Title: What? No Welcome Party? 5/5
Author: Beth Squires
E-mail: BethNirvanaChiWilliams@E-squires.freeserve.co.uk
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Oz has left Sunnydale, but gets a girl-shaped visitor.
Disclaimer: This story hopefully doesn't infringe on the rights of the owners of Buffy or its writers. Well, it's not meant to anyway. Please don't sue I have v. little money.
Distribution: Post it anywhere you like, just tell me first please! Archived at Buffy and Oz writers Guild Site
-Thanx 4 the support I love ya,Sharon!
Feedback: This is my first EVER fic, so any encouragement or feedback is appreciated immensely!!!!
Spoilers: Season 4 Buffy, Season 1 Angel

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Oz locked the door behind him and turned to face the mirror. He ran his fingers through his hair and over his profile in the mirror.
'What are you doing...?' He asked himself, aloud because it made everything seem more real. As he thought about the deep intensity of the kiss, behind him a light started to glow softly, becoming more intense by the second.

*Great, not on the Hellmouth, but this shit still follows me here...* All of a sudden, Oz cried out as he was knocked to the floor by a beautiful naked girl with mahogany brown hair and deep enthralling eyes. As he stared into them he saw Willow crying with her head on Tara's shoulder. He blinked back tears at seeing his ex in so much pain...

'Willow.'
Surprisingly she looked straight at him, through the girl's eyes... 'Tara, it worked!..... Hey Oz.'

Oz squinted in disbelief; *This cannot be happening*

'It is, Oz it is.' Willow grinned goofily at Oz. 'Ok, so you can read my thoughts now?.... It's true then...' Oz said looking towards Tara.

'Yes, it is.... but listen to me. I don't love you any less, Oz, just differently. When I met Tara, she was everything you weren't... here, faithful...'

'...and female...' Oz retorted, bitterly.

'Yes, female. Look, I can't explain what it is between us, but I love her Oz, and if you cared about me as much as you say that you do, then you would be happy for me.' Willow wore a pained expression. The raven-haired girl took Oz's hand in hers.

'What the...'
'It's ok, Oz, I'm controlling her.'
'Because this couldn't get any more freaky?..'
'Oh Oz. Look the spell's fading, I have to go....You'll always be a part of me, ok.... '

'Alright, see you Willow.'
'Sooner than you think.' Tara whispered softly.

The raven-haired girl collapsed in a heap on the floor. *Thanx, leave an unconcious girl in my bathroom - what an afterthought...* Oz flicked water on the girl's face, trying to get her to wake up...

'OZ, ARE YOU OKAY IN THERE?' Buffy started pounding on the door, bringing Oz back to his senses.

'Fine Buffy...hang on a sec...' *just dealing with a dead-to-the-world girl here.* The girl's eyes flickered open and as she stared deeply at Oz, there was no sign of Willow.

'Whe... Where am I?' She looked confused. 'In LA? Uh, you had a bump on the head on the....uh..... train......... on the way here........ and me and my uh, girlfriend took you in here to uh, come round... yeah.'

Oz looked pleased with himself, the girl sat up and shook her head. 'So you're saying, one minute I'm in a club and a cute guy is buying me drinks, and the next I'm on a train to LA with a guy and his girlfriend that I don't even know... and then...'

Oz helped her up, looking embarrassed trying to cover her modesty with a towel.

'....... no wait this is the best part, I'm...' She tried to open the door; '... locked in a bathroom with the guy, *naked*... and where's the girlfriend now? .... No, I don't want to know. Find me some clothes and let me get the hell out of here!'

Oz opened the door, and the girl thrust the towel at him, storming into Oz's room and searching through Buffy's suitcase. Buffy looked questioningly at Oz, who just shrugged his shoulders in bewilderment.

'What, because you hadn't broken enough hearts today?' Buffy asked and glared at Oz, all logic of how the naked girl got there already out the window.

The girl returned from Oz's room and looked at Buffy. 'Ok, I don't know what your relationship with this sicko pervert is, but are you familiar with the date-rape drug? Because I think that he is using it on innocent women such as myself.'

Buffy almost laughed as Oz sunk down on the sofa, his head in his hands. 'I'm sorry, what's your name?''
'Susannah.'
'Okay, Susannah, this is Daniel. We've had a long and turbulent relationship. Unfortunately, he was abused as a child and...uh due to that terrible experience... now is mentally ill. He's only allowed out for one weekend a month, and I'm so, so sorry. Please don't report this, it'll ruin him.'

Oz grinned manically at Susannah, who half-smiled back uncomfortably. 'Okaaaay, but look, I'm not a pushover - what he did was wrong. I'm sorry that he's ill, but you need to take better care of him ok?' 'Will do, sorry for any inconvenience.... see you.'

Buffy shut the door behind her and started to question Oz, who's manic grin had turned into a loving stare directed at Buffy. 'What the hell was that about?'

'That was a message-o-gram from Willow. She spoke through Susannah's eyes and then when Willow had finished talking to me, the girl collapsed.' 'Would it have been too much trouble for Willow to put clothes on her?' Oz squirmed.... 'I guess it was like a present... or maybe Tara had something to do with it...'

Oz frowned and Buffy laughed at his conspiracy theory.
'Or maybe the spell just went wrong?'
'I guess that makes more sense, sorry that I stormed off into the bathroom. I just had to sort out my feelings.'

Buffy walked over to the couch and looked at him expectantly. 'So? Did you?'

'Oz turned away, hiding a smirk. Buffy expected the worst. 'Oh... so it's like that....'

'Talking to Willow made me realise that her and I had something special, something that I never thought I'd ever be able to find again, if we ended.' Buffy sat down and looked sad.

'We did end, however, and I think I have found it.... again.' Oz turned to face Buffy and lifted up her chin with his hand.

'I think I love you, Buffy Summers.'

Buffy mock pouted.. 'Think?'

Oz looked uncomfortable. 'Well, this is all happening so quickly and I... I...'

Buffy grinned, and Oz looked relieved. 'Shut up and kiss me.... lover.'

Okay, that's the end! Finally!!!!
Bethie
xxxxxx