Chapter Five: The Wish

AN: I debated on whether I was even going to do this episode. But I decided I was just going to cut out the wish verse parts.

Buffy called up Xander and Willow and asked them if they wanted to come and patrol with her. She was on the hunt for this demon. Willow and Xander both agreed to.

The three of them headed over to the park where Buffy thought the demon would be. But mostly they were just enjoying another sun-shiney day.

Buffy turned the corner and the green scaly slimy demon jumped at them and Buffy started attacking him. The demon had her against the tree and his hands around her neck and raised her up. Xander tried to get that demon off her but the demon pushed him into the picnic table. Buffy needed a weapon.

"Nrrff. Nrrff", Buffy said as much as she could because she couldn't really talk with the demon's hands around her throat.

Willow was frantically looking for a weapon to kill a demon in a bag of stuff and Xander was finally coming to after being knocked unconscious.

"Oh god! demon! demon! What kills a demon?" Willow asked searching through the bag.

"Nrrf Nrrff!"Buffy yelled at her.

"Oh,nerf. Not nerf. Knife", Willow said grabbing the knife out of the bag.

She threw to Buffy and she caught it mid-air and stabbed the demon in the chest. The demon fell over taking Buffy with it. Willow and Xander helped her up.

"Okay. That was too close comfort. Not that slaying is ever comfy, but... you know what I mean? If you guys hadn't been here to help...", Buffy explained.

"But, we were, and we did and we're all fine", Willow said

She looked down to the demon.

"Isn't he gonna go poof?" Willow asked.

Buffy, Willow and Xander all looked exhausted from tackling the demon. Xander looked like he was gonna drop at any second.

"Mmm I guess these guys don't. We'll have to bury him or something. Uhhhrff", Buffy said annoyed that she had clean up to deal with.

The trio walked over to the picnic table.

"Makes you appreciate vamps, though. No fuss, no muss", Buffy said.

They all sat on the picnic table Xander and willow on the ends and Buffy in the middle. Willow grabbed a drink.

"So how come Faith was a no-show? I thought mucus-y demons were her favorites", Xander said munching a snack.

"Couldn't reach her... Again. She hasn't been hanging out as much", Buffy said worried about her friend.

"I detect worry", Xander said as if he was reading her mind.

"A little bit. Slaying's a rough gig. Too much alone time isn't healthy. Stuff gets pent up", Buffy explained.

"We should try to do more socializing with her", Willow suggested.

"Well, burial detail aside, does this cap us off for the day?" Xander asked.

"You got plans?" Buffy asked wondering if he talked to Cordelia.

"I cannot stress how much I don't have plans", Xander said.

"No luck reaching Cordelia", Buffy asked.

"I've left a few messages. Sixty... Seventy... But you know what really bugs? Okay we kissed. It was a mistake. But that was positively the last time we were ever gonna kiss", Xander explained

"Darn tootin' ", Willow said.

"And then they burst in, without even knocking? I mean this is really all their fault", Xander tried explaining.

"Your logic does not resemble our earth logic", Buffy told him.

"Mine is much more advanced", Xander explained as to why he was talking crazy talk.

She wanted to be there for her friends, but she was really trying to hide her happiness. Her and Oz had been hiding their relationship for a couple weeks and she was happy with him, but she hated that she couldn't tell her friends about it. But she didn't want to tell hurt Willow especially since everything was so fresh. Eventually Oz and Willow become friends again and they could tell them and hopefully no one would find out before. She really, really hoped.

"At least tomorrow is a school day", Willow said.

"Well, that's good. You, know focus on school. That's the strong Willow way to heal", Buffy said.

", I was more thinking Oz will be there, and I can beg for forgiveness", Willow explained.

'If you only knew', Buffy thought.

Buffy did feel guilty about seeing Oz and keeping it from her best friends but the situation between Willow and Oz wasn't her doing. Willow was the one who kissed Xander.

She knew when they did eventually tell Willow (and Xander) all hell was probably going to let loose.

But she had a feeling Xander was gonna lend his shoulder to cry on. Those two weren't done with each other.

"Well, I guess that works too", Buffy said to her.

"I-I wanna be strong Willow. But, then I think I may never get to be close to Oz again, and it's like all the air just goes out of the room", Willow said.

Buffy tried not to look guilty.

Here she was listening to her best friend go on about how her life is shit and how bad she felt about it. When all she wanted to do was shout from the rooftops how happy she was.

"Tell us Buffy, I mean you went through this with Angel, and you're still standing. So, tell us, oh wise one, how do you deal? " Xander asked.

"I have you guys", Buffy answered honestly.

