Charmed: The Faith Chronicles

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

Faith Lehane was born in Boston to a drunken mother and absentee father, or so she had believed for 17 years. Then she was called as the Slayer and things took a turn for the worse when she accidentally killed the Deputy Mayor. The Watcher's Council learns of the death and tries to return her to England. She manages to escape and in so doing finds out that she had been adopted

29. Chapter 28: The Initiative Marriage

Chapter 28: The Initiative Marriage

December 7, 2001 – Friday

U.C. Sunnydale

"So, there's this party at uh, The Lowell house tonight," Buffy said in a feigned casual manner. She and Faith were looking at Willow who was curled up on her bed one of her cushions hugged to her chest, a sad look on her face, her eyes turning to look at the couple. "Faith and I were thinking that it might be fun to go. Hang out…get the old endorphins pumping. Wadda-ya say?"

Willow looked down at her bedspread with a small frown, before looking back up at Buffy and Faith. "Do I have a choice?"

Faith smiled. "Not really, no."

Willow sighed. "Well, ok then,"

Buffy and Faith stood with a beaming smile. "Great!" they said.

"But I'm not promising that I'll have any fun," Willow added hastily.

"Partying with us, means fun is guaranteed to be had." Buffy claimed chirpily as Faith nodded in agreement, determined that they'd show Willow a good time.

Willow looked down at the cushion she was hugging to her chest, she knew what Buffy and Faith were trying to do, and a small part of her was grateful to her friends for caring, but the other part, just wanted to be left alone to wallow in her despair over Oz leaving her, and with hardly any hope that he would be coming back for her. Her heart constricted and she felt tears pool in her eyes for a moment, before they began falling from her eyes dropping down onto the cushion darkening it with her sorrow.

Barely a moment later Willow felt her bed dip as someone climbed on behind her and an arm wrapped wrap around her shoulders from behind. Faith glanced at Buffy and then moved around the bed and sat down on the bed and took Willow's hand in her own.

Willow curled into Buffy's body while she strengthened her grip on Faith's hand and let herself cry, letting out some of her pain with each heart wrenching sob that racked her small body.

Buffy glanced at Faith and could see the same thing in her eyes that she was sure was in her own, sorrow for their friend.

"Why! Why did he have to leave me?" Willow sobbed.

Buffy and Faith held Willow tighter, tears welling in their own eyes. "I'm sure that he didn't want to, Red," Faith said.

"I'm sure he thought that it was the only way," Buffy added sadly, a hand stroking over Willow's hair, trying to sooth her.

Willow shook her head, her shoulders quaking. "No! No, it wasn't, he could have stayed! I would have forgiven him. I have forgiven him! I just want him to come home."

Buffy glanced at Faith as they held Willow tighter being careful not to hurt her. "We know you do, Will," Buffy said. "And I'm sure that he wants to come back just as much. He loves you, Willow, and once he's found what he's looking for I'm sure that he'll come back."

Willow gave her head a slow despairing shake, desperately wanting to believe that he would, that he'd come back and that everything would be ok, but he hadn't been able to tell her when. And she hadn't heard one peep from him since he'd left. Not one, not a phone call, not even a postcard! It made it difficult to believe that he was planning on coming back to her.

If he was, he'd let her know where he was, how he was doing, what he was doing, if he was getting anywhere with what he was looking for. Slowly Willow pulled back from the couple sniffling, her eyes puffy and red.

"Do you want to come down and get something to eat?" Faith asked.

"Tummies ah-grumbling," Buffy added in hopes of lightening the mood.

Willow shook her head. "No, thanks. I think I should take a shower and wash my hair and other essential pre-party preparations."

Buffy and Faith smiled taking it as a good sign. "Yeah, pamper yourself. I have to work things with, Giles for patrol tonight, but Faith and I'll be in the café for…dunno an hour depending on the line, if you change your mind."

Willow nodded, but didn't look at the couple. Buffy and Faith gave her a last sad look, before turning for the door and slowly making their way towards it, hoping that Willow would call after them with a change of heart. But the despondent red head didn't and Buffy opened the dormitory door and she and Faith slowly stepped out of the room. Looking back at Willow once more they let out a soft sad sigh, before Buffy shut the door leaving Willow alone as she obviously wanted to be at the moment.

"I don't hate Oz," Faith said as they walked down the hallway. "But at the same time, I do hate Oz for handling things the way he did and was."

"I know," Buffy said with a sigh. "I've felt the same way since I found out from Willow about Veruca. But I know that Oz did what he thought best, and is trying to find answers to some difficult questions. Still I don't think that it's the wisest thing to cut Willow out completely."

Grace Cathedral

"Piper, did you check on the cake?" Phoebe called to her sister from somewhere on the altar, her voice filtering through the microphone and throughout the whole church.

Piper looked up from the large flower arrangement and answered. "Yes."

"That's good." Phoebe nodded appearing from behind one of the several other flower arrangements, playing with it a little, thinking it wasn't already perfect. "Because I don't want the cake to be delivered till after the linens arrive."

"I checked on the cake," Piper assured her. "Could you please take off that microphone?"

Phoebe looked over at her. "Sorry, I'm just, checking the sound system," she answered raising her volume to back up her statement before detaching herself. "What about the limo?" she asked walking toward Piper while checking every pew. "Honey, did you book the limo?" she asked again.

Piper nodded. "Buffy took care of that before she and Faith went to check on Willow," she assured. "Honey?" she called and Phoebe glanced up. "Everything's taken care of: the DJ, the caterer, the table arrangements and the rice."

Phoebe turned away from the flowers sharply. "Rice? No, no, no, no we can't throw rice."

"Why not?" Piper questioned with a frown.

"Well, because the birds can't digest it and they will blow up," Phoebe informed looking panicked.

Piper's eyes widened but she nodded, "Okay…so we'll throw…birdseed," she substituted. "Or, or, we'll release balloons."

"No, no." Phoebe shook her head. "We can't release balloons either, they float to the ocean and the whales mistake them for squid and I can't be thinking about whales washing up on the beach during my wedding, you know, what I mean?" she asked panicking even more and Piper had to swallow her laughter.

"Honey, I know you want the perfect day but you need to relax a little bit," Piper instructed demonstrating with her fingers. "And, and breathe," she stressed seriously. "Breathing is good. Breathing is your friend."

Phoebe nodded, breathing deeply.

U.C. Sunnydale

Faith couldn't suppress the smile that curled up her lips as Buffy pulled out the chair for her. Setting her tray down, she carefully sat down, her smile brightening a little more as Buffy pushed her chair in for her.

Buffy took the seat beside Faith, and slid it a little closer to her wife. "Let's hope…"

"Don't jinx it, babe," Faith cut in. She had been doing good all morning so far and had not had to rush to the bathroom.

"Do you think Willow will join us?" Buffy questioned as she looked toward the door.

"I hope so, but I have my doubts," Faith said. "You remember how I was when mom died."

"I remember," Buffy said. "And that's how Willow feels now."

"Exactly," Faith sighed.

"It hurts to see her like this though," Buffy admitted, her shoulders slumping. Her eyes turned to her tray of food, and found that she no longer felt hungry. Gently pushing the food away from her she turned her gaze away from it.

"I know," Faith said as she laid her hand on Buffy's. "I haven't been her friend as long as you have, but it hurts me too."

"I think we jinxed it," Faith groaned as her hand snapped to her mouth. She and Buffy got up and rushed to the nearest bathroom.

Grace Cathedral

"Whoa!" Paige cried as she entered the church, pulling off her jacket. "Is this a wedding or a coronation?"

Piper's eyes widened and she turned away from Paige. "Um…" she stammered feeling the brewing storm.

Phoebe's eyebrows rose as she took in Paige's empty hands. "Where, where is my dress?"

"Oh, I don't have it," Paige said casually looking around in awe.

"Wha—" Phoebe turned to Piper. "N—not breathing," she gasped.

Piper reached out to her muttering darkly, "I knew Faith or Buffy should have been in charge of the dress."

Phoebe turned on Paige with thundering eyes. "What do you mean?" she demanded harshly. "How could you forget my dress the day before the wedding? The bridal shop is closed tomorrow."

"Relax, it's open tonight, I'm planning on picking it up on my way to the rehearsal dinner," Paige informed her.

Phoebe sighed in relief. "Oh, all right."

"Okay." Piper nodded. "Why don't we sit down?" she suggested as she led Phoebe toward one of the pews.

"Yeah." Phoebe breathed deeply. "Sitting is good. I think I'm a little stressed out," she said and received nods and murmurs of agreement. She mock glared at them then continued, "I, just, I just want tomorrow to be perfect. No glitches, natural or supernatural you know," she explained and her sisters nodded. "No magic, no ghosts." Phoebe looked to the heavens. "You guys understand that? I just want tomorrow to be nice and normal."

"Honey?" Piper called and Phoebe turned to her. "I promise you will have your perfect wedding. But if something happens to go awry, it doesn't matter," she said confidently. "The only thing that does matter, is that by the end of the day, you and Cole are husband and wife."

Phoebe frowned. "Why are you saying this? Why is she saying this?" she directed at Paige.

"Because Phoebe," Piper drew her attention back. "Nothing is ever perfect and I don't want you to get your hopes up only to have them crushed and your day ruined, understand?" she asked and Phoebe nodded knowing it was for her own good considering Piper's want for her perfect wedding without magical disruption went to hell. She smiled. "Just think, by this time tomorrow, you and Cole will be joined in holy matrimony."

Giles' Apartment

Giles sat on a comfortable padded couch that was directly across from the one Xander was lounging on as staring up at the ceiling a bored expression on his face. Giles worked on the drawing of Buffy's soldier, he moved his pencil over the page a few more times, making a couple of lines darker, before he set the pencil down accepting that he had finished the drawing, and from the look of things it would be all that he would be doing.

"Well, based on, Buffy's description, I believe the men that we're after look something like, um…like this." Giles said, holding up the drawing so that Xander, who had turned his gaze from the ceiling, could see it.

"The latest in fall fascism," Xander said sarcastically. "I like it. A bit full in the hips for my taste, but…"

"Oh, I think we can safely assume they're human," Giles said cutting Xander off. "So, um, no research needed," he murmured as he slid his glasses off his nose.

Xander dropped his hand heavily onto his lap. "No studying? Damn! Next thing they'll tell me is I'll have to eat doughnuts or sleep with a super model to get things done around here. I ask you how much can one man give?" he asked, using his sarcastic whit to cover up the fact that he was feeling a tad bit disappointed.

Giles sighed. "Not much, I'm afraid. Um… Once again, I'd say that you and I will not be needed to help, Buffy and Faith," he muttered, dropping the hand that was holding onto his glasses onto his lap where it thumped down against the drawing pad, he'd placed back in his lap after showing Xander.

"Really?" Xander asked, hoping that, the retired librarian was wrong.

Giles nodded glumly. "Really," he confirmed, with another disappointed sigh.

Xander sat forward in his chair, his eyes focused on Giles. "Well, how about this? We whip out the Ouija board, light a few candles, summon some ancient…unstoppable evil. Mayhem, mayhem, mayhem," he suggested as he moved his arms from side to side in time with his last words. "We show up and kick its ass," he finished with a small fist pump, just as Buffy and Faith appeared in the midst of a swirl of fiery flames.

Giles turned back to Xander, a small smile on his face, as he placed his glasses back on his nose. "A wee bit unethical," He said, not quite wanting to believe that he was desperate enough to feel useful that he didn't flat out reject the idea.

