December 4, 2004 - The Wedding

11:15am

Angel punched the last demon as hard as he could. "So help me, if you make me late for my wedding…"

The demon recovered quickly and charged again, Angel knew he didn't have time for this; he whipped the sword around and beheaded the demon.

"Of all the days…they chose my wedding day to try and destroy the world." He grumbled irritated as he cleaned the blood off his sword onto the dead demon's scaly hide.

There had been far more demon's than the Slayer's Council had told him about, and he'd had to find them first. It had took far more time that he expected it to.

He glanced down at his watch. "Crap, so much for an hour or two tops..." He said as he ran for home.

...

Neither Buffy or Angel were huge church fans, they decided to have the wedding at their house, the backyard was rather big so they had it landscaped for the occasion. Cleveland, Ohio was cold in early December, far colder than Southern California ever got, so they had a large, heated, clear tent set up to house the ceremony and reception so no one would freeze.

They were lucky to have no snow yet that season, the temperatures had 'warmly' stayed roughly near the fifties the past few days, including today.

It was going to be a small service, really only the Scooby gang and a few close friends and neighbors were invited. Only about 15 people total, including the wedding party.

Red roses were everywhere, laced with lavender, a lucky Irish tradition, a small gazebo stood in the upper center of the tent where the minister would marry them.

Dawn was Buffy's maid of honor and Willow her bridesmaid.

Angel had asked Connor to be his best man and Oz to be his groomsman. Both had agreed happily to the request.

Buffy had thought of asking Xander to be his groomsman, but knew Angel wouldn't have gone for that, neither would have Xander.

She had hoped the tension between Angel and Xander would have been resolved by now, but Xander was still having trust issues.

Hope was lost that they would ever be friends, but at least Xander had stopped making verbal attacks at Angel's expense. 'Usually'

She had almost suggested Spike be Angel's groomsman, since he was technically Angel's only other family, but she knew that would have turned into a fight.

Fortunately Connor had come back from college for winter break and had been the obvious choice for the position.

The blond vampire was invited to the wedding, despite his and Faith's indiscretions on a particular kitchen table.

It turned out they had come separately to the house at different times, Faith had been looking for a certain crossbow she'd lent Buffy and Spike was planning to raid the liquor cabinet.

They had worked together with the new slayers in training over at the Slayer's council in England, but had never had any alone time. Faith decided to try and cook something for dinner, but it hadn't gone well. Spike tried to silence the horrid beeping from the smoke alarm, but that hadn't gone well either.

...

"Not much for domestics are ya, pet?" Spike asked, a gleam of mirth in his eyes.

Faith whipped around, "Think you can do better blood bag?"

He lost his grin and moved in closer, "Yeah Slayerella, actually I do. "

She swung the first punch, knocking him against the counter, spilling the dish rack onto the floor.

"Come on then white meat, I'm standing right here." she taunted.

Spike growled and charged.

Somewhere between the punches and kicks, it turned into thrusts and kisses.

'That's when Angel and I came home...We're still trying to forget that image.'

...

Spike had respectfully declined attending the wedding, Buffy didn't blame him.

He and Angel never really got along, and her temporary 'relationship' with him certainly hadn't been forgotten by Angel.

The other major drawback was the service was being held outside, during the day, in the bright 12 noon sun. Not a healthy place for Spike to be. He assured her he would come to the reception sometime after dark.

Buffy had asked Giles to walk her down the isle; the watcher practically glowed as he accepted the honor.

She had been shocked to find out Angel had asked Giles permission to marry her, she understood how important tradition was to him and couldn't have been happier with the result.

She remembered Angel and her had asked Giles to be their baby's grandfather.

"Neither of us has parents anymore. I couldn't think of a better man for the job." She had said, Giles has replied "I would be honored and a privilege to hold the title of grandfather to your child."

'He's so British, it's almost cute sometimes.'

11:25am

Buffy stood looking at herself in the mirror, a happy tear formed in her eye.

She quickly willed the tears away; she didn't want her mascara to run.

"Buffy, you look amazing." Willow said as she adjusted her veil.

"You think?" she asked, absently patting her slight baby belly.

"Absolutely, Angel going to just die…" She caught Buffy's glare, "Ahh, I mean he'll…be mesmerized, oblivious to everything but you, complete tunnel vision. I bet he even forgets to say his lines."

Buffy frowned, "Where is he? He should've been back by now."

