Title: Purple Pajamas and a Paradox (1/1)
Author: Queena
E-mail: thessulah@aol.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Buffy and Oz have another date. Hopefully, this one won't get messed up.
Feedback: You know I want it, that I need it. It's an addiction. Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns the characters used in this story. Not me. Author's Notes: This is the seventh in my "Blood Pump" series. Dedication: To Kate Keene, who's just a nifty person. And Laure. Plus, all of the other people who have given me feedback for this series. And Craww cuz she’s a groovy beta reader. Can’t forget Tiki. ;) Luvs ya all.

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No primping and preening tonight. Tonight is just too special for all of that bullshit. And I don't really need to wear make-up and form-fitting clothes to please Oz. Or, at least, I don't think I do. No, tonight I want to be comfortable. It's just too hard to cuddle in a lycra mini-skirt. Now, where the hell did Mom put those plum, silk pajamas? Okay, so maybe I'll do a little primping, but no preening. I just want to look cute. Hmmmm, maybe they're on top of the dryer.

Please, God, don't let anything ruin tonight. The icecapades was a big bust, other than that sweet kiss. Then, the other night at the club, my meeting with Angel put one helluva damper on my good mood. Oz was sweet though. He seemed to sense that something was wrong and he took me home, leaving me with the sweetest of kisses. Just me and him and Blockbuster tonight. And hopefully some bone-rockin' smoochies.

Yep, on the dryer. God, Mom, you're so predictable. It must be nice. Mystery isn't all that it's chalked up to be, and I know about that firsthand. I'll just change down here. I hope there are no zombie cats lurking in the shadows. Geez, Buffy, paranoia strikes deep or what? This isn't Sunnydale. 'Course, it would be just my luck to have a Hellmouth open in my basement just to ruin my big date with Oz.

Ding-ding-da ding-ding! No! He can't be here yet! And why the hell did my mom have to get a doorbell that plays "I Feel Pretty"? Damnit, hands, stop shaking or I'll never be able to get this damn shirt buttoned. It's a good thing that he doesn't ring the bell continuously until the door is answered, like Xander. I'd have to slay him for that. Of course, Oz has proven on more than one occasion that he's pretty much the complete opposite of Xander. I love the boy, but he's such a lameass.

Okay, ow. Note to self, running up stone stairs barefoot at break-neck speed hurts. Okay, breathe, smooth your clothes, act casual, smile. K, got it.

Gee, why is he looking around all nervous like? Ah hah, eye contact. Aw, I'll never understand what it is about me that makes his eyes cloud over with so much warmth. God, he looks....disheveled? What's up with that?

"Oz, what's wrong?" Get in here, hope I didn't grab him too hard, but there might be bad, evil type thingies out there.

"Huh?" God, space much? What the hell is wrong? Do I have a stain on my shirt or something? Oh, he's just...looking at me.

"Why do you look like you've gone a couple of rounds with a baddie?" He looks like he needs to sit down. In the living room, yeah. Where's the living room again? Oh, yeah, through that one doorway. The big one.

"I did." What?!

"What?! Are you hurt?" Hmm, I can use my concern for evil too. I can pretend to search him for injuries while I'm really just trying to feel him up. Oooo, firm. Mind out of the gutter, Buff.

"I'm okay, but...something weird happened." When isn't something weird happening? What's new? I hope this doesn't ruin our night.

"Okay, well you can tell me all about it after I get you something to drink. What would you like?" Always get bonus points for being a gracious hostess. Mom taught me that.

"Bottled water, if ya got it." He must be kidding. That's practically all we ever drink anymore. Mom heard some myth about aphrodisiacs in Nutra Sweet, as if. So, now, no more Diet Dr. Pepper for me. But I get fruity fruit juices. I need the Vitamin C.

"K, I'll be back in a sec." It would be a milli-sec, but even I can't move that fast. Hmmm, ah hah, two bottles of water. Back. Maybe I can move in a milli-sec.

"Here ya go."

"Thank you." It's sometimes shocking to see a guy his age being so polite. I'm not used to it, except when it's him. I like his politeness.

"Now, tell me what it was that made the normally so calm being that is Oz flap."

Deep breath. He always takes a deep breath when he has to say a lot of stuff at one time. I can tell that this is going to be a long story. Or at least a ten sentence explanation, which is long for him. "Well, I was leaving Devon's after band practice...and I was on my way here." Either he has to stop to smile at me or because he needs frequent breaks while engaged in the art of speaking. I like to think it's the former. "So, I was packing up my guitar and amp and Dev's loft is accessed from a dark alley, which is just swell for me. Anyway, then a vamp comes from out of nowhere and grabbed me from the back. I put my cross down in the back of my van when I was loading it, but I had just a enough time to grab it before he pulled me back. So, I pressed the cross against his arm, the one that was around my neck." What is he chuckling about? This is a serious matter. He could have died. "Then he let out this horrid scream that sounded slightly like Devon's singing when he has a cold but still insists on practice."