"Hey," Buffy and Faith greeted as they came to stand beside Giles. Giles eager to show that he had done something to help, held up the drawing pad for Buffy to see. "Mmm. It's my late-night stormtrooper pal."

"It's just for reference, you know, but fairly accurate you'd say?" Giles asked hopefully as he looked from his carefully drawn sketch to Buffy who was still looking at the sketch.

Buffy nodded. "That's your man," she confirmed.

Giles lowered the sketch feeling quite pleased with himself as he set the drawing pad back in his lap. "Your man, actually," he corrected as he looked back up at Buffy and Faith. They gave him a look that made him pause. "Uh…you two are patrolling tonight?" he asked a dubious tone in his voice.

"Nope," Faith said firmly, confirming what her expression had told Giles mere seconds ago. "First we're going to Aunt Phoebe's rehearsal. Then after dinner we're going to a party tonight."

"Hopefully, a 'no fighting, no biting' kind of deal," Buffy added. "A Willow and us, kind of deal."

Giles straightened up in his chair. He clear his throat and put a stern look on his face as he levelled his gaze at Buffy and Faith. "Look. Somebody's got to find out who these people are."

Faith turned her unwavering and stubborn gaze on Giles. "Giles," she began firmly. "Buffy and I are married. We have obligations other than just slaying. Such as Aunt Phoebe's rehearsal. We're both bridesmaids alongside Aunt Piper and Aunt Paige. Also, Willow needs some cheering up. Buffy and I are going to take her."

"How's, Will dealing…"

Buffy turned her gaze to Xander, her expression softening at seeing the concern there for Willow a concern that echoed on hers and Faith's faces. "With the black hole of despair she's been living in since, Oz left?" she said cutting him off. "She's dealing. Faith and I are helping. It's hard," she said punctuating each reason with a look that went from Xander to Giles. "Ergo, party after Phoebe's rehearsal dinner. You two can take patrol." Xander and Giles opened their mouths to object, but Buffy spoke over them. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get to our psych class."

Buffy took Faith's hand and they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

U.C. Sunnydale

Buffy and Faith sat next to Willow in Professor Walsh's class. Faith noticed a frown darkening her wife's brow as Buffy fought with her ballpoint pen that had begun to seep ink a few moments ago, whilst she was in the middle of taking notes.

"Stupid pen," Buffy muttered as she looked at her ink stained fingers, before she looked down at her notes alarmed. "My notes!" she muttered, her eyes on the page that was stained with blue splotches of ink that were obscuring the words that she had written.

"Ballpoints can be tricky," Willow offered sympathetically, as she and Faith watched Buffy wipe her inky fingers on the already ruined notes in the hopes of removing some of the still wet ink from her stained fingers.

"I'll see you all tomorrow," Walsh told the class, before turning away from them to face the desk she had been standing in front of, to begin collecting her papers.

Faith, Buffy and Willow stood collecting their things. Buffy glared at the ballpoint pen that had ruined her notes. "Just throw it away, babe," Faith informed her wife who set the pen down on the desk.

Willow had hastily grabbed up her things and descended the stairs ahead of Buffy and Faith her eyes on Riley, wanting to rectify the mistake Riley had made as quickly as possible. "Riley?" she called as she came up to him, her voice making him turn around to face her. "I noticed you left off a name today in roll call. Osbourne, Daniel Osbourne, Oz?" she said a little timidly, her heart thumping harshly in her chest as she waited for his response.

"He's not in this class anymore," Riley said as he placed some papers into his bag, that was slung over his shoulder. "I hear he dropped out."

Willow felt tears well in her eyes, and her expression turned almost desperate in her distress. "Oh, well, you heard way wrong then. I mean, he's not gone. He left temporarily to work out a few things. I know that sounds lame in its vagueness, but I assure you, Oz will be back," she assured Riley as she fisted her hands around her own bag strap, twisting them in her anxiety.

Walsh who had been listening in to the conversation as she packed her briefcase walked over to them, her expression stern, and unyielding. "Not to my class, he won't," she said. "An educated guess," she said with exasperation. "You know the rules, you know I hate exceptions, and yet somehow you feel your exception is exceptional," she stated as she crossed her arms intimidatingly across her chest.

"Oh, but…" Willow said her heart racing faster in her chest as she felt the tears pricking hotter against the backs of her eyes.

"It is," Walsh continued cutting Willow off, as Buffy and Faith stood by the bottom of the stairs, waiting anger simmering inside them with each word that left Walsh's mouth. "To you. But since I'm neither a freshman nor a narcissist, I have to consider the whole class. If your friend can't respect my schedule, I think it's best he not come back."

Willow's breath hitched painfully in her throat, as her lower lip quivered, her heart clenching painfully in her chest and Willow quickly ducked her head hiding her miserable expression as she walked towards the door.

Buffy and Faith followed Willow's miserable trudging with concerned eyes, before turning their gaze to Professor Walsh, and the concern fled to be replaced with her anger that was simmering below the surface. With slow determined steps they walked toward Walsh who was about to turn back toward her desk to finish packing her briefcase.

"You know," Buffy said in a controlled low voice. "For someone who teaches human behavior, you might try showing some," she muttered, unable to keep the edge of her anger out of her voice.

Walsh turned back around to face Buffy and Faith. "It's not my job to coddle my students," she told them.

"Yeah, we know," Faith spat. "When I was in Oz's place you were ready to kick me out before my lovely wife reminded you of the university's policy regarding pregnant students."

"So, a human being in pain has nothing to do with your job," Buffy added with a glare. She and Faith swiveled on their heel and stalked off after Willow, their steps picking up speed as they felt an urgency to catch up to their distraught friend.

They stopped as in their hurry they'd gone passed Willow who was leaning up against a wall that she was turned towards. Buffy and Faith cautiously approached their redheaded friend. "Hey, are you alright?" Buffy asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." Willow said her voice soaked in her misery and her voice cracked, as she tried to hold back the sobs that were making her body tremble. "It just makes it seem more final; you know. Oz's name not being called for roll he's really not coming back," she cried as her tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she stared at the unfeeling paint of the wall. "Which is just stupid. He'll come back if he wants to come back, his name on the class roll or not," she said miserably.

Faith and Buffy stared at Willow sympathetically, as they stepped closer, they both placed a hand on Willow's upper back. Almost immediately Willow turned into the couple, her hands clutching at them as she cried. Buffy and Faith slid their arms around Willow and rubbed their friend in soothing circles.

"He wants to come back, Will. He does," Buffy promised, even though she knew that it probably wasn't the wisest thing to say.

They heard and felt Willow's tears ease. "Do you still want to go to the party?" Faith asked, not wanting to drag Willow out after the emotional roller coaster she had just been in. They could just as easily have a girl's night in.

Willow pulled back biting her lower lip. "Not really, but I think we should go," Willow said dubiously.

"Great. It'll be fun," Buffy assured her friend.

"We will meet you in your dorm room in a couple hours," Faith said.

"I know," Willow informed them. "You have to go to Phoebe's rehearsal and dinner. Tell her congratulations for me."

"We will," Buffy said.

Halliwell Manor

"And what about Phoebe?" Piper asked staring pointedly at her sister, "Who was speedwalking down the aisle?"

The group of nine were seated around the dinner table: Victor at the head of the table, Leo to his left followed by Piper, Faith and Buffy at the other end next to her wife. Cole was to Victors left next to Phoebe, then Paige and Darryl.

"I was not!" Phoebe insisted throwing her napkin onto the table.

"You left your dad," Leo pointed out with a smirk.

"Twice," Faith added as she passed, refilling everyone's water glasses. She smiled at her grandfather who was looking at her intently. She frowned at him. "What?" she asked curiously stopping her in her tracks.

Victor smiled glancing around the table making sure everyone was still immersed in conversation. "I know that this is Phoebe's night," he whispered to her subtly. "But I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you." He told her sincerely and Faith felt her eyes burn.

"Gramps." Faith smiled at him. "Where's this coming from?"

Victor shrugged. "Your mom and I didn't have the best of relationships. But I am glad she let me back into her life. And in time to introduce me to my granddaughter. I just want to thank you, for letting me into your life, letting me walk you down the aisle and…" he glanced at her stomach, "…for giving me a great grandchild."

Faith gave him a watery smile and kissed his cheek. "You very welcome, Grandpa Victor," she told him sincerely, planting one more kiss to his cheek before moving on, circling the table until she reached her seat again.

Piper leaned toward her niece. "What was that about?" she asked purposefully and Faith turned to her sharply with wide eyes. "Don't worry, Phoebe's oblivious. Well?"

Faith chuckled. "I think Gramps is having a hard time dealing with the fact that you and Aunt Phoebe have grown up. That you are married and Aunt Phoebe is getting married. That I'm married and that I'm pregnant with his great granddaughter," she explained and Piper chuckled too.

"Poor dad." Piper glanced at him quickly then back to her niece. "You can't really blame him though, right? I mean, it is pretty scary," she sympathized.

"Okay, attention," Cole called the table to order, clinking his glass with his spoon and rising to his feet. "I have something for my groomsmen, two fine gentlemen…" he glanced at Darryl and Leo, "I chose to stand by me on the most important day of my life." He smiled down at Phoebe pointedly then back to the table. "Because uh...well, they're the only ones I know."

"Well, you have to admire his honesty." Leo shrugged glancing at Darryl who nodded.

Cole picked up two bags from the shelf behind him, handing one to both men with a smile. "There you go."

"Cool." Darryl nodded, pulling out a box. "Engraved golf balls. Titleist Pro V1s." He looked down the table at Cole. "Thanks man."

"I…don't golf," Leo informed Cole with a shrug and Victor turned to him.

"Hey, I'll take 'em," Victor offered.

Leo frowned. "Well, they got my name on it."

Victor reached out and snatched the box from Leo's grip. "So?" And everyone couldn't help but laugh at Leo's expense.

Phoebe stood up too. "And for my beautiful bridesmaids." She smiled at her sisters and nieces lifting the four baskets from the corner, "…whom I choose because…they're my best friends in the whole wide world," she told them sincerely handing one to Paige on her right then across the table to Piper, Faith and Buffy.

"Oh Phoebe…" Paige smiled gratefully.

"There's a bonsai tree for balance and harmony," Phoebe explained gesturing to the baskets. "And a dream catcher so that all your dreams will come true, just like mine have." She threw an arm around Cole, leaning into him.

"This is so great!" Paige cried happily. "Tarot cards! My deck is totally trashed, this is perfect."

"Yeah, that's just in case you need psychic services while me and my new husband are busy gettin' busy."

Faith glanced into her basket and frowned. "Uh...Aunt Phoebe?" she called eyebrows rising as she pulled out the cutest white baby vest from the bottom of the basket. "What is this?" she questioned dangling the vest in the air.

Phoebe grinned widely. "Prudence's first vest," she said obviously. "And look, it has the family symbol on the front," she pointed out excitedly.

Buffy slowly took it from Faith as she turned it around to show Faith what was on the back. "Yeah, and it says 'my mommies kick ass' on the back."

Piper gasped loudly, snatching it from Buffy's grasp, "Ass? Really Phoebe? On a baby's vest."

Phoebe shrugged. "What?" she asked innocently. "It's not like Prudence can read."

Faith, Buffy, Piper and Paige laughed at her, shaking their heads.

"Thank you, Aunt Phoebe." Faith smiled.

"Yes," Buffy agreed. "Thank you, Phoebe." She too smiled and Phoebe beamed.

