Angel couldn't stand watching Doyle kiss his woman any longer, even though she technically wasn't his woman anymore. He loudly cleared his throat and the old friends broke apart.
"Angel, man how the hell are you?" Doyle said after he finally noticed his old friend standing there.
"Doyle, it's great to see you again." The two friends shared a manly embrace.
"Wow, it looks like those rats that you have been charging really have paid off." Doyle said grinning as he looked around the hotel.
"Rates you dumbass." Cordy said as she playfully punched Doyle on the arm.
"Mommy, daddy look." Catherine yelled as she ran up to her parents carrying a cookie.
"Mommy and daddy?" Doyle said as he raised his eyebrows and looked back and forth between his two old friends.
Cordy picked up Catherine who was dressed up in her beautiful white flower girl dress. "Doyle, this is our daughter Catherine"
"Man Angel I'm sorry. I didn't know." Doyle said clearly embarrassed.
"Don't be. We aren't together anymore." Cordy said and the three of them stood there awkwardly until Cordy broke the silence. "Hey which one of you dorks gave my daughter a cookie when she is already in her dress?" She broke away from Doyle and Angel and headed over to their friends.
"So you and Cordelia and a baby huh? How did that happen?"
"Let's just say that it was a gift from the PTB."
"Well I'm getting the impression that the we aren't together part is one sided."
"You can say that. So how about meeting everyone?" Angel said trying desperately trying to change the subject.
"I'm glad to see that you finally took my advice and integrated with the human race." Doyle said grinning.
"Well I didn't intentionally go out and make friends. They all found me and I haven't gotten rid of them."
"I'm proud of you man." Doyle said sincerely and Angel introduced him to all of his friends. After the introductions were made Cordy handed Catherine off to Fred with strict instructions not to feed her any more cookies.
"So Doyle would you like to meet your future brother in-law." Cordy asked him and he nodded and they all headed upstairs.
"I can't believe that you have children let alone one old enough to marry my sister."
"Well technically he is only three but the whole Cortax thing caused him to age much faster."
"Creepy." Doyle said as they stopped in front of a room. Cordy knocked and the door flew open.
"Shouldn't we be getting started? It's after six." Connor asked nervously. Suddenly he began to panic. "Oh shit, she changed her mind didn't she?"
"Relax Connor, she didn't change her mind. We have someone that you need to meet." Cordy said
"Who, I know everyone that is here."
"Not Ciara's brother."
"Cor, he's dead."
"Yes, son he is but The PTB agreed to let him be here for your wedding." Angel pulled Doyle into the room. "Doyle, my son Connor."
"Can we have a minute alone please?" Doyle asked his friends and they backed out of the room.
"So you're the one that my sister loves huh?"
"Uhh yes sir." Connor stuttered
"How do you feel about her?"
"I love her very much."
"Good, you better. Ciara is an amazing woman. I can tell that she loves you."
"You can tell?"
"Yeah, I am allowed to watch her and I have been. You make her very happy. Let's make sure you keep it that way because if you hurt her, I will know and I will make sure that you pay. Do you hear me?" Connor nodded. "Good, so I will see you at the wedding." Doyle walked out of the room grinning.
"You threatened him?" Cordy squeaked
"You were eavesdropping?" Doyle asked
"Well yeah." And Doyle had no response. It was Cordy after all.
"I want to see Ciara now." And they led him down the hall.
"Give us a minute." Cordy whispered as she went into the room followed by Angel.
"Cordy, Angel why haven't we started yet? Did he change his mind?"
"Of course not sweetie. We are going to get started here shortly. Angel and I have one more gift for you." Cordy explained
"I wish you guys wouldn't have. You have already given me so much."
"Ciara, it's not that type of gift. Cordy and I contacted The Powers That Be and asked them to allow your brother to come back and walk you down the aisle and they agreed." Angel explained and Ciara's eyes grew wide.
"Allan, is here? Alive?"
"Technically no he's not but tonight he is, for you." Cordy said softly and tears fell from Ciara's eyes. "Would you like to see him?" Ciara nodded and Angel walked over and opened the door and Doyle stepped inside. Ciara clapped a hand over her mouth and Doyle had tears rolling down his face as well. Angel and Cordy discreetly walked out of the room
"Ciara I have missed you so much." He took a tentative step towards his sister.
"Allan is it really you?" He nodded and she threw her arms around her brother.
"Little sister, you look absolutely beautiful and so grown up."
