Buffy smiled as she walked back into her room. She began to sort through her bags and felt a felt a flutter of excitement as she looked at the slip for her purchase of the cigarette lighter. She had asked them to engrave something on it for her and she slipped the paper in her coat pocket. Behind her the door opened and Buffy assumed it was Willow coming to question her about her sttitude change towards William.

"Come on Wills. I'm sure you've got lots fo questions for me." Buffy laughed as she hung up a new cloak. "I, just, well...William's different when you actually talk to him..."

"How am I then?" An amused voice asked and Buffy froze dropping the box in her hand. Slowly, she turned around and not Willow, but William, stood in the doorway smiling at her and carrying a package that she must have left in the carriage. "So how am I pet?"

Buffy blushed and looked at him embarassed. "Wonderful." She said answered softly and looked away. But suddenly William was at her side. He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes.

"What?"

"I said you're wonderful." Her eyes lowered and she was unable to hold his gaze.

"I love you." He said quietly and pulled her to him for a kiss. She sighed in contentment and he wrapped his arms around her. He broke away quickly and stepped back from her running his hand through his hair nervously.

"What is it William? Is everything alright?"

"I just..." He walked closer to the door and looked back at her intently. "I hope one day you'll love me too." He gave her half a smile and quickly left the room.

Buffy sank to the floor and touched her hand to her lips. "I think I already do." She whispered and went back to unpacking thinking about all the different sides to William she had seen.

*********

Time passed quickly as the wedding approached and Buffy found that she barely had enough time to eat, let alone talk to William. Her parents arrived a few days after their trip to town and they were constantly taking Buffy adn Dawn back and forth from the manor back to the village to pick up things for the wedding. On the bright side, Buffy was able to pick up her present for William while on one of those trips.

It seemed so sudden to her one day that she was in her room at Fairfax manor wearing her wedding finery. She looked at herself in the mirror as Willow finished arranging her hair.

"You look beautiful Buffy."

"Thanks Wills. I'm so nervous."

"Why?"

"There's something that I have to say to William and I don't really know how." Willow smiled having a pretty good guess what Buffy was talking about. She patted Buffy's shoulder.

"Just be honest. He loves you a lot."

"Yeah." Buffy breathed and reached for the newly engraved cigarette lighter that she was going to give William after the ceremony. THere was a knock on the door and Buffy's father looked in.

"Sweetie, it's time for the ceremony." Buffy smiled softly and slipped the package into her long white glove.

"I'm ready Daddy." she answered and took his arm and he led her down out of the house and down to the chapel. Standing outside the chapel, Buffy could hear the music begin and the doors opened and her father began to lead her down the aisle.

Buffy looked up to see William, her breathe caught in her throat. HE was unbelievably handsome and the look he was giving her made her insides melt and she blushed slightly. Finally, she reached him and it was as if the world stopped. BUffy couldn't hear what was going on around her. William took her hand and smiled at her, then they turned to face the minister as he began the ceremony.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone here objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I object!" A loud whiny voice said from the back of the church. Buffy started and felt William's hand squeeze hers tighter. The pair turned around where a dim-witted looking blonde woman stood holding the hand of a four-year old girl. "I am the mother of William Fairfax's child!"

THe rest of the church gasped and Buffy turned to look at William in tears. He looked confused and continued to grip her hand almost painfully now.

"William?" Buffy choked. He turned to look at her and could almost feel his heart breaking. "Is it true?" she whispered.

"I don't know. I didn't know." He told her sincerely. She nodded her head as tears began to pour from her eyes. He reached to touch her face but the minister cleared his throat.

"I cannot continue the ceremony in light of the current claims."

William nodded and moved to pull Buffy into his arms when she was yanked back by a furious Henry Summers. Buffy cried out in surprise and reached for William but her father forced her back quickly.

"Disgrace! Scandal and disgrace you have brought upon my daughter!" Henry yelled and Buffy reached out sobbing for him as William reached for her. THeir fingers brushed as Henry yanked Buffy away. William began to fall into a pit of dispair.

"It's not true! It's not true!" He yelled frantically as the guests began to leave the hall. "It's not true." he mumbled as he sank to the floor.

He heard some one approaching and looked up to see Harmony standing above him smirking. "Well, Willie. Meet your daughter Amy." She laughed at his desolate expression and yanked on Amy's arm leaving William to his misery as she left the church.

Through his tear-filled gaze he saw a glint on the floor. He picked it and turned it over. It was the lighter that Buffy had shown him in the store a few weeks before. He ran his hand over it and felt his heart clench. Wiping his eyes he saw the inscription on it and then he could no longer stop the uncontrollable sobs that racked his body. He felt his brother pat his back as William gave into his sorrow, the words on the lighter echoing in his brain.

"Can't live without you"

*******

Oh! I know that you hate me right now. But this just called to me and don't worry everything will be sorted out...I have the next chapter written and there some explaining