Chapter 5 pt. 2

Oz dutifully left the courtyard with Erin in tow, having caught Buffy's eye. The Slayer hadn't been pleased that the child had overheard or witnessed her out burst. As he helped Erin up the stairs, the wolf pondered the ease with which he'd picked up on Buffy's silent signals, as well as the nearly instant obedience that had him acting on them.

Oz freed most of his mind to interact with Erin as they put her toys and clothes away, but a small part of his mind worried at the confusing signals. Willow was his mate, and Oz wasn't attracted to Buffy in that way, so he hadn't started picking up signals as part of an infatuated crush. And Oz knew he wasn't subconsciously studying her to determine her weaknesses, predator vs. predator. The musician was very aware that Buffy was much more powerful than he was, and that challenging Buffy was a bad idea...

Maybe that was it. Oz had no pack to speak of, as he didn't know any other lycanthropes any longer. But he already knew that he would fight to the death to protect his Willow, and would always pitch in if their friends were in trouble. So, for the first time, Oz considered that he *did* have a pack, it just wasn't made up of other wolves. He and Xander were the young males; Cordy, Willow and Anya were the young females; Giles was an aged lone wolf that had led them until Buffy came into her own. And Buffy was the 'alpha wolf' of his pack. Wolf packs usually had a mated pair at the head, and Oz recognized that based on power alone Buffy and Angel filled the roles, with a few twists.

Usually the male alpha was dominant, but while Angel was very powerful, and dominate in the vampire community, as the Slayer Buffy held the 'top dog' position. It was also very strange for Oz, the wolf Oz anyway, that the heads of his pack were not together, and that Buffy had a child that did not belong to Angel. Still, Oz's rational mind understood, and he figured that it would just be a matter of time before Erin was claimed as Angel's kin, and Oz, even the wolf, recognized Buffy and Angel as a mated pair, weather they could be together or not. That must have been the explanation behind his deference to Buffy, The ease with which he picked up on her signals, and the inner battle he'd waged between his own convictions and buffy's order when she'd ordered him not to tell Angel she'd been raped, and ultimately he'd proven unable to disobey his pack leader, but Buffy had needed her mate to help lick her wounds.

Satisfied with the conclusions he'd drawn, at least until he'd had a chance to talk with Giles and Buffy, Oz turned his full attention back to Erin. He found her peering up at him under long, curling lashes. "Uncle Oz?" she repeated, tugging on his hand.

"Yeah squirt?" Oz asked as he collapsed the last box and moved to sit cross legged on the floor. It had surprised him how easily she'd warmed to him, but when asked, Erin had confided that he didn't seem as surprised as Willow, and that she really liked his purple hair. Erin fascinated him, and Oz had recovered very quickly from the surprise because part of him had expected her. When he'd gone to get pizza the first night, Oz had sensed some thing different about Buffy, a new scent, but until he'd been surrounded by children at the restaurant, he hadn't identified what was different. He'd been expecting a child to arrive with Giles; Oz simply hadn't expected them to arrive when and how they ultimately had.

"Uncle Oz, how come you make my skin prickle?" Erin asked curiously, reaching out to brush her hand against his arm. "It's kind of like that mean blond vamp, but you don't scare me. Can you 'splain me?"

Oz's eyebrows went up at the mention of Spike, but kept his attention on the question at hand. "I probably make your skin prickle because I'm a werewolf. Your Mom's special, so you probably get that from her. If it makes you feel better, you make my skin prickle too," Oz reassured her truthfully. Erin had a lot of potential. She could very possibly grow up to be nearly as strong as Buffy, if not stronger. Time would tell.

Erin frowned at him in confusion, and Oz wondered where he'd lost her. "What's a... a... wwhere woof?" she asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar word.

Oz smiled briefly as he explained. "A wolf is kind of like a great big wolf dog. A werewolf is someone who turns *into* a wolf. I'm a little different than a real wolf, but it's the same idea."

"Oh," Erin said doubtfully, before struggling with her next problem. The statement "I think Mommy's weird," came seemingly out of nowhere, and Oz could tell she was carefully watching for his reaction.

He was surprised by the statement, but then Oz remembered Buffy's random attack on the clipboard, raised one eyebrow, and responded to Erin's comment. "OK," he said. "Sure, I can see why you would think that. Your mom is acting a little weird, but it's kind of hard to move to a new place, and I think she's nervous about all the people that are coming to visit in the next few days. you and Giles are the only people she's been around for a while now, so maybe she's a little scared."

