Oz woke in a most unprecedented fashion. Xander and he had intertwined legs during the night, both now having a solid thigh to rest against, or rub against. He shifted slightly, moaning at the friction provided. That's when he realized that his hand was trapped between their legs, clasped around the younger man's thigh. He moved it experimentally, trying to see how close he was to the boxer line. He got his ear nibbled when he reached it, the younger man rubbing his bare chest against his own. "Xander," he said softly, trying to wake him enough to let him move so he wouldn't be embarrassed. "Xan," he whispered. "Need to move."

"Sssshhhh, puppy," Xander whispered in his ear. "I'm comfortable." He licked the ear once then dug his head into the older man's shoulder. "Night."

"Xan, you need to move a little," he whispered, but the younger man was asleep again. "Xan?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Feels good," he murmured, nipping lightly at the skin. "Now behave before I go tell Willow to get you a collar." He turned his head but didn't move his body beyond a few good rubs.

"I will not take advantage of you," Oz promised himself, whispering it out loud.

"Why not?"

"Because it's not right to enjoy this when it's not what you want." He watched the sleeping face soften. "I know you do, but you won't so I shouldn't be enjoying this."

Xander smiled in his sleep. "It's okay, I understand." He smacked his lips, licking over the pillow. "Yuck, you taste funny."

Oz smiled, then pinched him lightly with his trapped hand. "Xan, wake up," he said softly, not wanting to startle him.

Xander snorted then opened his eyes. He looked down at his body, wiggling his hips a little. "Are we having fun now?" He turned his head. "'Cause it feels nice to me." He yawned, closing his eyes again. "Wake me when it's a problem."

"It's a problem," Oz said. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." He shifted some, letting his own hardness rub against a hard thigh. "See?"

"Very, but I'm comfortable."

"At least give me my hand back?"

Xander lifted his hips, pinning the loose boxers the older man wore to the bed. He waited, then settled down into the hard body, snuggling up against it's side. "Better?"

"Much. As long as you're going to be comfortable waking up like this." He wrapped his arms around the tight waist and chest. "Night, Xan."

"Night, puppy," he sighed, falling back into a gentle sleep.

Oz concentrated on getting back to sleep, not on molesting the body laying over his.

A few hours later, Xander opened an eye. He was laying on and against the older man's chest, snuggled down like Willow did. How did that happen? He tried to move away some but could only rub against the leg he was resting against, bringing a moan to the surface. "Oh, Oz, no. Tell me I'm not the one that did this." He unwrapped a hand, moving back slightly to give them both their personal space.

"Right after you called me puppy and let my hand go." He rolled over, landing on the younger man's stomach, his head finding a nice nest in between the rigid nipples. "Thanks for asking though."

Xander shook his head. "I've got to stop this."

Oz didn't move his head, but he was interested in the outcome of the question. "Is that why you won't sleep next to me?" The younger man nodded. "Xan, you know I'd never take advantage of you." He turned his head and body, looking up. "You do know that right?"

"Yeah, but I'm not able to say the same." He pushed the head off his chest, getting up to head for the bedroom. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Yup, right after you take care of that problem," he said, more than loudly enough to be heard.

Xander stuck his head back through the door. "Maybe, but why is that a problem?" He walked out enough to lean against the door. "It's never been one before."

"Because I feel like a one night stand right now," he growled, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't like it, but I do."

Xander laid back down on the bed. "What would make you feel better? A kiss? An 'I know you wouldn't do that'? 'Cause I do if that's what you need." He looked at the older man, waiting for him to say something more.

"How about a straight answer." Xander nodded. "Why are you so scared of what you'll do? You know I wouldn't let you take advantage of me. I know you know I won't either. So what's the problem here?"

"You're men and you'll never understand," Buffy said from the bedroom. "Now go back to sleep. You got up at an evil hour." Her alarm went off. "See?" It crashed against the wall then shut off.

Xander looked toward the bedroom with a smile, but then it disappeared when he looked at his friend. "Oz, you know I want it, that's never been the problem. I just can't give in. No matter how much my body might talk to yours in the middle of the night, no matter how many times I dream of us together, I can't let it happen. If it does, even once, I'll be lost. No more me in here." He took the older man's hand in his, putting them both on his chest. "I'm not ready to be lost in another relationship and I'm not even sure if I could be with you guys." He blinked, then released the hand. "I know you understand, but it's not getting any better." He walked back into the bedroom.

Oz rolled onto his back, looking up at the ceiling. "Not too bad for a straight answer." He frowned toward the bedroom. "But I've heard better." He shook his head, getting up. "Maybe one day he'll admit he's scared of it." He snorted. "What was that getting lost stuff anyway?"

Willow patted his face as she walked by. "He's always done that, given up part of himself to be in a relationship." She started the coffee maker, watching it as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Look at him and Cordy, perfect example."

Oz walked in to stand behind her. "I didn't know him before that."

"Do you know what he's like now?" He nodded against her hair. "Do you remember what he was like then?" He nodded again. "Do you remember what he was like between Spike and us?"

Oz stepped back. "Oh, hell, I do." He started toward the bathroom. "And I've been saying he's not himself too." He walked past Buffy, who was buttoning up her shirt. "Morning, Nymph, how are you feeling?" He stopped long enough to get his usual morning kiss, with tongue. He tapped on the bathroom door, walking in. "Hey, want help?"

Xander put down his razor. "Why?" he asked warily.

"Because I loved that morning I shaved you," Oz said, shrugging and closing the bathroom door so he could lean against it. "I'd like to talk too."

"Can it wait until the girls are gone?" He handed over his razor. "I don't want to do this when they're here."

Oz nodded, coming over to stand beside his friend, rinsing out the blade. "Can I use mine?" The younger man shook his head. "Why?"

"Because it felt too good," he said softly. He stood back up but was pushed back down onto the toilet lid. "Oz, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Oh, I think it's okay." He checked the blade then got a clean one. "That one had some rust." He wet it down before taking a small stroke. "What you said out there? Will made me see it. I'd never let you do that though." He took another stroke, rinsing out the blade, squinting to look at the tense flesh. "No wonder you miss spots if you shave with that face." He pulled on the tip of the younger man's nose. "Relax, Xan, nothing's going to happen in here."

He relaxed. "Okay. I can deal with this."

"Getting harder to resist?" He rinsed off the new foam, bending the head back up so he could work under the strong chin.

"Yeah," he said softly, "much too hard." He swallowed. "I think I should move back to sleeping by myself for a while." He closed his eyes, waiting for whatever to happen.

Oz calmly put down the safety razor, bringing the younger man up to stand in front of him by pulling up on the bottom of his chin. "No," he said softly. "I won't allow it. Neither of us want you to resist anymore." He kissed over the firm lips, giving it his best shot at convincing. "You promised."

"Oz," the younger man said, opening his eyes, "I can't do that anymore." He swallowed, sitting back down. "I just can't."

"Then don't. You know there's another option." He leaned against the sink counter, crossing his arms. "What are you really afraid of?"

"Not now," he said, looking at the thin wall. Oz nodded. "Please?"

"Fine, but we will talk once they're gone." He stepped back. "Your choice, do I continue or not?"

Xander knew there was more to the question than what appeared but he couldn't answer. He so much wanted to say yes, but he couldn't. He couldn't let himself fade away again, nothing should be able to take him away from himself like that. He swallowed. "I..."

Oz stepped back in front of him. "Let me finish this then we'll eat breakfast. Okay?" He picked up the razor, wetting it again. "Xan?"

"Yeah, please," he said, his voice coming out in a squeaky whisper. He closed his eyes, waiting for the shaving to begin again.

"I'm not letting you go," Oz whispered as he took the next stroke. "Not ever. I'm not letting you get away unless you really want it." He tapped the top of the soft hair. "Unless you can tell me that you don't even like me."

"I can't."

"Then resign yourself to having your resistance worn down." He finished up on the under chin area, moving to the lathered cheek. "I like doing this for you."

"It's way personal," Xander whispered. "Oz, I like it too, but I... you shouldn't be doing that."

He handed over the razor. "Okay, that's all you had to say." He stepped back. "Can I at least watch?" The younger man shook his head slowly. "If that's what you really want," he said, walking out of the bathroom.

"No, but it's what's right," Xander told the orange plastic. "It's not what I want, it's what I have to do." He stood up, shaken by the moments this morning, but continued to shave himself, swearing lightly as he cut himself on the first stroke.

' ' ' '

Oz sipped the coffee in his cup, listening to the quiet monologue the younger man was carrying on with himself in the mirror. He was surprised that Xander thought out loud, but he wasn't surprised to hear what he was. The same fears were coming back out now. The getting lost in the other person, the over-nurturing and over-caring one, the not wanting to get hurt one. If the younger man knew what he was thinking, at least the last one would be eased. "Hmm, could tell him that, might make him feel better." He touched the little box in front of him. "Maybe he'd like this now."

Xander finally walked out, dressed, lots of little pieces of red toilet paper stuck to his face.

"Maybe you shouldn't shave anymore," he said, passing over the muffins Willow had made. "You look like you got attacked by a weedeater." He took another sip of his coffee. "Tell me?"

"Not yet. I want to eat first."

"Being practical here, if you get upset again you're not going to keep it down." He looked up from the newspaper. "Want to talk?"

"No." He took a bite of muffin, but couldn't swallow it. "Yeah," he said, after spitting it out and taking a drink of milk.

"Thought you might. I heard your soliloquy by the way." He put down the paper. "Rationalize it for me and I'll back off."

"Whenever I get into a relationship, I lose something of myself for the other person." He coughed lightly. "I can't afford to lose anymore of me." He took another sip of milk. "Are you sure it's good?"

Oz took the glass, tasting it. "Yeah, fine," he said, handing it back. "Must be part of the same thing that makes you freeze or get sick when you're upset." He took a drink of his own. "That's what Willow enlightened me to this morning, but I don't see it happening here."

The younger man smiled slightly. "How many times have you told me I'm not acting like myself?"

"In the last few weeks?" He leaned back in his chair, thinking about it. "Quite a few." He looked over at him. "Xander, I don't want you to lose part of you either. I love all of you." The younger man choked on his milk. "Is that really such a shock?" He nodded. "Then maybe it's time I explained a few things too." He waited, making sure he was comfortable. "Do you remember the night that I broached the subject of my being bi with Will?" Xander nodded, hesitantly. "Well, it wasn't another man, it was you. Used your name specifically." He shook his head at the flight look shining brightly from the other man's eyes. "Sit there and listen." He waited until the younger man was calmed down. "That's why she came here instead of Buffy's. She wanted to ask you what sort of hold you had over me." He grinned slightly. "Later that night I told her the whole truth."

"Which was?" the younger man asked quietly.

"That it wasn't just a like situation." He pushed the box across, watching as it was unwrapped. "I got these a while ago, was going to ask them tonight. As you can see, I planned something else too." He cracked his neck. "I know you're confused and scared, but I want this more than life and air. I want *you* more than life and air, Alexander Harris."

Xander looked down at the rings, eyes misting, mouth hanging open. "I.. I didn't know about this."

"You shouldn't have. I got them over Christmas." He took the firm hand, taking the box from the boneless fingers. "When you're ready to claim your place as mine, it's there for you. I'm not letting you go or be hurt by any of this." He grinned his sexy little grin that had gotten him both the girls. "And you don't over mother us, you care and we realize that." He stroked over the back of the hand he held for a second, then let it go. "You have plenty of time to think. I'm marrying Willow, officially, but the rest of us will be joined." He picked up the paper. "I'd think about it. We want you there."

"Oz, I..." He swallowed, then went into the bedroom, changing the sheets so he could lay down.

Oz walked in, pushing the door against the wall. "You're not allowed to hide in here anymore." He leaned against frame. "Would you like to talk now?" The younger man shook his head. "If you're sure, I'll be out here." He walked out, bringing back in the plate. "Eat it. I don't want you wasting away." He dropped a soft kiss onto the tousled hair then went back out to clear off the table.

Xander picked at the muffin, thinking about what he'd seen that morning. They weren't wanting to play with him, they *wanted* him to be fully one of them. He'd never been in that serious of a relationship before, not with Cordy and especially not with Spike. He shook his head, taking a bite of muffin. He looked up as a glass was set beside him but Oz didn't say or do anything else before he walked out. He wasn't even sure he could do something with them. Sure, the kissing was great, and the touching was too he had to admit, but he didn't know if he could go all the way with any of them. He respected them as friends, had lusted over the girls in the past, but he wasn't sure he could do anything but kiss them. That going that way with Oz was still a consideration was forefront in his mind too, but he wanted to worry about that separately. The older man had been right when the issue of his fear of breaking that training had come up. Could he break all the rules he'd ever been taught to be with an actual man? A toy, or a vampire for that matter, was a different thing entirely than a living, caring, breathing, feeling human man. He shivered at the thought, but he wasn't sure he was ready for that yet.

He knew what he wanted but his fears, maybe even his training as a child, kept him from going for it. That wasn't fair to any of the three lovers, but he didn't know how to get over it this time. Jumping into the fight wasn't the cure this time, not like it had been when he was scared during a fight. This time it would take lots of contemplation and thought, not something he excelled at. He could always give in, but that didn't seem right. He couldn't do that to them. He sighed, rolling onto his back, only to meet a hard body. "Hey," he said in greeting.

"Hi," Oz said. "I was watching you think. Did it help?"

"Nope, not really, just brought out what I already knew but wasn't wanting to think about." He closed his eyes. "Oz?"

"Hmmm?"

"How have you been so right about me?" He didn't move, not wanting to tense up, but he couldn't help it.

"I've watched you," the older man said, putting aside his book so he could roll onto his side to face the pained one. "Look at me Xan, I don't want to talk to your ear."

Xander rolled onto his side, opening his eyes. "You've been so right about some of the things I'm scared of."

Oz pinched the end of his nose. "I've been compiling my Xander fact file for a while now." He moved a little closer, seeing the pain that the move brought into the tired eyes. "Why are you so scared?"

"Because." He shrugged. "I don't really know, but I don't know how to cure it either."

Oz smiled. "Curing it is easy. All it takes is working up to it." He stroked over a firm arm. "You're already used to my hands on you, you're just not equating it with me." He stroked down over a slightly raised peck, brushing over a nipple. "This is the same as me giving you a rub."

"I know, but it's different."

"Not really, this is how I planned to work you out of it." He let his head get closer. "Why else do I give you so many back rubs?" He took his time with the kiss, lingering to taste and to play. When he pulled back, the younger man was panting. "You taste good, but you obviously didn't eat much of that muffin. I should feed you."

"Which was a reminder of how much you care?" Xander guessed.

"I couldn't see you hurting like that. Shoot me, I care." He leaned back down for a soft kiss. "If you want, I could rub your back again, this time showing you exactly what I want to happen. I've not been hitting half the arousal sites."

"You've been hitting plenty," Xander said quietly. "It never fails to send me rushing for the bathroom when you're done."

"Then this time, you won't leave the bed." He grabbed the plate with the crumbs that used to be a muffin. "Eat it, I'll go get you another glass of milk." He watched him take the first bite before getting up. He grabbed the glass, draining it on the way out, but came back carrying two that were frosted with the coldness of the milk. "Here," he said, putting one onto the bedside table. "You'll need it, she made them a little dry." He sat up to drink his milk, watching Xander eat breakfast. "Are we okay?"

"Yeah," Xander said, a weight rising off his chest. "Yeah, we're fine." He quickly drank his milk, setting the dirty dishes onto the table. "So," he said as he rolled over, "what now?"

"Now, you get naked under my hands and we build up to the point of you not being so scared of my touch." He gulped the last half of the glass, rubbing his nose when the cold hit him there. "Oooh." He set the glass aside, moving so the younger man was in his arms. "How would you like to do this?"

"Naked and oiled?" he said with a grin. "You're hands always seem to work better that way." He rolled onto his stomach. "How about a towel for now?"

Oz shook his head. "That was quick."

"Hey, backrubs I'm used to, even the teasing ones." He turned his head to smile. "Not everything else will be this easy."

"Oh, it will be, I just have to make you want it bad enough." He licked over the back of the exposed neck. "I want you go shower for me, using my soap 'cause I liked that, then come out to lay on the bed naked." Xander got up, hurrying into the bathroom, but was stopped for a kiss. He walked the rest of the way, head swimming, not bothering to close the door behind him.

Oz set up the bedroom the way he wanted: candles everywhere, soft music to soothe the injured psyche, putting the soft satin sheets onto the bed and laying out the softest of towels for him to lay on top of. He stripped down, grimacing at the dirtiness he'd forgotten he still had. "Xan?" he called.

The younger man stuck his head out of the bathroom, then blushed. "Yeah?"

"I need to shower. I want you to lay here and be cute until I'm done." He walked into the bathroom, pushing past the stunned man with a good rub between their bodies. "Brush your teeth if you want, I'm showering." He adjusted the water temp then climbed in, pulling the semi- transparent shower curtain.

Xander stood, watching, for a minute, then shook himself, bending back down to rinse the toothpaste out of his mouth.

"I didn't mind you watching," Oz said quietly. "I like to see that other people admire my body." He turned away. "You can watch me shower if you want."

Xander swallowed some of the water, then gagged at the swallowed toothpaste. "Maybe some other day." He hurried out to the bedroom, smiling at the romantic picture that had been laid out for him. He laid down on the towel, rubbing over his favorite pair of sheets, waiting for Oz to finish.

The older man came out, patting his back dry as he walked. "Hey," he said, tossing the towel. He stood beside the bed, naked. "Are you wanting a towel around your hips?" He bent to pick up the one he had tossed. "'Cause you can have one if you need it."

Xander smiled. "I've done the back part without one, but could we maybe leave it beside me in case a sudden outbreak of shyness hits me?" He looked up, seeing the amusement in the older man's eyes. "What?"

"Nothing." He leaned down, nipping at the ear nearest him. "You're so cute when you're unsure of things." He folded the towel neatly, laying it beside the one protecting the sheets. "Okay?" Xander nodded so he took his usual spot on top of his rear. "This okay too?"

"Strange."

"Why?" He prepared to move, in case.

"It just is. I'm not used to having warm flesh doing that to me." He blushed. "Any flesh."

"Ah, that I can deal with. Would you like the towel now? Just as a barrier?"

"No."

"Then we're cool here?"

"Definitely. I just need to get used to it."

Oz laid down across the damp back, stretching out across the longer body. He wrapped an arm around the trim waist, holding on to give a full body hug. "How's this?"

"Very nice, but it doesn't feel like a massage." He wiggled some, then stopped once he felt the hardness lying against his rear. "Oz?"

"Yeah," he said, sitting back up. "What?" He looked down to make sure he wasn't obviously rubbing against anything. "That?"

"Yeah, that. I just felt it against my rear and freaked." He turned his head. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yeah. If you want to know if you can do this, then you have to get used to the situation." He looked down before scooting back. "Does this bother you?"

"Well, a little." He wiggled his hips away some. "That's not a real common thing for me to feel."

"Was it before?" The younger man shook his head. "Xan? Talk to me here. We need to setup your limits so I know when and where I can push you over."

"I've only had that one person, man, and it was.... different." He turned his head to look back. "This is all way strange for me."

"Then he wasn't a considerate lover." He turned off the soft music. "What do you want changed?"

"Nothing." He looked around the room. "But you need to put that candle on something. The wax will drip everywhere."

Oz got up, putting the candle in question onto a small plate. "Better?" he asked, looking around at the others to make sure they were safe. When he didn't hear a response, he walked slowly back to the bed, remounting into his usual position. "Xander," he said softly, pouring some of the oil into his hands to warm. "I'm going to touch you now." The younger man snorted. "Were you asleep?"

"No, just being relaxed. I missed your weight." He looked over his shoulder at the hands working together. "Are you going to teach me to do this too?"

"Sure, whenever you're ready. I'd love to be your hands-on instructor." He bent down, starting at the shoulders. "Turn around, you'll hurt your neck."

"Yes sir," he said quietly. He looked in the mirror across the room, seeing it very clearly. "What's that mark on your back?"

Oz turned to look at it in mirror. "Not sure. It might be a Buffy mark. It's red, sucked on." He looked at the other set of eyes. "Of course, you may have started to suck in the night too." Xander shivered at the thought. "Bad or good?"

"Nice, but scary." He closed his eyes, letting the warm hands ease him into the relaxed state he couldn't achieve without them. "Aaaaahhhhhh," he sighed as his whole back went loose at once.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He played to his hearts content over the firm back, hitting every spot he'd wanted to for so long, not holding back on any of the arousal points or anything else he'd learned that made the younger man feel good. He moved backwards without a warning, sliding down the firm rear to rest against the back of the cutely dimpled cheeks. He worked over the mounds he'd been sitting on, hearing the small grunts of pleasure that meant he was doing good. When he moved back farther, working his way down the strong thighs, he had to prompt to get them open, but they did, giving him a spectacular view of the younger man as only one other person had seen him. And he doubted that Spike had really appreciated the sight the way he did. He worked closer to the warm, distended flesh, wanting to touch it for the first time.

"No," Xander said quietly. "I'm not ready for that yet."

Oz shrugged, moving his hands back some. "Okay, you know that." He worked the smooth skin, getting him back into his comfort zone, wanting him to relax again. "Want me to stop?"

"No, just debating with myself." He sighed, relaxing again. "Sorry. I don't mean to torture you like this."

"Not a torture," he said, laying across the firm body again. He gasped as their cocks touched, but didn't move otherwise.

Xander pushed his head back against the head above him. "What was that?"

"Accidental." He got to his hands and knees, moving himself so he wasn't in such an erotic place, then laid down again. "Better?"

"Actually, that felt kinda nice." He closed his eyes. "Oz?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you want me? After all I've put you through and done around you, why me?"

"Because I see in you the qualities and traits that I want and need in a mate." He let his head rest against the one below him. "Even when you made Willow cheat on me, I loved you. I was pissed for a while, but I could forgive both of you for it because I knew it was a soul-deep desire on both your parts. I forgave you as soon as I was done being mad."

Xander grinned. "Wow. I don't think I've ever been that forgiving." He turned his head slightly. "But you didn't answer the question. I infuriate you, then mother you, then piss you off. So, why do you love *me*?"

"Because I do. You aren't playing with me. You're not torturing me with your insecurities. Face it, we're good together. We have a great friendship thing going, we're good as roomies. We're even good as lovers, or at least I think we'll be." He licked over the damp flesh. "And I think you love me too."

"I.. How could I know?"

"Never felt that way?" Xander shook his head. "Well, one of the things I've always gauged by was if I cared enough for that person to never want to see them harmed, especially not by me." He nuzzled some more. "I know there are warm and fuzzy feelings involved. Some people hear music when they first kiss, some just know like some sort of lightning bolt." He shrugged. "I'm guessing each one of us is different. How did you know they weren't?"

"I didn't care enough to fight for them," he said quietly. "If Buffy had come up to me and told me that Spike had to go, I wouldn't have fought her."

"Same thing with Cordy?"

"There are days when I would have staked her myself," Xander said, shaking his head.

"We all thought you guys were kinda bipolar together." He licked over the sweaty neck. "We all wondered which one of you was going to go off the deep end first."

"Me," Xander said, raising his hand with a grin. "That's what drove me toward Will." Oz stroked through his hair. "What?"

"Not nice."

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I've loved Willow a long time, just like a friend instead of a girl- friend. I never noticed her like that until we were getting ready for a dance, then it just hit me."

"The lightning bolt?

"More or less, yeah. After that it was a matter of fighting it."

"You know, you fight your urges an awful lot." He sat back up. "Want more rubs?"

"Yeah, please." He heard someone coming up the stairs. "But maybe not right now. We're getting visitors."

Oz groaned but climbed off, grabbing his robe. He put it on, then held out the younger man's helping him into it. "See, I'm very careful with you." He led him out to the door, waiting for the knock to open it. "Yes?"

"Alexander Harris?"

Xander stepped forward. "Yeah?"

The officer smiled. "We've actually got good news for you this time. The," he cleared his throat, "officer that accosted you yesterday has decided to cop a plea. Your testimony won't be needed." He handed over the paperwork. "We thank you for pointing him out though, the mayor has promised to form a council to get people like him out of the force."

Oz snorted. "Yeah, but she needs to start with herself." When the officer looked clueless and hurt, he explained. "She's a member of Malistrom's church."

He nodded. "So I'd heard, but she's trying." He grinned. "For right now." He shook Xander's hand. "We're all thankful that people like you have the courage to take those guys on, they give the rest of us a bad name." He walked back down the stairs, passing Willow on the way.

She looked at his back as she reached the landing. "We okay?" She hugged her mate, then her friend.

"Yeah," Xander said. "He took a plea."

Oz took the paperwork from him, whistling as he read the charges. "Misconduct of office, assault with a weapon, intent to terrorize." He looked at his mate. "Some nice time there."

She took it, heading in to sit at the table. "Yeah, ten years no parole." She put it down. "He should get more."

Oz sat next to her. "He's a cop, he'll be lucky to make it ten years." He shook his head. "But he's about to be faced with his worst nightmare for however long he's in there."

Xander shrugged. "I won't cry." He headed back to the bathroom. "I'm going to go inhabit the bathroom."

"No, let me, please," Willow said. She rushed past him. "My problem outweighs yours." She closed the door in his face. "Later," she called.

"Mean," Xander said. She spit at him, through the door of course, making that nice raspberry sound. Xander shook his head as he went back to the living room. "She's cruel. I've got to stay oily for a while now." He sat down beside the older man, taking the serious papers from him. "Hey."

"Hi." He wrapped an arm around the tense shoulders. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Willow," he said quietly. "When she came back, you tensed up." He licked across the taut cheek. "Why? You're usually not so uptight around her."

"I'm not."

"You are." He figured it out quickly. "You're afraid she'll get upset?" The younger man finally nodded. "Hate to tell you this, Xan, but she'd be the first out here to watch. She'd also be the first one to crawl into your lap and kiss you most brutally right now." He looked over as Buffy walked in. "Bad day, nymph?"

She nodded, sitting down next to him. "I got ejected from my internship today." She looked at the men. "It was supposed to be tomorrow but they figured I've already done all the work they needed done cheaply so they let me go." Her shoulder's slumped. "They won't even write me a recommendation letter. They said they want to put me on again next summer."

Oz shook his head. "But that's a good thing, right?"

"I don't like them. Some of the people that work there were mean to you, Xander, and I couldn't say anything because they were 'actual' workers and I was just an intern." She looked out the window. "Where's Will?"

