Part: 13/?
Author: PsycGurl
Rating: PG-13
Couples: X/An

Spoilers: Set in season three of Buffy…around the episode Enemies.

Feedback: Crave feedback!

Distribution: Please ask me.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. The visions were taken from Buffy transcripts at www. psyche.kn-bremen.de and were transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).

CHAPTER 13

DREAMS-XANDER

Xander walked quietly into his house and crept up the stairs. He noticed that the television was on in the darkened lounge and went to investigate. He saw his father lying on the couch, fast asleep on his stomach. Empty beer cans were scatter over the floor.

" Dad?" Xander asked as he walked up to his dad. His dad stirred. Xander called his name again.

" X-xander…son…my son." Mr. Harris' voice slurred as he awoke, drowsy and drunk.

" Yeah Dad…here let me help you upstairs…to your room."

" My roooom…you m-mean your m-mother's room."

" Dad…"

" S-she t-told me to sleep on the couchhhh…so I was."

" Dad…here let me help you up." Xander said as he balanced his dad and led him out of the lounge.

" I-I told her…no wiffffe of mine c-could make me sleep on the couch…" His dad continued. Xander led his dad up the stairs, ignoring the statements his father made about his mom. Xander glanced at his parent's bedroom…and then changed his mind and directed his dad into his room and plopped him onto his bed.

" Sooo t-then there was this d-docu-documentary on that box thingy…about…giant pigs…" His dad mumbled before losing consciousness.

" Night dad." Xander mumbled as he grabbed a blanket and a pillow and made his way downstairs.

" I'm so glad that I won't end up like my father in my future." Xander mumbled to himself as he crashed onto the couch.

Minutes later he was asleep.

~*~*~*~

Xander: "We've talked about this. We can't announce our engagement while things are so up in the air."

Anya: "Why not? It's happy news. Happy news in hard times is a good thing."

Xander: "It is, but…if things go as planned, everything could be different. (Anya sighs) Let's just hold on."

Anya: "You've been saying that all summer."

Xander: "Please, Anya. We'll know more after we talk to Willow and Tara tonight."

Anya: "Fine, whatever. Just remember that this whole marriage thing was your stupid idea. I didn't ask to be all crazy."

~*~*~*~

Anya: (softly to Xander) "I'm not saying we announce it this second."

Xander: (whispers) "Anya!"

Anya: "Well, I think it would please them to know we're engaged. And I think Willow in particular could use a real morale-booster right now."

Xander: "Can we talk about this later?"

Anya: "Well, but it's just all the excuses for not telling everyone we're engaged are gone now. I mean, aside from hell bikers, there's nothing standing in our way. This is it. No more surprises."

~*~*~*~

Xander: "This is because I haven't told them yet about the engagement, isn't it?"

Anya: (scoffs) "No. Maybe. Yes! (whines) It's painful and confusing! I mean, first you, you give me this beautiful ring (holds up the box with the ring in it)…and then I can't even wear it in public. I mean, do you know how depressing that is?"

Xander: "Anya, I promise, your waiting days are almost over. I, I know it's frustrating…but the way I understand this marriage thing, it's kind of a forever deal."

Anya: "Not if you never get started. (softly) I mean, don't you want to get married?"

Xander: "Yes."

Anya: "So then why won't you tell them?"

Xander: "Because…I'm still getting used to the miracle of a steady pay check. And getting out of my parents' house. And this…this husband thing…it's a big step. Or…a lot of little ones. And… and I love you so much…I just want…every step to be just right."

Anya: (hopefully) "Really?"

He nods. Anya walks up close to him and kisses him. They put arms around each other and continue kissing for a long moment. Suddenly Anya pulls away.

Anya: (yells) " Hey! You tricked me! Just now, w-with your fancy talk and, and lips! You keep doing this, and I keep forgetting, and you keep stalling!"

She turns and stalks off angrily.

Xander: "Anya!"

Anya: (continues walking) " When are you going to grow up, Xander?"

