CHOICES – A Buffy/ Angel Saga
Chapter 16 – New Beginings
It was a beautiful day. It was warm and sunny and the sky
was ablaze with gold and yellow and red and blue. It was amazing and certainly
befitting the wedding of the two greatest warriors the fight has ever seen.
On the beach an archway decorated with flowers had been
set up with an altar in front. Flowers and gauzy tissue paper thin material
decorated the chairs that had been set in the sand. Torch style candles had
been placed around to be lit as the sun set on the ceremony. It was perfect.
Angel stood at the altar with Xander at his side. He was
fidgeting, nervous as he looked out at the small group of people gathered for
the event. Xander put his hand on the former vampires shoulder.
"Relax Angel, she'll be here."
"But what if she changed her mind? What if she decided
that she didn't want this after all?"
"Angel Buffy has wanted this from the moment she realized
she was head over heels in love with you. She has gone through hell and high
water to get here and I can guarantee that nothing would stop her from getting
here. Trust me, she'll be here."
Angel was about to grill Xander further on the subject
when the sound of a carriage filled his ears.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy woke up on cloud nine that morning. She was going
to marry Angel today. She knew in her heart of hearts that she'd been Angel's
wife since the night of her seventeenth birthday when he slipped that ring on
her finger. But today, today in front of her friends, her family she was going
to share vows with him. In the eyes of god she would become Angel's family for
the rest of her life.
"Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married. Going
to the chapel and we're gonna get married. Gee I really love you and we're
gonna get married. Going to the chapel of love." Buffy sang.
"Buffy come on you're going to be late." Willow called to
her.
"Angel has made me wait for this for longer than I wish
to count. Let him sweat a little."
Buffy and the girls headed downstairs and climbed into
the horse drawn carriage Angel had procured to bring her to the beach. Once
they were seated inside Willow turned to Buffy.
"Buffy ever since you came to Sunnydale you have been an
inspiration to me. You have shown me that not all people are bad and even the
strongest sometimes fall and that love can be the most wonderfully agonizing
experience. You have been my hero and my role model and my best friend and I
want you to know that I wish you and Angel a lifetime of happiness. I want you
to be a hundred and four and still holding hands on the front porch watching
the sunset as your great great great grandchildren play in the front yard. I
love you Buffy and I want you to have this."
Willow handed Buffy a small black box. Buffy was trying
not to cry as she opened it but she lost her battle when she pulled out the
charm bracelet that was inside. There was a charm on it that represented each
of the Scooby's. Buffy hugged Willow and she tried to carefully wipe away her
tears.
"Buffy I know we haven't always been close or even really
friends but that never meant that I didn't admire or respect you. The way you
go out night after night and face unknown dangers, I never could appreciate it
until I did it myself. You are one of a kind and I think Angel is lucky to have
found what he did in you. I wish you all the happiness you both deserve."
Buffy embraced Cordelia and she sat back and looked at
her friends.
"We have certainly come a long way since high school
girls."
"We certainly have" both Cordelia and Willow agreed.
Before they knew it they had arrived at the site on the
beach. Cordelia stepped out of the carriage and went ahead to let the priest
know that the bride had arrived.
Giles helped Willow step out of the carriage and Xander
was waiting for her at the end of the aisle. As the best man he was to escort
the maid of honor to the altar. The pianist began playing and Willow and Xander
made their way down the aisle leaving Buffy behind with Giles.
While Willow and Xander headed off Giles offered his hand
to Buffy. He had the glimmer of unshed tears shining in his eyes.
"Buffy you look wonderful. Just the way a bride should."
"Thank you Giles. You look wonderful too. Very dapper."
"Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
They stood at the end of the path ready for their cue to
begin the trek towards Buffy's forever.
"Giles I'm glad you're here to walk with me."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Neither would I Giles, neither would I."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel watched as Willow came down towards him wearing a
crimson gown. He almost laughed thinking it would have been Buffy's idea of a
joke. Willow looked very pretty though and she stopped before him to give him a
kiss on the cheek before stepping aside to wait for Buffy.
The pianist began to play 'Here comes the bride' and
everyone turned to watch as Giles led Buffy towards the altar.
