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Changing Hearts Series - Arrival -- by Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Description: Guess who's in town?, sequel to Action and Reaction.
Note: Spoilers -- Wild at Heart, The Initiative. Please, don't skewer me for ending this where I did. The next bit needs a part all to itself.:-)
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
"Is Oz going to be there?" Willow asked from her bed.
"Yes," Buffy answered.
"Then I'm not," the redhead declared.
"Oh, come on, Will. Pigging out on ice cream. Lots of soda. Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The gang hasn't gotten together for a movie-fest in ages," the slayer pleaded. "And Mom's gone for the weekend. We'll have the house to ourselves."
"No," she refused.
"Don't let him stop you! He's been much better, lately. You have to admit it."
She raised an eyebrow, "Did he tell you his version of our little conversation the other day?"
"On campus," Buffy nodded. "He felt really bad afterward. You should have seen him. He said he was sorry that he'd upset you."
"He said that?" she asked.
"Yup. I didn't trust him, either, at first. But I think he's really trying."
"Unless it's all just an act," Willow said.
"Look, just come spend the evening with us. We'll all run interference for you, and you know Spike isn't going to let him within three feet of you."
"It does sound like fun."
"But it won't be--not as much--if you aren't there, too," Buffy insisted. "So, please?"
"Okay," she capitulated.
Spike stood beside the open refrigerator as Anya shoved can after can of soda into his arms. "Oh, hell, Spike! What are we going to do?" she asked, keeping her voice low.
"What? The wolf's little secret is pulling into Sunnyhell tonight, isn't she?" he responded.
"Yes," she nodded. "But I gave her the address to Oz's apartment! He won't be there. What if she decides to turn around and go back to--"
"I phoned and left this address at the desk of her hotel," he told her.
"Oh," she sighed in relief, then immediately looked puzzled. "How do you know where she's staying?"
"She's a waitress in a seedy little restaurant. She can't make much money. I called all the flea-bag hotels in town. There's only one Ivy with a reservation in any of them."
She grinned as he mimicked the words she had spoken a few days ago, "You're pretty smart, for a kid."
He groaned as she shoved the refrigerator door shut and followed him back to the living room. Before they stepped through, Spike shook one of the cans of soda a few times, then handed it to Anya and shot a quick glance over at Oz, who was sitting on the floor.
"Kid," she repeated playfully under her breath and went to the wolf, offering him the soda. Spike plopped down on the sofa, as close to Willow as he could get without actually sitting on her. He handed her one of the cans and dumped the rest of them unceremoniously onto the coffee table.
"Gee, thanks Spike," Buffy said sarcastically.
"Anytime," he shot back and settled back against the cushions to wrap an arm snuggly around the redhead.
She smiled and raised her head to look at him, and he took the opportunity to place a soft kiss on her lips. From his seat on the floor, Oz glared over at them and flipped open the top on the can of soda. The throughly shaken carbonated beverage spurted out of the can, spraying all over the wolf's face and trickling down his chin and onto his pant legs.
An indelicate snort seeped around the hand Buffy clapped over her mouth, and she buried her face in Riley's chest in an attempt to stifle her laughter. Oz's expression shifted from embarrassment to annoyance as the room burst into uncontrolled howls of amusement.
"Oh, Oz," Anya managed to speak around a giggle. "I'm so sorry! I can't imagine how that could have happened."
"It's all right," he told her, though his tone of voice said otherwise.
"I'll get you a towel," Buffy offered and vaulted up the stairs, her laughter drifting back down to the living room.
Buffy handed Oz one bag of popped popcorn and shoved a second into the microwave.
"You doing okay?" she asked.
"I'd be doing a lot better if HE weren't out there," the wolf answered.
"I don't think you scored any points with Willow after that talk you had with her on campus," she told him.
He shook his head, "I shouldn't have let her walk away. I should have made her listen to me. You guys have gotten past it. Why can't Willow?"
"You didn't break our hearts," she reminded him.
"Besides, you've had time to start winning us over--except for that chat. Which I still think was a really bad idea."
"How can I win her over when she'll barely even look at me? I just want her to understand how much I missed her. I tried to tell her that I'd never hurt her again the way I did with--well, you know."
"Listen, Oz. You can't force her to take you back. If it's going to happen, it'll happen. You told her how you feel. That's all you can do. Just ease off a little, you know?"
Buffy grabbed the other bag of popcorn out of the microwave and led the way to the living room. The doorbell rang, and she handed the bag to Riley before going to the door.
"Hi?" the slayer spoke questioningly to the stranger on the other side.
The trim brunette peered nervously back at her, "Hi. My name's Ivy. I'm looking for Oz. Is he here?"
The wolf's eyes snapped open and flew to the door as Buffy nodded and stepped aside to let the young woman in.
The End
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