~*~*~*~

Anya: "Don't be such a wiener dog. Look at them. Researching demons for the billionth time. They could use a…peppy boost of happy news."

Xander: (nods, nervously) "You're right. I'll tell them."

He stands up halfway, reconsiders, and sits back down with a glance toward the back.

Xander: "As soon as Buffy and Willow come in."

Anya: (exasperated) "Chicken."

Xander: "Would you stop?"

Anya: "Dare you."

Xander: "Anya. If I tell them we're engaged right after you dared me to…wouldn't you always wonder if that's the only reason I did it?"

Anya: "Oh."

Xander: "Score one for Captain Logic."

Anya: "No, no. Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat. I smell Captain Fear at the wheel! God, I hate this. This tone in my voice? I dislike it more than you do, and I'm closer to it!"

~*~*~*~

Xander grumbled at himself.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "Every time I close out the cash register. The dance of capitalist superiority."

Anya continues dancing, and Dawn copies her movement. Xander continues watching.

Xander: (softly) "I'm gonna marry that girl."

Buffy: "What?! She's fifteen and my sister, so don't ev- Oh."

Xander: "Hey, everybody. Can I, um…uh…there's something Anya and I…wanna tell you."

He walks over to the counter. Anya comes to his side, holding a stack of paper money.

Anya: (quietly) "Now?"

Xander: "Now."

Xander puts his arm around Anya's shoulders, turns to face the rest of the gang.

Xander: "We're getting married."

Dawn: (smiling) "Oh my god."

Tara: "Congratulations!"

Willow: "That…that's…wow."

Xander: "It's a big wow."

Anya: (to Xander) "I…I thought you were waiting for the right moment."

Xander: "I did."

Xander and Anya kiss. Dawn watches intently. Anya giggles as the kiss ends.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "And he said he couldn't imagine the rest of his life without me, and then he gave me this!"

Dawn holds Anya's hand to look at the engagement ring and Xander stands beside Anya.

Xander: "Which I'll be paying for the rest of my life."

~*~*~*~

Buffy and Xander are hugging.

Buffy: "You're getting married! You!"

Xander: (hoarsely) "Me. Choking."

Buffy: "Oh, sorry. I just, I can't believe it. Seems like only yesterday you had to pay a girl to date you."

Xander: "Like I'd ever pay. (snickers nervously) Define 'date.'"

~*~*~*~

Dawn: (to Anya) "Congratulations."

Dawn hugs Anya briefly.

Dawn: "You're very lucky. Finding a guy like him."

Xander: "Not as lucky as me."

Xander kisses Anya on the cheek. Buffy watches with a smile.

~*~*~*~

Xander grins in his sleep.

~*~*~*~

Giles: "Anya is a wonderful former vengeance demon, I'm sure you'll spend…many years of…non-hell-dimensional bliss."

Xander smiles, looks a bit nervous.

Giles: "Is she moving in with you?"

Xander: "Um…"

Giles: "You know, with your combined incomes, you might think about a down payment on a house."

Xander: "Like the kind you live in?"

Giles: "No rush. I'm sure you have plenty to think about with the arrangements for the wedding and so on. You've got the rest of your lives to plan the rest of your lives."

Xander: (laughs, nervously) "Yeah, yeah."

~*~*~*~

Anya (to Giles and Buffy): "So I was thinking maybe a June wedding. But then I remembered that they always had the highest percentage of calls for vengeance. So now I'm leaning towards as soon as damn possible. I mean, mortal life being so short, we gotta get in as much marital bliss as we can before we wither and die. I mean, there's just so much to consider, though, I mean, planning the wedding, and, and new cars, house and babies. You have to plan for babies, or they just run roughshod over your entire existence."

Buffy: (to Giles) "Look, all that matters is that they're happy. (to Anya) Everything else is thick gravy goodness."

