A Summer Wedding

Title: A Summer Wedding

Author's Name: SavageLove

Fandom: Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Pairings: Buffy/Faith

Ratings: NC-17

Warnings: This story contains a love between two women. If that bothers you, then find something else to read. This story also contains graphic language and sex, so if you are not 21y/o or older, please find something else to read.

Disclaimers: I do not own the characters, nor do I own anything other than the story I wrote. I am not making a profit off of this.

Feedback Email Address: mailto:ImNDeepThoughts2@aol.com?

Chapter 15: A Summer Wedding (Part 1)

Notes: The songs in this chapter are: ‘Blessed’ by Christina Aguliar, ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry.

~~~~~

Day 1

Buffy awoke and smiled. She was cradled in Faith’s arms and she didn’t want to get up any time soon. Just as she snuggled further into Faith’s embrace, Joyce let out a cry causing Buffy to groan. Buffy left her human pillow shake as Faith laughed. Buffy pouted for a moment before easing herself up and looking at Faith.

“I’ll go get the baby,” Buffy said getting out of the warm bed. The cool morning air that was blowing in from the window made her naked body flush with goose bumps. Buffy pulled on her robe and headed for the baby’s room. Buffy walked to the crib and lowered the side. Buffy gently lifted the baby and held her against her shoulder as she returned to her room. Buffy closed the door and walked to the bed. She handed the baby to Faith and got onto the bed behind Faith. Faith settled back against Buffy as the older girl wrapped her arms around Faith’s middle as the baby suckled her breast. This was their quiet time that no one ever dared to interrupt unless it was a dire emergency.

“What are you thinking?” Buffy asked.

“About how I hope this kid doesn’t teeth early cause breast feeding a kid with teeth has got to hurt,” Faith deadpanned.

Buffy lightly smacked Faith on the arm.

“I’m being serious!” Buffy said.

“Well, I was think about our wedding day,” Faith admitted.

“What about it?” Buffy asked, not in the least bit worried. She knew that Faith wasn’t having any second thoughts.

“I ain’t wearing a dress,” Faith said.

Buffy groaned and buried her head in Faith’s hair.

“Why not?” Buffy demanded.

“Cause it ain’t my thing. I don’t like dress,” Faith said.

“But you wore one to that dance for school,” Buffy pointed out.

“Well, that was cause I thought you would want it that way. If I had showed up in a tux you would have freaked,” Faith said.

Buffy sighed.

“Well, your tux better be white then, cause brides only wear white,” Buffy said.

Faith leaned her head back and gently kissed Buffy on the lips.

“Thanks baby,” Faith said.

“Umm hmm,” Buffy said as she nuzzled Faith’s neck.

“Buffy? Come on you lazy butt! Get up, we have to go dress shopping soon,” Dawn called through the door.

“Alright, be out on a while,” Buffy called out. Buffy looked at Faith. “Before I leave, I’ll drop Joyce off at the neighbors.”

“Alright,” Faith said, as she finished breast feeding their daughter.

Faith got up and handed Buffy the baby and got dressed. She then took the baby into the nursery to get the baby ready for the day while Buffy got ready for her day/ Then they went down stairs and ate breakfast and planned out the day with their family.

An hour later, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Cordelia, and Fred entered the bridal shop and began to look around for dresses for Buffy’s wedding. It was four days until the wedding and time was running out. Well, that’s what Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Cordelia, and Fred thought anyway. Angel, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Oz, Xander and Faith thought that it was plenty of time to get everything done. Well, almost everything was already done anyway. They were having the wedding at Angel’s old mansion. The reception was at the Summers’ house. Willow was going to be the minister like thing and perform a Wiccan wedding ritual. For the reception, they were going to have a BBQ in the backyard. Angel and Wesley were getting all of the flowers the day before the wedding. There was no one to invite since they were all here, so pretty much everything but the dresses, tuxedos and the two different bachelorette parties were taken care of.

“Hey, Buffy, you’re not gonna make us wear ugly dresses are you?” Dawn asked, almost fearful.

“No, that’s why I asked Cordy to come. She’ll pick out the dresses for you guys while I get my dress,” Buffy explained. She paused, and then said, “Hey, are you questioning my dress picking capabilities? Maybe I should pick out your dresses.”

“NO!” Dawn yelled out.

Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, and Fred laughed at Dawn’s horrified expression.

“What say we meet at the Espresso Pump in three hours?” Cordelia suggested, to get everyone back on track, they did, after all have a wedding in four days.

“Agreed,” Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Fred agreed in unison.

Buffy broke off from the group and headed for the section of the store called ‘Brides’. She looked around the large room and thought, ‘Three hours is not going to be enough.’ Buffy looked around the room, not sure where to start.

“Can I help you?” a voice behind her asked.

Buffy jumped and turned around, startled. “Huh? Oh…Oh, yes,” Buffy said. Buffy mentally cursed herself for letting down her defenses. ‘Well done Buffy. Just forget everything around you and act like an idiot the minute you see a bunch of wedding dresses!’ Buffy thought to herself.

“How may I help you?” the older woman asked, smiling slightly.

“I’m getting married in four days and I need a dress,” Buffy explained.

“Four days! And you waited this long to get your dress?” the older woman asked, shocked.

“We just got engaged last night but we want to have the wedding soon,” Buffy said, blushing.

“I see. Now tell me, do you have any idea what you are looking for?” the older woman asked.

“I want my dress to be white, no colors,” Buffy said.

“Alright, then these are the white dresses,” the older woman said pointed to one side of the room. “What else are you looking for?”

Buffy thought for a moment. She thought back to all of her dreams as a little kid about her getting married. She had always wanted something traditional, but not old fashioned. And yet, in a way she did want it to be a little old fashioned.

“I want a long sleeved long dress that has a long tail but not too long,” Buffy said.

“Alright, that would be this half to the selection,” the older woman said, pointing to the left side.

Buffy walked over to the left side of the wall and looked at the dresses. “I also want a dress that has a veil that matches with it. One that I can see through but you can’t see into,” Buffy said.

“There are only fifteen dresses like that,” the older woman said.

“May I see them please?” Buffy asked.

“Certainly,” the older woman said. The older woman took down the fifteen dresses in Buffy’s size and laid them out. About three hours later, after she had tried on each outfit at least six times, Buffy finally decided on a dress to wear for her wedding. The dress had long sleeves that had a triangle piece that covered the back of her hand and the point of the triangle pointed to her middle finger. The tail was four feet long and the veil matched the dress perfectly. Buffy looked at herself in the full length mirror.

“Well, what do you think?” the older woman asked.

“It’s perfect. How much is it?” Buffy asked. The older woman named a price and Buffy’s jaw dropped. That price was much…lower than she had thought it would be. Buffy asked, rather doubtful, “That’s it?”

The older woman smiled kindly. “That’s not really the price. These dresses here, I made most of them my self. A few are from other companies. Notice than none of them are the same? I own my own business, with my twin sister. I make my own prices. And that dress you are holding is one I made myself. It’s a replica of the one I wore when I got married. I made it three years ago and no one has once wanted look at it, let alone buy it,” the older woman said. “Women twice your age won’t even look at it. So many people want something that is the latest fashion. Something fashionable and that looks rather silly.”

“Oh,” Buffy said, as Buffy gently took the dress off and laid it down onto a bench. “I guess I’m more traditional. I’ve learned that some old things are better than new things.”

The older woman simple nodded before go back to the dress.

“Not only that, but the dress comes with shoes. What seize do you wear? I’ll bring them with the dress. And don’t worry; they go perfectly with the dress. Well, let me wrap this up and I’ll meet you at the resister,” the older woman said.

“Alright,” Buffy said, feeling like she had been swept up in a whirlwind. Buffy walked out of the room and over to the counter. She noticed that the others were still picking out dresses. A few minutes later, the older woman came to the resister. She rang the bill up and Buffy paid. Buffy took the bag from the older woman and left the store to go to the Expressed Pump.

***

“Hey, Buffy, you’re not gonna make us wear ugly dresses are you?” Dawn asked, almost fearful.

“NO!” Dawn yelled out.

Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, and Fred laughed at Dawn’s horrified expression.

“What say we meet at the Espresso Pump in three hours?” Cordelia suggested, to get everyone back on track, they did, after all have a wedding in four days.

“Agreed,” Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Fred agreed in unison.

The four girls watched as Buffy broke off from the group and headed for the section of the store called ‘Brides’.

“Well, we don’t have much time. Let’s go find some dresses!” Cordelia said.

“Riiight,” the three other girls said, teasingly.

Willow, Dawn, and Fred followed Cordelia to a room that said ‘Brides Maids’. They look around the room and see every color possible for a dress, but white. There was not one white dress in the room.

“Well, I think we should pick out what color we want first before we pick the dresses out,” Dawns said.

“Alright. I like pink,” Cordelia said.

“I like red,” Fred said.

“I like blue,” Willow said.

“I like purple,” Dawn said.

“We seem to have a problem then,” Fred said.

“Well, Willow’s going to be the minister type person, right?” Cordelia asked.

