"Are you ready for this?" Faith asked as she helped Buffy adjust the fitted
bodice of her long flowing gown. Buffy nodded, too excited to speak. This
was it. The big day. The day that she had spent many childhood hours
dreaming of. And once she had been called to her 'sacred duty' the dreams
she had turned to, to give herself some sort of semblance of normality.
"You sure you're ready for this?" Xander asked, coming into the room. Faith nudged him playfully, almost reproachfully.
"I sent him to hell. How bad can marriage be?" She tried to joke, to ease the nervous tension. "But seriously? I'm terrified. I've never been so afraid in my whole life. Not even when I found out about my destiny. But only about the wedding. But the way I think of it, it's just another big bad. I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to get, and that's all I can do. And yeah, the wedding's terrifying, but I'm not afraid to live with Angel. To be married to him. I fall asleep in his arms ever single night. I wake up every morning in them. We're everything a married couple is, we're just making it official, right?"
"And I don't love you any less." Xander hugged her. "You look beautiful."
"Oh! Xander! Go away!" Willow said, noticing him. She was as nervous as if it was her own wedding.
"You look beautiful too, Will." He drew her and Buffy into a group hug. "I love you two."
"We love you too. Now go! We have last minute things to do."
"Fine. Anything I can do?" The need to ever be helpful arose.
"Go see how Angel's fairing." He left, closing the door behind him.
"Ok, so you need something old-"
"I'm not superstitious, Will." Buffy reminded her.
"-You're cross will have to do. Something new..hmm." She rummaged through the bag on her arm. She pulled out a pair of earrings. "Here. Something borrowed..." She took off the long necklace she was wearing. It held an amethyst crystal on the end. She slipped it over Buffy's head, and the crystal fell down underneath her dress. "Something blue...um..." She held up the Wal-Mart bag, giggling. "no, seriously..." the door opened behind them, and Angel peeked his head in. Faith saw him first and dived for the door.
"You aren't supposed to see the bride before the wedding!" She cried. Willow squeaked and herded Buffy behind the mirrors. "Go away!"
"You need something blue, right?" He took a ring from his pocket. "It was.my mothers. I..." He couldn't go any further. Faith led him out the door and back into this own room.
Buffy sighed as Willow closed the door behind them.
~ * ~
"Yo, boss, you ok?"
"Fine." Angel said, sitting in the desk chair as Faith closed the door. She stared at him. "Ok, fine. I'm not fine. Even when I was disobeying my parents, I always thought they'd be here to see this day with me. Even when I wasn't coming home until dawn, or stealing my father's coins to pay my bar tabs, I always thought that they'd be here. Even when I was putting them through hell, sometimes literally, I always thought they'd be here to see me settle down, to approve of my bride."
"Well, I'm not one to be all spiritual and all that, but I bet that they're watching you. From up there." She pointed to the ceiling.
"Yeah, right." He sighed.
"Come on! You used to be a vampire, and you don't believe in heaven?"
"Even if they were up there, even if there's such thing as heaven, why would they be looking down on me? Why would they want to?" He turned to her. "Their son, Liam, died long ago. A demon took up shop in his body. Defiled it. I defiled my father's name."
"But look at all the good you've done! You've repented, Angel!"
"But it will never be enough in their eyes. I killed them, Faith! First my sweet, innocent, trusting sister. She thought I had come back to her. Then my father, while my mother looked on, helpless to stop me. Then it was easy. Taking her life. I had an usatiable thirst, and I used them to quench it!
"In life, I was useless! I tormented the servants, I drank all night, slept with any random woman I pleased, and I was a disgrace! My father was right! When he called me a lay-about, a scoundrel. He was right!
"And my whole life, I had looked up to him, and loved him, and did everything he bid me to, but it got old so quickly!
"I was only 26. 1753. And Kathy.poor sweet Kathy. She thought I had returned to her, an Angel sent by God, from heaven. But I was doing the devil's work, Faith.
"Darla was right." Faith looked at him, confused. "She told me that while my victory over him took mere moments, his defeat over me would last lifetimes. He could no longer approve of me. And now, here I am, wishing for his approval, and none is forthcoming, because I deserve none." He turned away from her. "Go. Please. Go help Buffy get ready. I wish to think. Alone."
