Title: "Abiding Faith"
Pairing: Buffy/Gabrielle, Willow/Ginny, Faith/Fleur/Hermione, Giles/Apolline, Dawn/Xander - they're all in it, and more besides..
Rating: Call it R, well,NC in one spot
Summary: Tied up with a nice little bow…
Warnings:Little Violence, Little Girlsex, Little implied het. FLUFF! Double FLUFF! FLUFF SQUARED!
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling and Joss Whedon.
A/N: Not the latest chapter - the last. This story covers a considerable period of time, and the exact duration is not indicated.
My thanks to those who have reviewed and read, my connection has been fiercely bad of late, and try as I might to reply it just hasn't worked. You wouldn't believe how long it takes to post an update. * sigh *
Thanks again.
"Revelations of Faith" Chapter 10
"Abiding Faith"
"Thank you for coming, Buffy," said Apolline courteously, "and thank you for your support."
"It makes sense, and he's earned it. Whether I can make him see that or not is another thing, but I'll give it my best shot."
"He will listen to you, Buffy, he admires you very much. He's so proud of you!" Buffy smiled at that.
"He gets a lot of the credit for whatever deserves admiration. He is a father and more to me, and since you're going to be my Mother-in-law some day it seems only natural," Buffy told her.
"Gabrielle loves you so, as do I, daughter of my heart." Buffy embraced the older blonde, and then opened her bag and selected a portkey.
"These things sure beat Apparition, I don't think I'll ever get used to that," she said. Apolline shrugged eloquently, proving that she was French.
"To each her own, portkeys make me dizzy," she confided.
"I'll be in touch, Apolline. Hopefully with good news."
"Do me the honor of calling me Mere, dear girl, please. You may as well grow accustomed to it."
"You got it Mom, see you later!" Buffy activated the portkey and vanished.
"Bonne chance, Buffy," whispered Apolline.
"Got a minute, Giles?" asked Buffy as she entered the library.
"Of course, Buffy, what can I do for you?" he replied.
"You can leave. For good," she said seriously.
Giles felt dizzy, and a bit queasy. "Have – have I offended you in some way? I – I assure you that it was quite unintentional," he stammered.
"Nope. I love you more than ever. But so does Apolline. Go to her. Be with her. She needs you. And you deserve her," Buffy told him firmly.
"But the girls – I have a responsibility to-"
"Yourself. This time for yourself, Giles. Things are running smoothly, we're actually winning. Harry's idea for Hunter/Killer teams of Aurors and Slayers is succeeding beyond our fondest hopes. The bad guys just can't cope with that sort of dual front attack. You remember D'Hoffrein?" Giles nodded. "Faith and Draco killed him this morning. I swear those two alone could clean out any nest I ever saw. Kennedy has the Spanish office running smoothly; the training program for the new Slayers is as near perfect as it can be. Rolling the Slayers into the Auror department gives us resources we've never had. Willow and Hermione have nearly completed the restoration of the archives of the Watcher's Council. I've had feelers from some surviving Watchers about coming on board. It's time for you to lay this down and move on, Giles," she pleaded earnestly.
"Yes, I suppose I've just been deluding myself that you still needed me," sighed Giles. Buffy slapped him, and he gazed at her in shocked disbelief.
"Don't you ever say that to me again, Rupert Giles. I will need you until the day I die for keeps, and I will love you longer than that. But yes, the business of slaying can proceed without your constant attendance. I reserve the right to call on you for advice, however." Buffy paused and gazed evenly at Giles as he rubbed his cheek.
"Yes, you can," Buffy said softly. "Yes, she loves you. Yes, she needs you, the Delacour businesses are vast. She needs someone that she can trust to help her. And I need you to share with me the joys of the coming years, not the labor. Not any more. Marry the lady. Embrace life, Giles."
"How did you become so extraordinarily wise?" he whispered.
"You rub off on a girl after she dies a couple times. Here, Mom gave this to me for you. Beat it, we'll send your stuff." She handed him a heart-shaped locket. "That will take you to her regardless of where she is. You just have to kiss it."
"Buffy I –"
"Later. Go home now Giles. Go home."
Giles tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but he couldn't get it down, and so he embraced Buffy fiercely, and kissed her tenderly, and raised the locket to his lips. Momentarily, he found himself in the family room facing Apolline.
"Well, I'm here," he said simply, and Apolline smiled a sunrise.
"Come to bed, Rupert," she said in joy.
"So, you're telling me Draco was an asshole back in school?" Faith asked.
"Indeed he was," assured Hermione, "a first-class, rat bastard, wannabe Death-eater, elitist, mudblood hating, bigoted, prick."
"I believe you, but he is one stone killer. I swear, the last demon puked when he laid eyes on him, and for a guy, Draco is pretty handsome," Faith responded.
"Oui," agreed Fleur, "I believe he must be part Veela. His muzzer is quite lovely."
"I cannot believe that the two women I love are getting lubed up over Malfoys," sighed Hermione. "The world is inside-out."
"Times change, 'Mione," shrugged Faith. "Anyway, he's a good partner. Luna is batting a thousand pairing up Slayers with Aurors. The teams are flattening Hell all over the Continent. Our mortality rate is zero, the injuries are way down, and the failure rate is in single digits. Evil will always be with us, but for now we've got it looking over its shoulder. God, it feels good to be on top!"
"I am so glad zat you feel that way Faith," purred Fleur, "for I fancy having you sitting on my face for a while, s'il vous plait."
"Anything you want, love," smiled Faith.
