nothing else to do he was so anxious. When the time came he took the phone into his room and dialled her dorm room. It rang three times before she picked it up and he heard her voice for the first in six months.

"Hello?'

"Hey, Willow. It's."

"Oz! Where are you?"

"I'm back in town and I was wondering if we could meet. You know to talk."

"Of course! How about the coffee shop on Main in a half hour?"

"Sounds great. See ya there."

"Bye." With she hung up. Oz let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. *That was easier than I thought. *

~~~

Oz walked into the coffee shop and looked around until he saw the mop of bright red that was Willow's head. He smiled widely. *She looks radiant. * He walked over to her and as he approached she lifted her face from her mug and grinned. "Hey."

"Hey! Sit down. Where have been? What have you done? How do you feel?"

Oz took a seat on the bench opposite her in the booth. "Tibet, chanting and meditation, and pretty nervous."

She giggled at his response. "Same old Oz, so monosyllabic. So what was in Tibet?"

"Monks. They, uh, taught me how to be one."

"One what?"

"One entity. See I was right six moths ago when I said that the wolf was inside me all the time but now I can accept and be in control all the time. There were some full moons when I didn't even change."

That's amazing! How do you do that?"

"Herbs, chanting, meditation, and charms." At the mention of charms he lifted his wrist and showed off a bracelet made of oval wooden beads. An uncomfortable silence followed that proved just how nervous they both were. "So, everything's good with you?"

"Yeah. School is all schooly and the Wicca is still witchy. So how long are you back for?"

"For good."

"Oh! That's."

"Willow I'm sorry for what I did to you. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right and I know that I deserve to be bludgeoned but do you think you could forgive me, someday?"

Willow sighed heavily and then took a deep breath. Oz could feel his dread rise up in his throat. *She'll probably tell me to get lost. She's probably found someone else. She probably wants to just be friends or worse, to forget I ever existed. *

"Oz, I understand why you left. I was upset, but if the positions were reversed you'd feel the same way. If your trip brought you what you wanted it to I'm glad, I'm more than glad. I always wanted you to find peace and now that you have it puts that part of me at ease. I would like us to have a relationship again. I want us to be friends, more than friends but that will have to be up to you."

"I want us to be more than friends too." Oz hadn't missed the fact that she hadn't forgiven him. He was just glad that they were together he would take whatever he could get.

"I think you should hold off on that decision until you know everything." The coffee shop was almost empty so she decided it had to be now. Willow had planned out how to tell him a million different times and a million different ways. "I have some studying to do tonight," she started a little shakily, "I want us to get together again though."

"Alright. I'll call you tomorrow." Willow slid out of the booth and stood up. "Willow?" Oz was quiet and a little persistent so that she couldn't help but look up.

"Yes?" Oz was staring at her stomach. *She's huge! What happened? It's obvious what happened, she's pregnant! *

"Willow?" She couldn't do anything but tell him everything so she started in one large breath.

"Yes, I'm pregnant. I'm six months along, I'm quite healthy, I'm happy, and I don't know the sex because I choose to be surprised."

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"I didn't know then. I found out about two weeks after you left."

"I'm so horrible." Oz sounded so depressed that Willow pulled him to his feet and gave him a tender hug.

"Walk me back?" He silently agreed as she paid her bill and left, leading him by the hand. They walked along silently for a time. "How did you know that it was yours? Not that it isn't. It's just that usually guys deny things like this."

"Well you said your six months along and that you didn't find out until a few weeks after I left. Either its mine or it was someone else's. I didn't smell anyone on you when we were together so that means it was mine."

"Now you know why I thought you might not want to be with me now." Oz stopped short and Willow turned to face him. "You don't want to really be with me do you?"

" I always wanted to be with you. If you think that this will change that you're right; it does. I want to be with you even more. Not because I have a responsibility but because I want to."

He still saw the shadow of doubt behind her eyes so he pulled her gently into his embrace. He held her for a long time and kissed her softly. That was all the convincing Willow needed; she cuddled into his arms and sighed. "You should get to bed; you sound tired."

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

~~~

Willow opened the door to her room to find Buffy sitting and waiting for her. "So?"

