Eight: FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
It would be a simple ceremony: just a small gathering of guests in the backyard. Together on the porch where they'd spent so many evenings talking, they would stand and join hands, hearts and souls, as husband and wife.
Neither of them had much "real" family in the sense of blood ties, but they had friends more cherished. Buffy's father and his wife would attend the wedding, but she'd asked him to understand her wish to have another man walk her down the aisle. Giles had been infinitely more influential and involved in her life than her father. He'd nurtured her, guided her in her destiny, counselled her, even helped her out financially a time or two, and he loved her as his own... unconditionally.
She'd invited Angel. Besides being a dear friend to her, he had been "family" to her beloved Spike for more than a century, even though the relationship had always been strained. Angel wouldn't come, he told her. She was the first woman in his 275 years that he really loved. Though it had been years since Angel had accepted they couldn't be together, it still devastated him to hear not simply that she was getting married, but (perhaps more so) to whom.
Her sister had declined to be maid-of-honour, choosing instead the request to serve as "best man". Buffy didn't push. Her treasured friends Willow and Xander would stand beside her on a joyous occasion for a change. (The real upside here, of course, was that everyone in the wedding photos would at least appear perfectly "normal".)
The out-of-town guests, including Giles, had arrived safely and were settled at one of Sunnydale's nicer hotels. Giles had flown in several days before the wedding to catch up on all that had been happening. He and Spike actually seemed to be getting along rather well, particularly whilst on opposite sides of the bar at the "Fox and Hound". It amused Giles to have Spike serve him. To Giles, Spike seemed so uncharacteristically... charming tending bar. And Spike didn't seem to mind taking Giles' orders; he'd really come into his own working at the Pub and enjoyed reminiscing with his old adversary. Even Xander joined in the manly bonding the night before the wedding, promising Buffy he'd keep and eye on her two English "gentlemen".
------- o -------
Some time after noon the day of the wedding, Giles and Spike each clutched at his own pounding head as they struggled to sit up. Together they pondered what had crawled into their mouths while they slept, and feared what might be making that "dreadful odour".
"Hate to sat it, guys," Xander said as he strolled in from his bedroom to where the two older men were laid out in the living room. "No demons. No evil mojo. Not even a garbage strike. That smell: it's you."
"Oh dear Lord," and "Bloody hell," chimed out from the pair simultaneously as they slumped back onto the sectional.
"Look guys. I promised Buffy I'd make sure you two get to the house, dressed and ready by 3:30... Eech!" he grimaced as he caught a whiff from the living room. "How's about I throw in 'sweet smelling' at no extra charge. Towels are in the bathroom. Soap. Water. Ever heard of them? And might I recommend a heavy dose of mouthwash?"
------- o -------
At the house, Anya (who had reconciled somewhat with Xander, at least to the point she could be in the same room with him) and Dawn finished with decorations. A couple of guys from Buffy's gym set up a few dozen rented chairs. Willow checked on the caterer then headed up to the master bedroom to see to the bride.
Buffy stood by the window looking out at the scene unfolding below in wonder that this remarkable day had really come. It was a beautiful spring afternoon. The garden was full of flowers and foliage. White folding chairs stood facing the house in staggered rows. At the top of the porch steps, decorated with ivy and flowers, was an archway that Xander had built especially for the occasion. Guests were beginning to gather in the yard, chatting in small groups.
So many new faces, Buffy noted seeing a few old friends, but also several new ones: a couple of her fellow trainers from the gym, a few extra special clients, Spike's mates from the Pub and Dawn's new boyfriend, who'd actually managed to survive an introduction to (and interrogation by) Spike and the Slayer.
How far we've come, Spike. She closed her eyes and reflected on the times she and Spike had spent together. It seemed so long ago that they'd been enemies. She could hardly believe it they were the same people --- and really, they weren't. Spike was no longer the sensitive guy hiding behind the bravado of the "Big Bad" demon. Buffy wasn't the naïve but wisecracking high school girl. They'd each "grown up" and overcome incredible adversity to find comfort and completion with the other.
'"Buffy... Buffy!"
She was shaken from her daydream with a smile across her face.
"Are you ready? It's time!" squealed Willow, as she handed Buffy her bouquet: hand-tied wildflowers like the bunches Spike had set out for her the night he'd proposed.
Buffy descended the stairs dressed in an ever-so-slightly-off-white satin princess-cut gown that just grazed the floor in front but trailed slightly in a simple chapel-length train. The beaded empire-banded bodice was woven in a tone-on-tone pattern and had spaghetti straps mimicking the twisted band of her engagement ring. The gown's simplicity emphasized the elegance of Buffy's petite figure while the intricacy of the bodice accentuated her strong yet delicate upper body.
