CAIRN

Author’s Notes: Refer to Chapter 1

**********

“You’re going to NEW YORK?!?”

“Yup.”

Xander had taken off on his cross-country trip the week before, Angel had left graduation night, and Cordelia had left for L.A. three days before. All the remaining Scoobies had gathered at Giles’ apartment. Willow cuddled under Oz’s arm on the sofa and Buffy lounged in one of the chairs. Giles paced.

“You are so LUCKY! I can’t believe it! Do you know how many interesting places there are in New York? There’s the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library and all kinds of cool historical places and -”

“Are you sure we didn’t get switched at birth? Because my mom said the exact same thing. But this school isn’t in the City. It’s in some little town. And, Hello?, a school? On my summer vacation? With some guy that I don’t know - a TEACHER - that I have to be nice to just because we happen to be related. And --”

“Oh, come on, Buffy. You know that you’ll be visiting lots of interesting places in the city. You‘ll have a great time.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have a clue where to start with all those ‘interesting places’. I may have to get a tour guide.” Buffy leaned back and watched her ex-Watcher pacing and muttering. It wouldn’t be long before he got into the conversation, too. Well, she had a surprise for him. And for Willow.

Oz, on the other hand, only had eyes for his Willow. Buffy had always found it hard to read what Oz was thinking, but right now she could clearly see the smile shining in his eyes as he watched his girlfriend glow and bubble in her enthusiasm.

“I bet your cousin would be glad to take you. Or one of the other students. Or maybe one of the teachers.”

“Yeah, but I was thinking it would be more fun with someone I know; someone who knows something about the places. How about it, Will?”

“. . .”

Oz looked away from a speechless Willow and raised his eyebrows at Buffy questioningly.

“My mom called her mom at work just before I came over. She was actually pleased with the idea. Thought Willow might take a look at the University in New York. I think she’s hoping that Willow’ll change her mind about going to University in Sunnydale. Mom says that Scott‘s wife thought it might make me feel more comfortable with going, if I had a friend coming with.”

A sound quite similar to a boiling teakettle squealed from Willow’s lips for a few seconds before she launched herself at Buffy.

Buffy laughed and caught her.

Oz’s lips twitched as he said, “I think she might be willing to be convinced to go.”

“No. Um. I’m sorry, Buffy, Willow, but you can’t go.” Buffy knew Giles wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. She was impressed that he hadn’t said anything before this. His arms gestured in a convincing manner as he continued, “Buffy, your dreams are warning you about the future. If you are not here to meet this new threat, then a dire situation may arise. Perhaps, apocalyptic. Your responsibilities are - ”

Buffy cut him off with a raised hand.

“You’ll have to convince my mom, Giles. She’s really looking forward to my getting away from this place, though. You know how she gets.” Giles’ left eye twitched as he considered the difficulty of changing Joyce’s mind. Buffy had definitely inherited her stubbornness from her mother. Plus, the awkwardness of the meeting. Since Buffy had found out about their candy spell induced - um - thing, she had been amazingly proficient in arranging their schedules to ensure that he and Joyce needed to meet as seldom as possible. They were slowly getting over the uncomfortable silences, but the situation still made Giles very uneasy.

Timing is everything, Buffy thought as she turned to the other two, watching as Willow snuggled back under Oz‘s arm.

“I never got around to telling you about the latest in my long line of ‘This is my life‘-induced nightmares.”

“Giles told us about it before you got here. You were late and he wanted to start with the research as soon as possible, since we‘re gonna have a tough time finding the right books.” Willow pointed at just one pile of the multitude of stacks of boxes containing the books rescued from the now non-existent school library to emphasize their problem.

“You know,” Buffy went off on an apparent tangent, “it’s not that I mind the weirdness of the dreams so much, it’s the fact that it started out as such a nice dream. I was watching this incredible sunrise coming up over the ocean. It was quiet and peaceful and just enough of a breeze to keep you awake. There was that “new” feeling you get if you’re wide awake at that time of morning, and there weren’t any demons around, which is usually the only reason I’m up that early. And - “

“Huh.”

Perfect timing, Oz.

Willow and Giles both turned to look at Oz. His ‘huh’ contained the tone of someone who had just had a question answered, or realized something important. People who knew him tended to notice when he said anything with that timbre in his voice. Actually, he was so quiet, people tended to notice when he said anything.

“Sorta snuck that in there, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t really realize it until I was on my way over.” Buffy explained with a shrug, deliberately frustrating the listeners.

Oz nodded. “It is kind of subtle.”

Willow started to begin an interrogation when Giles, who had been reviewing all that he’d heard, let out a very English curse.

Willow’s head jerked up in Giles direction, and Buffy decided to let Will know what had pissed off Giles. If Giles ever paused in his rant.

“Of all the STUPID - - She told me HOURS ago, and I never saw - -”

Buffy kept one eye on the pacing Giles.

“It was dawn, Will. I was watching the sun rise over the ocean, but - “ Willow’s eyes had widened and the words burst from her.

“East Coast.”

“Exactly. Sorry, Willow. This trip is starting to look like work. It may not be that much fun. If you want, we can probably think of something to get you out of it with your mom.”

“No way.” Willow was wearing her ‘Resolve Face’.

Oz interrupted. To Buffy, he looked calm and collected, but to Willow, he radiated worry.

“These dreams usually happen before something big, don’t they?”

A vague fear crept into Willow’s mind that irritated her. And made her flush because Oz could be so sweet. Not that she needed protecting, and it didn’t seem like Oz to pull that macho BS, but he was still a guy. And if he tried to forbid her to go, adorable boyfriend or no, he was going to find himself in a world of trouble.

“You aren’t going to try and stop me from going, are you? I can handle myself.” She hesitated at a thought. “Well, most of the time. And Buffy will be there, too. So you better not try, Oz.”

Oz blinked at her sharpness and shook his head. “I’m not crazy. You’ll do what you think is right. Won’t try to stop you.” He squeezed Willow’s hand with his free hand and addressed Buffy.

“When are you going?”

“Mom mentioned something about next week. There’s still a lot to be settled. Why?”

“Just wondering how long it takes to cross the country in a van.”

“Oz?”

“Won’t try to stop you. But won’t let you face whatever the newest Bad is alone, either. MY choice.” And in his voice was the calm, rock-solid certainty that Willow had come to depend on.

She smiled.

*****

Note: Next time it’s the X-Men’s turn.