Willow frowned, Oz had told her he hadn't shown up yet but decided to keep the news low profile info, but they forgot Buffy could feel him when he was close, or in this case, not feel him.

"Don't worry; I'm sure he's on his way. You know he wouldn't miss this for the world." She tried to reassure her best friend, but deep down Willow was wondering if he had pulled a Xander and bailed.

...

Angel was nearly home when the ground began to shake, "Son of a…" He started but lost the rest as he fell over.

"This ALWAYS happens, we have plans, and the world just has to go and try ending!" He ranted as he got to his feet when the ground settled.

He reached home and desperately wanted to put on his tux and just forget about the world long enough to marry the woman he loved, instead he grabbed a few items from the weapons chest and ran back outside to the car.

"I'm sorry Buffy; I swear I'll make this up to you." He said out loud as he started the car and spend off towards the Hellmouth.

11:30am

Buffy had felt him, she knew he had been home, and she also knew he was now gone.

Willow's beeper suddenly began to scream, along with Giles's and Faith's.

"Every time." Buffy mumbled as she saw the Id # displayed on the devise, Slayer's Council.

"Hey, I didn't get a beep, why didn't I get a beep? Am I not beep worthy?" She mumbled sadly.

"You're on maternity leave." Willow answered back.

"Undress me." She said to Willow, "We have a world to save, and I am NOT getting blood on this dress."

Willow sent her a look, "Ahh Buffy, you can't seriously be thinking of fighting demons while 4 months pregnant."

"Will, I can't just sit here while you guys risk life and limb, I'm a Slayer, I need to do something! Give me a crossbow; I can cover you guys at least." Buffy begged.

Giles walked into the room and immediately saw the determined look in his Slayer's eyes.

"I'm going, Angel is already heading there."

Giles looked at her a second, "How do you know that?"

She took off the veil while Willow helped with the buttons on the back of the dress, "I felt him come home, only for a minute, probably raided the weapons chest and got the car. He's going to pay big time when I catch up to him." she promised.

No one bothered to clean up the fallen items when the earthquake hit.

They all knew what to do when an apocalypse rolled around; this wasn't the first for anyone present. Those that had something to change into did, a few borrowed from Buffy and Angel's closets.

No one wanted to face an apocalypse wearing their 'Sunday best', plus if it looks great, it probably sucks to fight in it.

"Dawn" Buffy called.

"I'm not staying here alone while you all go fight!" the teen immediately responded, knowing her sister was about to suggest just that.

Buffy gave her 'the look', "Dawn, I'm not asking because I don't think you can handle it, I know you can. But we need someone to stay here, be command central. All the books are here, we can't bring them all. We might need someone to research for us. Besides, wedding guests might show, you need to tell them something. Besides, you won't be alone, Connor will be with you."

Connor looked up from his sword, already pumped to kick ass. "What? No way! I'm going, that's my dad out there!"

"Connor I know your worried about Angel, but we don't know how many of those demons are still around. I need you to patrol the area, and keep Dawn and the wedding guests safe. We can't have all our super beings in one van." she tried to lighten the mood.

He nodded stoically. "Bring him back." he added.

Buffy nodded, "Trust me, I'm lot losing him this far into the game."

She turned back to Dawn.

Her sister didn't look thrilled but nodded, "Fine. But don't get killed. I'm really looking forward to dancing in my dress."

Buffy smiled and hugged her sister, "Hey my dress is a lot more expensive than yours, besides, you think I'm going to let some lousy apocalypse ruin my wedding day? Fat chance. We'll be home before you know it."

Dawn laughed back, "Yeah evil should know by now not to mess with you or Angel, especially today."

"Yeah well, evil doesn't learn, they why we have to kick it's butt so often." Buffy said as she hugged her sister again.

"Be safe" Dawn called out as Buffy grabbed a crossbow and lead the group out the door.

11:50am

Twenty minutes after Angel sped off, the Scooby gang was racing towards the city, towards the Hellmouth.

"I guess the newbie's haven't graduated yet huh B?" Faith asked her blond sister Slayer sitting beside her as she checked the firing mechanisms on the crossbow she held.

"They do pretty good with the vamps and demons, but apocalypses still require seasoned Slayers."

Faith nodded, "Sounds good to me, been itching for a fight."

"I think they made a cream for that." Xander commented from beside Buffy.

Both Slayers ignored him and rolled their eyes.

"Hang on, might get bumpy." Oz said to the group in the back of the van.

A second later the van began to shake as they sped over the newly deformed road.

