Chapter 12

In the weeks that had passed since her mother's miraculous revival, Joyce's health improved exponentially. To Buffy's relief, her mother was getting better and better. To all of the doctors' astonishment, it appeared as if her mother had no signs of permanent brain damage, despite having been in a coma for over a month. A miracle, they all said. Like a one in a million chance.

And she'd gotten through it as if it was effortless. By the end of the first week, Joyce was standing unassisted and complaining about everything, from the TV programming selection to the colors of the walls to the food she was convinced was poison. By the second week, her surgical wounds had all but healed and her hair had started growing back where it had been shaved. She'd gained a pound or two, filling out the gaunt sunkenness her face had sported only days before.

It had been a close call, and Buffy knew her mother intended to make the most of whatever time she had left, be it days or decades. The nurses told her frequently that the positive attitude made caring for her ever so much easier, and made the healing process ever so much faster.

That's not to say it was all a breeze. There were things that Buffy had a hard time understanding or that required extra help from the doctors who worked with her mother. The treatments, the doctor's visits, the medicine regimen, the physical therapy, the diagnostic testing, the constant buzz that surrounded her mother...the whole thing seemed virtually neverending to Buffy.

But while it was frustrating that her mother still needed medical assistance for some things, it was impossible not to acknowledge how lucky they'd been. Buffy was just happy that her mother was alive.

And as she stood looking at herself in the mirror a week later, she smiled at her reflection...and at the realization of just how happy she was to have her mother with her.

They'd wanted to be married before the baby came, so Buffy and Spike had begun planning a wedding the moment her mother had awakened and given them her blessing. In the four weeks that followed, Buffy - with the help of Spike, her family, and their friends - had planned a magnificent ceremony and reception, both of which she felt were quite fitting of their rather magnificent love.

And, like a wedding gift from above, Joyce had been released from the hospital the day before the festivities were scheduled to begin. Just in time.

Now, Buffy sat staring at the vibrant reflection in the mirror of her dressing room, while her best friend, Willow, strung pale pink flowers through her mess of wavy, golden hair. Gazing at herself, studying the curve of her chin, the angles of her cheekbone, the way her hair swept over her forehead, she couldn't help but admit she looked stunning. A light coating of mascara helped bring attention to her already large emerald eyes. The pout in her lips was accentuated by the delicate application of lip gloss. Her skin was positively radiant and smooth, framed by a mess of soft, shiny, golden waves.

The dress...oh, the dress! It was light and airy as a cloud, simply flowing like a cascading waterfall over her delicate frame, with an empire waist that hid her cute little 20-week belly bump. Not that she wanted to hide her little baby boy from the world. Quite the opposite, in fact. Her ever-expanding, always-growing love for the baby she had already dubbed "Mini-Spike" made it nearly impossible to feel anything but pride for the blossoming boy, despite her lack of chaste purity when she walked down the aisle.

"My god, you look lovely."

Glancing past a sweetly smiling Willow, who stood behind her in the mirror, Buffy made eye contact with her mother and smiled. Her presence, her being there at all was nothing short of a miracle, and Buffy couldn't help but remember their conversation from only a few months before, at the almost-wedding of Xander and Anya.

"Thanks, Mom."

"She's right, Buffy. I think the only bride who could look hotter than you would be…well, me!" Her sister said with a laugh, which only resulted in Buffy sticking out her tongue at Dawn in mock annoyance.

"Thanks, Dawn. I guess."

"You should stand up, Buffy, and let your mom really see how amazing your dress looks." Willow advised.

Following her friend's advice, Buffy slowly rose, taking care to not disrupt her freshly done hair. The gasps and smiles encouraged her into a slow twirl, and as she gazed around the room at her friends and family, their avid attention made the usually confident Buffy blush. She smiled softly at them, caressing the roundness of the stomach hiding beneath the layers of her gown.

"He'll love you." Her mother whispered, before giggling and adding, "Well, he already loves you. That much is clear. But if it's even possible, he will love you even more when he sees you." Her mother dabbed at her eyes with a light pink handkerchief that perfectly matched her own lacey, pink dress.

As she looked around again, Buffy was immediately struck by how lovely the girls around her were. Utterly beautiful, every one of them. She surveyed their dresses with approval, pleased with how stunning they all looked together. The gowns all matched in color, though the ladies wore different cuts and styles, each matching the girl within it.