"If you ever think about breaking her heart, I will rip out yours, and force feed you it." She warned.
"Not possible." He said, then thought about it. "Don't know how I know that."
"Just no brooding. I know that over the years, you've gotten pretty damn good at it, but Buffy has put her heart and soul into making this a happy day for both of you. Don't go ruining it for her."
"How is he?" Buffy asked, concerned.
"Broody. Lots of it."
"About what?" Willow asked.
"His father's approval."
"What do you mean?"
"he wants his father to approve of you, B. And what he has done with his life."
"But his dad's long dead." Buffy began to worry.
"Well, that's what you get for falling in love with a traditional guy."
"There's no way possible! What am I going to do, will? If he insists on this? What if he stops the wedding? We've come so far . . . . just to loose it all now?"
"There's one this. . ." They turned to Willow. "I've been doing some reading, and there is a way to call spirits from the other side, if they aren't on the Ghost Roads."
"It's been two centuries, Will. I think they've found their destination by now."
"There's no way of knowing. The Ghost Roads are long, confusing and dangerous. For a murder victim, who might not even understand why they are there, it could leave them wandering for years, sometimes forever. But there are some who tend to help them along to their destination."
"oh." Buffy was defeated.
"But there is a good chance. Once I summon them, they have to stay in the circle, though."
"So I need to change then . . ." She rushed behind the screen.
~ * ~
"Spirit summoning service." Willow called, knocking on Angel's door. He was perplexed to see the three women troop into his room, Buffy in normal clothes, and Willow and Faith carrying magical supplies.
"Buffy . . . . What's going on?"
"You want your father's approval, you'll get it. I've waited too long for this day, and I want no regrets on either side."
"But what if-"
"He doesn't like me? Who could resist me?" She asked, teasing him.
"But what about-"
"My perfect wedding? Tradition? Not seeing the bride till the wedding? Well, we're not the traditional couple, so why should we expect a traditional wedding?"
"You're giving up your dreams for my sake?" She nodded. "Even if he doesn't like you, I still love you. Nothing will change that." She smiled as he tucked her into the hollow under his arm.
Willow set up and started the spell.
"Hear these words, hear my cry, spirits from the other side. Come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide." Willow chanted. There was a flash of light, and then there, inside the circle of candles, stood a man and a woman, in old clothing. If Buffy hadn't wanted to impress them, she would have made some comment about the clothing being outdated.
"Liam?" The woman murmured.
"Yes, mother. It's me." He stepped from Buffy, towards them She noticed how he slipped into his Irish brogue.
"What do you call upon us for? Did you use sorcery to call us here?"
"Father, please. I only want-"
"Forgiveness? Denied!"
"Dear." She tried to placate her husband.
"he killed us. How can he even think of us forgiving him?" Angel hung his head. Two centuries might have changed him, but it hadn't changed his father.
"To forgive is an act of passion. To forgive is to be human." Spoke up Faith from behind the two parents.
"We are no longer human because of him-"
"Yes you are. Just because you died doesn't mean you stop being human." Buffy said. "Trust me, I know."
"Liam, who is this? Who are these people?" His mother asked.
"Mother, this is Buffy Ann Summers." He pulled her close. "We are going to be getting married."
"That's great, dear." His mother said, but his father was livid.
"Is this one of your whores?" he asked. Faith had to move quick to stop Buffy from doing something stupid.
"No, Father! Buffy is a . . Professor. At a local all girl's school."
"How long have you known him?" He turned to Buffy.
"Ten years."
"And you still put up with him?"
"Whatever he was like when you knew him, he's changed. And I love him."
"Is this true? No more wenches, no more drinking?" His mother dared to hope.
"There's been no other, besides Buffy, for six years." He didn't look directly at Buffy. She didn't know about Darla or Connor.
"What about his false promises? What did he promise you, girl?"
"Well, he promised to love me, unconditionally, and he promised to be there for me, when I come home late." She said, giving Angel a half smile, staring into his eyes. "And he promised not to die again for a long time." He squeezed her hand affectionately.
The woman nudged her husband, and began speaking to him in Irish. Only Angel understood.
