Author's Note: Forgive me, I got sentimental, and had to write this.

Part 16: The Prom

Less than two weeks to Graduation, the prom was scheduled, and in a fit of denial unlike anything ever seen, those preparing to face the Mayor when he Ascended -- and going to school at the same time -- prepared for the prom instead.

"Why won't you show me the dress you got me, Angel!" Buffy exclaimed two days before the prom. "I need to know how to style my hair, and what type of make-up to use!"

With a mysterious smile, Angel glanced up at Buffy from the drawing he was doing, and said, "Don't worry, Beloved. I have everything planned."

"Ohhhh!" Buffy exclaimed, throwing up her hands in disgust. "You're impossible!"

"He still won't tell you?" Willow asked in disbelief as she and Buffy sat side-by-side in their first class of the day. "The prom's tomorrow!"

"Yeah," the Slayer said, dejection in her voice. "I know, and I'm about ready to stake him for it too."

Tilting her head to the side, Willow said in contemplation, "That won't do anything but ruin one of those expensive black silk shirts he likes wearing so much."

Sliding further down in her chair, Buffy said glumly, "I know."

"How was your day, Beloved," Angel asked as Buffy walked into the mansion at the end of the day.

"Awful," Buffy muttered. She then gazed accusingly at Angel and said, "And it's all your fault!"

Angel put down the book he was reading, and asked curiously, "How so, Love?"

Buffy threw down her backpack, and stalked over to her husband, and said as she placed her hands on her hips, "All day I had to listen to everyone talk about what they were wearing to the prom. Do you have any idea how depressed you can get when they ask you what you're going to wear, and all you can say is 'I don't know'!"

With a trace of a smile, Angel said, "You will tomorrow after lunch."

Immediately, Buffy's anger fled. With wide eyes, she asked breathlessly, "Really?"

Angel nodded, and said, "Mm-hm. Tomorrow at lunch I'll come by and pick you up. Just make sure you're at the front of the school. You need not lift a finger. I'll be doing everything, since this is technically our first real date -- if you think about it --, and I want to treat you like the queen you are, my love."

If possible, the Slayer's eyes grew even larger, as she asked in a faint voice, "Queen?"

Angel reached out and gently pulled Buffy onto his lap. In a soothing whisper, he said, "Since I am the last of the Pendragons existing...I am king -- even though I am not recognized as such except among the druids --. And since I am a king, you are a queen, my beloved wife."

"Queen!" Willow squeaked in shock. "I'm in the presence of actual royalty!"

A grin permanently set on her face, and nearly jumping in her seat in excitement, Buffy said, "Yeah. I can't believe it, but I talked with the druids and Fates this morning...and they say it's true!" Her expression turning sly, she then added, "It explains why Angel seems to not worry about money whenever I bring up the subject."

"And you still don't know about your dress?" Willow asked.

Buffy nodded, then said as she calmed down, "Yeah, but I'll know after lunch today. Although -- with what Angel hinted at last night about royalty and all -- it's going to be very impressive."

At lunch Buffy, Willow, and Oz were on the steps of the high school, when a stretch limo pulled up. They -- and everyone else -- watched as a man they recognized as one of the druids opened one of the back doors. Buffy and Willow gasped in unison as Angel stepped out of the limo.

He wore his traditional boots, tight black leather pants, and a dark purple, velvet, long-sleeved, loosely fitted shirt. Many women looked near fainting as Angel passed them on his way to Buffy.

Upon reaching his wife, Angel reached out and took Buffy's right hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. Looking up at his wife through his eyelashes, he whispered in a soft and velvety voice, "Shall we go and prepare you for the dance, your Majesty?"

Willow swayed beside the Slayer -- only to be held by her boyfriend in a tight grip to keep her from fainting --, as Buffy said quietly, "As you wish, my Lord."

Taking the hand Angel held, he then turned, and placed said hand in the crook of his left arm. Heads held high, Slayer and souled vampire walked down the sidewalk as though they were walking towards their thrones. Upon reaching the limo, Angel aided his wife inside, then stepped inside himself.

As the limo pulled away from the high school, everyone turned to where Willow and Oz stood.

In a voice faint with wonder, Willow said, "She's married to royalty."

Once out of the limo, and inside the mansion, Buffy received her first view of the dress she would be wearing...and nearly fainted in shock.

"Do you like it," Angel asked in concern as he held onto his wife.

"Like it!" Buffy said breathlessly. "Honey, it's amazing!"

On a full-sized mannequin in their bedroom, Buffy gazed wide-eyed at the dress in sheer awe. The skirt was full-length, and was made of blue satin with a section of purple down the center, forming a triangle. The upper body of the dress was made of a forest green satin, and was low-cut. Across this -- going from left to right -- was a royal purple sash Gold clasps at the shoulders of the dress held a floor-length blood-red cloak.

"Where did you get this, Angel?" Buffy whispered faintly.

Angel went and stood beside the mannequin. As he gazed at the dress, he whispered, "I had it specially created for you. But you could say it came from my mother. When I was a boy, my mother would often say she dreamt of me dancing with a woman of amazing beauty -- one worthy of our line -- and that she wore this dress."

Angel turned around to look at Buffy, gazed deeply within her emerald-green eyes, and said, "From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one she dreamt of."

The prom was in full-swing, when Buffy and Angel arrived. The moment the two entered the room, the music from the live band stopped, as everyone turned to gaze at them. They were a striking couple with Buffy's dress and Angel in a black tuxedo with a red silk shirt, and a purple sash tied at his waist that went to the knee.

But that was not what caused everyone to whisper and point at them. What made the crowd do so was what they wore on their heads. Both Buffy and Angel wore a simple gold-band that went completely around their heads, with a ruby in its center.

Angel looked up from Buffy, as if noticing the sudden silence for the first time, and caught the eye of the lead singer of the band. He inclined his head slightly. In response, the lead singer nodded, turned to the band, and whispered, "My Heart Will Go On...and make it good."

As the first notes started playing, Angel guided Buffy towards the center of the dance floor. The crowd moved back to give them the room they needed. As the first words began, they danced.

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you

Buffy tightened her grip around Angel as she remembered how her lover had been within her dreams the entire time he had been in Hell. It made her realize how lucky she was that he was with her now.

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone
Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Angel buried his face in Buffy's hair, as he realized how lucky he was to have the woman within his arms.

There is some love that will not go away

Both Slayer and vampire shivered at those words. Never had anything so true ever been said.

You're here, there's nothing I fear,
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

The royal couple drew away from each other -- but not completely --, as the last notes of the song ended. Neither noticed the sudden wild applause around them, as they were too lost within each other and their memories.