“Yes,” Willow replied.

“So, then you should get a different color dress from us,” Cordelia said. Everyone agreed. “So, since you like blue, you can wear a blue dress. Now, let’s see. Since pink is an off shot of red, I’ll change mine to red. So, how about a light maroon color, it’s both red and purple together.”

Fred and Dawn looked at each other and then shrugged.

“What ever you say, honey,” Fred said.

“Now, that’s settled. Willow not only will have a different color dress but a different style from the three of us. Agreed?” Cordelia said.

Everyone nods.

“Can I help you ladies?” a voice from behind Cordelia asks.

Cordelia jumps and turns around. “Oh… Yes,” Cordelia stuttered as Willow and Dawn try to hide their grins while Fred tries to hold in a laugh.

“What are you looking for?” an older woman asked.

“The three of us needs brides maids dresses,” Cordelia said. She then pointed to Willow. “She needs a dress different from ours, though. We’re in a wedding in four days.”

“FOUR DAYS!” the older woman asked, shocked. “And you are only now getting dresses?”

“They just got engaged last night and they want to have a wedding quickly,” Fred said.

“Alright. What type of dresses are you looking for? And what color?” the older woman asked.

“Willow, would like a blue dress and the three of us would like maroon dresses,” Cordelia answered.

“Alright. What type of dress are you looking for?” the older woman asked.

“Well, Buffy’s getting a dress that’s more traditional and probably older like. So, we should do the same,” Willow said.

“Oh, that’s just great,” Cordelia mumbled.

Fred gently nudged Cordelia and whispered, “Honey, don’t complain. It is Buffy’s wedding. Plus, you look good in anything.”

Cordelia smiled at Fred and nodded.

“Alright, let’s get to looking then, shall we?” Dawn said.

Three hours later they all had the dresses they wanted. Willow had a simple long blue dress that had long sleeves. Cordelia, Fred and Dawn got a dress with long sleeves that had frillies at the end of it. The dresses also came with shoes that matched them perfectly.

“So, how much are the dresses going to cost us?” Dawn asked, as she saw Buffy leave the store with her dress.

The older woman named a price and all four women’s jaws dropped.

“EACH!?” Cordelia shrieked.

“No, for all of them. It’s store policy when three or more girls are buying a dress for the same wedding,” the older woman said.

“But doesn’t that happen a lot?” Willow asked.

“Actually yes, it does. But it doesn’t matter. This store is run by my sister and I. I made those dresses you chose, so, let’s just say this is our gift to Buffy for her wedding. She did after all save our lives more than once,” the older woman said. “We would give it to her free, but she wouldn’t except that.”

“She has?” Fred asked, asking about Buffy saving the older woman’s life.

“Yes. Vampires, those pesky creatures often attack us because they see us as easy targets, but Buffy has saved us more than once. Not only that, but Joyce is… was a good friend of ours,” the older woman said. The four girls went quiet. “I’ll just go ring this up, meet me at the register.”

“Uh-oh,” Dawn said, as the older woman walked off with their chosen dresses.

“What?” Willow asked concerned.

“Buffy is going to freak! She always wanted mom to be at her wedding if she ever had one. Now she won’t be there,” Dawn said.

The three older girls exchanged a glance.

“Well, maybe if no one mentions it, she won’t notice,” Fred said.

“Yeah, right,” Dawn muttered.

“Let’s just take one thing at a time and see what happens. Now, let’s go pay for our dresses,” Cordelia said.

They went to the register and paid for their dresses and then headed for the Espresso Pump.

****

Willow, Cordelia, Fred and Dawn entered the Espresso Pump and saw Buffy sitting at a table waiting for them. They went and got their mochas and headed for the table Buffy was at. The four girls sat down at the table and took in Buffy’s dreamy expression. She had her chin on her hand and was staring out at the window. You could easily tell that she was daydreaming about her wedding and her future life. She was so far gone in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed they were there until Dawn cleared her throat. Buffy turned to them and smiled widely at them.

“Hey guys!” Buffy bubbled.

“Someone’s happy,” Cordelia teased, taking a sip of her mocha. It was good to see Buffy this happy. Buffy deserved this happiness. After all of the bad things in her life, Buffy deserved to get some happiness since she was ripped away from heaven after she gave herself nobly to save her sister. She wasn’t the least bit jealous of Buffy. She had her Fred, the love of her life. Unlike Willow who was emitting jealousy so strong, it was surprising that Buffy didn’t take any notice.

Willow felt a slight pang of loss at what Buffy was going to do in four days time. Sure, she wanted her bestfriend to be happy. To finally get the love of her life and not have that person turn out evil or for the person to turn into someone she hadn’t expected. But, she was… jealous. She had hoped to marry Tara someday after they got through all of their problems… well, after she got thought all her problems. Now, with Tara gone, what hope did she have? Her love was gone. Well, there was Barbara back in New Gotham, but that was more lust than love. Sure it could change into love, but she would have to be near Barbara more for that to happen. Willow shook herself out of her selfish thoughts and looked at Buffy who was about to start a babble fiesta.

Cordelia and Dawn braced for impacted. Since Willow and Fred often went off into a tangent of babble fiesta, they were used to it.

“You would be too. If you were getting married in four days! I’m going to marry the love of my life. I’m going to be Mrs. uh…. Summers? Mrs. Winters? Well, Joyce is under Summers-Winters, so I’d become a Summers-Winters and so would Faith, I guess, we’ll have to talk about that huh? But that doesn’t matter. My sister is going to be my maid of honor since my bestfriend is going to be the minister of the wedding. All of the people I consider family will be there for the wedding. Giles is giving me away, since he is like… no, he is my father. And my mother…” Buffy babbled, happily at first but when she mentioned her mother, her face fell. Pain entered her voice when she said these six words, “And my mother won’t be there.”

Willow and Cordelia looked at each other while Dawn and Fred thought, ‘Well so much for her not remembering that little detail.’

“Buffy,” Willow started to say, soothingly, but Buffy interrupted her.

“No, I… I… I want my mommy,” Buffy said, bursting into tears.

The four girls’ jaws dropped open after Buffy uttered that. That was a first in almost ten or so years that Buffy has ever let herself be weak in front of anyone, let alone a room full of people. Buffy had always that that since she was the slayer, she couldn’t let her defenses down. That she had to be strong all the time for everyone. That she couldn’t let herself be vulnerable.

Willow moved to comfort Buffy, but Buffy jumped up and backed away from her, almost like she was burned. She backed away, shaking her head, tears streaming down her face.

“No, I… I gotta go,” Buffy cried.

And before anyone could say or do anything, Buffy took off running.

“Oh, shit. I think someone needs to go find Faith and get her,” Dawn said.

No one bothered to reprimand Dawn for cursing, because they were agreeing with her.

“I agree. Dawn, you’re the tallest, which means, longer legs and you are faster. Go to the tuxedo shop and get Faith hurry,” Willow said.

“What will we be doing?” Fred asked, scared.

“Try and find her,” Willow answered.

“Alright. I’m off,” Dawn said.

Dawn ran out of the Espresso Pump and ran for the Tuxedo shop, which was on the other side of town, why? Who knows? It would make more sense if it was next to the wedding dresses shop, but no, it had to all the way on the other side of town. Dawn ran as fast and as hard as she could. Dawn reached the tuxedo shop and burst through the doors. Xander, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Angel, Oz, and Faith all looked at her like she was slightly crazy.

****

Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, Fred and Dawn had just left a few minutes ago and Faith and the boys were in no hurry to go to the tuxedo shop. Unlike the girls, they didn’t need three hours to shop for clothes. They went in, got what they needed and got out. Faith, Xander, Giles, Wesley, Oz, Gunn and Angel were lazing around the living room, relaxing for a while. The six men actually tried to get Buffy to let the baby stay since they would be there and that they would drop her off at the babysitter’s when they left. It had been so cute that Buffy had almost given in. Almost, but she didn’t, so it was just Faith and the six men.

Xander got off of the floor with a grunt and headed for the kitchen.

“Hey, Xander, get me a beer while you’re up, please?” Faith asked from her seat on the floor in front of the TV.

“Sure, no problem,” Xander said as he walked into the kitchen.

“Tell me again, why the hell do they need three hours to buy a dress?” Gunn asked, taking a drink of his beer.

Faith looked at Gunn and raised a brow.

“Because they’re girls. There are many different types of dresses, colors and such. They’ll go through every single dress to find out which one is the best,” Faith said. Faith really didn’t get it either. She went in, got what she wanted, looked around a little, and then got out. She was very simple. She knew the colors she liked: red, black, dark blue, white and grey. She just got what she wanted in those colors and then she was done.

“And why can’t they be like us. Go in, pick a color, grab whatever and get out?” Xander asked, handing Faith her beer.

Faith shrugged as she took the beer.

“Hell if I know. I’m a girl and they confuse me!” Faith said.

“Women’s minds will always be a mystery,” Oz commented.

Angel, Giles, and Wesley exchanged looks at the kids’ conversation.

“So, what shall we watch?” Wesley asked, trying to change the subject.

“Well, there’s a soccer game, a football game, or a baseball game that I have on tape,” Xander said.

Faith, Xander, Gunn and Oz looked at each other.

“Football,” the four said and Angel shrugged. He was a polo man himself.

“Oh, dear lord,” Giles muttered.

