Buffy checked her hair in the mirror one last time before leaving the bathroom. As the titular head of the family it was important that she looked her best. She wanted to look her best and even though she wasn't expecting anyone special she wanted to look beautiful. Satisfied that she looked her best she dried her hands and left the room.

Dawn was in the kitchen, her hair and makeup done already, drinking some tea. "Buffy, you look beautiful!"

"I should be saying that to you Dawnie." Her younger sister was beautiful and for a moment Buffy felt a twinge of jealousy; not for her sister's beauty but for all the opportunities she had that Buffy was certain she would never be able to have herself. "You look so pretty! Shouldn't you be in your dress though?"

"Yes, I just needed a moment to relax. Besides it's so big I'll need your help."

"Where's Willow and Kennedy?"

"Willow called and said she'd meet us there, they had to take care of something."

"Well, let's get you dressed. We don't want to be late, Andrew might think you've decided to leave him behind for someone better."

"There's no one better than Andrew!"

"Sorry, someone else. Either way let's go." Buffy followed her sister up the stairs. "I can't believe you're marrying Andrew. When I first met him he was just a nerd who thought he was a supervillain."

"But he's different now."

"I know, he's really matured in the ten years I've known him."

"So you don't mind him?"

"No Dawnie I don't mind him at all. I think you're good for each other." Buffy lifted the dress over her sister's head, making sure her arms went through the right straps. "I'm a little jealous." She hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"Oh Buffy, you'll find someone I'm sure! Maybe even tonight, you know how romantic weddings are," Dawn snickered behind her hand. She saw the look of fear cross her sister's face, "just kidding Buffy."

They heard the door below slam shut and Xander called up to them. "Hey, are you ready? We're going to be late." He thumped up the stairs and knocked on the door before opening it, "Didn't you hear... Wow! You two look great, even through one eye!" Buffy felt a pang of guilt as she looked at one of her best friends, it was because of her that he had lost his eye. "Check out this cool eye patch I got for the wedding!" He dug in his pocket and pulled out a white eyepatch with a rhinestone pentagram on the front. "What do you think?"

Buffy tried not to laugh as Dawn looked at him horrified. "Xander if you wear that I swear to all that hellish I'll murder you!" She glared at each of them as Buffy and Xander laughed hysterically, leaning on each other for support. Finally Dawn's lip twitched and soon she started laughing with them. Xander replaced the gaudy patch with his regular black one.

"Come on, he's right, let me finish lacing you up." Buffy worked deftly at the laces on the back of Dawn dress while Xander waited impatiently in the doorway impatiently tapping his toe. "There finished." Buffy stood back to survey her work.

"Okay, okay, let's go." Xander shuttled them out of the door, down the stairs and into his waiting car. Buffy sat quietly in the car while Dawn chatted away, growing increasingly quiet as the old theater where the ceremony was to take place drew near.

She found it hard to believe that she was getting married. She had jsut graduated from college and started a new job and now this. It seemed like yesterday that her and Andrew, along with Buffy and the remaining potentials had driven away from the sinkhole that was Sunnydale. They had traveled around for nearly a year before finally settling down so that she could get her GED and go to college.

Many of the potentials had drifted away to find their own niche of the world to eradicate evil from. Willow and Kennedy had traveled around learning from other witches. Xander opened his own landscape and construction business and was finally seeing a girl who was neither a demon, a vampire, or some other form of undead, but plain human. Giles had returned to London, and rarely visited.

Dawn looked at her sister and worried. Buffy had tried training some of the potentials but with Faith around she was often superfluous. Once Dawn started school Buffy had gone back to college at Northwestern, where she'd been accepted as a senior in high school. She finished her degree and now had great job working with at risk youth in high schools. Now she was mostly alone, only coming west to visit once or twice a year. She hadn't dated anyone since Sunnydale, at least not that Dawn knew of, and her sister was worried about how empty she seemed.

"Here we are," Xander pulled up outside the building. It was decorated with flowers and streamers and Dawn and Andrews names were on the marquee. Dawn climbed out, Buffy behind her making sure her dress didn't drag on the ground, and all three of them went into the lobby. Willow and Kennedy were waiting for them.

