February 13, 2002

"Willow, I look horrible!" Buffy said, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She was trying on her wedding dress one last time before the big day tomorrow. The dress was a traditional white, strapless dress with a small train flowing down off the bottom of the poofy skirt. From the top of the dress to almost the bottom of the dress, small, dark white, embroidered flowers flowed downwards as if they were sprinkled over it. The top had the most flowers and as they progressed downwards, they started to dissolve until there was nothing but white.

"Buffy, you look gorgeous. Not even Anya's going to look this beautiful in her wedding dress." Willow said, straitening the small train behind Buffy.

"You're just saying that because I'm your best friend and you've never really liked Anya."

"Buffy, I am not just saying that. Honestly, no one has ever looked this gorgeous. And I'm not hitting on you."

"Didn't say you were." Buffy looked back in the mirror, a sad look coming over her face.

Willow saw the look. "Buffy, I love you, but you are just too tortured and modest for your own good. Angel's definitely worn off on you." She walked in front of the Slayer and stood between her and the mirror. "This is just nerves. Every bride gets them. You're gorgeous. Don't. Worry. About. It."

"I miss Angel. Tell me again: why can't he be here?"

"Because it's tradition that the groom cannot, under any circumstances, stay the night before the wedding."

"Whoever thought of that tradition wasn't in love and should be staked.. Many times."

"Whoever thought of that tradition weren't you and Angel. I'm sure Angel is at the mansion with Xander complaining that he doesn't look good in his tux and the tradition is stupid."

"Willow, Angel is not vain. The only fashion thing he worries about is his hair. It does that cute thing where it stands up everywhere."

"You think that's cute?"

"You don't?"

"I thought that it was natural and there was nothing he could do."

"It is."

"Oh."

"Will, you'll never see him like I do."

"Probably because I'm a lesbian."

"Are you sure?"

"That I'm a lesbian? Yeah."

"No! I mean, about me being gorgeous."

"Buffy, there are no magicks in this universe to make me be more sure."

"You sound like Angel."

"Only I'm not exchanging vows with you. I love you Buff, but not that much. Or in that way for that matter."

Buffy sat down on her bed and put her chin on the palms of her hands, tapping her fingers against her cheeks. Dawn and Tara walked in with huge smiles on their faces. Everyone was happy. Even Buffy, but her nerves were slowly trying to take her over.

"Guess what!" Dawn said. Buffy didn't answer. Dawn continued. "Dad is home from Japan! He's coming tomorrow. Giles doesn't have to give you away! Dad can!" Buffy didn't say anything; she just stared off in space. "Buffy? Hello? Earth to Buffy!"

"Huh?" Buffy asked.

"What's up with you?"

Buffy was back in space. Willow answered for her. "She's thinking about Angel. Also, she doesn't think she looks good in her dress. It's just nerves. Nothing to worry about."

"You're not thinking that Angel may not be the one. Cause he is Buffy! I mean, you guys have been in love for six years. That's a really long time. You can't call it all off now!" Dawn said, beginning to panic.

Buffy snapped out of it. "Dawn, I'm not calling this off. I love Angel. I want to be with Angel. Besides, there's no way I'm turning back now. This dress cost too much and we went through a lot to make sure Angel can marry legally."

"Is that what all those lawyers and trips to LA were for?"

"Yes. We needed to make it look like Angel has been living here for 23 years. He refused to say he was born in LA, so we had to do the whole immigration stuff too. But it's official now. Tomorrow I will become Mrs. Buffy Summers-Callaghan."

"Callaghan? Was that Angel's real last name before he was changed?" Tara asked.

"Yup. His name was Liam Angelus Callaghan."

"His middle name was Angelus?" Willow asked. "He's been my friend all these years and I never knew that!? How did that happen?"

"Will, he's my fiancé. We've been close for almost seven years now. There's not much I don't know about him."

"That's the greatest thing about your relationship." Dawn said. "You guys know how to talk to each other without it all ending up with sex. You should, you had that year of practice."

"It was more than a year! It was almost two before Angel and I first.. Slept together."

"I don't think that counts."