“Oh come now Giles, I’m sure it will be interesting,” Wesley said.

“You’ve never watched American football have you?” Giles asked.

“Well, no, I haven’t,” Wesley said.

“Then it’s time you’ve seen one,” Gunn said, slapping Wesley on the back.

Two and a half hours later, Xander, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Angel, Oz, and Faith hopped out of the Angel mobile and headed for the tuxedo shop entrance. Well, Angel ran at full speed so he wouldn’t burst into flames. This shop was simple. There were no rooms, except for the dressing rooms. All the tuxedos are in one room. There was neither ‘Groom Tuxedos’ room nor a ‘Best man Tuxedos’ room.

“So, what color are we getting then?” Wesley asked. He was still reeling from the football game. Americans were very violent.

“Well, I’m getting a white tux since brides are supposed to wear white,” Faith said.

“Why aren’t you wearing a dress again?” Xander asked.

“Not my thing,” Faith said.

“I think we should all get black, except Faith. No hassle or anything,” Oz said.

“Agreed. Now, what kind shall we get?” Giles said.

“There’s a difference?” Gunn asked.

“Hell if I know,” Faith said. Faith looked around. “Hey, there are the white tuxes. I’ll be over there, back in a few.”

Faith walked over to the side of the room where the white tuxes were and started to look at them. There were several different kinds of styles. There was a suit with black pants, a white shirt, a white vest and a white jacket. Then there was a suite that was all white. Then there was one that had black pants, a white shirt, a black vest and a white jacket.

“Choices, choices,” Faith mumbled under her breath. “Might as well go with an all white tuxedo than a mixed one.”

No matter what Faith said or how she tried to act, she was secretly being as picky with her outfit as she knew Buffy would be. This was her wedding too and she was extremely excited. She wanted everything to be perfect, not just for her but for Buffy as well. From what she had heard from Dawn, Buffy had been dreaming of this since she was a little girl and Faith wanted it to be perfect for her love.

“And it will be perfect,” Faith muttered to herself.

Faith looked at the all white tuxes and picked one that would fit her. She went into the dressing room and tried it on and looked at how she looked in it. Faith then took it off and headed back to the other guys who were arguing about what type to get.

“I think we should get the one that is all back,” Gunn said.

“You mean black pants, shirt, vest and jacket?” Wesley asked. “You can’t wear all black at a wedding. It’s bad luck.”

“Whatever dude,” Gunn said.

Faith raised a brow at the argument.

“Why not get black pants, a white shirt, a black vest and a white jacket,” Faith suggested.

“Sure why not,” Xander said.

The six men got just that and along with Faith paid for their suits. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Dawn reached the tuxedo shop and burst through the doors. Xander, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Angel, Oz, and Faith all looked at her like she was slightly crazy.

“Buffy… Mom… Trouble… Crying… Took… Off,” Dawn said between panting for air.

Faith went deadly pale. She surged forward and gripped Dawn’s shoulders and shook her slightly.

“What?” Faith demanded, trying to not let the panic well up like it was threatening to. Faith took a few calming breaths. “Dawn, slow down and tell me what happened. What’s wrong with B?"

“We were at the Espresso Pump and Buffy went into wedding babble mode, talking about how the wedding was going to be. Stuff like Giles is giving her away cause he’s like her father and how mom was not going to be there. She freaked out and took off,” Dawn said.

****

Dawn reached the tuxedo shop and burst through the doors. Xander, Gunn, Wesley, Giles, Angel, Oz, and Faith all looked at her like she was slightly crazy. She was badly out of breath but tried to get her message out anyway.

“Buffy… Mom… Trouble… Crying… Took… Off,” Dawn said between panting for air.

Dawn watched as Faith went deadly pale. Dawn saw Faith surge forward and gripped her shoulders and shook her slightly.

“What?” Faith demanded, trying to not let the panic well up like it was threatening to. Faith took a few calming breaths. “Dawn, slow down and tell me what happened. What’s wrong with B?"

“Where did she go?” Faith asked, scared and worried.

“I don’t know,” Dawn said, a little scared too.

“Alright. Guys, take the suits back to the house and start looking for the others, get them and head back to the house. I’ll find her. Dawn, go to the next-door neighbor and get Joyce and stay at home and watch her. I’m going to go look for her now. When I’ve found her I’ll call you guys,” Faith said, handing Angel her bag.

“Alright,” they agreed, as Faith took off running through the door.

Faith ran out of the tuxedo shop and stopped just outside of it and looked around. Faith though of every place that she and Buffy like to go to… DUH! Her mom’s grave! This was about her mom, so that’s where she would go. Faith ran to the nearest cemetery since she didn’t know which one Buffy’s mother was buried in. Faith went from cemetery to cemetery for an hour before coming to the last one. She saw Buffy sitting against a headstone with her head on her knees, crying. Faith felt her heart go out to the poor girl. Faith had always thought that Mrs. Summers was a cool mom.

Faith silently walked up to Buffy and sat down next to her. Faith opened her arms to pull Buffy into them but Buffy just fell into her arms. Faith now knew that this was serious. Buffy rarely let her guard down nor did she let herself be weak. Buffy put her arms around Faith’s neck and cried into the younger woman’s shoulder. Faith ran soothing hands up and down Buffy’s back as she slowly rocked back and forth. Faith had no clue as to what to do. She had never been good with these kind of situations. So, Faith did the only thin she could think of and just let Buffy get it all out.

“It’s okay baby. Let it all out, just let it all out,” Faith said, quietly. Faith gently kissed Buffy’s hair and soothed the distraught woman.

“She’s gone. She’s gone. She won’t be there,” Buffy cried.

Faith was quiet for a moment.

“I know this is going to sound corny and you might not think it’s true but it is. You may not be able to see your mom, but she will be there, in spirit. And she will always be in your mind and in your heart,” Faith said.

“I know all that, but… I miss her so much. I hate having to be strong all the time, I hate having to look like stuff doesn’t affect me, but it does. I could relay on her to help me when it became too much for me to bear. She was my rock,” Buffy whimpered.

“I know I could never substitute for your mother, but I am here for you. You don’t always have to be strong around me, like I know I don’t always have to be strong around you. You can lean on me, just like I know I can lean on you. That’s what love is too, being able to depend on the person you’re with to take care of you when you need it. If you let me, I can be your rock. Will you be my rock?” Faith said.

Buffy looked up at Faith and nodded.

“How about I call the house to let everyone know you’re ok, and we’ll go for a walk and talk?” Faith asked.

Buffy nodded. Faith stood up and helped Buffy to her feet. They headed for the nearest phone to call the house from. When they got to a payphone, Faith called the house and told everyone that Buffy was fine but they were going out for a walk so that they could talk about some stuff. Faith then hung up the phone and turned to Buffy. Faith smiled slightly and took Buffy’s hand and led them to a park.

They walked around holding hands in silence for a while before Faith broke it to start the conversation.

“You know, I had always wished your mom was my mom,” Faith said. “I wish I had had the chance to say I was sorry for what I had done to her and to you.”

“I’m sure she knows,” Buffy said.

Faith suddenly got an evil gleam in her eye, but not that kind of evil, the playful kind.

“Yu know that Christmas you went to help Angel? Well, she took out a bunch of pictures of you and home movies of you and showed them to me,” Faith said.

Buffy looked horrified.

“She didn’t,” Buffy gasped.

“She did and she told me the stories that went along with them,” Faith said, laughing at the face Buffy was pulling.

Buffy grumbled a bit.

“She never did that with Willow or Xander,” Buffy said. “Just Angel. And she knew that we weren’t together.”

“She knew that I was in love with you,” Faith said.

“What?” Buffy asked.

“Back then, she knew that I was in love with you. She saw through my tough girl act. She had kept trying to get me to not use it anymore but I kept refusing. She told me that she would rather me being with you than Angel being with you,” Faith said.

Buffy blinked.

“Really?” Buffy asked.

“Yep,” Faith replied.

“She never said anything to me,” Buffy pointed out.

“Too stubborn. You wouldn’t have listened to her,” Faith said.

“True,” Buffy said after a minute. “Do you think she’ll approve then?”

Faith paused for a moment.

“I’m not sure. After all the things I’ve done to you, I don’t think she would,” Faith said. “I’m not even sure if I deserve you now.”

Buffy stopped walking and stopped Faith.

“Faith, my mom knows it was not your fault. I know it’s not your fault. Everyone who matters knows it was not your fault. You were under a spell. You had not choice in the matter,” Buffy said. “My mother saw the good within you Faith. She took the time to get to know you. She knows and I’m sure we have her blessing.”

Faith smiled and then frowned.

“Hey, how did this get turned around? I was supposed to be comforting you!” Faith said.

“You have, just by making me remember her,” Buffy said. “I still wish that she would be there to at least see it, but I know that in my heart she will be watching.”

Faith smiled and gently kissed Buffy on the lips.

“She’ll always be there for you Buffy because you are more like her than you realize,” Faith said.

“What do you mean?” Buffy asked, intrigued.

“You both sing in the shower,” Faith said. “Horrible off key, both of you, I might add.”

“Hey!” Buffy said, pouting.

“Well it’s true,” Faith pointed out.

“What else?” Buffy grumbled.

“Your fierce loyalty and how you give your trust out. How you love unconditionally,” Faith said, smoothing back a strand of hair from Buffy’s face. “You’re like her many ways.”