"You two go ahead," Hermione told them, "I'll be along soon." Faith and Fleur left hand-in-hand for the bedroom, and Hermione watched them go, having one of those moments when she simply could not believe how much she loved her life with the two of them. She gave them a while, and then softly crept down the hall. The door was ajar, and Hermione stood transfixed as she watched her two lovers. Fleur tenderly undressed Faith, her delicate hands caressing the soft skin covering the corded muscles of the Slayer, her lips brushing Faith's eyelids, her neck, her shoulders, and trailing down the rippling muscles of her stomach.
Fleur backed up a step, and stared hungrily at Faith as she removed her own clothing, and then lay on her back on the bed, reaching for Faith. Faith stepped lightly onto the bed, her feet wide apart as she slowly lowered herself onto Fleur's waiting tongue. Faith stretched out on Fleur's body, rubbing her face down the soft skin of Fleur's stomach, resting her cheek against Fleur's moistening heat as Fleur slowly and firmly worked her tongue into Faith.
Hermione's hand found itself under her shirt, shoving the bra aside and twisting the hardening nipples as she watched them. Faith's back arched, and her mouth opened, and her breathing grew stronger, louder, and deeper, as Fleur eagerly drank her.
Hermione's clothes found themselves on the floor as she entered the room and straddled Fleur's leg, pressing her knee firmly against Fleur's sex as she rubbed herself on the Veela's straining thigh. She ran her fingers into the dark hair of the woman she faced, and as their lips met she cried silent tears of joy for the love they all shared. She felt her breasts rubbing against Faith's, she felt a spreading heat and wetness on her knee, she felt a melting deep inside of her, she felt - she felt.
"No, I bloody well will not accept this shipment of bottles," Giles said resolutely. "They are obviously flawed, and cannot possibly endure the pressures of fermentation. Delacour Champagne, sir, is not soda pop, and I caution you not to again try and foist substandard product on us. Have I made myself clear? Good. I expect a new shipment within the week, I suggest that you turn this lot in for recycling, or fill them with bubble bath. Good day." Giles hung up the phone and heaved a great sigh. "Wanker," he muttered.
But he was happy. He loved helping manage the winery and the other arms of the Delacour businesses. He loved Apolline, he loved her – no, their children and their partners. He loved playing guitar and singing for the woman he loved. He loved his life, in short.
"Rupert," called Apolline, "Antoine thinks that the vines on the south slope may have rust."
"I doubt it darling, but I'm on my way," he replied. Antoine thought everything was rust, but he had a positive gift for knowing when to pick grapes.
On the way to inspect the vines, he stopped by the cellars to turn an especial group of bottles. There were weddings approaching.
Amanda entered Buffy's office without knocking, causing Buffy's eyebrows to rise. iNobody/i entered without knocking. Amanda was wearing the latest in slayer attire, inspired in its styling by Ginny's leather outfits, it was all Dragon hide, boots, pants, and a sleeveless top that rose high on the neck. It was specially cured for flexibility and enchanted to turn most blades, teeth, or claws.
Amanda herself was no longer the awkward, coltish girl from Sunnydale. She was whippet-lean, but moved with the grace of a leopard, and her tall frame absolutely sang with strength. She wore on her belt one of the Goblin-forged swords that had become standard issue for the Slayer member of the Hunter/Killer teams, and she laid her hand on the hilt as she spoke.
"It's time for you to go, Buffy," she commanded.
Buffy vaulted the desk, scooping up her scythe on the way, and in the blink of an eye she swung it in a hard, flat arch straight at the swan-like neck of the woman facing her. There was an answering flash of steel, and the weapons met in a shower of sparks. Buffy smiled.
"You're ready," she said, "and yeah, it's time to go."
"You didn't hold back much, boss," said Amanda.
"And I never will," Buffy replied flatly, "see that you don't either."
"Count on it. Now beat it, and if I see you here in the next 3 months I'll kick your tiny ass."
"Deal," Buffy replied, and she took the portkey she liked best.
"Buffy!" Gabrielle greeted her, "at last, come, there are a million things to do."
"Yes dear," Buffy replied, and she allowed herself to be swept up by the whirlwind that was the woman she loved.
Willow looked with pride at the unbroken string of O's on her NEWTs . She had sped through the syllabus in record time once she had truly grasped the theory of magic.
"Magnifique, Willow," said Madame Maxime, "of course, I expected no less." Olympe had grown uncommonly fond of the petite redhead, the joy she took in learning served as an inspiration to the younger students at Beauxbatons, and there was the fact that Ginny Weasley was a frequent visitor to Beauxbatons since Willow arrived.
"I believe Ginny is waiting for you now though, n'est ce pas? Au'voir, ma petite."
Willow ran through the castle, across the lawn, passed through the gates and Apparated directly to the Holyhead Harpies practice pitch.
"No, no, NO, you clumsy bitches! Do it over, and do it right!"
"Gwenog is a bit nervous," explained Ginny as she kissed Willow in greeting.
"Should we stay to guard the team?" Willow asked.
"Nah, they all know where she's coming from, Ashley will shag her silly in a bit and things will calm down. Ready?"
"Yep, I've already had three owls from Gabby with assignments for us. We're going to be busy this week," Willow promised.
"Count yourself lucky my Mum's tied up with Percy's new baby," Ginny said earnestly, suppressing a shudder. "You drive," she said, taking Willow's arm. They disappeared with a loud crack.
"No need in the three of us hiding, Draco, how 'bout some light?" Draco flicked his wand and the passage ahead of them illuminated. Draco too had opted for the dragon hide outfit, and he also carried the sword as well as his wand. They made a striking and terrifying duo, although the third member of Strike Team Alpha had engendered laughter on their first few missions. Nobody laughed anymore.
