Xander heard his doorbell just as he was beginning to doze off. He groaned, forcing himself to leave his bed, not bothering to dress in anything other than his boxers. He walked to the door, yelling that he was coming as he reached the kitchen. He opened it, only to see Anya standing in the hall. "Anya? What're you doing here?" he looked to the clock that hung in the kitchen. It was five in the morning.
"You left me!" she exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, what? I'm just a little tired, Ahn. It's been a long night."
"You left me at the altar!"
"Oh. OH!" he said, understanding. She's remembering! "Come on in, and we'll talk." She pranced in, planting herself firmly on the couch. "What do you remember?"
"Everything! I came back after graduation, and had sex with you. A lot. And we got in a relationship. You proposed right before Buffy died, and then we kept it a secret. But then the day came, and you left! Some stupid little demon I cursed in my vengeance days came and convinced you that it wasn't worth it."
"Anya, you have to know. I am so sorry, about everything. I apologized afterward, but you were so angry with me, I understand that you couldn't forgive me at the time. What else do you remember?"
"I had sex with Spike. That's when you found out Buffy and Spike were having a relationship. You hated all three of us for so long. I don't know much after that."
"Do you remember the potentials coming to Sunnydale?"
"Barely. It's blurring after that."
Xander launched into how there was the First, the potential slayers, and the opening of the Hellmouth. He almost broke down as he told her that she had died in final battle.
"Oh well that explains it," she said casually.
"Explains what?"
"This." She pulled her shirt off, showing the bubbling scar that stretched from her left shoulder to her right hip. "I noticed it when I was getting ready, but I didn't know what it was from. Then I started remembering things."
"Anya, I'm so sorry. It tore me up that you died, saving Andrew no less. I've been living—if you can call it such—in a drunken stupor. I just wanted the pain to go—" Anya's lips were abruptly on his.
"Xander, I remember enough to know that I love you. And after facing the end of the world with you, I don't want to live another day without you."

Silent tears rolled down his face. He stood and ran to his room. He opened his nightstand drawer, rummaging to find the small box he was looking for. He hurried back in the living room, kneeling next to the woman he loved, "Anya, I have loved you for six years. I have asked you once before and screwed it up greatly." He opened the box, revealing a bright ring, simple yet elegant. "Anya Christina Emanuella Jenkins, will you please give me the honor of being my wife?" She launched herself at him, kissing him profusely. They laid together on the floor, holding the other and kissing with each breath. After a few minutes of pure, amazing kisses, Xander spoke up. "So, is that a yes?"
"Of course, you silly man," she grinned as he slid the ring on her finger.

Buffy looked to Selena as she finished stitching her arms up. "I'm so sorry I let it get that far," she apologized for the tenth time since Selena was completely conscious.
"Buffy, please, stop apologizing. I understand. It's cool. Nothing happened aside from getting some cuts and bruises. No big deal."
"But still," she insisted.

"But still nothing. I'm going to go take a shower and then sleep until way afternoon."
"Okay," she said, defeated. She looked to Spike who was nursing his own injured hand. "Do you need help?" she offered.
"If ya don't mind," he said, sitting next to her on the couch. He yawned heavily as he sunk into the cushions.
"Tired?" she laughed.
"Ironic, innit? Once the Big Bad, Slayer of Slayers, nightwalker, is now Mr. Goody, lover of the Slayer, human."
"I'm not complaining," she whispered. Her face was flushed, a wave of embarrassment only increasing.
"Not either," he said, bringing himself closer. "Buffy… what is this? This thing between us?" She felt him tense as he awaited her answer, and Buffy wondered briefly if he was intentionally quoting himself from years earlier.
"What do you want it to be?"
"Buffy… I want you to be happy. I want to love you for the rest of my life. You know I'll do anything for you. I want to make you happy. I've loved you for years, even though so much has happened with us."
"Spike—"

"Please, let me finish. Buffy, I also want one more thing." He moved from the edge of the couch, pulling himself onto one knee in front of her. "I want you to make me the happiest man in the world." He reached into his pocket, revealing a ring. "This was my mothers. So please, make me the happiest man, and marry me?" the question in his voice was heard loudly.
"Oh, Spike. Of course I will!" Although the strongest sense of déjà vu washed over them, they knew this time it was on their own accord, and not the result of a spell.
He smiled widely, sitting again next to her, carefully sliding the cushioned diamond over her left ring finger. "It beautiful," she said, staring at the rock.
"Not as beautiful as you," he commented, bringing her in chin up, slowly pressing his lips to hers. He had forgotten how easily she made him lose himself. He found himself pulling her to him more, wanting to be even closer than they already were. "God, Buffy," he groaned as he pulled away.
"What? What is it?" she said. She tried hiding the fear and worry from her voice.
"I just—I don't want it to be too much, too fast. As much as I want you, I don't want to rush it, love."

"Oh," she said, straightening up.
"That doesn't mean I don't want to kiss you. Or hold you. We just went through it too fast previously, and now, I just want to do it right."
"I understand," she was standing now, and offered her hand to him. "Will you come with me?" she asked, signaling to the stairs.
"Anything you want."
They silently walked to her room, discarding the dirty clothes as they went. Buffy forced herself to dress, and produced some clothes Dawn had bought him. They lay in her bed and began talking of their future. "We'll tell everyone later today. Can we have it soon? The only family I have are my friends and the girls. And Giles. So it won't take long to get things together."
"Sure, pet. I don't have any family, and your mates are my friends, too, I guess," he laughed modestly. "We'll get it figured out, love."
"Hmm… Good," she said as she settled herself into his arms.

The pair woke up around four that afternoon. Buffy was practically bouncing off the walls. She had told everyone to meet at her house for dinner, and she still had to get the food. As everyone arrived, none of the oldest ones could stop pestering her about what was so important. Though she didn't make a point to show the ring that had become permanently attached to her hand, she didn't hide it. When Spike asked beforehand, she simply replied, "If they see it, they see it. If not, then that's okay, too."
As everyone gathered around to get their food, she called said she needed to make an announcement. "Well, I have some big news to tell you," she began. She couldn't help the smile spread across her face.
"You're pregnant?" Nicole guessed.
"What? No. What?" she laughed. "And before any of you think I might be crazy, or under the influence of a spell, you can ask Will or Tara. She looked to Spike and her smile only widened. "Spike and I… are getting married!" she exclaimed, showing her left hand proudly.
"We are, too," Anya blurted before a round of applause and congratulations passed through the house.
"When did this happen?" Dawn said, a small look of hurt plastered to her face.
"This morning," both women said simultaneously.
"Have you set a date?" Willow asked happily.
"Not yet. But it'll be soon," Buffy replied.
"Xander and I haven't talked about it yet." The three women smiled as they looked around. "What did you have in mind?" Anya asked Buffy.