Almost time! By the by, I finally finished it. 28 chapters total. countdown begins!

Chapter 24

Buffy walked into the sitting room downstairs. A few pairs of eyes greeted her. "Everything okay?" Willow asked.

Buffy nodded. She looked around the room. "No Dawn yet?" Nessa shook her head. "Okay, well, we need to get started. Nessa, have Karla start on your hair. Willow, Linda will do your make up. When you are done, switch. Portia..." Buffy looked around the room, "is gone."

Mandy stood from the couch. "She took Alex over to the guys. His suit was there and they have pictures soon. And I will go take my shower and get out of your way, ladies."

Buffy touched her arm on her way by. "You don't have to go."

"And miss out on a long hot shower? I'm good." She smiled, climbing the stairs.

"Okay," Buffy sighed. She looked about the room for the next move. "I guess I'll start on nails."

Giles raced down the stairs and out the door before anyone could say anything. His little talk with Buffy had him running late. He skid to a halt as a golf cart stopped in front of the porch. Dawn climbed out with a smile. "Good morning, Giles!"

He smiled back at her. "Good morning." He wrapped her up in a hug.

She pulled away and gently yanked on his tie. "You wore the gray suit with a peach tie!"

"You told me to."

"You look very handsome."

Giles smiled back at her again. "Thank you. I can't wait to see you in your dress. Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back to the house." He kissed her cheek. "Try to have some fun."

"I will. Buffy has been great this morning. She had someone come and do my nails and I got a facial and breakfast in bed and she has been handling everything this morning. I think she feels guilty."

"Perhaps. But, be easy on her, alright? Last night wasn't all that it seemed for her, either."

"What happened now? Everything okay?" Dawn sounds surprisingly concerned.

"I believe so, but I will let her tell you. Do you mind if I borrow the cart?" Dawn shook her head. She waved to him as he drove off.

"There you are," she heard from behind her. Turning she saw Buffy standing on the porch. "I was starting to think you ran away!" Buffy joked.

Dawn huffed and climbed the stairs. "After all the stress I put into today. Hell no!"

Buffy stopped Dawn before she went inside. "Dawnie, I want to apologize for last night. I had no idea that was going to happen and I wouldn't have allowed it if I did."

"I know," Dawn sighed. "And I know I overreacted. I've just been stretched so thin this week it was like I finally snapped. I'm happy for you. Really. Now, let me see the ring!" She grabbed Buffy's left hand then frowned. She flipped it over to the palm side then grabbed her other hand. "No ring?"

"No ring."

"Why no ring?"

"No guy."

"No guy?"

"No guy."

"Why no guy?"

Buffy smirked. "It's a long story. Come on. I'll bump Nessa and get you in the make up chair and we can chat."

Giles finally found the library on the third floor and knocked before entering. Alex ran up and gave him a hug. Portia asked if he would watch the boy while she went and got herself ready. He quickly agreed. Portia told Alex to be good and listen before rushing out.

Jake smiled and greeted Giles as he attempted to do up his bow tie. Giles took pity on the man and tied it for him. Eventually he tied everyone's. As they waited for the photographer to show up and direct them, Giles sat at the small piano located against the far wall while Alex sat in the club chair next to the piano with a book. It wasn't as grand as the one down in the sitting room on the first floor. It appeared to be more of a practice piano than a performance one. He lightly tested a few of the keys and found it was in tune. He started to play, quietly humming the words as he went.

Jake sat down next to him on the bench. "You ready for later?"

Giles chuckled as he continued to play. "Good heavens, no." Dawn had asked him to sing the song for her and Jake's first dance together. He had agreed, but was nervous. He hadn't performed in front of anyone in a long while. Well, accept at Dudley's the other night. And though he had practiced the song as often as he could be alone, he hadn't touched a piano since he arrived there. Luckily it was a song he was already familiar with and he felt confident in his ability to get it right.

Jake touched his shoulder. "Yeah, it sounds like it," he laughed. "If you play even half that well, it will be fine." The library door opened and Juan Carlos came in with a flourish of flashing lights.

"Dear lord, I think I'm having a seizure."

"Showtime," Jake mumbled.