A lone tear feel down Buffy’s cheek and Faith quickly whipped it away.

“I miss her,” Buffy said.

“I know,” Faith said.

“We better get back, huh? Our daughter must be hungry by now,” Buffy said, changing the subject.

“Yep,” Faith said. Faith knew that no matter what she said, Buffy would always feel the ache of loss in her heart over her mother’s death. All she could do was comfort her and be there for her.

Faith wrapped an arm around the shorter woman’s shoulders and guided her out of the park.

“Come on, let’s go home.” Faith said.

Chapter 16: A Summer Wedding (Part 2)

Day 2

The next day after Buffy’s freak out, Wesley, Gunn, Oz and Angel had headed out do their assigned chores for the wedding. So, Wesley was leisurely strolling down the street to the flower shop. Giles had given assignments to him, Gunn, and Oz to do while Faith and Buffy were got. He was to order the flowers. Gunn was to order food and drinks, while Oz was to order a cake. Angel had volunteered to make the honeymoon arrangements.

Wesley walked into the flower shop and looked around. Giles had given him an exact list of what the flowers were supposed to be. The order was a long one: four dozen daisies, two dozen red roses, two dozen blue roses, two dozen purple roses, two white roses and a large back of white rose petals. And Wesley was supposed to make sure that the flowers would be ready before the wedding day and he was to pick them up the morning of the wedding.

Wesley walked up to the counter and waited for the clerk to get off of the phone.

“Can I help you?” the clerk asked, after hanging up the phone.

“Ah… Yes. I need to order some flowers for a small wedding that will be happening in four days. I need to have the flowers ready in three days and I will pick them up on August 1st,” Wesley said.

“Alright, what do you require?” the clerk asked.

“I will need four dozen daisies, two dozen red roses, two dozen blue roses, two dozen purple roses, two white roses and a large back of white rose petals,” Wesley replied as the clerk wrote down the order.

“May I ask who is getting married?” the clerk asked, still making out the order.

“Buffy… Buffy Summers,” Wesley replied.

The clerk froze. She looked up and her jaw dropped.

“You mean the short girl with blonde hair and who is extremely strong?” the clerk asked.

Wesley shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes,” Wesley replied.

“Hold on one moment,” the clerk said and before Wesley could reply, the girl had run into the back.

“Oh, bloody hell,” Wesley muttered.

A moment later, a tall redhead woman walked out from the back with the clerk.

“We don’t want to sell anything that is for Buffy Summers,” the redhead said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Wesley looked at her in horror before the clerk lightly smacked the redhead in the side.

“Ms. Wallace, be nice,” the clerk scolded.

Ms. Wallace boomed a laugh.

“I wasn’t kidding though. We aren’t going to sell you the flowers. We’re giving it to you for free. After all, Ms. Summers did save my life and my clerk’s life,” Ms. Wallace said. “Think of it as our wedding gift to her.”

Wesley stood there speechless.

“Alright,” Wesley said, for the lack of anything better coming to mind to say.

****

Gunn and Oz headed to a store that had a bakery and had a small catering business that you could order stuff for parties. As they walked, they talked, well, more like Gunn talked and Oz was listening.

“So, how come we get stuck with the dirty jobs while Angel can make the fun plans for Buffy and Faith?” Gunn demanded.

“Because he volunteered for it while we tried to run away,” Oz said.

“We did not try to run away, more like hide, but that’s not the point,” Gunn said.

Oz just raised a brow.

“Then what is the point?” Oz asked.

Gunn just shrugged as they entered the caterers shop. Gunn and Oz walked into a side room that was for the store owner’s son, who had opened up a catering business. Oz went to go look at the cake book and Gunn walked up to the counter and got out the list of food to order. After hitting the little bell and waiting for a few minutes, the owner of the catering business came to the counter.

“May I help you?” the young man asked.

“Yes, I need these things to be at this address in four days on August 1,” Gunn said, handing the boy the list.

“Alright,” the boy said, taking out a notebook and starting to write things down. “What time do you want the food, drinks and such delivered?”

“Well, the wedding is in the morning and should end around twelve. So, have everything there at the house at twelve and drop everything off,” Gunn said.

“Alright,” the boy said, again taking down notes. “Will you be ordering a wedding cake?”

“Yes,” Oz said as he came up to the counter. He put the wedding cake book onto the counter and pointed to a picture. It was of a cake that was two feet high, with three sections. The bottom section was a sixteen inches wide, the middle section was eleven inches wide and the top was seven inches wide. The cake was white with pink icing around the sides. Then Oz put a laminated piece of paper on the counter. “With the cake, as the two top pieces, we want these.” He pointed to a short blonde hair girl in a wedding dress and then a brownish black hair girl in a dress, since there were no girls in tuxedos for a top piece.

“Alright,” the boy said, once again taking notes. It didn’t seem to bother him that it was two female top pieces. After calculating the price and giving it to Gunn, Gunn paid the boy and turned to leave with Oz.

“May I ask who is getting married?” the boy asked, before they could leave.

“Buffy Summers and-“ Gunn started but was cut off by the boy.

“BUFFY SUMMERS IS GETTING MARRIED? THIS IS FOR HER WEDDING RECEPTION?” the boy practically shrieked.

“Uh… Yeah,” Gunn said, bewildered at the boy’s outburst.

“Well, then tell her congratulations for me! And, tell you what. The cake is on the house and for their wedding night they can have a few bottle of Champaign, a thing of whipped cream and some strawberries,” the boy said. The boy quickly recalculated and handed them some of the money back.

Gunn’s jaw dropped, even Oz was surprised, although he just raised a brow.

“Why?” Oz asked, since Gunn’s mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water.

“She saved my life more than once. Plus, we were in the same classes since sophomore year. I was even in on the fight against the Mayor. So, this is my thanks to her,” the boy said.

“Oh,” Gunn said.

“Well, let me get on this, nothing but the best for Buffy,” the boy said and then walked into the back room.

Oz and Gunn looked at each other and shrugged and headed for the door to head back to the house.

****

Angel sighed as he watched the three men walk out of the house to perform their given duties. Xander and Giles at the moment were talking about what to get for the bachelorette party for Faith. Dawn, Fred, Willow and Cordelia had left to go get things for Buffy’s bachelorette party. Angel got up from the couch, got his briefcase and walked into the basement to begin looking for a place for Buffy and Faith to have their honeymoon. Buffy had told him that she had intended to ask Faith to marry her on her birthday. She had asked him if he could handle their honeymoon arrangements since he has been all over the world. So, he had agreed to do it only if this could be his wedding present to them and Buffy had reluctantly agreed after much arguing. So, he had gone out and gotten a few packets to look through and decide here he should send them off to. His first impression was to send them to Russia, but that had been personal. He had been… a little upset that Buffy was getting married. Although he knew they couldn’t be together and she couldn’t wait for him, it still hurt a little. But Cordelia had smacked some sense into him, literally. He hadn’t told her anything, she had just known and smacked him upside the head and told him to grow up and move on.

“Maybe Cordy’s right,” Angel said to himself.

Angel shook his head and sat down on Xander’s bed, putting his briefcase besides him. He took out eight traveling packets and spread them on the bed. He picked up the first one, which was a beach house in Florida and immediately put it in the no pile. If they wanted to go to the beach than they could go any time they wanted, they only lives three hours from the beach. He picked up the next one. It was a trip to Hawaii for six days at a hotel with scheduled sight seeings. Angel tossed that one aside because he knew that Buffy and Faith would want to do their own thing. He then tossed aside the one for a Texas ranch and another that was similar, a Montana ranch trip. Buffy was too much of a city girl to do just ranching. Angel didn’t even bother looking at the England trip that he had picked up he just tossed it aside. He was sure that both Buffy and Faith would never want to step foot onto English soil, because of what the Watcher Council had done to them.

“Humm… Three choice left,” Angel said to himself.

He picked up the Spain package and looked through it. It was an eleven-day trip with a hotel that was near many tourist sights, including a dancing club, parks, a lake, a theater, a cathedral and a few other things. However, it cost too much and he couldn’t afford it, plus it was too hot over there at this time. So, Angel tossed that one aside. He picked up the packet for a trip to Paris, France. Angel smiled at that. The city of romance. It would probably be good for a newly married couple, but neither Buffy nor Faith spoke French, so that was out.

“Great, one choice left,” Angel muttered.

Angel picked up the last packet and looked through it. It was for a trip to Ardmore, Ireland. It was from a little old couple that had a bed and breakfast that was surrounded by a farm and ranch but not far from a town. It was for twelve days. It had a few details about the town and what there was to do. It was perfect. Far away from so many people and evil. They could do what they want and not have to follow a schedule.

“Perfect,” Angel said. He picked up the phone and started to make the arrangements.

****

Giles and Xander finally walked out of the house to go and get things to the party. They had argued for over and hour about what to get. Giles thought that since it was a party for a girl, which they should do more girl things, but Xander pointed out that Faith was like one of the guys. So in the end, Giles conceded to Xander.