"Look at them," she whispered. "he really loves her. Maybe she will be good for him, calm him down. Make him the man we never could."
Angel glowed down at Buffy, as his dad thought it over. Buffy looked up at him, confused. She hadn't understood what his mother had said, it being in Irish, and she had only heard half of what was said, even if she could translate.
Angel's father nodded gruffly. "If you love her as much as you say, then I give my approval." His wife nudged him, "and my blessing."
"I do. And more." He replied, hugging Buffy.
"So, are we all set? Are we a go?" Faith wanted to know.
"We are better than set." He hugged Buffy once more, then kissed her.
"then we're a go. I've got to go get ready." She kissed his cheek, and she and Faith ran off.
"Father, I cannot thank you enough. I promise to be the dutiful son I wasn't, before my death."
"I have learned much on my journey through the Ghost Roads. One of these things is," he sighed, as if it pained him to say it, "be yourself." He paused, fighting himself. "Liam, I have, on occasion, watched you. After the gypsies, as an example. That woman, she is strong, and not just in the physical sense. Mentally and spiritually as well."
"We helped her along on her Ghost Roads." His mother told him, "but she will not have remembered."
"How's Kathy?"
"She's fine." They didn't go into detail, and he didn't ask.
"Maybe she can make you understand the etiquette and duty we have failed to teach you."
"You never failed as teachers. I failed as a student."
"We must leave now. The time is growing short." His father told hi. "Liam. . . . congratulations."
"Thank you, father." His father disappeared, but his mother stayed.
"Liam, keep safe, and make us proud. I love you."
"And I you, mother." She pulled off her wedding ring and tossed it to him. It passed through the barriers between worlds, and became solid. He caught it with ease. She waved and then disappeared as well. He turned to Willow. "I can't thank you enough to express just how thankful I am, Willow." So, he was still stuck in 'talking to parents' mode.
"Make her happy. You're the only one that can." She said, staring into his eyes. And he saw that she loved Buffy. He nodded, mute with surprise. She bent, blew out the candles and packed them away. She looked at him one last time, before leaving.
He closed the door behind her, and began the last few preparations
~ * ~
"Are we forgetting anything?" Willow asked. She had bottled her feelings for Buffy back up where they belonged. She didn't know when she had started feeling this way for her best friend; how it had gone from sister-ship, with a touch of Hero Worship to liking her.
But she was a best friend first and foremost. She wanted Buffy to be happy. And she knew her enough to know that she wouldn't be happy with anyone but Angel.
A/N: Ok, just a quick one. These feelings that I have written in for Buffy, by Willow, those are just an experiment. I have no problem with gay/lesbian/ bi-sexual relationships. But that is not where this story is going. The plot is visible, hopefully, for what is coming next.
I hope that i9 have explained this well enough so you understand, if not when, but how Willow came to feel this way, and why she will never say anything. This is part of character building, for Willow, you could say!
Now, back to the story!
"I don't think so." Buffy said, looking over herself and the two bridesmaids. "Wait, where's Dawn?"
"Right here. Do you think I'd miss this?" Dawn rushed into the room, closing the door behind her. She pulled off her kaki trench coat to reveal the tasteful bride's maid dress that Buffy had chosen.
She looked stunning on the light blue, off the shoulder sheath. At 20, she was taller than Buffy, and had a to die for figure. She was a taller version of Buffy, with what looked like no fat on her.
"You look awesome!" Buffy hugged her sister.
"You too." She held her older sister away from her and look at her. Her dress had spaghetti straps, with a low, flat neckline. It was very tight fitting until just below her waist, where it then belled out, almost old fashionedly, and the dress hem just brushed the floor. Of course, Buffy was wearing three inch heels.
"Thanks. It's so great to see you, after so long. How's college?" Dawn had decided not to come home for winter or spring break.
"Great. I passed all my classes this year, got all my credits." She was very pleased with this. "Dave mostly helped-"
"Dave?" Buffy asked.
"David Gregory. He's a part of my study group, and then we started dating. He's visiting his family right now, and then he's coming here at the end of June, early July, and he's gonna stay here, in town, awhile, before we head back to school together."
"Steady?"