She was telling the truth. Her situation was a little different though she didn't kiss another guy. Angel just turned evil after she slept with him. They never imagined they'd get the real Angel back.
"Well, we better stop moping about it", Willow said and got off the picnic table.

The other two followed suite and they walked home.

As soon as she got home she called Oz.

"I mean I feel so guilty about this. Willow's talking to me about how she feels so bad about what happened and all I can say is it'll get better", Buffy told Oz.

"I know Buff, but she made her bed this is her fault", Oz told her.

"I know but all I can think about how you'd probably gotten with Willow; eventually if it weren't for me ", Buffy told Oz guiltily.

Oz sighed.

"Buffy. Do you regret being with me? " Oz asked her.

"No. Of course, not but that doesn't mean I still don't feel guilty about it", Buffy said.

"I get it but, I'm not gonna feel guilty for having feelings for you when she was kissing Xander", Oz said. "Plus, you even said wait to tell them because it's too soon".

"Yeah. I guess I just hate keeping things from them. That's how this whole mess started. People keeping secrets", Buffy explained.

"Everything will work out how it's supposed to", Oz said.

"Ok. Talk to you tomorrow", Buffy said.

The next day at school Buffy ran into Oz a couple times but nothing too suspicious.

Buffy was on her way to class, but she was gonna pass Oz's locker and leave him a note.

But, of course Willow was practically guarding his locker.

She put the note back in her notebook for safe keeping.

"How's it going? " Buffy asked as she came up behind Willow.

"Oz hasn't been to his locker. There may be books in there that he needs, but still he doesn't come", Willow said worriedly.

'That's because he's too busy running into me', Buffy thought.

"Has Xander seen Cordelia? " Buffy asked sincerely.

"I don't think so. But she is coming in today Amy saw her last night at the mall", Willow told her and went back to looking at Oz's locker.

To be honest she was worried about Cordelia. Her sudden fall from grace probably didn't help her.

"How was she?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know. Amy said she looked pretty... Scary", Willow told Buffy.

Buffy sighed.

Buffy put her hand on Willow's shoulder.

"Good luck", Buffy said to her friend.

A couple of classes later Buffy went back to try again, and Oz was at his locker.

Buffy went up to him.

"Hey," Buffy said as he was working his combination.

"Hey, back", Oz said and smiled at her.

They were both unaware of the fact that Willow was watching them.

"Just wanted to see how you were doing", Buffy said and grabbed his hand and slipped him the note and let his hand go.

"Been better. Thanks for asking", Oz said. trying not to be too inconspicuous when all he wanted to do was kiss her.

"Of course. You're still my friend. We do still share that whole werewolf thing", Buffy said. "Well...I better jet. You know people to see Demons to kill."

Buffy didn't want to look to suspicious and Buffy and Oz talking more than a couple minutes would be suspicious especially, because knowing Willow she was watching the whole thing.

"Bye", Oz said as he watched her leave.

Oz quickly put his hand in his pocket to put the note away until he could read it later.

Willow no sooner came up to him.

"Oz! Wow", Willow said he opened his locker and slowly looked at her. "Look at us, running into each other, as two people who go to the same school are so likely to do and then", Oz wanted to roll his eyes at her.

"Hey", Oz said and went to leave.

"Oz, wait. Please? " Willow said trying to get him to talk to her.

Oz stopped against his better judgement.

"What I did... When I think that I hurt you...", Willow said to him.

"Yeah, you said all this stuff already", Oz said to her.

"Right, but... I want to make it up to you. I mean if you let me, I want to try", Willow said.

Oz sighed. He had to end this now with no possibility of hope.

"Just...stop. I'm sorry this is hard for you. But, if I'm honest I don't think I can forgive what you did and, I can't help feeling like the reason you want to talk is, so you can feel better about yourself. That's not my problem", Oz said coldly and left Willow standing in the hallway with tears streaming down her face.

After Oz walked down the hallway a bit he took out the note in his pocket.

Oz,

I wish I could talk to you more than a couple minutes in the hallway But, we can't. At least not without drawing attention to ourselves.

So, this is the best I can do. I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you and if it was up to me we'd be walking down the hallway hand in hand happy as clams.

Buffy

Oz smiled.

Later that night Willow, Buffy and Xander had decided to go to the Bronze. Buffy was on the phone with Oz for an hour before that. He told her about his conversation with Willow. He also thanked her for the note.

Buffy, Willow and Xander were sitting on a couch beneath the stairs. Xander was watching Cordelia pretending to her have fun with her friends Xander forced himself to laugh when he heard Cordelia laughing.

He looked back at Willow and Buffy.