“So, what are we going to get then?” Giles asked, as they got into his car and he started it up.

“Snack-age, lots of snack-age first off,” Xander said.

“Indeed,” Giles said. “What else?”

“Well, lets see,” Xander said and then proceeded to count off of his fingers. “Snacks, movies, games, and alcohol.”

“That’s it?” Giles asked.

“Giles, how many bachelor parties have you gone to?” Xander asked.

“None,” Giles admitted.

“Well, I have been to two before. I know what I am doing. This isn’t going to be like a tea party, all prime and proper,” Xander pointed out.

Giles shot a look as they pulled up to a store that had both food and hard liquor. They got out of the car and headed into the store. They first stopped at the liquor part of the store and got: tequila, Jack Daniels, a few cases of beer. Then they went to the other parts of the store and proceeded to get some snacks. They got: three bags of chips, popcorn, hamburgers, fries, salsa, pretzels, and two twelve packs of soda. Xander also got a new deck of cards before they left the store to go to the video store.

The walked to the video store that just happened to be next to the store they were shopping at. They got a few movies and proceeded to go to the mansion to drop the stuff off.

****

Willow, Dawn, Fred and Cordelia walked into a store to buy food and drinks. Angel had agreed to watch the baby while they were out, since, well, he couldn’t go out.

Because Dawn and Fred were underage, they agreed to no alcohol, that and Buffy is hopeless with alcohol. They got the same food and soda as the boys had. After they bought the food, they went to the video store across town that had more feminine movies.

“So, what are we going to get?” Dawn asked, looking around.

“Well, something that isn’t rated R,” Willow said, also looking around. “Because you will be there.”

“For crying out loud. I’m seventeen years old. I can watch them now,” Dawn pointed out.

“Yeah, but-“ Willow started.

“Did you know that I used to watch ‘Better Than Chocolate’ with Tara?” Dawn asked, looking Willow in the eyes.

Willow, Fred and Cordelia’s jaws dropped when Dawn said that.

“WHAT!?” Willow demanded. ‘Why would Tara do that?’ Willow thought to herself.

Dawn just shrugged. She didn’t want to answer the question and hoped that Willow would drop the matter.

“Let’s just find some movies,” Dawn said, trying to get out of the question.

“Dawn, answer me,” Willow said in a parent voice.

“Well, she understood me, and that I need to learn stuff. You guys protect me too much. How am I to learn if I can’t do things to learn from? I asked her about… relationships and stuff. We talked and she decided to show me some movies to show the similarities and differences of male and female relationships to female and female or male and male relationships. She was the only one who didn’t treat me like I was five. She helped me to mature,” Dawn said.

Willow pursed her lips but said nothing.

“Alright then, let’s select the movies and head back to the house,” Fred said.

“Yeah,” Cordelia said.

“Alright,” Willow said.

The four girls went around the video store and picked put some movies. After they got the movies, they headed back to the house to put away their purchases.

****

The six men and the four women sat down in the basement talking about the wedding and the preparations for it. Buffy, Faith and the baby were up in the master bedroom spending time together since tomorrow they would not be seeing each other until the wedding day.

“Dudes, you won’t believe what happened when we went to order the food and the cake,” Gunn said as he took a sip of beer.

“What happened?” Willow asked, worried.

“The dude freaked out or something. We mentioned that Buffy was getting married and he started to offer free food and stuff,” Gunn explained.

“The wedding cake, a bottle of champagne, a can of wipe cream and a box of strawberries,” Oz said.

“Why would he do that?” Dawn asked.

“Well, the cake is for the wedding and the other stuff is for the wedding night,” Gunn said, waggling his eyes brows.

“Oh, gross,” Dawn said making a face.

Fred leaned over and smacked Gunn upside the head.

“Gunn,” Fred warned and Gunn smiled sheepishly.

“He said he went to school with Buffy and she saved him,” Oz said.

“Well, that’s not all we got free,” Wesley said. “All of the flowers we had ordered are free. Buffy apparently saved the owner and the clerk from vampires.”

“The owners of the dress shop cut down the process on all of our dresses because Buffy saved them many times from vampires,” Fred added.

“It appears that the people of this town are well aware of what Buffy does,” Giles said, grimacing slightly.

“Well, Buffy does go out almost every night and fights vampires. There has to be times when she has saved humans from vampires and demons before. So I wouldn’t be surprised that some people do know about her,” Angel said.

“Well, Buffy did get an award at school during that dance, remember?” Cordelia pointed out.

Xander nodded.

“I think the people know more than they are letting on,” Xander said. “I mean come on, we have more cemeteries in this city than any other.”

“True,” Willow said.

Giles took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“No slayer has ever stayed in one place long enough to get know before. She stayed a year, maybe two and then moved onto the next town,” Giles said, putting his glasses back on. “Slayers usually went from town to town and helped in the cover of night while everyone was asleep. And those who saw what happened had a memory spell put on them to make them forget by the slayer’s watcher. There have only been two other known hell mouths before. One was in England and the other in Ireland. The one here is a recent one. Slayers would have contacts at the hell mouth and would summon them is there was something going on. But, because Buffy was still with her mother, she was to stay here.”

“So, what are you trying to say?” Dawn asked.

“Sunnydale will always need a protector. However, there are other places, other towns, other states, and other countries that need protectors too. I have talked to the council and since I am the head of the council now, I have made a decision. The world is simply too big of a place for one girl alone to protect it from evil. We have decided that there will be more than one slayer. And all of the slayers will be paid and they can retire,” Giles continued.

“You mean there’s not going to be a chosen one anymore, but a whole lot of them?” Xander asked.

“Yes, times change and we must change with them. The Council Headquarters will still be in England, but we will have divisions all over the world,” Giles said.

“So, Buffy and Faith are going to get paid? How much will they get paid?” Willow asked, uncertainly. Why would the council start to do this now?

“Well, they will be paid each month on the last day of the month. They get five hundred dollars a month. And Buffy will be paid for her past slaying. And Faith also, but not for the time she spent in jail obviously. Buffy will be paid sixty thousand dollars and Faith will be paid twelve thousand dollars. And then starting next month they will be getting paid every month,” Giles said.

“Wow.”

“Indeed,” Giles said, dryly.

“Why are you telling us this and not them?” Dawn asked.

“Well, because we need your help to do it. Well, we need Willow’s and your help Dawn,” Giles said.

“What do you need us to do?” Dawn and Willow asked.

“We will talk about it while the girls are on their honeymoon,” Giles said.

“Alright,” Willow and Dawn agreed.

****

Buffy lay on the bed curled into a semi-ball around her daughter. Joyce was asleep and Buffy was gently rubbing her stomach with her hand as Faith packed a bag for tomorrow. They would not be allowed to see each other until there wedding day. Faith had insisted.

“Are the baby’s things already packed?” Buffy asked.

“Yes,” Faith said and pointed to a small bag by the door.

“Why are we doing this again?” Buffy complained.

“Because it’s tradition fir the bride and groom not to see each other the day before their wedding,” Faith said.

“But, we’re both brides and I thought that we weren’t supposed to see each other in our dresses?” Buffy asked.

“Well, this is hardly a conventional wedding. We are two women, so we’ll make our own tradition,” Faith said.

Buffy sighed and agreed reluctantly.

“Come on B, it’s only a day,” Faith said when she saw Buffy’s pouty expression.

“I know, but its twenty four hours!” Buffy complained.

Faith laughed and shook her head. Faith zipped up her overnight back and placed it by the door. She walked to the bed, leaned down and kissed Buffy slowly and tenderly. Faith broke the kiss and offered Buffy a lazy smile.

“You need to pack your bag for the honeymoon. Don’t forget,” Faith said.

Buffy rolled her eyes.

“I won’t,” Buffy said, as a knock came on the door.

“Girls, its eleven fifty. Time to go Faith,” Angel said.

Faith opened the door and handed angel the two overnight bags.

“I’ll be down in a minute. That this to the car, please,” Faith said.

“Alright,” Angel said, taking the two bags and leaving to go to the car.

Faith turned back to the bed and held out a hand. Buffy got up off of the bed slowly so she didn’t wake the baby. She took Faith’s hand and Faith pulled her into an embrace. She nuzzled into Faith’s protective arms and didn’t want to let go.

“You’re being ridiculous,” Faith pointed out. “It’s only one night and we will be married in two days.”

“I know,” Buffy said, before giving Faith a last kiss as an unwed couple and then stepped back.

Faith walked to the bed, bent down and picked up the sleeping baby. Buffy led Faith out of their bedroom and down the stairs. Faith handed Buffy the baby and put on her leather jacket and then took the baby back into her arms. Buffy opened the door and leaned against the door jam as Faith walked to the Angel mobile and got in. She waved to them as the car took off. Buffy walked back into the house and closed the door.

Chapter 17: A Summer Wedding (Part 3)

Notes: The songs in this chapter are: ‘Blessed’ by Christina Aguilera, ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry. All the stuff about Fred is from my imagination and if anything is not correct and I have gone against her character on the show, please tell me. And I would like to thank Amy for the stripper idea for Faith’s bachelorette party.

