Epilogue

Buffy's dress caught against her heel. She cursed and pulled the hem of the dress off of the white heel. Dawn came up behind her and adjusted her veil. Buffy smiled and touched her hand.

"Buffy, you're going to have to take care of me now. I know that must couples don't want to start out having kids, and you two're gonna to start out with a teenager, but I don't have anyone else. But I really don't wanna get in the way of you two..."
Dawn looked towards the floor. Buffy gave her little sister a confused look.

"Dawn, ever since daddy went to jail, I've had no idea of what I was doing. Honestly, I don't know how to raise a teenager. And I have always someone making my decisions for me, and now suddenly, I'm making the decisions for myself, and I'm mother! But, I know I can take care of you, and Angel'll take care of you. I know that I love you, and that I won't ever lie you like daddy did. I can promise you that, and if you think that you'd get in the way of my marriage you're just being silly. I love you Dawn. Really, Really."
Dawn smiled as she wiped a tear away from her pink cheeks. Buffy touched a lock of Dawn's hair.

"I love you too Buffy, and I'm glad you can remember me now, because when you were gone it was like everybody didn't know what to do with themselves. Dad was never home, Angel couldn't breathe half the time, you were the only thing he wanted, and I never saw Willow, Xander, or Tara at all. You mean a lot to a lot of people, and I hope you never take that for granted."
Buffy's hand went nervously to her mouth. She hadn't known who everybody was. But she never imagined that they were that bad. The organ's music filled the air, and a light knock hit Buffy's door. Buffy grinned happily and opened the door. Xander smiled at Buffy and took her arm.

"You look very handsome Xander." Buffy whispered, as Dawn crept to her seat in the auditorium. Xander confidently smiled.

"You look beautiful yourself."
Buffy clutched his arm tighter as the neared the aisle entrance. The guests looked happily back at her, and she sucked her breath in. Angel waited for her at the altar. He smiled reassuringly at her and Xander continued to walk on. Spike turned his head and stuck his tongue out at her and she glared playfully in reply. Faith nodded, and pointed to Wesley, Fred, Gunn, and Cordelia who had ceased to make out for her wedding. Buffy looked back to the front of the aisle. A determined look in her eye, she wanted to look forward for the rest of her life. She never wanted to be lied to, like her father lied to her, and she knew that Angel would give her that life. Xander paused at the end of the aisle and Angel gently took Buffy's hand. She smiled as she was accepted into the new, trusting family she was being grafted into. And somehow, even though it seemed impossible, she knew her mother was watching her and smiling down with approval and love.

The End