Anya: "I know. I mean. I am the luckiest ex-demon in the world. I mean, to be able to find the one person in all dimensions that I was meant to be with, and have everything work out exactly as I dreamed. (Xander smiles at her) I mean, how often does the universe allow that to happen?"

~*~*~*~

Xander: "Air. Sweet mother oxygen."

Buffy: "You okay?"

Xander: "Yeah. I just…it's just, I didn't think it would be so much."

Buffy: "But this is good. I mean, this is…love and celebration and moving forward. Anya's right. This is the way life's supposed to work out."

Xander: (nods) "Right. Deep pools of ooey delight. I'm wallowing, not drowning."

Buffy: "Definite wallow action."

~*~*~*~

Xander sighs heavily.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "You don't have to go to work?"

Xander: "Nah, I shut the crew down for the day. My guys start dancing around me, I don't know if I can deal. It's a flab thing. So, waffles?"

Anya: "Will you still make me waffles when we're married?"

Xander: "No, I'll only make them for myself, but by California law, you will own half of them. (kisses her) Hey, how about omelettes? I could do an omelette. I've almost got that…"

~*~*~*~

Xander:

" She is the one

   She's such wonderful fun
  Such passion and grace."

  Warm in the night when I'm right in her tight- [catches himself]
Embrace! Tight embrace! [hugs her]
I'll never let her go [Anya putting slippers on]
The love we've known can only grow
There's just one thing that - no.
I'll never tell."

Both:
'Cause there's nothing to tell.

~*~*~*~

Anya:
"When things get rough, he
Just hides behind his Buffy! [Xander gives her a look]
Now look, he's getting huffy
'Cause he knows that I know."

Xander:
"She clings
She's needy
She's also really greedy
She nev…"

Anya:
"His eyes are beady!"

Xander:
"This is my verse, hello!
She…"

Both:
"You know..."

Xander:
"You're quite the charmer."

Anya:
"My knight in armor."

Xander:
" You're the cutest of the Scoobies
With your lips as red as rubies
And your firm yet supple- [catches himself]
Tight embrace!"

Anya:
"He'll always be my feller"

Xander:
"That's why I'll never tell her that I'm petrified."

Anya:
" I've read this tale
There's wedding, then betrayal
I know there'll come the day I'll want to run and hide."

They get up, crawl across the table toward each other.

Both:
" I lied
I said it's easy
I've tried
But there's these fears I've can't quell."

Xander:
"Am I crazy?"

Anya:
"Am I dreamin'?"

Xander:
"Am I marrying a demon?"

Both:
" We could really raise the beam in making marriage a hell!
So, thank god, I'll never tell!
I swear that I'll never tell!"

~*~*~*~

Anya: "Xander?!"

Xander: "Well, I didn't know what was gonna happen! I just thought there were gonna be dances and songs. (to Anya) I just wanted to make sure we'd…we'd work out. (nervous smile) Get a happy ending."

~*~*~*~

Xander's face scrunched up ashamedly.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "I can't decide whether to put my bridesmaids in cocktail dresses…(Buffy and Xander roll their eyes)…or the traditional burlap with blood larva."

Xander: "The traditional what?"

Anya: "Well, I was a demon for a thousand years, you don't expect me to turn my back on all the ways of my people."

Buffy: "Uh, can I weigh in on this whole me wearing larva…"

Anya/Xander: "No."

Anya: (to Xander) "At least I'm not asking you to perform the groom's rite of self-flagellation."

~*~*~*~

Xander: "What happened to Buffy?

Xander and Anya are studying a diagram of seating arrangements.

Anya: (points) "Table four. I put her with your family."

Xander: "Great. Except, we don't hate Buffy."

Xander: "Let's put her back at table one."

Anya: "Well, where do I put D'Hoffryn?"

Xander: "We're not inviting D'Hoffryn."

Anya: "We have to, he's my ex-boss! You're inviting your work buddies."

~*~*~*~

Anya: "Well, if you like the food here, honey, maybe we should get it for the reception."