"You better be grateful," Phoebe threatened. "That was not cheap ya know. Oh! Oh, I hope that's the photographer," she cried as she raced to answer the ringing telephone.

"Hey, Leo?" Darryl called reaching into his suit jacket pocket. "I got an extra stogie; you want to join me?" he asked waving a cigar in the air.

"I don't smoke." Leo shook his head.

"I'll take that," Victor grabbed up the cigar and rose to his feet.

"I do, however, eat chocolate," Leo said suddenly turning to his wife with an evil smirk.

"Leo," Piper warned narrowing his eyes. "No wait. Wait, wait," she cried jumping over his chair and running after him. "No, no, Leo! You need to wait for everybody else," she told him firmly as they disappeared toward the kitchen leaving only Buffy, Faith, Paige and Cole at the table.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Let's see what the future has in store for Phoebe and Cole." Paige said loudly, looking down at the three stacks of cards.

Buffy and Faith perked up at her words, standing from their seats and walking around the table. "Ooh let's," Buffy agreed as Faith took Darryl's seat next to Paige.

Paige turned over the first card: Lovers. "Aww." She smiled turning over the second: Despair and her smile fell. She looked at first Faith and then Buffy, both whom had a creased brow in concern. Paige lifted the third card: Death. "Oh no," she whispered and they turned to look at Phoebe who was standing near the front door, phone to her ear.

"You don't really believe that stuff, do you?" Cole asked them but only looking at Paige.

Paige, Faith and Buffy jumped; having forgotten he was there. Faith narrowed her eyes, "So what if she does?" she retorted stiffly. "Only matters if you do, right? And Aunt Phoebe of course."

Cole shifted his eyes to Faith and held her slightly cold stare, while Paige glanced between them both warily, eternally grateful to Faith for saving her from answering because the truth was that she really did believe them.

"Oh, I am so sorry," Phoebe apologized walking back to the table. "There's just so many details you know?"

Buffy nodded. "Yes, Faith and I do." She smiled at Phoebe as the middle Halliwell sister sat back down in her seat.

"Yeah, I practically bit Paige's head off today at the church," Phoebe informed Cole, Faith and Buffy. "Because she didn't pick up my dress on time." She smirked slipping her hand into her future husband's.

Paige laughed nervously. "Which is now in the attic."

"Yay!" Phoebe grinned resting her head on Paige's shoulder.

"Excuse me," Cole excused himself politely. "I'll be right back." He smiled at Phoebe pushing out his seat and disappearing from the room.

Buffy and Faith watched him go with narrowed eyes, missing Piper and Leo re-entering the room.

"So, what did the cards say?" Piper asked and her nieces jumped, startled smiling at her as she placed a platter of something delicious looking onto the table and taking Cole's seat.

Paige glanced nervously at Buffy and Faith then answered. "Oh, nothing." She shrugged putting them away.

Piper frowned slightly, glancing between her two pale skinned sisters, feeling as though she was missing something.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Cole walked into the kitchen, glanced around and flamed out and into the attic. He walked toward the beautiful white dress, smirking wickedly as he waved his hand at it and the dress grew a good four sizes bigger. He raised his eyebrows at the size and lifted the card, waving his hand again and changing it to 'Millie Platt.' He smiled, satisfied by his work then flamed back out.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Piper, Phoebe and Paige sat in a row, Phoebe in the middle, Piper on Phoebe's right and Paige on her left. Buffy and Faith sat opposite them.

Phoebe's head was rested on Piper's shoulder, Piper resting hers against Phoebe's and the latter had the biggest smile on her face.

"Try the cards again," Piper suggested. "See what comes up."

Paige looked up startled and shrugged. "Oh…maybe later."

"Yeah," Faith agreed her head on Buffy's shoulder. "Later is better."

Cole came out of the kitchen listening carefully, then plastered a smile on his face for his bride. "I don't mean to spoil anyone's fun, but uh…I should be going," he informed them all with a smile.

"Going where?" Leo asked confused.

"Hotel," Cole replied as Phoebe wrapped her arms around him. "I'm not supposed to stay in the same house as my bride the night before the wedding, right? But Phoebe has the number in case of emergency."

Faith, Buffy and Piper looked at one another. "We didn't do that," Faith stated and Buffy and Piper shook their heads. "Were we supposed to do that?"

Piper opened her mouth then frowned throwing an arm in Phoebe direction. "Apparently so." She chuckled. "Goodnight." She smiled at Cole.

"See you later," Leo called as the couple walked to the door.

"Okay, we ought to be going to," Buffy said as she and Faith stood up. "Have a party to get to."

"How is Willow doing?" Phoebe wondered.

"She's still sad," Buffy answered sadly.

"Well tell her we're thinking of her," Piper informed her nieces as Paige nodded in agreement.

"We will," Faith said as she wrapped an arm around Buffy and they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"So, what are you going to do your last night as a single guy?" Phoebe questioned playfully.

"Hmmm." Cole smirked as he lifted his coat and suitcase. "If I told you that, you'd never marry me," he joked and Phoebe gasped, her eyes sparking playfully.

"I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff right now," Phoebe told him suddenly.

Cole looked down at her in interest. "You do?"

"Yeah." Phoebe turned to him, placing her hands on his chest. "And somehow I've never felt safer in my whole life," she shared, gazing into his eyes lovingly.

Cole looked down, unable to stand the love and trust reflect in Phoebe's eyes, the guilt tightening around his heart.

Phoebe dipped her head to meet his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked concerned, biting back laughter.

"No," Cole replied honestly, he picked up his suitcase wordlessly. "Not really." His gaze fell to her lips and he kissed her hard. "You have no idea how difficult you're making this for me," he told her seriously.

Phoebe smiled. "I do but you have to go," she told him firmly. "You'll have me soon enough."

"I hope so," Cole replied as he turned to leave.

Phoebe smiled as she watched him walk out the door.

U.C. Sunnydale

"Looks cool." Buffy commented as she surveyed the party, her eyes going over the crowds of people doing different things. Standing and talking, standing and drinking, sitting and drinking, and those that were dancing.

"Uh-huh." Willow said dully as she looked over the same crowds of people, her arms wrapped protectively over her chest. No matter how hard she tried she just really couldn't get all the excited about being here.

Buffy and Faith glanced at each other hearing the dull tone, they turned their concerned gaze to Willow. "Look, we could go," Faith offered, pointing her thumb over her shoulder, back the way they had come.

"No, no," Willow said, trying to assure the couple. She really didn't want her friends worrying about her more than they already were. "We're here for fun."

They stepped through the door and into the house, they paused at a landing, that led down two small steps and looked over the crowds once again. "Oh, look. Some of the guys are here already," Buffy stated.

"I'm going to go grab a soda. I'll find you guys," Willow said knowing that she wouldn't be joining Buffy and Faith and some of the girls from her dorm that were already here. She didn't feel up to pretending to be 'alright' in front of lots of people.

"Okay," Buffy and Faith said as they stepped down the steps and walked over to where people were dancing.

Riley spotted Buffy and walked toward to the couple. "Excuse me," he murmured and they shifted slightly, clearing his path to Buffy and Faith, and he stepped toward them, stopping only when he'd managed to squeeze in beside them. "Hi." He greeted, drawing Buffy and Faith's attention.

Buffy and Faith smiled at him politely. "Hi," they said returning the greeting, before they turned away again thinking that that was all he'd wanted was to be polite.

"Um…Buffy…" Riley said awkwardly, Buffy and Faith turned back to him and stared at him silently wondering what he could possibly have to say. They raised their eyebrows as they continued to look at him politely. "Uh," he floundered helplessly. "You do the reading on chapter 9?"

Buffy and Faith glanced at each other. "Uh-huh," Buffy answered as she and Faith turned back to Riley.

"Wow. Some theories, huh?" Riley commented. Looking down his eyes landed on a platter, that had cubes of cheese that were stabbed with a wooden tooth pick. Picking one up he turned his gaze back to Buffy and held it up to her. "Cheese cube?" he suggested.

"Are you trying to hit on my wife?" Faith asked him with a glare.

"You are telling me you two really are married?" Riley asked in clear surprise.

"For three months now," Buffy answered. "We know California law doesn't recognize it. But we don't care. We were married before a lesbian friendly minister."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow walked down the steps of the frat house, her arms crossed over her chest her expression miserable as she trudged down the stone, before she came to the ground. She began making her way down the path beginning the journey back to the dorm.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Xander came to a jumping stop beside Buffy and Faith, somewhat out of breath from running up the stairs of the frat house. "Buffy! Faith! I've been looking all over for you two. We need to talk, uh." His gaze went to Riley who had been having a nice leisurely chat with the couple. "Not here. It's sort of…unfinished business," he said quickly.

"Business?" Buffy asked questioningly and Xander gave her and Faith a look and it suddenly clicked into place. "Right."

Faith turned her gaze to Riley. "Uh, excuse us?"

"No problem," Riley said as Buffy and Faith followed Xander toward the front door.

Starlight Hotel

Cole sat at the small table in his hotel room, carefully mixing potions together to prepare for the next stage of his plan. He froze mid-pour when the phone rang, reaching behind him and snatching it up. "Hello?"

"I had to call," Phoebe panicked voice filled the line. "It's an emergency."

"Phoebe, what is it?"

"I needed to hear your voice." She giggled and Cole smiled in relief.

"I'm glad you called," he assured her continuing with his mixings.

"You are?"

"Yeah. Something's been bothering me," Cole began slowly. "Maybe it's my imagination but uh…Paige was a little, I don't know, weird at dinner, kind of cold," he lied through his teeth once again.

"Really?" came Phoebe surprised reply, "I didn't notice."

"I wouldn't bring it up though but I don't want to do anything to come between you and your sister." He threw something into the bowl and it exploded. "If us getting married is going to hurt the Power of Three in any way—"

"I don't know what to say," Phoebe told him clearly confused. "Except Paige has been nothing but supportive of our marriage."

"Forget about it," Cole dismissed, emptying the contents of the bowl into a little bag. "It's probably nothing."

"Oh-kay."

"So…how do you look in your wedding gown?" he asked planting the seed.

"I don't know yet, I've been too busy to try it on," Phoebe admitted sounding a little sad.

"Well, when you do, I want you to picture me taking it off." Cole smirked. He looked to the door as knocking sounded from the other side. "Got to go, babe. Love you." And clicked off, cutting Phoebe off mid-I love you. He closed the bag and waved his hand at the table, clearing it easily. He dropped the bag into his suit pocket and opened the door.

"Hey!" three male voices called loudly on the other side and Cole smiled as Leo, Darryl and Victor pushed through.

"What is a wedding without a bachelor party?" Leo asked, paper bag hand. "I've got poker chips, corn chips, I have chips."

"I've got the entertainment," Victor held up tapes. "From my private collection, I might add."

Darryl opened Cole's jacket, "You wouldn't happen to have the key to the mini bar in there, would ya?" he smirked and Cole chuckled.

The three men walked further into the room, none seeing the smile on Cole's face fall.

Giles' Apartment

Buffy paced angrily in a tight circuit a frown darkening her brow. "What is wrong with him? Doesn't, Spike get that this is mine and Faith's town?" she asked as she swung back around to face Giles.

"He's resilient," Giles offered softly as he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"And it's our night off," Faith grumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Aunt Phoebe is getting married tomorrow. We need to be getting home as we're two of her four bridesmaids."

Giles cleared his throat. "We have to assume that, Spike's main target is you, Buffy."

"Fine," Buffy said. "You know what? He's worn out his welcome. Tonight, I kill him," she said firmly.