"Seems the earthquake did considerably more damage the closer we get to the Hellmouth." Giles commented as he researched from the passenger seat.

Willow sat crossed legged in the back with the rest of the gang, all of them flipping though a book or two to find any info on today's chaotic event.

"Got something" Willow spoke up after a few minutes, "Looks like today is Valcorth's awaking. Sound's like he's a major bad-ass from long ago."

"May I?" Giles asked and Willow passed the book up to him. As he read he nodded his head, "Yes, very good Willow, everyone look for a references to 'Secler's Key', or perhaps 'The Crown of Ashes'. They are essential for Valcorth's ritual."

Xander's watch beeped noon, Buffy sighed, 'I should have been kissing Angel right now, as his wife.'

"Hey check this out." Faith said as she handed the book over to Willow. The redhead glanced over the page, nodding, "I can work with this."

...

Angel pulled his Plymouth convertible into the high school parking lot, the chaos around him in full swing.

He ran over a few stray demons and parked in the 'Student of the week' spot.

He wished he could leave the top down, but the balmy 47 degree December air made that luxury not very practical, especially if he wanted to be able to feel his fingers.

He reached into the back seat and grabbed his sword, he opened his door and ran towards the school, a second later he kicked open the double doors and ran inside.

'What's with Hellmouths and high schools anyways?'

...

Battle cries drew his attention, the newbie Slayers were holding their own but wouldn't have lasted much longer without help.

He swung his sword, beheading a demon, "Hey girls, heard you needed a hand."

The three looked up in relief, "Angel! Weren't you getting married today?" One asked as she ducked a swing from a vamp.

He heard his watch beep noon, 'Yeah actually, I should have been kissing Buffy right now, as her husband.'

"Yeah, well, you know how social plans go when you live near a Hellmouth." He said as he made short work of the vamps that surrounded him.

Suddenly the ground began to rumble again, 'Crap, now what?'

"Sorry, gotta run, you guys good?"

They nodded, there were still a lot of demons, but he had helped clear them some space.

"Reinforcement will be here soon, just hold the line till then!"

With that he ran down the hall, slaying creatures as he went.

12:10pm

The van pulled into the school lot, Oz immediately saw Angel's car, easy since it was the only one in the lot, and pulled up next to it.

"Last stop, Hellmouth station" Oz said as he put the van and park and slipped out the driver's seat.

"Ok, everyone knows what to do?" Buffy asked, they nodded and each grabbed a weapon and ran inside.

Willow cast an invisibility spell over Buffy, so nothing but the Scoobies could see her, for ten minutes anyways.

The newbie Slayers cheered when the gang ran in, more demons had flooded the hall but immediately began to fall by the dozens as the Scoobies worked.

Buffy silently walked the outer edges of the fights, taking out demons and vamps with the crossbow.

Suddenly she felt Angel, he was close.

He wasn't the only thing she felt, 'That's one massively evil feeling.'

She yelled, "Willow, Faith, Giles, we need get to the Hellmouth, like now!"

Xander and Oz stayed behind to help the girls while the rest ran off down the hall.

...

Buffy ran into the basement, a small group of acolytes stood circled around the Hellmouth, chanting and holding their hands out to the glowing uncovered seal.

'Not good.'

She immediately noticed the rest of the acolytes where caught in a heated fight, Angel in the center doing his best to keep something from them.

Fear crawled into her heart as one robed warrior lashed out with a staff, since Angel's attention was on the guy holding a sword in front of him, the staff connected with the back of his head and he fell dazed to his knees.

The guy in front of him smiled and raised his sword, intending to behead him.

"ANGEL!" She screamed, as she did she raised the crossbow and fired.

The guy with the sword staggered as the bolt ripped into his chest then fell to the ground dead.

Her cry alerted the rest of the acolytes they were no longer alone, and she no longer invisible.

...

Faith, Willow and Giles burst in a minute behind Buffy, Faith running straight into the fray.

"Yeah! Now this is what I'm talking about!" She whirled into action, kicking and punching the robed goons surrounding Angel into oblivion.

Willow sent a bolt of power at the acolytes surrounding the seal, knocking off their concentration and ruining their chant.

"Strike! Ooh, I should invent a power blast bowling game." Willow said to Faith as she admired her handiwork.

"How about sending some of that mojo this way?" The dark haired Slayer suggested as she fought.

"Oh, right. Here goes nothing." Willow said as she sent a bolt into the ruckus.

...