Even I have to laugh at that. I'll have to see that sometime. Maybe sometime he'll take me to practice with him like he did with Will. She didn't have much fun since none of the band liked her or talked to her, but Oz said himself that his friends like me. Even if they do make me inwardly, well, and outwardly, cringe. It would still be worth it just to be with him.

"Then we started brawling and I was holding my own for a while, years of being a Slayerette I guess. But he threw me up against the wall and I knocked my head pretty hard."

"Let me see." Oh, poor baby. He has a pretty nasty bump. I should get him some ice for that later. Gosh, his hair smells so good. It's still black but the blue streaks are gone. I miss them, they were cute. His hair is just about the only hair that can match Angel's in it's coolness.

"You've got a pretty big bump, but it'll go down with ice. Let me get you some."

"No, let me finish telling you about what happened."

"K." Wow, even I could barely hear myself, but his hand on mine is really distracting. I think my vocal cords must have taken a sudden vacation.

"The vamp was coming in for the kill, but suddenly I saw a boot connect with his head. Really hard. Then I saw this girl, she started kicking his ass....sorry, but...nevermind. When she had him down on the ground, she stomped down on his throat with a viciousness that might have been going a little overboard. Then she pulled out what looked like a knife and plunged it in his heart and he dusted. I tried to say something to her, but nothing came out and then she spun and took off. Quick little thing. I'm thinking new Slayer. What do you think?"

God, he's got a nice mouth. Wait, he just asked me a question. "Um, can't be a Slayer. Wes said that Faith being a rogue Slayer, that when she died another would not be called. By default, her abilities were not passed onto another girl. So, I'm the one and only again." This is interesting. No new Slayer, but some chick going around whupping up on the local night life.

"What did she look like?"

"Older, not really old, like 25-26. 'Bout my height, from what I saw, dark hair pulled back really tight. I guess that's it. Oh, she had a tattoo. Some kind of symbol on her wrist."

Hmmm, this could be either really good or really bad, there's really only two ways things can go for me. Usually, it's of the bad. I don't know if I like some crazy, tattooed chick running around performing *my* sacred duty. Maybe I should call Giles-no! That would ruin the night.

"Hmmm, this is a bit of a paradox. I'll tell Giles and numb-nuts about it tomorrow. They'll wanna talk to you though."

"Sure."

"Do you want some aspirin or an icepack for that bump?" I'd like to take care of him.

"No, it's odd, but my headache pretty much disappeared as soon as I saw you." Sigh, give me tingles on top of tingles, why don'tcha? I still don't understand how I could have over-looked him for so long.

"So, I have some special medicating thingy?"

"Yeah, maybe we should market the Essence of Buffy. Could make you some money."

"Yeah, but then everyone would be able to have a little part of me. I like to keep me reserved for a few select people." Can he take that hint?

"I'm just one of the lucky ones, huh?" I'm the lucky one.

"I left the movies at Devon's. I'm sorry."

"We'll just pay-per-view or something. I hope they have something good on." Now where did Mom put the remote. Hopefully there's a good cuddly movie on.

"Hey, I think Spice has Debbie Does Phoenix on." HA! I hope that was a joke.

"I'm kidding."

* * * * * * *

Oooo, that was a good movie. Almost as nice as the feel of Oz's arm around my shoulder. I knew he'd like my pj's. Hmmmm, he thinks purple is a good color for me, maybe I should wear it more often. Thank god I got him to loosen up a little. His jacket was too cool against my neck. And he took off his shoes, he must be pretty comfortable with me to do that. He's got the cutest feet. And I thought that all men feet were gross.

Popcorn for the next movie. Need munchy foods. Ding-ding-da ding-ding! God, I'm going to kill my mom for that bell. After I kill whoever's here. If it's Giles....well, he'll regret it.

Prepare to die, scum. What the?!

"Surprise?"

"Willow?"

"Buff!"

"Xander?"

Aaagghh, spine crushing bear hugs are bad for my breathing. What the hell are they doing here? Please, God, don't let Oz--

"Buff....y." Just my luck.

"Oz?" Shut up, Willow, just shut up.

"Willow." No, not that sigh-y voice.

"Oz?" Shut up, Xander, just shut up.

"Xander." Well, what? Someone had to say it. Why not me? Why is everyone looking at me like that?
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The End