"Why?"

"Because that was before you guys knew about the loophole. You were always making out! Afterwards, that's all you could do was talk."

"We weren't ALWAYS making out. We talked and went on dates and danced. Ok, slow dancing, but still.. dancing."

"Oh please. You guys found a way to make out when you were grounded to your room!"

"Which sounds like a good plan."

"Making out when your.. Oh! I'll be good. In fact, I'll be downstairs getting things ready for tomorrow." Dawn rushed out.



Everyone was asleep in their designated rooms. Everyone except for Buffy. She lay in her darkened room staring up at the ceiling. She was cold and lonesome. Her bed seemed bigger than it ever had been. Those big strong arms that were usually around her weren't there tonight holding her all through the night. Buffy sat up and sighed.

"Get a hold of yourself Summers!" Buffy said to herself. "It's not like you've never slept alone before." She threw the covers off of her and padded to the bathroom. Turning on the water, Buffy splashed her face and took a sip of water from her cupped hands. She dried her face and looked in the mirror. She looked tiny in the oversized t-shirt of Angel's. It was a warm night out and Buffy had decided to wear the shirt with nothing under it. Sighing, she walked back into her room. The curtains fluttered with the warm breeze. She walked over and shut the window.

"You know, Slayers really shouldn't leave their windows open." Angel walked out of the shadows. "You never know what could creep in."

"What are you doing here?" Buffy hissed.

"I live here."

"You're not supposed to see me. You're a very bad man."

"So kill me."

"You need to go away. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. I don't want anything bad to happen tomorrow. So.. Leave. Now."

Suddenly, Angel was behind her. He ground his erection into her back. "Make me leave." She looked up at him and he crushed his lips to hers. Buffy turned and jumped, wrapping her legs around his hips. While Angel made a trail up and down her neck and jaw line, Buffy worked on getting Angel's pants undone. Finally, his pants slid to the floor and she slowly lowered herself onto him. Angel moaned and dropped to the floor as his legs went weak.

Four hours later, limbs tangled, sweat dripping off of them, Buffy and Angel lay sated on the floor. Buffy looked over at the bed. "We missed the bed."

Angel chuckled. "Who needs one when you're us? The passionate star-crossed lovers."

Buffy laughed quietly and curled up in Angel's arms. "You need to go. The sun's almost up and if Willow or Dawn catch you in here, they'll stake you."

"Not that it would do any good now."

"True." Buffy sat up with a groan. "You know, if I start walking funny down the aisle, I'm blaming you."

"It'll be my fault?"

"You seduced me."

"Right. One look at you and I turn into a sex crazed teenager."

"Out." Buffy picked up Angel's pants and shirt and handed them to him. He took them and stared at her with wide puppy dog eyes. "It's not gonna work." More puppy face. "No. Out. Now." More puppy face. "That's it. I'm going in the bathroom. When I come back, you better be gone. I have places to be, people to see, things to do. I'll see you in about 11 hours. I'll be the one walking up the aisle in a white dress." Buffy smiled at him and left her room.



Eleven hours later, Buffy, Willow, Dawn, and Tara stood in the bridal tent. They had decided on an outdoor wedding since the weather was perfect and sun was guaranteed all day long. The wedding was being held in the rose garden in a large park on the outskirts of Sunnydale. Buffy's bouquet was made of white and red roses. The bride's maids' bouquets were made of pink roses. Willow's bouquet was made of lavender dyed roses to match her dress. Giles, Xander, and Gunn were in the groom's tent with Angel. Giles was the best man. Angel had said since Hank was giving Buffy away, Giles needed an important role in the wedding.

Lindsey popped her head in. "Buffy, it's about time. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. We're just situating ourselves." Buffy said. She glanced in the mirror again. Her makeup was perfect. Everything was soft to bring out her natural beauty. Her hair was in a loose French twist. Little tendrils of hair laid softly around her face and the veil was attached to the twist, making it look as if it was part of her hair. The locket Angel had given her for her 20th birthday was polished and laying daintily around her neck. The only other piece of jewelry she wore was her engagement ring.