Giles sprinted after Buffy, who had dropped down in front of Angel, holding him up as he fought for consciousness.

"Buffy?" Angel asked as he blinked the blood out of his eyes, his head still spinning from the latest blow.

She cupped his cheek in her hand, "What? You thought you could run off to an apocalypse on our wedding day and I'd just let it slide?" She said with a smile.

He sent her back a weak smile, "Should have known...better than that huh?" he panted through heavy breaths.

Giles reached them and noticed the crown clutched tightly in Angel's hand.

"Is that The Crown of Ashes?" he asked.

"Didn't really check the id tag…but they seemed pissed when I snatch it…figured if they wanted it…they probably shouldn't be allowed to keep it."

Giles nodded, "Yes, good thinking, they cannot complete the ritual without it. May I?" He held out his hand, Angel offered the object and Giles took it.

Giles and Buffy both noticed the deep bleeding punctures the sharp points of the crown left in his hand as he gripped it tightly during the fight.

Buffy ripped a piece of her sweater off and wrapped it around the wound.

"You ok?" she asked him as Giles stood and ran the Crown over to Willow.

Angel met her gaze, "I am now." He said softly while still waiting for his breathing and heartbeat to even back out.

She pulled him close and kissed his cheek.

...

Xander, Oz and the other Slayers ran into the chamber and helped Faith finish off the rest of the goons.

Willow placed the Crown on the ground and waved her hands over it, Giles said a chant from the book he held as Willow joined.

A moment later the crown began to glow, the glow got too bright to look at and they all shielded their eyes.

Instantly the light disappeared and when they looked back, the crown was nothing but a metal pool on the ground, melted beyond repair, the magic destroyed.

12:42

The basement chamber fell silent, the bad guys dead, the good guys not.

The glow around the Hellmouth seal slowly faded then went out entirely.

"So when do we cut the cake?" Xander asked aloud.

Everyone groaned.

...

Buffy helped Angel to his feet, as she did a quick visual inspection of him.

She noticed a large bloodstain under his coat; she pulled it aside to reveal a large gash running along his ribs.

"Angel?" she asked when she saw it.

"It's ok, not too deep…just bled a lot." He tried to reassure her.

She slung an arm over her shoulder and helped support him as they walked, leaving the chamber behind and headed back outside.

...

Angel was about to head for his car when Buffy pulled him towards the van, "Oh no you don't. You've got, 'about to pass out' face, no driving for you."

He sighed as Faith snatched his keys from his hand.

"Don't worry Big Guy, I'll take her home for ya, besides I like the feel of something big rumbling beneath me."

'Too much information.' he thought dryly.

Angel was about to argue but he realized in his current barely standing condition, he wasn't going to win a fight against one Slayer, let alone two.

Faith turned to the new Slayers, "Hey newbs, need a ride home?"

They eagerly piled into the convertible as Faith shot the Scoobies a wicked smile. "Don't throw the bouquet without me!" She yelled as she floored the vehicle into reverse, spun the car around, and shot from the parking lot.

Angel cringed at the loss of more rubber from his already abused tires.

He turned to Buffy, "She does have a license, right?"

Buffy looked at him a moment, "Uhh…Sure?"

He groaned, not from physical pain…well, not from his injuries anyways.

"You know, I have been meaning to talk to you about that car anyways, I mean it's not really baby friendly…"

He groaned again, this time it was from his injuries.

As they sat in the back of the van he rested his head in her lap, "On that note, I think I'm going to pass out now."

...

The forty minute ride back home was uneventful, Buffy sat with Angel sleeping in her lap, Willow and Xander talked quietly while Oz watched the road and Giles paged through a book.

The extra twenty minutes it took getting home versus getting to Cleveland was due entirely to Oz not literally flooring the gas petal.

He figured now that 'the world as they know it' wasn't in immediate jeopardy; he might as well give his tortured van a rest and drive at normal speeds for once.

1:05pm

When they got home, Dawn and Connor greeted them at the door with the first aid kit; they knew the drill by now.

Connor and Buffy led Angel upstairs to treat him while the others helped clean up the earthquake damages.

"Are you ok dad?" Connor asked as they entered the bedroom. Angel was walking, but not quiet in a straight line.

"Yeah, peachy." he answered distractedly.