The third member of the team was a House-elf. He had appeared in Luna's office at the Ministry one day and said simply, "I wishes to fight." Luna had immediately sent for Draco and Faith and introduced them to the new member of their team, thus forming the first, and so far only, Strike Team attached to the Auror/Slayer office.
His name was Dagger, and he was Dobby's sister's son. He wore what he pleased, and he had his Uncle's taste in clothing. He carried a thin stiletto, a few wooden stakes, and was one of the very few elves to use a wand. The ban on wand use for nonhumans had been lifted several years before, but most House-elves disdained them, preferring to practice their magic as they always had. Dagger, however, had embraced it and mastered it, and his magic combined with a skilled wizard such as Draco added a dimension that had allowed Team Alpha to penetrate the dark places beneath the earth and confront ancient evils on their own ground.
He was also peerless in edged weapon combat, his speed and unmatched ferocity had most foes dead before they knew that battle had been joined. Thus it was that Faith had decided to let the prey know they were coming.
The team moved with swift caution, and soon the passage opened into a large cavern, Draco and Dagger cast illumination spells and the combined effect brought a dawn to a place that had only known the poor light of fires. There was a huge shape approaching from the right.
"Troll at 3 o'clock Draco!" cried Faith as she rapidly assessed the situation.
"Avada Kedavra!" replied Draco, and the troll went down, falling atop his massive hammer.
"I has the Wyvern," Dagger informed them, and his spell petrified the beast flame and all.
"Undead straight ahead," called Faith as she swung her sword, Dagger joined her and staked a pair that never saw him. Three fled and were not pursued.
"What's that then?" asked Draco as he rejoined them after dispatching a Hydra.
"That" was huge and cloaked in shadow.
"Merlin's ball-sack," breathed Dagger, "I thinks it's a Balrog!
"A what?" asked Faith.
"Read a book now and again Faith," Draco advised, "but Balrogs are fictional creatures."
"Said the Wizard to the Elf," Dagger drawled.
The creature unfolded, and fire flared in the cavern as it swept out a huge sword.
"Run!" came a rasping voice from behind the Balrog, for Balrog it did seem to be. Something familiar in the voice tugged at Faith's mind for an instant, but she pushed the thought aside.
"Kill it boys," she snapped.
Instantly a small ball of energy sped from the wands of both Draco and Dagger, one gold, one silver. The balls collided within the body of the creature, and something quite interesting happened. The two different types of magical energy simply could not exist in contact with each other, and so when they met, they ceased to exist. So did whatever was in the immediate vicinity.
It was terribly dangerous stuff, and thus far only Draco and Dagger had mastered it well enough to be permitted its use in the field. Thus was Team Alpha born, and Faith had been placed at its head because of her skill in threat assessment and her utter ruthlessness when called for.
The Balrog had been large enough that a few scraps remained to be collected and researched, as the effect had a sharply defined edge, and Draco and Dagger were skilled enough to control its size with great precision. They had never been able to tell anyone else how they did it, however. Luna simply said that it was their gift, and that seemed as good an answer as any.
"There are two men chained to the wall," Draco said, and the Team approached warily.
"Vamps," Dagger pronounced, and reached for his stakes.
"Belay that, Dagger," commanded Faith. "Those two are wedding presents." She broke the chains with her sword and freed the men.
"Thank God," said one of them fervently as he sagged to the floor of the cavern. "I've been chained up beside this pillock for over a decade."
"You're the pillock, pillock," replied the other.
"Git."
"Nancy."
"Sellout."
"Mama's boy."
"Some things never change," said a grinning Faith as she first helped them to their feet and then hugged each of them.
"Careful, Darlin'" said the smaller of the two, "we're a bit brittle from lack of, well, everythin'"
"Whiner."
"Republican."
"… now that hurt."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and then dissolved into gales of laughter. They embraced and pounded each other on the back. Faith grinned fit to burst.
"You know these two, then," said Draco cautiously, throwing an anxious glance at Dagger, who seemed equally at sea.
"Oooooh yeah," said Faith, "we go way back. You boys are looking at legends, Buffy's gonna croak when she sees them. But that's for a surprise, first we have to get them cleaned up, checked out, and get 'em on Hermione's Vampire nutrient. You'll like that stuff guys, trust me."
"Who killed the big cheese?" asked the taller man.
"The heavy element of my team; fellas, meet Draco and Dagger."
"Pleased to meet you, and thanks for vaporizing old horn head. He was getting a bit tiresome with that ruddy flaming whip of his. Love the hair, by the way, and the outfit," the smaller man said to Draco.
"Poofter."
"Don't start that shit again," said Faith. "Come on, we'll get you out of here and get you fixed up. Then I have got a TON of things to tell you."
"Is Buffy alright?" they chorused.
"Never better, but I have to tell you things have changed. Take us straight to the secure facility at the Min in England, boys. Hang on to your tender bits you two, this is weird the first few times."
The five joined hands and disappeared with an echoing crack.
"Get a move on Minnie," urged Xio, "I can't wait to see the girls!"
"Keep your hair on love, you don't want your wife showing up looking her age now, do you?" replied Minerva.
Minerva McGonagall and Xiomara Hooch had been the first same-sex couple married after the United Ministries had passed the resolution giving such unions official status. In point of fact, they had been instrumental in getting it passed. They had labored for years to get a resolution before the Ministry in Britain without success, and it was only after the formation of the United Ministries that they got the chance to have it up for a vote.