"Bathroom," the guys said together. Until she came out, then Oz jumped up to see what was wrong.

She sat down, holding the phone in her hands. "I need to go see my ob-gyn," she said softly. "I think I may have just miscarried." She started to cry, weeping hard in his arms.

Xander walked into the bedroom, getting some clothes for himself and Oz. "Here," he said, tossing them to the older man. "Get dressed, I'll drive your van. It's got the bed thing in the back." He grabbed the keys and his wallet, running down the stairs.

Oz got dressed quickly, letting Buffy hold her while he did, then helped her down the stairs to the van. Xander drove them carefully to the doctor's office, parking just beside the door then helping her inside. They all paced the waiting room, waiting on her doctor to come out and tell them what was wrong.

Finally she came out, pulling them back into the room with Willow. "She was right. She was about month and a half." She scratched behind her ear with the back of her pen. "She'll be fine, but I want her to either sit or lay down as much as possible, and yes I've already heard about tomorrow." She frowned down at her patient. "You can still rest."

Oz looked worried, rubbing the back of his girlfriend's hand. "What was it, do you know?"

"Actually no. The baby at that age is still rather small. I'm assuming it was a malformation of some sort, that's the usual cause of this, but no one can be sure." She patted Willow's forehead, pushing the hair around. "I think she'll be fine, and if she wants to try again, there shouldn't be any problem."

"No," Willow said. "This one was accidental. The condom must have broken."

"Pill?" Oz asked.

"I've been taking it, but I admit I've forgotten a few times. Last month namely."

"That in itself may have been the reason. The pill is known to have that effect." She looked down at her patient. "She did the correct thing, calling me. Now she needs to be pampered and loved for the next few weeks."

"She will be," Xander said. "We'll make sure she follows orders and everything." He looked down at his oldest friend. "Soup for supper?"

"I think I can handle other food." She sniffled. "I'll try at least."

"Let's get you home and into a hot bath," Oz said. He shook the doctor's hand, watching as she left them alone. "Are you all right?" he asked her, kissing her cheek.

"I'm fine, Oz," she assured him, petting through his hair. "I just need to go lay down for a while." She smiled. "I didn't even know I was, it was the abnormality of the flow that tipped me off, so I called to ask a question." She pulled his head down for a kiss. "We need less destructible condoms."

He laughed, pulling her up to hug him. "I'll go find some." He hugged her tightly to him, rocking them back and forth.

Xander nudged Buffy and nodded at the hall. They walked out, guarding the door, wanting them to have some alone time. Pretty soon the couple came out and they headed back to the apartment, him stopping at a convenience store for some alcohol for Oz. They helped her up the stairs, Buffy going ahead to get the door and run the warm bath she wanted. They all watched as she sunk down into the water with a sigh, then left her and Oz alone.

Xander poured them each a glass of beer, letting Buffy take it in. He sat down at the table, thinking. Willow had gotten pregnant and miscarried, not an uncommon thing from what the doctor hadn't said, but with them nothing was certain.

Buffy walked back out, white. She took the can from him, taking a deep drink. "She's fine. She noticed the problem and acted on it right away. The doctor said she was going to be fine."

He stole the can back. "Yup, and I don't trust her opinion." He finished off the can. "I wonder if she'd want to talk to her mother right now."

Oz walked out. "She's on the phone with her." He hugged them both. "It wasn't my problem," he said. "She'll prove it." Buffy nodded so he looked at her. "Not to worry or anything, but are you sure you're not?"

She led him to the couch grouping, sitting him down. "Oz, I couldn't be. We've never done that." She stroked across his face. "I'm fine and she will be too." She hugged him tightly, letting him rest against her shoulder. "We're all fine now. You've done a good job protecting us." She looked up as her own mother walked in, tears in her eyes. "Hey," she said. Joyce sat down, hugging her eldest child tightly. "Thanks."

Willow walked out, wrapped tightly in Oz's bathrobe. "Can I have something to drink?"

She padded toward the kitchen, but Xander picked her up, carrying her back into the bedroom. He tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable before going to the kitchen for her. He picked stuff out of the fridge, making her some comfort food quickly, then carried it in to her. "You decide, what do you want to eat?"

She took a bite of the salad, smiling at the goldfish crackers littering the top. "Chicken? Fried?" He nodded. "Thanks." She stroked over his arm. "I'm fine."

"I know, but I can't help but worry." He kissed her temple, then went back to the living room. He passed Oz on the way out, listening as the door closed behind him. He sat down beside the two women, noticing how much they looked alike. "She's gotten permission to go tomorrow but she has to sit most of the time." Buffy nodded, wiping her eyes. "Want to go shopping with me? She's asked for fried chicken and I don't have the stuff."

Buffy hugged him tightly, drawing him to her. "Sure, we'll go shopping and I'll keep the bad guys at bay." She wiped both their faces. "Mom?"

"I'll drive you. There are still a few things I need to get."

Buffy nodded but Xander looked at her. "We can't go to the regular store."

Buffy stroked through his hair. "She doesn't go there." She kissed the top of his head then handed him his wallet. "Here, you'll need this." She stood up, walking into the bedroom. She came back out with Oz. "He wants to go instead so I'll stay while you're gone."

Xander nodded. "You're the one with the legal ID." He stood up, putting his wallet away. "Joyce, are you sure?"

"Yeah, her own mother's on the way. Buffy called me for a telephone hug." She stood with a sigh. "Giles wants to see you two anyway." She followed them out the door.

' ' ' '

Giles looked up as the two young men entered what was his room in the house, the library. "Hello." He pointed at the chair. "I have need of a favor it seems." He cleared his throat. "I need to go pick up her bride present and can't get there as Marion seems to become peckish when I leave." He sighed as his name was called down from upstairs. "I was wondering if I could impose on you both."

Oz took the claim slip, looking down at it. "Sure, we can do that. I've been looking for an excuse to have Joyce pull out that way." He shook his head. "I really want another beer."

Xander took the paper. "We'll get it and not show her." He folded it, putting it into his pocket. He cleared his throat, looking over at Oz for permission, given with a head nod. "We have one of our own." He coughed lightly. "You've got to help us make sure Willow sits most of tomorrow."

Giles looked alarmed. "What happened now?"

"She miscarried this morning," Oz said softly. "That's why Joyce came over, to give Buffy a hug." He shifted some. "She can come but she's supposed to be sitting most of the time."

"You might want to run some interference from the mother-type person too. She's going to go into a rash of 'I told you so's' by then." Xander shifted, pulling his over shirt tighter around him. "She's not real hot on the idea of her and Oz anyway."

Giles nodded. "Of course I will. I'll check on her frequently and even try to make it seem like I'm not." He looked down at the blotter. "Is she really fine?"

"She's okay. She's crying and stuff, but I guess that's normal." He looked out the window behind Giles' head. "She wasn't two months yet, none of us knew. She just started to bleed really heavily this morning so we went to the doctor's. She'll be okay."

Xander saw the tears about to fall, so he moved closer, taking Oz in his arms. "She's fine," he said softly. "You can let it out here, you're safe." Oz nodded, letting go of the pain. He slipped into the strong arms holding him, not noticing Giles getting up to close the door or the curtains being pulled so they could have some privacy. Xander held him, being the strong one for now. He offered what little comfort he could, making sure Oz was comfortable enough to cry in his arms for as long as he needed.

When Oz was finished, he wiped his eyes, sitting back up. "Thanks."

"Hey, I wasn't about to not do that." He took the firm hand, warming it in his. "She's fine. She's living and there's nothing wrong with her." He stroked over the tense flesh. "It wasn't you," he said. "Your problem had nothing to do with it." Oz nodded, but didn't say anything.

Giles handed him a glass of whiskey, handing Xander one next. "I think it's called for. Joyce has agreed to drive you around." He sipped his own, sitting back down behind his desk. "Are you both all right?"

Oz nodded and Xander did after a second's thought. The older man looked at his friends, wondering what was next.

"Shopping," Xander said quietly. "Finish up to get warm." He held out his own glass to him, wanting him to have the warmth and false comfort held in the amber liquid.

Oz drained his, then took the younger man's, shooting it straight down. He shuddered as he set the glasses on the edge of the desk. "Thanks."

"Not a prob. Your pain is ours," Xander said.

"Quite." Giles drained his own liquor, setting the glass out of the way. "I know if it had been me, nothing would have consoled me." He shifted some papers around. "I'm worried that all this stress will hurt her."

"Marion?"

"Joyce," Oz said. He looked at the younger man. "Although that is a consideration."

"Not really. She's been ordered to rest." He smiled. "Hence my not being able to leave the house." He groaned as an air horn blew throughout the house. "It's most disconcerting how much this has changed her."

Xander leaned over to pat his hand. "Pregnancy is all about hormones. You're used to dealing with those."

Giles smiled. "I'm sure yours weren't as bad as hers are now."

"Hindsight makes everything rosy," Xander said, quoting his favorite redhead. "Just think about all the times you gave me looks and speeches about mine, then think about hers." He grinned. "At least hers will be over with in a few months."

"Yeah, there's a thought," Oz said. He looked at the younger man. "You're becoming wise."

"I want his job," Xander stage whispered.

All the men laughed, easing some of the pain and the nervousness.

' ' ' '

Oz walked a lovely Willow down the aisle, trying hard not to watch her to make sure she was all right. He turned to face the back as Joyce and Buffy walked in together, each a vision in their dresses. He smiled at the indrawn breath of both Giles and Xander, patting the younger man on the shoulder.

Joyce took Giles hand, handing Buffy her flowers. And so the ceremony to unite the families began.

' ' ' '

Xander looked at his watch, then around at the guests for the hundredth time in under five minutes. He needed to find Oz, quickly. He only had half an hour before his change and he still had to take his tranquilizer. He walked through the people gathered to celebrate, catching the Watcher's eye, who nodded toward the house. He headed in through the kitchen, jogging around until he found the older man in the bathroom. "Come on, it's time."

Oz nodded, the pain of the incipient change already on him. "I need to take my pill."

Buffy walked in, handing him the bottle and a glass of water. "We need to hit the road."

She waited while he took the pill then took the bottle back, hiding it in her purse, so she could help Xander get him to the van. She hugged her mother, who was leaving in two days for somewhere unidentified, making a quiet excuse for the people around her. She climbed into the back with Oz, closing the door, then locking him down to the eyebolts he'd had installed for just such an occasion. Xander drove them home quickly. She hid the chains under the jacket he'd taken off then helped him out and up the stairs. While she stripped down to more manageable clothes, Xander got him restrained naked on the bed. They stepped back, watching him writhe in pain and the changes started to happen. Oz screamed once but it turned into a howl as his face and chest changed. After a few minutes, the fuzzy Oz was panting on the bed, drug haze starting to show on his face.

"He should be safe for a while." She walked closer to him, but he started to growl. She grabbed her purse, checking to make sure she'd given him the right pill. "I don't understand this."

"You're bleeding," the younger man reminded her. "Maybe you should be in the living room. I can sit in here with him." He took off his tie, unbuttoning his dress shirt. "Relax, you're in yelling distance and are between him and the door." She nodded then left the room. Xander sat down in the chair, moving Buffy's dress aside so he could change. "Hey, Oz, you all right in there?" he asked quietly. He heard a panting so looked up. Somehow he'd gotten out of a restraint and was chewing on another. "Oh, no you don't. I'm not chasing you all over town tonight." He got up, grabbing the leather strap. He tied it back to the bedpost. "There, much better." He sat beside the fuzzy body, toeing off his shoes. When he'd gotten out of his jacket, the panting increased. "Ah, so that's it is it?" He stood up, grabbing a comfortable set of jeans and a t-shirt. "I shouldn't let you watch."

"Don't tease him," Buffy called.

"I'm not." He shrugged out of his dress shirt, tossing it onto the chair. He undid his belt, drawing it out slowly through the loops. Oz was watching him now, still panting. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not, so continued, not deliberately teasing but not being careful not to either. He stepped out of his pants, bending down to grab his jeans. He never expected to be knocked down by a large fuzzy body. "Hey!"

Buffy walked in, but got growled at. "Told you so." She stepped back until she was resting against the door frame. "You'd better do something before he decides you're his bitch." She swallowed her soda, smiling around the rim.

He shook his head, rolling out from under the unattentive body. He pulled on his jeans quickly, moving away from the hard body pursing his around the room. He got on his t-shirt just as he was trapped between the bed and the wall. Buffy walked in farther, drawing his attention, so Xander could walk across the bed, getting out into the open. He watched as Oz moved toward her, growling, crouched.

"He looks like he's going to fight you." She nodded, backing out of the room. Xander sat down on the open side of the bed, grabbing the remote. "You're just defending your territory, huh, Oz." He patted the bed, prompting the wolf to walk closer. "Want to watch some tv?" He flipped it on, turning his attention to it.

"I am his territory," Buffy called from the living room. "I'll bring you liquids in a while."

Oz sniffled toward him once or twice before walking up to sit beside him. He eventually climbed up onto the bed, sniffling around the parts of the younger man's body that interested him. By the time the tranq was full strength, he was laying in Xander's lap watching Monty Python with him.

Buffy brought in the cooler full of sodas and waters. "How do you do that?" she asked, setting it down near them but not near enough to rouse the sedately-watching werewolf. "He never lays in my lap like that."

Willow walked in, smiling, but the fuzzy body started to growl at her too. "Okay, I'll go soak." She grabbed her stuff, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.

Buffy looked torn between the two options she had, but she knew Willow probably didn't want her in there right now so she walked back out into the living room, shutting the door softly so she wouldn't awaken Oz. "Night," she whispered.

Xander looked down at the form in his lap. "One day, we'll cure you of this," he promised, patting the springy fur tenderly. "Some day soon."

' ' ' '

Oz woke up on the bed this time, looking down at the body he was laying on. Xander didn't look any worse for the night, but there were a few scratches and his shirt was ripped open. He shook his head, getting up to grab some boxers. When the younger man didn't wake, he walked out to the livingroom, going to lay beside his women. He climbed in behind Willow, snuggling against her back. "Morning," he said softly, expertly ducking the pillow Buffy sent his way. He buried his head in the sweaty red hair, falling back asleep.

Willow raised her eye to look out the window, seeing the light of dawn. She didn't want to wake her mate up, but she needed to head to the bathroom. She wiggled in his arms, making him raise one, then crawled out of the bed. She went to the bathroom, doing what she needed to, looking in the mirror to see if she'd been changed by all this.

' ' ' '

Xander put down the paper, looking at the two women. "Uniforms?" he asked.

"I've got mine on order," Buffy said. "But I'm taking Will with me today so she can get hers while I pick mine up." She finished off her bacon, licking the grease off her fingers. "Then I gotta go hide at mom's for the week they'll be gone."

Oz nodded. "Are you taking a bag?" She shook her head. "Then I'll expect you to be back here in the morning."

She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I'm bringing enough stuff to get me through tomorrow but I'll be back every morning to get clothes and check in." She wiped the smudge of lipstick off his skin, smiling at him. "How are you this morning?"

"Fine. The second night of fuzziness went well. I didn't attack anyone." He looked at Xander. "Someone's going to need more t-shirts soon." He looked at Willow. "I'm sorry I'm growling at you." He took her hand, rubbing the back of it. "It's the smell of the blood." She nodded. "I promise to try harder tonight not to do that." He leaned over, taking a soft kiss. "How are you this morning?"

She smiled, bravely almost. "I'm okay. I can go get a shot today that should slow down the bleeding." She sipped her juice with her free hand. "I'm fine. You don't need to hover."

Oz nodded. "I want to though. Is that a problem?" She smiled as she shook her head. "Then can I go help get your uniforms?"

Buffy frowned. "I wanted some Willow time." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "But I guess you can come along if it makes you feel better." She smiled at her girlfriend. "I leave it up to her."

Willow took the older woman's hand, squeezing both her mates' hands. "I wouldn't mind either way just as long as you realize I don't need to be babied." She kissed each one, leaning across the table to get one from Buffy. "Okay?"

"Fine," Buffy said. She smiled at Oz. "I'm not the one doing that though." He shook his head, not wanting to get into it. "So, mall then what?"

"Lunch," Oz said. He looked down at his watch. "Weren't we supposed to be heading to the vacation capitol of the west coast next week?"

Xander cleared his throat. "It's all paid for and everything if we want to." He looked at Buffy. "That'll give you a week exactly. We're booked on a flight Sunday night."

She pulled out her dayplanner, looking at the date. "Hmm, I might miss the first night. Mom's not due back 'til after dark that day. Is that okay with everyone?" The other three nodded. "Okay, then it settled. We'll go have major happies and fun next week." She closed the slim book. "Anything else that's up for discussion?"

"Did you remember to tell your job that you were going?" She nodded, stealing a piece of ham off the younger man's plate. "Are you prepared to do the shopping and stuff down there?"

She smiled. "All set. My credit card's all cleaned off, my ATM card will be coming with me. I'll have a ready supply of summer job cash." She stole another piece so he handed her the plate. "I was just prompting you to eat."

Xander smiled. "I know but you looked like you wanted it more." He pointed at the plate in the middle of the table. "I can always eat that last piece."

Oz looked at it, then at the younger man. "You'd better. That lone egg you ate wasn't very large." He frowned until Xander picked it up, taking a bite. "Thank you."

Willow smiled. "Now doesn't this seem familiar." She shook her head. "Don't antagonize him, he won't be as nice tonight."

Xander smiled as he got up to get the ringing phone. "Hello?" He smiled, then put it back down. "We've just gotten the last payment of the patent you guys." He sat back down, bringing the phone with him. "No, that'll be fine." He looked around at the happy faces. "Better yet, cash the check for me, we're going on vacation next week." He shook his head. "I'm doing what I should be. I've applied for the spring semester." He rolled his eyes. "Was there one that said I had to?" He blew out his breath. "So, I'm in the clear?" He smiled, then hung up. "I've completed all the conditions of the will, I'm clear of them." He put down the phone. "And no arguing over the money, I want to dress you guys in mouse ears and those things are expensive." He smiled at Oz. "Happy?"

"Spring?"

"Yeah, I missed the deadline to get in for fall." He shrugged, taking another bite of the ham. "If I had put my stuff in when you guys did, I would be going uniform shopping with you, but I missed it by three days."

"Three days?" Willow said, "and they couldn't make an exception?" He shook his head. "That was very not nice of them." She crossed her arms, after getting her hand back from Oz. "Maybe we should talk to Headmistress Winters."

Oz shook his head. "She's pretty firm on the few rules they do have." He touched the side of her face. "We're okay though. We'll be doing stuff like we did when he was at Vo-Tech, right?" She and Xander both nodded. "Then it's copacetic. I'm just happy we're all going to be up there next semester."

"Much nicer than the college," Willow said.

"Yeah, let's just hope I don't have to fight in the halls up there too." She grabbed Oz's juice glass from beside his plate, finishing it quickly. "Come on, let's go hit the mall."

Oz took the glass back, setting it down softly. "What's up with you this morning? You only do that when you're feeling insecure or possessive."

"Don't know, just had the urge to do that." She shrugged. "Did you really mind?" He shook his head. "Then why get upset over it?"

"Because," Willow explained, "by your actions this morning, you're feeling really insecure right now and we're wondering why." She smiled, taking the soft hand in hers. "What's up, nymph?"

Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it before saying anything. "Nothing."

"Don't lie," Xander said. "Even I can tell there's something wrong." He took her other hand, working over the back like Oz did his. "Tell us?"

"It's nothing." She looked at Willow. "Okay, maybe I"m a little jealous or something," she said softly, looking down at the table. "I'm trying hard not to be, but I am."

Willow smiled. "That's normal. I've been getting tons of attention because of it and you've not been getting even cuddles." She nipped at the hand she felt. "Would you like Oz to stay here?" The older woman shook her head. "Would you like to spend some girl time with me?"

Buffy looked up, eyes getting bright and watery. "Yeah." She got up, walking around the table to lay her head in Willow's lap. "I'm sorry, I know it's not right."

Oz nodded Xander toward the bedroom, following him to give the girls some privacy. He closed the door behind them. "I didn't even realize."

Xander gave the older man a hug. "It's probably normal. Even I've been feeling a little jealous." He stepped back. "Don't know why but I have. I realize it's irrational though." He sat down in the chair, watching Oz sit on the bed. "It's not like I resent the time you've been spending with her, but the time we don't spend together."

Oz nodded. "Sounds fair." He looked at the clock. "Would you like to spend some guy time?"

"No, we spend plenty of that. It's the group time that I miss. The movies and the fun and the suppers." He shrugged, getting up to sit beside Oz on the bed. "It's not the us time, it's the all of us time."

"But our vacation should cure you of that." He pounced, pushing the younger man back down onto the mattress. "Tell me you don't miss this?"

"Oz, I've had the fuzzy version of this for the last two days." He smiled, reaching up to pet the spiked hair. "You were like a little lap dog last night."

Oz frowned slightly. "Was not." Xander nodded. "Nope, not me."

"Actually, you spent most of the last two nights laying on my lap or my chest. If you were a werecat, I woulda been purred to sleep both nights." He could still see the frown. "It's what you do to Willow too when you're tranqed and she's not bleeding."

Oz climbed off, sitting on the bed by himself. "I do that?" Xander nodded. "I thought I still was dangerous or something."

"Oh, never fear that. You are still very dangerous, just not to us unless you smell blood or see one of us undressing. Then you're either snarly or attacking." He shrugged. "Learned that lesson after the wedding. You were chasing me around the room while I dressed but the second either of the girls walked in you growled at them."

"I wonder if that's why you guys call me puppy?"

"Hey, I've never called you that." He frowned over. "At least not that I remember and if I did, I'm sorry."

"Not a big, you do it in your sleep. Willow does it more often. Actually I think you picked it up from her." He shuddered. "Maybe I can get you guys to call me something different. It sounds like I turn into a lap sausage." Xander gave him a confused look. "That's what my mother called those little dogs rich women have that exist only to sit in their laps and look cute."

"Ah, those. Well, you're definitely not one of those." He cleared his throat. "You're cute, but you wouldn't fit in our laps. I see you more as one of those hunting dogs that look like greyhounds."

Oz shook his head. "You're silly this morning." Xander got his fake-pretending-to-be-hurt look. "Oh, stop. I'm a werewolf, not a dog."

"I know that and so does everyone in the other room." He turned his head to listen. "Which sounds like more people." He stood up. "Ready to go face the peoples," he grinned, "puppy?" He ran for it, Oz chasing him around the room and out into the living room, then down the stairs.

Giles watched the antics of the two men, shaking his head. He would never understand those two.

' ' ' '

Xander closed the door after the trio, smiling until the door was firmly closed. He sat down on a futon in front of the tv, staring at the blank screen. He wasn't sure how he felt about them being split again this semester. He had tried to get with them this time, not wanting to be alone again. He got up, heading into the kitchen for a drink, then headed for the bathroom. Long soaks usually did him a lot of good while he thought. He ran his water, pouring in his oil, then sank down into the heat. He sighed as the water enveloped him, the oil sliding along his skin like many slick fingers. He relaxed into the fluid embrace, wanting more but not ready to give up all he had ever held as right. If nothing else, this last year had made him re-examine everything he thought he knew in life.

Buffy stuck her head in. "Are you sure?"

He picked up his washcloth, wringing it lightly before tossing it at her head. "Aren't you supposed to be far from here at a mystical place called the mall?" He settled back down into the water.

She tossed the wet cloth back. "Sorry, we just brought back some munchies so I wanted to make sure you didn't want to go with us." She ducked out, closing the door behind her.

Xander shook his head, getting relaxed again. Until he heard Oz yell, "No, we'll be fine. Have fun."

"No, you were going with them," he yelled back. Oz opened the door to give him a funny look. "What? You're supposed to be going with them, giving me some free time."

Oz walked in, closing the door behind himself. "I thought you missed our time." He walked over slowly, kneeling beside the tub. "I want to spend some 'us' time with you." He reached down, cupping some of the water to bring it up, letting it run down the younger man's chest. "Is that a problem? Do you want me to go with them?"

Xander shook his head, unable to speak. He watched the older man's eyes instead of his hand. He watched them soften, the worry leaving to be replaced with happiness.

"Then I want to spend some time with you." He scooped up some more of the water, watching it run down the hard chest. "We haven't gone to the gym recently."

"We'll go tomorrow if you want." He licked his lips. "Do you miss going?"

"Kinda. It's like we communicate silently when we're there." He let some more water roll down. "The communion is good."

"I've noticed. It's like a great drug." He closed his eyes, just feeling the water as it flowed down his body. "That feels nice."

"I know." He swirled his hand through the water. "You need to add more hot water." He watched the slender foot come up to turn on the tap, hitting the drain lever with his heel on the way back down. He watched the precision movements that stopped the outflow, adjusted the inflow temperature, then stopped it. "Very nice."

"Thank you." He kept his eyes closed, feeling the water currents from the older man's hand. "What are we doing?"

"Whatever you want." Oz watched some more of the water roll down the lightly furred chest. "What do you want?" The younger man shrugged. "Well, are we doing this all day or would you like to actually do something?" He let some more water go, shifting the stream so it ran over a sensitive nipple.

Xander groaned. "Okay."

Oz quirked up an eyebrow but did it again. He switched sides intentionally when he found out that it was well received, wanting both of the tender buds to be hard. He kept him guessing about which side he would hit, not wanting him to get complacent. He hit the younger man's belly button, watching the relaxed body arch. He gathered up a large handful, pouring it over the hardening flesh, earning him another moan. "May I?"

Xander bit his lip as he shook his head. "I'm not comfortable enough for that yet." Oz let some more water bomb down onto the sensitive cock, making the younger man's eyes slip open. "That's mean."

"You look like you're enjoying it."

Xander arched up as another cascade of hot water ran down over his body. "How did you know I'd like this?"

"Because you're a water baby. You *live* in here some nights." He stroked up a firm leg, watching the hairs be flattened again by the waves of water he was causing. "I'd only like to touch it. Nothing more complicated."

Xander closed his eyes, nodding. This was something he couldn't watch.

"Open your eyes for me," Oz said quietly. "There are things I still want to know." He waited until his request was followed. "Do your eyes change colors when you're aroused?" He stared into them as he took his first real feel of the firm flesh. He watched the dark eyes dilate, the pupils getting larger the longer he held his hand there. "Yeah, they do." He leaned over for a kiss.