"yeah." Dawn rolled her eyes.
"Steady enough to invite home to meet the fam, and yet not steady enough to invite to your sister's wedding."
"Oh, I invited him, but he thought that since this was your special day, you should be surrounded by family and friends. And he thought that we having not seen each other in a long time, it would be best if we caught up. He'll be here soon, though."
Buffy nodded at this logic.
"You sleeping with him?"
"FAITH!" Both Summers cried, exasperated. They would have expected that from Anya, but not Faith. "No, I'm not sleeping with him. I'm not ready."
"Good girl, Dawnie." Buffy smiled. "Are the guests here?"
"Most live here, B." Faith reminded her.
"Oh, yeah." She laughed nervously.
"How's it going in here?" Xander asked. "Nervous yet?" Buffy nodded. "Just remember, you're wedding and your marriage are two separate things. You might be terrified of the wedding, and it has nothing to do with your marriage."
"Thanks, Xand. I don't think I'm scared nervous, just excited nervous. I can't begin to count how many times I dreamed of this day, with Angel. And now, here I am."
"A dream is a wish your heart makes, and wishes really do come true." Willow said.
"You been dipping into the Disney again, Will? We've told you over and over again, you need to lay off the stuff. It ain't healthy." Buffy teased. Willow was glad she had made Buffy forget her nerves.
"Show time, B." Faith said, looking at her cell phone. She quickly checked for any new messages, but there were none."
"he hasn't called.?" Buffy sympathized, picking up on her anxiety.
"Nope."
"He'll call. He always does." Buffy told her. She nodded, then tucked the phone back into her bra. "That's on vibrat- it's off, right?" Buffy stumbled, thinking about the phone vibrating in Faith's dress during the ceremony.
"Don't worry, b." She pulled it out, to show her the blank screen, then tucked it away again.
Dawn shook her head in a mix of awe at her sister, and disgust and amazement at Faith. The brunette slayer had always seemed sort of slutty to her, but to keep her cell phone between her breasts? Willow noticed her head shaking and shrugged at her.
"Ok, let's do this." Buffy said, checking herself in the mirror one last time.
"You look fine." Dawn said, pulling her sister away from the mirror and towards the door. Buffy let herself be dragged out. Giles waited for them at the top of the stairs.
"Angel has already gone out." He told her. She nodded. Xander bowed to them all, and went down the stairs as well. Giles took Buffy's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Angel might be the one you're marrying, but I'm still lucky" She looked at him, curious, waiting for him to continue. "I was the one who got to watch you grow up. And we've had our share of...difficulties, but we made it. Not many watchers got to see their slayer's married. True, some slayers were married before they were called, and some secretly married their watchers-"
"Yuck." She teased.
"But not many get here. Over the years, I've grown to love you like a daughter, and I'm so very proud of you."
"Me too. Now, let's get this over with before I chicken out." Giles nodded, and they all trooped downstairs. The wedding was being held outside, by the lilacs, where Angel and Buffy first got back together. With lilacs on either side of a large path, it made the perfect place.
Some lilacs were in bloom, though it was still early yet, and they perfumed the air.
Dawn and Faith, both brunettes, walked down the aisle first, Willow behind them, and then Buffy and Giles. When Angel saw her, his eyes lit up, and they locked eyes. Tears of joy brimmed her eyes, but she kept them at bay, just bearly.
Angel saw those unshed tears and thought how they made her even more beautiful, if it was possible. It seemed as if her green eyes were sparkling and shimmering.
The ceremony was a blur for both of them. All Buffy was aware of, after he took her hand, was of the warmth of him beside her. The next thing she knew, they had said "I do," and he was pulling her gently towards him, his hand unnecessarily under her chin to tilt it up, and he was kissing her. She went to deepen the kiss, arms around his neck, when she remembered where they were, and they still had an audience. An audience partially filled with her students. She blushed, and slowly pulled away.
He resisted a moment, but then he let her lips leave his. She rested her forehead against his, looking into this eyes, silently promising him more later.
He pulled away, and took her hand. She smiled, and they walked down the aisle, as husband and wife.
A/N: I needed something for the next story!
