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Buffy roused
from her exhausted sleep at the sound of Christians voice. "What
happened? Tara said something was wrong, she didn't make much sense."
Christian sounded worried. That made Buffy smile sleepily.
"It's okay"
She called out as she walked out of the bedroom. "What would an
event in my life be without a little supernatural chaos?"
"Are you okay?"
Christian cupped Buffy's cheek and noticed the strain around her
eyes.
"I'm fine,
really." Buffy replied. "Do you remember me telling you about Riley?"
She asked him.
"Yeah, he
was the guy who took off for parts unknown with the military right?"
He drew her into his arms.
"That's him.
He paid me an unexpected visit earlier. Apparently he just wanted
to make sure I understood that it was his fault we broke up and
not mine. Get a little closure." Buffy smiled wryly.
"Okay." Christian
looked a little puzzled, "and what does this have to do with the
supernatural?"
"Well, as
near as I can figure he was no where near Sunnydale when he showed
up here. He said something about falling asleep and dreaming of
me. Giles thinks he was astral projecting." Buffy snuggled closer
to Christian. "He just appeared in my room, talked to me for a few
minutes and then poof, he was gone. I wonder where he is?"
"I hope he's
done doing that, 'cause I intend to have you all to myself after
the wedding, and he would not be welcome poofing in and out of our
bedroom" Christian grinned at the thought of having Buffy all to
himself for a few days. The Scooby Gang were all taking over Buffy's
duties for the weekend so they could have a honeymoon. It was a
really sweet and thoughtful wedding gift.
"I still can't
believe I'm getting married! Are you ready for the rehersal tonight?"
Buffy asked.
"I am if you
are." Christian replied. "In fact, we should probably head over
to the church now or we'll be late to our own rehersal!"
Buffy, Tara,
Willow and Anya stood at the back of the church waiting for their
cue. "This is so exicting!" Willow was bouncing around in the vestibule.
"Willow, calm
down! You'll miss your cue!" Tara laughed. "We'll be here all night
rehearsing!"
Anya just
looked at Buffy like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure
how to phrase it. She still had some difficulties with expressing
human emotion. "Buffy, you and Christian, well...I'm glad you found
someone like Xander without taking Xander, 'cause he's mine." Anya
smiled then, and nodded in a satisifed way.
"Thank you
Anya." Buffy swallowed her horrified laugh at the phrasing knowing
that the sentiment was real and that Anya would be hurt if she laughed
now.
"Okay I think
we line up now and wait for the groomsmen." Tara was showing a bit
of a bossy streak. It was endearing really considering how shy she
was when she and Willow first met. "Willow first!"
Willow stepped
out of the vestibule on the arm of Christian's college buddy Noel.
They did that funny step-pause-step walk toward the front of the
church which was even funnier to watch without the music. Then when
they were halfway down the aisle, Tara stepped out on the arm of
Jake Landry, who was a Watcher who had defected from the Watchers
Council.
Buffy turned
to Anya and gave her a hug. "You go next with Xander" she whispered
and smiled when she saw what a perfect couple they were, despite
their dissimilar origins. Who would have thought that an ex-demon
could be such a great wife for Xander, Buffy wondered. Finally it
was Buffy's turn to walk down the aisle. Giles offered his arm and
Buffy smiled as she took it.
She walked
down the aisle with confidence toward Christian and smiled at her
mother and Dawn sitting in the pews watching. She had wanted to
make Dawn a bridesmaid, but Dawn had declined saying that she'd
rather watch the whole thing than participate. Unbelievable that
Dawn was in college now! Once they got to the front of the church
the minister explained where each of them were to stand, and how
the ceremony was conducted. Buffy was distracted momentarily by
a breeze from the back of the church. She looked up and saw a dark
sillouette against the darker night outside.
Buffy waited
until the minister was done showing them what they were expected
to do tomorrow before excusing herself to see who was at the door
to the church. As she drew closer she could see the dark hair and
broody eyes and she smiled as she realized it was Angel.
"Hey there
stranger...how's LA treating you?" She asked him.
"Just fine,"
he replied. "Cordy said you were getting married tomorrow."
"Yeah, Christian
and I decided to tie the knot. I would have sent you an invitation
but I knew you couldn't come to the ceremony and the reception is
outdoors during the day." She looked a little chagrined. "I wanted
the sunlight considering how much of my life is spent in darkness."
"I completely
understand...I just wanted a chance to wish you happy. So, you're
gonna be Buffy Summers Winters huh?" He grinned suddenly.
