Story: What The Future Holds: A Moment To Late

["Femvamp " <femvamp000@xxxxxxxxx>]

Still on a roll. But going to bed now. 


TITLE: What The Future Holds: A Moment To Late
AUTHOR: Femvamp
E-MAIL: Femvamp000@xxxxxxxxx
FEEDBACK: Yeah. Yeah. Feedback. I need some feedback.
DISTRIBUTION: You want it? It's yours. Just tell me where you put 
it so I can check out your site.
SPOILERS: New Moon Rising (one of my favorite episodes)
DISCLAIMER: Joss Wheadon and many others own the characters of BtVS 
(lucky bastards). 
NOTE: Once again use dialog, but I cut Riley out of most of the 
scenes (if only I could do that on the real show.


A Moment Too Late

" Patrol's been totally uneventful. My kill count's way down."

Once again the gang, Xander, Giles, Anya, Buffy and Willow were 
sitting in Giles' flat talking about recent events. Willow had 
managed to bring Tara along, introducing her as one of her wicca 
friends. The group was, at first a little worried, but soon they 
were all charmed by Tara. 

" She means there's been less bad-guy activity." Willow said to Tara.

" Well, we know what that often indicates" Giles commented.

": Buffy doesn't make her quota." Xander shook his finger at Buffy, " 
Bad slayer!"

" Well, I wish it were that innocuous, but with Adam around, I feel 
he's involved somehow." Giles said worried.

The group at recently discovered what Professor Walsh had tried so 
hard to keep a secret. She had been creating a super weapon, a 
creature part man part demon. Her creation, like the Frankenstein 
monster he was, had killed his creator. Now the Inniative was in an 
uproar, which should have meant more demons to kill. Instead there 
were none, which had the group more then a little worried.

" When things get slow, it's usually because there's some extra evil 
brewing." Willow said to Tara who was a little startled by the 
conversation.

"I've heard from a few sources of mine that the Inniative is going 
bonkers with demons." Xander commented, "Up to their ears in um."

"That's a metaphor." Willow once again tried to ease Tara's way into 
the group.

Tara smiled, " I got it, thanks."

" I'm overhelping, aren't I?" 

Tara laughed.

They continued to talk for awhile and Giles was about to bring 
something up of some importance when everyone looked startled. Giles 
looked at the door and standing there was Oz.

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Willow and Oz walked through town neither of them speaking at first. 
There was so much to say but neither of them knew exactly how to say 
it. Eventually they began to talk. It was awkward at first but they 
both needed the moment.

"I know what I put you through, and I'm not gonna push. But I am... a 
different person than when I left. And I can be what you need now."

Willow just stared at him. If he had said those words a week before 
she would have ran to his arms forgiving him everything. Now things 
where different. Willow didn't quite know why, but..... things were 
different.

They went back to Willow's dormroom so that Willow could pick of a 
coat so they could continue their walk. Willow decided she need to 
freshen up so she went to the bathroom. When she came back Oz looked 
a little confuse.

" Your friend came by. The blonde girl? But she wouldn't stay." Oz 
turned around to put on his coat. " So what do you think? Where you 
wanna go?"

If Oz had been paying attention he would have noticed the look of 
worry on Willow's face.

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Buffy had spent the night at her mother's house. She had decided to 
give Oz and Willow space to talk. Buffy liked Oz and she knew how 
much Willow missed him. Willow had been there for her for all the 
troubles in her life, so no it was her turn. Buffy would do whatever 
it took to make Willow happy.

" I was with him all night." Willow responded to Buffy's question.

Buffy grinned, " All night? Oh my god." Buffy sat on Willows bed, 
"Wait. Last 
night was a wolf moon, right?"
" Yup."

" Either you're about to tell me something incredibly kinky, or-"

" No kink." Willow smiled, "He didn't change, Buffy. He said he was 
gonna 
find a cure, and he did. In Tibet."

" Oh my god. I can't believe it." Buffy paused, " Okay, I'm all with 
the woo-hoo here, and you're not."

" No, there's "woo" and, and "hoo." But there's "uh-oh," and... "why 
now?" And... it's complicated."

" Why complicated?"

Willow sighed, " It's complicated... because of Tara."

" You mean Tara has a crush on Oz? No." Buffy paused for a moment, 
"Oh."

Willow smiled nervously at Buffy. She hadn't planned on telling Buffy 
the way she felt. It was the last thing on her mind. Especially with 
the way she felt for Buffy. But Buffy was one of those unattainable 
things that Willow had long ago given up hope on. Tara however had 
possibilities. 

Buffy stood up, " Oh. Um... well... that's great. You know, I mean, I 
think Tara's a, 
a really great girl, Will."

" She is. And... there's something between us. It-it wasn't something 
I was looking for. It's just powerful. And it's totally different from 
what Oz and I have."

" Well, there you go, I mean, you know, you have to - you have to 
follow your heart, Will. And that's what's important, Will."

" Why do you keep saying my name like that?"

Buffy tried very hard to be happy, " Like what, Will?"

Willow stood up from her bed, " Are you freaked?"

Buffy immediatly said she wasn't freaked but neither of them believed 
her. Willow thought that it was because Buffy was a little wigged at 
the newest revelation about her life. She was wrong.

Buffy was freaked because she realized how she felt about her friend. 
She finally had something in common with Oz. They were both a moment 
to late.




TBC