The next story might just be more Faith centered. Not sure yet! I have part of it written, none typed, and depending on when my cold goes away, or if I end up staying home sick sometime soon, then It'll be up! And I will try to update some of my other stories!
"You sure you're ready for this?" Xander asked, coming into the room. Faith nudged him playfully, almost reproachfully.
"I sent him to hell. How bad can marriage be?" She tried to joke, to ease the nervous tension. "But seriously? I'm terrified. I've never been so afraid in my whole life. Not even when I found out about my destiny. But only about the wedding. But the way I think of it, it's just another big bad. I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to get, and that's all I can do. And yeah, the wedding's terrifying, but I'm not afraid to live with Angel. To be married to him. I fall asleep in his arms ever single night. I wake up every morning in them. We're everything a married couple is, we're just making it official, right?"
"And I don't love you any less." Xander hugged her. "You look beautiful."
"Oh! Xander! Go away!" Willow said, noticing him. She was as nervous as if it was her own wedding.
"You look beautiful too, Will." He drew her and Buffy into a group hug. "I love you two."
"We love you too. Now go! We have last minute things to do."
"Fine. Anything I can do?" The need to ever be helpful arose.
"Go see how Angel's fairing." He left, closing the door behind him.
"Ok, so you need something old-"
"I'm not superstitious, Will." Buffy reminded her.
"-You're cross will have to do. Something new..hmm." She rummaged through the bag on her arm. She pulled out a pair of earrings. "Here. Something borrowed..." She took off the long necklace she was wearing. It held an amethyst crystal on the end. She slipped it over Buffy's head, and the crystal fell down underneath her dress. "Something blue...um..." She held up the Wal-Mart bag, giggling. "no, seriously..." the door opened behind them, and Angel peeked his head in. Faith saw him first and dived for the door.
"You aren't supposed to see the bride before the wedding!" She cried. Willow squeaked and herded Buffy behind the mirrors. "Go away!"
"You need something blue, right?" He took a ring from his pocket. "It was.my mothers. I..." He couldn't go any further. Faith led him out the door and back into this own room.
Buffy sighed as Willow closed the door behind them.
~ * ~
"Yo, boss, you ok?"
"Fine." Angel said, sitting in the desk chair as Faith closed the door. She stared at him. "Ok, fine. I'm not fine. Even when I was disobeying my parents, I always thought they'd be here to see this day with me. Even when I wasn't coming home until dawn, or stealing my father's coins to pay my bar tabs, I always thought that they'd be here. Even when I was putting them through hell, sometimes literally, I always thought they'd be here to see me settle down, to approve of my bride."
"Well, I'm not one to be all spiritual and all that, but I bet that they're watching you. From up there." She pointed to the ceiling.
"Yeah, right." He sighed.
"Come on! You used to be a vampire, and you don't believe in heaven?"
"Even if they were up there, even if there's such thing as heaven, why would they be looking down on me? Why would they want to?" He turned to her. "Their son, Liam, died long ago. A demon took up shop in his body. Defiled it. I defiled my father's name."
"But look at all the good you've done! You've repented, Angel!"
"But it will never be enough in their eyes. I killed them, Faith! First my sweet, innocent, trusting sister. She thought I had come back to her. Then my father, while my mother looked on, helpless to stop me. Then it was easy. Taking her life. I had an usatiable thirst, and I used them to quench it!
"In life, I was useless! I tormented the servants, I drank all night, slept with any random woman I pleased, and I was a disgrace! My father was right! When he called me a lay-about, a scoundrel. He was right!
"And my whole life, I had looked up to him, and loved him, and did everything he bid me to, but it got old so quickly!
"I was only 26. 1753. And Kathy.poor sweet Kathy. She thought I had returned to her, an Angel sent by God, from heaven. But I was doing the devil's work, Faith.
"Darla was right." Faith looked at him, confused. "She told me that while my victory over him took mere moments, his defeat over me would last lifetimes. He could no longer approve of me. And now, here I am, wishing for his approval, and none is forthcoming, because I deserve none." He turned away from her. "Go. Please. Go help Buffy get ready. I wish to think. Alone."
"If you ever think about breaking her heart, I will rip out yours, and force feed you it." She warned.