"We," Faith corrected.

"Are you sure, Faith?" Buffy asked.

"She's right, Faith," Giles agreed. "In your present condition…"

"I'm fine," Faith snapped and then she let out a groan. "Babe," she said as her hand snapped to her mouth. She rushed toward Giles' bathroom as Buffy followed.

"Faith," Giles said when Buffy and Faith returned a couple minutes later. "I think you should let Buffy do this solo. What would happen if that happened while you were fighting a vampire?"

"I'm okay," Faith insisted.

"Okay," Buffy said. "But one bout of morning sickness and I'm flaming you home."

"Agreed," Faith said reluctantly.

"You two have a plan?" Giles asked, hoping that Buffy and Faith had one.

Buffy gave Giles a firm unwavering look. "I am the plan. If, Spike wants me, it's just me and Faith…no arguments," she said firmly. "We will lead him away from popular places and give him what he wants…except for the ending part," she said to assure her father figure and friend.

Buffy wrapped an arm around Faith and was about to flame out when Xander stopped her. He picked something up off the coffee table. "Oh, wait, wait! Take this," he said holding out the small gun to her.

Faith took the gun and looked it over for a small moment, before she looked back up at Xander with an incredulous look on her face. "A flare gun? Xan, if we find, Spike, we're staking him."

"Not signaling ships at sea," Buffy added.

"It's for if you two get into trouble…"

Faith nodded as she took a firmer hold on the gun. "Ok, we'll flare," she agreed.

"And we'll come a-runnin'." Xander said. Buffy and Faith nodded.

Faith hid the flare gun in the back of her pants hiding the butt of it with the jacket she wore. And then she and Buffy disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

Halliwell Manor

A still fully clothed Paige lay on her front on her bed, tarot cards laid out in front of her. She placed her hands above them and closed her eyes tightly, willing the answer to be different this time.

"What does the future have in store for Phoebe and Cole?" she asked them quietly. She hesitantly turned over the first: Lovers and then the second: Despair and finally the third: Death. All the same cards as before.

Paige snatched up the cards making her way to Buffy and Faith's bedroom, passing Piper's on the way and threw open the door to find the room empty. She turned and hurried to Piper's room and barged in to find her sister on the bed in her pajamas. "Piper," she called sharply and her sister looked over at her.

U.C. Sunnydale

Spike sat at a computer a broken window behind him, the glow of the computer illuminating his face as he carefully tapped the down arrow key not wanting to break the key before he was down with the box of machinery. His blue eyes scanning the list of student names and their housing. He frowned when he didn't find 'Buffy Summers.' He scanned the list again and found instead, 'Buffy Halliwell-Summers.'

"Hello, gorgeous," he said with a cruel smirk curling up his lips as he read the name and scanned his eyes across until he reached the dormitory and room number that Buffy was listed as living in. Little did he know that Buffy did not actually live in the room she was listed as being assigned to.

Getting up off the chair without a moments delay, he turned and the glass crunched under his feet as he quickly made his way out of the small cramped office of the school campus.

Halliwell Manor

"This is Phoebe and Cole's tarot reading," Paige informed her older sister holding the cards up for her to see. "They were lovers in their past, despair fills their present…but this…" she held out the Death card and Piper frowned, "…is their future."

"Oh please!" Piper cried taking the card, "This looks nothing like Death. I should know as Prue met him."

"Urgh! You're missing the point!" Paige cried frustrated taking the card back. "This is a bad omen."

"Uh, well not necessarily," Piper countered trying to be nonchalant about it.

Paige plopped down onto the bed beside her sister. "Look, Cole's a nice guy, fine, whatever, but face the facts. He was the world's greatest demon for what, a century?"

"Yeah." Piper nodded. "But we've been through that."

"Yeah, I know but a century's worth of blood and bad karma, you don't just walk away from that." Paige pointed out sternly, not backing down as Piper sighed.

Paige sighed heavily. "God, I don't know, maybe I'm just worried." She shrugged as Piper straightened.

"Well, have you ever considered that…maybe you drew those cards because they represent your feelings and not Phoebe's future?" Piper reasoned gently.

"That's a possibility." Paige said, somewhat reluctantly as Phoebe's scream echoed throughout the house and she and Piper scrambled to their feet, racing to the attic.

U.C. Sunnydale

Buffy and Faith sat on the cold hard bench, their feet tapping impatiently as they waited.

"Vamps are so…" Faith said as Buffy nodded in agreement.

They both had thought that Spike would have found them by now. After all they were sitting under a streetlight and Spike was pulling a 'no show'. For a vamp that was supposed to be hell bent on revenge, he sure was taking his time in tracking Buffy down.

They heard the sound of grass crunching beneath shoed feet and one of Buffy's hands immediately began to slid toward where she had her stake hidden as Faith held out her own hand preparing to form a fireball. They turned their heads in the direction of the noise, their bodies tensing to spring to their feet, only for them to freeze in shock as they saw Riley dressed in the same clothes, that seemed to be just a little rumpled since the party coming to stand by the bench.

"Riley! What are you doing here?" Buffy asked annoying clear in her voice as hers and Faith's bodies relaxed and they sat back on the bench again, a feeling settling inside them that it was going to be a long night, that they didn't have.

Riley shrugged. "Well, uh, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you two after the party. You both left so fast. You know with your friend."

Buffy and Faith shifted on the bench, sweeping their gaze out over the night. "Um…you know…I don't want you taking this the wrong way. It's just, um…Faith and I need a little couple time alone," she stated as Riley made no sign of making a move to leave.

"Why?" Riley asked, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

Faith gave him an incredulous look. "What can't I spend time with my wife looking at the stars?" she said.

"You know," Riley began. "There's plenty of places to see the stars back at your dorm. Why don't I take you both?" he offered. "You wouldn't believe the weirdos out at this hour," he told them as he reached down and grasped their arms and pulled them to their feet intending to take them back to 'their' dorm.

"Whoa!" Faith exclaimed becoming annoyed as she and Buffy yanked their arms free of his grip with an ease that surprised Riley as he turned back to face the couple.

"Ok…it's a free campus. Who died and made you John Wayne?" Buffy demanded to know, her arms crossing over her chest as she and Faith glared at him.

"I'm just trying to help." Riley floundered, not particularly liking being on the receiving end of their angry stare.

Faith frowned at him. "You think my wife and I need help? Believe me, we don't," she said firmly, highly aware that she was being rude, but being polite hadn't really worked in her favor in getting him to leave. "You know, if you were a real gentleman, then you would just leave."

Buffy and Faith sat themselves back down on the bench. "You would go far, far away, now!" Buffy glanced at Faith then back up to see him still standing there, staring down at them. "Shoo!" she said using her hands to gesture a shooing motion for emphasis.

"Are you two drunk?" Riley asked, wondering why it was that she was being so difficult about this.

"Yes!" Buffy exclaimed. "Go report us," she demanded.

Riley sighed, his brow furrowing with determination. "I'm taking you two home. Come on," he said as he once again reached down and grasped their arms and pulled them to their feet and began leading them away again.

Once again, he only got a couple of steps until Buffy and Faith yanked their arms from out of his grasp. "You touch me or my wife again, you will be going to the hospital," Faith snapped. Riley turned back around to face them, a genuinely surprised expression on his face. "You think that boys can take care of themselves and girls need help?" she asked, her eyebrows raising challengingly.

Riley shrugged as if it was obvious. "Yeah." He crossed his arms stubbornly over his chest. "Look, as long as you two are out here, I'm staying."

Buffy crossed her own arms over her chest, her eyes meeting his stubbornly. "Well, as long as you're out here, we're staying." Riley opened his mouth to argue, but the sound of a shrill terrified scream pierced the night and they all looked in the direction it had come, before quickly looking back at each other.

"Got to go," Riley muttered.

"See you." Buffy and Faith said, before they and Riley sprinted off in different directions. Once out of sight of Riley, Buffy grabbed Faith's hand and they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

Halliwell Manor

Piper and Paige burst through the attic door, Paige in front followed by her older sister. Phoebe turned to them, eyes murderous as she glared at Paige who stood there with wide eyes, mouth agape at the sight of her older sister in a wedding dress big enough to fit in another two Phoebe's.

"You!" Phoebe growled, her eyes darkening further.

"Oh!" Piper gasped looking her up and down.

"You ruined my wedding!" Phoebe cried shrilly. "And the bridal shop is closed tomorrow!"

"Now uh…Phoebe," Piper said calmly as she surveyed the extent of the damage. "Let's not blow this out of proportion."

Phoebe cut her eyes to meet Piper's. "My wedding dress could double as a circus tent, okay, I think things are already out of proportion!" she snapped shaking with anger.

"All I did was pick up the dress," Paige defended herself, eyes still as wide as saucers.

"The wrong dress!" Phoebe cried obviously.

"No." Paige shook her head. "I checked the tag."

"Oh really?" Phoebe questioned with raised eyebrows. "Let me just look at that," she grappled for the tag bringing it up to her face. "Millie Platt," she read tersely then went back to glaring at her younger sister. "Do I look like Millie Platt to you! Do I?" she exclaimed throwing the tag at Paige roughly.

"Okay, okay," Piper held up her hands standing in between the two sisters, for Paige's safety. "Let's just all calm down alright?"

"Calm down!" Phoebe fumed incredulous.

"Yes." Piper nodded calmly. "Calm down because we can fix this okay? We'll even use magic if we have to. There is still time, Phoebe, just relax and breathe."

Paige bent down and snatched up the tag, staring at the name. "That's impossible."

"Okay, you know, if you would have picked up the dress when I asked, we'd still have time to fix this," Phoebe snapped.

Piper gawked. "Hey! What did I just say?" she asked throwing up her hands. "I said there's still time so there's still time!"

Paige nodded. "Yeah, don't worry I can sew," she reminded Phoebe hopeful. "I will take in the seams, all of them, tonight," she assured her sister feeling absolutely horrible.

It was at that moment a demon decided to appear.

"Ah!" Paige yelped in surprise as her sisters turned to the demon. The Lazarus threw out his arm and sent Piper flying backwards landing on a table then falling to the floor.

Phoebe gasped, dropping the dress so she was only in her wedding underwear. This distracted the demon as he stared at her in confusion. She kicked him sharply sending him soaring back, into shelves.

Paige looked to her right, seeing a sword and holding her hand she cried, "SWORD!" She sent it into the demon and turning him to dust.

Phoebe bent down and scooped up her dress. "You better take care of this mess."

"There's got to be something about this in the Book of Shadows," Paige thought aloud.

Phoebe shook her head. "Not the demon, my wedding dress!" she exclaimed throwing said garment at Paige before storming out of the attic.

U.C. Sunnydale

Willow coughed a little, but took the opportunity to crawl towards her dorm room. "Stop her!" a commando cried as he noticed her movement through the CO2. She moved faster in an attempt to get there faster, only to be brought up short as a hand closed around her shirt and she looked back at him, her eyes wide with fear.

Buffy and Faith stepped out of Willow's dorm room. They scowled darkly as they entered the hall through the door and moved toward Willow and the commandos.

"She's contained," the commando who had hold of Willow cried.

Faith stopped beside them as she pulled out her flare gun. "Contain this!" she growled drawing both Willow's and the commando's attention. Without hesitation she pulled the trigger aiming for around eye level, making the commando cry out in pain as the night vision goggles amplified the light and he released Willow.

The sounds of the other commando's crying out in pain as the flare bounced around the hallway. "What the hell was that?" one of them cried as he ripped off his night vision goggles, the other commando's followed suit.