The girls were all laughing at Willow's story of Amara telling a boy in her class that her witch mother's would turn him into a frog for pulling her hair when someone stumbled down the last two stairs. "I'm okay!" a voice called out from the hallway. Andrew emerged a couple seconds later looking rumpled.

"Are you just now waking up?" Buffy asked. He nodded, roughly rubbing his hands over his face. "What happened to you?"

Andrew plopped down on the couch next to Willow. "Stress headache. Every now and then it all catches up to me and I crash for a day."

"And you chose today?!" Dawn asked.

"I'm up now, aren't I?!" Dawn huffed. "Mr. Giles come back?"

Buffy nodded. "He's with the guys for pictures. And why don't you just call him Giles like everyone else? It's been like 8 years now, Andrew."

He shrugged. "Cuz he's my boss."

"He was your jailer first," Buffy teased.

Andrew smirked. "No, that was you."

Nessa looked around but no one seemed phased. "Huh?"

"It's just respect," Andrew continued. "He gave me a second chance. You all could have abandoned me after Sunnydale went boom, but you didn't. Mr. Giles gave me a job and I'm grateful."

"You don't call Wesley by his last name," Willow mused.

"He's not my boss."

Willow and Buffy exchanged looks. "Um," Buffy started, "he's second in command."

"No. He's third."

Everyone sat silently while the information sank in. "You... are the... Assistant... Council Head?" Buffy asked slowly. Andrew smiled at her.

Dawn huffed. "You didn't know, Buffy?"

Her sister turned to her, slack jawed and eye popping. "You did?!"

Dawn giggled. "No, but I liked your face when you thought I did."

If Giles never had another picture of him taken, it would be too soon. He stood outside the bathroom door, repeatedly blinking, trying to rid himself of the tiny balls of light that refused to dissipate. It didn't help that Juan Carlos would take double of any that Giles was in; one with his glasses and one without. "Just to see," the man had claimed.

Well, Giles bloody well couldn't see now!

The bathroom door opened and Giles replaced his glasses to look down at the young boy who had just finished. "Did you wash your hands?" Giles asked. Alex groaned and dramatically rolled his eyes before going back into the bathroom.

"Ah! There you are!" Juan Carlos called out with a surprisingly French accent, spying Giles in the hallway. "You come with me. I need you know."

"Me? What for?"

"For more photographs!" Juan Carlos spread out his arms, hand still holding one of his cameras, with a flourish.

"More photographs?!"

Juan Carlos nodded. "Oui, oui. Now let's go!" He grabbed Giles hand and tried pulling him along.

Surprised by the man's brazen actions, Giles stumbled a few steps forward before planting his feet firm and holding his ground. "Will you bloody wait a moment?!" Giles yanked his hand back. Juan Carlos dramatically gasped in surprise, as if he had just been slapped. "I'm waiting on the boy!"

Just then Alex reemerged from the bathroom. He looked between the two. "Uuuggghh! Not more?!"

"He is not to come," Juan Carlos said.

"He is not to leave my sight," Giles replied.

"He is right here." Alex crossed his arms.

Juan Carlos sighed in exasperation. "Fine. Bring the child."

"Where are we going exactly?"

Juan Carlos smiled conspiratorially. "You will see."

As the girls dressed, they were thankful for the wide neck lines and zippered back dresses. One hair out of place and Dawn would have made them get it redone. She didn't say that, of course, but they all knew it.

They had now descended into the clubhouse that was in the gardens near the ceremony spot. It was where the girls would remain until the wedding started. With a knock on the door, Nessa walked over and opened it. Juan Carlos came in. His eyes went wide and he immediately yelled, "STOP!"

Everyone froze and turned to him.

He marched up to where Dawn and Buffy were standing. Buffy was holding up Dawn's veil, ready to perch it on top of her head. "What do you think you are doing?!" he accused.

Buffy stared. "Ummm..."

Juan Carlos held up the camera and took multiple flashy shots without looking just to make a point. The girls rapidly blinked. "You wait! I need the moment!"

"Well, you're here now!" Buffy snapped. "And as soon as I get my vision back, we can start again."

He huffed. "We are on a schedule."