Xander closed his eyes again as the older man's head came toward his. The kiss was long, slow, romantic. He could feel the hand on him moving to grip instead of lay on top of, the talented fingers proving they knew how to rub more than backs and strings. He backed off the willing mouth, panting hard. "I .. " The hand was removed. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"Hey, you're not disappointing me here." He brushed the wet hand through the soft hair. "I just got the greatest gift of the day. Of course, I'm more than wanting to repeat the action."

Xander almost bit a hole in his lip when the hand returned. "Oh, Oz, man." He closed his eyes again, letting his head fall backwards. "That feels so much better than my own."

Oz grinned as he stroked more of the firm flesh, leaning down for another taste of the soft mouth. "Let me?"

"Not yet," he panted when his mouth was free again. He opened his eyes. "I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

Oz slowed his hand down, letting it rest there. "If that's what you want." He didn't make another move, not wanting to move the younger man faster than he was ready for.

Xander decided this was nice the way it was, his member throbbing. He loved to be aroused like this. To him the orgasm was a let down, this was the real pleasure. "All right, I want something." He looked at the older man. "Keep me like this for a while? But no more than this between us."

Oz looked surprised but wanted to do as he was told. "You want to stay aroused for a while?" The younger man nodded. "That I can do." He removed his hand to take off his shirt. "Would you allow me to join you?"

"No, but I could come join you on the couch." He stood up, smiling down at the man facing him at almost the right height. "Beautiful," he said quietly. Oz looked up at him. "You sitting there like that, my being so close." He shivered. "Come on, I want to go read beside you on the couch." He stepped out, wiping down and wrapping the towel around himself. He held out a hand for the man watching him, pulling him to his feet when it was taken.

Oz got with the program quickly. The bed was too much for right now, but laying together on the couch was fine. And he'd get to touch the whole body hopefully. He stripped down to his boxers, making it a short show for the younger man. "Couch?" Xander nodded. "Clothes?"

"I'm in a towel and you'll be wearing whatever." He walked out, reaching back inside to grab his glass. He walked slowly toward the kitchen to get another drink, coming back to sit on a futon in front of the tv beside the older man. "TV?"

"I want to relax you." He lifted an arm and the younger man leaned against his chest. "Besides, it gives you something else to focus on when I'm not doing anything." He flicked the towel's closure, opening it but letting it lay there still. "Let me get this straight, okay? Just to make sure I have the point. You want me to touch you, but not to go too far at once?" The younger man nodded, looking up. "Just keep you aroused?" Xander nodded again. "Okay, just making sure." He looked around them. "Finish your soda then lay in my lap."

Xander looked hesitant but did as he was asked. He rested his head on the separation of the firm thighs, looking up as the first touch happened. He moaned, pushing up into the hand. "That's good."

"I'm glad." Oz went back to watching music videos, stroking slowly for a few minutes then leaving his hand there for a few more. They stayed like that for almost an hour, the younger man not able to watch the music because his attention was focused on his body. Oz looked down every few minutes, judging if he was doing it right. "Do you really like this, Xan?" The younger man nodded. "May I see it happening?" It took a full five minutes and some extra fine stroking to get him to agree. He flipped the top of the towel down, getting a good look at what he was doing. "So pretty," he sighed, taking a firmer grasp.

Xander moved his hips a little, arching up under the renewed stroking. He looked down, watching himself also, enjoying it immensely. "Oz?" The hand stopped so he looked up. "This is good, right? Normal?"

"Normal is whatever you are and feel," the older man said. He stroked once, really hard, making the younger man turn his head against the firm stomach to muffle the sound of his pleasure. "Not that I don't like that, but I'd like to hear it." He pushed the head back so he could watch it as he did it again, seeing the eyes dilate more, seeing the bright flush. "I was right, you're very nice like this."

"You're so good," Xander sighed. He almost shrieked as the hand continued its course, working him with a very firm grip. "Oh, Oz, I want to wait to do that." He panted, almost ready to cum. "Please?"

Oz lifted his hand off, licking it. "But I want to see you."

Xander got up, walking into the bathroom, pulling Oz with him. He put him in the corner beside the sink, letting him watch him as he finished himself off leaning over the toilet with a few strokes. Oz gasped as he watched it, his own orgasm set off by the sight. The younger man leaned on the organizer until he was steady again, tired and panting.

"May I?" Oz asked. He walked out of the corner, pulling the younger man into his arms. "Very nice, Xander," he whispered, stroking over the sweaty hair as he talked directly into an ear. "The only thing that would have made it better was if I had done that last part too."

"You're not disappointed?"

"Why? Because you weren't ready to be brought off by another man's hand? Never. When you're ready, I'll be there to do it." He pulled his head back some. "Can I ask for a favor?" Xander nodded. "May I taste?"

Xander looked frightened for a second, but looked down as he wiped a finger through what was left on him. He held the hand out, not ready yet to feed it to his love, but Oz took it, sliding the finger into his mouth to be sucked on. The sucking feeling was enough to bring him back to the edge of arousal, making his heart beat faster as he watched the finger rhythmically disappear into that mouth. "Enough," he panted. "I can't take much more." He stepped back, shaky still. "I need to clean up."

"So do I, but I would love to help." He stepped back a half-step. "It's not much different than what I was doing if I use a washcloth."

Xander sat down, no longer able to hold himself up. "Whatever," he said, too tired to argue. He had always liked a nice nap after coming his brains out.

Oz knelt before him, warm washcloth in hand. "Your decision, what do I use?" He licked what was left of the taste off his lips, seeing the interest even though there wasn't an answer. "Xander?"

"Whatever," he said tiredly, leaning back against the tub. He closed his eyes, waiting for the older man to decide. He wasn't really comfortable with either option but the second one had some intriguing possibilities. He felt the warmth encircle him but he was afraid to look. He figured out that it was the cloth and for some reason he felt a huge disappointment.

Oz pulled the younger man over for a kiss. "Would you wipe me clean?" He got a small smile. "I'd like it if you could touch me now." Xander opened his eyes, taking the cloth. He folded it to a clean side then looked in the deep eyes as he moved his hand closer. "Watch what you're doing," was the quiet request, so he looked down, seeing his hand on the quickly hardening flesh. "Oh, yeah."

Xander decided that it was clean enough so dropped the cloth, running a warm finger over the warmer flesh. Oz leaned in for a kiss, playing with his mouth suggestively as he was stroked for the first time. Soon he had it hard, almost dripping. "Now what?"

"Now, whatever," was the reply. Oz pulled Xander's head up, making him look him in the eye. "You're still making the decisions here." He took the younger man's hand, slowing it down. "I like it like that."

Xander dived in for a kiss as he did what the older man liked, making him howl in delight. "Oz," he whispered when his mouth was free. "Would you?"

"Anytime, you know that." He reached a hand down, stroking over the flesh the way he remembered it was liked most. "Like that?"

"Oh, yeah," he said, whispered, throwing his head back. He pulled a little harder, making Oz grunt in pleasure. "Tell me?"

"What? That I love you?" Oz nipped at the adam's apple. "I do, you know that." He started to pant as the hand got better and more confident. "Touch me," he whispered. "I need more."

Xander looked back down, letting his other hand fall down to stroke over the flesh sack under the hard cock, touching it softly. "Like that?"

Oz took the hand, moving the hand where he wanted it, letting it go back farther to play with his most sensitive parts. "There," he said.

Xander teased the tight hole, running his fingertip over it again and again. "Okay?"

"Very, but you're teasing." He leaned closer, taking their mouths hostage again. He got Xander so excited he slipped the finger in by accident, earning him a grunt and moan of approval, making him pull it back out quickly. "You didn't hurt me." He grinned. "That's part of what I wanted."

"But...." He slid the finger back in slowly, watching the pleasure flow across the expressive face. "You like that?"

"Didn't you like it when you were opened?" Xander shrugged. "Please tell me he did that."

Xander shook his head. "I did." He looked down, watching his hand and the wrist of the one he couldn't see.

Oz made him look up again. "Then he wasn't worthy of touching your body. Any real lover would do that for you." He slid a finger down the velvety sack, letting it go farther back. "Just tell me and I'll stop," he said. He teased along the tight opening, wondering if he could even get a finger in. "Relax for me." Xander took a deep breath, doing as he was told. His hands both stopped in concentration of this new thing. "No, keep doing it. I want us to do this together."

Xander tried to get back into the rhythm he'd been building but each time he did, Oz would slip the finger into him just a little, throwing him off. He pulled his hand away. "I can't do both."

"It just takes practice, which we have plenty of time for." He removed both hands. "Are you comfortable enough to go lay on the bed with me?" The younger man shook his head. "How about the couch? I want to do this for you, teach you." He stood up, holding out a hand. "Come on, let me." He pulled the younger man out to the living room, laying him down on one of the couches. He knelt between the spread feet. "How far can I go?" Xander shrugged. "Tell me if I go too far?" He nodded. "Okay, now relax for me. I'm going to play your body, teach it whole new scales of notes to reach for." He sat on his feet, stroking over the flesh.

"If you want to get more comfortable, I could stand resting on you lap," Xander whispered, just barely loud enough to be heard. Oz shifted, lifting up the unresisting hips to slide his thighs under them, letting his feet hang off to the side or get tucked into the cushion crevice. "Better?"

"Much better angle," Oz said, stroking over the hard cock. "May I taste?"

"I.. I don't know." He closed his eyes. "Do you want me to watch it? 'Cause I think that'd be too much."

Oz smiled, letting his free hand fall back to the small opening. "Maybe, but maybe not." He slid the finger in, slightly and slowly fucking the opening. Xander arched up under his touch, liking it a lot so he slid it in farther, searching for the little nub on the in-stroke. He found it on the third pass, hitting it lightly. Xander's arched hips came off the couch, silently begging for more while his mouth was taken control of with babbling. "I'd say you like that." He hit it again, bending down to lick over the crown. "How about this?"

Xander's eyes flew open, seeing what Oz was doing. "Oh, god," he sighed, coming hard.

Oz licked as much as he could up, catching it in mid air with his tongue. He pulled the finger out, rubbing it along the perineum to stimulate a full emptying. The younger man shook as he shot a few more times, then laid back down. "Very pretty," Oz said. "Very beautiful." Xander blushed. "You are." He took his clean finger, wiping off the stuff that had hit his chin so he could taste it. "Xander, that was great," he sighed, slipping the wet finger into his mouth, making the younger man groan. "I take it you liked that?"

Xander swallowed, his mouth full of spit. "Like isn't strong enough." He closed his eyes, too tired to contemplate returning the favor. "Can I use you as a pillow, Oz?"

"Sure." He extricated himself, leaning back to let the younger man lean on him. "Nap away."

Xander slid onto the hard body, smiling as he felt the hardness against his waist. "What can I do to relieve that?"

"Just lay there, babe, and look cute." He reached a hand down, bringing himself off quickly, shooting all over the younger man's body. "Wanted to do that for a while now." He closed his eyes, not even thinking about moving to cover them.

' ' ' '

Buffy walked into the apartment, closing the door softly after she saw the blonde hair poking over the back of the couch. She leaned across the back of the couch with a gasp, the sight laid out in front of her stealing her breath. A deep kiss pulled her back.

"Hi," Oz said. He looked down his body too. "He's so beautiful."

Buffy smiled. "You both are." She looked for a few minutes more. "I'm going to go hide. He'll be way embarrassed if he wakes right now." She walked around the couches, handing him the throw. "Will's with Marion." She wiggled her fingers, disappearing into the bedroom.

Xander looked up. "She's right, that was embarrassing." His breath was stolen by a deep, searching kiss. "Thank you."

"Are you okay with this?"

"Besides the Buffy finding me like this part, yeah." He grinned. "That was magical."

"No, that should be normal." He leaned close for another kiss. "Magical is something special that I'd love to show you." He took the kiss, relighting the fires of their arousal. Unfortunately the phone interrupted them. "Yeah," he growled, not at all happy with technology at the moment. "Hey, Willow. What's up?" He listened for a minute. "Sure, we'll be here if you want us." He hung up. "Buffy, your parents aren't leaving." She came out of the bedroom, frowning. "Giles seems to have come down with a raging case of Chicken Pox."

She shook her head, rolling her eye. "Figures. The first fun time mom gets in a while and it's stopped by a case of childhood disease." She walked back into the bedroom. "I'll hide in here if you guys want to be alone."

Oz looked down at Xander, who was smiling. "Not a big. We both need showers." He moved the throw aside, wiggling to get free of the younger man. "Xan, I'm all sticky and so are you." He looked down to see the throw clutched over his body so he leaned closer to a cute ear. "I'm not sure you should be embarrassed right now. She's seen your body and thought it was drool- worthy."

Xander looked up. "I know, but I'm not ready to give this up yet."

Buffy walked over, taking the throw from his fingers while she kissed Oz. "I'll give you a five second head start to make it to the bathroom before I look." She went back to her tasting of Oz's mouth. "Hmm, nice," she said.

Xander jumped up, walking quickly toward the bathroom. He closed the door behind himself, leaning against it. When he was sure he wasn't going to be followed he started the shower, getting in to clean himself up.

Oz smiled at his nymph. "I think you scared him." He pulled her head down, possessing the mouth she'd just offered. "What's up?"

She smiled, kneeling in front of him on the floor. "I want to learn how to do that." He grinned. "But I'm not sure how."

He stroked through her hair. "Just do what feels right." He pushed her head lightly, showing her where he wanted that talented mouth. To give her her due, she tried her best. When she'd nipped him for the third time, he pulled her head up, giving her a kiss. "You need to practice some more." She looked hurt. "You're having a major teeth problem and you just need to slow down so you can enjoy it too."

She licked over her lips. "I know, that's the first time I've tried." She looked up, big smile. "Not to bad considering?"

"Not too bad." He licked over her lips. "Now, you go lay down. I'm going to clean up." She leaned down, licking off the slight traces of semen she could see. "No, I meant in a shower." He shook his head, pulling her up for another kiss. "You're being the nympho again. Go take a nap or something." She walked into the bedroom, wiggling her hips on the way. "Ooooohhhh," he said, watching. When he was able to pull away his eyes from her rear, he walked into the bathroom himself, watching the body through the shower curtain. "You do such a nice show."

Xander coughed and pulled the curtain to see who it was. "Oh, that was you." He shut the curtain again. "Buffy attack you?"

"Tried to." He leaned against the sink. "Can I join you?" He heard the sputtering cough. "Or not."

"Not yet?" he said softly. He opened the shower curtain again, hiding most of his body behind it. "I'm not ready to do that yet. That's very... intimate, and I'm not ready for that." His eyes begged for understanding.

Oz walked over, taking the fragile man's head into his hands. "When you're ready, you'll tell me." He sat down on the toilet lid, waiting. "I can wait. You're the one that's sticky."

Xander grinned. "Yeah, kinda." He shut the curtain again, going back to his humming while he cleaned.

Oz sat there, watching the body, wondering if he'd done the right thing to push.

' ' ' '

Buffy waited for Oz to leave, going to pick up Willow for some alone time, before cornering Xander in the livingroom. "Hey," she said, sitting beside him on the couch.

He turned a page, not looking up. "Hey." She took the book from him, laying it aside. "Oh, come on, I was at a good part." He looked at her. "What's up?" He shifted to look at her, curling a leg up under him.

"I need to ask a major favor and I'm sure you won't let me, but I need to ask anyway." She drew in a deep breath, but let it out without saying anything.

He sighed, pulling her into a hug. "What do you need?"

"I need someone to practice on," she said quietly.

"You mean spar?"

"No, I need some other type of practice." She looked him in the eyes. "You remember what we talked about the last time we were alone and they were at Mom's?" Xander thought for a minute then nodded. "Well, that's what I need practice with."

Xander pulled back some. "You want to practice ... that on me?" She nodded. "Un-huh." He leaned back, thinking about it. "I'm not sure." He closed his eyes, thinking about what she really wanted. "Why me?"

"Because you're here and I think you'd understand." She looked down at the carpet. "I want to do better for him."

"I can understand that." He rubbed her tense shoulders. "I just need to think, okay?"

She turned to look at him. "It's not what you think. I know this isn't a one time thing, I mean I want you to be part of what we have too, but I don't want to change the relationship that we already have. There's nothing I need that bad to ruin our friendship." She laid a hand on his, entwining their fingers. "I just need someone that I can go to when I need to figure out how to do things."

"What about Willow?"

"She's great, she lets me practice all I want, but there are some things that I can't practice on her and that she can't explain how to do." She grinned. "She's a natural at doing...that but she can't tell me how."

He nodded. "Sounds reasonable." He looked down at their hands. "Let me tell you tomorrow?" She nodded, thrilled. "Thanks." He kissed her temple then picked up his book. "What did you need to learn?"

Buffy cleared her throat. "Honestly?" He looked up. "Besides what I've done with Oz, which has been mostly fingers and stuff, I've only done... that with one person."

"Angel." He put back down his book. "I woulda thought Oz would have already broken you in." He grinned. "But I know how frustrating that can be."

She smiled. "That's why I came to you." She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I've never done anything oral on my own, nothing near sex besides that one time with Angel. We do a lot of masturbation things but nothing else." She shivered, a faint blush coming up. "I'm not even really aggressive with Willow. They kinda lead me where they want me and I do a lot of watching." She smiled. "I like that, but sometimes I want a more active role."

Xander swallowed. "Really?" He could see, in his mind, what that must look like and his body started to react to it. "Okay, um, let me think." She got up, heading into the bedroom so he leaned against the back of the couch, thinking about what she had offered. Could he do that, let her use him for practice for Oz? Could he even touch her. His body reacted, sending an 'oh, hell, yeah' signal back up to his head. He shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to bring back up all the fantasies he'd had about her in high school, that wasn't right now. "Buffy," he called.

She came out, sitting next to him on the couch. "Yeah?"

"I want specifics. What do you need to practice?" He waited, watching her eyes. "'Cause I don't want to do this if it's a using thing."

She shook her head. "No, not like that. I'm hoping, same as the couple are, that you'll become part of us and that I'll be able to jump you more often, but this is different."

"More of a friends that are sleeping together thing?" She nodded. "Okay, but what did you want?"

"One or two nights. Anything I want to do." She moved a little closer. "I just need a willing participant." She smiled her best little sexy smile. "Please?"

"We'd need to be alone."

She shook her head. "We're getting separate rooms while we're on vacation," she reminded him. "I can sneak into yours."

He bit his lip. "I don't think that'd work. We're in a suite." He picked up a strand of her hair, rolling it between his fingers. "*If* I decide to do this, I pick the time." She nodded. "Okay, rules. We use condoms." She nodded. "I get to veto if I'm uncomfortable." She nodded. "You take suggestions." She nodded. "You listen to me."

She smiled. "Xan, you're saying the same things. We'll be careful, I'll listen, and we'll be okay." She patted the middle of his chest. "Just tell me what I need to do and give me some warning."

He smiled. "Well, there's always the sneaking out to get some time thing."

She shook her head. "He'll be looking for that and I want to surprise him with it. I actually tried the other day and was horrible." He gave her a confused look. "When you and he...." Xander nodded, letting her not say it. "Well, I tried to do... oral stuff on him and it didn't work too well."

Xander sucked in his breath but banished the happy image. "Okay. So, we have rules, we have boundaries. Now all we need is a time."

She smiled, snuggling against his chest. "Whenever. I'm always ready."

He shook his head. "So I've heard." He heard someone coming up the stairs so tapped her on the head. "Visitors." She pulled back, straightening out her clothes. "Who is it?" he called.

Willow walked through the door. "Just me. Oz is downstairs wiping down the van." She walked in, setting her bag on the backpack table. "We had a nice supper." She handed over the carry out they'd gotten the other pair. "Por vous." She walked into the bedroom, very happy and smiling.

Oz followed, big smile on his face as he walked in the door. "Nice night, you two?" He followed his mate into the bedroom, closing the door softly. Soon, they heard Willow giggling.

Xander looked at the bedroom door fondly. "Well, they had a nice time." He turned to look at his friend. "We should go do something to give them some time alone." Her eyes began to twinkle. "Not that. I'm not ready for that." He patted the side of her face. "Movie?"

"Is there a good one?"

"New shoot-em-up military one." He looked hopeful so she agreed, standing up, taking his hand. "Cool. Let me grab my wallet, you check the times." He searched for it, finding it in the fridge. "I find you in the strangest places," he told the innocent pieces of leather. He turned to look at Buffy, who was smiling. "What?"

"Nothing. I've been wondering who's been moving that thing." She held up the paper. "Half an hour."

"Okay, let's go." He pulled her out the door and down to his car.

' ' ' '

Oz opened the bedroom door as he heard the main one shut, but when he didn't see anyone he went back to the bed. "They're gone," he said, sliding back in beside his mate. He licked across her cheek. "What should we do with our time?"

Willow opened up her arms. "Talk?" He looked surprised but slid down into them. "Are you really upset?"

"About?" She looked at him. "Oh, that." He stopped, trying to put the words together the way he wanted them. "No, but I have a reason." He waited, wondering if she would be upset. She didn't appear to be so he went on. "I'm not ready for that responsibility yet. Not that I wouldn't want a baby someday, but not anytime soon." He snuggled down into her neck. "I love you, and want to have one with you someday, but not now." He looked up. "Upset?"

She shook her head. "No, not really. I was upset when it happened then it was kinda a relief. I'm not ready to be a mom, so it wasn't a let down." She hugged him tightly. "Now when we want to have one and it happens, then I'll be upset and you'll have to cuddle me for months to make me feel better."

Oz kissed the flesh he was resting against. "Anytime, you know that." He looked up. "What else?"

She smiled. "Where are you in the attempt to get him to join us." He licked his lips. "You didn't."

He shook his head. "That's between him and I. When he's ready to come to all of us, I'm sure he'll tell you."

"He'd better." She pouted. "That's mean, keeping me in the dark." She nipped at his ear. "After Buffy told me how tasty you two looked together too."

Oz shook his head. "She wasn't there, she walked in while we were sleeping." He grinned suddenly, bending to kiss her, take her mind off of it. "What else should we do?"

"We need to buy condoms," Willow said, breathlessly. "We ran out just before I started." He nodded. "Maybe you should take me to where the nymph works."

He shook his head. "Wouldn't your mother love that." He got pinched. "Sorry, but you didn't hear what she said to me at the wedding. She jumped all over me for us." He shuddered. "She was mean and said things. Giles had to save me by pulling me away for pictures." He kissed the end of her nose. "Are you happy that we're leaving this weekend for a week?" She nodded. "Me too. Xander made the arrangements and everything."

"A suite," she said.

"A suite? He booked us into a suite?" He shook his head. "I guess that'll be okay. I was hoping for a double room like we had on our road trip." He nipped at her neck. "Now, what can I do to tempt you to not bring the computer?"

"Need to check my email," she reasoned. "Besides, do you really think we'll be allowed to have a normal vacation?" He looked upset. "Do you think that vampires and demons don't go to Disney?"

He shrugged. "Not a clue but I don't want to work over the vacation." He licked down her throat. "I don't want any of us to work over break." Willow relaxed under him, sighing at the pleasurable feelings he was causing. "I'll take that as a yes."

"I'll pack it for email only," she said. She rolled them over, pinning Oz under her. "Do you think he'd like to sleep next to us during the vacation?"

Oz rolled his eyes. "Mention him one more time tonight and I'm going to go find them." She pinched his side. "What? I'm trying to seduce you and you're thinking about him. I think you want him more than I do."

She smiled. "Me?" She gave him her patented innocent look. "Nope, just as much." She leaned down, showing that she had been taking lessons from the master of the kiss, making her mate's head spin. "But I don't know why you're trying to seduce me since I'm still bleeding."

"Damn," Oz said quietly, "forgot about that." He rolled them onto their sides. "That's all right, I can wait to jump your beautiful body." He nipped her collarbone. "Remind you who's you are." He nipped lower, moving the top of her bra aside to reach the soft flesh. "Make sure your body remembers me." Willow wiggled under him. "Or is that something it still knows?"

"Oh, it never forgot," she whispered. "But if you'd like, you could remind it some more."

Oz rolled on top of her, taking her at her word.

' ' ' '

Buffy walked off the little plane, shielding her eyes from the heavy sunlight. She'd forgotten how bright LA could be in the summer. She casually slipped on her sunglasses, walking down to stand beside her friends as they waited on their bags. She grabbed hers and Willow's, carrying them toward the car.

Buffy's father hugged her. "How are you?" He took the bags, setting them into the back. "I hope you planned on at least having lunch with me while you're here."

Oz got into the back, followed by Willow, then Xander, leaving Buffy to sit up front next to her dad. "I think we planned that for sometime in the middle of the week," the older man said. "We were going to go do some of the cutting edge stuff and thought she'd enjoy coming to see you more."

Willow smiled. "There's a nice computer lecture that day so Oz and I had planned to go to that while Xander did the electronics stuff. Buffy didn't see anything she liked that day so she decided to visit. It's Wednesday I think." She snuggled into Oz's arms. "Did we forget anything at home?"

Xander shook his head. "You have your computer, I checked to make sure everything was off, followed by Oz, then we all checked our bags to make sure we had everything." He looked at Buffy. "Some of our bags had to be checked for contraband as well but we're all set."

She turned her head to smile at the three in the back. "It's not my fault that I wanted to bring some fun stuff with me." She turned back around, pointing at a turn off. "We used to live out that way."

Xander looked at the passing houses. "Nice neighborhoods."

"Very," her father said. "How are you guys getting around while you're here? I was surprised when Buffy said you were flying the short trip so you wouldn't have to worry about a car in a high-theft area."

"Most everything we need is at the resort. They have rides to the park and everything else including restaurants so we should be okay," Xander said. He looked at Oz. "If someone absolutely needs to get away then there are rental cars there."

Oz shook his head. "I'm not anticipating needing aloneness." He licked his mate's cheek, making her smile. "Maybe some couple's aloneness."

Buffy's father smiled. "Ah, young love." He turned off the highway, going down another. "Okay, about another twenty minutes. Do you guys have your reservation papers in case?"

Xander patted his pockets. "Yeah, we do." He grinned. "Confirmed three weeks ago." He tapped the back of Buffy's head. "We have a three room suite. Two doubles and a king." She nodded. "It's near the ground level too. Nice views, not too much noise because all the kids want to be able to see the park from their windows. We're facing away from the park so it should be pretty kid free."

Willow smiled. "I like that arrangement." She looked at Oz. "How about you?"

"Sounds good to me." He leaned around Willow. "Sounds like you did very well."

He nodded. "Yup." He patted down his pockets. "Buffy, did you pick up my wallet?" Willow took it out of her purse. "Thanks." Willow took it back. "What?"

