TITLE: Time For A Change

***
PART 1
***

The Bronze was pulsing with energy. It was less than ten minutes until the new millennium. Oz glowered at all the humans and took another gulp of his gin and tonic. "Stupid holidays. Especially this one."

Buffy pulled away from the guys she'd been dancing with. "Aww, Oz, why the long face?" She sat down at the table next to him, her silver dress gleaming in the lights in the Bronze.

Oz turned his glare from the general rowdiness to the woman in front of him. "And you..." He swallowed the last of the drink.

"And me what?"

"I don't want to tell you," he said sullenly, flagging down the waitress and asking for a martini.

"I want one too," she said, and the waitress asked no questions. She looked at Oz. "I'm not going to jail today. It's the day before the millennium...No one's doing anything. I mean, police wise."

Oz nodded. "Well," He stopped as the waitress came and dropped off the drinks. Looking at the olive, he frowned. "Do you have a flag? Or at the least an umbrella?" he asked, smiling at her. Blushing, she turned and went back to the bar.

"You have a way with women. That's scary." She sipped her martini and made a face. "In the immortal words of Socrates, I drank what?"

"A dry martini," Oz replied as he took the new one from the waitress. Written on the umbrella was Jannie and "722-4937."

"Wow, you pick them up all the time?"

Oz nodded. "I normally chuck 'em, though. Unless it was from, say...you?"

Buffy laughed at him and flagged down another martini. "Really?"

Oz nodded. "I declared it, so it is." A new song started, and he set his drink down. "Dance with me?"

Buffy thought for a second before chugging the drink and standing up. "Why the hell not?"

[We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying its not too late
Millennium]

Oz put his arms by her waist, waiting to see how close she wanted to get to him. She stood as close as she could, wrapping her arms around his neck, the alcohol not impeding her thinking at all. This was what she wanted.

She was pretty sure of that.

[Some say that we are players
Some say that we are pawns
But we've been making money
Since the day that we were born
Got to slow down 'cos we're low down
Run around in circles
Live a life of solitude
Till we find ourselves a partner someone to relate to
Then we'll slow down
Before we fall down]

"I wish you were playing tonight," she said quietly. She ran her hands up and down his back, her head resting on his shoulder.

He leaned his head next to hers. "If I was, we couldn't have this dance."

"You have a point," she murmured, smiling. "But we are dancing, which is of the good."

[We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying its not too late
'cos we know we're falling from grace
Millennium]

The song continued as people passed out noisemakers and party hats. The millennium countdown would begin as soon as the song ended.

Oz smiled, taking a noisemaker. "For a keepsake," he said, handing it to Buffy. She accepted it, and held it in her hand as they continued to dance.

"A keepsake."

[Live for liposuction
And detox for your rent
Overdose at Christmas
And give it up for lent
My friends are all so cynical
They refuse to keep the faith
We all enjoy the madness
'cos we know we're going to fade away]

Oz's hands moved south, to the small of her back, and then around to her hips. He loved the way she felt in his arms, it was...perfect.

Her scent...flowers and berries. It reminded him of the warm days of spring and summer, when he would watch her train outside, as he tried to practice the guitar without getting distracted.

Didn't happen often.

[We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying its not too late
'cos we know we're falling from grace
Millennium]

She brought her fingers up to his hair, softly running them through it. He had bleached it blonde again, and she liked it. It was soft, almost like the old flannel he wore.

He smelled like spicy aftershave, and she inhaled deeply, loving it. She always loved the way he smelled. It was always so clean, so warm.

She wanted to smell that smell forever.

[Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough
Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough
Millennium
Millennium]

They continued the dance, each reveling in the closeness of the other. They tightened their embrace, and Oz suddenly kissed her hair softly, moving his hands up to stroke her hair gently.

"I like this, Buffy," he murmured into her hair.

"I like this too."

[We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying its not too late
'cos we know we're falling from grace
Millennium]

She nudged her head from his shoulder and placed a kiss right on his jugular.

"Buffy, you want to do this?"

"Yes. I'm not drunk. I've had more to drink than that before." She licked the small area lightly, getting a slight shudder from Oz.

"Buffy..." he said quietly, pulling her closer as she trailed the kisses up his jawline slowly, causing him to get impatient. He pulled back and crushed his mouth against hers.

[And when we come we always come to late
I often think that we were born to hate
Get up and see the sarcasm in my eyes
And when we come we always come to late
I often think that we were born to hate
Get up and see the sarcasm in my eyes]

Their tongues dueled as they swayed on the dance floor, the two ignoring the others around them. He held her head still as he pulled away from her.

"Buffy, I've wanted to do that for so long," he said n a low voice. "Since I met you."

She nodded. "Me...I have too." She was relaxed for the first time in a long time. "It's just, with you and Willow, I wasn't sure."

He let go of her head, his arms slowly gliding town to her shoulders, and her bare arms, "And you and Angel..."

She put a finger on his lips. "Shh...it's time for a change."

[We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying its not too late
'cos we know we're falling from grace
Millennium]

The song ended, and the countdown began. "10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" erupted from the Bronze.