Willow, finally getting the strength to leave Oz's place, had made her way slowly back to the campus. She was sitting on her bed, looking out the window. She felt like the sun was mocking her.

'I'm bright and happy, and you can't be.'

Lousy. Broken. Destroyed. That's how she felt. Oz had just left her. Just left.

And she had almost used the black arts to curse him. That was really responsible. She was so close. Sure she didn't go through with it, but how was she supposed to show Buffy and Giles that she was ready to handle the bigger magick if she turned to that stuff every time she had a problem? She was supposed to use her powers for good.

Buffy. Where was she anyway? She needed someone. Needed her to reassure her. She wouldn't have been surprised if Buffy had thrown all her 'get a boyfriend' talks back in her face, but Buffy wouldn't do that. Since Willow had a boyfriend she thought that meant she could give advice, because she knew all the answers. Now she didn't have any.

Where was she?

Then, the door opened, and Buffy walked in carrying a round box. She walked over to the bed, and sat it down. Willow turned around and looked at her.

"I know you said you didn't want any chocolates or anything, but I needed some…and I thought you could use some anyway…and…do you…I mean…do you need anything?"

"Sit. Please?"

"Sure."

Buffy sat next to Willow, and waited.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you…mean it when you said…you loved me?"

"Course I did."

"Really? Cause Oz said he did too, and then he left me."

As much as she didn't want to cry again, she couldn't help it. Buffy wrapped her arms around her friend's small frame, and held her.

"I'm sorry, Will. God…you know he loves you."

"He left…even you left me."

Buffy turned Willow so she was facing her, and looked her in the eyes.

"But I came back. I'm never leaving again. And so will he."

"And what if he does? It won't be like before. I can't just say, 'Hey you slept with someone and didn't tell me or trust me enough, but it really doesn't matter.' I can't do that Buffy. I don't know if I can rebuild 'us' again."

"You rebuilt 'us'. It took time, but we did it."

"We're different."

"Oz didn't break up with you."

"Yes he did. As soon as he walked out the door."

"I felt the same way." Buffy suppressed a laugh. "I'm not good at the supportive thing. I'm supposed to make you feel better, and I'm not."

"Yes you are. Better than you think." Willow opened the box, and saw the assorted chocolates inside. She picked up one and popped it in her mouth. "We're really something."

"You mean the two women scorned thing? We sure are. You with Oz…" Buffy picked up a piece.

"You with Angel…" They both erased Parker from their minds.

"Although they both had good reasons for leaving."

"They think we couldn't handle their beasty sides? They never even gave us a choice."

"I still think about that, you know. It hurts, but I think, I hope he's making a difference in LA. Oz needs to figure things out. Like I did."

"I know…but I just wished we could have figured it out…"

"Together? Yeah, me too. But how much would, do we, really understand what they're going through?"

They were quiet for awhile, eating the chocolate.

"This is the first time we've both…been in the same situation."

"It is, isn't it? You know what I think? I think we're going in a circle." Willow looked questioningly at her. "Hang on, I'll make sense in a sec. We started off in the center, together, and then Angel came along.

"I went to the outside of the circle with him, and you were in the center. Then Oz came along, and we were both on opposite sides. Then Angel went evil, and I was in the center. Alone. For a long time.

"Then Scott came along, and I was on the outside, and you still had Oz. Scott fell through, and I was in the center again. You had your little indiscretion," Willow blushed at the memory, "and we were both in the center for a little while."

All the while, they had still been eating the chocolate.

"Then Angel and I became couple-ly again, and you and Oz went back."

"Outside again?"

"Right. Then Angel…left…and I've been in the center ever since."

"What about..." Buffy just looked at her. "Right. Doesn't count. That was deep, Buffy."

"Really? Thanks. Hey, maybe I'm channeling some old poet or philosopher guy."

"Maybe. So we're both in the center now. Together. For probably a long time. So…"

"Now what?" Willow nodded, and Buffy looked down at the box. "Look at that. Two pieces left."

In the box, two pieces that were in the center, were the only ones they hadn't eaten. Willow looked, and then she kissed her friend. Buffy was a little surprised at first, but then responded. After a few seconds, they pulled apart.

"Was that…I mean…okay?"

"I told you I loved you, didn't I?"

Willow smiled. "I -"

"I know."

They kissed again, and the two pieces remained uneaten. Maybe the center wasn't so bad.