"You lost it in the airport. I'll keep it for a while." She patted the small bag. "It's comfortable in here."

Xander shook his head. "Moms," he muttered. "Does that mean I have a spending limit too? Can I not buy you guys mouse ears?"

Buffy's father shook his head, glancing back in the mirror. "Do you know how much those things cost?"

"Twenty-seven dollars," Xander said. "I asked the woman who made our reservations." He leaned back, seeing all the Disney related stuff starting to show up. "Why don't they just make this a town called Disney?"

Oz looked at the entrance to the theme park's parking lots. "Don't know, would make sense." He pointed out their hotel. "There we are." The car pulled out that way, stopping in front of the hotel. "Thank you, Mr. Summers." He shook the man's hand, getting out to grab their things.

Buffy waited until everyone was out before leaning over to give him a hug. "You have the number here, right? And I'll call tonight to confirm a time and day for our lunch." She pulled back, getting out.

"All right, princess. I'll expect to hear from you tonight." He waited until everything was out before pulling away, leaving them there.

Xander tipped the bellboy, heading in to the front desk. "Hi, we have a suite reserved under Harris." He waited while she pulled it up, handing him over the papers to sign. "Thank you." She handed them their planned itinerary, something they had worked out when they'd made the reservations. "I see a change here." He pointed it out. "Was the electronics seminar canceled?" She punched it up, nodding. "Okay, and this is similar?" She handed him the brochures with a smile. "Okay, if I want something else, I'll call down in a while." He let Oz grab the key-cards, reading the suggested activity as they walked to the elevator.

Oz opened the door for them, waiting for Xander to tip the bellboy, actually waiting for him to quit reading and notice the bellboy was there. When it looked like he wasn't about to quit, he grabbed Willow's purse, taking Xander's wallet and paying the tip from it. "Thank you," he said as he shut the door. "So, what is it?" He looked at the colorful brochure. "A swimming thing?"

"Not quite. It's adapting current technologies into water rides and things. Supposed to be pretty cool." He put it down. "Did someone tip him?"

"Using your money," Willow said. She looked around the small living area, looking at the doors. "Okay, so we get the king and Buffy will sleep with us if she wants and you can decide one way or the other?" She looked at her oldest friend. "We know what we want but we're leaving it up to you." She followed Buffy around to look at the rooms, admiring the causal styling of the decor.

Oz looked at the younger man. "With us or not?"

"Depends on the bed. If it's too small, then we'd never all fit." He looked up as Willow poked her head out of room with a happy sound. "Looks like they've found it." The two men followed her in, finding a nice normal king sized bed with a Wizard Mickey design on the headboard. "Yup, we're in Disneyville." He shook his head, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I don't know if you three would fit."

Oz laid down patting the bed so the girls could join him. They laid side by side, looking up at the subtle murals above the bed. "Me either, but we'll try if you want to." He shook his head. "This must be the Fantasia suite."

Xander smiled. "Yup. I thought it'd be appropriate. It's all music, funny colors, many interpretations, and very individualized while being a composite work." He pinched Willow. "To quote a certain person's eighth grade paper for English."

"You wrote a paper on Fantasia?" Oz asked, turning his head to look at her. "I knew you were cool, but that just cements my love of you." He pulled her on top of his chest, sucking on her lips for her.

Xander walked out to go explore the rest of the suite, wanting to give them some privacy. He made it all the way to the common area before he was pounced and rolled on the floor. "Hi."

"Hi." Oz nipped his throat. "You weren't trying to sneak away, were you?" He rolled over, bringing the younger man with him. "'Cause that is not allowed."

Xander shook his head. "I wanted you two to have some aloneness." He smiled. "Besides, I wanted to explore the rest of the rooms then maybe call down for food."

Oz nodded. "Sounds like a plan but you coulda waited for us." He released his tight grasp, raising his arms up. "But if you really want to go, I'll let you." Xander laid his head down on the firm chest. "Didn't think so."

They cuddled until the girls came out, then got up to explore the rest of the rooms. Xander decided to sleep in the room tonight and if there wasn't enough room, he picked out his alternate. He looked in the group bathroom, smiling at the deluxe tub, sighing at the amenities provided that he didn't have at home, then went to the small eating area, noticing the microwave and the small fridge.

"Honor bar," he called out, picking up the price listing. "Complete with five dollar beers."

Oz shook his head. "I noticed a small supermarket a few miles back. If we're that desperate, I can go get us something." He opened the window that made up one wall, looking out at their view of the world class golf course. "Ah, the gentleman's game." He shook his head. "Nice walking spot at night."

Buffy shuddered. "I thought we agreed no working on vacation." She looked at her bag, seeing the outline of the stake that had shifted from it's bag. "I don't want to have to do the chosen duty routine here."

Xander patted her on the back as he passed. "Us either. Ignore the urge unless you see one eating." He picked up the room service menu. "About as expensive as the restaurants around here." He handed it over. "Want to eat here or go to the park?"

Willow picked up the itinerary. "It says here our park tickets are starting tomorrow. Let's go explore the resort tonight. They're supposed to have some killer clubs." She put the paper down, picking up the resort guide. "Oh, there's a jazz club and a disco." She smiled at Buffy. "And a teen's club."

"Nope, not us." She looked around. "I didn't bring any clubbing clothes." She looked out the window. "I think exploration would be a good thing and we could stop to get him a sandwich or something to tide his male stomach over." She poked Xander's stomach. "It looks like it could be fed again." He grabbed her, tickling her lightly. "Stop it," she giggled, squirming away. "Just you wait."

He shook his head. "Not even." He looked over Willow's shoulder at the guide. "There are a number of small shops and stuff to explore. Do we want to do the souvenirs today?"

Oz shook his head. "On one hand, yes to make sure we have the money for it. On the other, I'd rather wait to explore the shops in the park itself that way I can find the perfect thing for everyone." Both the women agreed with him. "What are we planned to do today?" He picked up the itinerary. "Hmm, arrival and settling in, dinner. Two hour lapse in before dinner starts being served." He checked his watch. "Hour lapse in before dinner starts being served." He looked at the resort map. "Anything interesting in there?"

Willow shook her head. "Sports stuff, shopping stuff, tourist stuff that we planned on doing Friday. Nothing major unless you want to go to the arcade or go eat now." She put it down. "I'm open to suggestions."

Buffy looked at Willow. "Is there a drug type store? I know I forgot some things." She licked her lips.

Willow blushed. "On the second floor among the other shops. I should go too." She patted Oz's arm. "Staying here or coming with us?" She grabbed her purse, looking down in it to make sure she had her wallet and not Xander's.

"Staying," Oz said, sitting down on a funky blue couch. He watched the girls go. "I think Buffy's upset that you took all the toys she had packed."

"Yeah, but those baggage guys tend to look through the bags. Or so Dateline said." He sat down opposite Oz, spreading out. "Ah, comfortable."

"Yeah, it is." He stared, wondering if he could get up to do something. "What should we do?"

"I don't know. Neck?" He grinned, closing his eyes. "At least that's what...." His words were cut off by another mouth covering his. "Nice," he said in between kisses.

Oz got him laying down, covering the younger man's body with his own. "Yeah, this is the friendliest place on earth." He leaned down, possessing the mouth again. "I just know the nymph's headed for the condom store."

"Well, she would be comfortable in there." He poked Oz's side. "What are we doing while we wait?"

"I know what I want to do," he said softly, bending his head back down to show the younger man what that was exactly. When he came back up for air again, he was grinning. "But if you had another idea, I'm all for it."

Xander shook his head. "Nope, not a one." He grabbed the older man's head, pulling it back down for another kiss.

' ' ' '

Buffy leaned back from her excellent meal, stuffed full. "Why can't I cook like that?" She patted her stomach, then burped. "'Scuse me."

"Not a big," Oz said. "If I'd eaten like that, I'd belch too." He wiped off his mouth. "Very nice choice, Willow." He leaned back, seeing a few women at another table looking at them. "Either someone has an admirer or we've got stalkers."

Buffy looked over her shoulder and groaned. "I went to school with them." She smiled and waved slightly, causing one of them to come over. "Hey," she said, not remembering her name.

"Buffy Summers?" the other girl, a dark haired young woman that was trying too hard to look trendy, screeched. She grabbed her former friend, hugging her tightly. "I can't believe you're back in LA."

Buffy smiled slightly. "Vacation before starting school again." She waved at her friends. "These are my roommates." The other woman nodded. "So, how is the old crew?"

The other woman pulled a chair over, sitting next to her. "Oh, most of us are still around. None of us are doing anything important." She looked warily at the people she was sitting near. "Is .. Do they know?" Buffy nodded. "That's cool. After you burned the gym that last time and left, the school wasn't the same. A bunch of football players on the varsity string died in a car crash, some of us disappeared to try modeling on the east coast. Most of us are just hanging out at home right now, looking at college and stuff." She smiled. "It was good to see you again. Maybe we could reminisce over lunch sometime while you're here?"

Buffy looked at Willow, who had the itinerary memorized. "We have a pretty full schedule, but she might be able to see you in the park some day." Willow smiled. "We're going to a bunch of the seminars and stuff."

The other woman nodded. "I can see that. Wherever you ended up must not be as exciting as LA is so you're packing in the sights and stuff." She patted Buffy on the arm. "Maybe I'll see you in the park some afternoon." She went back to her seat.

Buffy looked at her new friends. "Yeah, it's not exciting at all." She grinned. "Right guys?" They all nodded, rolling their eyes.

' ' ' '

Buffy looked up at the ride Xander had been giving puppy eyes. "I don't think I want to go on that one."

Willow put her arm around Oz's waist. "We wanted to go on some of the gentler rides today." She looked at her friend. "You could come along with us."

Xander shook his head. "Looks like we're splitting then. Meet you back here?"

"An hour," Oz said, looking at his watch, "over by the street signs." He pointed, at it to make sure the younger man noticed it. "Give us your wallet and stuff so it doesn't fall out." Xander grunted but handed over most of the contents of his pockets. Oz looked at the loose cash. "Don't tell me you lost your wallet."

"Nope, it's sitting in the resort's safe." He grinned, walking backwards with a wave. "An hour."

Oz watched the younger man go. "We're going to have to give in eventually."

"Water rides," Willow enunciated carefully. "Plenty of excitement, not a lot of danger." She looked at Buffy. "Coming on the kiss and cuddle rides with us or not?"

Buffy looked around. "Not. See ya." She headed off for a different ride.

Oz looked down. "We're going on the couple's rides?" She nodded. "Sounds good, lead on." They walked together, entwined as always, toward a slow water ride.

' ' ' '

Xander checked his watch, wondering where everyone else was. It was fifteen minutes after the agreed upon time and no one was back yet. He fingered his pass, looking at all the other rides, wondering if he should go look for them. Just as he was ready to leave, he saw a familiar blonde head coming toward him, happily bouncing along. "'Bout time," he told her, pulling her next to him so she wouldn't keep going.

She smiled. "Relax," she purred, "this is a vacation."

"But *I* was supposed to be here on time?" He threw up his hands, walking away.

"Xander," she called, trying to get to him before he could disappear into the crowd. "Wait!" He didn't turn as he blended in, becoming invisible in the crowd. Someone grabbed her, making her spin, already in a defensive stance.

Oz pulled her to a bench where Willow was sitting. "He late?" He made her sit down.

"I know he's gotten mentally lost in the fun," Willow mused.

"No, he's pissed." Buffy looked up at the older man. "He felt he had to be on time and we weren't."

"So he's going off to sulk," Willow finished. She looked down at her bag. "I have all the keys and his money so he's going toward a ride probably."

"Or pavilion," Oz said, looking at the park's map. He handed it to Willow. "You know him best, where's he headed?"

She looked it over, then smiled. "His happy place. Foods of the World exhibit." She got up, leading them to where she knew he would be.

Xander jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned, frowning at whoever it was. "Get unlost?" he asked Oz.

The older man wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him toward the table the girls had picked out. "We're sorry. We're the ones that got lost in the fun."

"Okay," he said as he was sat down.

Willow took his hand. "Don't be mad, we didn't mean to make you worry." He nodded, less upset now. She laid the map out. "Since we're here, we could eat then go do something together."

Oz looked at the various food booths. "Where?"

"I want Greek," Buffy said.

"Mexican," Oz pointed.

"Oh, I want to try European. Scandinavian maybe." Willow handed over Xander's stuff that she had been arranging while they waited for Oz to find him.

"I've been sampling but I liked the Oriental stuff." He looked around. "Why don't we go in pairs to keep the table." He got up, Oz following him

"Wait up," Oz said, stopping him. "Walk slower, you looked like you were trying to escape." They walked slowly, each picking up some things from a few booths. By the time they got back, Buffy looked ready to bolt. They watched the girls go. "Are you still pissed?"

Xander chewed slowly then swallowed before answering. "I wasn't pissed, I was feeling pissed on." He took another bite. "You guys were so definite about when I should be back but then forgot."

"You felt like the little kid we forgot?"

"No, I've been that kid. I felt important enough for you to not need to forget about me." He drank some of his soda.

Oz touched his hand briefly. "We didn't forget. We were having a very fluid sense of time and we forgot about the flow." He picked up his wrapped whatever-it-was to take a bite.

Xander frowned. "I'm not the needy kid in the group," he reminded the older man. "I don't need a leash."

"I know," Willow said, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "I didn't mean to mom you." She sat back down, smiling hopefully at him. "Are we okay now?"

"As long as it doesn't happen again," Xander said. He grinned slightly. "Where are we headed after lunch?"

"Something sedate," Buffy said, sitting down. "I can't handle too much right after I eat." She took a bite of her chicken dish, then looked at everyone else's stuff. "It'd be okay to eat here at supper."

Oz looked around. "Yeah, it would be and it's my turn to pick. If we're still in the park, we'll eat here." Everyone else nodded. "I found a great musical thing I wanted to see," he said, returning to the former topic.

Buffy smiled. "I found a few great rides where I was too."

Willow frowned. "We're breaking up again?" Everyone shrugged. "I found some great computer-type places, like the future house."

Xander shrugged. "I'm guessing that I'll be over at those water rides." He felt disappointed that they weren't dong the togetherness thing, but he didn't let it show. He didn't want to ruin their vacation. He caught Oz staring at him. "What?"

The older man shook his head. "Nothing, just wondering what you were thinking." Xander shrugged. "Was that a 'doesn't matter' or a 'not having any'?"

Xander smiled. "Both." He finished his soda, wiping off his mouth, then piled his trash up. "Why?"

Oz looked around. "Want to go hit the music with me?" Xander shook his head. "No?" He was surprised. He thought the younger man would want to be around at least one of them.

"Nope. I already went by one and there was a huge line." He started to people watch.

"Hmmmm, there was when we walked by too." He tapped a rhythm on the table as he looked at the map. "Maybe after supper. Want me to come with you?" Xander shrugged. Indifferent? He had been prepared for a yes or no, but not that.

"Don't know." He looked down at the map, circling an area with a finger. "I want to run around that section." Oz looked down at the map. "Not too many rides, but a few of the water ones." He looked up at the older man. "You're more than welcome to come with me if you want, but I won't force you." He leaned back, smiling at the security guard that passed them.

Willow looked down at the map, pointing out where she wanted to go. "I can walk that way with you. The stuff I want to see is past that." She smiled at Buffy. "Where are you headed?"

"Um," she leaned over, looking at it. "I don't know, can't find it. It's part of the continents of the world thingy." She took one last bite of her meal, tossing her napkin on top of it. "I'm full, let's head out." She grabbed her purse, handing Willow hers, then they all left together. Buffy pointed in the direction she wanted to head. "I'm going off that way."

Willow looked down at the map. "Oh, the countries of the world. I want to go." She looked at Oz's watch. "Supper here, five?"

Xander looked at his own. "Fine by me."

"We'll remember this time, I promise," Buffy said, kissing him on the cheek. "And if we run into each other, then we'll hang." She turned to memorize the entrance they were standing next to. "Here, right? Just in case I get lost?"

Xander smiled. "You too, huh?" He shook his head. "Got lost both trips here as a kid." He looked around. "It's changed so much since I was here then."

"Yeah, everything's shorter," Buffy said, pulling Willow after her. "Five," she promised.

Xander checked his pockets, making sure he had all his stuff. "Willow, what do you have of mine?" The younger woman walked back, giving him his ride pass. "Thank you."

She smiled, patting the side of his face. "You dropped it during lunch." She hurried after Buffy, jogging to catch up.

Oz watched their rears go before turning to look at his companion. "So, water stuff?" He pointed in the right direction. "I won't let you get lost," he whispered as he brushed past, very closely at that.

Xander grinned, walking beside him. "I know. You have this great sense of direction so we'll make it back to supper. Of course, you find the greatest stuff while lost."

Oz snorted. "Ensuring that you never find it again." He pulled the younger man out of the crowd, into an alley between buildings where no one could see them. "I'm sorry. I meant to get back early but we forgot." He kissed him lightly, just barely brushing their lips.

Xander pulled back, looking around nervously. "We shouldn't, not here."

"This is one of the most gay-friendly places outside of San Francisco." He pulled him closer. "I won't do it again if you don't want me to."

Xander brushed some of the lengthening hair off the older man's brow. "I'm not that comfortable yet." He stepped back some. "Come on, fun is calling us."

Oz nodded. "Okay." He walked beside the younger man, keeping himself from doing anything that would embarrass him, like winding an arm around his waist, hugging him. Pinning him against a building and making him cum until he screamed. He glanced at Xander and decided he wanted to capture the look of delight on Xander's face, wanted to be able to look at it when he was lonely and know that part of it was him. "Hey, want to get pictures done?"

"Silly ones?" He looked around. "Where do you see those?"

"At the last intersection, off to the side." He turned around, pulling Xander with him. "It's one of those booth things." He stopped outside of it, looking at the options for the pictures. "Which one?"

Xander looked at them, then at Oz. "I don't know, which one do you like?" He knew, deep down, that the older man still wondered if he'd really come to them eventually so if he wanted a picture, he could have one. "How about the colorful one?" He pointed it out.

Oz looked at it, then nodded. "Looks good."

"And more importantly, so will we." He chose the option then hurried into the booth. He slid the money in, waiting for it to process. "What should we do? Silly or not?"

Oz heard the camera getting ready to take one. "Look at me," he said softly. He gave him the look he'd wanted to give this morning, letting all he felt show through.

Xander smiled at the open emotions there, letting his own show for a short while. "You're special," he whispered, leaning closer after the picture had been taken. The next picture was of them kissing, but hey, no one but them would see it.

Oz pulled back for the last one. "I..." He shook his head.

Xander moved closer, settling him in front. "Is this what you wanted?" He shifted so he was sitting in back of the older man, head on his shoulder. The last picture snapped. They cuddled, waiting for the film to drop. Oz picked it up, showing him them. "I like that last one," Xander said softy, stroking over the older man's image in it. "I think we should frame it."

Oz shook his head. "Silly, I knew it." He leaned his head back. "You sure?" He held it out so Xander could take it if he wanted to. "If you want, I'll tear them up so no one can see."

Xander wiggled out from behind him. "I wouldn't have let you talk me into this if I hadn't wanted them seen by the girls." He held out a hand. "They're yours, Oz." He pulled the older man up, kissing him lightly. "Let's go play now."

Oz took one of the offered envelopes, sliding the precious reminders down into it. "Sure, let's go have happies." He led the younger man out, heading to the water stuff he wanted to do.

' ' ' '

Xander brushed back his wet hair, smiling at the older man. "Tell me that wasn't fun, Oz." He wrapped an arm around the thin waist. "You need to eat more."

Oz shook his head. "Mother me when we get home. We're here to have fun right now." He led the way to another ride, setting the younger man in front of him in line. "You look good in the wet look." He brushed some of the soaking hair around. "We should have brought towels."

"Or at least a bag," Xander said. "Oh," he pouted, counting the line in front of them. "We're going to be separated."

"Nope." He nodded at the person behind them to cut. "Not us." He shifted the pictures around some. "Not us."

Xander looked back at him with a smile. "We're going to have to do something about this." He winked. "School's starting soon and we'll be separated most of the day."

"Yeah," he said sadly, "we will. I forgot about that." He moved a little closer without being obvious. "What will I do all day without you?"

Xander looked at the ride. "Give me the next pick of ride, I want to talk about this." He looked back at his friend. "It's all right, I'm upset too that I was that stupid."

Oz pinched the younger man's rear. "Don't say that. You are not stupid. You just missed a deadline."

"By three days."

"Yeah, by three days." He helped him into his seat, looking at the nice family that got in with them. "Next ride?"

"Ferris wheel." He pointed at the large wheel that was visible over the trees. "We'll be alone to talk about this semester." He took the older man's hand. "You do know that this is an adventure ride, right?"

"Getting wet again?"

"Nope, just blown about." Xander held on as they moved down the track. "Sit on the pictures so they don't blow away," he suggested.

Oz slid them a little farther under his dry leg, clutching the grab bar with one hand and the younger man's hand with the other. "Oh, yeah," he screamed as they dropped.

As promised, they walked over to the large Ferris wheel, getting a private car. Xander turned to the older man as they were lifted upwards so other people could board too. "Hey, are you all right with this?" Oz nodded. "It's not going to be much different than spring, only I won't be going to school. I'll still be home when you get there, everything will be normal." He moved a little closer, looking concerned. "You all right? You look a little green."

"Yeah, this is just a little high." He took the younger man's hand. "Xan, I love you, you know that, like I love the girls. I just don't want us to be pulled apart because we never see each other."

Xander grinned. "Nah, not going to happen. You're going to come home to a nice supper and we'll have all night and most weekends to be us." He rubbed over the back of the hand, shifting a little closer. "We are a little high, huh."

Oz lifted an arm, letting the younger man slide closer. "Yeah." He stilled as a head was laid on his shoulder. "This is the most romantic ride besides those water rides through dark tunnels that Willow wanted to go on earlier. Long and slow." He shifted, bringing the head closer. "Comfortable?"

"Yeah, looking at the view."

Oz looked out. "Very nice."

Xander grinned. "I used to have a ferris wheel fantasy back in high school about Buffy." He pulled back, blushing slightly. "Can I change that now? Put you in it?"

Oz felt choked up. "Yeah," he croaked. "I'd like to be part of your fantasies." He kissed the younger man softly. "Xander," he said softly, checking to make sure it was all right.

Xander looked at the opaque top and around to make sure no one could see. "Just stop when we get close to the operator." He closed his eyes, waiting on it.

Oz waited until they were back up in the air before leaning closer. They were swung about, held up in the air for a few minutes, so he made it a long, slow, deeply passionate kiss to show the younger man how he felt.

Xander pulled back, licking his lips to get the feeling back in them. "Did we break it with the heat of us?" he asked, looking down. He started to wobble so Oz pulled his head back around. "Thanks. It's pretty but I felt like I was going to fall."

Oz nodded. "I could see that." He looked around before giving him a shorter kiss. "How are we?"

"I'm fine," he said, woozy from lack of air. "How are the pictures?"

Oz checked them, seeing no water on the envelope. "They're fine." He retook the younger man's hand. "I like this."

"Very romantic." He smiled as they were stopped, Oz automatically dropping his hand. "We need to do another thing like this." They walked down the ramp, looking around at all the various rides. "Do you see one?"

Oz looked at the ride he wanted, then down at himself. "Not while I'm wet. I see something for tomorrow though." He pointed it out. "That would be a good one."

Xander looked at the people flying around the ride. "Yeah, it would, just not wet," he agreed. "What time is it?"

Oz picked up Xander's wrist, looking at the watch. "Um, we have almost an hour before we need to get back to the pavilion." He looked around. "Maybe we should start walking back."

Xander nodded. "Slowly. I want to stroll."

Oz grinned, happy that he had decided to act like a tourist. "Very good." He waved in the direction they needed. "After you, Xan."

Xander frowned, then pulled him up beside him by the edge of his pocket. "No, together."

They started back toward their meeting place slowly, side by side, not as obviously a couple as he and Willow, but obvious to any that watched them. They strolled back, silently comfortable with each other. They looked at the rides they wanted to go on together, using the same communication that they used at the gym, knowing what the other was thinking.

Xander stopped to look in a store, smiling at the man's reflection behind him. He walked in, coming back out with a small bag. "For you." He handed it over, bouncing slightly as it was opened.

Oz took out the small box, opening it slowly. "You remembered!" he said, sounding happy. He put the small necklace around his neck, smelling the little ball on the end. "Not my fragrance, but I can change it at home."

Xander grinned. "It was the only one they had. I was thinking that you could put catnip in there." He started to walk away slowly, but a strong grip on his arm stopped him. "What?" he asked, worried that he'd gone too far.

Oz shook his head, mostly at the fear coming through. "I love it. I'll find some catnip tonight. But you're going to have to help her deal with it."

"But... I thought that was yours and hers special thing. I bought it so you could play with her tonight."

Oz shook his head, looking around for a private place to hold this conversation. He ended up pulling the younger man into another alley between buildings. "It's all of ours now." He took one of the cold hands in his. "We need to get you warm."

Xander smiled slightly. "I'm fine but that's yours and Willow's play thing; if I decide to do this we'll get another."

Oz shook his head, stepping closer. "I want all of us to share this." He stroked over the ball. "You're always buying me catnip. You know what it does to me," he reasoned. "You're trying to push me and the girls closer together?" he guessed.

Xander shook his head. "You never put the timing down with their appearance. Every time you guys would argue, another ball would show up. I thought of it as my own intervention." He raised a hand, wanting to touch the side of the older man's face, but let it drop before it made contact. "Everything cool now?"

Oz brought the hand he held up, rubbing it against his stubble. "Only if we are." He stepped just a little closer, invading the younger man's personal space. "But I still get to reward you for all the good you've done." The younger man started to glance around nervously. "Nope, I don't care," he whispered, claiming the lips in a soft kiss. When he pulled back, he noticed the light blush. "I never realized how shy you were," he said quietly, looking around. "You're wound way tight," he whispered. "I should fix that."

"Not here," Xander said quickly, stepping back, running into the side of the building. "Maybe later."

Oz nodded. "Okay, later. I'll come talk to you while you bathe."

"I do that to give you guys some privacy."

Oz stepped a little closer. "Honesty is good, especially with yourself. You're escaping so you don't have to listen or watch." Xander swallowed. "Or know." He ran a finger down the end of the younger man's nose. "Xan, tonight we're spending some time talking, okay?" He nodded so they left, going off to find the girls and food.