"Let's go." Willow said. They walked out and lined up in their respective places. Gunn and Dawn, Tara and Xander, and Giles and Willow stood in front of Hank and Buffy. Angel waited just beyond Buffy's point of view at the alter. Suddenly, the music started and Dawn and Gunn headed towards the front. Then Tara and Xander and then Willow and Giles left. Hank and Buffy were left alone to wait for the wedding march.

"You look beautiful kid." Hank said. "A father couldn't be more proud."

The wedding march struck and everyone stood. Hank and Buffy started to walk up the aisle. On each side of them, friends of Joyce's, Buffy's friends' parents, a few people from Gunn's gang, and some friends from high school stood watching her. Angel stared at her as if seeing her for the first time again. She beamed at him through her veil as Hank walked her up to him. They stopped and Hank lifted her veil enough to kiss her on the cheek and then he gave her hand to Angel and went to sit down next to Lindsey and Gabriel. Buffy and Angel turned to the priest.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join Liem Angelus Callaghan and Buffy Anne Summers in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying to us the mystical union which is between Christ and His Church. Which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with His presence at the first miracle which He wrought in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of the Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men, and is therefore not to be entered into lightly or inadvisably, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God." The priest intoned. "Into which holy estate Angel and Buffy come now to be joined and to unite two hearts and lives, blending all interest, sympathies, and hopes. I charge and entreat you, therefore, in entering upon and sustaining this hallowed union, to seek the favor and blessing of Him whose favor is life, whose blessing maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. Let us now seek His blessing." Everyone bowed their heads. "Our Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee to come by Thy grace to this marriage. Give to these who marry a due sense of the obligations they are now to assume, so that with true intent, and with utter unreserve of love, they may plight their troth, and be henceforth helps, meet for each other while they journey through life. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen." The preacher looked around at the crowd. "Who is giving Buffy in Holy Matrimony to Angel?"

Hank stood. "I do."

The priest nodded and looked at Buffy and Angel. "I charge you both as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that true love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn vows you are about to make be kept inviolate, and if you steadfastly endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, your lives will be full of joy, and the home you are about to establish will abide in peace. No other human ties are more tender, no other vows are more sacred than those you are about to assume. You are entering into the holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and which is the very sacrament of divine love." The priest looked at the crowd. "The bride has decided to express her love to Angel before the Holy Vows commence. Buffy?"

Buffy turned to Angel. She looked him straight in the eyes, tears forming as she started to speak. "Angel, you are my guiding light at the end of the tunnel. After everything I've been through, you were always there to pull me through. Even when I wanted to give up, you stood firm, light shining, and all I could do was take from your strength and keep going. We've been through some traumatizing things. We lost a close high school friend, I lost my mom, I almost lost my sister, you lost me.. for a little while. Yet through it all, you're light never dimmed for me. How you do that is still a mystery to me, but I don't care. It's a mystery I don't care to solve. As long as you keep you're light there, I'll be able to go on. I know that in these vows, you know, you're supposed to be promising stuff, but I can't do that." Buffy sniffled. "You once told me that we can never know if we'll be ok. We can't know what fate has in store for us. But, not just cause I have to, I'm going to promise you one thing: I'll always be there for you. Our souls are connected through this." She put her hand on Angel's heart. "Not even death can part us. And no matter what, I'll be there. Just talk to your heart, I'll hear it. I love you Liam, my Angel, my light." Buffy smiled as tears of joy fell down her cheeks. Angel smiled back and stroked her hand with his thumb.

"The groom has also decided to express his love to Buffy. Angel?"

Angel looked down at Buffy and smiled. "Buffy Anne Summers, the name of my salvation. I may be your light, but you're the beacon I reflect off of. Without the beacon, the guiding light has no point. Without you, I have no point in this world. Before you, I was nothing; a sad beggar living on the street. I had already given up on myself. Then you came. You showed me your heart and I wanted to hide it from all the evils in the world. I didn't want to see it broken. You gave me hope and you showed me love. You've led me to my destiny, and that destiny is standing here, starting my life with you. We've been there through thick and thin. You've even been the cause of the thick at times. But because of those times, you've helped me grow into a better person. For this and much, much more, you will always be my girl. I love you and I would be honored to stand by your side as your husband and your lover for the rest of eternity." Buffy's tears flowed heavier now. She was practically glowing with happiness. To Buffy and Angel, it was just the two of them, lost in their love for each other.