"So, we met, we talked, he saw, and he walked me home." Buffy's eyes narrowed a little in distrust.

"What do you mean he saw and he walked you home?"

"Just what I said. I stood up and he saw. Buffy he was so cool. The first thing he said was 'Why didn't you tell me then?' He didn't ask whose it was or deny it or anything! He knew it was his and on the way back he said he wanted to be with me and not just because of the baby but because he really wants to be. Isn't that fantastic!"

"I'm so happy for you Will."

"That's not everything though. It turns out he's been all over the world and he's got all his wolf problems under control. I guess there were times where he didn't even change."

"Wow. That's some pretty steep mojo. Does it work all the time?"

"He didn't say but I think he still changes sometimes even though he has it under control. We're going to talk some more tomorrow."

~~~

Oz couldn't remember ever feeling so happy. He had Willow in his life and Willow had a baby on the way, his baby. *I have responsibilities now. Whoa. I have to take care of those responsibilities. * He thought for a while and all he could see was that he wasn't sure how to go about doing what he knew he should. His thoughts led him to Giles' home.

The former librarian laid down his book of historical near apocalypses to answer the door. "Who would be coming here tonight? Oz. Uh, come in won't you? I.I take it you've returned?"

"Thanks. Yeah. Actually I needed some advice." Giles knew this had to be important because the guitarist rarely seemed to require help. "Its about Willow."

"Ah, um, yes. I trust that I don't need to explain."

"No. I know its mine. What I don't know is how I can do what I need to do."

"Well, you work hard and help out where you can."

"I mean I don't know where to look for a job. I don't want to end up flipping burgers for the rest of my life. I'm smart and I know it; I could out program anyone at Microsoft and all that but I have all of high school and a quarter of first year University."

"I see. Uh, you are in a predicament."

With a heavy sigh Oz moved back towards the door, "I know, I guess I don't really need advice I just needed to vent. Thanks."

"Of course, any time, really. Uh, goodnight."

"Goodnight." Oz spent a restless night thinking and rethinking his dilemma. He finally fell into an uneasy slumber that caused him to sleep in.

~~~

It was 6:30 in the evening and Willow and Oz had been talking for three hours. They talked about everything from her homework to her unsuccessful attempts at returning Amy to a normal girl. He told her about working on a freighter to pay is way across the Pacific and how he had learned to see the living power in everything.

"So you can see my inner energy?"

"Its not like putting on a pair of glasses it took me a long time to learn it and it takes a while to do it but if you want me to I will." Willow nodded. She had always been interested in those sorts of psychic abilities. Oz got comfortable and began meditating. It took him an hour to reach the point that would allow him to see her life force. In truth he wanted to see it; he didn't think there would be anything more beautiful than her energy. He slowly opened his eyes and drew his unfocused gaze to her. As soon as it came into view he gasped.

"What? What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Oz replied smiling broadly. "Its just that I'm not just seeing your life force."

"What do you mean you don't see it? Where did it go?"

"Will, I said that I didn't see just your life force. I see it, and our baby's."

"What does it look like?"

"Well, its white with tiny brown stripes shooting across it. It's active and full of energy. Its so beautiful."

"The active part I knew about. It kicks like Buffy when she's in full slayer mode. I'm glad it's a good looking energy though."

"That isn't what was beautiful. It's your life that's so amazing. It's a swirl of green and blue with pink highlights like shooting stars. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." With that Oz had to close his eyes and swayed a bit. "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this yet."

"No, that was wonderful." Her sniffle brought his head up. She was crying. "You'll have to forgive me, I can get pretty emotional sometimes."

"You haven't done anything to forgive." He leaned over and hugged her' kissing her forehead.

"I like this."

