Epilogue: Happily Ever After


"I cannot believe this is really happening," Buffy sighed and snuggled deeper
into her husband's embrace. They were standing on the roof of the Hyperion hotel
and looking down at the city lights shining in the darkness. "This day is almost
unreal."

"Yeah," he whispered into her ear while they were swaying to the music that was
sounding up the stairs. Their friends in the lobby of the hotel were dancing to
some soft tune, Willow had chosen. Ten minutes ago, Buffy and Angel had tiptoed
away from the crowd to be alone together for a moment.

The day had been hectic at least. The day before the whole family and friends had gone to L.A., where besides the expected ones also Giles had waited for them. Angel had arranged for him to join them as a special surprise for Buffy, knowing that she longed for him to lead her down the aisle.

Angel had stayed with Wesley for the night, following the old custom not to sleep under the same roof as your bride the night before the wedding and Buffy had missed him dearly.

In the morning Cordelia and Willow had stormed her room and kept her busy with
make-up, hair, clothes while her mother was fussing around her and Ashlynn was
giggling most of the time. Buffy had released a breath of relief when the actual
ceremony had finally started and Giles had come to her room to get her.

The rest of the wedding was more a blur for her. All she could remember were
Angel's face and his eyes looking at her with so much love in them when she
walked towards him. She remembered sniffing from all sides, but hadn't paid
attention who was crying and who not, because she hadn't been able to tear her
eyes away from her lover's face.

They'd spoken their vows and then his lips were on hers and they were running out of the church where their friends had been waiting. To Buffy's amazement Angel seemed to have gained a lot of friends during his work in L.A. There was a police lady, she could remember from a short encounter years ago, lots of young people who seemed close to Gunn and some rich software-producer who behaved quite oddly but who seemed to enjoy the company of the others.

Gunn, Cordelia, Willow and Xander had been riding back to the hotel with them for the reception and now they were alone for the first time that day.

When Angel chuckled slightly, she looked up to him, "What?," there was a smile on her face.

"Just thinking," he lowered his head and softly kissed her mouth. "Not in may
wildest dreams I ever thought to see Spike in a church."

"That's what weddings do to you. We met again on a wedding and now it ends with
one," Buffy said on a sigh. "It's turning full circle."

"Yeah," he whispered, tightening his embrace. "Maybe it does. I met you in a dark alley and you kicked my ass, now we're standing here looking down at the city lights. I was a vampire then and you a slayer, mortal enemies, and still we fell in love. Now we're both human and going to have twins plus the two wonderful children you already have."

"Oh Angel," she sniffed, "you're making me cry and all my make-up is going to be
ruined. Cordy's going to kill me, the party isn't even over yet. I still have to
throw the bouquet and you need to get rid of my garter."

He laughed softly, "I was thinking about throwing it into Wesley's direction."

She laughed too, "You think like giving him a hint. I wonder if he's even
realised the way Kathrina looks at him."

"Probably not. Women aren't exactly his best territory."

"No. Certainly not," she agreed. "Do you remember when he lusted after Cordy and
Xander was so jealous but pretended not to be."

"No," he replied.

"Oh, right," she kissed his jaw, "you weren't actually around all the time then.
It was when I got the aspect of the demon, the mind-reading-thing."

"I remember. You came to read mine too."

She blushed slightly, "Yeah. Anyway. Xander couldn't think anything besides sex.
The hormonal overdriven teenager. Cordelia was flirting with Wesley and it drove
him mad. Who would've thought that Xander would marry an ex-demon and have two
kids."

"We all went a long way to get here, didn't we? But it's worth it, don't you
think?"

"Yeah, definitely worth it. I love you, Angel. Maybe everything, all the pain,
and the occasional happiness," she winced slightly at that word, but he didn't
look as if he minded the unintended reference. "Maybe it was meant to happen this way. Maybe we both needed that time to grow and realise how precious it is what we have."

"I like your way of thinking," he smiled. "Destined to be together. Why not?
After all I read so much about destinies and prophecies I think everything is
possible. But whatever made this possible, it's now up to us to make it work."

"We will," she said firmly. "This will work. I'm not going to let you go away
again."

"Neither will I. I love you Buffy. This is forever."

"Yes, forever."

When the last tunes of the song faded their lips sealed the promise.

END

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