The UM was formed in the spirit of openness and cooperation that arose after the war, when people reached out to each other for healing. It had taken some years to beat out the details, but once established, the UM had moved swiftly. But the road for Minerva and Xiomara had been far from smooth. It was in the third day of discussions on the resolution, after still more hours of listening to people droning on about threats to marriage, threats to this, fears of that, that Minerva had had enough. The speaker had finally resumed her seat, and Minerva walked to the lectern as she had once assumed her place in a classroom or the Great Hall. She had not lost her knack for commanding attention either, and the place quickly fell silent.
"We have heard the same concerns rephrased quite often enough now, I believe. I have one thing to add. Xiomara, come here please." Xio moved quickly to her side, and Minnie took her face in her hands and kissed her full on the lips. There was a bit of shocked muttering, a few giggles, and some scattered applause.
"Now then," said Minerva as she stood holding Xiomara's hand, "how many of you feel queerer than you did thirty seconds ago? Madame Chairwoman, I call the question."
The measure had passed; narrowly, but it had passed.
Now they were seeing the fruits of their labor as the next generation began a life that Minnie and Xiomara had made possible for them.
Ginny and Willow, and Buffy and Gabrielle were indeed to be married, and they had asked Minnie and Xio to stand with them.
It was one of the proudest and most joy-filled moments in their long lives.
"I'm ready, how do I look?" asked Minnie.
"Like the girl I fell in love with an age ago," Xiomara murmured.
Minerva actually blushed.
"Relax, children, everything is ready," Apolline soothed over breakfast. "The guests will begin arriving soon, the grounds are prepared, Cornflower has the catering in hand, and Rupert tells me that his contribution is ready as well."
"But he won't tell you what that is, either, right?" Buffy asked.
"He has asked me to perform a minor conjuration at the appropriate time, so I have a small hint, but no more."
"Faith knows more than she's telling," Ginny said, "I could make her talk."
"Feel free to try, Gin, you could always take me up on a broom," answered a smiling Faith.
"I trust him," Gabrielle volunteered, "and in any case the only thing I really want and expect out of tomorrow is Buffy."
"That I can promise," Buffy said softly as she kissed Gabby on the cheek.
"Whoa, Buff," chided Xander, "save something for the honeymoon."
"I can't believe my sister's getting married! Tara would be so happy!" squealed Dawn. Not everything had changed about Dawn.
Xander had arrived with Dawn the night before. Dawn coming into the full flower of womanhood had swept away the last of his feeble resistance, and Dawn had him at last. One eye and all. Hermione had offered to fit him with a magical one, but he had declined, saying that depth perception was for sissies. Dawn had whispered to Hermione that she'd get back to her on that.
"She is happy," Willow assured Buffy .
Ginny's family was arriving later in the day, Bill and Charlie, George and Angelina with baby Fred, Percy, and Arthur and Molly. Ron would of course arrive with Harry and Draco. Some other special guests would be there for the wedding dinner, Minnie and Xio, who were arriving soon, Madame Maxime, Hagrid, Gwenog Jones, and a few Veela from the Silverwyng flock. And of course Luna, who was officiating in one of her myriad duties as Chair of the United Ministries. She had been swept into office by acclimation because she was the one person that everyone in the world trusted. It had never in her life crossed Luna's mind to lie. The dinner was relatively small, and Giles had insisted that it be formal because tradition required it. The brides had no real objection to this, and a fair part of the week had been devoted to their gowns.
There was to be no rehearsal, the reasoning being that as something always went wrong at a wedding anyway, there was no sense fretting over it. The ceremony itself would be quite simple, from the brides' perspective at least. Giles had been absent for days at the time, and refused to tell anyone what he was about. Faith had been seen talking earnestly to him on more than one occasion. Buffy had a feeling that Gabrielle knew more than she was letting on, but Gabby wasn't talking. She wouldn't even tell her not to worry.
The girls spent the day with close friends and family, and the love and joy surrounding them did indeed calm them. Ginny played with her nephew, and Buffy had a long heart to heart with Dawn that had Xander frankly nervous, but both of the Summers women had smiles on their tear-streaked faces when they emerged from Buffy's room.
Minnie and Xio arrived, and Hagrid had to be cautioned not to crush them in his enthusiasm. Faith was not in evidence several times during the day, and that was wondered at a bit but there were no answers forthcoming. Fleur and Hermione had adopted a firm, "you'll just have to wait" attitude on their partners' whereabouts.
The sun set at last, and the party dispersed to their rooms to dress for dinner.
The brides entered the dining room arm-in-arm by couples, and the assemblage rose to their feet as one.
"Damn!" Faith blurted.
"Well put, Faith," said Giles in wonder.
In contrast to the stark simplicity of their wedding clothes, the four women were dressed in gowns that seemed to have been woven by Fairies out of rainbows. The color was impossible to say, for it was all colors, and yet none at all. It gave the illusion of transparency, but was not. The shoulders were bare, the backs were low, and the whole assemblage was obviously held in place by magic. Their hair was casually elaborate, swept up to bare their necks, but not held rigidly.
The guests, in contrast and by arrangement, were all in black formal wear, and Ginny's eyes bulged as she caught sight of Hagrid in an exquisitely tailored tuxedo that must have required an entire flock of sheep, simply for the material. "Hagrid!" she exclaimed, "you're gorgeous!"
Hagrid blushed fiercely and muttered a "Thanks, so're you."
A string quartet began to play, and Ron, Harry, Draco, and George escorted the brides to their places as Cornflower announced dinner. The next day no one could have said precisely what was served, the mood was so enchanting that the flawless meal served as a backdrop to a blissful evening. Giles would stand and describe each wine that was brought to the table, and he was very impressive in his knowledge and his obvious love for the vintages that were now his concern. Apolline gazed fondly at her husband.