"Angel, will you have Buffy to be your wedded wife; to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"

Angel looked Buffy in the eyes and said, "I will. Always."

"Buffy, will you have Angel to be your wedded husband; to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you submit to him, serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

Buffy squeezed Angel's hand and looked in his eyes. "Forever. That's the whole point."

"What pledge do you give of the sincerity of your vows?" The priest asked Angel.

"A ring." Angel replied. He turned to Giles and held out his hand. Giles produced the white gold claddagh ring.

"Do you accept this ring as a pledge of the sincerity of Angel's vows?" The priest asked Buffy.

"I do." Buffy said.

"Repeat after me." He said to Angel. "With this ring I thee wed."

"With this ring I thee wed." Angel said, slipping the ring on Buffy's finger.

"And with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

"And with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

"In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen." The priest looked at the crowd then back at Buffy and Angel. "And may this circlet of pure gold which has no end, be henceforth the chaste and changeless symbol of your evermore pure and changeless affection." He looked at Buffy. "What pledge do you give of the sincerity of your vows?"

"A ring." Buffy said. She held her hand behind her, gave Willow the bouquet, and then felt Willow hand her the large white gold claddagh.

"Angel, do you accept this ring as a pledge of the sincerity of Buffy's vows?"

"I do." Angel said.

"Buffy, repeat after me. This ring I give you..

"This ring I give you." Buffy said, slipping the ring on.

"In token and pledge.."

"In token and pledge.."

"Of my constant faithfulness and abiding love."

"Of my constant faithfulness and abiding love."

"And may this ring given, be the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites your two hearts in love that has no end. Forasmuch as Buffy and Angel have consented in holy wedlock, and have thereto confirmed the same by giving and receiving each one a ring; by the authority committed unto me as a minister of the Church of Jesus Christ, I now declare you husband and wife according to the ordinance of God, and the laws of the State of California, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. You may now kiss the bride."

Buffy beamed as Angel lifted the veil and pulled her into his arms. They shared a passionate kiss in front of everyone. The audience clapped and Buffy and Angel smiled at them. "Dearly beloved ones, this day marks a new era in your lives now united. From henceforth you travel life's pathway not alone, but together. Let love be forever enthroned in your hearts. As members of the church of Jesus Christ, we earnestly commend you to our Heavenly Father, asking Him that according to His abundant grace, He may bestow upon you both the Spirit of Grace, enabling you to establish a Christian home where the voice of prayer and praise shall be as sweet incense continually ascend unto Him who hath purchased you with His own precious blood. May you experience as you travel down life's pathway together, be like unto the experience of the two disciples who journeyed together from Jerusalem to Emmaus, of whom we read that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. And may heaven's constant benediction crown your union with ever-increasing joy and blessedness and true affection of a happy marriage. Let us all bow our hearts in prayer of dedication." Everyone did as they were told. "Oh God, our heavenly Father, Thou alone art the Source and Author of life. Thou art the Protector and Guide on life's pathway. Thou alone art the Builder and Maker of homes. Now grant, we pray Thee, the blessings of Thy promises, and the aid of Thy Holy Spirit to these dear ones, enabling them to honor Thee, and to be ever true to the pledges made to each other. May Thy grace in abundant measure be theirs, helping them to walk in Thy truth, to abide in Thy fellowship, and to live in perfect peace and love with each other until their earthly life shall end in Thy glorious presence. This we ask in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And now, may the Lord bless thee and keep thee. May the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, May the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen." The preacher looked up at the crowd. "And now it is my happy privilege to congratulate and introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. Callaghan."

Buffy and Angel turned, smiles beaming, to the applauding crowd. They walked down the aisle and to the bridal tent to hide and wait for the guests to head over to the reception area.