Willow had her hair pinned up in an elegant-yet-messy bun. Her dress was high-necked and sleeveless, appearing modest from the front but dipping to a deep V in the back, where it met in a graceful bow slightly above her bottom.

The shy girl standing next to Willow smiled sweetly at Buffy. The top half of Tara's hair was pulled back and tied at the back of her head, the lower layer left flowing gently down past her shoulders. Her own dress, while similar in length and neckline to the redhead's, was instead lacey and intricately beaded from the waist up, in contrast to the smooth bodice Willow wore.

Now, Dawn...Dawn looked absolutely gorgeous. Fresh tears came to Buffy's eyes as she gazed at her little sister, who was quickly becoming a woman. Her long hair had been stylishly curled, and her makeup, though a touch heavy in the way only teenagers can accomplish, actually served to enhance her natural beauty. Her dress - which had taken her forever to choose, by the way - was a simple A-line dress that flattered her slim profile, its neckline and knotted straps the perfect frame for her sweet face. Admittedly, it came a little lower than Buffy's mother had initiaally approved of, but no one could deny how stunning the girl was in it.

Despite the utter beauty surrounding her, Buffy felt no jealousy or ill feelings on this most special of days. She couldn't help herself as her mind wandered, imagining what Spike must look like in his black vest and pale pink undershirt. She wondered how he'd do his hair, what color socks he'd wear, whether he'd cave and wear underwear in the rented tux. What a stubborn mule, Buffy thought with a smile. He had fought valiantly - and won - for the right to wear his beloved Doc Martens with his black fitted slacks. After all, he had argued, he'd given in to every other request. She'd eventually acquiesced...like she'd known all along she would.

He would look exquisite.

"I look like a bloody wanker."

Xander rolled his eyes at Spike's melodramatic outburst. "Oi! Don't roll your eyes at me."

"You look fine, Spike." His brother, Wesley, mumbled.

"Fine? Bullocks. I don't want to look fine. I want to look amazing for her, for Buffy."

Spike cringed at Xander's mocking laugh. "Spike, you could be butt naked and she would still think you looked amazing…well, actually she might prefer you butt naked."

This time Spike rolled his eyes at his friend as he glared at himself in the mirror. He had slicked back his bleach blonde curls to the best of his ability, yet still they waved slightly, as if trying to escape the way they'd been pressed to his head. He had rolled up the pale pink sleeves of the shirt he wore beneath the black vest. He felt hot...much too hot. Damn, maybe naked would be a good route.

A knock at the door shocked him out of his reverie, and Spike turned just in time to see his father shuffle in shyly.

"Pops! Where've you been?"

Giles smiled at his son, looking gentlemanly and dashing in a light grey suit that fit perfectly with his 'librarian' image. "Just checking on Joyce."

Spike perked up, "You saw Buffy then?"

"Well, yes."

"How was she? Bloody gorgeous, I'd imagine."

Giles smiled again at his lovestruck son. "Indeed, she was quite lovely."

Forgetting about his chagrin over his appearance, Spike smiled back, only thinking of the woman in the room down the hall.

"This is it! Are you sure about this? I could always distract them with a jig while you make a run for it our back." Willow said jokingly, trying to ease Buffy's nerves.

Buffy just giggled at her friend and reached for her hand. Giving it a squeeze, she whispered, "Thanks, Willow, but I couldn't want anything more than I want this, right now. Hell, I think it was my destiny."

Willow smiled as she hastily wiped a tear from her eye. "There you go! You've gone and made me cry, you big...you big cry-maker."

Wrapping her arms around her friend, a laugh-slash-sob escaped from Buffy's throat as she held Willow tight. The hug lasted but a few seconds, then she was taking a deep breath and signaling for the doors to open and the music to start.

The sound of the doors opening couldn't have been more daunting, but as soon as the girls began their walk down the aisle, Spike could feel nothing but butterflies running amuck in his whole body. Everything tingled in his excitement, his anxiety - and, god damn it, his fear - of seeing the girl of his dreams make her way towards him.

He was vaguely aware that each of the bridesmaids smiled at him as they moved swiftly down the aisle on their way to the bride's side, but when it came right down to it, he only had eyes for one. And that one strode now, no, floated...and she did it with the utmost of grace toward him. He immediately thought of the saying that pregnant women glowed, and it couldn't have appeared truer than in that moment, for Buffy glowed softly as she held his gaze.