After dessert, the party repaired to a pavilion set up just outside to enjoy a relaxing time in the soft evening air. Visible in the moonlight was the enormous pavilion set up for the wedding feast, and on the hilltop, the simple floral arbor prepared for the ceremony itself.
"I'll just go and check the Arbor for wrackspurts," said the head of the United Ministries, and she drifted up the hill. Mighty she was, but remained Luna Lovegood.
"Thank God for Luna," Harry said quietly.
"Hear, hear," said those who knew her.
"Could you play something for us, Rupert?" asked Apolline.
"Of course, darling, what would you like?" he answered.
"Something instrumental, and soft, I think. Girls?"
"Sounds perfect," Gabrielle said for them all. Faith went and retrieved the guitar and sat down to hold her lovers' hands and listen.
After a brief warm-up, Giles softly played a very simple rendition of one of their favorites, and as Greensleeves drifted on the night air, there came from the hilltop a voice so pure and clear that every eye teared, and every throat closed. Giles played on, entranced as they all were with the singing. The single voice was joined by a chorus so high as to be on the edge of hearing, but piercingly sweet, the perfect counterpoint to the soloist. Looking at the hilltop, those gathered saw Luna, her arms spread wide, her hair gleaming in the moonlight. She was surrounded by myriad flickering lights, sprites and fairies come to sing with their Queen as she gave the four women her wedding gift.
Silence fell, and the flickering lights swept Luna into the sky, and in mute wonder those watching went to their beds and dreamed wonderful things.
The day dawned at last, and upon awakening the brides found themselves spirited away to a Spa, courtesy of Harry, Draco, and Ron, where they were outrageously pampered and not allowed to fret.
"Go," Apolline had commanded, "all is in readiness." They went, and as the hour approached Giles finished his secret preparations.
"Tell me, Rupert," wheedled Apolline, batting her eyes outrageously.
"No," he said, "I'm afraid you'll talk me out of it, but it just feels right to me."
"D'accord, my love," she acquiesced.
In tents set aside at the base of the hill for the purpose, the women dressed for the ceremony. Here the nerves caught up with them a bit. They each prepared alone, but there was little to be done. The dresses were identical, plain white cotton shifts. They wore neither jewelry nor makeup, their hair was brushed and left to fall naturally as it would, and they were barefoot.
They had elected to be wed as themselves, the raw and unadorned women that they were. Similarly, they would each ascend the hill unescorted. They loved their friends and family, but in this hour they were alone, soon never to be so again.
At noon a single note from a bell sounded, and they emerged and walked their solitary paths up the hill. There were aisles for them through the assembled guests, and every eye turned to them as they ascended the hill in silence. Before the altar waited their nearest and dearest, Molly Weasley was sobbing quietly. The wedding party was likewise simply attired in casual clothing of an ivory hue, so that the women shone brightly in contrast. Arrayed beyond the arbor were the Slayers and the Aurors in uniform, and over to one side the Harpies, also in full kit, stood clutching their brooms. Unobtrusively to one side stood a small tent, alone. Had they noticed it, the brides would have wondered at it, but their thoughts were fully occupied at the moment.
Willow and Ginny, and Buffy and Gabrielle, joined their hands and stepped into the arbor where Luna awaited them. Luna was arrayed in flowing robes of pale yellow, with a wreath of ivy on her head. At an unspoken command from Luna, small flights of fairies placed circlets of forget-me-nots on the heads of the brides.
"Our little girl is all grown up," said Spike in the shadows of the small tent.
"She's not our little girl anymore, Spike."
"She bloody well is! She'll always be our girl," he insisted.
"Yeah, you're right," admitted Angel.
"Bet your arse I'm right. I'm always right," he mumbled, wiping his eyes with his fist. They fidgeted a bit as they watched. Spike looked down at his feet and spoke again. "I love you, you know, after all," he said quietly.
"Yeah, I know," answered Angel gruffly, "I love you too, now shut up and watch the wedding."
"Beloved friends," began Luna, "we are gathered this day to celebrate the union of these dear to us all. Buffy and Gabrielle, Ginny and Willow, extend your hands to be joined." Turning to face each other, the couples placed the palms of their left hands together, and Luna bound them with silken cords.
"What promise do you make to each other?" asked Luna.
No one but Luna could hear the words they spoke to each other within that arbor, this moment was theirs alone.
"Turn and face your friends," Luna said happily. "The rings," she called.
Hermione and Fleur took a step forward to give their gifts to the pairs. Each bride had been instructed to decide in their hearts what they wanted their rings for each other to look like. Hermione had been firm in her insistence that that was all she and Fleur needed from them, and now together they raised their wands and said, "Agape Infinitum."
The binding cords glowed, and flowed over the hands, circling around the ring fingers like gleaming serpents. There was a brief pulse of golden light on each finger, and the cords had resolved into rings that were precisely what each of them had pictured. It was extraordinary magic, even from this pair, and Minerva gave a grave nod of appreciation.
Tears running freely down their faces, the couples turned to their partners and clasped hands.
"Having exchanged vows before these assembled loved ones, and having given and received rings, by the power of your love, and under my authority as Chair of the United Ministries, I declare you wed. Go forth in joy together," she proclaimed in a ringing voice. "You can kiss now," she whispered, once again merely Luna.
A ringing cheer greeted the kiss, and the Harpies rocketed into the sky. All faces looked up as the Harpies flew intricate arabesques through the clear, pure, blue, the thin vaporous trails of the broomsticks weaving together into a vast and intricate wedding knot that shimmered high above. In a rush of wind, Charlie Weasley's contribution arrived, and a glowing Chinese Fireball set the whole thing ablaze.
"A real dragon?" squeaked Willow.
"Yup," confirmed Ginny, "and I think she's my sister-in-law."