Buffy and Willow exchanged a look.

"Excuse me, I need to both giving and receiving of mirth. Is it too much to ask for a little backup? Xander asked.

"I'm here for you, Xand. I'm support-o-gal. I just… Feel a little weird about this us-against-Cordelia thing. She's had a rough time," Buffy explained.

Truthfully Cordelia was the only one who was guilt free.

"It's true. Cordelia belongs to the justified camp. She should make us pay and pay and pay and pay…In fact, there's not enough pay for what we….", Willow said before Xander cut her off.

"Look, you want to do guilt-a-palooza, fine, but I'm done with that. Starting this minute, I'm gonna grab ahold of that crazy little thing called life and let it do it's magical little heal-y thing. What's done is done. Let's be in the moment. Behold the beauty that is now. Who's with me? "Xander ranted.

"He's actually making sense. We're young and free in America. How dare we be spun by love or lack of the same", Buffy said.

"Absolutely. I-It's self-indulgent. I-I'm, I'm on the joy train", Willow said and smiled.

All three tried to put on smiles but they just looked glum again.

"Well, that didn't work. Seriously Will, how are you doing?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know if I have it in me to cry anymore. I just can't believe we're done. I've hurt him so bad he never wants to be with me again," Willow said sadly.

"Who wants chocolate", Buffy asked hoping it would make everything a little better.

Willow and Xander raised their hands.

"I'm up", Buffy said and got up from the couch to get in line to get hot chocolate.

"Look at her", Xander said referring to Cordelia. "Tears of a clown, baby. Or is it…grins of a sad person?" Xander touched her hand and Willow immediately looked at Xander, which of course he saw.

"I'm sorry. Should I?" Xander asked hinting at whether he should remove his hand.

Willow pondered on it. If Oz had given her any hope what-so-ever she would've said no but she started to think maybe they had a shot of being together.

"No, that's okay". Willow said and smiled at him which he returned.

"You know that's what got us into this mess", Xander said.

"True. But, difference being that we're both free agents now. Oz is done with me and Cordelia is definitely done with you", Willow said.

Xander looked at her hurt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to- ", Willow continued. "I just meant we could give this an actual shot not, you know feel guilty about a few stolen kisses".

Xander looked at her and smiled.

"I think this is all happening really fast. You and Oz just ended things with you and as you say Cordelia and I are way done. Let's wait make sure we really feel this way and not just because we're both feeling lonely", Xander explained to her.

Willow looked at him and nodded.

She wasn't happy, but she understood.

Buffy watched as her two best friends were in an intense talk. She smiled.

'Maybe they're working it out', Buffy thought.

Buffy watched as Cordelia left the Bronze and decided to follow her.

"Hey, Cordelia, wait a second", Buffy said calling after her.

Cordelia stopped and turned around.

"Did Xander send you to beg for him?", Cordelia asked.

"No, I'm a free agent. I jus wanted to see how you were", Buffy aske.

"Never Better", Cordelia said and started to leave again.

Buffy followed her.

"Cordelia, I know what it's like to be hurt by someone. Hurt so much that you don't think you're gonna make it. But I told my friend how I felt, and you know what? I got a little better," Buffy said.

A vampire suddenly jumped down behind Buffy and swung at her head. Buffy blocked it. She punched him in the face and it sends him to the pavement. Buffy punched him while he was down. She reached for his shirt and pulled him to his feet. She spun him around and let go of his shirt. He staggered backwards but kept his footing. He went forward and did two roundhouse kicks which Buffy blocked.

He tried to wide punch Buffy's head, but she ducked it and got back up to kick him in his side. He stumbled backwards right into Cordelia.

"Cordelia, look- "Buffy tried to warn Cordelia.

Cordelia got knocked into a pile of a garbage.

"Out", Buffy finished.

The vampire gets up and Buffy quickly fights him more before staking him.

Buffy looked at Cordelia apologetically.

Harmony and her friends walk out of the Bronze and laugh as they walk by Cordelia.

"You know what I've been asking myself a lot this last week? Why me? Why do I get impaled? Why do I get bitten I think I've finally figured it out, what my problem is? It's you", Cordelia said laughing.

Buffy sighed.

'Well that could've gone better', Buffy thought.

After Buffy, Xander and Willow left the Bronze. Buffy went home and called Oz again.

"Hello", Oz answered.

"We need to tell Willow", Buffy said worriedly.

"Buffy, are you sure- ", Oz started.

"Yes", Buffy finished.

AN: So, I decided to pick this up again. Hopefully I can stick updating every other week. I say hopefully.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Next up is Amends and I have big Buffy and Oz plans for this one.