Faith glanced at Buffy who nodded. Buffy took Willow into her dorm room. She met the commando that was stumbling blindly toward her.

Buffy came back out just as a commando began blindly swinging at her, and she snarled in annoyance, her gaze drifting over to Faith to see how she was doing, finding it difficult through the CO2 cloud that was still filling the corridor.

Faith grunted as she put as much force as she could behind her punch, the satisfying feeling of it connecting with the commando's face filling her as she moved to attack him again, wanting to show him just what she thought of those that attacked her friends. He caught her fist and redirected her into a wall with a solid thud.

Buffy avoided the next punch her commando threw with effortless ease, she grabbed his arm and slammed him into the wall making the masked commando groan as he fell to the floor.

Faith kicked back at the commando that had pushed her against the wall freeing herself. She swung around and quickly dodged a kick and then a punch, before she retaliated landing a harsh punch. She forced the commando she was fighting back.

Buffy advanced on her commando and kicked him forcing him back. She grabbed his arm as he moved to swing at her. She landed an succession of quick harsh punches to the commando's gut, forcing him to double over to try and protect his stomach.

A commando straightened up, getting a hold of himself, he landed a solid punch to Faith's face, making sure that it was hard as he could manage. Faith flew back her stumbling steps as she tried to keep her feet only stopping when she hit the wall.

A commando stared about the hall with his hazy vision trying to focus on his assailant, and he Buffy move as another of his commandos moved to engage her in battle, and with an efficient move she threw him down. Trying to make out the other guys he had brought with him he took a breath trying to not to cough as he took in the CO2, his eyes stinging. "Abort!" he ordered, yelling it to make sure all his men heard it.

Faith and Buffy watched them go, their bodies still poised for a fight just in case they tried anything, but the commandos all quickly filed past them and soon they found themselves standing alone in the hall.

Halliwell Manor

Piper stood behind the Book of Shadows, she flipped lazily through the pages while Paige continued to work on fixing Phoebe's dress, while the highly irritable bride-to-be stood sulking in her fluffy dressing gown.

Piper looked up when bright lights filled the room and Leo orbed in with Cole just as Buffy flamed in with Faith and Willow.

"Are you hurt?" Cole asked looking his fiancé up and down.

Phoebe sighed. "Baby, you're not supposed to be here," she whined.

"What happened?" Faith questioned.

"We were attacked," Piper informed her nieces. Then she smiled at Willow. "Hello, Willow."

"Hi," Willow said. She looked at Buffy and Faith. "I'll be in your room," she told them as her friends nodded.

"Leo said it was an urgent call, I was worried." Cole defended gesturing to his future brother-in-law as Willow left the attic.

"Thanks." Phoebe pushed herself into his arms. "I'm fine."

Leo approached his wife, encircling her waist with his arm and kissing her head. Piper smiled at him. "What is Willow doing here?" Piper asked her nieces.

"Well the commandos attacked Willow," Buffy answered. "Besides we thought it might not be a bad idea for her to get away from the university and hopefully Phoebe and Cole's wedding will take her mind taken off Oz leaving," she said as Piper nodded.

"No demon is going to stop me from marrying you tomorrow," Phoebe told Cole determinedly then slowly rounded on Paige. "Now, my sister's another story."

Paige sighed. "I said I was sorry."

"What kind of demon attacked you?" Leo asked looking at the book over his wife's shoulder.

"This one, 'Lazarus demon?" Piper answered unsure.

"Lazarus demon?" Cole echoed. "You sure?"

Piper nodded. "Rare, high-level demons with telekinetic powers," she read aloud no one noticing the ashes of the demon slowly coming together. "Yep, that's the bad boy we popped."

"Has it resurrected yet?" Cole asked, looking around the attic.

"Say what?" Faith drawled turning to him with raised eyebrows.

"Resurrected?" Piper repeated, tilting her head questioningly.

Paige stood up swiftly seeing it happen right behind Buffy and Faith. "Behind you!" she yelled as the demon threw out both hands, telekinetically throwing Buffy and Faith backwards. "Sofa!" she yelled orbing the sofa behind her nieces just in time for them both to land on it.

"No!" Cole yelled as the demon raised his arm again, but the demon ignored him sending the chandelier crashing down on Phoebe's head.

"Piper, blow him up!" Paige ordered but the demon was gone before Piper could. "Leo!" she gasped her eyes on an unconscious Phoebe.

"Oh god," Faith muttered pulling Buffy to her feet.

Leo kneeled down next to Phoebe and placed a healing hand over her head wound, closing it instantly.

Phoebe raised her head with a frown and groaned, "Ow!"

"You okay?" Cole asked her as he and Leo lifted her up.

"I think so, yeah," Phoebe answered shaking herself.

"Uh…he's going to be back," Piper announced nervously. "The book says that Lazarus demons get stronger the longer they are out of cemetery ground."

"Perfect," Buffy cursed rolling her eyes.

"Cemetery ground?" Paige uttered with a frown.

"It's the only way to keep them from resurrecting," Cole explained to her. "You bury them."

"So that means someone intentionally dug him up…" Phoebe pointed out from Cole's arms, "…to attack us. The night before my wedding."

"The question is, who and why?" Leo stated, bringing Phoebe back on topic.

"I know why," Paige spoke up. "Too stop the wedding. I did two tarot readings, Phoebe. They both said that marrying Cole will only cause death and despair."

"Wh—what?" Phoebe stuttered and Piper threw up her hands.

"I'm surprised he didn't tell you," Paige continued. "He along with Faith and Buffy saw the first reading."

Cole glanced at Phoebe who looked at him curiously. "Well, if I ran scared every time things looked dark for us, we'd never have made it this far."

"That's true," Phoebe agreed looking to the floor tensely. "Is there anything else bothering you, Paige, that I should know about?"

Paige shook her head slightly. "No, not really."

"Okay good," Faith ended the conversation. "Let's not start fighting right now, that's the last thing we need."

"Yes." Piper nodded. "So, Paige and I will be on demon watch tonight so that—"

"Wow, wait a minute," Buffy cut her off, hands on her hips. "You and Paige?"

Piper nodded. "Yes. We will be on demon watch so that Phoebe can get some sleep," she said sternly. "And you two have your own problem to deal with, namely Willow. I think you two need to be available if she needs you. She is going through a difficult time right now, right?"

"That doesn't need us both," Buffy interjected. "I will be there for Willow should she need me. Beside with Prudence's powers, Faith is…"

"Very well," Piper said reluctantly.

"I'm too wired to sleep," Phoebe said sighing heavily.

"Well maybe I can help you relax with one of my aromatherapy treatments," Paige offered with a shrug.

"See, now this is the spirit," Piper boasted with a smile. "Everything will be fine, as long as we stay together and stay calm."

Underworld

"I just did what the Seer told me!" the Lazarus demon defended himself brushing himself down after Cole's little temper tantrum.

"Did she tell you to kill my fiancé or my chosen heir?" Cole demanded coldly. "Because that's what you almost did."

"The Source before you would have rewarded me for killing one of those witches," the demon replied angrily.

Cole smiled. "The old Source was reckless and now he's dead," he reminded the demon circling him imposingly. "You want to follow him to his grave?" he threatened darkly.

"No."

"Then let's get this straight, you work for me now," Cole informed him decisively. "Do what I tell you, I guarantee you'll never see another cemetery," he bargained and the demon tilted his head in interest. "But…" he looked him dead in the eyes, "…hurt my bride or my chosen heir again and I will bury you myself!" He threw a fireball at the demon temporarily turning him to dust. "Stay down until I need you," he ordered then turned on the Seer. "How dare you unearth a Lazarus demon."

"We need a creature that can lure your witch into the cemetery," the Seer reasoned calmly.

"But a Lazarus demon?" Cole scoffed distastefully.

"The witches must believe they are under attack for your plan to work," the Seer reminded him coldly.

"There's no plan with Phoebe dead."

"I'm beginning to wonder if you can handle your new mantle of power," the Seer queried watching him closely.

"Are you questioning my leadership," Cole asked her, going perfectly still.

"No. You inherited the world's evil I'll follow that anywhere," she promised him.

"But...?"

"Cole," she replied simply. "He's still alive inside you and he loves the witch."

Cole turned to her. "I know. I can feel it."

"When you were a demon, his love for her ruined more than one good plan," the Seer reminded him pointedly.

"It's different now," he assured her. "Cole's voice used to scream inside my head now it's just a whisper." He looked over her at. "We can use his feelings to control her. And through her to convert Faith, forever."

Halliwell Manor

"So, we'll take shifts," Piper explained as she and Faith led Phoebe into her bedroom. "I will go first, then Paige, and Faith will wake you up in the morning," she explained with a smile.

"Yes." Faith nodded. "And since Slayers can go on as little as three hours sleep you've got nothing to worry about."

Phoebe sighed heavily, smiling gratefully at her older sister and niece as Paige came striding into the room. "What's this?" she asked with a smile as Paige held up a jar of cream.

"Face cream," Paige replied handing it over. "Also known as 'Heaven in a Jar'. It's a special blend." She smiled.

"You made it?" Phoebe asked unscrewing the top and sniffing it.

"Uh-huh. It's got patchouli oil for balance and confidence, and chamomile to relax your nervous system. I'm really sorry about your wedding dress," Paige apologized for the umpteenth time. "I want everything to go so great for you tomorrow."

Phoebe smiled. "It's okay." She forgave her sister, pulling Paige into her embrace, looking at her older sister and niece sitting on her bed and seeing them smile.

Paige smiled at Piper and Faith before leaving the room to get back to the dress, closing the door behind her.

"She's trying," Piper mused watching Phoebe sit down at her vanity.

"Yeah I know." Phoebe nodded, sniffing the cream again. "Couldn't hurt right?"

"You still feeling tense?" Faith asked with a sympathetic smile.

Phoebe shook out her hands. "Not really tense just...extremely alert," she explained shifting her eyes to meet Piper's. "Thank you, by the way," she said quietly and Piper frowned.

"For what?" Piper questioned tilting her head.

"For reminding me that things are never really perfect," Phoebe elaborated. "Knowing that before all of this happened...I think it's the only reason I am not completely melting down right now."

Piper smiled. "Well, that is what big sisters are for…" she trailed off thinking of her wedding and Faith's wedding.

"Penny for your thoughts," Faith said looking at her eldest aunt.

"I was just thinking of my wedding and your wedding," Piper answered. "When it came to mine I wanted everything absolutely perfect and ended up with chaos all thanks to your mom," she reminded her niece bumping her shoulder.

"I still can't believe Prue crashed through the front door on the back of a Harley!" Phoebe cried with a giggle.

Faith gasped slapping Phoebe who jumped onto the bed to join them. "Mom did not!" she insisted. "She rode out of the front door on the back of a Harley," she corrected her with a wince.

Piper laughed loudly. "Yeah cause that's so much better," she drawled and Faith glared. "Only Prue could make my wedding day all about her."

"You said you also were thinking of my wedding?" Faith reminded her aunt.

"Yeah and how Paige almost ruined it by reading a spell from the book," Piper said.

"That's right," Faith agreed. "If not for Aunt Paige you and I would not have jumped through the portal and almost wound up trapped in time."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Cole flamed into his and Phoebe's bedroom to find her sound sleep in bed, Paige's cream covering her face. He walked to the bed, sitting on the edge and pulling out the small blue bag he had put the potion in. He held one hand above her face and began to chant.

In the hall Paige slipped out of the bathroom quietly, sitting back down in the chair outside Phoebe's room and picked up the dress, freezing when she heard something from inside her sister's room.