"Buffy. You are simply stunning," declared Giles as she appeared.
"Yeah, Buff. You look... yeah." Xander couldn't help staring and stammering.
She hugged them both. "Please stop. I don't want to cry. Mess up my makeup." She took a deep breath. "Guys?" Buffy looked to her "bridesmaids". "Could I have a minute with Giles?"
Willow and Xander headed out the back door to make sure everything was ready for the bride's arrival.
"Oh Buffy. I am so pleased for you," Giles exclaimed with due British formality. "This is truly an extr'ordin'ry day!"
"Giles. You've been such a dear friend to me..." She struggled to find the words that expressed what she wanted to say to this man who had meant so much to her for these, the most difficult years of her life. She sighed. "I know that I've never exactly been easy to handle. I know that in the beginning especially I didn't always..." She corrected, with a smirk, ".well, I hardly ever did what you wanted. I was I huge pain in the ass."
They both sniggered.
"But through it all, you stuck with me."
"Buffy, I-"
Giles tried to speak, but Buffy kept talking. She had to say her piece. "I know that back then it was your job; you were just doing your duty, trying to teach me how to do mine. But somewhere along the way I know that stopped being the case. I honestly can't believe that any other slayer has ever had- could ever have a Watcher as special... as caring as you've been." She bit her lip. "You've helped me not only hone my skills and develop as the Slayer, but you've also given me the strength and guidance to develop as a person. You've been there when I needed you, and you knew enough to let go..." She rolled her eyes and dropped her head, smiling shyly, ".even when I couldn't believe that was what I needed." Swallowing hard, she told him, "A lot of who I am today, I owe to you... and I just wanted to tell you how much I've appreciated having you in my life and that... I love you Giles." She hugged him.
"Buffy," Giles grunted, trying subtly to remind the Slayer of the tightness of her hold.
"Oh Giles!" She backed off, embarrassed. "I'm sorry."
Smiling affectionately, Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his teary eyes with one hand (glasses dangling between two fingers), while the other rummaged in his tuxedo pocket for a handkerchief.
As he began to clean the lenses, Buffy teased, "You really should look into contacts."
They chuckled and wandered together out the front door to make their way around the house to where the guests had assembled in the backyard.
------- o -------
When Xander saw Willow give the sign that Buffy and Giles were ready at the far end of the yard, he took a quick look at Spike, standing next to Dawn beneath the archway on the porch. The groom, dressed in a black suit, vest and tie, looked as pale as he ever had as a vampire. Anyone who'd known Spike in his previous incarnation but wasn't aware of his new status might have rushed to get Spike out of the sun lest he should burst into flames. It appeared as if Dawn, who stood beside Spike, was actually keeping him from toppling off the steps.
Xander caught Spike's attention, gave a sympathetic smile and nod of his head, which eased the edgy groom and remind him to breathe. Seeing they were all as ready as they'd ever be, Xander heralded the guests, "Just before we get started, Buffy wanted me to play a little something... ah... special." He pressed a button on the CD player and seconds later, Robert Preston was belting out the Music Man's "76 Trombones".
"I'm not sure what this is all about," Dawn muttered to Spike, who smirked at hearing the tune.
I know, he reflected thoughtfully to the evening of the Musical Demon Evil when he'd told her that, "The day you suss out what you do want there'll probably be a parade. Seventy-six bloody trombones." Cute, Slayer.
After switching CDs to more traditional wedding music, Xander took his place near the porch arch.
As he heard the music, Spike instinctively turned, seeing only his bride: Buffy radiated beauty and love in the streams of sunlight that filtered through the trees. To him, there was only her. My beautiful Buffy.
When Buffy's gaze met Spike's wide azure eyes, Those amazing eyes..., she was returned to the night she descended the stairs to meet him in the foyer after she'd clawed her way back from the grave. He'd been so tender, so understanding, so loving to her. As she approached him, she remembered the night he'd come back to her and seeing those beautiful soft eyes in the mirror, realizing for the first time that he was actually alive.
At the bottom of the steps, Buffy paused and whispered a "thank you" to Giles as he kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand.
As his bride turned back to him, Spike offered her a hand and guided her up the steps to stand beside him. At that moment, their hearts beat as one while they travelled deeply into each other's eyes.
------- o -------
When the Justice of the Peace pronounced them husband and wife, their faces both brightened. They were elated to hear words neither imagined would ever be spoken of either of them. Their lips met in an explosive passionate kiss.
When they paused for breath, Buffy stumbled and exclaimed, "Whoa... That was some kiss! I actually felt the earth move!"
"Ah... Buffy," Dawn piped up nervously. "I'm pretty sure we all felt the earth move."