"I know, awful
isn't it?" Buffy smiled back. "It could be worse though...my middle
name could be spring or autumn! Or we could name our kids that and
hyphenate our last names!"
"Not that!"
He laughed out loud at that.
"I have to
get back to the rehersal now, but it was really good to see you
Angel" Buffy said, almost wistfully.
"It was good
to see you too Buffy, and tell him, that if he ever hurts you..."
"I'll kick
his ass" Buffy finished for him. "You'll have to get in line...Xander
already made that offer, and so did Willow and Tara. Giles said
he'd call down the wrath of a demon friend of his and Anya said
she'd call upon D'Hoffryn to have a vengence demon git him."
Buffy hugged
Angel and then made her way back to the happy group at the front
of the church. She felt good to know that there were so many people
who loved her. Willow looked up as she joined them.
"Was that
Angel?" she whispered.
"Yeah, he
wanted to wish me happy and threaten Christian if he ever hurt me."
Buffy told her.
"Awww, how
sweet!" Willow gushed. "Poor Christian though! If he ever makes
a misstep he'll have people lined up to kill him!"
"I know. But
it's sweet just the same!" Buffy smiled.
"Well, we
better head over to the restaurant for dinner or we'll lose our
reservation" Giles spoke up over the babble of voices. They all
started gathering up their stuff and preparing to go to the restaurant.
The rest of
the evening was uneventful. They laughed when the bridesmaids opened
their gifts and found silver crosses and vials of holy water. The
groomsmen were equally treated to defensive items including protective
amulets in the form of keychains.
After the
party the girls walked home to Buffy's mom's house as they had decided
to spend the night there so they could get dressed together in the
morning. The guys were taking Christian to Xander's place to give
him a bachelor party.
As the girls
walked home none of them seemed to be aware that someone was watching
them. But then, that was a normal sensation in Sunnydale where one
was always being assessed as prey. Cigarette smoke drifted in the
air as the girls chattered their way up the front steps and into
the house.
Spike couldn't
believe the slayer was getting married. And to that boy too. Wouldn't
she ever realize that she needed a real man? A man with a monster
inside? He ground out his butt disgustedly in the dirt.
He had promised
himself that he wasn't going to do this. It was bad enough he had
been neutered by the soldier boys six years ago, but to moon over
the Slayer like a lovesick puppy was more than he should be able
to bear. He had been doing it anyway. She never noticed. Why should
she? She had her friends, she was still able to kill.
It was more
than he had....
Buffy's wedding
day dawned clear and bright. She was up with the birds and just
as fluttery with excitement. "Mom, what time are the caterers supposed
to get here? And when is the guy getting here with the tables and
chairs? Oh my god my heart is beating so fast!"
"Buffy calm
down! Have some toast." Joyce smiled at her eldest daughter. It
was nice to see Buffy being a normal young woman in love. "Have
a glass of juice and calm down! The caterer will be here at 10:00
to start preparations, the 'table guy' will be here shortly after
that, and if they don't show up we'll order pizza and have everyone
sit on blankets on the lawn."
"Oh my god!
Is that a possibility?" Buffy's eyes went wide as she squeaked at
her mother.
"No honey,
it isn't. Everything will work out perfectly and you know it. Oh
good, you're up, maybe you can do something with her!" Joyce said
as Tara, Willow and Anya came down the stairs.
"Everything
will be fine Buffy." Tara said soothingly as she grabbed a slice
of toast. "Even the weather is cooperating! Although in Southern
California it would be strange if it didn't."
"Yes. Everything
will be fine Buffy. I told Xander to make sure there were no naked
women at the bachelor party and that Christian was to be tucked
into bed at midnight whether he liked it or not." Anya said matter
of factly as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
They all looked
at each other and laughed at that and Buffy's tension eased. "I'm
just scared something will happen. You know my track record with
relationships, it's almost as bad as my record with parties!" Buffy
explained.
After that
though, the morning went on much more smoothly. The girls got ready
for the wedding while Dawn took pictures for the photo album. They
were truly an arresting sight. Willow with her red hair and pale
coloring framed against a pale (but not pastel) green dress, Tara
in a soft rose dress that set off her blonde hair and blue eyes,
and Anya in the lilac gown, all with wrist length matching gloves,
they looked like a flower garden come to life.