"And you thought I was uptight," Dawn muttered quietly for only Buffy to hear.

"Ready?" Buffy asked the madman with the cam. He nodded and held the device up watching 'the moment' through the view finder. Buffy held up the veil as Dawn watched in the mirror. She was suddenly aware that everyone was watching her now. No doubt due to the commotion Juan Carlos had caused. Buffy placed the comb in front of the loose bun that Dawn's hair had been made up into the a few tendril hanging here and there. She squinted through the flashes of light to fan the veil out across Dawn's shoulders. Once she was satisfied with the look, Buffy met her sister's gaze in the mirror. They shared a watery glance. "Dawn, you look so beautiful."

Dawn's lip trembled but she bit it to stop from crying. She had gone with the waterproof mascara, of course, and also a misting spray over her make up to help keep it in place, but why risk it with tears? "I love you so much," Dawn whispered.

Buffy wrapped her arms around Dawn from behind her. "I love you, too, munchkin."

"You," Juan Carlos said, looking at Buffy. "Come here."

Buffy released her sister. "Why?"

"Come, come. You, too," he said to Dawn.

The girls shared a look before following him. He lead them towards the back room that was once used as a gentleman's smoking lounge. He turned back to the two girls. "You," he pointed to Dawn, "count to 50 then come through that door."

"Okay..."

He took Buffy by the hand. "You come with me." He opened the door and lead Buffy into the other room, closing it behind him.

Buffy smiled as she saw the figure stand from the chair. Giles looked very handsome in his suit which, surprisingly, kind of matched her gray dress. A little bundle of energy ran straight at her and hugged her legs. Buffy giggled and picked him up. Juan Carlos quickly corralled them together, facing the door.

"What is happening?" Giles whispered.

Before Buffy could answer, the door opened and Dawn walked through. Giles couldn't help but stare at the sight of her. She was positively glowing. His hand came up to cover his gaping mouth. "Pretty," Alex said.

"Dawn," Giles lowered his hand, "you- you look... so..."

Dawn was once again on the verge of tears, but this time she didn't fight them. She launched herself at Giles. He wrapped her tightly in his arms. Juan Carlos came up next to Buffy. "Father's first view of the Bride. Always my favorite shot."

Dawn pulled away from Giles. He wiped the tears from her cheeks with the handkerchief he had in his breast pocket. "How's my face?" Dawn asked.

Giles chuckled. "Flawless."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that cuz you're my dad." Giles froze in surprise. Dawn smiled. "You are, you know. We both do. And Xander, too, I think. He's the only one who ever actually talked about it. To me, anyway."

Giles lowered his hand. "Dawn," his voice broke.

"I love you," she said before hugging him again.

Giles slowly brought his arms back up around her. He closed his eyes and squeezed her tight. "I love you, too, sweetheart."

Around them the flashes continued.

Buffy stood with Dawn just out of sight of the ceremony. The girls and Alex were all lined up, with Giles standing off to the side, waiting for it to all begin. Buffy did some last minute fussing over Dawn's hair and veil. Once she was done with that, she arranged the girls in line and handed them their bouquet. Maddie got a basket of pink petals and Alex got the pillow with the rings. The Best Man and the groomsmen were already standing up front with the Groom.

Buffy fussed over Giles' tie and Dawn's veil once more until Dawn smacked her hand away. The girls glared at one another in a showdown until they both grinned. "Ready?" Buffy asked.

Dawn started to answer then stopped. A thoughtful look came over her. With a slow smile of realization she said, "I think I've been waiting for this moment my whole life."

Buffy smiled and glanced at Giles who also happened to be watching her. He returned her little half smile. Hearing the change in music, her eyes went wide and she went into action. Buffy stood next to Willow, who would be the first to go. She waited for the right note then sent her on her way. She counted slowly to 30 before sending Nessa. She glanced back at Giles, giving him the reigns over the two youngest ones. He nodded just before Buffy made her own way down the aisle.

Giles counted to 30, just as Buffy had and sent Alex on his way. Then went Maddie. He smiled nervously at Dawn. "Ready?"

She took a deep breath and hesitated. For a moment he thought she was going to panic. Slowly she smiled her big bright smile and nodded. "Ready."