~~~~~

Day 3

Buffy sat in her and Faith’s bed with her back to the headboard and the covers over her legs. It was now ten o’clock in the morning and Buffy had just woken up. She and Faith had agreed that for the whole day and until the wedding ceremony tomorrow, they were not to see each other, so they had stayed up all night talking, kissing and making love. At one minute to midnight, Faith left to go to Angel’s mansion, which is where all the guys were. And all of the girls were here, except the baby. Since she still needed to be breast fed, Faith had taken her to Angel’s. It had only been ten hours and she missed Faith and their child. It felt like she was missing half of her heart and soul. Buffy reached over and took a picture off of her nightstand. It was a picture that Willow had taken. Buffy was lying on the couch with Faith between her legs, breast-feeding Joyce. This was her favorite picture of the few that was just the three of them. It had been taken on the first day they got Joyce. The pictured had captured the child like glee and love on Faith’s face as she looked down at their daughter.

Buffy pressed her fingers to her lips and then pressed her fingers to Faith and Joyce’s pictures. Buffy then put the picture back onto the nightstand. Buffy leaned her head back against the headboard and took in a deep breath before getting out of the bed. She went to her closet and started to get out her clothes. Since she and Faith slept naked, it had become a habit for her, so when Willow walked into her room as she was pulling clothes from the closet she was not wearing any clothing. Willow turned three shades of red and quickly left the room and closed the door behind her as Buffy let out a laugh. Buffy quickly got dressed and went to find Willow. When she got to the kitchen and Willow saw her, Willow blushed again while Cordelia, Dawn and Fred looked amused.

“Is there something you wanted Willow?” Buffy teased, amused as well at how embarrassed the redhead was.

“I was just going to wake you up. I didn’t know you would be awake and having already taken your pajamas off,” Willow said, not making eye contact with her bestfriend.

Fred, Dawn and Cordelia looked on with interest at the conversation.

“Willow I don’t wear pajamas anymore. Faith and I sleep in the nude,” Buffy stated, knowing this would make her friend blush even more.

“Oh,” Willow said, her face almost purple now.

“Well, the party will start at six tonight,” Cordelia said, interrupted to let the redhead off the hook. Hey, she did have some sympathy in her, albeit, a small amount.

“Alright. I’m going to spend some time in my room working on my wedding vows for the wedding tomorrow,” Buffy said, knowing what Cordelia was trying to do and let the subject go.

“Have some lunch first then,” Fred said as she put a pile of pancakes in front of Buffy.

“Thank you Fred,” Buffy said as she started to attack her pancakes.