"Its definitely something I wouldn't say no to." They sat there like that for a while undisturbed until his watch alarm went off. "I've gotta go. We're playing at the Bronze and I've got an early morning. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye." Willow shut the door behind wondering what he could be doing in the morning; he didn't have classes or anything. Before she could get too deep into thought the telephone rang. "Hello. Oh hi Giles. No he just left. How did you know.alright I'll.oh there he is out the window, hold on." Willow dropped the phone and pulled open the window. "Hey Oz! Giles is on the phone for you." She grabbed up the receiver once she'd seen him give her an 'ok' sign and head back into the building. "Giles, he on his way up. Here he is."

Oz took the phone from her and spoke in his usual non-committal sentences so she couldn't tell what they were discussing. When he'd hung up he turned and saw the confused look on her face. "Its not an evil emergency or anything. I'm just going to talk to a friend of his."

"Oh. Cool. Well bye."

"Bye." He left again and went straight home to get his gear for that night.

~~~

"Oh. Hey Will. I thought you and wolfboy were going to dinner."

"We are, he's just running a little behind that's all, and don't call him wolfboy Xander." It had been 36 hours since he'd learned that Oz was back and Xander wasn't impressed. He wasn't a big fan of the guy when he left his best friend and the baby changed that into downright dislike. Xander and Anya had come up with Buffy so she could drop her slaying gear on the way to a frat party. Willow didn't go to parties anymore because the smoke bothered her and everyone just stared anyway.

"Hey. I'm sorry I'm late." Oz appeared at the door, seeming kind of winded.

"Its okay. Lets go." Willow left saying goodbye to the others. "So what happened?"

"What?"

"Why were late?"

"Oh. A job interview ran late." She looked at him in to perplexity. "I can't go back to school this year and I can't sit around doing nothing. I have you and the baby to think about and so I went job hunting."

"Like where did you go?"

"Well the Bronze is hiring bar staff and some other places. Mostly fast food joints though. The last one was a friend of Giles'. I guess they were talking and he said how he needed someone and Giles said that he knew someone so I went."

"That's what the phone call was about? So did you get the job?"

"I don't know. Please don't give that 'I'm throwing my life away by not going to college' look; I won't be able to withstand it. Your sad faces always make me sad and I don't want to be sad now, not we you here with me."

"Alright I won't. I just don't want us to be a burden to you."

"I could be climbing up Mount Everest while carrying you on my back and you still wouldn't be a burden." Oz treated Willow to whatever she wanted that night. She loved having him so attentive and he loved being so attentive. They ate at a new Japanese restaurant that night and basically were on a date. They were both very happy at the end of the night and that put a little piece of Oz' mind to rest.

~~~

"Will! I got the job!"

"What job?"

"The one for Giles' friend. He called this morning and he hired me."

"That's great! What is it your going to do?"

"Design new software for his company's system. Once that's over he's planning to keep me on staff as a programmer."

"Wow! You just got handed a job that, although you can do it, most people have to earn a university degree for that first."

"The best thing is that the hours are incredibly flexible. I have to give status reports along the way but I don't have to do it in the office. Being an on staff programmer also means that unless they need me to do something that is only at the office I do most of that a home too."

"That's great but why is that so very important?"

"Willow, haven't you thought about after the baby is born?"

"Of course I have. What kind of stupid question is that? After the baby comes I'm going to take care of it. Its not that hard."

"Yes it is. Besides you still want to finish college, it's really important to you. I had this thought and it might be pushing my bounds as the father but will you listen?"

"You know I will."

"Okay. The way I see it is that I want to be part of your life and the baby's life too. I don't want to be one of those dad's who only comes by on birthdays though, I want to be a real dad." He could see Willow nod in agreement. "What I was thinking and hoping is that I could get a place on my own and you could come live with me. You'd have to move out of the dorms anyway and I want to be sure that you're in a loving environment. When the baby gets here then you can go back to school and I can take care of it while working at home." Oz searched Willow's face but found only a blank look of bewilderment.

"You really gave this some thought. I.I don't know if I'm ready to move in with you though. Oh, oh, oh, don't think it wasn't a good plan. It was an excellent plan. In truth I wasn't sure where I was going to go afterwards myself but.couldn't you just give some time to think on it?"