Cole continued his chant until the cream on Phoebe's face began to glow blue, before removing his hand.

Paige pressed her ear to Phoebe's door and frowned, moving her hand to the knob and twisting sharply.

Cole turned at the sound of the door opening and quickly morphed into Piper.

"What are you doing in here?" Paige whispered.

"Shh," Cole/Piper quieted her, rising from the bed and walking to the door. "I was checking on Phoebe. You were in the bathroom." Cole/Piper pushed her out the door and closed it behind them.

"I didn't even hear you," Paige mused to herself.

"Well, that's a problem don't you think?" Cole/Piper asked. "What if I was a demon?"

"Oh, good point," Paige winced.

"When you're on demon watch in this house, you don't take bathroom breaks," Cole/Piper told her pointedly.

"Got it." Paige nodded lifting the dress and taking a seat as her 'sister' walked away.

"And whatever you do…" Cole/Piper turned back around. "Don't fall asleep."

Paige nodded affirmatively then looked down at the dress.

Cole/Piper waved a hand at Paige who instantly fell asleep.

Cole/Piper smirked then moved into Piper's room waving her hand at Piper whose face glowed white like Paige's, before moving downstairs to Buffy and Faith's room and doing the same to them and Willow, who was sleeping on their couch, then flaming out.

December 8, 2001 – Saturday

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe sighed as she slowly rose from her sleep, glancing at her alarm clock which read 11:07 and shot upright with wide eyes. "Shit," she muttered throwing off the comforter and scrambling to the door wrenching it open to find Paige in the chair on the other side.

"Paige?" Phoebe questioned confused and her younger sister stirred. "Where the hell is Faith, she was supposed to wake me up!" she cried heading to the bathroom and walking right into the door. "What the—"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 - 0

"Oh…my god," a very grey-looking Faith whined as she pulled open the bathroom door, one hand on her stomach.

"You okay?" Buffy and Willow asked.

"No," Faith groaned. "Not only do we sleep in, but I woke up feeling worse than I ever have in my entire life! I have been throwing up for like an hour I—" She swallowed thickly. "I feel...there are no words to describe how bad I feel right now."

Buffy frowned. "That's not good." She placed one hand to her wife's head. "You're not burning up." She turned to her best friend. "Will, would you go upstairs and check on Piper, Phoebe and Paige for us?"

Willow slowly nodded as she left the room.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 - 0

"What happened?" Piper asked walking around the corner, one hand out in front of her as she came to her senses. "What time is it?" she asked reaching Paige.

Phoebe screamed loudly rushing to the door. "Look at me!" she exclaimed; her face covered in spots.

"Wow!" Piper gasped.

Phoebe turned to Paige, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I fixed your wedding dress?" Paige tried with a shrug as Willow came up the stairs stopping beside them.

Phoebe laughed bitterly trying not to cry, "Paige!" she shrieked.

"Are Buffy and Faith awake?" Piper asked the redhead.

"Morning sickness," Willow answered with a wrinkled nose just as Phoebe stormed into her bedroom.

Piper stormed after her Phoebe and yanked a slightly scared Paige behind her, Willow following behind them.

"This is all your fault!" Phoebe screeched sitting down at her vanity. "You put a mojo on my face cream."

"I did not!" Paige answered, fear gone, anger surfacing, "Those are all-natural ingredients."

"If you had something to say to me, why didn't you just say it, Paige?" Phoebe asked, completely ignoring her defense.

"Okay, we all just need to take a deep breath—" Piper advised.

"Say what!" Paige demanded, cutting her off.

Phoebe turned, refusing to look at her. "Don't think that I don't know how you really feel about Cole."

"Oh!" Paige cried. "I have been nothing but supportive of that demon."

"Ex-demon!" Phoebe countered.

Paige rolled her eyes. "Oh, is that like 'ex-convict?'"

"Alright, that is not necessary," Piper reprimanded. "We all just need to calm down—"

"Face it, Phoebe!" Paige snapped and Piper threw up her hands.

"Help me!" Piper begged Willow who she considered, since she had met the redheaded witch, like her own daughter.

Willow glanced at Piper and sighed as she reluctantly opened her mouth only to be drowned out.

"This wedding has been filled with nothing but bad omens from the start," Paige pointed out, one hand on her hip.

"And they all seem to be connected with you now, don't they?" Phoebe jibed glaring daggers at her then whirling back to the mirror.

"Alright that's it!" Piper yelled loudly silencing them both. "Break it up. You…" she pointed at Paige, "…go back to your corner and you…" she turned to Phoebe. "You're going to get ready and we're going to put lots and lots of make-up on you."

"Oh, face it! There's not enough spackle in the world to fill those craters." Paige insulted with a scowl. "Step back."

"Oh, now what are you doing?" Phoebe gasped turning around in her chair.

"Phoebe, that's enough!" Willow snapped hands on her hips and Phoebe stopped talking surprised that the normally meek woman had just snapped at her. "Drop the attitude. If you're going to accuse Paige of trying to sabotage your wedding, based solely, on her less than fluffy feelings toward your fiancé then why the hell aren't you accusing Buffy and Faith too?" she asked pointedly, raising both her eyebrows.

"Buffy and Faith?" Piper questioned confused.

"Prue made them promise to keep an eye on Cole," Willow answered. "And to take him out should he pose a threat first to Phoebe and second to the rest of your family."

Piper nodded in understanding as she wrapped an arm around Willow and whispered into the redhead's ear.

Willow slowly nodded as she smiled at Piper. "Okay," she said quietly. "Mom," she said as she smiled for the first time in the week since Oz had left.

Piper turned toward Paige. "You, get rid of the attitude because all this yelling is just wasting time, and giving me a headache."

Paige sighed. "Sorry," she apologized to Piper.

"Sorry too," Phoebe added, scowling at Paige.

"Thank you," Piper sighed then looked at Paige. "What were you going to say."

"I'm going to fix your face and prove to you that I am not trying to sabotage anything!" Paige said snarkily and Phoebe rolled her eyes.

Piper shook her head, "I don't think—"

Paige held up her hand. "Let the object of objection become but a dream as I cause the scene to be unseen."

"—think magic's the answer," Piper finished with a sigh.

"Magic," Phoebe cried looking to her older sister and Willow. "She just used magic on me."

"And it's…working," Willow said as they watched the spots disappear.

"It is?" Phoebe cried happily, her face lighting up, now completely clear of zits.

Willow and Piper gasped loudly as they watched Phoebe disappear completely.

"My zits are gone?" Phoebe asked hopefully now totally invisible, her pajama's the only indication that she was standing in front of them.

Willow and Piper turned on a startled and panic-stricken Paige.

"Yeah…" Piper nodded as she looked at Phoebe's floating pajama's. "I can, I can honestly say that your face is completely clear."

"Woohoo!" Phoebe rejoiced jumping up and down, her pyjama's the only thing her sisters could see.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"This is my wedding day," Phoebe ranted in the attic waving around her program. "The one day of my life that is all about me and nobody can see me!" she exploded throwing the papers into the air, grabbing one sheet so that her sisters could locate her.

"I'm sorry," Paige apologized again following her sister, wedding dress in hand. "I didn't mean to do it."

"Stop following me," Phoebe snapped. "Go away!" she cried scrunching up the sheet.

"Hang on, Phoebe," Piper soothed from her place next to Faith who was flicking through the Book of Shadows. Buffy and Willow were downstairs getting ready. "Don't lose it now."

"Here." Paige held out the dress. "You can't walk around naked and I think it'll fit now."

"Urgh!" Phoebe growled snatching away the dress. "Paige! What difference does it make? I am invisible. My wedding is supposed to start in less than one hour and everyone I've ever known is going to be there and I'm never going to be able to face them again," she huffed dropping the dress and throwing a stack of books to the floor.

"Aunt Phoebe!" Faith cried keeping her eyes on the book. Phoebe sighed and she sat down on the couch. "This is just a backfire to the vanishing spell okay?" she said calmly. "I am looking for a way to reverse it."

"Hey, what's going on up here?" Victor asked as he opened the attic door, already in his tuxedo. "You guys aren't even dressed yet."

Faith and her aunts glanced at each other, panicked.

"Where's Phoebe's?" he asked looking around.

"Uh…" Piper pointed to her father. "She is still putting on her face," she answered trying not to laugh.

Victor sighed. "I can't keep stalling this photographer forever," he told them. "He's done portraits in every room in the house."

"Send him ahead to the church," Phoebe's voice told him from somewhere in the room.

"Phoebe?" Victor questioned looking around.

"That was me," Piper said before she realized what she was doing. "I'm working on my impressions." She smiled then planted a hand over her mouth when Phoebe spoke again.

"Dad, go downstairs and wait for us there."

"See?" Piper cried removing her hand. "I'm working it into the toast."

"Just go downstairs, Gramps," Faith instructed saving her aunt from further embarrassment. "Check on Buffy and Willow," she suggested as he walked back downstairs.

"Uh, what's the use?" Phoebe voice sounded the couch dipping as she stood up. "I might as well call Cole and tell him the wedding's off."

"Something you said is bothering me," Paige spoke up looking at Faith. "Why would there be a backfire to the vanishing spell?"

Faith shrugged. "Personal gain, I guess."

"But that doesn't explain why it would backfire now and not when I used it to help Carolyn," Paige reminded them.

"That's true." Piper nodded. "Are you suggesting that there is outside magic at play here?"

"Yeah." Paige nodded and Faith walked around the book to stand next to her. "The same magic that dug up the Lazarus demon, and then there was the acne, then the super-sized wedding dress."

"She's rambling," Phoebe interjected. "Should I yell at her again."

Faith and Piper shook their heads. "No! She might be onto something," Faith agreed. "I mean, don't you think it's weird that we all slept in? That all of our alarms failed to go off."

"Yes." Piper nodded.

Phoebe sighed. "I guess so," she agreed reluctantly.

Faith placed a hand on her stomach. "Maybe it also explains why I've been so ill," she added and Piper frowned.

"Okay you lost me there." Piper shook her head.

"Evil, that magic it, it doesn't agree with Prudence. She knows it's wrong," Faith explained gesturing with her hands. "She was trying to tell us all along."

Paige nodded enthusiastically, "We're not fighting each other here, we're fighting evil. We kick evil's ass every day."

"Sometimes twice a day," Piper added with a shrug and Faith chuckled.

"Okay." Paige smiled. "Today's a day, just like any other day. Evil wants this wedding cancelled? Screw that! We're not going to go down without a fight," she exclaimed.

Faith and Piper turned to one another with a smile.

"Okay, so what we do is…we get dressed, we head to the church while we look for a way to fix Phoebe. Are you with me?" Paige asked and Piper nodded.

"Yes! Phoebe?" Piper asked looking around.

"Grab the book, let's go." Phoebe answered opening the door.

"Get that dress," Piper ordered Paige as she lifted the book into her arms.

Faith smirked at Paige. "You go, P," she praised and Paige smiled. "I'll go get Buffy and Willow.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Did you know how Piper looked at me?" Willow asked her best friend.

Buffy nodded. "Since that day with the succubus, I had a feeling," she admitted happy to actually see her friend happy. "I know your parents weren't around that much. Maybe this is something you need, Will, a family. Maybe that's what you've been missing since Oz left."

"Maybe," Willow agreed.

"Hey," Faith said as she came into the room. "We're heading for the church."

"Did you guys reverse Phoebe's invisibility?" Buffy wondered.