After Buffy finished her breakfast, she got a pen, a pencil and a pad of paper and then headed for her room. She closed and looked the door, not wishing to be disturbed Buffy got back onto her bed and stared down at the pad of paper, as if willing it to write something for her. Buffy sighed and tossed the pad next to her. She wasn’t any good at writing down her feelings. Although she did write down her little speech to ask Faith to marry her… well DUH! She said that through her heart. Buffy picked up the pad of paper and pencil and began to write down her thoughts. She thought back to everything that made Faith love her and started to write down ideas of what to say.

A half an hour later, Buffy put down the pencil and looked at all of the things she had written down. Buffy got off of the bed and turned on the c.d. player and listened to the c.d. Faith had made her of romantic songs. She tore the page off and set it down beside her and then picked up the pen and started to write out her vows. As Buffy started to write her vows a slow and romantic song started.

****

I think, how life used to be; Always walking in the shadows.
Then I look, at what you've given me; I feel like dancing on my tiptoes

I must say everyday I pray
When realize you're by my side;
I know I'm truly...

Blessed for everything you've given me;
Blessed for all the tenderness you show;
Do my best with every breath that's in me;
Blessed to make sure you never go.

There are times that I test your faith, 'til you think you might surrender.
Baby I'm, I'm not ashamed to say, that my hopes will grow in splendor

You walked by in the nick of time
Looking like an answered prayer
You know I'm truly...

Blessed for everything you've given me;
Blessed for all the tenderness you show;
Do my best with every breath that's in me;
Blessed to make sure you never go.

Blessed with love and understanding;
Blessed when I hear you call my name;
Do my best with faith that's never-ending;
Blessed to make sure you feel the same.

Deep inside you fill me with your tender touch...

You know I'm truly...
Blessed for everything you've given me;
Blessed for all the tenderness you show;
Do my best with every breath that's in me;

Blessed to make sure you never go.

****

For the next eight hours while Buffy was in her room working on her wedding vows, Cordelia, Willow, Fred and Dawn were down stairs talking about the up coming wedding. Fred and Dawn had gone out and went to the movies and to bond, while Cordelia and Willow went out to get a few more things for the wedding. After that, they all came home and were just relaxing and waiting for the bachorlette party to start.

“I wonder what is taking Buffy so long to write her damn wedding vows!” Cordelia exclaimed for the tenth time in the past hour.

“Dear, I’m sure she just wants to do it correctly,” Fred said from her position on the floor with Dawn. The two of them were doing a puzzle.

“But for eight hours?” Cordelia asked, doubtfully.

“Well, it took her two hours to write a birthday card for Willow once, so I guess this should take longer,” Dawn said, not looking up at the complaining woman on the couch.

“When Buffy wants to do something, she does it full heartedly and makes sure she does it right. She may be a flake sometimes but when she has it in her mind to do something, she does it to the best of her ability,” Willow said.

Cordelia threw her hands up in the air and said, “OK! Whatever!”

“What time is the party starting again?” Dawn asked, as she put a piece into the puzzle.

“Six o’clock,” Fred replied, studying the remaining hundred or so pieces of the thousand pieces puzzle.

“What time is it now?” Dawn asked, picking up a piece, looking at it and then discarding it.

“Two o’clock,” Fred said, as she put a piece of the puzzle in place.

As Dawn and Fred had this discussion, Willow and Cordelia looked on in amusement. Although Fred was a few years older than Dawn, she acted like Dawn in many ways. It might have been the fact that she had been sucked into another dimension, but what ever it was, it was most endearing. Willow and Cordelia sat back on the couch as they watched the two girls on the floor putting the puzzle together with excitement. Willow and Cordelia started to talk about the party for Buffy that would be happening in four hours.

Four hours later, the five women were sitting at the dinning table eating dinner. Buffy had come out of the bedroom a half an hour earlier. She had refused to show them her vows, wanting to keep them private until she said them to Faith. They had begged, pleaded and pouted at her but she had still refused. Now they were sitting around the table, talking and laughing. It was the last night of Buffy’s freedom before the ‘ball and chain’ would be put on her ankle, as Dawn called it. Buffy smiled at Dawn and shook her head, disagreeing with her statement.

“This isn’t about being chained down, Dawnie. This is about making our love whole,” Buffy said and then paused. “Wait, that didn’t come out right. What I mean is that we are connecting our love further and showing the world our love, or at least our friends and family.”

“Ok, if you say so,” Dawn said in a teasing voice.

“Well, I do,” Buffy said and then stuck her tongue out.

“So, what are we going to do?” Cordelia asked.

“How about a movie?” Fred suggested.

“What movie first?” Dawn asked.

“How about ‘Fried Green Tomatoes?” Willow suggested.

“Alright,” Buffy agreed.

Willow got up and put the tape into the VCR. Cordelia sat on once side of the couch with Fred in her lap. Buffy was on the other side with Dawn curled next to her. Willow got a blanket and sat down on the floor with her back to the couch as the movie started.

Two or so hours later, the five women were silently crying as the movie ended.

“I just love that movie!” everyone said and then laughed.

“Isn’t it the best?” Buffy asked, wiping her eyes.

“Yep, although it would have been better if it hadn’t been subtext,” Dawn said.

The four older girls just stared at her.

“Huh?”

“What subtext?” Willow demanded.

“Oh please, they were so in love with each other! Just look at how they look at each other! And that scene where they were at that lake! Come on, they sooo desire each other,” Dawn said.

“Dawn, you’re crazy,” Cordelia said.

“I think she’s right,” Fred said.

“I agree with Cordy, I don’t see it,” Willow said.

Buffy was smirking to herself as she watched her friends and sister argue. Fred and Dawn were arguing that there was subtext while Willow and Cordelia said there wasn’t. Buffy frowned suddenly. Why was Dawn so intent on this? She was the only straight girl in the room. You would think she wouldn’t have noticed something like that. Hell, for that matter, Dawn hadn’t really been into boys for over a year now. Well, not like that. She hasn’t been boy crazy and all. She hasn’t had a date or anything in over two years. Something was going on with Dawn and she didn’t know what it was. Okay, so she hadn’t been a great sister for a while, but now wasn’t the time to say anything. She’ll just have to confront her when she gets back from her honeymoon.

“So, you four gonna argue all night?” Buffy asked. “Cause I can go upstairs if you want…”

“NO!”

Buffy chuckled at her friends.

“Alright, then what shall we do next?” Buffy asked.

“How about we play truth or dare?” Willow asked.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” Cordelia said.

“What?” Willow asked defensively.

“That’s for slumber parties for kids,” Cordelia pointed out.

“Maybe your afraid about what Fred will find out about your past,” Buffy teased.

“That isn’t it. I don’t care what questions you ask me, but I don’t want you to question Fred,” Cordelia said, defending her shy and private girlfriend.

Fred touched Cordelia’s arm.

“It’s ok, I don’t mind,” Fred said.

Cordelia turned to Fred and cupped her face gently.

“You sure, baby?” Cordelia asked, concerned. Cordelia and Fred had been dating for almost two years before Cordelia broke down Fred’s walls and got her to talk about her past. It had taken her time and many, many conversations to get her to open up and now that she had, Cordelia was very protective of her girlfriend.

“Yes,” Fred said and then placed a small kiss on Cordelia’s lips.

Willow and Dawn were smiling at the tender moment while Buffy studied Dawn. Dawn had gotten used to having Tara and Willow being lesbians and making out, although she never hung around because she was always a little uncomfortable with it. Now she seemed like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“Alrighty then, let’s start. Dawn truth or dare?” Willow asked after the couple had their moment.

Dawn thought for a moment.

“Dare,” Dawn said.

“Alright, I dare you to…” Willow said. For the next hour the girls got into the game and all were having a good time. They were all laughing and joking as if they had been friends since they had been babies. Dawn had just done another dare. She had only done a few truths because she didn’t want them asking her things about boys and stuff.

“Alright Dawn, your turn,” Buffy said.