The Fireball landed neatly beside Charlie, and the Harpies returned to earth.
"You didn't suck," admitted Gwenog.
Apolline directed the newlyweds to a spot in front of the crowd and instructed them to face the Arbor.
"This must be it," guessed Buffy, "now we'll see what Giles has been up to."
Apolline waved her wand, and the Arbor vanished, in its place stood a gleaming floor, to ether side of which was a small screen, along with a microphone on a stand in front of one of them. The Slayer/Auror teams arranged themselves along the back edge of the floor, Strike Team Alpha two steps ahead and centered. From behind the screen on their right, Giles appeared. He had donned a battered old leather vest, and he carried not the magnificent gift from Segovia, but a beat-up old electric of uncertain parentage. He turned his back to the crowd and spent a moment fiddling with the guitar. A familiar guitar riff began, and those assembled could see him draw in a massive breath after a time, and then to the absolute astonishment and delight of the new couples, he spun around, and Ripper took the long step to the mike accompanied by a thunderous chord from the manky old electric.
"Shes got LEGS! She knows how to use them."
Concurrent with this opening, an impossibly long female lower limb shod with a lethal stiletto-heeled strapped shoe emerged from behind the screen on the other side of the floor, and Amanda strutted onstage in an extremely abbreviated version of her uniform, and proceed to astonish everyone who knew her by proving that she could dance as well as she could fight.
"She never begs, she knows how to choose them."
The teams began to shimmy.
"She's holdin' LEG, wonderin' how to feel themmm.
Would you get behind them, if you could only find them?
She's my baby, she's my ba-by."
With an explosive clap of hands the teams began to dance, a backup line the likes of which had never been seen. Dagger slid across the floor, ending up spinning on his head before proceeding to tear off a break that served the world.
"Yeah it's alright, I said it's alrigh-ite."
The crowd, led by the brides, was clapping the rhythm; elation ran wild among them, and McGonagall's shoulders could be seen to move beneath her ivory blouse.
"She got HAIR, down to her fanny.
She's kinda jet set, try undo her panties."
That did it for Minerva, and she reached up and unleashed a cascade of silver-streaked midnight that did indeed reach her fanny, grabbed Xio's hand and dragged her bemused wife to join the line.
"Every time she's dancin', she knows what to do-oo.
Everybody wants to see, if she can use it!
She's so fi-ine, and she's all mi-ine.
Girl you got it right! You know you really got it right!"
Dawn leaped onto the floor to face off with Amanda.
"That incredibly hot slutball is my baby sister…" said Buffy in awe.
"Can she come with us on the honeymoon?" asked an appreciative Gabrielle.
"Damn," said Ginny "Giles has got it goin' on."
"Shall we?" Willow asked her fellow brides.
"Hell yes!" Buffy screamed, and they all rushed the floor.
"She's got LEGS, she knows how to use the-eeemmm.
She never begs, she knows how to choose them.
She's got a dime- all of the time,
Stays out at night – movin through time.
Oh I wa-ant her, said I got to have he-er,
The girl is all right! I said that she's all right.
She's got LEH-EEEGGS!"
With no pause in his playing, Giles headed down the hill to the reception, followed by the laughing brides and all of their friends, an aging Pied-Piper who could still pound the snot out of an axe.
And so their wedded lives began in unbridled joy and celebration, but the surprises were not done for the day.
The rowdy crowd poured into the cooling shade of the pavilion, where an absolutely astonishing spread was arrayed. Mountains of ice studded with champagne, an army of beaming House-elves eager to show their skills to these women they all loved. On a table stood the wedding cake, a huge confection that looked like a snow-covered mountain.
Faith grabbed Buffy's arm. "B, come with me a minute."
"Now? You were great by the way! Who taught them to dance? Did you have to hit anybody? Can you believe Amanda? I mean DAMN! And Giles! He was awesome! I can't believe you didn't tell me about it, but I'm glad you didn't! It's all just too perfect, isn't it?" Buffy gushed. Gabby laid a soft hand on her wife's shoulder.
"It is indeed perfect, my love," she agreed. "Go with Faith now, though."
"Okay!" Buffy agreed. Faith led her to a remote corner of the tent where stood a small enclosure covered by a curtain. Draco and Dagger stood beside it, and Gabrielle had urged Willow to trail Buffy and Faith.
"Cross your fingers," Gabby said to Ginny, "this could go either way."
"What's behind curtain number one, Monty?" quipped Buffy.
"A little surprise from Strike Team Alpha. Guess," Faith told her.
"Ummmm, a Sluggoth Demon?"
"Nope," grinned Faith.
"Troll?"
"Uh-uh."
"Let's see then, something unusual, I bet… giant preying mantis!"
"Not close. Give up?"
"No. Pony?"
From behind the curtain, someone said in exasperation, "For God's sake, pet. Open the bleedin' curtain! I'm thirsty!"
Buffy swayed on her feet and then tore the curtain from its fastening.
"Hi, Buff," said a smiling Angel, "miss us?"
"Get - out!" screamed Buffy
"We just ruddy got here!" complained Spike, but anything else he had to say was lost as Buffy tackled them both.
"She's gonna stake us!" yelled Spike. "Is she gonna stake us?"
"Are you real?" asked Buffy softly, as her eyes spilled over.
"Real as ever, Buffy," assured Angel.
"What's with the outfits?" asked the stunned Slayer. Angel and Spike were resplendent in black dragonhide.
"Allow me to introduce the two newest members of Strike Team Alpha," said Faith proudly.
"You joined up?" asked Buffy, clearly still stunned.