Buffy was an absolute vision. She wore a simple gown with
a sweetheart neckline and the tiniest sleeves. The satin bodice fit her like a
glove then flared out into a full gauzy skirt that came to the ground. Her hair
was swept up into a French twist but some strands hung loose framing her face
with golden highlights beneath her veil. As she walked she could see her
perfectly manicured toenails peeking out from beneath her dress.
They arrived at the altar and Giles stood waiting.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in the
presence of god, family and friend to witness the joining of Buffy Anne Summers
and Liam Patrick O'Rourke. Who gives the bride to be wed?"
"I, Rupert Giles, Buffy's Watcher and guardian give
Buffy's hand in marriage."
Giles turned to Buffy and lifted her veil tucking it
behind her. He took her face between his hands and placed a chaste fatherly
kiss softly on Buffy's lips.
"Never have I been prouder of you than I am in this
moment. If I ever had children I would wish them to be just like you. I love
you Buffy."
"Giles you are the father I haven't had since coming to
Sunnydale. It pleases me more than you'll ever know to have you give your
blessing to this union. I love you too."
Giles stepped forward with Buffy and placed her hand in
Angel's and for a moment he placed his hand atop theirs.
"Take care of her Angel. She is a rare and precious jewel
to be revered. Love her like only you can and make her happy. She is absolutely
radiant when she smiles."
"I will Giles and thank you for…for everything."
The two men embraced warmly a moment, a true statement of
forgiveness and healing.
"Okay someone better be getting this on film because
first best man Xander then Giles hugging, this is too much." Buffy chided.
"Be happy, both of you." Giles whispered and then stepped
back.
"All right then, I understand that Buffy and Liam have
written their own vows. The floor is yours," said the Priest.
"Angel I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give
anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength
and sorrow. For better or worse I will love you with every beat of my heart."
"Buffy 'till my body is dust, 'till my soul is no more I
will love you. 'Till the sun starts to cry and the moon turns to rust I will
love you. 'Till the storms fill my eyes and we touch the last time I will love
you."
"Buffy please place your ring on Liam's left hand ring
finger."
"Liam please place your ring on Buffy's left hand ring
finger."
"Do you both solemnly vow before god and this
congregation that you will love one another for always, that you will support
and respect one another and you will put none before your betrothed?"
"I do" Buffy and Angel said together.
"Then if no one holds objection to the joining of this
couple…"
A heavy silence fell over the crowd.
"Then by the powers vested in me by god and the state of California
I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Angel turned to Buffy tears glistening in both their eyes
as he gently cupped her face and brought his mouth down over hers. It wasn't a
moment before he slid his hands down her torso and wrapped them round her waist
so that he could lift her off the ground.
Everyone who had been able to hold back their tears to
this point were now bawling as they watched the lovers kiss, their own tears
running down their cheeks.
Angel put Buffy down and pulled away from her, his hands
finding and clasping her own. The priest looked at them and smiled.
"Well then it is my extreme pleasure and humbled honor to
present for the first time in public Mr. and Mrs. Liam Patrick O'Rourke. Please
join me in welcoming this new family to our community."
Everyone in attendance brought their hands together in
thunderous applause and one by one they stood giving the first standing ovation
the priest had ever witnessed at a wedding ceremony.
Buffy and Angel made their way down the aisle towards the
carriage. There was never a more beautiful sight than that of Buffy and Angel
in their wedding attire and bare feet sitting in the old fashioned horse drawn
carriage riding down the beach while the sun began to slowly set behind them.
One Year Later…
Buffy woke up to find Angel's
side of the bed empty. She glanced at the clock beside the bed and the red
letters boldly told her it was only three o'clock in the morning. Buffy groaned
and rubbed her eyes and then swung her legs over the side of the bed. She
grabbed her robe off the chair and stepped into her slippers.
She stepped out into the hall
and listened for a moment trying to discern where Angel might be. Even though
Angel had been human for over a year now he still occasionally had difficulty
sleeping at night. Old habits die hard especially when you've had them for the
better part of almost three centuries.
She crept down the hall and
stopped outside of a door at the end of the hallway. She quietly pushed open
the door and peered into the dimly lit room.
Angel was sitting in a chair in
the corner and he was talking in hushed tones but not so quietly that her
Slayer hearing couldn't make them out.