Dawn: "You're serving burgers? (Anya nods) Cool!"

Anya: "Well, time is running very short.  Anyway, I still have to select the bridesmaids' dresses, and, well, then there are the guests from out of town and the ones from the demon realm -- you wouldn't believe how many of them have yet to let us know either way."

~*~*~*~

Xander: "Ahn, that was Buffy, she's working late, so I might have to go- yah!"

Xander turns to see Halfrek.

Halfrek: (deep resonant voice) "I have been called, and vengeance shall I wreak. (points at Xander) Cower, masculine one…tremble as you face my wrath!"

Xander: "Honey?"

Anya turns to see where he's looking. She gasps.

Halfrek: (resonant voice) "Hello. I am here to tear this man apart. (Anya smiling happily) How many pieces do you wish?"

Anya: "Halfrek!"

Halfrek: (normal woman's voice) "Anyanka? Oh my god!"

Both women squeal and giggle and hug.

Anya: "How are you, how are you?"

Xander: "You two…you know each other?"

Anya: "Funny, Halfrek, I didn't summon you to kill Xander, I called to invite you to our wedding."

Halfrek: "Y- Oh my…what an embarrassing mistake! (Anya shows her the engagement ring) Oh my god, gorgeous!"

They continue giggling. Xander stands up slowly.

Xander: "Wow, um, you two clearly have some catching up to do. So I'll, uh…(gestures) I'll not be in the apartment." (leaves)

Halfrek: "So, um…you're marrying that man with the large upper arms? Why?"

Anya: "Well, because I love him."

Halfrek: "Hmm."

Anya: "Oh, we're gonna be very happy together."

Halfrek: "Hmm."

Anya: "What?"

~*~*~*~

Xander: "Hey, did your friend have a good time? And then leave?"

Anya: (sullen) "She's gone."

Xander: "So, Ahn, the way she looked, with…the face…(nervous laugh) That wasn't what you used to look like, was it?"

Anya: "Is there something wrong with that? I mean, did you think she was unattractive?"

Xander: "Okay, is there any answer to that question that won't make you nuts?"

Anya: (to Xander) "It's not like you're so perfect either, what with your…strangely large upper arms and your tendency to criticize."

~*~*~*~

Xander breathed in heavily.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "And we're just sitting here. Why are we just sitting here? Why aren't we doing something?"

Xander: "We are. We will. We've been through worse."

Anya: (panting, rubbing her chest) "Not like this. I just can't breathe…I can't breathe…"

Xander: (grabbing her hands) "Ahn, stop. Stop, Ahn, stop! Listen to me. You're just freaking out, okay? It's normal. You're just…you're just scared. We all are. We'll come up with a plan… and we'll get through it, all right? We'll do something."

~*~*~*~

Xander on the floor, groaning in pain.

Anya: "Xander."

Xander looks up and painfully gets to his feet and goes to Anya who stands at the foot of the stairs staring at him.

Xander: "It's okay. I'm okay, see? Shh."

He strokes her face gently and leans his forehead against hers.

Xander: (whispers) "It's all right. I'm okay."

~*~*~*~

Xander smiled at the affection both him and his future fiancée shared.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "See…this seating chart makes no sense. We have to do it again."

Xander: "The seating chart's fine. Let's get back to the table arrangements. I'm starting to have dreams of gardenia bouquets. (winces) I am so glad my manly coworkers didn't just hear me say that." (eating chips)

Anya: "Will you stop wolfing down those chips? You're not even hungry, you're just nervous."

Xander: "Yeah! Wedding, one week! We have friends, family, demons flying in, a to-do list getting no shorter, and do NOT- (grabs the bag back) -take my chips."

They stare at each other angrily. Dawn comes over, holding two plastic cups.

Dawn: "Hey guys! How's the soon-to-be-newlyweds? Nervous?"

Anya/Xander: "No!"

~*~*~*~

Willow: "Thanks. So how are Mr. and Mrs. High-Strung?"