"Well yeah," said Spike, "after these three rescued us it was the least we could do." He pulled Dagger's ear playfully, "Give the little fella here a few pointers on hand to hand, you know." Dagger rolled his eyes, which, given House-elves eyes, was a bit dizzying to see.
"Ummm, Spike," said Angel, "he uh, he kicked our asses."
"Well, yeah, he did that. But that doesn't mean he didn't learn anything from us!"
Buffy broke down completely. She collapsed on the floor, sobbing. Gabrielle was at her side in an instant.
"Was it something I said?" asked Spike. Angel shrugged, but his considerable brow was furrowed.
"My love," asked Gabrielle as she kissed Buffy softly, "what is wrong?"
"Nothing!" gasped Buffy. "For the first time in my life, NOTHING is wrong!"
Giles quietly approached and stood nearby.
"Did you know about this?" Buffy asked between sobs.
"Him and Gabby both," said Faith anxiously, "I figured Gabby needed to know in case you freaked, and Giles needed to know 'cause he's – Giles." Buffy rose to her feet and stood facing the very uncertain Faith, and then she took the other Slayer's face in her hands and kissed her.
"Thank you," she said earnestly, "for bringing them back."
Faith looked a little stunned, it was quite a kiss. "Welcome B, any time at all."
"I owe you big, Faith."
"Well, I figure Gabby's off limits now cause Fleur's her sister and she's your wife and all, but if you can convince Willow to let me have a go with Ginny I'll call it even," said Faith in relief.
"Hey," protested Willow, "no way! At least not until after the honeymoon, hi Angel, Spike."
"Still into the magics, pet?" asked Spike.
"Bet your ass, Whitey," said Ginny as she joined the group.
"I like her," Spike declared, "she's got spunk."
"Faith," said Ginny, "step over here, I have something to tell you."
Faith followed Ginny to a spot a short distance away.
"Do you remember that night at your apartment when we had the drinking contest?" Ginny asked her.
"Kind of," admitted Faith, "what happened?" Ginny whispered in her ear, and Faith turned crimson, but she was grinning. Ginny kissed her cheek and returned to her wife, who of course knew the whole story.
"What did she tell you?" asked Hermione as she watched Ginny standing with Willow.
"It was about that night I got so drunk," Faith said, still grinning.
"Oh?" queried Hermione, breaking out in a grin of her own. "Pray, what did she tell you?"
"She said I bruised her wrist," crowed Faith.
"Quite true, I assure you," promised Fleur, joining them.
"You were magnificent, honestly," Hermione told her, "we were so proud."
"Damn, I can't believe you guys! Most people would freak if their lover did something like that with someone else," Faith told them.
"We aren't most people," assured Hermione.
"Neither are you," Fleur said, "nor Ginny."
"Do you suppose we'll ever be able to marry?" asked Hermione wistfully.
"We already are," assured Faith, "anybody says different will have to answer to Alpha." Faith pointed to her team.
"D'accord," agreed Fleur, "and with Luna, anyzing is possible. But today is for the 'appy couples, including ma souer, let us join them."
Faith lead her partners over to the rest of Alpha, where Buffy was still talking to Angel and Spike. Harry and Ron joined Draco, and Cornflower paused to rest her head briefly on Dagger's shoulder.
"Wut," said Dagger, "I can't 'ave love too?" Spike smacked the back of his head, and a smiling Dagger elbowed him in the spleen.
"Man love," explained Angel to the three staring women, "it's a comrade-in-arms thing."
"More like butt-buddies if you ask me," whispered Faith.
Amanda appeared on her impossible legs, throwing a long arm around Angel and Spike. "Can I have my men back now, boss?" she asked Buffy politely. "I need to feed them. They get cranky when they're hungry."
"Screw that," Spike said emphatically, "lead me to that fancy bubbly!"
"The three of you?" asked Buffy incredulously.
"Well, yeah," said Angel sheepishly, "Spike's my boy, and you know how we both fancy Slayers…"
"Right you are, Grandad!" said Spike as he steered them towards the Champagne Mountain. "And you've gotta admit," he called over his shoulder, "she's got legs!"
"Damn sure does," confirmed Faith, "how the fuck did I miss those stems?"
Giles was standing just in front of the cake table, where he bellowed, "Excuse me, all, but my lovely wife has informed me that it is time to cut the cake!"
Buffy joined a most relieved Gabrielle. Willow and Ginny were already there. Faith handed the scythe to Buffy, who took up position behind the table.
"Today we have witnessed the joyous union of these four whom we love so much," said Giles happily. Apolline waved her wand, and candles flared on the cake as the tent was plunged into shadow. "Buffy dear, if you please," Giles said as he stepped away from the table.
The scythe sang and glittered in the candlelight, and after a brief time, the singing stopped, and the lights came back up. The cake appeared untouched. Buffy poked it with her finger, and the cake slumped into several piles of perfectly even slices.
The guests stood slack jawed in amaze.
"What," asked Buffy, "you think I'm the Slayer because of my boobs?"
"No one would ever think that, my beloved," assured Gabrielle.
"Thanks- hey!" Buffy said just before her wife's mouth captured hers. Ginny bent Willow over into a deep kiss as well, and the crowd surged towards the table.
The Beauxbatons Coach was waiting to carry the newlyweds to their undisclosed honeymoon spot, but no one was in a hurry to leave. The Elves gleefully circulated platters of succulent treats among the guests, and the new brides managed to corner Giles.