Buffy was
the last to get dressed. She was wearing a heavy cream satin brocade
gown that looked like something from a fairytale. Her hair was intricately
styled on top of her head and the veil was so whisper thin it looked
like it had been made by fairies.
Dawn gasped
as she watched her sister emerge from the bedroom in the beautiful
gown. "Buffy! You look like a goddess!" She said as she snapped
pictures of Buffy.
"Thank you
Dawn! I feel vulnerable with this much material around me...but
that's the whole point of a daylight ceremony right? No big baddies
going to be chasing me today!" Buffy seemed to need reassurance
and the girls were quick to provide it.
Finally it
was time to go to the church and they all climbed into the limosine
that Giles had provided for them. He had been full of surprises
during the planning of the wedding. He had taken on all the responsibilities
of the father of the bride and had apparently relished the role.
At the church
the guests were arriving and and the preparations were proceeding
apace. Buffy paced nervously back and forth across the vestibule.
"What if something goes wrong? Huh? What if Christian doesn't show
up?..."
"He's already
here Buffy. Relax. You're gonna wear yourself out and then what
are you gonna do tonight?" Willow adjusted the veil over Buffy's
shoulders in one of the rare moments when she was standing still.
"I know, I'm
being paranoid, but you've seen what happens when Buffy has a party."
Buffy smiled sympathetically at her friends who were being cooped
up with her. "I'll be good, I promise."
The music
changed from the interlude to the beginnings of the wedding march
and Giles knocked on the door to tell the girls they were ready
for them. One by one they filed out of the waiting room into the
vestibule to be matched up with their groomsmen.
Xander's eyes
sparkled as he looked at all "his" girls. "Go get 'em tiger" he
whispered to Buffy before he and Anya started their march down the
aisle.
Buffy took
a deep breath and smiled at Giles. She leaned up on tiptoe and kissed
his cheek "Thank you 'Dad'" she whispered before turning to start
down the aisle. She missed the tears that sprang to Giles eyes at
her words. In his eyes she was the daughter he had never had.
At the front
of the church they took their places and Buffy turned to Giles so
that he could lift the veil from her face. "Who giveth this woman?"
intoned the minister.
"I do" said
Giles. His voice ringing in the sudden silence of the church. He
gave Buffy's hand one last squeeze before going to sit with her
mother and Dawn.
The ceremony
proceded in a blur for Buffy as she gazed into Christians eyes and
answered the questions the minister put to her.
"I require
and charge you now, here in the presence of God, that if anyone
here knows any reason why they may not be united in marriage lawfully,
and in accordance with God's Word, you do now confess it." Intoned
the minister. There was a pause in the service as everyone smiled
at the thought of someone objecting to this marraige. Then there
was a shout from the back of the church.
"She can't
marry him!"
Spike stood
at the back of the church, smoke pouring off him. "She can't marry
him, because...well bloody hell, 'cause I want her." Spike strode
forward down the aisle toward the altar.
"Spike! What
the hell do you think you're doing?" Buffy stared at him aghast.
"This is my wedding day. Go away!"
"Buffy," he
said as he knelt down infront of her "If I can't have you love,
I'm determined that no one should." With that Spike morphed to his
game face.
Buffy reached
into the bustle at the back of her dress and grabbed Mr. Pointy.
It was her 'something borrowed' since it was Kendras and she had
never had the chance to give it back to her. Most of the guests
were Sunnydale natives so they had gone into 'I don't see what's
happening right in front of me' mode and the rest were only mildly
puzzled about who the wildly attractive blonde brit was. The minister
was the only one outside the bridal party who could see Spike's
demon face and he had seen enough in Sunnydale to know what was
what.
Spike lunged
for Buffy as she brought the stake around from behind her back and
he impaled himself on it. The breeze from the open door blew his
ashes away before anyone could even move. Buffy tucked the stake
back into her bustle and motioned for the minister to continue the
service.
"Well then,
if no one objects to this union, I now pronounce you man and wife.
You may kiss the bride" He winked at Buffy as he made his pronouncement.
Christian sealed their pledge with a kiss and everyone applauded.
The guests were left to wonder if they had even seen what they thought
they saw. Later that day they would all convince themselves that
there had been no blonde haired man in the church. Because otherwise
they would have to admit to having seen him turn to dust, and that
just couldn't be.
As they left
the church Buffy tossed her bouquet in the air. Willow and Tara
both caught it at the same time. Buffy smiled at them. "You know
it's time you two made it official too!"
VISIT Jessica Atchisons Vebsite here
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