"That happens when you go away. Why Allan, why did you have to die?" Doyle knew that was coming he just hadn't expected it so soon.
"I did what I had to do princess." Ciara smiled. That was what he always called her and she had missed hearing it. "Angel was going to do it, but it wasn't his time yet. He still had so much more good to accomplish and in fact he still does. I had done all the good that I was supposed to do and I did a lot that night. Princess, I saved thousands of lives that day. Yours too."
"I missed you so much and you left me all alone with no one that loved me."
"Princess, I know that. That was one of the last thoughts that I had but I knew that it would be hard for you but I knew that you had the strength to make it and look at you, you did make it. You are now working for The Powers That Be. You are helping keep people safe. You found a new family with Cordelia and Angel. They will always love you and be there for you and princess you also found the love of your life in Connor. I can see how much he loves you and how much you love him. Treasure that love always." Doyle whispered as he pulled his sister into his arms again.
"I am so glad that you are here."
"So am I princess, so am I. So let's say that we get you cleaned up and get you married."
"How long will you be here?"
"A few hours."
"I guess that will have to do." Doyle opened the door and motioned Cordy back in.
"She needs some last minute girly stuff and then she is ready."
"Ok, give us five minutes and we will have ourselves a wedding."
--
Five minutes later, everyone was ready and waiting for the wedding to begin. Connor and Angel standing at the front of the lobby and Catherine, Cordy, Ciara and Doyle were getting ready to proceed.
"Ok, Catherine, here are your flowers." Cordy handed her a small basket filled with rose petals. They all knew that Catherine probably wouldn't do the job correctly and she could hardly be expected to. She wasn't even two yet but it was the thought that counted. "Now take them down to see daddy ok?"
"K mommy" Catherine still hadn't quite mastered the stairs so she sat down and slid down them. As soon as Lorne saw her he began to sing. When she reached the bottom of the steps she saw her father and ran over to him. "Here daddy." She said as she handed him the basket. Everyone laughed.
"No baby those are yours. Now go sit with Auntie Fred." Angel gently instructed
"No stay you." His stubborn daughter replied and Angel didn't press the issue. He didn't want a temper tantrum during her brother's wedding.
Everyone looked at the top of the stairs as Cordelia descended. Angel thought that he had never seen her look so beautiful before. She smiled at everyone as she passed them and came to her final stopping place across from Angel on the other side of Connor. She smiled softly at him. Lorne's song suddenly changed and Ciara and Doyle emerged. Now she was a vision and everyone oohhed and aahhed at her beauty and Doyle grinned proudly. Angel looked over at his son who had tears running down his face, as did his fiancé.
The ceremony went by quickly and without a problem. When they were announced to be husband and wife and they shared their first kiss the lobby erupted in applause and congratulations. They quickly ate dinner and then the partying began. Everyone had helped clear the lobby and turned it into a giant dance floor, with Lorne himself providing the music. They had also hired the bartenders that used to work for Lorne and they set up a bar behind the front desk.
Lorne was singing another slow song for what seemed like the thousandth time that night and again Angel was standing in the back watching everyone dancing with everyone else but him. Connor was dancing with Fred and Wes was dancing with Ciara. Of course Justine and Gunn were together and Doyle and Cordy were dancing together, a little to close for Angel's liking but then again, he had no say in who she danced with or how. He was brought out of his funk by a little voice.
"Daddy, up." As Angel picked up his daughter, an idea popped into his head.
"Do you want to dance with Daddy?"
"Dance daddy." She said happily and Angel carried her out to the dance floor and began twilling her around in his arms and she giggled happily. Doyle and Cordy watched them from where they were dancing.
"She adores him and I can tell the feeling is mutual." Doyle observed
"He is a great dad to both Catherine and Connor."
"I know that it shouldn't but it does surprise me that he is a good father."
"Why, because when you were here his favorite pastime was brooding." They both laughed and continued their dance.
Angel felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around and came face to face with his son.
"I know that somebody will be going to bed soon so I thought that I would cut in and dance with my sister before her bedtime. Catherine, do you want to dance with me?"
"Dance Ner." She said happily and Angel passed Catherine to her brother.
"Hey dad, I know how much you love hanging by yourself back by the wall but I think that your daughter in-law would appreciate a dance with you." Connor said with a wink then he turned his attention to his sister.
Ciara was standing at the bar with Justine having a drink when Angel walked over to her.