"Giles," said Buffy, her eyes glistening. She was spokeswoman by virtue of her long and intimate association with Giles, and because of the nature of the message. "I can never, ever, repay you for what you have given me. You have nurtured and protected me through Hell itself. You have unfailingly been there for me when I needed you. You have given joy to the mother of my wife, and security to us all. I love you with every beat of my heart, and I always will. I want you to formally adopt me, and I know that my mother would approve. She loved you too, if briefly," Buffy smiled. "My name will be Buffy Summers-Giles, and I will bear it proudly."
"Me too please," asked Faith as she stepped up beside them. "You're the only real father I've ever known. I guess I'll be Faith Giles, no hyphen."
"Au contaire, ma fille," said Apolline, "you shall be Faith Giles-Delacour. Hyphen mandatory."
Faith embraced her new mother, her breath coming in great gasps.
Giles swallowed audibly, and hid his face in his hands. Eventually he composed himself, and stood erect. "Nothing conceivable would give me more joy, dear Buffy and Faith," rasped Giles. Buffy waved a hand, and Luna appeared.
"Just sign here, Mr. Giles," said Luna lightly.
"You can do this right now?" queried Giles.
"I can do anything," assured Luna, Giles signed, and with that stroke of the pen, became legal father to the girls he had loved from the first moment he saw them. "Oh, look," said Luna, "the sun's going down." As if in response to her words, the blazing ball of the sun dropped below the horizon. Perhaps it really did, there was no telling, with Luna.
George stepped up beside Ginny, and pulled her close to his side. "She's marvelous, Willow is," said George intimately. "Little Fred adores her. So does Percy, the great git." Ginny turned to her brother and held him tightly.
"He should be here;" she said sadly, "Fred should be here."
"Aye, that he should," agreed George. "What's that then?" he said, pretending surprise.
The hilltop erupted.
The entire sky was set afire as rocket after rocket streaked aloft, blasting the flaming knot into sparkling fragments that rained slowly down before the astonished guests.
"Who can have done this, do you suppose?" asked a grinning George.
The horizon flared, and an immense heart bloomed in the heavens, fiery trails sped across it, ending in a cacophonous blast as "G+W" and "B+G" bloomed, and eclipsed the glittering stars.
There were Dragons, and singing mice, and Unicorns racing across the sky as George displayed his love for his little sister. There were volcanoes, and dancing Hippos, there were whole Quidditch matches blazing in the heavens, and the crowd stood rooted to the spot. George had told no one at all.
Ginny squeezed him without restraint. George groaned, but hugged her back and stroked her hair.
"Damn," said Ron, "he's good."
"Runs in the family," assured Harry as he took Ron and Draco by their hands, "runs in the family."
"I take back every nasty thing I ever said about any Weasley ever born," swore Draco.
On and on it went. There were panoramas of life at Hogwarts, the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore filled the sky for a time. The whole history of the war blazed across the sky.
"I need to speak with you, Mr. Weasley," said Minerva as she pulled him away from his sister. George felt a chill, but it was merely habit. "Here you are, Mr. Weasley," said Minerva sternly as she handed him a roll of parchment. George unrolled it with great trepidation, anticipating detention in spite of the fact that he had been out of school for more than a decade.
"Mr. George Weasley has attained the score Of "O+" on his NEWT's in Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, Defense Against Despair, and Big Brotherhood." Signed: Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress Emeritus, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
George kissed her cheek as his own flamed. "Can you add Fred in please, Professor, it's his work too."
"Delighted," said Minerva, and with a flick of her wand it was done. Added was an "O+" in, "Defying Tyranny."
George bowed low, and proudly showed the scroll to Ginny.
"Have I told you in the last five minutes how much I love you, Minnie?" asked Xio as she snuggled to her side.
"As a matter of fact, no," replied Minerva.
Xio ran her hand beneath Minnie's robes and breathed into her ear, "Come with me than, and I shall…" Minerva seized her hand, and they ran pell-mell into the darkened vineyard.
"I know it's only wishful thinking," Ginny said as she returned the scroll to George, "but I wish Fred were here with us."
"He is you know," said Luna as she stepped to Ginny's side, displaying her remarkable talent for turning up when needed. "The part of him that loves you best will always be with you. Just here." Luna laid her small hand on Ginny's chest, and a warmth blossomed there that stayed with her the rest of her days.
"Funny you should say, sis," George told her as Willow up stepped beside them. George handed Ginny a metal box with a red button on it. "This sets off the last firework that Fred ever made with his own hands, way back before we made it big. He said it was against the day that that git Harry made an honest woman of you, but I believe he would think this the appropriate time." George pulled Willow to his side and kissed the top of her head. "I know I do."
Ginny reached tentatively for the button.
"Smack it, sis!" commanded George. "This is Fred we're dealing with here!"
Ginny smacked it.
With a deafening shriek, an enormous rocket leapt from the hilltop, and exploded high above the rest of the ongoing display. With an explosion that rattled bottles in the deepest cellar, a massive burst of fire blotted out the display from the rest of the fireworks.
High, high, in the sky bloomed the laughing face of Fred Weasley, and beneath his image scrolled the words, "I love you, Gin!" over and over.
Ginny kept her face to the sky as she wept, as Willow held her, as the entire assemblage melted in grief and joy.
Fred's face faded only with the dawn, as the blue Beauxbatons Carriage bore the couples away and into their lives together.
The guests drifted back to their homes, where they would long try and take in the events of the preceding day.
Apolline stepped into her other skin, and enfolded Giles in her vast wings.
"Come to bed, Rupert," she said softly.
"Legs" - by ZZTOP, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard.
The sequel to this is a BtVS/AtS/HP/? Crossover that is almost purely action/adventure, the relationships from this carry over, and it is about a mission for Faith's team. 27 chapters, but they are much shorter than these. Very little sex, none explicit, some rough language, some violence, and hopefully some humor.