Erin quickly became indignant. "My Mommy doesn't get scared! She's brave, and strong, and fights monsters!"

"Yes, your Mom is brave and strong, but that doesn't man she doesn't get scared." Oz responded calmly, trying to sooth her. He'd witnessed a temper tantrum the day the moving van arrived, and wasn't looking forward to another. He pulled Erin into his lap for a cuddle as he tried to explain. "Life is scary Erin. I take things easy, don't get mad unless there's a good reason, I don't worry about things I can't change, and I love you Aunt Willow. But I'm a werewolf and that scares me. "A small hand patted Oz's cheek and he looked down into confused brown eyes. "I can't control the wolf. If I didn't lock myself in a cage when I change, I could really hurt people. I could be one of the monsters your Mom hunts."

"Kind of like Mommy's Angel? Only the bad in him is locked up by his soul. You're both monsters, but the special kind that don't hurt people when you can help it. You're the kind of monsters that protect people?" Erin asked thoughtfully.

"I guess so," Oz smiled, wondering at how quickly she'd grasped the concept, curious as to how much she really understood. "A thought occurred, and sure he was right Oz continued. "Angel may be another reason you're mom's so jumpy Erin. She's scared of getting hurt again..."

"Mommy's Angel would never hurt her!" Erin yelled, interrupting Oz to jump up and stamp her tiny foot in frustration. She stared at Oz crossly, lower lip quivering in the beginnings of a pout.

"Easy there," Oz said, raising an eyebrow at her response. Apparently he'd touched a nerve. He guessed that Angel was the subject of a serious case of hero worship. Having seen Erin in action, charming treats out of Giles and Willow, Oz was looking forward to her first encounter with the ensouled vampire. He wondered if Erin would be able to completely wrap him around her dainty finger, or if the Mater Vampire would find the strength to tell her no and mean it. The next couple of months would be very interesting.

An angry stamp brought Oz's attention back to the upset sprite before him. "Angel would never hurt you Mom on purpose Erin, but he has hurt her in the past."

"It wasn't him doing all those bad things, it was that mean old demon!"

Oz fought a mile at Angel's champion. Buffy's influence was clear; it just so happened that he agreed with the Slayer's position. "You're right Erin, but Angel still hurt Buffy when he was trying hard not to, when he left Sunnydale."

"I don't get that part," Erin complained, interrupting again as she settled back into the werewolf's lap. "Mommy and Poppa told me that Angel left because he loved Mommy, but that sound silly."

Oz nodded in understanding. "It doesn't make sense to a lot of people Erin. True love means wanting the person you love to be happy, no matter what. Angel didn't want to leave, because he loves your mom, and wants to be with her. But he didn't think he could make *her* happy. Angel was so scared of hurting your Mom and of disappointing her. He thought she would want things that he couldn't give her, so he left town so she could find someone new to love. Someone who hadn't hurt her and could give her all the things he never could. It hurt them both very badly. I wouldn't be surprised if you Mom is scared of seeing Angel again."

Erin's face was still cross, but she remained calm and let Oz explain further. "Just because she's scared doesn't mean she's not brave and strong. I think you Mom's very brave because even when she's scared she keeps fighting. That's what real strength is. And I wouldn't worry too much about this Angel thing. When you mom set's her mind to something, it's almost impossible to stop her.

Erin cocked her head to the side and studied him. Oz had the uncomfortable feeling that more loaded questions were headed his way, but all she said was, "OK," in a very thoughtful one. She giggled and hugged him, and Oz smiled at her infectious laugh and easy familiarity. "I like you Uncle Oz," she told him very seriously, only to giggle again and land a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

Oz chuckled and stood up. "Thank you Little Once," he smiled as he swung her to her feet. "I like you too. Now, how about some lunch?" he asked as he pulled her towards the door.

"OK," was the cheerful rely. She walked next to him for a minute before asking, "Do you really turn into a wolf sometimes?"

Oz frowned, perplexed, before nodding. The sprite giggled again and simply commented, "Cool," before skipping down the steps ahead of him. Not for the first time, Oz reflected that life was going to be very interesting with Erin around.