"Not possible." He said, then thought about it. "Don't know how I know that."
"Just no brooding. I know that over the years, you've gotten pretty damn good at it, but Buffy has put her heart and soul into making this a happy day for both of you. Don't go ruining it for her."
"How is he?" Buffy asked, concerned.
"Broody. Lots of it."
"About what?" Willow asked.
"His father's approval."
"What do you mean?"
"he wants his father to approve of you, B. And what he has done with his life."
"But his dad's long dead." Buffy began to worry.
"Well, that's what you get for falling in love with a traditional guy."
"There's no way possible! What am I going to do, will? If he insists on this? What if he stops the wedding? We've come so far . . . . just to loose it all now?"
"There's one this. . ." They turned to Willow. "I've been doing some reading, and there is a way to call spirits from the other side, if they aren't on the Ghost Roads."
"It's been two centuries, Will. I think they've found their destination by now."
"There's no way of knowing. The Ghost Roads are long, confusing and dangerous. For a murder victim, who might not even understand why they are there, it could leave them wandering for years, sometimes forever. But there are some who tend to help them along to their destination."
"oh." Buffy was defeated.
"But there is a good chance. Once I summon them, they have to stay in the circle, though."
"So I need to change then . . ." She rushed behind the screen.
~ * ~
"Spirit summoning service." Willow called, knocking on Angel's door. He was perplexed to see the three women troop into his room, Buffy in normal clothes, and Willow and Faith carrying magical supplies.
"Buffy . . . . What's going on?"
"You want your father's approval, you'll get it. I've waited too long for this day, and I want no regrets on either side."
"But what if-"
"He doesn't like me? Who could resist me?" She asked, teasing him.
"But what about-"
"My perfect wedding? Tradition? Not seeing the bride till the wedding? Well, we're not the traditional couple, so why should we expect a traditional wedding?"
"You're giving up your dreams for my sake?" She nodded. "Even if he doesn't like you, I still love you. Nothing will change that." She smiled as he tucked her into the hollow under his arm.
Willow set up and started the spell.
"Hear these words, hear my cry, spirits from the other side. Come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide." Willow chanted. There was a flash of light, and then there, inside the circle of candles, stood a man and a woman, in old clothing. If Buffy hadn't wanted to impress them, she would have made some comment about the clothing being outdated.
"Liam?" The woman murmured.
"Yes, mother. It's me." He stepped from Buffy, towards them She noticed how he slipped into his Irish brogue.
"What do you call upon us for? Did you use sorcery to call us here?"
"Father, please. I only want-"
"Forgiveness? Denied!"
"Dear." She tried to placate her husband.
"he killed us. How can he even think of us forgiving him?" Angel hung his head. Two centuries might have changed him, but it hadn't changed his father.
"To forgive is an act of passion. To forgive is to be human." Spoke up Faith from behind the two parents.
"We are no longer human because of him-"
"Yes you are. Just because you died doesn't mean you stop being human." Buffy said. "Trust me, I know."
"Liam, who is this? Who are these people?" His mother asked.
"Mother, this is Buffy Ann Summers." He pulled her close. "We are going to be getting married."
"That's great, dear." His mother said, but his father was livid.
"Is this one of your whores?" he asked. Faith had to move quick to stop Buffy from doing something stupid.
"No, Father! Buffy is a . . Professor. At a local all girl's school."
"How long have you known him?" He turned to Buffy.
"Ten years."
"And you still put up with him?"
"Whatever he was like when you knew him, he's changed. And I love him."
"Is this true? No more wenches, no more drinking?" His mother dared to hope.
"There's been no other, besides Buffy, for six years." He didn't look directly at Buffy. She didn't know about Darla or Connor.
"What about his false promises? What did he promise you, girl?"
"Well, he promised to love me, unconditionally, and he promised to be there for me, when I come home late." She said, giving Angel a half smile, staring into his eyes. "And he promised not to die again for a long time." He squeezed her hand affectionately.
The woman nudged her husband, and began speaking to him in Irish. Only Angel understood.
"Look at them," she whispered. "he really loves her. Maybe she will be good for him, calm him down. Make him the man we never could."