"Not yet," Faith answered. "We're going to try and do that on the way."

Grace Cathedral

The Church was filled with guests waiting to witness to joining of Phoebe and Cole in holy matrimony, an event that was irrevocably delayed.

"The wedding was supposed to start 15 minutes ago," Cole muttered under his breath as Leo approached him from the back. "Where are the girls?"

"Phoebe needs to talk to you in the dressing room," Leo told him cryptically.

Cole nodded following Leo reluctantly. "It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

"I don't think that that's going to be a problem," Leo told him honestly.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Okay, this one's got to work," Paige said determinedly. "It's the spell that reversed my enhanced breasts. Here." She handed this sheet of paper to Piper this time.

"Guiding spirits, hear our plea. Annul this magic, let it be," Piper chanted lighting the paper then dropping it into the bowl.

"Can you see me?" Phoebe asked hopefully.

"Not even your breasts," Piper quipped and Phoebe sighed.

"Speaking of breasts," Faith spoke up from Piper's side, wriggling uncomfortably and pulling at her dress straps. "I think mine have grown since the last fitting."

"They have," her three aunts informed her together and Faith's eyes widened.

"Well, that's it." Paige shrugged, sighing sadly. "It's the last reversal spell we have."

"It's okay you guys," Phoebe assured them blowing out the candle. "You did your best."

"No, it's not okay!" Buffy countered rising swiftly. "This is your wedding day Phoebe. It's not fair!"

"Oh, Buffy, that's sweet," Phoebe told her niece gently. "But please don't cry."

A knock on the door, signaled the arrival of Cole and Piper bounced up to answer it. "Come on, let's go," she called to Faith, Buffy and Paige. "We'll leave you two alone to talk," she addressed Cole and they slipped out the room.

"Wait a minute," Cole called as the door closed. "Where's Phoebe?"

"Over here?" Phoebe's voice called out to him waving a bouquet of flowers at him from the chair by the vanity. "Hi, honey," she said impishly.

"Phoebe?" Cole walked forward. "You're invisible."

"Yeah," Phoebe replied putting down the bouquet. "Looks like whatever demon's trying to stop our wedding succeeded."

"Oh, honey…" Cole sighed walking toward the chair.

"We tried every trick we know to fix it," Phoebe explained, her voice shaking. "And nothing's worked and now…"

"Phoebe?" Cole called with a frown when she remained silent.

A tissue rose into the air and he heard sniffling, coupled with tiny sobs. "I wanted the perfect wedding. But I didn't want it for me," she told him lifting up a hand mirror. "I wanted it for you. You've given me so much; you don't deserve this."

Cole opened his arms, waiting until he felt her pressing against him to close them around her body. "It's okay, baby," he soothed. "We'll find another way, I promise."

"Okay," Phoebe whimpered pulling out of his arms.

"I'll make the announcement," he told her as the remaining Halliwells and Willow entered the room. "The wedding's off," he told them and they shook their heads.

"Not necessarily," Paige countered.

"Get everybody in their positions," Piper instructed leading him toward the door. "We'll start with the processional, tell the quartet."

"Whoa! What about Phoebe?" Cole questioned stopping at the door. "She's invisible."

"Not for long, I hope," Willow told him and smiled.

"So, go on and look for your bride walking down the aisle." Piper nodded as Cole remained hesitant. "Go on." She pushed him out the door, closing it behind them.

"Wait, hold on here," Phoebe stammered as Piper joined them at the chair she was seated on. "I thought we were out of spells."

"No," Willow answered. "Not yet. When Buffy and Faith told me about the spells having failed. I came up with an idea. Kind of similar to a spell I did not long after Oz left. I called it 'My Will Be Done' spell. It was highly personal gain; I was trying to help me get over Oz. So, I'm thinking what if I used that spell again, this time rewording it to shift your invisibility…" she looked toward Paige, "from one sister to another."

"Wait. You mean transfer the invisibility to Paige?" Phoebe questioned surprised and Paige nodded. "No way."

"Phoebe, every Cinderella needs a fairy godmother," Paige told her insistently. "Let me be yours," she asked.

Piper turned to Buffy and Faith with a smile, Faith and Buffy smiling back with tears in their eyes that made Piper laugh silently.

"Paige," Phoebe sighed heavily.

"Please, I need to do this so you know that I am not trying to stop your wedding," Paige begged her as Phoebe sighed again and then reluctantly nodded. She looked at Willow and nodded.

"Harken all ye elements, I summon thee now," Willow started to chant.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"The natives are growing restless in there," Leo announced as he joined Victor and Darryl.

"Yeah, I know." Darryl agreed running a hand over his face. "A couple have already left."

"Will somebody tell me what's going on?" Victor asked as Cole joined them.

"I wish I knew," Cole agreed, closing his jacket. "Places, everybody," he ordered and Darryl and Leo headed straight back in.

"Aren't you going to seat me?" the Seer asked from behind them, dressed in all blue.

"I'll get her," Victor offered kindly.

"No. You should…wait for Phoebe," Cole told him forcefully and Victor looked at him suspiciously before nodding his head and heading back in. Cole smiled at the Seer offering her his arm. "They'll recognize you."

"You never contacted me. Did your potion work?" she asked curiously.

"Yes." He nodded.

"And did they use the spell you thought they would?"

"Yes, and now she's invisible," he informed her.

"Then why are all these people here?" she asked looking around the church pointedly.

"I think they found a spell to reverse our magic."

The Seer looked at him carefully. "And did she find an obedience spell to make you do as she pleases?"

Cole laughed. "Don't forget who you're talking to," he warned her showing her to a seat at the back.

He looked down to the end of the aisle and saw Piper, Buffy and Faith take their places and a second later Willow joining them, who had at Phoebe's insistence exchanged dresses with Paige. Cole leaned down to her ear. "Where's the Lazarus demon?"

"In my chambers, awaiting your command," the Seer replied keeping her eyes to the front.

"Order him to attack," he told her lowly. "The girls will stop the ceremony to save innocent lives."

The Seer nodded and he walked away. The Seer waited a few seconds until Cole was further away before she rose from her seat and left.

The priest walked to the altar, Cole and his two groomsmen to the left of him and the four bridesmaids on the right. He nodded to the musicians who began playing the wedding march signaling Phoebe's entrance and the guests stood.

Phoebe rounded the corner on her father's arm, fully visible and looking beautiful in her perfectly fitting gown. She looked to the end of the aisle, catching her sister's and nieces' eyes and smiling brightly. They smiled back, eyes shining with tears.

Phoebe and Victor reached the altar, Phoebe smiling at Cole and Darryl leaned into Leo asking, "Where's Paige?"

"I don't know," Leo replied honestly.

At the back of the church a chair slid to the center so the occupant could have a clear view of the altar. "I'm going to cry," Paige's voice floated out, the chair dipping as she sat.

"Please be seated," the Priest instructed and the guests did just that. "Thank you all for coming to honor the love between Cole Turner and Phoebe Halliwell."

Paige turned to her left and saw the Lazarus demon appear at the back of the church. "Oh no."

"Before we start…" the priest continued, "…I must ask, is there anyone who has just cause why this couple should not be united in marriage?" he asked the congregation at the same time Paige struck the demon over the head with a candle stick pushing him toward the bridal chambers.

The guests gasped turning around as the doors closed loudly.

Phoebe exchanged looks with her visible sisters and nieces who looked just as confused as she was.

"This is your time, your platform," the Priest continued. "Speak now or forever hold your peace."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The Lazarus demon jumped to his feet, listening closer then hit Paige with a well-placed telekinetic blast sending her soaring backward and through another door, nearer the bridal chambers. The door banged loudly against the wall, echoing throughout the church catching everyone's attention again.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith glanced at Buffy who nodded. She turned to the Priest. "We'll check that out," she told him with a smile. "You keep going," she ordered before she and Buffy ran down the aisle toward the noise.

Piper turned to the Priest and laughed nervously. "You heard the lady. Keep going."

"Since nobody here can show just cause it is my privilege to ask—"

"You put her down!" Buffy's voice floated into the hall, distracting everyone again,

"You son of a bi—" Faith's sentence was drowned out by a loud crash and cries and smashing of something.

Piper's eyes widened and she looked at her husband nodding, "Um…excuse us." She smiled and they both ran down the aisle towards the fight.

"Keep going, please," Phoebe begged turning back to the Priest. "Just keep going."

"As, as I was saying it is my privilege to ask who gives this woman to this man today?" the Priest continued warily.

Victor rose to his feet. "Uh…her sisters, her nieces and I do."

"You bastard!" Faith's voice interrupted once again and the guests gasped.

The sound of another crash filled the air.

"Faith!" Buffy's voice sounded. "You son of a bitch!" she spat, then there was another crash.

"Piper, look out!" Leo called to his wife and then more smashing was heard.

Phoebe's breathing sped up and she glanced between the door and Cole before she dropped her bouquet and racing down the aisle, Cole and Willow behind her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe burst through the door to the bridal chamber to find Piper on the ground in front of the Lazarus demon, bleeding profusely from her nasty head wound, Faith stirring slowly bleeding heavily from her abdomen where a large piece of something was protruding and Paige nowhere to be seen of course but not making a sound.

The demon threw out his arm sending Leo crashing into Phoebe, knocking her to the ground. Willow made to run for her friends who shook their heads at her. Buffy pressed a hand to Faith's stomach.

Cole pulled Phoebe to her feet and she ran at the demon who picked up a heavy chair, stopping her in her tracks. "Stop!" he yelled to him and the demon froze obediently.

Piper winced loudly as she pushed herself to her feet and flicked her wrists, turning him to dust.

Phoebe exhaled slowly, looking her sister over. "You okay?" she asked and Piper nodded wincing.

"Leo!" Buffy called sharply waving him over.

"Where's Paige?" Phoebe asked looking around the room.

Faith held up one hand. "Uncle Leo, where's Aunt Paige?" she repeated Phoebe's question shakily.

"Faith—" he tried.

"Find her!" Faith gasped her eyes searching as Buffy yanked the protruding object from her flesh. "Ah!"

"I can't get a read on her," Leo answered fearfully.

"What?" Phoebe whimpered with pleading eyes.

"Wherever she is her heart's not beating," Leo continued as Willow caught sight of a large pool of blood.

"Guys," Willow called at them. "Over here." She pointed to the back of the room and the pool of blood.

Piper's eyes widened as she followed Willow's gaze. "No."

"Oh god!" Faith and Buffy cried shaking their heads.

Leo rushed forward laying his hands above the pool of blood.

"Aunt Piper?" Faith called, holding out her un-bloodied hand and Piper and Buffy pulled her up, as she hissed at the pain.

The door burst open and the Priest followed closely by Darryl barreled in. "What's going on in here?"

"That's it," Phoebe cried shakily. "The wedding is off! Tell everyone to get out of here," she instructed Darryl pushing them out the door. "Go, go, go!" She slammed the door behind them and leaned against it, breathing heavily. She looked over at Leo who was still healing Paige then to Piper, blood trickling down the side of her face, she shifted her eyes to Faith who was pressing against her bleeding wound relying solely on Piper and Buffy to keep her upright and all Phoebe wanted to do was burst into tears.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Just send the food to the house," Piper instructed whoever was on the other line, cell phone pressed to her ear. "Yes, and the bill." She shook her head. "Not as sorry as I am. Thank you." She then hung up with a sigh. "Caterer's taken care of," she announced to the group who were gathered by the altar.

Phoebe lifted her head from Cole's shoulder. "Thank you so much, Piper, I just…I can't deal with any of that right now."

