Title: Big, Long, Babbling Confessions (1/1)
Author: Queena
E-mail: thessulah@aol.com
Rating: PG
Summary: Oz and Buffy have a break-through conversation.
Feedback: Pwetty pwease?
Disclaimer: The characters used in this fic aren't mine. They're Joss Whedon's.
Author's Note: This is the next installment of the "Blood Pump" series.

Other Note: In the first part of the series, I had Buffy and Oz living in LA, but I slipped up and had them in Sunnydale again in one of the other installments. Just in case there's any confusion, they *are* living in LA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's so lucky that I don't hold a grudge. I mean, most guys who had the nerve to stand me up and then ask me to meet them alone in a dark park at midnight would get the hand. He's just so lucky.

And, I mean, why a dark park? I mean, what if he gets attacked before he meets me? I mean, I just might not save him if a vampire attacks him. I could be a bitch like that. Psshh, who am I kidding? I wouldn't do that. It's not like I can ignore my calling just because a guy stood me up.

Okay, so he didn't *exactly* stand me up. He did say he would be there and didn't show up. I guess that's not really standing me up. I just didn't expect it to hurt so much. When he didn't show, I thought it was a personal snubbing. I just didn't think he'd say he would be there, but not show. Maybe it was seeing Willow again. Maybe it's put an end to our barely existent relationship. Sigh. I just don't know.

Okay, I'm nearing the bench he said he'd meet me at. If he's not there waiting for me, I'm going home. *I* am not waiting for him.

YES! He's there. Wait, no. I am not happy to see him. I'm still upset with him. Even if he does look so cute. With his hair all spikey and perfectly mussed. And his bowling shirt. Whimper. I can't believe I still like him.

"Buffy." Awwww, he's sounds so sweet and quiet. Even stood up when he saw me. NO. Will not fixate on how polite and cute he is! I will not.

"Hey." Just keep cool. Don't let him know how much you've missed him. And whatever you do, don't bring up Willow until he does.

"Will you sit down?" Mmmm, okay. But I'll stay on my side, and you stay on your side. And please don't touch me. I might melt.

"Sorry, I didn't show up on Monday. I had something really important to do." Yeah, doing what? Mooning over Willow? Cuz if that's the reason I don't want to hear it.

"Mmm."

"You're mad at me." Very observant of you. And stop with the puppy dog eyes. Nothing you say is going to make me not mad at you anymore. At least, nothing that's not really heart-felt.

"I am not."
"You are. And you have a right to be. I bailed on you and I shouldn't have done that." God, this is so infuriating. If he still has these feelings for Willow how the hell am I ever going to have a chance. He has to tell me.

"Oz, why did you break up with Willow?" Okay, now where did that come from? Not that I don't want to know, but that look on his face is heart breaking. Have I completely lost my sense of tact?

Oh, great. Now we have that long uncomfortable moment of silence as he tries to think of the best way to explain and I wait, eagerly holding my breath. I hope he hurries 'cause oxygen is really good for my brain. And I really don't want my face to turn blue.

"I can't believe you haven't guessed by now." Long pause. "I broke up with her because I couldn't stand watching her love someone else and pretend to be loving me. I couldn't stand what I did to her and Xander's friendship. And...this is the funny thing...I couldn't stand seeing the tortured look on Xander's face every time I got to hold her hand or kiss her or just sit next to her."

"But she chose you, Oz. You gave her the choice and then you took it away from her. What if she really did want you? You didn't see how heart-broken she was after you two split."

I'll never forget that. Seeing her tear-streaked face, watching her mope as I tried to cheer her up. I never thought she'd pull through it. And here I am, trying to get the man she cried her heart out over. I'm a bad, evil, wicked best friend and I deserve to be shot. Esspecially since I'm sitting here wishing he would touch me, kiss me, assure me that it's me he wants and not her. No wonder she hates me.

"No, Willow is the type of girl who will always want what she can't have. Right now that's me. Because I'm trying to move on. Because she saw me with you." He's right about that. Willow is kind of....selfish sometimes.