' ' ' '

Buffy looked on in alarm as Xander started to sniffle. "Oh, no, you're not getting sick," she vowed. She jumped up, running over to one of the Oriental food booths, coming back with a cup of tea. "Here, Giles swears by it." She handed it over as she sat down.

Willow watched him drink it, grimacing in sympathy for him. "We'll stop to pick up some stuff on the way back to the room." She looked at Oz. "How about you?"

"Fine," Oz said, watching the guard walk over to them. "Yes, sir?"

"Just wondering if you were loitering." Xander sneezed again, covering his mouth a napkin so it wouldn't hit the guard. "Never mind. Just hurry up so others can have the table please." He walked quickly away, probably hoping he hadn't caught the bug with the brief exposure.

Oz looked at his watch. "I say we head back now."

"No," Xander said. "There's still the parade and the night stuff. We agreed to do that tonight." He wiped off his nose. "I'll go back to the room." He patted everyone's hand. "I promise to grab some medicine on the way." He stood up, walking out, then came back for a room key, taking it with a kiss to the side of Willow's head. "Night."

Oz looked at his fiancee and his lover. "This doesn't feel right," he said quietly. He watched Buffy pile up their trash. "One of us should go."

Willow looked around. "I wanted to watch the parade tonight," she said. "Buffy or you could go though."

Buffy shook her head. "I'm heading back that way, but I need to detour to pick up some stuff." She shrugged. "It's gonna be almost a half hour before I get back."

Oz nodded. "I'm guessing I'm nominated then." He started to push back, but the girls stopped him. "What?"

"He'll be fine for half an hour or so," Buffy said. "I'll head back that way to check on him. He's a big guy now, he's able to take medicine without our standing over him like a mom."

"Which he hates," Willow pointed out. She turned to look at Buffy. "Are you sure? You wanted to see the parade tonight as much as I did."

"Will, honey, it's the same every day. I can see it tomorrow night." She patted the redhead's hand then stood up, gathering what stuff she'd been carrying around. "I'll see you back there." She walked away, not real happy in her decision to be helpful.

Willow watched her go, still unhappy. "We should call to check up...."

Oz put a hand over her mouth. "She'll make sure he takes something good. We can trust her that much." He stood up, taking their trash. "We'll hurry home after the parade."

"It's not for another hour," she pointed out. "We could go make sure he's settled in." She turned to look in the direction of the hotel. "We should."

Oz took her hand. "He's a big boy now, mom, Buff was right about that." He tossed their waste then led her out of the pavilion. "Come on, I wanted to show you what we did today."

' ' ' '

Buffy made her planned detour but saw something she wanted in a window, stopping to look at it. She walked in, getting it after much examination, then walked back out, forgetting her goal in her happiness of finding the perfect thing for her parents, both the newer and the older models.

' ' ' '

Willow walked into the suite, looking around. The lights were off, she couldn't hear anyone. She flipped on the main bedroom's light, looking but not seeing anyone on the bed. She walked through the other rooms, flipping on lights but not finding the other members of their party. She did the bathroom last, wondering if Xander had come in and fallen asleep again, but he wasn't there either. "Oz!" she called, bringing him running. "They're not here." She turned to look at him. "Can you find them?"

He looked around then made his own careful circuit of the rooms. He found the younger man in one of the closets, curled up in a ball on the floor. "Xan," he called softly, not wanting to wake him fast. "Xan, come on, wake up." He shook the unresponsive man, not liking the heat that came up to meet his hand. "Will, come help me get him to bed." She rushed in and they lifted him into his bed. He tucked him in, gauging his fever with the back of a hand. "Has he had chicken pox?"

Willow closed her eyes and thought. "Not a clue," she said finally. "There were plenty of times he was sick, but I can't remember him having those. Of course, every time he was really sick he hid in the closet so I'm guessing it's serious." She sat down beside the younger man's head. "Lift it up for me, I need to check behind his ears." She waited while Oz lifted. "Yup, see these?" She pointed out the dots. "We should see if the resort has a doctor on call."

Oz grabbed the phone. "Front desk?" he asked when someone answered. "Yeah, we have a sick person up here. We think he has chicken pox. Do you have a doctor here?" He hung up with a grunt. "She'll be right up and the clerk said that was really normal, to not worry. They have almost a hundred cases a year." He sat down on the other side of the younger man. "Xan, you have awkward timing."

Buffy breezed on. "Oh, shit. I'm sorry, I forgot." She walked over to the bed. "How is he?"

Willow stared at her, hardly realizing how upset she was. "How could you forget?" She started to get up but Xander groaned, rolling his head into her lap. "Ssshhh, Xan," she whispered, stroking through his sweaty hair. "It's chicken pox, Giles must've given them to you." She concentrated on soothing him back to sleep.

Oz walked over, pulling Buffy out of the room. "She's pissed," he said as he closed the door. "How did you get distracted?"

She walked over to her bags, pulling out the things she had found. "I found the stuff I wanted for the others at home so I stopped to get them." She looked upset. "I didn't mean to forget him like that."

He pulled her into his arms. "It wasn't intentional, we all know that. Give her a chance to get over it." He patted her back, letting her go. "But I'd go put that stuff up before it gets broken." She walked into their bedroom while he answered the door. "Doctor?" he asked the young- looking woman standing there.

"Yup. How old is this child?"

"Nineteen," Oz said. "Not twenty for another month. One of our roommate's new stepfather just came down with them too." He showed her to the room where Xander was laying down. "Doctor," he told them, seeing a pair of eyes laying open. "Xan? How are you?"

"Crappy," he whispered. "Can I have a drink?"

Willow pulled Oz out so the doctor could look at the younger man. "It's behind his left ear."

The Doctor waited until she and her patient were alone, watching as he sneezed again. "Water rides?" she asked him. She pulled out her stuff, setting it on the bed beside him. "Happens to the best of us. Wind chills and all that." She checked his pulse, listened to his heart and lung sounds, then looked at the suspicious spots. "Not good, the red haired one was right. It's chicken pox."

"Thought I had those."

"Well, apparently not." She handed him a bottle of calamine lotion. "Use this, kills the itching. Remember to put it back on after you bathe, which you'll be doing a lot of. Lot's of fluids, Tylenol for the fever. Have them change the sheets daily and make sure you get them to do the laundry. Wear comfortable non-binding stuff, sleep lots. Any questions?"

"I was supposed to be doing fun things," he said quietly. "I should go home so I don't ruin their vacation." He covered his head with the pillow. "How long?"

"Before you can travel?" She looked at the spots. "Until they've dried up completely, maybe a week and a half, probably closer to two." She shrugged. "No shot for this one, sorry." She put her stuff up. "I don't see too many non-injury cases your age. It's nice to see something different." She patted his head as she walked out, running into the group of worried people. "You're staying with him?" Everyone nodded so she closed the door. "Watch his fever. A hundred and three or better I want him in the emergency room. Lots of fluids and I do mean force them if he doesn't want to drink. Lots of baths, no cold water. I gave him some calamine lotion which will take some of the itch away. Unfortunately it'll just have to run its course." She looked at the two women. "Whatever you're arguing about, stop it now. He's wanting to go home so your vacations aren't ruined." Willow hissed, upset look scrunching up her face. "Exactly. How long are you staying?"

"A week," Oz said, but she started to shake her head. "Two?" he guessed.

"Hopefully. He won't be able to fly with a fever anyway and he's contagious if any of the pus gets on you." She shrugged. "I'll come check on him every day while you're gone." She picked back up her bag. "Tylenol, fluids, pampering. Not much else I can tell you. Oh, except the laundry, do it often." She walked out, writing something on her pad as she went.

Oz looked at Willow. "Did you bring any Tylenol?" She shook her head so he walked to the pile of money on the table. "Here, go get him some. I'll go get some juice and stuff later." He handed it over. "I'm sure he won't mind." He waited until the younger woman was out of the hearing. "Now then, I agree with her. You screwed up. I'm not willing to argue about it or offer recriminations. Not even to side with her. I'd apologize to both of them." He handed her the glass of cold water.

She nodded, walking into the younger man's bedroom. "Hey, Xan?" He grunted, removing the pillow for a moment. "Here, water." She helped him sit up, watching as he carefully drank the whole glass. "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. I stopped to pick up something for mom and Giles then I forgot." She kissed the top of his head. "I've had it before so I'll be okay." She laid his head against her chest. "Sleep for a few minutes. Willow'll be back soon with some Tylenol and we'll be fine." He grunted again, snuggling down against her fleshiness.

Oz stood in the doorway, Willow in front of him. "You want to watch him for a while?" He watched his fiancee walk over, kissing the older woman in apology. "I'm calling your house to torment the old guy." He shook his head. "This isn't a good thing."

"We'll see if we can't stay for another week," Willow said. "It's in that off season month and I have some extra money saved and so does he." She watched him take two little capsules. "Sleep Xan, we'll be nearby on the phone."

"Money in safe. More than enough for another week," he said quietly. "Juice?"

"Of course. Oz'll run out to the grocery store soon." She patted his hair. "Can I steal Buffy for a few minutes? I'm sure she'd like to talk to her mom."

"I can pick up this one," the blonde said, "I'll take first watch." She went back to her soothing motions through his hair.

Oz walked in with the handset. "Cordless," he said as he sat on the bed. "Want to talk too, Xan?" he asked as he dialed. "Hey, Joyce. Put the grumpy one on." He waited, shaking his head. "Giles? I think Xander wants to ask you something." He handed the phone over.

"I want to kill you for this," he said quietly. "I didn't need them too." He let the phone drop from his fingers as he coughed a little.

Buffy picked it up. "In case you didn't get that, you gave him your prob." She grinned. "Yes, that one. I don't want to hear about any others you might have." She shook her head, handing it to Willow. "He wants you to make some ungodly tea for him."

Xander groaned, hiding his face in her chest. "No, please," he said weakly. "Not tea."

Willow smiled. "Giles, I don't think he likes that idea."

' ' ' '

Xander groaned as he sank down into his bed for the first time in three weeks. "I'm sorry guys. I didn't mean to ruin your vacation." He gave them puppy eyes. "Break, just tell me where and I'll send you." He rolled over to avoid the thrown pillow. "Hey!"

"We're not discussing this again," Willow called over her shoulder as she walked out of the bedroom. "If we're going someplace during break, so are you." She closed the door behind her, sinking down onto the nearest piece of soft furniture. "He's adamant now," she told the other two inhabitants of the couches.

Oz shook his head. "I'll get through to him after his nap." He looked out the window. "Well, it was nice for the most part. We did get to do some of the fun stuff."

"I got to visit with my dad," Buffy said. She looked at the couple. "I can go nap too if you guys want some aloneness." She started to get up but Willow pulled her back down. "Or not."

Oz tossed a pillow at her. "Not." He went back to his watching the world go by. "We've got to start classes in three days," he said softly.

"I know," the young women said together. He gave them both a funny look. "What?" Willow said. "Great minds think alike." She put her arm around Buffy's shoulder's. "Don't we?"

The blonde woman nodded, laying her head on the offered shoulder. "I think we need a vacation now," she whispered. "I just don't want him to know."

Oz nodded. "Of course not. We'll take some weekends this time. Do fun things."

Xander wandered out, laying down on the unoccupied couch. "Lake?" he asked as he closed his eyes. "And I heard so don't even bother."

Willow picked up a pillow, bopping him with it hard. "Give it up. We know you feel bad but it's not like you could have helped getting them. We understand that. We still had some fun while we were there." She played with the pendant he'd gifted her with on their last day. "It's not like we didn't get a few days together of fun." She cuddled her lover to her, smiling at the slight snore. "And we all caught up on our sleep."

Oz nodded. "Very true. I didn't realize I was that tired." He yawned again. "Why does sleeping so much leave you tired?" He shook his head, looking at the tired man looking up at them. "We're fine. You didn't ruin it." He tapped the side of the younger man's head. "Xan, we know you don't have something against our having vacations, really. It's okay."

"No t'snot," he slurred, mostly asleep again. "Sorry," he whispered, his last coherent waking thought for a while.

Oz tossed one of the throws over him then looked at the two women, tossing the other over their slumbering bodies too. He got up slowly, not wanting to wake them, so he could go look in the fridge. He might as well start supper.

' ' ' '

Xander waited outside of the school's front door, tapping the steering wheel idly to the music playing softly from the radio. He smiled as his roommates walked out, coming over to his car one at a time. "We have too much alone time?" he asked them after they had congregated in the backseat. He pulled out of the parking lot slowly, heading back down the hill.

"Yeah," the three said together, giggling when they realized it.

Oz reached across the back of the seat to play with some of the now long hair of the younger man. "You need a trim."

"Tonight. We're heading to the mall." He smiled at the frowning people. "Bag's in the trunk." He pulled off into a deserted turn around not far from the place where Buffy worked. "Go ahead and change now. I'm buying supper and everything." He leaned back, closing his eyes after he saw Willow get out to get the bag. He listened to the assorted giggles, happy that they were happy now. He waited until he'd been kissed on the cheek by Willow, he'd guess, before opening up his eyes. "Gee," he said, looking over them, "I guess we're switching clothes now?" He restarted the car, pulling back out onto the highway. "Mall, food, then fun stuff."

It was almost midnight before they walked back into the apartment, smiling and laughing with each other, the strain of the summer eased now. Xander sat down, watching the trio play.

Willow untangled herself from her mate and her lover, coming over to stand in front of him. "You're not playing?" she asked, pouting. He poked her on the stomach gently. "I'm not the Pillsbury Doughboy," she said, leaning down to kiss the tip of his nose. "Come play," she whispered.

"I can watch," he said, turning her back around. He pushed her gently toward where she belonged, watching her walk, kinda-almost, back over to the other two. He leaned back in his chair, watching as Oz pulled her down, tickling her until she quietly screeched. Buffy pulled them all into the bedroom, smiling as she closed the door behind them, so he went into the kitchen to set out stuff for tomorrow's breakfast.

He reflected on his new role this semester. He fixed the meals, making sure they got off with a good breakfast and came home to a nice supper. He made sure they had lunch stuff. He felt positively housewifely at the moment. He shook his head, making out his grocery list for his shopping. Until someone grabbed him by the waist, kicking the fridge shut before carrying him into the bedroom too. Oz turned him as he let him down, sniffing at the strong neck. "You rang?"

"Yeah, you were hiding again," the older man said softly. "Come cuddle."

"We're pissed," Buffy said, the amount of alcohol she'd consumed showing in her loudness. "I'll pout."

Willow leaned down, closing her mouth for her. "Ssshhhh," she said when she came back up for air. "Quiet time." She laid her head on the heaving breasts, tracing idle patterns across the smooth flesh of the older woman's stomach. "She's right, come cuddle." She looked up as her finger drew, licking her lips lightly.

Oz walked him over to the bed, making him lie down beside him, next to the pile of young women. "I agree," he said quietly. He pulled off his shirt and jeans before snuggling into the hard body. "I'll miss our time at the gym."

"Weekends are still free," Xander said, making the most of his current situation by getting comfortable. "I feel like the ham in a sandwich."

"Peanut butter and jelly," Buffy whispered as she fell asleep. "Sweet and nutritious." She smacked her lips, sucking on the back of Willow's neck. "Nighty-night."

"Night," everyone else said together, breaking out in smiles.

Willow disengaged herself from the lump known as Buffy, rolling over to pin Xander under her. "Hi," she said breathlessly.

"Hi," Xander said softly. "Let me get to the outside of the bed so you can attack him." He started to move, but the slightly drunk young woman didn't want to move now. He tried to shift her off him, but he knew as he began that she didn't want to budge so it was hopeless. "Let me change into my pajama's," he said softly, wiggling off the bottom of the bed. "I'll be right back." He grabbed his stuff, heading into the bathroom, locking the door softly behind him so they wouldn't know.

He leaned against the portal, eyes closed, wondering what was going on now. When he didn't hear anyone moving in there, he dropped his jeans, pulling off his shirt. He had time to take a shower now.

' ' ' '

Oz snuck up on the door, waiting for water to start running to check the knob. He frowned, bending down to take care of the nuisance. He hadn't really been drinking tonight, maybe two beers, so was aware of what he was doing. He popped the door open while the younger man was in the shower, sneaking inside and closing the door behind him. He and Willow, the great instrumentator of their attack plan, had agreed to try to push him a little more tonight. Now was just a great opening. He took off his clothes silently, sneaking up on the shower where he could see the younger man washing his hair. He slipping inside, holding the curtain to make sure it didn't betray him.

The first thing the younger man knew, he was surrounded by strong arms, a hard body resting behind his. "Hey," he said warily. "Shouldn't we not be doing this?"

"No, I want this very much." He slid his hands up to the frothy hair, running his hands through it. "Let me?" He wiggled just a little, brushing up against the firm behind he was standing against. When no protest came he worked the lather in, playing with the bubbles really. Xander moaned under his fingers, bending backwards some to give him a better grasp on his head. "I take it this is okay now?" He pulled on a lock before turning the younger man carefully, putting his head under the warm spray. "Keep your eyes closed, Xan," Oz said softly as he rinsed the soap out, making sure he got it all out by giving an impromptu scalp massage. "Think I got it all." He turned the younger man around, grabbing the soap and back brush. He soaped down the firm back, making slow circles to create all the shiny little bubbles.

"Oz," Xander said, stepping away some.

"Hey, you destroyed it. Now I'll have to start again." He pulled him closer. "Now, stand still."

"No."

"Just a shower, nothing more." He looked up, slight grin coming out. "Are you afraid of soap?"

"No, but I can do this myself and you should be out jumping Willow and Buffy."

"Ah, but therein lies the fatal flaw in your plan. I *want* to be in here with you." He laid a bubble on the younger man's nose. "Same thing as a backrub only water added."

Xander looked down, trying hard not to react to the brush moving over his back. "If you have to," he said softly.

Oz pulled his head up. "Look at me. I want to watch your eyes while I do this." He brushed over the firm shoulders, down the long back. "See, not so evil."

"No, not bad at all." He laid his head on the older man's shoulder. "Very nice."

Oz could have celebrated his triumph but he knew how hard it was for the younger man to admit to even liking this. "Tell me if you want it to stop," he whispered, moving the brush down to the firm buttocks. He heard a soft sigh, so stopped to do that again, brushing over the top of the very tight separation. "Relax," he reminded him.

"Oz," Xander stepped back. "You've been drinking."

"Two beers." He shook his head. "Not enough to cloud my judgement. I even managed to pick the lock."

Xander smiled. "I was wondering how you got in here." He stepped a little farther away. "Am I supposed to reciprocate?"

"Only if you want to." He held out his arms. "If you want, I'll stand here like this."

"Now who's silly."

"You, you're still resisting my charms."

"Trying to," Xander corrected. "But I know that one of us might regret it in the morning."

"Only if you really want to." He brushed over a strong shoulder, down one of the arms he wanted back around him. "We need to hurry this up, there's only so much hot water."

Xander stepped closer, just a little. "Why now?" He moved just a little closer. "Or are we playing again?"

"Never play with you." He took the younger man back into his arms. "If you want, I'll quit and you can finish soaping yourself. If not, I'd love to do it for you and if you really feel like it you can do me." The younger man groaned. "Xan?"

"Did you hear what you just said?" Oz reviewed his words, saying them silently again then nodded. "That's the biggest come on line I've ever heard," he whispered. He brought the hand holding the brush around to his back. "I believe you were doing something?"

Oz's smile was the happiest he'd seen. "Yeah, I was." He went back to caressing the firm skin with the brush, holding Xander while he liked it.

When they were done, Xander not being able to do more than his chest, Oz dried them both off. He lifted up the boxers the younger man had brought in to sleep in. "Adventurous?"

"Laundry." He tweaked the end of the older man's nose. "I'm sorry."

"For not being able to do that?" He nodded. "You're just not ready for that yet. Pretty soon you won't hesitate to touch more than my arms and chest." Xander touched the top of his head. "Okay, or my head." He held the boxers out. "Want me to help you dress?"

Xander shivered. "I..maybe." He watched as Oz kneeled before him, holding the small piece of cotton open. He stepped into them, bracing himself on the older man's head.

Oz ran his hands all the way up the younger man's legs, leaving little trails of feeling behind. He snapped the elastic once, then stood. "All done." He opened the bathroom door. "You're sleeping on my side tonight." He looked out at the bed. "Or maybe not." He frowned at the two women laying nose to belly button across the width of the bed taking up a good three quarters of it. "We might not have enough room."

Xander pulled him toward the living room. "Sheet's are on the left couch." He moved the end table, pulling out the window bench that joined the beds into a larger one. "Help me?"

Oz stopped watching the nearly naked rear bend over and carry stuff. "Sure." He tossed the pillows onto the futons in front of the tv, pulling out a bed. His rear bumped Xander's. "Sorry."

"Hey, I thought that was what you wanted." He stepped out of the way, letting the older man pull the beds together. "Is it my turn to crawl around to get the sheets?" Oz nodded, stepping back to watch as he crawled on his hands and knees across the bed. "Oz?" Xander said, turning his head. "Want to grab that corner?"

Oz did as he was asked, pulling the sheet over the corner. "Okay." He waited for the severely sober young man to lay down, piling the throw pillows up for them. "Ready?"

"Yeah, mostly." He held up an arm, inviting him. "Grab the top sheet and blankets for me."

Oz did as he was told, covering them both gently. "I'll keep you warm."

"You can only surround so much of me," Xander said quietly. There was silence for a few minutes. "Oz? I liked earlier."

"I hoped so." He snuggled down, settling his body against and on top of the other man's body. "I'd like to do that more often."

"Maybe."

"I can live with that."

"Night, Oz."

"Night, Xan, sleep safe." He closed his eyes.

Xander laid awake, wondering what had possessed him earlier. Why had he let the shower happen? He wanted it then, oh god had he wanted it then, but now he knew it was wrong. Why had he let it escalate to this? Why couldn't he stand firm and stick to what he knew was right?

"You're way too tense to be a good pillow so it must have bothered you." Oz raised his head. "Regrets?"

"Yeah," Xander said, pausing to collect his thoughts. "I didn't want to go that far."

"Not yet or not at all?" The younger man shrugged. "Xander, you're screwing yourself up here. You've said you wanted it. You've said that you wanted us." He nodded. "So, what's wrong?"

"It's wrong." He got up, going into the bathroom. He came out, redressed. "I'm going to go... get something." He grabbed his wallet and keys, walking out of the apartment.

Oz looked up at the framed picture that Xander had mounted so he could look at it while he thought. "You're his grandma, why couldn't you be here to help him now?" He sat up, looking out the window, watching Xander lean against his car for a minute before getting in and pulling away. "Right now he could use you. We could all use the help."

' ' ' '

Xander looked at the beer display in the convenience store, wondering if he could get away with it.

A cop tapped him on the shoulder. "I don't think you're old enough for that."

"Yeah, but right now, it looks like a good alternative." He grabbed a coke, walking over to the candy isle.

"Want to talk?"

Xander looked at the older man, seeing his uniform and the slightly familiar face that was a little blurry in the too bright lights. "No, it's a personal problem."

"I've had a few of those."

Xander stepped closer, trusting the older man for some reason. "My roommates want me to join in their happy coupleness and I know it's wrong." He stepped away again. "Have one of those?"

"Yeah, I do." He pulled out his wallet, showing off the pictures. "I have just one of those. I tried my damndest to fight but all I got was sick and almost alone. Fortunately they didn't give up on me."

Xander blinked but he was alone now. "Whoa," he said, looking around. He looked down at the bottle and candy bar he was holding. "I never thought things like this happened." He checked out, going back to his car. He sat there, thinking about what had just happened. He'd seen a guy that wasn't there and he'd been given advice. Warm and caring advice. "Why me?" He started the car, pulling back out onto the almost deserted street.

It wasn't too long before he found himself back in front of the apartment building, listening to the quiet music while he looked up at his unlit windows. He couldn't go up, couldn't face what he'd done. Nothing that happened had been out of the ordinary, just another offer, but he'd wanted it so much. Everything that had happened so far he'd wanted, and if he was honest, he wanted all of it. He closed his eyes, thinking about what he'd seen and heard earlier. Who was that cop? Who had he been and why had he shown him that picture? He hadn't seen it all that clearly, but maybe that was the idea of whoever had sent him.

"Why me?" he asked the streetlight he was sitting in front of.

He never saw the car that hit his, never even felt it.

' ' ' '

Oz paced around the waiting room. "Why does this happen to us?"

Buffy stopped him, looking up from her seat. "He's fine."

"He's not fine," Willow said. "He has another of those head injuries that they don't know the cause of." She looked up at the doctor coming toward them. "Right?"

She nodded, sitting back down. "Yes, unfortunately he does. And again we don't know the cause of him being under like that again. Exactly the same as last time. No swelling, no injury or trauma to the area. And another thing." She opened his file. "This is getting strange. You know that dark spot? It's fading."

Buffy look surprised. "Really?" She looked at Oz. "Might be a good thing."

He sat down between the women, taking each of their hands. "What happens this time?"

"Same old, same old." She stood back up. "He'll be on the same floor, about three doors down from the last time. He'll be moved as soon as we can find an orderly so why don't you go wait up there?" She walked out, stopping at the desk to have a word with the nurse there.

Oz looked at the girls. "I asked his Grandmother's picture to intervene," he said quietly.

"Well, if it was her she apparently needed to talk to him for a while." She looked up as her mother came rushing in, helping Marion who was holding her stomach. "Yup, it's going to be one of those weeks," she muttered, going over to them. "Labor?"

Joyce spun around, looking at her other daughter. "Buffy?" She looked toward the waiting room. "What happened? This time," she amended.

"Xan got hit while he was thinking in his car. He's going upstairs in a few." She grabbed Marion when she started to double over again. "I'm guessing it's time?" Her mother nodded, helping her to sit. "So, want me to come up with you?"

Giles laid a hand on the senior slayer's shoulder. "No, we've got it. How is he?"

"Another head injury with no reason." She shrugged. "Something similar to last time." She watched the younger girl be rolled away. "Sure you don't want us?" He shook his head. "Okay, we'll be up on the same floor about three doors down." She walked back to the waiting room. "We're about to get a new member of the gang."

Willow smiled. "Good news at least." She took Oz's hand, then her lover's. "We're all fine."

Oz nodded. "Yeah, he'll be fine." He took a deep breath. "I'm sure of it." He looked at the gurney being wheeled past them. "He's talking to her." He got up, following their friend up.

