Chapter 1

"Anya, will you marry me?"

"Yes." Anya laughed, jumping into Xander's arms.

It had been 6 months since the Battle at the Hellmouth and together they had been struggling through trying to find their place. They had managed to set up the Slayer training program and had found a comfortable place to live, finally they felt all the loose ends had been tied.

"Look!" Anya screeched waggling her ring finger in front of their faces.

"Oh my God!" Buffy exclaimed pulling the reluctant Anya into a hug.

"That's great!" Willow smiled at the couple.

"I want to get this wedding kick started right away because of everything that went wrong last time. We have to start planning tonight." Anya announced.

"I'm training with the girls tonight."

"Oh come on you can blow it off, Buff. I'm getting married!" Xander grinned.

Willow and Buffy shared a look, the happiness on his face told them this time was the real deal. It wasn't a happy smile darkened by doubt it was just pure joy.

"What's going on?" Dawn sauntered into the room.

"I'm getting married!" Anya yelled excitedly.

"WE'RE getting married, honey."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Anya brushed him off showcasing her ring for Dawn.

"Well Will, you up for it?" Xander asked taking Willow's hands in his.

"What?" She laughed.

"Best man?"

"Always!" She collapsed into his arms.

That night the planning begun.

"So, bridesmaids is Buffy and Dawn but who else?" Willow enquired, scrawling names down in a notebook.

"I don't know. Halfrek is dead and I don't have any other friends. I mean at any other point in my life that's been convenient but now I'm not sure." Anya sighed.

"Can't Willow just do it?" Dawn suggested.

"She's the best man."

"So get a new best man." Dawn said.

"Hey!" Willow protested.

"It's nothing personal it's just maybe he can have someone else. Like Giles?" Dawn justified her opinion.

"No, Giles is walking me down the aisle." Anya explained.

"Why?" Buffy questioned the decision.

"My father is long gone and Xander wouldn't let me have D'Hofryyn do it. Giles is the only other old guy I know." Anya replied.

"Well, I guess it will have to be just 2 bridesmaids."

"No wait, what about Spike or Angel?" Buffy offered.

"Funny enough I can't see either of them holding Anya's train."

"One of them could be best man."

"No way! Xander hates both their guts he wouldn't be caught dead standing next to either one of them on his wedding day. Plus it would have to be after dark."

"We're closing the curtains and blocking out the sun anyway." Anya pointed out.

"Why?" Dawn wanted to know.

"Because Spike's coming."

"What? You're inviting Spike? Xander is gonna kill you!" Willow yelled.

"Why?" Anya wondered.

"Because you slept with him on full display of everyone and he screwed Buffy over." Willow answered.

"He didn't screw me over, he saved the world." Buffy defended Spike.

"I know, Buffy, but that's not the way Xander is gonna see it." Willow assured Buffy of her motives.

"Well, shame. He's coming." Anya huffed.

"Oh well, Xan is just going to have to deal with it then." Dawn agreed.

"Xander's going to have to deal with what?" Xander asked walking into the room planting a kiss on Anya's head.

"Ummm..that...ummmm..." Willow babbled.

"Willow can't be your best man." Buffy hurriedly exclaimed.

"Why not?"

"She has to be one of my bridesmaids." Anya informed him.

"Why?"

"Otherwise I'll only have 2 and I don't wanna be that girl that doesn't have enough friends to fill the aisle!"

"Fine, but whose my best man gonna be?"

"We were thinking Spike..." Dawn said quietly.

"SPIKE?!?" Xander screamed.

"Or Angel?" Dawn smiled hopefully.

"Wow... hey Xander, we've all decided to steal your best friend and make one of your worst enemies your best man but you're cool with that right?" Xander joked.

"Well, he was coming anyway so..."

"Who, Angel? Why?"

"Not Angel, Spike!" Anya replied, exasperated.

"Why, Spike?" Xander was officially freaking out by this point.

"He really supported me after I became human. He knew what I was going through." Anya explained sadly, stroking Xander's hand in an attempt to calm him.