Angel glowed down at Buffy, as his dad thought it over. Buffy looked up at him, confused. She hadn't understood what his mother had said, it being in Irish, and she had only heard half of what was said, even if she could translate.
Angel's father nodded gruffly. "If you love her as much as you say, then I give my approval." His wife nudged him, "and my blessing."
"I do. And more." He replied, hugging Buffy.
"So, are we all set? Are we a go?" Faith wanted to know.
"We are better than set." He hugged Buffy once more, then kissed her.
"then we're a go. I've got to go get ready." She kissed his cheek, and she and Faith ran off.
"Father, I cannot thank you enough. I promise to be the dutiful son I wasn't, before my death."
"I have learned much on my journey through the Ghost Roads. One of these things is," he sighed, as if it pained him to say it, "be yourself." He paused, fighting himself. "Liam, I have, on occasion, watched you. After the gypsies, as an example. That woman, she is strong, and not just in the physical sense. Mentally and spiritually as well."
"We helped her along on her Ghost Roads." His mother told him, "but she will not have remembered."
"How's Kathy?"
"She's fine." They didn't go into detail, and he didn't ask.
"Maybe she can make you understand the etiquette and duty we have failed to teach you."
"You never failed as teachers. I failed as a student."
"We must leave now. The time is growing short." His father told hi. "Liam. . . . congratulations."
"Thank you, father." His father disappeared, but his mother stayed.
"Liam, keep safe, and make us proud. I love you."
"And I you, mother." She pulled off her wedding ring and tossed it to him. It passed through the barriers between worlds, and became solid. He caught it with ease. She waved and then disappeared as well. He turned to Willow. "I can't thank you enough to express just how thankful I am, Willow." So, he was still stuck in 'talking to parents' mode.
"Make her happy. You're the only one that can." She said, staring into his eyes. And he saw that she loved Buffy. He nodded, mute with surprise. She bent, blew out the candles and packed them away. She looked at him one last time, before leaving.
He closed the door behind her, and began the last few preparations
~ * ~
"Are we forgetting anything?" Willow asked. She had bottled her feelings for Buffy back up where they belonged. She didn't know when she had started feeling this way for her best friend; how it had gone from sister-ship, with a touch of Hero Worship to liking her.
But she was a best friend first and foremost. She wanted Buffy to be happy. And she knew her enough to know that she wouldn't be happy with anyone but Angel.
A/N: Ok, just a quick one. These feelings that I have written in for Buffy, by Willow, those are just an experiment. I have no problem with gay/lesbian/ bi-sexual relationships. But that is not where this story is going. The plot is visible, hopefully, for what is coming next.
I hope that i9 have explained this well enough so you understand, if not when, but how Willow came to feel this way, and why she will never say anything. This is part of character building, for Willow, you could say!
Now, back to the story!
"I don't think so." Buffy said, looking over herself and the two bridesmaids. "Wait, where's Dawn?"
"Right here. Do you think I'd miss this?" Dawn rushed into the room, closing the door behind her. She pulled off her kaki trench coat to reveal the tasteful bride's maid dress that Buffy had chosen.
She looked stunning on the light blue, off the shoulder sheath. At 20, she was taller than Buffy, and had a to die for figure. She was a taller version of Buffy, with what looked like no fat on her.
"You look awesome!" Buffy hugged her sister.
"You too." She held her older sister away from her and look at her. Her dress had spaghetti straps, with a low, flat neckline. It was very tight fitting until just below her waist, where it then belled out, almost old fashionedly, and the dress hem just brushed the floor. Of course, Buffy was wearing three inch heels.
"Thanks. It's so great to see you, after so long. How's college?" Dawn had decided not to come home for winter or spring break.
"Great. I passed all my classes this year, got all my credits." She was very pleased with this. "Dave mostly helped-"
"Dave?" Buffy asked.
"David Gregory. He's a part of my study group, and then we started dating. He's visiting his family right now, and then he's coming here at the end of June, early July, and he's gonna stay here, in town, awhile, before we head back to school together."
"Steady?"
"yeah." Dawn rolled her eyes.
"Steady enough to invite home to meet the fam, and yet not steady enough to invite to your sister's wedding."