"I was beginning to think you had changed your mind. Dawnie you look so beautiful!"

"I'm gonna go get a seat," Kennedy hugged Dawn, "you look wonderful, Andrew is so lucky." She kissed Willow, "you look good too."

"No offense Dawn but did you have to pick pink? I'm not exactly a pink sort of person."

"Your dress is wonderful Willow." Buffy had to admire Willow's dress and Dawn's taste. Sure it was pink, but it was also flattering and once Willow changed its color there was no doubt in her mind that Willow would wear it again.

"It's not a bad dress, it's just...well it's just so pink!" They laughed. Dawn went to check her hair and makeup one last time. "You don't mind Buffy do you?"

"Mind what Willow?"

"That Dawn asked me to be her maid of honor instead of you?"

"Not instead of Willow, I told her to ask you. I knew I wouldn't be a very good one half way across the country. Besides, I'm more of a mother of the bride sort of person. Not to mention that pink isn't really my color either." She grinned.

"Looks like it's time, are you ready?" Xander held out his arm to Buffy.

She smoothed out her dress and checked to make sure she had tissues. She gave her sister one final kiss on the cheek before taking Xander's arm and walking down the aisle. She saw familiar faces in the crowd, and many unfamiliar faces. Already she could feel her eyes tearing as she thought of the people who should be there and weren't; Kendra, Tara, Anya, Spike, so many other potentials. So many of their friends had died, how many of them didn't have to? She searched the faces looking for the one person she had been hoping to and fearing she would see. Where was Giles?

She sat down in the front row, Xander taking the seat next to her. Faith waved from across the aisle and Buffy smiled at her. The music changed and Willow started walking down the aisle with Alex, a friend of Andrew's, they parted at the front and turned to face the back of the theater. There was an upswing in the music and the doors opened to reveal Dawn standing, her dress sparkling and shimmering in the low light of the theater. Slowly, majestically she walked down the aisle.

Buffy struggled to contain her tears and was thankful for Xander to lean on. The ceremony was short and beautiful. They lit a candle for their friends that they'd lost and spoke their vows honestly and with conviction. Buffy found it hard to listen to as she tried to imagine a wedding that she doubted she would ever have.

Giles had arrived to Sunnydale late and cursing British Airways for their delays. He snuck into the back row of the theater to watch as Dawn and Andrew said their vows. She seemed to have grown even more since the last time he had seen her. No one noticed him standing there so he took the time to examine the backs of the guests' heads. He was surprised to see Willow standing up next to Dawn instead of Buffy. Surely she would not miss her own sister's wedding, he thought. He soon recognized her honey brown hair in the front row, drawn tightly up on her crown. It had always looked better down he thought, remembering how it looked the last time they'd met.

Giles closed his eyes at the pain the memory caused him. She had been so angry at him. He supposed it had been his fault for staying away so long, but her words had cut him to his core.

"Don't tell me how to do this Giles, I've been slaying for nearly half my life."

"I was merely giving you some helpful advice."

"What right have you to advise me? You're not my watcher anymore."

"I'm your friend Buffy, I wouldn't be much good to you if I kept silent when I thought you were making yet another mistake!"

"Another mistake? Is that what I've been doing? Making mistakes?"

"Well, we'd both be denying the truth if we said you hadn't made some mistakes in your past."

"You left, my mistakes no longer affect you. If you're really that worried try sticking around this time."

"You know I can't stay Buffy. I have a job in London, a life."

"Which doesn't include us? You haven't come back in nearly three years."

He could read the hurt in her eyes and felt terrible. "You never asked me to." She had stared at him like he had two heads for a moment before storming for the room. She left then, taking with her any reason he might have had for staying.

He shook his head to clear those memories. He recognized that the end of the ceremony and didn't want to be seen just then. Quietly he slipped from the ceremony. He would meet them at the reception after he had a chance to freshen up.