Willow looked at Buffy. "Do you feel left out of this loop?" The blonde nodded. "Me too." They held hands, walking behind their lover.

' ' ' '

Oz walked back into the apartment, stopping at the framed picture of Xander's grandmother and her family. "You had to pull him away from us? We know we love him, why can't he see that?" He touched the wood frame gently, walking into the bedroom to change and shower.

The picture glowed softly for a second then stopped.

' ' ' '

Xander looked around his hospital room, wondering what he'd done to get here this time. He didn't remember getting hurt, didn't actually feel any pain so he must be all right. He tried to move but couldn't. He looked down to make sure but he wasn't strapped down so he tried again. This time he made it all the way up but promptly fell backwards. "Yeah, this is fun." He elbowed the call button, wanting an answer.

"You're awake," the male nurse said with a smile. "I'm sure your friends will be happy. They're at school right now by the way." He checked the IV line, adjusting it some. "How are you feeling?"

"Not tired, not sore. What happened this time?"

"You were sitting in your car for some reason and you were hit from behind." He brushed some of the hair off the younger man's forehead. "About three days ago."

Xander nodded. "Okay, so I'm well rested." He looked at the nurse, unsure why he wasn't real clear anymore. "Why are you fuzzy?"

"Because." He stroked over the tense forehead. "Relax. You're safe here." He smiled, walking out. "Be back in a bit, have to go get you a visitor."

Xander did as he was told, relaxing back into the mostly comfortable hospital bed. He closed his eyes, blinking them repeatedly to clear them. For some reason he really wanted to see who the nurse was. He looked over as the nurse, still fuzzy, and an older woman walked in. "Grandma?" he asked, amazed. "Damn, I'm dead."

She sat on the side of his bed. "No, just taking a break from reality." She smiled, an almost exact copy of his own. "You're here because we need to talk, young man." She nodded and a picture appeared on his bedside table. "I believe you know them."

He looked at it, seeing it as the one that sat above his drafting table. "Yeah, I do," he said sadly. "But I can't." He looked up at her. "I couldn't go through what you did."

"But you can." She took his hand. "I knew the risks when it was done, it was my decision to be happy and myself instead of who everyone thought I was. Even my own mother disowned me." He nodded. "I know you're having the same problem but you need to pay attention to what's best for you, not what happened to us. We were happy through all the tragedy, every moment was lived fully because we knew it was going to be so short." She leaned down, kissing his cheek. "You need to go back to them."

"I can't."

"You can stay for a while and think but you can't stay long. They need you more." She stood up. "Read the book, dear, you'll figure it out." She fuzzed out as did the nurse and the room.

Xander opened his eyes, looking around the hospital room he was in, slightly different than the one he'd been in. He looked around then down at the weight across the end of his bed. "Willow," he called softly.

She opened her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. "You're awake?" she asked, quiet. He nodded. "Good." She crawled up the bed, laying on his chest. "You're not leaving the house again." She enfolded him in her arms, being careful not to pull the IV line out. "Nope, not going anywhere." She fell back to sleep, comforted now.

Xander relaxed, hearing his Grandmother in his head still. He could read her book when he got home. He closed his eyes, gentled back into sleep by her weight and warmth.

' ' ' '

Xander sat down on the bed, running his fingers over the cover of his Grandmother's book. He flipped it open, starting to read, bypassing the spells she had written out to read her personal thoughts.

//Young man, I know you're reading this so I'll get to the point of our last visit.//

Xander looked around the room before talking to himself. "I knew you were powerful but to know that too?"

//You *must* do what is best for you. All the problems you've had since moving on have been because you're fighting Fate. The harder and longer you fight the worse it will get. Let her guide you and all will be love.//

The next part was a spell so he skipped it, trying to find a continuation but the rest was her normal thoughts on her loves. He finished before supper, putting it back where he'd found it so Willow wouldn't know he'd had it. He laid back on the bed, thinking. All the fighting, the pain, the misery they'd been through as a group had been because he was fighting what he wanted? "Yeah, that's my life for ya." He heard a key in the lock. "I'm in here," he called.

Buffy walked in, taking off her jacket. "Napping?"

"No, thinking." He looked at her. "Can... Never mind. Is your family home tonight?"

"Yup. Giles is catching up on Watcher stuff." She sat down on the other edge of the bed. "Why?"

"I want to go talk to him." He grabbed the book, stepping into his shoes. He tossed her a few bills out of his wallet. "Order supper, I'll be home later." He walked out, walking the few blocks to the Summers/Giles house. "Hey," he said, walking in the back door. "Giles in?"

"In the library with the baby," Joyce said. She looked at him. "Heavy thoughts again?"

"Maybe, but I need an experienced opinion." She wiped her hands off, sitting at the table and patting a seat for him. He set down the book. "My Grandma came to me while I was under this time. She said I was fighting it too hard and that's why everything bad has happened." She nodded. "But if that's true, then all the bad stuff is my fault and I'm still not closer to not fighting it." He took a deep breath to go on but her hand on his arm stopped him.

"What do *you* want? Do you want to be part of what they have?" Xander nodded, laying his head on the book. "Then why not?"

"I'm scared," he said quietly, muffled by the thick leather and paper. "What if what happened to her happens to us? What if they decide they don't want *me* in a few months? What...?" He was stopped by a hand over his mouth.

"What if's lead to regrets," she said. "What would happen if they're hurt and you don't take advantage of it? What if one of them is in the accident next time and you have to sit beside them for a few weeks?"

Xander shuddered. "But what if that happens because I'm there?"

"Same thing, but it's not your fault. You have to act to make yourself happiest and damn the rest of the world's opinion. Nobody else should matter." She got up, taking the baby from her husband's hands. "Here, let me."

Giles sat down. "She's right. Our opinion and the opinion of some stuffy imbeciles shouldn't matter. Only you can decide what you want in life and love." He patted the younger man's arm. "Are you staying for supper?" He looked up as the door opened again. "Or not. Oz." He left them alone, closing the door to give them some privacy.

Oz touched the book. "What was it?"

"It said that the cause of all the problem's we've had was my fighting." He looked at the older man. "If that's true then I'm responsible for tons of stuff."

Oz shook his head. "No, your stubborn streak and that spell was responsible for it." He took the younger man's hand. "It's always been your decision. We want you with us, and apparently she did too, but we won't force you."

"Can... I'm worried," he said finally. "I'm worried that this isn't real and that you won't want me after a few months and ...." He was stopped when his mouth was taken possession of. "Oz," backing away some. "This is stuff that I have to address."

"No, we have to." He stood up. "Come on, we're going home to talk." He grabbed the book, wrapping his other hand around the younger man's waist. "Buffy ordered real food tonight," he said as they walked out.

Joyce and Giles leaned in. "Oh, good," he said, kissing his wife. "They've figured it out."

"Was that in there?" He nodded. "So then she knew?"

"Apparently that's what she wished for him, to feel love, happiness, and to be needed." He looked down at his son. "We should bless you the same way but we'll be better parents than his were." He kissed his wife. "For both of them."

' ' ' '

Xander was pushed into the apartment, Oz walking behind him. "Hey," he said quietly.

Willow looked up. "Get it figured out?" He bounced his head around a yes, but no movement. "Okay, ready to talk?"

He sat down at his seat. "She said it was my fault all this bad stuff happened because I was fighting it so hard." He looked at his oldest friend, wondering when she would get it.

"Wasn't you. They tested my blood to see and it was the Pill." She took a bite. "See, not your fault." She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Are you done fighting it now?"

He nodded. "While I was under she told me to forget what she had done to her. That I had to live for my own happiness."

"Wise woman," Buffy said. She handed him the basket of rolls. "Have one, they've got this cinnamon taste thing going." He took it from her. "I'm not willing to let you fight this any more." She looked at Willow. "We've both agreed."

Oz looked at his women. "Have I mentioned that I love you guys when you're forceful?" He sat down, stealing a piece of food off their plates. "Thanks." Willow handed him over the container, smiling at him. "I agree with them though. We're considering this topic closed, we're just moving you closer to us." He looked up as he was dishing stuff out. "You're staying. We won't want you to go away ever."

Willow frowned. "Unless you keep trying to fight then we'll punish you by making you sleep by yourself for a few days." She looked at her lovers. "All that's left to discuss is the when part." She took another bite. "I know you still need to be worked slowly toward this, so we will."

Oz tapped the side of her face. "I will."

"We will," Buffy said. "He's scared to be with us too, not wanting to mess it up." She looked at him. "Aren't you." He nodded, not able to speak. "Good."

"I feel like the bad one here," Xander said quietly.

"You're not," Oz said. "We're just going dominant right now. Until you're ready to admit that you're ready for this." He took a bite. "You still have a choice here though."

"Not really," Xander said, sitting back. "I want it, but..."

"You're scared," the others finished for him.

"Yeah, I am."

"Let me deal with this," Willow said, getting up. She pulled him into the bedroom. "Sit." She waited for him to then walked between his legs, taking his mouth as her own property. She smiled as she came up. "Does that feel like I don't want you?" He shook his head. "Didn't it feel good?" He nodded. "Do you really think we'd throw you away like that?" He nodded. "I thought you knew me." She sat down on his lap, making him scoot back some so she wouldn't fall. "I haven't given up on you yet, have I?" He shook his head. "I haven't tossed you away when you screwed up. No matter how much you aggravated me, I kept you as mine." She ran a finger along his bottom lip. "This is no different than me not tossing Oz out when we fight is it?" He opened his mouth but she plugged it with hers. "Let me finish. We're not letting you go. You could continue to fight us for eternity and we'd just reincarnate with you to start again in the next life. Nothing you could do would make us toss you away unless you hurt us on purpose."

"I don't want to," he said. "I don't want any of you hurt." He held her against his chest. "I don't want to see any of you hurt."

Oz sat down beside them, opposite Willow. "You once said you knew it wasn't love because you weren't willing to fight for them. What about us?"

Xander smiled sadly. "I'd kill for you guys, all of you. If someone said you had to go, I'd hurt them to protect you." He buried his face in Willow's hair. "That's scary."

"No," Oz said, "that's love." He pulled the younger man's face around. "The way you take care of us, make sure we have everything we could ever need, that's love too. You've always loved us, even when you were mad or hurt. Remember when the girl almost got you falsely arrested for doing her? You were hurting, in such pain that it was physical, but you made sure I was all set for my finals that day. Even made me breakfast and laid out my clothes. That's love."

Xander smiled softly. "I know." He leaned over, kissing Oz slowly. "I knew it then but I didn't want to admit it."

"You still don't," Buffy said. "When I came to you, I knew that you were reacting. Same as I knew when you fought Angelus for me." She sat behind him, putting her head on his shoulder. "You've always done that, jump in to save me. You've been fighting for me for years now."

He nodded. "Yeah, but I..." He was stopped. "Guys," he said when he could breathe again. "I'm sorry. I've been horrible."

"No, you've been scared," Willow said. She snuggled closer. "We're okay with that concept, it's something we can cure." She looked at her fiancee. "We should give him those now."

Oz got off the bed, going to his side of the closet. He pulled out a small bag, handing it over. "We found these while you were sick. Independently actually." He sat back down, watching as the younger man pulled them out.

Xander looked at the t-shirts, smiling at each one as he read it's message of togetherness. "I love 'em." He set them aside. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you."

"You're self esteem needs work, my love," Willow said. She took another kiss. "But we're not letting you get away with not eating either." She stood up. "Come on, we're pampering you now." She led him back to the table by the captured hand, sitting him in his seat on Oz's lap. She picked up the first bite, bringing it up to his mouth. "Eat for me, Xan, make me happy."

He took the bite, Oz rubbing his back. He chewed slowly. "You don't have to." His complaint was stopped by another bite of food.

"We find taking care of you very sexy," Buffy said, handing him a bite of roll. She slid it into his mouth, dragging her finger along his lip. "See?"

He nodded, taking the next bite. "What about you guys? You need to eat too." He ate the next bite.

"We did," Oz said, "earlier." He looked up at Buffy. "May I please have some of that too?" He took the small piece of roll, sucking on her fingers as they withdrew.

Xander watched, shivering. "That's so hot," he whispered, then covered his mouth.

Willow smiled. "See, that's what we want to hear." She fed him another bite. "You can do this yourself as long as you promise to take it into the bathroom while you go soak." She handed him a tray Buffy had been putting together. "We know you want to go soak and think."

He took it, getting up and heading for his thinking spot. He nibbled as he drew his water, adding the good feeling and smelling oil. He ate heartily once he got in, relaxed now. He wiggled his shoulders, not feeling the pressure that had been there for so long it had become normal. "So this is what relaxed feels like," he said between bites.

Oz stuck his head in. "Say something?"

"I just realized I'm relaxed now." The older man nodded, starting to leave him alone. "I wouldn't mind some company," he said.

Oz walked in, sitting beside the tub. "Want me to feed you?" Xander shook his head. "Okay, just so you know that was a special thing. We love you but we're not going to treat you any different."

"Really?" He was relieved. Nobody that he had dated, meaning Cordy, had treated him normally, not like they had when they were just friends.

Oz looked at him. "Was that a reason too?" The younger man nodded. "Damn, I never even figured that one out." He leaned over, taking a soft kiss. "Yup, just expect us to be more touchy now."

"I can do touchy."

"He's been in tactile depravation his whole life," Willow said from the door. "He was almost never hugged as a kid. My mother used to sit and hold him for hours when we were little, trying to cure it. Is that why you have nightmares when you're sleeping alone?" He nodded, looking down at the water. "Then you won't have that problem too much in the future." She walked out, leaving the door open. "Buff and I are in here playing with each other.

Oz and Xander both groaned. "Tease," Oz yelled.

"So, please him," Buffy yelled. "He could use it." She walked over to stand naked in the doorway, smiling at both their reactions. "See? You do want us." She bounced back to the bed, making Willow laugh.

Oz looked at the tray then at the younger man. "Not a bad idea, can I go back to what we did that one day?"

"Which? The shower or the touching?"

Oz smiled. "Both." He removed the tray, picking up a washcloth and his soap. "You're using mine from now on, I like how you smell."

"Are you always this possessive?" Oz nodded. "Okay, just checking." He closed his eyes, waiting.

"Nope, open them." Xander opened his eyes. "I'm not letting you do that. I like it when you look at me while I pleasure you, gives me that extra thrill." He soaped over the firm neck. "Actually, it gives me all sorts of thrills just to do this." He laid the washcloth down, standing up to pull off his clothes. "Now we're even." He went back to soaping the younger man down, taking his time with every inch of the front of the younger man's body. "Hmm, I think we should do this often, I like this."

Xander moaned, liking it too. "Sure," he panted, "whenever you want." He arched up under the talented hand. "Like that."

Oz smiled. "I can see that." He did it again. "Yeah, you do," he said, wiping off the few streams that had hit him. He brought one down, rubbing it against the younger man's mouth. "Share it with me?" Xander licked hesitantly at it, tasting himself for the first time. "I can see we have a lot of work to do with you." Oz leaned over, taking possession of the lips, tasting it to his hearts content. "See, good," he said in between tongue suckings.

Xander smiled, wiping off another little bit. "Do it for me?" He wiped it across the tongue offered, shivering when the finger itself was sucked on. "You know so much more about this."

"Then I'll teach you." He took one last kiss. "Stand up, want to shower with you so we can go pounce the girls."

"Not tonight." He did as he was told, bending over to grab the cloth and let out the water.

"Then you're watching while I do. You're not going to be allowed to hide in here anymore when we have sex. We're all going to be open about this stuff." He turned on the taps, using his hand to gauge when it was the right temperature. He turned on the shower, watching as the younger man relaxed under the spray. "So that's what you look like when you're not fighting this. I'd forgotten." He climbed into the shower with him, pulling the curtain. "Xander," he said, pulling him into his arms, "are you happier now?"

The younger man turned to look down at him. "Yeah, I am," he admitted. He took a brief kiss. "I'm happy and I feel really free." He picked up the cloth. "You know, if I don't fight what I want to do, you're gonna not be able to walk in about a week." He grinned as he soaped it using his soap. He swiped it over the older man's shoulder. "Let's switch soaps. I like this smell on you." He continued to wash the older man, working his way down the hard body. "Relax Oz," he said as he got onto his knees. "I gotta wash your legs."

The older man groaned, grabbing the walls and the curtain bar for support. "I didn't know you were like this. It's always the quiet ones." He heard the younger man laugh. "Willow turned into a sex kitten once she was comfortable and now you." He bit his lip to keep from coming too soon. "Keep that up," he panted, "and you're going to be dirty again."

"Then we'll just have to wash me." He stroked over the top of the tense foot. "How can I wash those when you're trying to dig your toes into the tub?" He picked it up, carefully washing the whole thing. "Much better." He set it down, picking up the other to do the same. Then he stood, placing a soft, sucking kiss on the older man's stomach. "Okay?" When he didn't get an answer, he looked at the older man. "Oz?"

Oz let go of his support, grabbing the younger man. "Xander," he said softly, looking up into the relaxed face and shining eyes. "I love you." He kissed him, showing him what he meant, how much he wanted, everything he needed to tell him was placed in that simple action.

Xander backed up a step when his mouth was free. "I love you too," he said quietly. "It's good not to have to fight not to scream it anymore." He grinned, laying his head on the older man's shoulder. "But you're still going to do this, right?"

"Sure, we can do this at least once a week." He rubbed over the tight flesh. "You need to start back at the gym again. Your muscles aren't as hard."

"They're just not as tense." He relaxed further, going boneless in the strong arms. "This is what I feel like." He raised his head. "Like it?"

"Yeah, you feel like a big kitten in my arms."

"It goes well with your puppyness." He screamed/laughed as he was tickled. "Oz!"

Buffy and Willow both looked in, smiling. "Looks like they've gotten it," the blonde said, pulling the redhead back to the huge bed. "Now I get some." She pounced, landing on her lover's chest, mouth open, tongue out.

' ' ' '

It was later that night, everyone ready for bed and cuddled together. Xander was laying between Willow and Oz, Buffy laying behind her girlfriend. "So," the younger man said, "what about tomorrow? You guys have class and I have to go talk to someone about a new device."

Buffy leaned over Willow's shoulder. "What is it this time?"

"It's something special. If the prototype works, we'll show you." He looked at Willow, whom he had discussed it with earlier in the week. "It's a toy but not for your arsenal. It's more training than not."

Buffy nodded, sliding back down to her back hugging. "Okay, you'll tell me when you're ready."

Oz looked interested. "Is that what you've been working on while we were gone?"

"That and a few others." He grinned. "But my work's boring. How's the band? You guys haven't played recently."

"Nope, Devon's been out of town for a while, filling in for his cousin with their band while he had pneumonia. He'll be back in town in a few days. Matter of fact, he and Marion have been talking. They're not *talking* but they're discussing things." He shrugged. "She's okay so I am."

"As long as he's better to her this time," Willow said, frowning. "Otherwise it's my turn this time." Everyone nodded. "Good." She laid her head on Xander's shoulder. "I'm happy too."

Xander hugged them all to him. "Me too." He closed his eyes, falling asleep feeling safe and wanted for the first time in a long time.

' ' ' '

Oz looked up as the younger man walked in, happily humming. "Not go well at all?"

Xander leaned down, licking over his cheek. "Go well is a severe understatement." He pointed toward the bedroom, stripping down to his boxers before laying down. "Not only did the person like that idea, he has a friend that could use the idea I brought along to buy parts for." He stroked over the firm flesh of the older man's chest. "Seems his cousin works for a company that makes Buffy toys," he stopped to grin, pinching a nipple, "and he saw my drawing. He asked to see that one too and his eyes got really wide when he saw it. Seems said cousin is looking for something new." He took the congratulatory kiss. "Thank you." He licked his lips. "What should we do now?"

"Well, you haven't gotten beyond this so I'm giving you free rein. Do as you want to me."

"Such a hardship, isn't it, Oz," Xander said, rolling him onto his back. "What if I wanted to go farther than I have yet?" The older man swallowed. "Precisely, that's what I want to do."

Oz grinned. "Go for it, man." He relaxed, letting the still mostly inexperienced man go for it. They hadn't gotten past the mutual hand job and rubbing stage, he was ready for more now.

Xander kissed his way down, more than ready to try this new thing. He'd studied a lot of tapes yesterday, trying to figure out the secret but now he was ready to try it for the first time. Oz relaxed under his lips, gasping at his first little tiny lick over the crown. He pulled back slightly to taste what he'd just tasted then proceeded to taste some more, licking him all over. The older man was panting by the time he was done, sheets balled up in his hands. "Okay?"

"If you stop, I'll jump you," Oz growled.

Xander laughed but went back to what he had been doing, sucking the head into his mouth and playing with it. Around and around went his tongue, tickling and teasing at once. Oz reached down, holding his head still so he could get just a little deeper, so he took more in, playing with it. Down he went, getting most of it in that first time. Oz was a big guy so he couldn't take it all but he could try. He worked his way down again, breathing in through his nose on the out stroke until his mouth was filled again. He continued to play, teasing the soft flesh as it slid in and out.

Oz yelled, coming hard, holding the head down where it was. When he could talk again, he pulled him up to get a kiss, tasting himself. "You're good at that," he breathed into the other man's mouth. "Should I be jealous of someone, Xan?"

"No, just watched a lot of tapes to figure out how." He laid his head down on the rapidly moving chest. "You okay? Need to get you an ambulance?"

Oz nudged him, making him look in the doorway, showing him what was making him pant. Buffy and Willow were in the doorway, kissing and groping each other. "We'll move," Oz said.

Willow broke from the kiss. "Only if you're being mean." She led her lover to the bed, laying her down gently. "So good," Willow said, tasting the younger man's mouth. "I want it later." She leaned down to take a breast into her mouth, playing with it. "Don't we, pet?" Buffy nodded, too far gone to do anything else. Willow kneeled between the spread legs, unhooking the bodysuit so she could get to her goal.

Oz reached over, lifting the skirt out of his way so he could watch, pulling Xander closer so he could play while they did it.

Willow's first touch sent the older woman over, shrieking out her completion. She bent down for a taste, wanting it badly. When she came back up, licking the juice off her cheeks and mouth, she smiled at them. "That was a good show." She leaned over, sharing a taste of her lover with the guys. "Want some?"

Oz pinned her to the bed. "Yeah, of you." He looked over at Buffy. "Stay wet, nymph." He attacked the tasty mouth, sucking all the good stuff into his. He left Willow laying there panting, turning back to his other lover. "I know I said I'd make our first time at this special but I can't wait." He entered her gently, groaning at the tight, hot, wet heat now surrounding him. "Yeah, so nice," he said, laying over top of her. "You want this?" She nodded, pushing up into him. "Then it's yours." He rode her hard, making her hit that note twice before he came with her the last time.

When those two could see again, they looked over to find Willow and Xander snuggling naked, touching gently. He gathered Buffy to him, holding her while they watched this first time.

Willow stroked over the hard flesh of her soon to be lover, smiling as he closed his eyes. She rolled them over, letting him get on top of her, maneuvering him to her entrance. "Please?" she asked quietly.

Xander entered the woman he'd been wanting for almost a year and a half now, sliding into her just like he'd dreamed after they'd been caught kissing. He leaned down, giving her a long slow kiss as he started to gently move in her, wanting to make it good for her. When he pulled back, his mouth was captured by Oz's, prompting him to do more. "You watching?" he asked with a blush. The older man nodded so he looked back down at his lover. "That okay?" She pushed up into him, wanting more. "Okay, then I guess it's okay." He stroked harder, a little faster, not wanting this to be a rush. She came, latched to his mouth in the deepest kiss they'd shared yet, feeling him shooting inside of her.

"Condom?" she asked him. He blushed. "S'okay, not the first time I've gotten that caught up." She looked over at Oz. "You?" He looked down then shook his head. "So, Buffy, how do you feel about the morning after pill?"

The older woman giggled. "Does that mean that we can go more tonight?"

Xander snored from his comfortable spot on Willow's chest, preventing her from bopping her.

"Yeah," Oz said, nipping her lightly. "It does if you want it."

Buffy rolled him over, settling herself back onto him. "You have to ask?" He pushed up and it started again.

' ' ' '

Xander relaxed into the tub, comfortable on Oz's chest. "We need a bigger tub," he said finally. "This is something I like."

"Me too." He licked over the ear closest to him. "Can't wait for this to be more together- meaning."

Xander nodded. "But I want to wait a while on that." He turned his head. "I want to pretend I'm a virgin and make it special."

"You are," Oz reminded him, touching his chest, "in here. Where it counts the most, you are." He took a quick kiss. "I like this soaking together stuff too." He looked at the edge of the bed he could barely see through the open door. "Do you want to move?"

"Not sure. I like this place."

"So buy the building."

Xander blushed. "Um, can't." He looked at the wall. Oz tapped him on the chest. "It was kinda left to me." He got to his knees, barely avoiding smooshing something with his knees. "The Mistress had it to put up feeders, the ones who needed it. When she died, it all came to me but a few bequests like the mansion, which if abandoned fully, comes to me. That's where some of the money comes from. I don't know what to do with it though."

Oz nodded. "Okay." He held out his arms. "How many apartments are still full?"

"Of the five, only ours, the manager's, and one other on the second floor. We've each got a floor right now." He relaxed back into the hard chest. "I've wanted to tell you guys that since Spring Break."

Oz nodded. "Seems all right." He pulled up the heavy head, looking at it for a second. "Did you know that the mansion *is* empty? Marion walked by there last night while she and Buffy were on patrol. No lights, no life or unlife. Nothing." He let it fall back to a comfortable spot. "The newspaper's listing was just your trust funds?" He felt the timid shake. "Want to tell me the rest of it?"

"Later," came the muffled reply. "I have the paperwork out in the livingroom since I'm supposed to go in for a review tomorrow." He raised his head briefly. "Do you think one or all of you would like to come with me?"

"Buffy's the accounting major." He shrugged. "I'd go if you wanted." Xander nodded. "Never fear we're here for you Xan, that's all part of love." He finger combed the dark hair. "Any other big surprises?"

"House in Canada."

"Her's?"

"Grandma. Nice large house." He snuggled harder. "Show you pictures later." He closed his eyes. "Can we nap in here?"

"Neither of our backs would like that." A thought struck him as funny. "Does this mean you're joining the country club?"

"Nope, turned 'em down," he said, slurring it due to sleepiness. "Shhh, napping is good."

