SPOILERS: um... really yeah. From Becoming 2
CONTENT: A little swearing, affectionate forehead kissing
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Oz listens in on a confession
DISCLAIMER: I don't own willow, oz or xander... or any one else on Buffy... Joss, however, does.

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There was so much he wanted to say, wanted her to hear. He always meant to tell her, to make sure she knew *how* much he cared... *What if I don't have a chance?* He asked himself, as he shut the front door behind him and sprinted to his van, jumping inside and starting it up. *What if...* He shook the thought out of his head. *She can't be dead... please, God, don't let her be dead.* He was already a block and a half away from home. For some crazy reason he thought that the faster he drove, the more likely her chances of her survival would be. *If only I'd been there to protect her.* He thought, blinking hard to keep his eyes in focus as he sped down the streets, the newly green trees becoming a blur. He made a silent vow to never leave her side... that was, atleast, if she was still there. He closed his eyes momentarily, forcing the tears down, trying to tell himself it wasn't that serious, it was only a bruise... he knew it was a lie.

When Xander had called... God, he'd sounded so... dead. Afraid. He knew that something was wrong. He'd told him that she was unconcious... something about head trauma... and he needed to get to the hospital... Oz hadn't even thought about hanging up the phone or saying goodbye. He just walked out the front door. And now he was getting close to the hospital... to her. *Just be okay.* He thought. *Please...* He thought about the few weeks they'd had together, how, even though he'd tried to savor every moment, he knew he'd taking them for granted all the same. Now he wasn't sure he'd ever get to hear her speak again... or... He once again shook his head, and pressed his foot into the acceleration peddle. He knew if he wasn't careful, he'd get pulled over, and then he'd be screwed, but he frankly didn't care at that point. He just needed to know she was okay. He pulled into the hospital lot, pulled into the nearest parking space he could find and sprinted towards the doors of the emergency room. He allowed his eyes to dart around, once he got inside, looking at the rows and rows of doors, with charts sitting in their boxes... *Where is she?* He thought, and he stepped up to the main desk.

"Um... Willow Rosenbergs room, please." He asked, finding the calmness of his voice betraying the pounding of his heart. The nurse looked up at him.

"Are you family?" She asked, her voice stern and clear. He thought quickly.

"Yeah, he's family." A voice said, behind him, and he turned around. *Cordelia.* He never thought he'd ever be happy to see her. She smiled weakly at him, and pointed in the direction of Willow's room. He nodded, grateful.

"Thanks." He said. She nodded.

He then smiled weakly at her, and took off towards the room, the beating of his heart speeding up. He felt shaky. *I can't lose her now.* He thought. He stood outside the door, closing his eyes. The chart read Willow Rosenberg. He heard slow beeping coming from inside the room. His heart stopped for a second. *She's not dead.* He thought, a huge relief washing over him. *She's not...* His thoughts were interuppted by a low voice coming from inside the room. It was muffled, due to the thickness of the door.

"C'mon, Will... look, you don't have a choice here, you gotta wake up." It was Xander. *Sounds like he's making a damn confession...* He thought, dread filling up in him. "I need you Will..." *I need her more.* He thought, suprised at the bitter tone of the thought that shot through his head. "I mean how am I gonna pass trig, you know?" Xander chuckled a little to himself. "Who am I gonna call everynight, and talk about every thing we did all day?" He could hear the seriousness and hurt in Xander's voice. *He's really scared.* "You're my best friend, Will... you've..." He trailed off. Oz held his breath, afraid of what was coming next. "I love you."

Oz's heart stopped. *Oh God... did she hear that?* He looked down, not sure wether to leave or to stay. *He didn't just say that...* He felt instant anger towards Xander, and was ready to do something drastic, like hit him... again. But then Xander spoke again, the tone in his voice changing to apprehensive and hopeful.

"Willow?..." Oz stopped, standing completely still. He wanted to open the door, to know what was happening... if she was waking up or slipping away... and then he heard her voice. At first, he wasn't sure what she had said, it was so weak. He cracked open the door, silently, just in time to hear her speak again.

"Oz." His heart promptly stopped. *She said... she...* He felt his emotions getting caught up in his throat. *Oh my God.* He walked in. "I'm here..." He said. He saw Xander look at him, and saw the disappointment in his eyes. He covered it up, quickly, though, and stood up, allowing Oz full access to his girlfriends side. Oz refrained from an overly elaborate display of emotion, and instead looked her over carefully, noting the bruises on her eye with a worried frown. *What did they do to her?*

"She's just starting to wake up..." Xander said, brushing past him. He breifly noticed the cast on his arm, but didn't ask, and soon it was forgotten as he focused on his girlfriend."I'll go get a doctor..." He trailed off as he walked out the door. Oz didn't even hear him. He lowered himself to her eye level, taking her hand and rubbing it affectionately.

"Hey baby." He said soothingly, smiling lightly at her. "How are you feeling?" He was sure to be careful, to not hold her too tight, though he was debating wether or not he would ever let go. *I was so afraid I'd lost you, I didn't think I'd ever get to see you again, Willow don't ever do that again, I love you...*

"My head... feels big... is it big?" She asked, her voice weak. He smiled affectionately at her. *That's it... I've decided... I'm never letting you go.*

"No..." He said, smiling once again. "It's head sized." He leaned down, and kissed her forehead, trying once again not to let his emotions spill over. He was so sweet and so pure. She smiled weakly at him, and he began to stroke her forehead with his thumb. She asked if everyone else was okay, and he didn't know how to answer. He told her he'd seen Xander and Cordelia, and that, besides Xander's broken appendage, they seemed alright. She was obviously worried, but too weak to pursue any answers. They sat, just talking quietly for awhile, before Willow finally drifted off to sleep, her hand still linked with Oz's. He smiled down at her, and didn't let his gaze leave her beautiful form, until the doctor entered the room, and woke her up to began to check her over.

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The End...