Dawn: "I'm betting they explode."

Willow: "You know, when I was little, I used to spend hours imagining what my wedding to Xander would be like. And now I look at them…(looks at Anya and Xander at the bar) I just think…(mocking laugh) Nee-hee-hee!"

~*~*~*~

Anya: "We'll never get to the airport in time to pick up your stupid uncle."

Xander: "It just gives my Uncle Rory more time at the bar. Trust me, he'll be happy."

Anya: (mouth full) "Great. So he can sleep off his drunken stupor on our newly re-upholstered couch."

Xander: "He can't afford a hotel."

Anya: "Why are you defending him?"

Xander: "I'm not. I hate my uncle. I hate my whole family. That's why I'm marrying you, to start a new family. Have children, make them hate us, then one day they'll get married, we'll sleep on their couch. It's the circle of life." (smiling)

Anya: "Well, the Gnarals are teleporting in, in twenty minutes. If I'm not there to greet them…somebody's getting incinerated."

Xander: "Why did we ever agree to have your friends, who are demons, and my family, who are monsters, stay at our place?"

Anya: "Well, I can only do so much, Xander. Planning this marriage is like staging the invasion of Normandy."

Xander: "Without the laughs. We should have eloped."

Anya: "No! I've been through too much planning this wedding, and it is going to happen. It is going to be our perfect, perfect day if I have to kill every one of our guests and half this town to do it."

~*~*~*~

Xander is sitting on the edge of a bathtub and Anya is sitting beside him on the closed toilet. Faint sounds of angry voices in background.

Anya: "So you think that their marriage is better than ours, is that it?"

Xander: "No! But granted, I have a hard time imagining Nick and Nora Fury hiding out from their own relatives in the bathroom. (sighs) And I have no idea what Riley and Mrs. Riley's wedding was like."

Anya: "Well, you haven't shut up about them."

Xander: "Well, they have a great marriage! And it bummed Buffy out, but I can see it. And Anya…I really have no clue what their wedding was like."

Anya: "So our wedding…(Xander nodding)…is not our marriage." (smiles)

Xander: "Separate things. One fills me with a dread akin to public speaking engagements."

Anya: "And that would be the wedding."

Xander: "Which will be over soon."

Anya: "But our marriage…"

Xander: "That lasts forever."

~*~*~*~

Xander gulped in anticipation.

~*~*~*~

Mr. Harris: (tapping his watch) "Xander, you're not ready yet?" (Xander rolling his eyes)

Mrs. Harris: "Look at my hair. (looking at her reflection in a compact) Of course, I suppose it doesn't really matter, 'cause I won't actually be in any of the pictures."

Xander: (exasperated) "You'll be in the pictures, Mom. Hey, hey, how's about some breakfast?"

Mrs. Harris: "Oh, well, I guess if I'm a little plump it doesn't matter, since I won't really be…"

Xander: "You'll be in the pictures, Mom!"

Mr. Harris: "That's one of hers, right? (to Krelvin-a demon) Hey. You're one of hers, right?"

Xander: "You met Krelvin already, Dad. Last night."

Krelvin: "Yeah. Yeah, uh, we met. You, uh, you said I resembled your mother-in-law."

Mrs. Harris: "Tony!"

Mr. Harris: (remembering) "Oh, yeah."

 ~*~*~*

Buffy: "Look at you. You look great, Mr. About-To-Get-Married. (smiling) Glowing."

Pause while Buffy continues trying to tie Xander's bow-tie. Suddenly she stops smiling.

Buffy: "Oh my god! Maybe you're pregnant!"

Xander: (grins) "Maybe. I dunno. Maybe I'm just happy."

Buffy looks at him, starts to well up.

Xander: (concerned) "Teary."

Buffy: (still fiddling with bow tie) "Yes. Happy. Happy for you. That makes me happy for me. You and Anya give me hope. It's like…you two are proof that there's light at the end of this very long, long, nasty tunnel. And, I cannot tie this tie."

