Chapter 2

"Do you wanna sleep apart from now on? It's a week until the wedding." Anya pointed out, tucked under Xander's arm in bed.

"I don't know. I guess it's good idea. We still don't know where all the guests are gonna sleep either."

"Well I told all mine to book hotel rooms this year. It's just your family."

"I'll call them today. But we still gotta sort out Bitey Boys, Faith and Giles."

"Angel, Spike and Giles can stay with you and me and Faith will be with the girls." Anya decided.

"Sounds good. What have you got going on today?"

"Dress shopping."

"What's wrong with the dress from last time?"

"Well, mine I destroyed in a huge rage and Buffy's is all ripped and apparently they didn't like them very much." Anya looked a little angry at that last comment.

"Okay then. I'll call everyone to sort out rooms and you go shopping."

Later that day Anya, Buffy, Dawn and Willow were seated in comfy chairs in a small wedding dress shop.

"So what sort of dress would you like?" The attendant asked Anya.

"Something that makes me look pretty."

"Umm.. okay." The attendant smiled and disappeared into the back.

"What sort of bridesmaids dresses are we in this year?" Buffy asked a little afraid of the answer.

"I was thinking blue."

"Okay that's better." Dawn nodded getting a dirty look from Anya. "I mean you know...they were lovely before...I mean... oh never mind."

The attendant reappeared then with a dress in her arms.

"Here you go." She passed the dress to Anya who vanished into the changing room.

When she came out she was bundled in metres of eggshell coloured fabric. It was thick satin with huge capped sleeves and a round ball gown skirt.

"How's this?" Anya smiled at the women.

They all shared a look and shook their heads. This ritual was repeated through around 7 or 8 more dresses when Anya stepped out in the 9th.

It was pure white, flowed perfectly down and fell about her feet. It swished when she walked and was adorned with beads and pearls. Strapless and cinched in at the waist it framed her figure perfectly. Anya was a vision.

"Anya, you look beautiful." Dawn said earnestly.

"I know!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

It was later that night and Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Xander and Anya were all crowded into Xander's living room. Dawn and Xander were slouching on the floor and the rest seated on the couch.

"I'll get it." Buffy rose to her feet and opened the door.

"Oh my God!" Buffy threw herself out of the doorway into the arms of those standing there.

They came into the apartment and the gang all stood up to greet Angel and Spike.

"She hugged me." Angel hissed at Spike as he went in to shake Xander's hand.

"She hugged ME." Spike muttered back.

"Spike!" Dawn ran into his arms, he lifted her off the floor and spun her round.

"Hey, Niblet!" He put her down and kissed her on the head.

"I haven't seen you since you, well, died."

"I know, Little Bit, I'm sorry." Spike smiled pulling her into his arms again.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Who's that?" Xander asked the room.

"No one we know." Angel replied.

Buffy opened the door again to be faced with Giles and Faith.

"Hello Buffy."

"Hey B."

"Hi." Buffy said awkwardly, she hugged Giles and let them in.

"Well, it's been a while since I've seen you." Faith nodded to Angel.

"Yeah, but I remember perfectly the last time I saw you." Spike reminded her.

"Was that when you were burning up in the Hellmouth? Or maybe when you started wailing on me to defend your girl here." Faith signalled at Buffy.

"Hey, she's not his girl." Angel interrupted.

"Oooh, touch a nerve did I?"

"Right come on guys lets not fight already." Willow attempted to diffuse the situation.

It wasn't long before everyone was seated and looking around expectantly at each other.

"Well, it's been a while since I've been back with the old gang. Did I miss anything good?" Angel asked everyone.

"I don't know. Not really." Dawn admitted.

"No cool demons?" Angel prompted.

"Well, there was that time Xander summoned this demon that made everyone sing and dance." Buffy remembered.

"Oh that was awesome!" Xander thought back to that time.

"Yeah and if I remember rightly I was supposed to be his bride!" Dawn challenged him.

"Better you than me!" Xander cackled.

Those who were there erupted into laughter.

"Remember when Watcher here got himself turned into a Fyarl demon?" Spike jabbed a thumb in Giles direction.

"Yes, but gave that old Dr Walsh a good fright didn't I?" He laughed.

"What about when you two thought you were father and son?" Dawn reminded them.

"Oh yeah and you thought your name was Randy! And I wanted to be called Joan!" Buffy fell about laughing.

"Yeah another Willow spell mishap!" Anya looked at her.

"It's not my fault! It was an accident!" Willow protested.

"That's not the worst one! What about when Giles went blind, Buffy and Spike tried to get married-"

"You and Spike got married?" Angel interrupted.

"Almost! We didn't actually we were under a spell." Buffy corrected him.

"Yeah and I nearly became a vengeance demon because of that damn spell!" Willow reminisced.

"Sounds like I missed a lot, huh?" Angel noted.

"Well, anyway, we better be going." Willow got to her feet.

"So, where am I at, Red?" Faith wondered.

"You're crashing with all of us girls if that's alright?"

"Five by five."

And with that they were gone. Anya, Buffy, Dawn and Willow left the boys alone, dreading what they could do.