"Not in the tub, Xander." Buffy walked in, lifting him out to carry him to the bed. Oz tucked them both in, telling her quietly what had been said. She walked out, coming back in with Xander's briefcase, the one he took to show off his plans. Oz rifled through it, coming across a thick folder of documents. He pulled them out to look at it, snuggling against her chest so Buffy could tell him what was what and what it all meant.

' ' ' '

Xander looked around the table. All three of them were with him for this meeting. Oz had even relented, bringing his birth certificate to hand over. Xander looked up as the lawyer walked in. "So, how much are you charging me this year?" he asked with a grin.

"Oh, not much," he said, sitting down. "I take it you told them."

"It's not right to hold this stuff back anymore."

The lawyer looked around, smiling. "Congratulations. To all of you. Xander, the school contacted me to get a recommendation. They're moving on your application at next week's meeting." He tossed down his copy of the folder. "You've all seen this?" Everyone nodded. "Good, then I don't have to explain what I don't understand. Which one of you is the Accounting major?" Buffy raised her hand. "I'll consider you in charge of statements and things." He took Oz's birth certificate, handing it over to the secretary so copies could be made. "You're in what?" he asked Oz.

"Music education. I'll end up teaching in schools."

"Good profession and I'm assuming you're a musician yourself?" He nodded. "Okay, thought I'd seen you when I went to pick up my daughter." He took back the certificate, handing it back after checking the copies. "Down to business. Ms. Rosenburg, I know what you and he," pointing at Oz, "have done with computers in the past. My brother works for that company that wanted you so bad in High School. He talked for days on end about you two. If you want to do some outside programming, come to me for patent stuff, I've gotten to be almost expert at his. Oh, and Alexander, this is your final copy and decision on the emergency locator and the initial drafts on the other two. I'd heard about the other one selling, congratulations. We're here today to work out the yearly budget and things." He shifted some paperwork, handing something to Buffy. "As you can see, he's almost living entirely off what he's received for that first patent. All your bills have been paid out of it for a while now, including mine. Your Grandmother's trust has only been docked that fifteen hundred in fees for moving it. Your original trust is safely squirreled away too. I've kept it at about three quarters of one here, everything else is in tax deferred accounts in other places. If that suits you, we can keep it that way, nothing should be that expensive." He cleared his throat. "About the mansion. I did get a call the other day to tell me it's empty so you need to decide what to do about that. I've set up the tax trusts to pay off the property taxes on all three estates."

Buffy held up a hand. "He keeps three quarters of a *million* here in town?" She looked at Xander. "And *three* estates? We only know about two."

"Yes there's one in Canada, a small house in Vancouver, and the mansion. Didn't she tell you about the house she had for business visits?" Xander shook his head. "Your Grandmother, when she emigrated up there, bought a house in Vancouver while they were trying to figure out where to live. She kept it for business ventures when they discovered the mineral rights under the new land they'd inherited that became the large estate. It's nice, small and intimate. Just enough for about six people to live there." He shrugged. "Not a big deal but property taxes were getting a bit atrocious so I set an account up just to pay those taxes. If you want I can change it."

Xander swallowed. "No, that's fine. I just never knew about it. Is that where all her money came from?"

"Seems they found the property one of her husbands inherited, the reason they moved up there, had a lot of minerals under it. Small amounts of gold but lots of platinum and uranium. It's been partially mined but she wouldn't let them get within a few miles of the house. I went up there last month to file paperwork and to check on it. Seemed okay, the person she has minding it is doing all right. The mine's long since been shut down because it was close enough to the house. If you want, I could talk to the person she has caretaking it about buying it." He waited but Xander shook his head. "Never been up there?"

"Not since I was four." He wiped his eyes. "I loved that house."

"Then we should go there during break," Willow said, taking his hand.

"With our luck during breaks?" Xander asked. "I'd be afraid it'd burn."

Oz shook his head. "Nothing will happen if we go up." He looked at the sheet in Buffy's hand. "Maybe I should take an Accounting class."

She nodded. "Sounds ideal. I need to take some financial management classes and at least one of us should know what we're doing."

The lawyer smiled. "You guys are just like his Grandmother. She used to look at her loves the same way." He wiped his eyes. "She was such a good woman." Xander patted his arm. "Thanks. Back to business, huh? I charge by the hour."

Xander nodded. "Sure. How's everything else?"

"Oh, fine. No outrageous fees popping up. Nothing out of the ordinary coming out of the woodwork. Even your parents have headed for parts unknown." He grinned. "Even if I do say so myself."

Xander shook his head. "Hey, sounded good to me. I paid for it." He grinned. "We gave them money to go live someplace else. Far, far away from here."

"New Mexico." The lawyer pushed a set of papers to him. "You'll want to know this, the Military has come looking for something new." The youngest man snorted. "Yeah, my thoughts too, even if that JAG lawyer was cute."

"Scary," Xander corrected. "Gee, I don't know. Guys," he looked up, "should we sell more stuff to the military?"

Oz shook his head. "I didn't like them that much. You came home way upset." Buffy and Willow nodded, agreeing with him. "Besides, they were sneaky last time."

"Covert ops is like that," the lawyer said. "They want something non-weaponish again. I just promised to bring it up with you, nothing else." He pulled out the folded up paperwork. "Your originals that you left." He flushed just a little. "I looked at them. I didn't know those things needed circuit boards."

"Only the good ones," Xander said, grinning as he took them back. "How are we doing account wise?"

"Your ATM account is full, mostly because you've not been drawing much. I'm guessing you had money left over from your vacation so that's not a worry. Your checking and your 'just in case' account are fine. Speaking of which, where is Mr. Giles from?"

"England," the group said together.

"I see, I'll call over tonight to get that last birth certificate. I'll be able to file that paperwork once it's here. No problems there, not even hidden ones since you took care of the family problem. The only thing I see missing is a prenuptial agreement."

"Don't need one," Xander said. "We're not breaking up." He took Willow's hand, smiling at the other couple. "I've seen that. They've shown me so much over the last month about how much they're not leaving."

"Then we need access agreements." He pushed over the paperwork. "I did it just in case. This gives them access to your funds on a daily limited basis, the same as you have, and permission for me to release more to them in times of emergency. It's the same form you signed when you first got your trust." He shoved copies over to the others. "Not that I'd worry about you three, but money has been known to change people."

Willow read over hers. "You can take *that* much out a day?" Xander nodded. "I don't want this." She started to push it back.

"It's part of that just in case stuff, guys. Nobody's going to force you to take his money and use it. This only gives you access if you need it." The lawyer smiled. "Of course the ATM cards will be out later this week, but that's a different issue. He wanted to make sure that you're taken care of in case something happened, or like when you were on your first vacation, something happened away from him."

"I was there," Xander pointed out.

"Let's just imagine you weren't, okay?" He nodded. "Thank you. This is in case you need something, sorta like joint checking accounts."

"Are we dealing with that here?" Oz asked.

"No, actually you're dealing with an authorized draw situation. Like you have a credit card but you authorize someone else to use it too even if their name's not on the card. He actually refused the joint checking account request with a shudder, thinking about what you would say." He smiled, shrugging. "Not me, him."

"All right, I can deal with that." He signed the paperwork, handing it over. "I'm not going to use it unless I have to and anything I take I'll pay back." He stared at the younger man until he understood. "Xander?"

"Okay, that I can live with. There's no need, as you can see, but I can deal with that." He looked at the girls. "You're next."

Buffy signed it. "I'll let one of you hold my card so I won't use it unless I need to. I've got a job." She pushed the paperwork back over. "We clear?" Xander nodded, and they all looked at Willow.

"This is a big responsibility and I'm not sure I'm up to it. I'd like to think some."

"It's here whenever you're ready," the lawyer said calmly. "It was a bit much for him. He actually passed out when I told him the first part."

Xander shook his head. "Do you blame me? I'd never even thought of money in that amount." He looked at his lovers. "Guys, I'm not going to force you take it but it's there if and when you need it." He looked at Willow, smiling slightly. "I understand why you don't want to deal with it, that's why I let him do it for me, but I want you to have the same protection it offers. I never want you to have to fear about things like lunch and breaking down. I want you to not have to work for somebody that steals off you either." She got her deer-in-headlights look. "See, I can overhear stuff too. You were screaming when I came up the stairs. If you want to quit, I'll understand and support you in it."

Willow bit her lip, unsure of what to do. "Leaving there is a good thing." She look at the papers again, trying not to mess this up. "I want to sign it, but not use it."

"Use it until you get another job," Xander said, touching her arm. "It'll help you some." She nodded, signing it. "Okay, anything else?"

"I better be invited to the wedding," the lawyer said jokingly. He handed over the papers she needed to Buffy. "Call me and we'll go over this in detail when you're ready to deal with it." He left them alone.

Willow looked at Xander. "I don't like being forced to do stuff."

"Tough. I don't want you to have a heart attack trying to defend yourself from the guy that turned it around on you and said you stole his stuff." He shrugged. "I'm not relenting on this part. You need a better job and I'm going to support you until you get it." He looked around the table. "Until you're all done with school. Then you can fuss at me." He stood up, stretching. "I'll go wait in the car while you curse my existence."

Willow pulled him back down. "No, we won't do that. We know you're just trying to take care of us, and we're not upset about that. We're more upset that you went behind our backs to set all this up." She took his hand, rubbing it between hers. "ATM cards?"

"Next week. I signed the authorization the week Oz got his van. I just asked them to hold off on sending them." He sighed, shrinking in on himself. "Guys, this isn't meant as a bad."

"Then it won't be," Buffy said. "He, Oz, and I will work on keeping you solvent, something that you need. Willow will maybe decide to program on her own. We'll all go to school and no one will have to use it." She put the papers into an orderly file. "I've got to take a few management classes next semester." She got up, walking out. "Coming home or not?"

Oz helped Willow up. "We're coming." He looked at Xander. "You guys have a pretty good relationship."

"He's an Uncle of sorts. My Grandmother raised his mother and we've kept in touch. I can trust him, he's never let me down before." He stood up, pulling Willow to him. "I didn't want to upset you but I won't let you suffer." He walked out, going to the car.

Oz looked down at his fiancee. "You okay?" She nodded. "I mean with this."

"Yeah, I'm just in shock from last night still. I can see his point but I'm not using it."

Oz nodded. "Okay, but does that mean I can't help him pick you out a new laptop for your birthday? The one you have now belongs to them and if you quit it has to go back. He saw the one that you were staring at with puppy eyes," he said, leading her out of the room, "and wanted to know if I could help him pick one out."

She nodded. "No, that I'd take. I was gonna ask Mom for it for a wedding present."

"We *do* have to discuss that, don't we," Xander said. He'd been leaning against the car. "You guys have the keys."

"We should all have the keys to each of them," Buffy said. She tapped the hood rhythmically. "I'd like to drive the van sometimes."

"Hey, I like your car too, but you can always ask me," Oz said. "I need to have some private stuff." He got in, driving them back toward the center of town. "I'm hungry."

"You didn't eat breakfast," Xander said. "Too shocked still." He pointed at a little place. "I like that one. Not too large, good staff, yummy food." Oz pulled in. "I'm buying, right?" Everyone nodded. "Thought it was my turn." He led them inside. "Hi," he smiled at the waitress. "Four."

' ' ' '

Xander leaned back on the bed, happily touching himself while everyone else was gone. He wanted to go that final step but Oz said this weekend so he needed to relieve some of that tension now. He closed his eyes, picturing Oz over him, playing with him like that, moving the toy in and out. He moaned, not bothering to cover it up, needing the release.

Oz walked into the bedroom quietly. He'd felt an urge to skip his classes today, only going in to teach his one, so he'd come home. He watched Xander pleasuring himself, growing hard at the sight of the bright purple toy stroking in and out quickly, the sounds floating to him making it hurt worse. He stripped off silently, no longer needing to wait. He took over control of the toy, leaning on the firm knees that were bent up. "Xan," he called, trying to bring the younger man back down some.

"Oh, god, Oz, yeah," he called, arching up into the toy. He opened his eyes as it slowed down, knowing now he wasn't doing it. "Oz!"

"Hey, want me to help?" He grinned, moving the toy a little faster. "Couldn't wait?"

"Nope, needed it bad." He arched his hips up as the toy hit his prostate. "Oh, Oz, now?" He begged with his eyes, holding out his arms.

Oz nodded, removing the plastic replication, slicking his now sheathed body down. He slid in slowly, hissing at the tightness surrounding him. "Tight," he muttered.

"Exercises," Xander sighed as flesh hit flesh. "Good ones." He looked up, seeing the lust. "Thank you."

"Oh, I'm not done yet." He pulled out, thrusting back in slowly, gently. "We're taking this slow." He did it again. "First times should always be unhurried." Xander nodded, eyes shining with unshed tears. "What's wrong?" he asked, stopping to lay down on the younger man's chest.

"Happy," he said softly. "So happy." He arched up some. "Can I have more?"

"Babe, you can have as much as you want." He started to work him again, not moving off the comfortable spot he'd found. "How's that?"

"Nice, better than nice." He rolled them over, getting on top. "But I want more." He started to ride, the older man's hands coming up to rest on his hips to steady him. "Yeah, like this." He leaned down for a kiss. "Now I can do that too." He rode harder, giving himself the stimulation he needed.

"You're too close," Oz said, rolling them back over. He got back to his knees. "I want to come with you, not long after you."

"Second one?" Xander suggested with an impish grin.

"I know you're like that, but I want this to be slow and special." He moved slowly, thrusting in and out gently. "We'll go back up together," he whispered, promising. "But next time it's my turn."

Xander smiled. "I've never done that." He grabbed onto the strong arms. "Right there, oh, yeah, right there." Oz did it again, making him howl and moan, an interesting sound combination. "More? More! Oz, more, need more, want more."

Oz did as he was asked, varying it to make it last. He brought the younger man up and down so many times he lost count, each trip bringing him closer to his own orgasm. Of course, that was what Xander liked, he liked to stay up not to come. "Ready, Xan?"

Xander pulled his head down. "Now, Oz, please now." He looked into the deep eyes, going over just from that. "Yeah," he sighed as he came down.

Oz shot off as the muscles started to clamp around him, the simple act the younger man had done, being the catalyst. "That," pant, pause, lay down, "was the sexiest thing," pant some more, lick some sweat pooled on the firm stomach, "that I've ever seen."

Xander just laid there, happy smile on his face. When he could talk again, his first words were, "So that's what it's supposed to feel like," prompting Oz to pull out, smiling and laughing.

"Yeah," the older man said, moving up to lay next to/on top of the younger man. "That's what it's supposed to be like." He took a brief kiss. "Need nap, no brains." He yawned. "Nap with me?"

"Sure," Xander said, pulling him closer. "This is good. We should do this more often."

Oz laughed as he slowly fell asleep, napping on one of the most important people in his life.

' ' ' '

Buffy and Willow walked in, stopping when they saw the two men sleeping naked. Obviously something had happened while they'd been at school. Willow walked over, looking over both their bodies, but stopped a little away from the bed, pulling Buffy over to her. Xander had just shifted and she could plainly see what had happened just from the stretched out place she could see. Buffy gasped, holding on for dear life, trying really hard not to go look, and touch, closer. They looked at each other, then at Oz, seeing the used condom still on him.

"Ooohhhhh," Willow whispered, shivering. She brushed against something soft and naked, turning to look at the bare chested nymph next to her. "Let them sleep, they need privacy. We'll get to play next time." Her lover pouted but she pulled her from the room, going to go play in the living room.

Oz raised his head, smiling. "Xan," he said, nudging him. The younger man opened an eye, grunting. "Girls are home," he whispered.

The younger man rolled them over. "Let them get their own," he said. He flexed his hole just a little. "You stretched me quite open," he said formally. "I believe that deserves to be reciprocated."

"Yeah, but I'm not clean and I haven't had anything up there in a while." He ran his fingers through the sweaty hair. "Besides, I want you again."

"Only if you're not so gentle with me. I like it hard sometimes." He licked over the bobbing adam's apple. "Please? Do I have to beg?"

"Only if you want to." He reached a hand over, searching blindly on the bedside table. "Condom," he said.

Xander got up, wiggling his way into the bathroom, smiling at the quiet, "Tease" that floated over to him. He came back with a box, tossing them over as he got onto his hands and knees, crawling over slowly.

Oz tore one open with his teeth, barely looking to check which way he was rolling it down. He was watching the show being put on for him by the younger man, happy that he felt free enough to do so. He was handed the lube, slathering some on indiscriminately, patting his thighs. "You want it, come get on."

Xander shook his head, staying on his hands and knees. "Nope, you come and get it." He wiggled his butt enticing him. "I want a *hard* time." He turned around, facing the other way.

Oz got to his knees, growling softly. The sight of his mate in that position had always brought out the wolf in him, prompting a very hard coupling. He slid in again, latching onto the younger man's arms in a steel grip. "Mine," he growled. He pushed hard, setting a rough and steady pace.

Xander was loving it. He liked it like this just as much as he did gentle, and this was nothing like what had been done to him before. Oz claimed every inch of him, touching, lapping, nipping without breaking the skin. He made sure the younger man knew whose he was, not caring whether or not either of them ever got off. But he did, with a scream of delight, pulling Oz over with him, making it good for both of them.

He must have passed out because the next thing he knew, Willow and Buffy were helping Oz pull out, someone touching his back to gentle him back to reality. He turned his head, watching Willow lay Oz back down onto the stack of pillows. She smiled at him, crawling across her unconscious mate to run a finger along his opening.

"Very nice," she told him. She slipped a finger inside. "I ought to go get my little strap on and do you too." She grinned, laying across his back. "You okay?" He nodded, blushing at being caught like that. "Oh, get over it. I've done that to Oz plenty of times, each time he called your name." She smiled, leaning down to nip at his shoulderblade. "Now then, why the blush? You've seen us having sex, have had sex with us."

He shook his head. "Not sure, just embarrassed to be caught. I feel like a naughty teen caught by a parent." He looked at Buffy, seeing her looking. "What?"

"Never seen that." She shook herself. "May I touch?" She leaned over his back, kissing Willow. "Always wanted to." He didn't answer but she ran a polished nail around the outside anyway.

"Mine," Oz said. He looked at her. "Chair. He didn't give you permission." She pouted but went. "Thank you." He removed Willow by tickling her and taking her place. "You all right? I didn't want to hurt you."

"I'm fine," he said quietly. "She just wanted to touch. Seems she's never seen a guy stretched after sex." He wiggled some. "But thanks."

"Did you mind?" Willow asked. He shrugged. "Well, if you'd like she could do it some more."

"Please?" Buffy begged from the chair.

Xander looked at Oz, who took his hand, rolling to the side. "Sure," he said quietly, looking at his male lover. "Why not." She hopped over to the bed, kissing his lower back before touching him gently again. She ringed it with her nail then with her finger, then got daring, slipping one inside. "Doesn't feel that different," she said. She licked over his back, getting that 'naughty' look in her eyes that always made Willow groan. She wet her finger in herself, there being enough there to relube him fully, then slipped it back inside, twisting it around some. He grunted, his hips moving involuntarily. She fingered him gently, exploring to her heart's content.

Xander squeezed Oz's hand when Buffy found his prostate, covering up his moan in the firm shoulder. "Buff," he said after the third time. "I'm tired. You can do me like that some other time, okay?" She pulled out, kissing the rear on either side of his aching and stretched hole.

Willow smiled, running a finger across it to soothe it, just like she did to Oz after she'd done him. "Better?" The younger man nodded, sighing. "Must have been good."

"Both times," Xander said. He wiggled away from her. "Evil temptress. Trying to make me go again." He kicked the sheet up, covering both of them. "Are we napping?"

Oz nodded, most of the way there already so Xander snuggled down on him, not letting go of his hand.

Buffy and Willow let out an simultaneous "Awwww," before going out to fix the guys something to eat. They'd need it if their napping was any indication.

' ' ' '

Oz rolled over, retaking possession of his hand to answer the phone. He pulled it slowly to his ear. "Yeah," he said softly, not wanting to wake Xander, and besides loud noises were too loud right now. "Hey, Dev," he said after pulling the phone away from his ear. "What's up? Band practice tonight?" He looked down at the bed. "Late?" He nodded, hanging up. "Yeah, ten is late." He laid back down. "I don't want to interrupt this moment, but I gotta get up."

Xander moved some. "So don't." He opened his eyes. "Is that what you meant by magical?"

"Well, some." He brushed a piece of hair around. "You sure you're all right?" The younger man nodded. "Xander, don't let me do that again."

"Like it like that sometimes," he said around his yawn. He looked back at the older man. "Oz, that was so sexy, just taking me like that. I may not want that all the time but this time it was good." He grinned. "You couldn't hurt me if you tried." He rubbed over the tense chest. "Relax. None of the nips broke skin, I'm not torn, you were prepared so there was lube. Everything's right in the world unless you're letting me go."

Oz shook his head. "Nothing like that. I don't want to hurt you, ever, so don't let me."

Xander wrapped a hand around the older man's head. "Oz, if I had asked you to stop, would you have?" The older man nodded. "Even while you were being so Alpha you weren't aware that anyone else existed?" Oz nodded again. "Then you could never hurt me." He kissed the tips of the blonde hair. "Now, lets go shower, we smell."

"Telling me," he said, backing away with a grin. "I was just in your armpit." He made it off the bed, beating the younger man to the bathroom. "Go find out where they went," came the yell through the door.

Xander pulled on his robe, grumbling as he walked out to the living room. "Store," he muttered, pulling out the plate of goodies that had been made for them. He sat down at the table, picking through the vegetable pieces for something tempting. "Hey," he said when the older man came out. "They made us vegetable sticks." He shoved the plate over.

"Ewww." Oz snorted, putting it back in the fridge. "Hurry up and pull on clothes. "I want manly food." He waited for the quick shower and the pulling on of sweats. "I've got band practice tonight. That was Devon on the phone from the bus station."

"Do we need to go pick him up?" Xander asked, grabbing his wallet and keys. He looked inside. "ATM time."

Oz looked down at it. "Card?" He pointed to the empty spot. "Them," he said, shaking his head. "Checkbook?"

Xander rummaged through a drawer, coming up with it. He waved it as he pulled it out. "Starts at 1500 so no problems with the 'no checks under' policy." He looked at the older man. "Steak?"

"Steak," Oz grunted. "Manly food." He held the door while Xander walked out. "I'm drivin', you haven't been in the van recently."

' ' ' '

Xander picked up his ATM card as he walked in, sliding it into the usual spot. "At least we brought you food." He watched as Oz handed over the meals they'd gotten for the girls.

"Carrot sticks?" Oz said.

Willow smiled. "Didn't know if you'd be ready for real food." She looked inside one, handing it over then hers. "Chicken?"

"Payback for vegetables," Xander said, leaning over the back of the futon. "Next time at least tell me you took it. I thought I'd lost it again."

Buffy nodded, mouth full. "Sorry," she said once she'd swallowed. "We went grocery and condom shopping. I brought her out to where I work." She pinched Oz's arm. "Why have you been keeping her from there?"

"Because the only time she ever brought it up was right after her miscarriage and I was stupid enough to make a comment about her mother not liking it." He was poked with a fork. "Sorry, but she was mean to me at the wedding."

Xander nodded. "If you want, you can start coming with us on our monthly trips." He stood up. "Need to go soon anyway." He walked into the bedroom, smiling at the new sheets. "I see you bought more than groceries." He walked back out. "Oh, Devon's back in town."

"Yup, I got practice tonight at ten."

Willow nodded. "Okay, I'm sure we can find something to do while you're gone." She looked at the condition of Xander's sweats. "He needs some more of those anyway."

Buffy smiled. "He has a new pair but they itch." She put down her empty plate. "Thank you for thinking of us." She got up, kissing each man. "What should we do tonight?" She winked at Xander.

Oz groaned. "Oh, no," he said, waving her off, "some of us are tired." He looked at Willow. "Jump her." He walked into the kitchen, grabbing a soda. "No juice?"

"Forgot," the women said together.

Xander turned to look at Oz. "Am I starting to sound like you too?" The older man shook his head as he walked past. "Okay, just checking." He was poked in the side. "We're going to end up like those couples that finish each other's sentences," he said, going into the bedroom.

"We..."

"Don't?" Buffy finished. They laughed at the groan of disgust from the other room.

"Sorry," they said together.

"Stop it," Oz said, looking out. "You're scaring him." He closed the door.

"Yeah, we're really scary," Willow said. "I'm the big bad redhead and you're a nympho." She grinned. "Wonder which one they're more scared of?"

Buffy pouted. "I'm not that bad, just eager to experience. I haven't had much." She laid her head on Willow's shoulder. "Am I that bad?"

"No, you're a good girl," Willow said, patting the side of her head. "What do you want to bet they had steak?" Buffy licked her lips. "Yeah, I tasted it too. We should go get something fattening."

"Ice cream?"

"No, something decadent. Godiva." She picked up her purse, looking in it. "Come on, I know where some is." Buffy followed her out, happily heading for chocolate.

Oz shook his head as he laid down, redressed in his usual practice clothes. "They'll make themselves sick." He looked at Xander. "You want some, if they bring any back?"

Xander reached under the edge of the bed he was laying next to, bringing up the gift box. "Have some already." He opened it. "Nuts and bonbons." He handed it over after taking a piece. "And it's closed now so they're out of luck."

Oz took a piece, closing back up the box. "The perfect end to any meal."

' ' ' '

Xander looked up as the first of his friends came out of her last midterm. They had agreed to meet in the lunch room, Xander having been outside for a while because he had a meeting with somebody. He put down the electronics book he had been looking at and smiled at Buffy. "So, did you multiple guess it and pass?"

She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Just you wait, Xan. You'll have to go through this too."

He just smiled. The two of them started on a salad, identifiable by the slightly wilted lettuce and soggy croutons. Soon enough Willow and Oz joined them, him having waited for her outside her class so they could spend some more alone time together.

Xander waited until everyone was there, and coincidentally had food in their mouths, before pulling out a letter. He laid it open on the table and smiled.

Buffy looked at it and squealed, jumping up to hug her friend, Willow following close behind. Oz grabbed him, pulling him across the table for a hug.

"See, now next semester you get to do this," Buffy said.

Xander smiled. "And I talked to my advisor today." He took a bite of food, torturing them. "I've got maybe a year to a year and a semester to go, my tech center stuff will count for some classes."

Oz smiled. "We'll all graduate together." He grabbed Xander's hand. "Just like it was meant to be."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, it's going to be great to be with you guys again." He looked around, seeing Giles coming toward them. "Speaking of guys," he said, pointing a fork in the right direction.