"Yeah. Okay." They stood there for a few awkward moments, "Well, I'm gonna let you think and I've gotta get some gear for my computer to make this job thing work. So I'll see you, okay."

"Yeah, bye." Willow spent all of that night thinking about Oz' idea. She talked it over with Buffy and she thought it was good. The reality of the situation was that Willow was scared of having the baby. She was cool with being pregnant but afterwards was this abyss of unknowns that she didn't know how to deal with.

~~~

The next night she was still as undecided as she was before. Oz was playing with the Dingoes on the other side of town so she wouldn't see him. Buffy was out slaying and Xander was with Anya, as always. Willow needed advice but she couldn't ask her parents, not only because they weren't home but also they didn't really approve of the whole situation. With a lift of her eyebrows and little a sigh picked up the phone.

Giles opened the door to let Willow in. "Thanks for letting me come over. I know you're not exactly comfortable with the situation but I needed someone to talk to."

"It's quite alright Willow. I'm just a little curious as what I can do to help here."

"Well I want your opinion on something. I mean you opinion is a heavy factor, to all of us really. Anyway, Oz asked me to move in with him."

"Into that hovel he shares with the rest of his, uh, band?"

"No. He got this job, from a friend of yours actually, and he's going to get his own place and he wants me to live with him. He worked the whole thing out, He can do his job at home and take care of the baby and I can keep up my schooling."

"I, uh, take it your parents."

"My parents haven't been home much in the past seven months. I haven't really seen them since I moved into the dorm but they don't, or won't think all that highly about the situation in general."

"I see. What do you think?"

"That's just it! I don't really know what to think. I mean on one hand you have the plan, which is a good plan logically, ethically, and morally. I just don't know if I can handle living with someone, another adult I mean, like that. I want to be able to handle it but I don't want to do it and then have it be a big mess."

"Well it sounds to me like you've already made up your mind. If you want it to work out you can only try. It will take work and it will be hard but it will work out, one way or another. Oz does have what's best for you and the child at heart. He still loves you, it plain to see in his eyes."

"I know, and I still love him, I just don't know how to say it this time."

"Have you tried forgiving him for leaving you?"

"I told him I understood why he left, yes."

"That's not forgiveness Willow. He needs to hear those words and then you both will feel better."

"Thank you Giles. I'd better go, I've got some vocabulary to study." The red head reached up and gave her mentor an impulsive hug and left. Giles closed the door after seeing her out and shook his head silently wishing the odd couple all the luck in world.

Willow went home pondering what Giles had told her. She unlocked her door and went inside convinced of what she would do. With her mind at ease about that problem she turned her attention to her homework, genetics vocabulary.

~~~~~~~~~

"Hey."

"Hey. So what's up?"

"I've come to a decision." At this point Oz stopped any and all movement. Whether it was from fear or anticipation he didn't know, all he knew was that Willow was about to say something very, very important.

"And." *please say yes, please say yes, please say yes!!*

Without another word Willow grabbed him by his shirt, pulled him out of his chair, and kissed him breathless. When she finally released a rather dazed looking Oz she grinning stated very firmly, "I forgive you Oz."

Allowing his brain to clear her statement finally made sense. He swept her up into a huge hug and swung her around in a circle that had her squealing in delight, his happiness making it an effortless action. Setting her back on the ground he held her close and whispered into her ear, "I love you."

~~~~~~~~~

Buffy cracked the door open and peeked inside, seeing it was safe she signalled to the people behind her. Giles, Riley, Xander, Anya, Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley all nodded and she stepped quietly inside. Once inside their attention was immediately focused on the centre of the room.

"Hey." It was just above a whisper but clear as church bells in the silent room.

"Hey guys. Come on over." The group moved in closer, all leaning over one another to get a better view. "Gang, this is Canus Rupert Osborne, Canus this is the gang." Everyone smiled at the little bundle wrapped in the soft white blankets. Willow and Oz looked at one another then at their friends and grinned helplessly.

THE END