~*~*~*~

Buffy: "You're one of the decent ones, Xander. I hope I'm as lucky as you guys someday."

Xander: "You wanna get lucky? I've still got, what, fifteen, twenty minutes?"

Buffy smiles, hugs him.

Xander: "Now, let's go over the list one more time. Number one?"

Buffy: "Don't let your dad near the bar."

Xander: "Check. Number two?"

Buffy: "Don't let your mom near the bar."

Xander: "Check."

~*~*~*~

Xander enters the room with all the relatives. A guy comes up to him and shakes his hand. He smiles and nods. Other people notice Xander, turn to smile at him, pat his back, shake his hand, say "congratulations" etc. Xander moves through the crowd. An elderly woman starts pinching Xander's cheeks. His mom comes up.

Mrs. Harris: "Alexander. Do you realize that the usher sat us in the third row?"

Xander: "Mom, I'm sure it was a mistake."

Mrs. Harris: "Well, I-I don't think it was really…"

Old Man: "Excuse me."

Uncle Rory: "Say Neph, do you know where the photographer is? I've got a proposition for him…"

Old Man: (tugging Xander's arm) "Please, I really need to talk to you."

Dawn: " Xander?"

Mrs. Harris: "Honey, listen to me."

Xander is surrounded and looks a bit overwhelmed. Dawn comes hurrying over.

Dawn: "Xander, one of Anya's presents got loose!"

Xander: "Got loose?"

Mrs. Harris: "It's fine…(unintelligible)

Dawn: "Yeah, it's a fully live squiggily thingy (Xander's mom still talking) and hey, and why is Halfrek a bridesmaid?"

Old Man: "Please, please, you have to listen. You have to listen to me!"

Dawn, Rory, and Xander's Mom continue talking over each other as the old man pulls Xander a few feet away.

Old Man: "You can't get married today. It's a huge mistake."

Xander: "Yeah right, thanks for the advice, Uncle…help me here?"

Old Man: "Uncle? You don't recognize me, do you?"

Xander: "I'm sorry, I don't…"

Old Man: "It sounds crazy, I know. But you have to believe me. (Xander looking puzzled) I'm Xander Harris. I'm you."

Xander: "What do you mean, you're me?"

Old Man: "I'm you. I'm you from the future."

Xander: "Oh, from the future! For a minute I thought you were a nutball but now that you're from the future…"

Old Man: (agitated) "Please, listen to me. I found a way back to warn you. To tell you…"

Xander: "Hey, hey, easy, easy. Everything's going to be all right."

Mr. Harris: "Toast!"

Xander: (looks over his shoulder) "I swear I told that guy no drinks before the ceremony."

Mr. Harris is at the bar, standing up and raising his glass as the other guests look over.

Mr. Harris: "A toast! To the Harris clan."

Old Man: "Look. Look! I can prove it to you."

Mr. Harris: (faintly in background) "I know in the past we've had our problems…"

The old man reaches into his pants pocket and takes out a small glowing purple orb. Xander's Dad continues talking in the background.

Old Man: "I thought you might need convincing. Come on. Follow me."

He leads Xander away. Xander looks over his shoulder at his dad, who continues talking, quite drunk.

Mr. Harris: "...and to my wife, Jessica. Where are you, honey?"

He looks around. Mrs. Harris is standing amongst the others, looking embarrassed. .

Mr. Harris: "There she is. (raising glass) To my wife. What would I do without you, beautiful?"

Mrs. Harris looks a bit surprised, smiles.

Mr. Harris: "Wellllllll, for starters, I probably wouldn't need to drink so much, would I."

Mrs. Harris looks hurt. The other guests look uncomfortable.

Mr. Harris: "On the brighter side, marriage has probably saved me from a nasty dose of the clap. (chuckles) Here's to ya." (drinks)

~*~*~*~

[A.N. I didn't include the visions that Xander was shown from the future…cause that'd be visions of the future being shown in visions of the future…and as you can tell I'm confusing myself and probably everyone! They are mentioned though.]