"Hey," Willow said. "Guess what? Xander got his acceptance letter and he's getting some credits off his tech stuff." She smiled over at her oldest friend. "You know you can come to me and I'll help you with all those pesky freshman classes."

Giles nodded. "Congratulations." He patted the younger man's shoulder as he walked past, going to his lunch date with his other daughter.

Willow smiled. "All together, in everything, just like it was meant to be." They all held hands, basking in the moment.

' ' ' '

Willow sat down on the bench, looking down at her poor abused feet. "Buffy, we've been all over the mall. There's not a single thing left."

She smiled. "Come on, I know what'll cheer you right up." She led her into the lingerie store, smiling at the saleswoman. She headed straight for a blue silk slip, also a velvet teddy on the same rack. "Saw these last week and knew they were you." She held them up, letting Willow look over them.

"Very pretty, but neither is in my size." She looked at the rack. "Matter of fact, only the velvet one comes in my size."

"Actually, we have the other in the back up to a size twelve." She smiled at Willow. "That should be about right since they tend to run a little small."

"Okay," she said happily, waiting while it was gotten. She looked down, trying to find her purse. "Have you seen my purse?"

Buffy looked for hers. "Nope, not really. Mine's not here either." She handed the things to the sales woman. "We'll be back in a few minutes, our purses are missing."

"All right, I can hold them for you for an hour or so." She put them behind the counter.

Buffy led the way out into the main thoroughfare. "Let's backtrack." She stopped at the lockers, putting the newest bags in and reinserting a quarter. She patted down her pockets. "Were my keys in there?" Willow nodded. "Okay, we have some cash and a little change. She looked at the security guard. "Have our purses shown up?" she asked as he got closer.

"Yes, I was just coming to get you." He led them to an office. "You left them in a store." He sat them down. "I'd like to ask you a question about something in one of them though." He pulled out Willow's purse, pulling a small bag of dried herbs out. "These would be?"

"Herbs. Not the smoking kind but the used in spells kind." She looked out the window, thinking. "One's Geranium and there's some mint and some ... " She rubbed her forehead. "I don't remember but none of it's the smoking kind." She shrugged. "I'm Wiccan."

He nodded handing it back over. "Our drug dog didn't react, so we were wondering." He handed Buffy hers. "Unfortunately, yours was out in a hallway, empty." We gathered up what we could."

She looked down in there. "My wallet's missing, so are my car and house keys." She felt along the edge. "Ah-ha, the ATM card's still here and the spare keys." She pulled them out, putting them into her pocket. "Thank you. Do I report the rest to you?" He handed over a form, watching as she filled it out. She and Willow headed back to the lingerie store, stopping to pick up their other bags. They stopped in front of the sales woman, paying for Willow's stuff, then left the mall.

Half way home, Buffy pulled into a crowded shopping center, right in front of the grocery store. "We're being followed." She waited, but the car didn't get any closer. "Phone?" Willow nodded. "Call home."

Willow pulled it out, dialing home from the memory key. "Hey, it's me. Buffy says we're being followed. Oh, you're at her mom's? When did we get call forwarding?" She handed it over. "Here, Oz."

She smiled in relief. "Hey. Blue sedan, of a medium shade, can't see all the plate. RN1 something." She hung up. "We're not heading home yet." She pulled out into the traffic. "We need to go to the cops or something," she said when she noticed they were being followed again. She turned toward the nearest station, near home. They pulled into the lot, stopping to talk to the officer at the gate. "Hey, I'm being followed by a medium blue sedan, can we hide here?" He nodded, waving them into the lot.

He watched the car pass then walked over to them after calling someone. "He's gone now. Did you have anything else?"

"Well, my purse was ransacked today at the mall. They got my wallet and keys. I reported it to the guys at the mall."

Willow nodded. "Xander's home though so he shouldn't be able to get in."

Buffy nodded. "Thank you. Is this a common thing?" He nodded. "Well, we thank you." She pulled out of the lot, heading home, watching for him to come back. She pulled up into her parking spot, hearing a tire go flat. "Damn kids." She got out, looking down at the glass littering the area. "Xan's not here."

Willow pulled out her phone, going up stairs.

"No, Willow, wait!" Buffy yelled, running after her. They walked through the door, both of them snarling since it was hanging off its hinges. They walked through quickly, not seeing anything but the ordinary things gone. "You call Oz, I'll get the cops and then the stuff from the car." She took the cordless with her, going back downstairs to liberate the stuff from the car. She came back up, not very happy. "It's gone, all of it."

Willow sat down, squeaking as she did. "Wet." She looked over as Oz and Giles walked in. "Where's Xan?"

"Not with us." Oz looked around. "Are you guys all right?"

"Sure, but there's glass in the parking spaces and when I went back down, all our stuff was gone out of the car." She hugged her Watcher. "Who's at home?"

"Marion and Joyce both and they know what happened. I was on speaker phone." He looked at the chairs. "I believe someone...," he got a very disgusted look, "wet on them." He walked into the bedroom, coming back out even more disgusted. "You don't want to," he told Oz quietly. He had a word with the officer who responded, telling her everything, then came back over to them. "Would he have his phone with him?"

The apartment phone rang, followed by the cellphones one by one. Oz picked it up, then blanched, looking down at the list beside the phone. "He's out in the woods." He grabbed his keys, rushing out without waiting for anyone to come with him. Buffy got in beside him but he didn't even notice as he pulled out, heading out to where the locator had said he was. He turned on the small G.P.S. machine, driving until it was close then stopping. "He's near here." He got out, wandering along the side of the road. "Xander?" he called. He heard a groan so went that way. He found him laying against a tree, mostly conscious. "Hey," he said gently. "You badly hurt?" He shook his head. "Come on, want to get you home. The girls had a rough day too."

Xander nodded as he stood. "Malistrom," he said, almost slipping but catching himself. "Shithead was there." He looked around. "Which one's here?"

"Buffy, why?" Oz asked, getting just a little scared. "You were bitten?"

Xander nodded, starting up toward the van. "Gotta get it fixed." He rested against the side of the van, catching his breath. "Not much pain, few hits. Working out is a good thing," he said, then passed out.

"Buffy!" She came around, helping him get Xander into the van. He got in, starting it. "Malistrom," he said quietly, "and his little *family* are gonna be staked for this." She touched his arm, trying to get him calm. "He was bitten."

She nodded. "Giles and I will give him a Holy Water bath at home."

He started the trip, looking around carefully. "You were followed, could it have been them?" He reached over, turning off the G.P.S. locator. He was calm but it was the calm before his anger took hold and broke somebody in two. "We're going home."

She nodded. "Okay, I'm sure he'll agree." She turned to look in the back. "He's still out but breathing, we're fine." She touched the side of his face. "Tonight, we'll go get him tonight, right after his rally."

Oz nodded, going just a little faster.

' ' ' '

Buffy smiled as she walked through the departing crowd, not wanting to appear suspicious. She approached the small clump of people that her Slayersense told her were vampires. "Hey," she said cheerfully. "Hate to break up the party but I believe I have a calling that's more important." They hissed at her then tried to back away. "Oh, no, not this time."

"Young woman, may I ask who you are?" Malistrom said from behind her.

Buffy looked around as she turned. "The Slayer," she said quietly. "As in I hope you have a will."

A Police officer came up, grabbing her. "Don't worry, sir, we won't let her harm you." He sneered down at her. "I'm sure you'll reconsider your name after some nice medication."

Malistrom nodded happily. "I'm sure she will." He started to walk away but another man stopped him.

"Oh, I don't think so," he said, his voice ringing out clearly. He smiled as the Reverend turned to look at him. "You'll let her go," he told the officer, looking him in the eyes. He nodded and did so. "Just passing through," he told Buffy. "Good guy by the way."

She nodded. "Anyone not one of them at the moment." She turned to look for Malistrom, seeing him running. "Hell."

Marion walked up, staking one from behind. "Got it, sis. Have fun. You want him more." She looked at another from under her lashes but over her glasses. "So, you're gonna do something?"

Buffy ran after Malistrom, wending around slow walkers and loiterers. They made it to the park, him stopping to catch his breath. "Oh, don't hate crimes keep you in shape?" she said, kicking a foot from under him. "I'll have to remember that." She looked around but almost everybody was gone. "Too bad, no lackeys." She ducked his blow. "And you're old and slow."

"I'll show you," he snarled, going to game face.

A woman somewhere nearby screamed. Buffy turned around, seeing their audience. "Damn, wish camouflage was a talent." She looked back toward him. "You're mine," she said, hopping over a bush and running away.

Malistrom, enraged, ran after her. He caught up to her outside a cemetery. "We're alone now, Girlie," he said, throwing her over the fence. "Time to die."

"Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say." She backed up behind a wall where they wouldn't be seen. "So, should I have brought a shovel too or are you a normal vamp?" She blocked his hit, kicking him in the side. "Ah, and not a very good fighter. Guess that's why you send those kids to do it for you." She looked up as someone hopped onto the top of the wall. "Hey," she said to the man that had saved her earlier. "Get lost on the way to the tourist sights?"

"No, just making sure he doesn't kill you."

"Wait your turn," she chided, dodging another blow and landing one of her own, from behind him, right through his heart. "Nighty-night." She waved at him as he dusted. "Ah, good to know some things don't change." She looked up at the, now, two men on the wall. "Friend or foe? 'Cause I gotta get home to study for a test." She put her hands on her hips, tapping a foot while waiting.

"Friend," the blonde, older looking one said. "We mean you and this community no harm, merely passing through." He smiled at her. "Not all of us are of his creation." He turned, hopping down and walking away.

"Theatrical, not much of that seen around here," she told the original guy. "You're friendly too?"

"Very." He smiled. "And guilt ridden." She shuddered. "Problems?"

"Yeah, a I dated one of you like that." She walked away, waving over her shoulder. "Happy tripping and all that."

The other man smiled, hopping down to join his friend. "She's an interesting one."

"Very," the blonde guy said. "At least someone taught this one the differences." He smiled, taking his son's hand. "Where should we go next?"

"Rome. I've wanted to go back for a while now." They walked off into the moonlight.

' ' ' '

Buffy walked into her mother's house, wiping the sweat off her brow. "Did the cops come yet?" Her mother shook her head. "Good, got him." She walked upstairs, headed for the shower. "Hey," she said, stopping in the baby's room to look at Willow talking to her brother. "He's not real talkative yet," she said, leaning against the door frame. "Hey, little guy. Up for a serving of formula?" She waved at him. "I need a shower, I smell very much stinky." She finished going into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She ran her shower, using it quickly as this was the only bathroom. She was out and almost dressed when the first knock came. "Minute," she yelled. "Just gotta get my shirt."

Her mother stuck her head in. "Cops?"

"He ran away, I chased. Ended up first in the park. Someone saw so I ran, he chased. Met a most interesting pair of vampires along the way." She did up her last button. "Got 'em all?"

Joyce nodded. "Yeah." She moved out of the way. "You all right?"

"Sure, just the one fight. Marion got the easy ones that were standing stupidly." She smiled. "Not a rough night." She smiled at her sister. "All yours." She plucked a piece of grass. "One get you?"

Marion wiggled a hand in the air. "Got me down, got stupid." She walked into the bathroom, closing the door.

"We'll work on that next practice," Buffy told her through the door. She walked into their temporary room, smiling at her girlfriend feeding her brother. "You look so calm."

Willow looked up, startled. "Oh, Buffy." She smiled. "He's being a good little fella." She wrinkled her nose. "Except for that."

Buffy waved him away. "Nope, just took a shower." She sat down, watching. "Guys?"

"Holy Water bath in the library." Willow quickly changed the diaper, not even making a face. "He's fine though. They didn't take that much." She picked up the baby again, tossing the diaper into a nearby trash can. "Yeah, we're all gonna be fine now. Your big sister got the bad guy. Yes she did." She picked up the bottle again, going back to feeding him. "Do you ever think about having one?" she asked her girlfriend.

"Nope, not really." She shrugged. "With the other job and all it doesn't make a whole lotta sense."

"Not going to retire?"

"Don't even know if it's possible." She shook her head at the cooing. "You'd be a great one though."

Willow smiled. "You think so?" Buffy nodded, smiling. "I'd like to do this someday."

Oz walked down the stairs. "How many times does he eat?" He sat down on Buffy's lap. "We all right now?" She nodded. "Okay." He looked over at his fiancee. "Baby talking?"

"Thinking," Willow said, defending herself. "I'd like a few someday."

Oz nodded. "I know." He stood up, coming over to look at the little one. "Hey, little guy." He sniffed the air. "We're not leaving that in here tonight." He took the whole trash can up, handing it off to the mother of the family. "Here, Willow's kidnapped him again." They both walked back downstairs. "Hey, actual mom here to repossess."

Willow handed him over, smiling as he was carried back upstairs. "I want one," she said quietly.

Oz laid down beside her. "In a few years when we're ready." He rubbed over the side of her face. "Love you, but I'm not ready for that yet."

Xander walked down, sitting on the bottom stair. "Don't look at me, those things scare me." He grinned. "I'm okay." He received his hugs. "And Giles asked us not to wake them up tonight." He stood, stretching. "I'm really tired." Oz patted the bed. "Sounds like a plan." He laid down, snuggling down into the solid warmth. "You gonna play my song next time?"

Oz nodded, playing with the younger man's hair. "Devon's got his part now." He gathered him closer, holding out his arms for the two women to get into them. "We all going out tomorrow night?"

"Night after," Buffy said.

Oz shook his head. "Night after's a fuzzy night." He looked at his mate. "Will, I promise, in a few years, okay?" She nodded, smiling. "Thanks."

She snuggled up to him, against Xander's back. "I know, but I was wanting only. Not a real 'gonna go do something' wanting, just a wishing-wanting."

Buffy smiled. "You can have them for both of us, how's that?" She laid down behind Willow. "I'm in the top ages attained for the whole group," she said proudly. "My next birthday I'll be older than any other one recorded." She nuzzled the back of Willow's neck. "So said the old guy earlier."

Willow turned her head to frown. "Why? Do you have another 'test'," she almost spit the word, remembering the last one, "this year?"

"No," Buffy sighed, settling in for the night, "most of us just don't make it this long." She closed her eyes. "But then most of them don't have you guys."

Willow smiled. "Yeah, all one of the ones like you should have guys like us." She closed her eyes, wandering into the sleep state where everyone else was.

' ' ' '

Xander sat down on the folding chair, not wanting to touch anything. "So," he asked his insurance lady. "Papers?"

She handed them over. "I wouldn't want to be the one fixing it. You'll need to be someplace else for at least a month." She looked around the room, nose wrinkled in distaste. "How are your personal things?"

Xander looked at the little Christmas grouping. "They're fine." He pointed them out. "Those mean more to me than anything else beside my roommates." She smiled. "I can always get new clothes, new furniture, new stuff, but I can't re-get them or those." He signed his name. "Now what?" She handed over a check. "And this is for what?"

"To replace the things. I've already started court proceedings to recoup the losses. It's the way of the business," she said when he looked distressed. "No one knows where he disappeared to but his church," she snorted, "is still here and so's their money." She stood up. "Want help looking for someplace else?"

"Nope, got the roommates on it." He shook her hand. "I hope you never have to see me again."

She smiled. "Except for payments of fees, me too." She walked out the door, down the stairs.

Xander smiled at the manager, who had wandered up. "We're probably getting it fixed."

"You own it, up to you."

Xander smiled. "Yeah it is, but we all agreed we like this place no matter how cramped it gets at times." He looked down at the cat. "We'll miss you while it's being fixed." He bent down, scratching her head. "Yeah, we'll be back in a month or so." He stood back up. "Insurance estimate of when it'll be done."

The manager smiled. "That's fine. I'll watch over it for you." He wrinkled his nose. "I'll also get some cat air fresheners for the place while you're gone." He turned, leaving the young man and the cat there.

Xander picked up Fuzzy. "Will you miss us, girl?" She purred, settling down into his arms. "Yeah, us too." He stuffed the check in his pocket, closing the door behind him. They could come back later to salvage stuff like clothes. He dropped the cat off at her home, going out to his car. He smiled as he started it, hearing his cell phone ringing in the trunk. Then the car phone rang. "Hey," he answered. "What's up Will?" He had to pull the phone away from his ear at the shriek of happiness. "I take it you found something. Give me a few." He wrote down the directions then hung up, calling his lawyer. "Hey, looks like Willow found a place and I have the insurance check with me. Do I need to stop and do anything there about this?" He smiled as he hung up. "Yeah, almost all's right with the world." He pulled out into traffic, heading to where Willow said she was.

' ' ' '

Xander frowned at his cellphone. "Well, I've been summoned to the lawyers. Be back soon." Buffy bounced on her toes. "Want to come?" She nodded, beating him to the car. He drove them in silence, the friendly sort, to the office where his almost-Uncle worked. "Hi," he said, walking in.

Buffy sat beside him, looking at the young woman that looked vaguely familiar. "Hi, Buffy." She didn't know why but she felt a kinship with this girl.

"I know, I'm your replacement. Veronica."

Xander choked on his soda. "Excuse me?" He looked at her. "You're," he checked the door, lowering his voice. "You're the next Slayer?" She nodded, serene. "When were you called?"

"The other night." She ran a hand through her short hair. "Some old guy came to get me at school last week, sent me back here. Told me to talk to dad so he could hook me up so I could to talk to you guys."

"Then you're training to take mine or Marion's place." Buffy smiled. "It's nice to know that you get to retire." She took Xander's hands. "Let me call my Watcher and let's see if we can't get you guys hooked up too." She plucked Xander's cellphone from his front pocket. "Left mine at home. Which one?"

"Giles? Work is three." He shook his head. "We'll help you of course, until you can gather your own support staff. Even after then if you need us." He took a drink, smiling. "You'll like Giles. He's a Brit but he's cool. Helped us all tons."

"About time," Buffy said. "Yeah, grumble later, listen now. Was someone else called?" She smirked. "Because I'm looking at her. She was sent to Xander's lawyer and told to come to us." She handed the phone over. "Giles wants to talk to you." She leaned back. "This is nice, I'll have a normal life soon."

Xander leaned over, kissing her cheek. "As normal as all of ours." He smiled. "Willow's house is way cool. Got a huge stucco privacy fence and wooden gates. Closer to the outskirts of town but not too far out." He handed Buffy his coke. "Drink it, keep the evil caffeine from me." She took it. "Now then, I'm sure you have questions about the other night?" The older man nodded, sitting back down. "Good idea. Malistrom was a vamp." Veronica smiled. "Yup, we got another big nasty for you." He leaned back, hearing someone outside. "Peoples."

Buffy sneaked over, opening the door suddenly. "Nope, cops." She let the very familiar officer in. "Let me guess, you ranked top in your class for eavesdropping?"

He took the other chair. "Let's just say I heard and leave it at that. Veronica." He smiled kindly at her. "My daughter's been wanting to help her other replacement, Marion. I hope you both give her the chance." He looked at Buffy. "We might ignore you but most of us know who you are and what you've done. We've actually caught you a few times. Some of us have even seen them turn to dust." He pulled out his notepad. "Now, you say Malistrom was one of them?"

"Oh, yeah, that's why he was picking on Xander. We associate." She put her hands on his shoulders. "He attacked a member of my crew to get to me."

Xander patted her hands. "He did it the other night too. I filed paperwork on that."

"We know." He wrote something down. "Is Brazil a non-extradition country?" The lawyer nodded. "Thank you. So, you say he knocked you out then ran off, saying something about Brazil?"

Buffy smiled. "If you say so." She looked over as Willow and Oz walked in. "Great news guys, they think Malistrom's in Brazil."

Oz closed the door. "Okay." He nodded at the other people in the room. "Outsider discussion?"

"Not really. Guys, this is Veronica, she's been called to take my place."

"Or Marion's." Willow started to look really upset. "I like her though."

"And she's fine," Oz said. "Remember Buffy's at the top of the age group as far as the calling." He kissed her cheek, reaching out to fluff Xander's hair. "So, did you like our choice? Has three bathrooms, two killer tubs, and enough rooms for all of us including one big enough for another bed like ours."

He leaned his head back, looking at the couple. "I loved what I saw of it. Did you pick up the check?" Willow nodded, patting her pocket. "Thanks." He looked at the officer. "So, your ball and all that."

The man smiled. "Hey, he went to Brazil. I'm not saying anything and my partner, the rookie of the whole department, will be going on night shift soon. Any word on who that other guy was?"

"Another vampire, but not the same sort from what he and his friend said. Sounded sane at least. They were passing through." She smiled at Willow, who had researched them by description. "One of them was even a cop in Canada."

The officer nodded. "Okay, I don't have a problem with this." He stood. "I don't know you, he's in Brazil. My daughter goes to the same private school Giles works at and Marion goes to and her name's Andrea." He walked out, writing other stuff.

Veronica smiled. "So, I can get you guys to teach me the ropes?" Everyone nodded and her father groaned. "I'm sure Buffy's mother would be happy to tell you how to cope, Papa." She patted the top of his head.

' ' ' '

Willow looked over the attendant people around her. "So, the Joining's in another three weeks, I think, and we still have to make some decisions. Do we move back to the apartment or not? Are we all participating? Where would be another good one."

Xander raised a hand. "I don't know about the first, I'll leave that up to you guys. I own the building so it's not going away." He shrugged, then got to his knees, kneeling in front of her. "As for the second, I'd love to. And the third is easy, I know just the spot." He brushed her hand with his lips. "Thank you for waiting."

"Not a big," Oz said, bending over Willow's legs to kiss his forehead. "We would have waited longer." He took Willow's hand in his. "Canada?"

"Yeah, they were rejoined up there on an anniversary. I wanted to go up and do it there if it's all right." He looked at Buffy. "That is if we can get her unhappy enough to fly."

Buffy smiled around her juice bottle. "I have a right to be happy. I just got told today that on my birthday I get to retire down to a Watcher's position, the first in history." She finished the bottle. "I'd love to go up there for that too." She brushed over his face with the back of her hand. "It sounds very romantic."

Willow brought out the locket she'd used in her binding, the extra one his grandmother had sent him. "I got this fixed today." She unclasped the other one, setting and hitching this new one on. "I hope this one will protect you as well."

"If it was done with the sort of love they shared then it'll protect me forever." He kissed her, then Oz and Buffy. "Thanks." He wiped off a suspicious moisture on his cheek. "I love you."

"Oh, we know," she said, kissing him. Her eyes twinkled as she pulled back. "I know you do." She wiped her lipstick off his lips. "I'm glad that you finally do too."

Buffy smiled. "We should celebrate. And leave the other question for much later."

"We could keep it as an in case something happens and let Marion move in when she's old enough," Willow said. "That'll only be in a few years." She wiped at the moisture on her cheeks. "I like this house. It fits us." She looks at the mural on the wall, seeing the forms in the bricks dancing. "It's like they belong with the Christmas stuff." She looked at the stuff on the mantle. "All four of us belong here." She smiled at her husband to be. "And the garage is big enough."

"There's the practice room over it too," Oz pointed out. "Devon was really pleased." He grasped Buffy's hand. "The gym's a nice touch too."

"I feel respectable," Xander said. He got up, moving Willow's legs to sit in Oz's lap. "Cure me of it?"

Oz smiled. "Sure, how would you like me to do that? Debauch you until you scream my name?" He ran his hands up the younger man's sides. "Or should I just take you here in front of everyone." He tickled him lightly. "Gotta tell me these things."

"Bed, but they can watch." He rubbed just a little. "Unless you want the whole neighborhood to watch." He licked over Oz's throat, sucking briefly on his adams apple. "Or we could do it on top of them if they don't want to move." He turned his head to smile sexily at the two women beside them. "Why don't we leave it up to them?" he whispered.

Willow stood, pulling Buffy with her. "Chair, we want to watch it like that." She sat on the floor, watching the two guys look at each other. "Oh, come on, it's not like you're both not stretched and clean. You just got done about an hour ago."

Xander wiggled off, standing. "Yeah we did, didn't we." He looked down at his two women. "Why do we only do this as couples?" He picked up Oz's hand, holding out one for Buffy's. "I want to be really well debauched tonight." He led them up the stairs. "Coming Will?" She jumped up, jogging up after them.

' ' ' '

Xander watched in fascination as his wrist was bound with his mates, smiling at the happy tears he could see on the other's faces through his own. He stepped closer to them, completing their circle. "I do so swear to be thine's for all time. May you punish me if I get scared and try to run again." He kissed each one in turn, then blinked. He was standing in the same clearing but now there was only them and four kinda shimmery people. "Grandma," he sighed, happy. "I'm glad you came."

"So are we, dear." She walked over, surrounding the outside of them. "I'm glad you decided to be brave and go with your heart." She kissed him. "We offer you a blessing. May you have as much and more happiness together than we did and more time to spend it with your loved ones."

Her senior husband, Xander recognized him as the cop in the convenience store that night, stepped up. "Young one, I wanted to get to know you better but was dead by then. May you get to know your children and the children of their hearts. May they all be happy and healthy."

The other man stepped forward, the nurse from the hospital dream. "All of you deserve all of life's happiness every day." He tossed something into the center of them. "May all your wishes come true and your hearts guide you right."

The other woman, the second wife in the family, walked forward. "Young ones, I was long gone before you were even thought of but I watched over you always." She smiled, tossing something else into the center of them. "May all your children be gifted in some way, and may it help them and keep them safe and happy." She touched Buffy's cheek. "None of yours will be one of you but one of your grandchildren may be. Guard them all well, protector, but live the happiness also. Never forget to live."

She stepped back and his Grandmother stepped forward again, touching his new locket. "You all are blessed with the truest of loves, use it for the greater good." She touched each one. "Never forget that you can count on one another through all things and a weakness is what defines your strengths. Live long and prosper." They all left, but her last words echoed around them, "May all your weaknesses and strengths become the others and your gifts the same. They are what will give you the most strength."

The whole group faded back to their normal reality.

"Wow," Willow said. "I've never heard of that happening." She smiled at Xander. "Your gifts?"

"Maybe, all I know is that it's a pass it on thing." He kissed her. "It was all of us."

"As it will always be," Giles said. He unwrapped the cord, not untying the knot. "Go in peace," he said, kissing each one on the cheek. "We're very happy for you," he said before going to give them some privacy.

Willow wiped each of their cheeks. "I love you guys." She was hugged, as were all of them, by everyone at once.

"This is just the beginning of the tale," Oz said. He looked at his mates, newly made. "We have a lifetime to write the story of us." He joined their hands in his. "Together."

The End.

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