"Yeah, I actually caught the show of all that supporting! And let me tell you, the image of Spike's naked butt has been seared into my brain ever since!" Xander screeched, pushing Anya's hand away and pacing the floor.

"Xander, that was forever ago! He's saved the world since then, he's fought by your side. Like it or not he was a part of the Scoobies, so get on board." Buffy punched him lightly on the arm.

"But... but..."

"No buts mister! This is Anya's wedding and seeing as you ran out on the last one, I think she gets to make these decisions." Dawn joined Buffy's side folding her arms.

"I don't like being ganged up on by the Summers women here." Xander backed down scooping the two girls into a hug. "Fine, he can come."

"So, who's your best man then?" Willow turned the conversation back to the original topic.

"Ummm... well I hate Angel 'cause he's a jackass. But Spike slept with my fiancée soooo... I'm gonna go with Buffy Boy Number 1." Xander decided.

"You have to call him." Buffy grinned handing Xander her mobile.

"What? Why can't you do it?" Xander whined.

"Because it's more fun this way."

"Fine." He took the phone and found Angel's number.

"Wolfram and Hart." Came through the line.

"Hey it's Xander Harris, can I speak to Angel?"

"Xander? Oh my God!" Harmony squealed down the phone.

"Harmony..." Xander forced a happy voice through gritted teeth.

"I haven't seen you in FOREVER! What's going on with you?"

"Ummm, nothing. Listen Harm, can I just speak to Angel please?"

"Oh fine, whatever. I'll put you through."

Xander thanked God for the lack of conversation when a voice came crackling through "Angel."

"Hey, Angel."

"Who is this?" Angel asked.

"Um, Xander." Xander replied, a little offended.

"Oh, right. Hey, man what's up?" Angel sounded a little confused.

"Who is it?" A voice came from wherever Angel was.

"No one, Spike, okay?" Angel turned his attention to Spike instead. "Sorry, Xander, go on. Does Buffy need me?"

"Buffy? Buffy's in trouble?" Spike's voice came through again.

"No, yes, I don't know, just shut up so I can find out!" Angel hissed.

"No, Buffy's fine, we all are. I just need a favour, a personal favour." Xander said, holding back the urge to slam the phone down.

"Umm..okay...what is it?" Angel asked awkwardly.

"Willyoubemybestman?" Xander muttered quickly.

"Huh?"

"My best man. Will you do it?" Xander swallowed his pride and asked.

"Yeah, I guess. Not that I don't want to, but don't you have any other friends?"

"Listen, buddy you weren't my first choice either!" Xander raised his voice. "Willow was gonna do it but now she's gotta be a bridesmaid, Giles is walking Anya down the aisle so he can't do it and so it was between you and Captain Peroxide."

"Well, you made the right call. When's the wedding?"

"Let me find out..." Xander covered the phone and asked Anya, "when's the wedding?"

"Next weekend." Anya whispered.

"Next weekend." Xander informed Angel on the other end.

"Okay, well, is it okay if I come up this weekend?"

"Yeah sure. Better bring Bleach Boy with you 'cause he's invited." Xander gave in.

"Okay, well thanks Xander. I won't let you down." Angel assured him.

"Thanks Angel." Xander hung up and breathed a sigh of relief.

In L.A...

Angel put the phone down and looked over at Spike.

"Hee hee." He smiled and did a little victory dance.

"What's got into you, Forehead?"

"I'm gonna be a best man. And you're not!" He pointed at Spike.

"What? Who in their right bloody mind would want you as their best man?"

"Xander."

"Harris? I lived with that git!"

"Yeah but you also 'dated'" he put dated in air quotes, "his best friend and screwed her over. Oh yeah and slept with his fiancée."

"Oh details! I saved the world, I've saved his sorry arse more than once!"

"Well, you're still invited to the wedding."

"I am?" He looked happy. "I mean, huh, I didn't wanna go anyway."

"Well, you are. We leave tomorrow."