Buffy pulled off Angel's coat but before he could sit on the bed she grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the bathroom, "Hey, I just washed those sheets and there is no way in Hell I'm going to let you stain them with blood...again." She shoved him into the bathroom and turned to face her son-of-the-heart, "I'll let you guys know if the wedding's still on or not. Let me see how bad he is first." Connor nodded, sent his dad one last look and headed downstairs to help with clean-up.

Buffy entered the bathroom and shut the door behind her; Angel was leaning against the sink while fiddling one handed with his shirt buttons.

"Let me." She said as she pushed his right hand away and began unbuttoning his shirt.

He hissed in pain as she pealed the fabric off, the dried blood sticking to the already healing wound.

"Don't be such a baby; you're fine; better than normal after a big fight anyways."

He glared at her for the baby remark, but did agree with her about the second part, "Yeah well it still stings."

She tossed the shirt and made him turn around so she could check for any other injuries, she found a few but they were already closed.

A short inspection found more than a few bruises, but nothing seemed broken. The lacerations were already closed.

"You said it yourself, I'm fine." He declared.

"So you don't need nurse Buffy to give you a sponge bath?" She questioned with a smirk.

He laughed, "Tempting, but no. I'll be out in a few minutes, then nurse Buffy can practice with the bandages."

"Practice?" She scoffed, "With Mr. Injury-Prone himself around I'm a certified expert by now."

"Hey, it's not my fault things are always trying to rip me into pieces me." He defended.

She looked deeply into his eyes and frowned, "You have a concussion." She stated.

Angel shifted a bit, "Yeah, well. Just a little one." He dismissed.

She shook her head, "Five minutes, you're not out by then, I'm coming in after you." She warned.

He nodded, "Agreed."

She gave him one last look-over then exited the bathroom to let him shower.

...

They both knew a confrontation was coming, and truthfully neither one of them was in the mood for it.

It was their wedding day, they would have been married an hour ago had the world not tried to go to hell on them.

...

Four and a half minutes later, a newly shower Angel limped out of the bathroom, wearing the sweatpants he left in the hamper that morning, and sat down on the edge on the bed.

The heat from the shower brought out the newly healing bruises, and the contrasting paleness of his skin.

She knew his demon was draining him so he could heal his wounds.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she began to bandage his slashed ribs and left hand.

"Tired" he answered.

She could see the fatigue on his face.

"What time is it?" He asked, not wanting to turn around, and hurt his ribs, to look at the clock behind him.

"1:15" She answered.

He sighed, "Guess we missed the noonday sun we were planning to be married under."

A sad smile reached her lips, "Yeah, but it's ok. Maybe we can try again tomorrow?" She asked.

"No." he stated.

She looked up at him, startled. "No?"

'What does he mean by no? He doesn't want to marry me now?'

He looked at her, "No, not tomorrow. Today, just before sunset. The sky will be full of reds and pinks, it will be beautiful."

She dared a smile, "Today? Really?" she looked down at the bandage she was wrapping around his chest, "But you're hurt."

He smiled, "I'll heal before then, and even if I don't, have Connor and Oz hold me up."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, "I don't want to wait anymore. Not even one more day. I want to be selfish, want you as my wife. Unless you really want to postpone…" He couldn't continue since Buffy's lips where clamped over his.

He may have looked pale and his face may have held the weight of fatigue, but his lips were fully functional. Any worry she may have been nursing about his health was quickly abolished by the passion in which he kissed her.

Her arms snaked around his neck and pulled him closer.

...

After a few minutes they pulled apart, "Was that a yes?" He asked.

She nodded as she ran a hand down his cheek, "Yes, that was defiantly a yes." She said kissing his cheek.

"Wait." She looked at the clock again, "Sunset is at 5pm, that's less than four hours! We can't get everything together in four hours!"

He grinned, "Sure we can. Everything should still be set up from before, and if it's not, we've got a lot of bodies downstairs, as long as the minister is here, nothing else really matters."

She frowned at that, "I want everything to be perfect, I only plan on getting married the once you know."

He ran a finger down her cheek, "As long as you're there, that's all the perfect I need."

She smiled, "You always know the right words to say."

He laughed, "I'll have to remind you of that the next time you want to beat me up for something I said."

She quickly rose from his lap, not actually remembering how she got into it, "Ok, if this is going to happen I need to go tell everyone and get ready, like right now. Take a nap, I'll see you in a few hours."

They shared a passionate last kiss as singles and she hurried out the door, her excitement rolling off her in waves.

'I'll have plenty of time to yell at him for nearly getting himself killed after I marry him.'

...

To Be Continued in The Wedding Part 2