~*~*~*

Old Man: "But you can't marry Anya."

Xander: "But…"

Old Man: "You'll hurt her less today than you will later. Believe me. Sometimes, two people…all they bring each other…is pain."

~*~*~*~

Willow: (fiddles with his clothing) "You're getting married. My little Xander."

Xander: "All growed up."

Willow: "It's a good thing I realized I was gay, otherwise, hey, you, me and formal wear…"

Xander gives a small smile and hugs her. Over her shoulder, his face looks very conflicted.

Willow: "Do you know how much I love you?"

Xander: "Mmm…'bout half as much as I love you."

Willow smiles, pulls out of the hug.

Willow: (smiling) "You ready for the long walk?"

Xander: "Um…yeah, just give me a sec, I wanna work on my vows."

Willow: "Take your time. It's not like we can start the wedding without you."

~*~*~*~

Willow: "He's gone. Xander disappeared!"

~*~*~*~

Xander's mouth parted slightly in shock.

~*~*~*

Xander walks along in the rain, still wearing his tux, getting soaked.

~*~*~*~

Anya: "Xander's gone? Xander is missing? (loudly) What do you mean Xander's missing?!"

~*~*~*~

A brawl breaks out between the demons and the Harris'. Total chaos.

~*~*~*~

(Old Man) Demon: "It didn't take much either. I scared off your fiancé with a couple of phoney visions."

Anya: (tearful) "Visions of what?"

Demon: "Your future. [A.N Ironic much? I hadn't even watched this episode when I thought of the title]  Or his nightmare vision of your future."

Anya: (crying) "That's it? That's all you did?"

Demon: "Yeah, it was easy. Look at that, you're crying. Oh, I like that."

~*~*~*~

Xander: "Anya!"

Anya: "Xander!"

Anya runs over to Xander.

Anya: "I'm so…I'm so glad you're here. It was all lies, what he showed you…it wasn't true, he just wanted to break us up."

Xander: "It doesn't matter now."

Anya: "So we'll be okay."

~*~*~*~

Xander sighed in relief.

~*~*~*~

Anya: (smiling) "So…we're ready now. Let's get married."

She tries to turn away but Xander is still holding her hands, stopping her.

Xander: "I…I'm not. (Anya looking confused) I'm not ready. I can't, Ahn, I'm sorry."

Anya: "But it wa - it wasn't real. What he showed you, it wasn't real."

Xander: "I know it wasn't real. But it could be."

Anya stares at him, getting teary again.

Anya: "What was it? Was it about me? 'Cause he wanted you to hate me, Xander."

Xander: "It wasn't you. (sighs) It wasn't you I was hating. (pauses) I had these thoughts, and…fears before this. Maybe we just went too fast."

Anya: "Look, everybody has thoughts. It's natural, it doesn't mean that, that getting married is wrong."

Xander: "I know, I know…"

Anya: (desperate)" Look, you're just shaken up, okay? You just calm down and we'll start over, okay?"

Xander looks over at the main room at his parents yelling at each other. Mr. Harris is standing while Mrs. Harris sits in a chair. Xander's Dad is yelling angrily and Xander's Mom arguing back at him. It looks like he tries to hit her and she grabs his hand.

Xander: (tearful) "We can't start over. If this is a mistake, it's forever, and…I don't want to hurt you. Not that way."

Xander: "I'm sorry. (Anya crying) I am so sorry."

Anya sniffles, wipes her eyes with her hand, continues crying. Slowly, in a daze, she turns and walks away.

Xander watches her go. Then he turns and walks outside.

~*~*~*~

A loud bang and thunderous voices woke Xander up instantly. Xander leaned over on the couch and peered from it to see his parents pointing fingers at each other and yelling. As Xander sat up, the flood of images replayed in his mind. Xander glanced back at his parents and sighed. He realised that in his future…he would give up his one chance of happiness.