Buffy clapped with everyone else as the happy couple made it up the aisle. She let them go and stayed in her seat. When she was certain she was alone she made her way to the front. She walked passed the altar to look at the pictures with the candles flickering in front of them. It had been a nice touch to honor their fallen friends on this happy day. She lightly ran her fingers over the pictures of Tara and Anya until she came to Spike's. She stared at him, imagining his humor, his nonchalant smile as the world crashed down around him. She let a solitary tear trace it's way down her cheek before leaning over and blowing out the candle. "I miss you Spike."

The reception was already jumping when Buffy finally got there. Willow brought her a glass of champagne. "Where'd you go? Dawn was worried."

"Sorry I just stayed behind to talk to...well, to talk to Spike."

"You miss him a lot don't you?" Willow looked at her friend and tried to guess what she was thinking. It had been nearly six years since Spike's death and she had no idea that Buffy still thought about him.

"I miss them all Willow, every day, even..." he voice trailed off.

"Even Giles?"

Buffy felt her tears choking her and nodded. She took a deep breath, "but let's not think about him tonight, I'm trying to be happy." She sipped her champagne and pointed to Dawn, "doesn't she look happy?"

"She does. Who would've thought, our little Dawnie, all grown up. Looks like Xander's coming to steal you for a dance."

"Hey lovely lady, looks like you could use some cheering up. Let Xander the magic dancer sooth your troubles away," he tried to move seductively which only succeeded in making Willow crackup and Buffy laugh hard enough she had to put her champagne down.

"Okay, okay! I'll dance with you but only if you stop doing that. It's totally freakin' me out." She followed him to floor. He took her hand and began to sway to the music. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I've missed you Xander."

"Well, you could move back you know. There's plenty of troubled youth here, being the former site of a hellmouth and all."

"There's just so many memories here. Every time I come back to visit I go home a basketcase."

"We all have our troubles Buff, but we help each other out. You need a support system."

"Maybe," she missed being able to confide in someone. "If I came back, it wouldn't be the same."

"I know, it's not really a reunion unless..."

"Unless what? Xander," she looked up at him.

"Giles is here."

"I suppose that's true, sort of our den mother."

"No I mean Giles is here. Now." He let go of her and began walking across the hall.

"Giles!" Dawn shrieked and ran across the room, nearly tripping on her dress in her excitement to reach him. "I didn't think you were going to make it!"

Buffy didn't hear his response, muffled as it was by Dawn's hug. Soon he was surrounded by everyone, smiling as he accepted hugs all around. Buffy watched from a distance, unsure of what to do. Part of her wished things could go back to the way they were, but it had been so long. She knew there was no going back.

"Looks like the gang's all here," Faith stood next to her, "aren't you going to go and say hello?" When Buffy didn't answer she shrugged and joined the rest of the group.

Buffy watched them all, smiling and laughing, wishing she could be a part of it. She felt herself tearing up again. Giles looked up at her and she turned away before he could see her tears. Suddenly fearing a confrontation with him she began to walk from the room. She pushed past the dancers on the floor, unable to stem the flow of tears that coursed down her cheeks.

Giles had actually watched them all for quite a bit before Xander had noticed him. He couldn't help but notice how sad Buffy looked. Sad and beautiful. Her honey colored silk dress matched her hair and brought out her eyes. His first instinct was to go to her and try and comfort her. He had thought of cutting in on her and Xander's dance and surprising her, but thought better of it. Then of course he had been noticed. When she left he tried to follow but the rest of them had detained him until it was too late.

Buffy ran from the hall hardly noticing where she went. All she knew as she walked that her shoes were starting to hurt her feet and she was walking away from the house. It started to sprinkle and still she walked on. Soon the drizzle turned into a downpour. She was soaked to the bone by the time she stopped at the edge of town, where the school used to be. She stood on the edge of the crater and screamed out at that which had taken her youth and her happiness.

She stood sobbing in the rain until she could stand no more. She felt so tired all of a sudden. She just wanted to rest. She climbed down into the crater and picked her way over the rubble. She tried to find where the basement of the school would've been, where Spike was when he died. Making her best guest she laid down on a large piece of cement. Curling into a ball she let her tears fall while the rain pounded down on her.