"Three a.m. on the clock
Lullaby, music box
Oh, baby please don't cry
Let's let mama sleep tonight
You've only been home one day
You don't even know your name
Tiny hand on my cheek
You're a miracle to me
In the still ness of the night
Cradled in this rocking chair
I hold all my hopes and dreams,
Every single answered prayer
In my arms
Wish I could hold you forever
In my arms
I will give you shelter
Still I know I can't always be there
To protect you from this great big old world
But I swear this much is true
There'll always be a place for you...in my arms
As I watch you take each breath
Oh, it scares me to death
To know you're counting on me
To be the daddy that you need
Wounded knees, broken hearts
Learning how to drive a car
When it's time for your first date
Will I know just what to say?
And when you find that one true love
I'll put on my best smile
And I'll try to hide my tears
As I walk you down the aisle
In my arms
Wish I could hold you forever
In my arms
I will give you shelter
Still I know I can't always be there
To protect you from this great big old world
But I swear this much is true
There'll always be a place for you...in my arms
Oh, this promise I will keep
As you finally fall asleep...in my arms"
(Mark Wills)
As Angel stood and walked over
to the crib to put his now sleeping newborn daughter inside Buffy crossed the
room to his side. She peered down at her littlest angel and she had to wipe
away a single tear that crept down her cheek. Angel put his arm around her
shoulders and pulled her close to his side as he planted a soft kiss to her
crown.
"Why are you awake?"
"I missed you?"
"You knew I wasn't there?"
"I've always known when you
weren't by my side and when you where."
Angel turned and ushered his
wife out of his daughter's room so as not to wake her again. He steered Buffy
back into their bedroom and motioned for her to get back into bed but Buffy
simply turned and wrapped her arms around Angel's neck.
"Did you ever in your wildest
dreams imagine this?"
"No usually my wildest dreams
involved disembowelment and evisceration."
Buffy playfully smacked Angel's
shoulder and tried to pull away from him but Angel just laughed and pulled her
close. He leaned down so that he could whisper in her ear.
"I never thought I would ever see
the day that I made you my wife under a setting sun or be able to rock my
newborn child that I watched grow inside of you. I never thought I could ever
atone enough for the absolute horrors of Angelus, most especially those I…he
inflicted upon you and our friends. Each day with you like this is an absolute
miracle."
"I love you Angel. I always
have."
"I love you too Ionúin. I love
you too."
With that Angel lowered his
mouth to cover Buffy's as he lowered her to the bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel's POV
Every time our
eyes meet this feeling inside me is almost more than I can take
Baby when you
touch me I can feel how much you love me and it just blows me away
I've never been
this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your
thoughts I can see your dreams
I don't know
how you do what you do
I'm so in love
with you it just keeps getting better
I want to spend
the rest of my life with you by my side
Forever and
ever
Every little
thing that you do baby I'm amazed by you
The smell of
your skin, the taste of your kiss, the way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all
around me baby you surround me you touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels
like the first time every time
I want to spend
the whole night in your eyes
I don't know
how you do what you do
I'm so in love
with you it just keeps getting better
I want to spend
the rest of my life with you by my side
Forever and
ever
Every little
thing that you do baby I'm amazed by you
*Lonestar
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy's POV
I want to be
the face you see when you close your eyes
I want to be
the touch you need every single night
I want to be
your fantasy and be your reality and everything between
I want you to
need me like the air you breath
I want you to
feel me in everything
I want you to
see me in your every dream
The way that I
taste you, feel you breathe you, need you
I want you to
need me like I need you
I want to be
the eyes that look deep into your soul
I want to be
the world to you; I just want it all
I want to be
your deepest kiss, the answer to your every wish
I want you to
need me like the air you breath
I want you to
feel me in everything
I want you to
see me in your every dream
The way that I
taste you, feel you breathe you, need you
I want you to
need me like I need you
I'm all you ever
need more than you could know
And I need you
to never, never let me go
And I need to
be deep inside your heart
I just wanna be
everywhere you are
I want to be
the face you see when you close your eyes
I want to be
the touch you need every single night
I want to be
your fantasy and be your reality and everything between
*Celine Dion
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well folks we have come to the end, hope you enjoyed the
ride.