I AM SO SORRY. I've been uber-busy this last week (end of exams, much partying, many hangovers) so I have had no time at all to write this. Today, however, I do, and I am determined to have this posted! This is the last chapter! Ever! And it's finally here! Hellz Yeah!
I am going to thank all you fabulous people who reviewed last chapter.
alBBie: hope you enjoy this when you get back! Thanks for all the reviews!
BlackbAngel: yeah I did! I never liked them either, they were boring, and annoying, and pointless. Thankyou for all your reviews!
Ksue: I think this chapter is about the same length as last one… hopefully it's long enough. Thanks for all your reviews!
redrider6612: no, that wasn't the end – this is! Thanks for reviewing – I think you've done every single chapter!
RabidReject: look out indeed. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for all the reviews!
Breathe In Butterfly: long review, yay! Sorry to end it and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your reviews!
rocks and glass: I thought stained glass windows did block the sun! oh well, I was wrong. The wedding was at night, so that's why no burning vampires. Thanks for the advice – and for all your reviews so far!
flyersfan3588: glad you loved it, and here is your more! Thankyou for all the reviews!
I LOVE YOU GUYS! And you people who have my favourited, I love you too, and I would love you even more if you reviewed! Come on, last chapter! Just this once! Pretty please?
Anyway, this author's note is ridiculous, so here's your story.
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It was a couple of months before Buffy and Angel's wedding was finalised. Eventually, they settled on having it on Christmas Day, a year after they had taken that walk in the snow together. There was no snow this year, but the occasion still tingled with the magic of that day.
The ceremony was beautiful – outside, at night, fairy lights glittering in the trees. An aisle had been created, lined with flowers with chairs on either side. even though it was winter, the flowers looked just as healthy as they would in spring. There had been a certain amount of magical help with this, of course, but it seemed as though even nature was smiling down on the wedding.
Buffy almost glowed in her dress – a long, white gown sprinkled with crystals – and her hair flowed around her face in golden ringlets. Her skin looked dewy and her eyes shone with excitement as she walked up the aisle, Willow and Cordy in tow.
Everything about the wedding was delicate and sweet. The flowers, the decorations, the rings, Willow and Cordy in their rose-coloured dresses with flowers woven into their hair.
There were not many guests – just close friends and family. Buffy was surprised to see that Drusilla had shown up, and not eaten anybody (although she had spent a memorable five minutes asking a bunch of flowers why it wouldn't speak to her). Everyone seemed to be entranced by the beauty of the occasion.
Although it was two in the morning when the reception started, almost all the guests were used to being at least semi-nocturnal, so it was still a lively party. Joyce Summers was probably the most exhausted of the guests, and she sat drinking diet coke, trying desperately to keep her eyes open. Spike was taking advantage of the freely-flowing alcohol, and was spinning Harmony around the room while she giggled and tottered, equally drunk but with less experience in this area. Amazingly, she was still on her feet, well-practiced in walking in heels, at least. Spike was clearly trying to make Dru jealous, but she was completely ignoring him, and trying to engage Xander in a conversation about sawdust and pigeons.
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The time for speeches arose, and first to make a speech was Giles.
"Buffy is like a daughter to me," he began. It was clear even from the starting point that this would be a teary speech – and there were still more speeches to come. "She deserves someone who will make her happy. I know that there have been trials in her relationship with Angel, but not everything can happen smoothly." Buffy's bottom lip was quivering, and Willow was reaching for a napkin.
"When two people love each other this much, they will overcome any obstacle that stands between them. Buffy and Angel have done this. They have made sacrifices, but in the end they have pulled through. They are, truly, an example to us all." He raised his glass to toast them, smiling first at Buffy, then with a kind nod to Angel. Buffy smiled appreciatively at him, through the tears that were running down her cheeks.
Giles' speech had been short, but it carried a clear message to the guests who understood what it meant. Giles had forgiven Angel. There would always be a slight tension that would never be erased – to think it could be was ridiculous and over-idealistic – but they could speak again without the aversion of eyes, and the blame-and-shame of recent meetings.
The next speech was Spike's. He stumbled up to the microphone. He spoke as though he had learned the words by heart recently, and completely forgotten them.
"Angel and Buffy have a love that is… oh sod it." He grabbed the microphone, seeming to have gotten a grip on himself. "I told you two once that you'd never be friends." The slur was still slightly in his voice, but from the look in his eyes it was clear he was speaking from his heart. "I told you you'd love each other forever – and I was right." He grinned at both of them, raising the bottle of champagne he'd swiped. "Yippee for me." With that, he took a liberal swig of champagne, and keeled over. Buffy was astonished that he'd planned any kind of speech, and that (for him) he'd been so sweet. Joyce thought vaguely to herself that perhaps she'd rather Buffy had married Spike; he seemed like such a nice young man.
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Eventually it was dancing time, and Buffy and Angel moved to the floor. 'My Heart Will Go On' played out, as they spun slowly.
"I love you," whispered Angel in Buffy's ear. She smiled and rested her head against him.
"I love you too." Other couples spilled out onto the floor. Willow and Oz danced nearby, Cordy and Doyle across from them. Xander was spinning Anya around behind Spike and Harmony, who were staggering around and laughing silently. Buffy and Angel kept dancing, absorbed in themselves as though there was no one else in the world.
Suddenly, bizarrely, the air was filled with falling snow just as it had been a year ago. Cold and perfect, the snow twirled to the ground. Buffy and Angel, dancing in the centre of everyone else, hardly noticed as they continued to dance. When they saw it, and felt the gentle iciness of the snowflakes, they looked around in wonder, still holding onto each other as though they would never let go.
They would always have enemies, and they would always have friends. The specifics would change with the passing of the years, this they knew. But something would stay solid – their love. Eternal, burning, and never fading.
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I. Actually. Cried. Wow, I'm pathetic LOL.
Review, everybody! That includes you; people who have me alerted or favourited but do not review! Do it, do it now! Pleeeeease!