I don't have anything to say about that, but he looks like he's waiting for me to respond. Or he's just waiting for a moment before continueing. I don't know.

"You know what really scares me?" Vampires? Demons? All the nasties that go bump in the night? Me? "Falling for you as hard as I fell her and having to watch you wish you were with Angel."

Oh my God. Does he really think that? Can't he tell how much I like him?

"Oz, are you blind or something?" He looks really confused. Maybe I should clarify myself. God, deep breath. I'm going to tell him. To say it out loud how I really feel about him. "I can't have Angel. I know that. And it's taken a really long time to get over that. But the only thing that has allowed me to do so is you. Now, when I go to bed the last thing I think about is you. I spend half of my day wondering when you'll wake up and notice how much I want you. A...and...God this is really difficult." Shit, I can't breathe. Say something. Anything. Please.

"I agonize all the time, hoping you'll finally get over Willow. And I scold myself constantly for falling for my best friend's ex." God, if he doesn't say something soon I'm just gonna keep babbling on and embarrassing myself even more.

Oh. Oh. When did he get so close to me? Sigh, his hand feels so good against mine. But what does this mean? Does it mean he feels the same way or what? Oh. Oh. Oh. What is he do....Mmmm. His lips feels so nice. So soft and almost teasing. His tongue, so warm against my lips, then my own tongue. He tastes...like Oz. Like Winterfresh gum. His hands in my hair, his quick breathing, his fast-paced heartbeat, all assaulting my senses. My heart is going to beat it's way out of my chest any moment now.

With him pulling away, my mouth feels dry and empty. Is he going to tell me something or just keep stareing at me? "Buffy, I--"

What was that? I heard yelling. "Bastardo!" See, there it is again. Great interuption for our very touching moment. Mmmm, touching. No! Stop, Buffy! Must pay attention to the sounds of the scuffle.

Is he following me? Great, I just hope he stays out of the way. I don't want him to get hurt. Of course, if he'd stayed at the bench he could have gotten hurt too. Hmm, this is very interesting. Could this be our mystery woman. Well, five vamps against one non-Slayer girl doesn't seem fair at all. Better jump in.

Kick, jab, roll. Damn vamps just get more fit. Ouch! Bastard! Crack! There, take that! Stake. Dust. Next. Right, left, roundhouse. Stake. Dust. "Buffy!" Oz? Oh, shit. Ow, let me go, I gotta get to Oz. Oh, yes! Go, homegirl! That was a pretty nice move. That's the second time she's saved him, I owe her one. Back headbutt. I can't believe you didn't see that coming. Idiot. Stake. Dust. Done. What no more vampys. Aw, and I was just getting warmed up. Well, better see if Oz is okay.

He's seems to be all right. Now time to question our new friend here. She looks basically how Oz described her, but YIKES! that's a narly scar. Wonder how she got that beauty. Ow, all the way from left temple to jaw, must have hurt. "So, you wanna tell me who you are?"

"No." Well, that's rude.

"Look, when some chick is wandering around killing vampires, I like to know them. You got a name?"

"I don't give my name to people I don't know." Wow, pretty thick accent she's got there. I wonder what that is. And what the hell is she looking for? Oh! Damn, that's a pretty wicked knife. Is that wooden? Ooo, and it's got a nifty arm sheath. Now, why can't Giles get me weapons like that?

"Listen, I'd like to know why you're out here fighting evil."

"Mi dovere andare." What? Wait, where's she going?

"Hey! Come back here!" Aw, forget it. Maybe Oz know's what was up with her. And why's he stareing after her? Grrrr.

"Italian."

"What'd she say?"

"How am I supposed to know?"
"Sor-ry. From the way you were talking it sounded like you might know some Italian."

"Nope, but I've seen all of the "Godfather" movies." Hee, he's so cute. "Come on, I'll walk you home." Mmmm, maybe I'll get a good-bye kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't know Italian. I'm just pretending. I know what the words mean, but I don't know if I wrote them right, so if someone knows Italian, please be kind and let me know if this makes sense.