"Ciara would you care to dance with your father in-law?" She grinned happily and held out her hand and Angel led them to the dance floor.
"Angel, should I call you dad now?"
"If you want to but I've always been partial to Angel." He said smiling at her
"I'm partial to Angel too." She said giggling. They danced in silence for a minute or so until Ciara broke it. "Thank you so much for pleading Allan's case and bringing him back for my wedding." She whispered
"You and Doyle both deserved it. I hope that you know that I will always be here for you if you ever need anything Ciara."
"I know that and I hope that you know that I really love Connor."
"I know that sweet girl. I love you Ciara."
"I love you too Angel." They both hugged tightly when the song ended. "Thanks for the dance."
"My pleasure." Angel said as he kissed her on the cheek. He then heard his daughter throwing a fit and decided that it was time for bed. He took her from Connor and walked up to Cordy and Doyle. "Hey someone here wants to day goodnight."
"Excuse me for a minute Doyle." Cordy said and she led Angel to the stairs. "Let's put her to bed together. It's been a long time and I think that she will like that." She looked at Catherine whose head was lying on his shoulder and she was twirling her hair around her finger.
"I think that sounds good." He whispered as they walked up the stairs.
Ten minutes later Catherine was sound asleep. She couldn't even stay awake long enough for a bedtime story.
"She was so good today." Cordy said as she softly closed Catherine's bedroom door.
"She is a trooper like her mom."
"Today was perfect for Connor and Ciara wasn't it?" Angel nodded and they continued their journey back to the lobby.
"Ok folks, this is the last song. Grab a partner and say goodnight, just please keep it clean." Lorne said. Everyone coupled up again with the exception of Angel. It was almost time for Doyle to leave so he wanted one last dance with his sister. Once his wife was taken Connor grabbed Cordy and drug her out to the floor.
"Are you happy princess?" Doyle asked
"Very. Are you? Wait that is a stupid question. You're dead."
"Believe it or not I am happy. I'm happy knowing that my sister is in love and married. I hate that I'm not here with you but I will always being watching over you."
"I don't want you to go."
"I don't want to either but my time is up. One more thing princess, don't hid your demon part like I did. It's something to be proud of. It's a part, a very important part of who you are." Ciara nodded with tears in her eyes. "Promise me."
"I promise."
"I love you princess."
"I love you too Allan." They hugged tightly and he kissed her. He then led her over to Connor and Cordy. "Hey boy, you really should be dancing this last dance with your wife." Cordy gracefully walked over and stood by Angel. "Take care of her Connor. I will be watching." Connor reached out and shook Doyle's hand.
"I will." Connor said as he pulled his wife into his arms for their final dance of the evening.
Doyle looked around. Everyone was engrossed in conversation so for the man who hates goodbyes, he slipped out the door without anyone noticing. He stood outside the door with tears streaming down his face watching his sister glide across the dance floor with her husband until he evaporated.
--
"Would you like to dance?" Angel asked when Cordy came over and stood next to him.
Cordy hesitated for a second and then shrugged her shoulders. "Why not, it's the last one of the evening."
They joined hands and walked out onto the dance floor. They easily fell into each other's arms. Cordy's hands were wrapped around his neck and she laid her head on his shoulder and his hands were wrapped around her waist. They both missed this closeness. Cordy had just closed her eyes when she heard Angel's voice.
"Thank you for creating this amazing day for Connor and Ciara and helping me get Doyle back."
"You helped too. I didn't do it on my own." She raised her head and looked around the room. "Where is Doyle by the way?"
Angel looked around the room and realized that he was gone. "He left. You know how he is. He wouldn't have wanted his last memory of today to be of Ciara or you crying."
Cordy looked up at Angel and he saw that she was indeed crying. Before he could stop himself he leaned down and pressed his lips to her. She unconsciously responded to his kiss and she kissed him back slowly and gently. His hands tightened around her waist and her fingers were running through his hair. When her brain finally caught up with her lips and heart she quickly pulled back and pushed him away.
"Angel, we can't do this." She whispered.
"Admit it, you enjoyed it." He whispered back. Neither of them wanted Connor or Ciara to overhear this on their special day.
"That is beside the point. I'm not ready for that kind of relationship with you Angel. I might not ever be ready again. For God's sake we aren't even back to the same type of friendship that we had three years ago Angel. How can you expect more? I'm sorry but friendship is all that I'm willing to give you right now. Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it." He said sadly.
"Good, and don't ever try that stunt again." She said as she walked away from him.