Neither looked away. Neither tried. Frankly, neither knew if it was even possible, for once they had locked onto one another, they'd been mesmerized, falling prey to the love in the other's eyes.

When her mouth curved up into a tender smile, his heart beat harder and faster in his chest and a smile graced his own face. It took every ounce of strength in him to refrain from meeting her halfway and wrapping her in his arms. He doubted she would really mind.

When she finally came to a stop across from him, he reached out for her petite hand. When she gasped, though, he jumped and drew his hand back...and the moment was broken. Her mouth opened wide in shock.

"Are you okay, love?"

"He moved, Spike!"

Looking at her curiously, Spike ignored the waiting minister and the nearly hundred friends and family that watched. All he could see was her, standing happily in front of him.

"Love?"

Taking the hand that was already grasping her own, she placed it on the lower part of the mound that was her stomach. He waited for a few second, then felt something push out towards his palm. He gasped.

"That's…"

"It's our baby, Spike! He moved!"

Now Spike's face was filled with joy and a wide grin broke out on his face. "Bloody hell! He's a fierce little thing."

"Excuse me?"

They both turned, broken from their own little world by the minister across from them. Suddenly remembering they were in the middle of their wedding ceremony, they laughed and resumed positions, though Spike moved closer now so he could keep one hand on his bride's stomach and the other firmly grasping hers.

"Sorry...well, not really. Just go ahead. Let's do this thing." Spike said. Ready for this part to be over so he could hold his bride, the angel in front of him, in his arms.

"Introducing, Mister and Mrs. William Giles!"

As their family and friends clapped and cheered loudly for them. They strode hand-in-hand from the foyer and into the banquet room. They had yet to stop touching since that precious moment at the start of their ceremony, and both had independently planned to not stray too far from the other the entire rest of the night.

When they made their way into the center of the large reception area, the music began to play and the crowd silenced. Turning to look at her husband, Buffy grinned and reached for his other hand. He grinned back, pulling her close against him, leading with his steps as they began to sway to their song.

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you

Buffy pressed her cheek against Spike's hard chest, and he held her as close as the precious cargo between them would allow. This had been their song since they were children, and to now be dancing to this song at their wedding was beyond surreal. Buffy closed her eyes, letting the words and the feelings they invoked to flow through her.

I climbed across the mountaintops
swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you

Oh because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do, I was made for you

Spike had closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Buffy's head. The feel of her body rocking against him, their child swaying and swinging along with them to the beat of their song...it was almost too much for him to bear. This woman who he had worshipped since the ripe ol' age of 10...who he'd fallen in love with before he'd even hit puberty...she was now his wife. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes, but for once, he could care less. All he could feel was the love for this woman, and the joy he felt overflowing from his soul.

You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess

No they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through
Like you do, and I was made for you

The entire room was hypnotized by their dance and sat, staring at the couple in amazement. Small gasps could be heard here and there, as guests succumbed to a few tears of their own. Couples drew their chairs closer, held hands tighter, shared a kiss or a caress. It was as if the love Buffy and Spike felt for one another was palpable, as if it vibrated off of the newlyweds in waves, bouncing against the walls before making its way back to the couple who failed to notice anyone but each other. While their closest family and friends had always known this was where their relationship would eventually lead, it never ceased to amaze them all, the sheer love that these two felt for one another. And as the music came to an end, the guests were almost as disappointed as the couple themselves.

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am

Oh but these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
Oh yeah, well it's true that I was made for you

As the last few notes of the song faded, Spike pushed her softly back. Taking his cue, she laughed and allowed him to spin her out before pulling her tightly back into his body. As their chests met, he whispered words of love into her ear and she could only smile. How did she ever get so lucky?

The night was coming to an end, but the joy had yet to cease. The couple sat now, still closely together, and stared out at the people they loved, many of them still dancing and carrying on.

Spike wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled Buffy closer to him. She turned in her seat, raising her chin as he dropped his forehead to hers. Both of them closed their eyes, taking a second to just cherish the moment, and knowing life would not always be this happy and grand.

Nonetheless, they both felt as if this must be the beginning of their forever.

TBC…