"Oh, I invited him, but he thought that since this was your special day, you should be surrounded by family and friends. And he thought that we having not seen each other in a long time, it would be best if we caught up. He'll be here soon, though."
Buffy nodded at this logic.
"You sleeping with him?"
"FAITH!" Both Summers cried, exasperated. They would have expected that from Anya, but not Faith. "No, I'm not sleeping with him. I'm not ready."
"Good girl, Dawnie." Buffy smiled. "Are the guests here?"
"Most live here, B." Faith reminded her.
"Oh, yeah." She laughed nervously.
"How's it going in here?" Xander asked. "Nervous yet?" Buffy nodded. "Just remember, you're wedding and your marriage are two separate things. You might be terrified of the wedding, and it has nothing to do with your marriage."
"Thanks, Xand. I don't think I'm scared nervous, just excited nervous. I can't begin to count how many times I dreamed of this day, with Angel. And now, here I am."
"A dream is a wish your heart makes, and wishes really do come true." Willow said.
"You been dipping into the Disney again, Will? We've told you over and over again, you need to lay off the stuff. It ain't healthy." Buffy teased. Willow was glad she had made Buffy forget her nerves.
"Show time, B." Faith said, looking at her cell phone. She quickly checked for any new messages, but there were none."
"he hasn't called.?" Buffy sympathized, picking up on her anxiety.
"Nope."
"He'll call. He always does." Buffy told her. She nodded, then tucked the phone back into her bra. "That's on vibrat- it's off, right?" Buffy stumbled, thinking about the phone vibrating in Faith's dress during the ceremony.
"Don't worry, b." She pulled it out, to show her the blank screen, then tucked it away again.
Dawn shook her head in a mix of awe at her sister, and disgust and amazement at Faith. The brunette slayer had always seemed sort of slutty to her, but to keep her cell phone between her breasts? Willow noticed her head shaking and shrugged at her.
"Ok, let's do this." Buffy said, checking herself in the mirror one last time.
"You look fine." Dawn said, pulling her sister away from the mirror and towards the door. Buffy let herself be dragged out. Giles waited for them at the top of the stairs.
"Angel has already gone out." He told her. She nodded. Xander bowed to them all, and went down the stairs as well. Giles took Buffy's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Angel might be the one you're marrying, but I'm still lucky" She looked at him, curious, waiting for him to continue. "I was the one who got to watch you grow up. And we've had our share of...difficulties, but we made it. Not many watchers got to see their slayer's married. True, some slayers were married before they were called, and some secretly married their watchers-"
"Yuck." She teased.
"But not many get here. Over the years, I've grown to love you like a daughter, and I'm so very proud of you."
"Me too. Now, let's get this over with before I chicken out." Giles nodded, and they all trooped downstairs. The wedding was being held outside, by the lilacs, where Angel and Buffy first got back together. With lilacs on either side of a large path, it made the perfect place.
Some lilacs were in bloom, though it was still early yet, and they perfumed the air.
Dawn and Faith, both brunettes, walked down the aisle first, Willow behind them, and then Buffy and Giles. When Angel saw her, his eyes lit up, and they locked eyes. Tears of joy brimmed her eyes, but she kept them at bay, just bearly.
Angel saw those unshed tears and thought how they made her even more beautiful, if it was possible. It seemed as if her green eyes were sparkling and shimmering.
The ceremony was a blur for both of them. All Buffy was aware of, after he took her hand, was of the warmth of him beside her. The next thing she knew, they had said "I do," and he was pulling her gently towards him, his hand unnecessarily under her chin to tilt it up, and he was kissing her. She went to deepen the kiss, arms around his neck, when she remembered where they were, and they still had an audience. An audience partially filled with her students. She blushed, and slowly pulled away.
He resisted a moment, but then he let her lips leave his. She rested her forehead against his, looking into this eyes, silently promising him more later.
He pulled away, and took her hand. She smiled, and they walked down the aisle, as husband and wife.
A/N: I needed something for the next story!
The next story might just be more Faith centered. Not sure yet! I have part of it written, none typed, and depending on when my cold goes away, or if I end up staying home sick sometime soon, then It'll be up! And I will try to update some of my other stories!