"That's okay." Piper smiled. "It's been a tough day."

"Tough is an understatement," Willow admitted.

Faith leaned against Buffy with her arms wrapped around a blanket wrapped Paige. "How you holding up?" she asked her youngest aunt.

Paige forced her eyes open. "I'm still a little shaky," she admitted quietly her eyes falling closed again as she wriggled closer to Faith, clutching the blanket around her. Faith kissed her head and closed her own eyes.

"We nearly lost you," Leo told her gently and Paige stiffened a little, not quite used to the near-death occurrences yet. "Lucky the demon hesitated when Cole yelled."

"Yeah but why did he?" Willow questioned shaking her head in bewilderment. What had started with Piper wanting her to think of her as her mom. Had quickly spread to Phoebe and now included the entire Halliwell family. Phoebe and Paige now saw Willow as their niece and Faith saw her as her cousin.

"Maybe he was just surprised somebody yelled at him," Cole suggested with a shrug.

"We should all just be thankful that we're alive," Leo concluded from behind Paige.

"And visible." Paige cracked with a smirk, eyes still closed, "Although I'm not sure how that happened."

"I do," Cole spoke up. "The magic you were under was supposed to stop the wedding, it wore off once the wedding was cancelled," he explained and Phoebe's face fell further.

"Oh, you mean when evil won?" Phoebe quipped without any amusement. "I am not stopping until I find out who sent that thing after us."

"That can wait till tomorrow though, right?" Faith begged tiredly, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Unfortunately, the demon can't," Piper said sympathetically eying her niece. "The crispy critter needs to find its way back to a cemetery."

"Well I know a local haunt," Cole offered standing up straight. "I can take it there."

"And what happens when mom's freeze wears off on the way?" Willow asked pointedly.

"Willow's right," Piper agreed. "You'll be as defenseless as a cat toy."

"I'll go with him," Phoebe offered walking to his side. "I want to make sure it's in the ground for good."

"Let's all do it," Paige suggested pushing herself up to her feet.

Faith groaned. "Do we have too," she whined stopping everyone in their tracks. Paige turned to her with big brown eyes and she sighed. "Okay, fine," she relented standing to her feet then sitting right back down again. "Are you sure you healed me, right?" she asked Leo with worried eyes.

Leo nodded. "You're just dizzy," he promised holding out his hand. "You and Prudence are both fine, I promise."

"Come on." Buffy held out her arm and Faith walked into her embrace, resting her head on Buffy's shoulder.

Cole watched them walk past before saying to himself, "Fine by me." He then smirked triumphantly.

Stonecyphen Cemetery

"I found a spot," Cole called out to them. "This headstone is from the early 1900s, nobody will come digging here anytime soon," he informed them as the girls reached him: Paige carrying the box, Piper carrying Phoebe's train and Phoebe holding Faith's hand.

"Piper, if you see anyone coming, freeze 'em," Leo instructed as he went to help Cole dig.

"Don't worry honey," Piper said soothingly seeing Phoebe's dejected face. "It took Leo and me three times to get married. It'll happen for you and Cole."

Willow nodded. "Yes, it will we will make sure of it," she told Phoebe, who sniffled certainly.

"But for now," Faith said, "we just need to figure out what kind of evil stopped your wedding and…why."

"I have an idea." Paige smiled. "Why don't we just ask it?"

Cole stopped digging and turned to Paige. "Oh, don't be crazy," he told her and the Halliwells looked at him curiously. "That Lazarus demon is a time bomb waiting to explode."

"No, I want to know who ruined the happiest day of my life," Phoebe informed them, dismissing his concern and nodding to Paige.

Paige bent down and tipped out the contents of the cardboard box and throwing it aside moving to one end, Piper and Willow the other and Buffy and Faith staying in the middle with Phoebe.

"Phoebe, I'm asking you please, for me," Cole begged her seriously. "Don't do this."

"Cole, I can't believe you don't want to know," Phoebe snapped looking at him bewildered. She nodded once at Piper who waved her hand, unfreezing the demon and the ashes instantly came together until the demon was fully formed.

"One flinch and I blow you into briquettes," Piper threatened. as the demon turned to Phoebe.

Phoebe, along with Buffy, shielded Faith as they eyed him threateningly. "Who resurrected you?" she demanded coldly.

The Lazarus demon eyed Phoebe angrily then turned to Cole and pointed. "Ask him," he told Phoebe and all eyes shifted to Cole. "You swore I'd never see a cemetery again if I helped you. You set me up!"

"Cole?" Buffy called. "What is this demon talking about?" she demanded, her eyes hardening.

"I have no idea," Cole replied shaking his head.

"Liar!" the Lazarus demon accused. "You ordered me to attack them in the church. Is this how you reward your loyal servants."

Phoebe shook her head, her chest closing in on itself as she clutched Faith's wrist tightly.

Faith glared ice at Cole shifting Phoebe as if trying to protect her from his betrayal. "Mom knew it," she seethed.

Buffy kept her eyes trained on him willing Cole to flinch to she could send him flying. "You son of a bitch."

Phoebe drew in a ragged breath, shifting her eyes to her fiancé, gripping her nieces' wrists tighter when he met her eyes. "Okay, Cole, what is going on because I got to tell you right now, I am freaking out!" she exclaimed shakily.

Cole stared at Phoebe for a long moment before rolling his eyes and throwing the shovel to the ground. "Oh, what's the point, you already figured it out." He shrugged nonchalantly then threw a fireball at the Lazarus demon, turning him back to dust.

Phoebe jumped. "No, oh god, no it can't be," she gasped turning into Buffy and Faith and away from Cole as Piper, Willow and Paige rushed over.

Buffy's eyes darkened and she threw up one hand, telekinetically smacking Cole on the chest so hard the breath was knocked right out of him and he nearly doubled over as he went soaring backward flaming out in mid-air.

He flamed back in and shook himself off. "Well…" he smirked at the blonde Slayer. "That actually hurt," he complimented morphing into the Seer mid-sentence. "Well done." She smiled wickedly.

Faith gasped and jabbed Phoebe. "It's not Cole, it's the Seer," she announced and Phoebe whipped her head around.

"Not for long," Piper threatened raising her hands.

"No, don't." Phoebe grabbed her hands then stalked toward the female demon, her sisters and nieces running after her. "Where's Cole?" she demanded stopping in front of her.

"Unconscious in the mausoleum," the Seer answered glancing to her left.

"Why would you save us one day and try to kill us the next?" Paige questioned confused.

"For the same reason," the Seer answered calmly. "To keep the balance of power between good and evil."

"Don't be cryptic. I hate cryptic," Buffy quipped with a glare.

"So, do I," Piper added.

"I had a vision," the Seer elaborated. "If you married Cole on this day his love would have helped you evolve into a much stronger witch—too strong. I had to stop you and I did." She smirked before flaming away.

"Bitch," Piper cursed darkly while Buffy and Faith narrowed their eyes suspiciously, tilting their heads.

"Cole!" Phoebe gasped turning in the direction of the mausoleum.

"Go," Leo nodded. "Buffy, you and I will bury the rest of the demon," he said as Buffy nodded in agreement, backing up the statement and the three sisters, Faith and Willow took off running as fast as they could in dresses and heels.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The Seer flamed into the mausoleum, glancing toward the entrance quickly then morphing back into Cole who tugged on his bowtie for effect and lay down on the marble ground, closing his eyes just as Phoebe came down the stairs.

"Cole!" she cried rushing to his side and turning her to him as he stirred.

"It was the Seer," he cried, shaking his head to clear the imaginary cobwebs. "She's in the cemetery."

"Yeah, we know. We had a little chat," Piper informed him bitterly.

"I'm surprised she didn't kill you," Paige mused with a frown.

"That's not her style," he explained faking a wince. "Killings beneath her. She only does it if she has too."

"Come on, let's get you home," Phoebe said helping him to his feet.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You okay?" Leo asked as he and Buffy entered the mausoleum and Cole nodded.

"I still don't understand," Paige stated as she walked next to Phoebe who was leaning against Cole, the others following behind. "If the Seer wanted to stop Phoebe from marrying you, wouldn't she want to kill you?"

Cole glanced at Paige. "I don't know, you'd have to ask the Seer."

"Oh, we will," Faith assured him with a nod.

"If we ever get the chance," Buffy added as she moved next to her wife.

Cole turned to the Slayers and for a second, he was pretty sure he could see a threat in their eyes.

"Hey look, a chapel," Leo pointed our as the rounded a corner.

"A chapel in a mausoleum?" Paige stated in disbelief. "That's a first."

"Around here, sure," Willow said glancing at Buffy and Faith, both of whom nodded. "A lot of mausoleums in Sunnydale have chapels in them."

"Of course, that's because of the death rate there," Buffy added.

"Anyways, it's cute." Faith shrugged with a gentle smile.

"And perfect," Cole added looking at Phoebe.

"For what?" Phoebe asked with a frown.

"A wedding," Cole stated with a smile.

"I couldn't agree more." Piper grinned staring at her younger sister.

"Really?" Phoebe asked quizzically turning to Faith who shrugged.

"You've got the rings," Paige pointed out.

"And we're all here," Buffy put in, wrapping an arm around her wife.

Phoebe smiled. "Okay, I do. I mean, I mean…I will. Let's go!" she cried excitedly.

"Ooh wait." Faith stopped them. "Gramps is not here," she observed turning to her wife. "And it would break his heart, not to see Aunt Phoebe get married."

"Oh, that's true," Piper agreed scratching her head as Buffy disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

The small group entered the Chapel as soon as Buffy returned with Victor. The Dark Priest turning upon their entrance and smiling at Cole.

Cole took a long-stemmed rose from one of the arrangements and handed it to Phoebe who snapped off as much stem as possible and tucked it into his breast pocket, pricking her finger on a thorn as she did. Cole, upon seeing the blood, promptly took her thumb to his mouth and sucked it away. Drinking her blood like the Seer said.

Cole and Phoebe stood in front of the small altar, their family surrounding them, men on one side and the women on the other.

Piper looked to her adopted daughter with tears in her eyes and smiled, laughing as she saw Willow's cheeks trailed with tears. "I think, Willow, you're ready to move on," she whispered and Willow nodded.

The Halliwells all watched as Phoebe, who had for so long been the baby of the family until Faith joined them, slid the ring onto Cole's finger, he in turn doing the same and the Dark Priest enclosing their clasped hands with his and saying, "…not two but one…till life be gone." He smiled at them both, looking at Cole he said, "You may kiss the bride."

"We did it," Phoebe whispered as she gazed into his eyes.

"Yes, we did." Cole agreed and kissed her again.

The Seer stood at the back of the small chapel, the people within oblivious to her presence as they congratulated the newly-weds. The Seer smiled to herself and proclaimed, "It is done." The dark wedding was complete.

---

Author's Note: Originally Willow was not going to have really any role other than guest spots. As originally this was going to be mainly in Charmed only. Then I asked you all where Faith and Buffy should go to college, San Francisco or Sunnydale. A fair number said Sunnydale, so that was where I sent them which also meant adding in BTVS episodes to the story. Then I started a rewrite, with help from Megagalvatron12 who has provided ideas and even scene suggestions some of which have been included.

When I got to Oz leaving and the episodes of The Initiative and Marry-Go-Round and remembering, as I did this chapter, what Willow was like after Wild at Heart and before Hush. I was like why not give Willow a little bit of a happy ending of sorts. Which is why I decided to have Piper offer to become Willow's adopted mother.