Dawn paused for a moment but decided to do what she was about to do. Dawn didn’t really want to do this, but she had to know and she had to force Buffy to see the truth. It was going to kill the party but if Dawn didn’t force her pigheaded sister to see the truth, there would always be that ‘what if’ hanging over everyone’s head.

“Buffy, truth or dare?” Dawn asked.

“Truth,” Buffy replied.

“I want to know the truth about you and Faith,” Dawn said, bluntly.

Everyone turned to her.

“What do you mean?” Buffy asked.

“You didn’t just fall in love with her now. From what you said about the Riley incident, you just realized. That would mean that you were all ready in love with her, which means you were in love with her before she went to jail,” Dawn pointed out.

Buffy didn’t say anything for a while.

“It was love at first sight for me,” Buffy admitted after a few minutes. “At the time I didn’t know what I was feeling. I had the whole Angel thing. Sure, I loved him, but it was more of the ‘I can’t have him so I have to have him’ thing. We weren’t meant to be. Things between us were so formal and business like. There was no passion. He was safe.”

Buffy took a breath and continued.

“Faith was… different. She had so much life in her, still does. Almost everything she did was done passionately. To her it was ‘go hard or go home’. She was everything I could have wanted in a partner. She was strong, protective, dangerous, kind, hard, soft and loveable. Not once did I believe all that crap she told us. I saw right through her walls. I saw a lonely, vulnerable child but I was too caught up in my own shit to care. I had thought that I hated her, but in fact I loved her. I just used hate and arrogance to cover it up” Buffy said, sadly. “I didn’t want to admit that we were a lot alike. I did get a thrill out of slaying, I still do. Faith had been right about a lot of things, things I tried to deny.”

“I remember the night when we were dancing. It was just the two of us. Faith had finally got me to cut loose. So, we were got dancing… no, it was more like having sex with clothes on. That was how hot we got on the floor. Well, I started to feel… desire, which no one has ever made me feel before, when I felt her press up against me at one point. It freaked me out, so when Angel showed up, I took off running,” Buffy said sorrowfully.

Buffy thought for a moment.

“I was confused about what I felt for Faith. So, when Faith killed the Deputy Mayor, I saw a fault in her and jumped on it and made it into something bigger than it should have been. I pretty much killed him to. I was the one who tossed him to Faith to finish him off. But I was too stubborn. I wasn’t really offering help; I was offering her to be like me, or what everyone saw as me. It was an accident. From what I found out, it has happened before. There have been slayers who have trained since they were five that accidentally killed an innocent. It was an accident that was blown out of proportion. I mean, if it had been me, all of you would have been by my side no matter what, but because it was Faith, no one was there for her. I wasn’t there for her,” Buffy said.

“It wasn’t just you Buffy. It was all of us,” Willow said.

“Except me,” Dawn pointed out. Dawn and her mother were the only ones who had given Faith a chance. Well, she really didn’t since she technically wasn’t there, but in her memories, she had always liked Faith and Faith had done nothing to harm her. And her mother had almost skinned Buffy alive when she had found out what she had said to Faith. Her mother had made them all see that it was an accident, but Faith had gone to the Mayor. Even then, her mother hadn’t given up on Faith, nor did she get angry at what Faith had done. Well, she wasn’t that angry at Faith.

“Right, I never gave her a chance,” Willow said and Cordelia agreed.

“Even Giles never really gave her a chance,” Cordelia said.

“She did lie to him about her watcher,” Willow pointed out.

“She was scared,” Dawn argued. “She didn’t know if she could trust you and you never gave her any reason to. You saw the outside and judged her before getting to really know her.”

“That isn’t the point,” Buffy said, stopping the arguing. “Faith has a perfectly good excuse for all of the things she did. She had no control over her actions and I doubt she would have turned evil if she had been given a choice. The Mayor used her and forced her to do all of those things.”

“Then what is the point?” Dawn asked.

“I’ve loved her from the moment I met her and nothing she has done, choice or not, has changed that,” Buffy said.

“I’m glad you finally admitted that,” Dawn said, smugly.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Buffy asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Buffy you were forced to admit that you were in love with Faith when you had thought that she was going to die in front of your eyes. I just wanted to see if you knew when you had fallen in love with her and I wanted you to admit it. Faith has had enough pain to last a few life times and I don’t want you to hurt her,” Dawn said. “If you hadn’t admitted it then you would have said that you fell in love with who Faith is now and that isn’t true. You have to see that you fell in love with Faith before and have grown to love her more because she grew up and has become a better person.”

Buffy nodded in understanding.

“Hey, how did we get onto this topic? This is a little too serious! This is supposed to be a party!” Cordelia said, after a few minutes.

“The party died, didn’t it?” Dawn asked.

“Yep,” Willow agreed.

“Well, I’m sure we can liven it up,” Fred said.

“Well, what do you want to do Buffy…? Buffy?” Willow asked.

Buffy had a huge smile on her face and she looked slightly dazed.

“Buffy?” Dawn asked, not really concerned.

“I’m getting married tomorrow,” Buffy said, slightly dazed.

“Oh no, it’s the married phenomenon,” Dawn said.

“I think it’s sweet,” Fred said.

“Like candy,” Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. “She’s the only one I know that can go from something depressing to being sickingly happy in a moment, besides Willow.”

“I’m getting married tomorrow,” Buffy said, still dazed.

For the rest of the night, after they got Buffy out of the ‘married phenomenon’, they talked about the wedding and basically all mushy stuff.

***

It was ten o’clock in the morning and Faith had just awoken twenty minutes earlier to her daughter’s wails. Faith had feed her before Angel had come in with breakfast on a tray for her. He then took the baby from her and left her alone with a pad of paper, a pencil and a pen. Faith smirked when she remembered that Joyce had cried the minute Angel had held her. The poor man had been confused. He made every single face he knew to make her laugh but none of them worked. He became frustrated and his face had accidentally vamped and Joyce had stopped crying immediately. She had seemed fascinated with Angel’s game face, not afraid at all. It was almost like she had sensed him, his true self. And at the moment, Angel and the rest of the guys were acting like fools playing with the baby, but it was endearing.

Faith sighed and looked at the blank pad in front of her. She wasn’t good with words. Or, at the very least, she didn’t think so. She had always thought of her as an action type of girl, do it now and think later. She never thought of herself as a touchy feely type person. Now, she was unsure of what she was.

“Faith?” Angel called through the door, interrupting her thoughts.

“Yes?” Faith answered back.

“I believe that the baby is hungry,” Angel said, disappointment in his voice. He knew that after she s=ate she would fall asleep, which would mean he couldn’t play with her for a while.

“Then, bring her here,” Faith commanded.

Angel opened the door and walked in with the baby safely held against his chest, although she was crying softly. Angel walked up to Faith and handed her the baby. He then left to give her some privacy. This was a time when she and Buffy would spend with each other, looking at their daughter and just relaxing in comfortable silence. Faith would be between Buffy’s legs and Buffy would have her arms wrapped around Faith, gently holding her family. No one would interrupt unless it was urgent.

Faith now missed her fiery love. This was something she loved to do with Buffy. They didn’t have to talk they just felt and loved.

Faith shook her head and lowered one side of her tank top and brought her daughter to her breast. As the baby ate, Faith gently caressed the baby’s cheek with the back of her hand and sang to her one of her favorite songs.

***

Deep down Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Where lived a country boy named of Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well,
But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Johnny B. Goode

He use to carry his guitar in a gunnysack
Or sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made.
The People passing by, they would stop and say
Oh my that little country boy could play

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Johnny B. Goode

He use to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Or sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made.
The People passing by, they would stop and say
Oh my that little country boy could play

His mother told him someday you will be a man,
And you would be the leader of a big old band.
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go

Johnny B. Goode

***

When they baby finished her meal, Faith gently lay the baby down beside her. Faith ran a soothing hand over the baby’s stomach, causing the baby to fall asleep. Faith smiled down at her daughter before putting her shirt back on correctly and then picking up the pen and pad of paper again. Faith looked down at her and Buffy’s child and thought about the past, the present and the future. She now knew what she was. Smiling, she started to write her vows, knowing exactly what to say.

***

“I can’t believe we just spent seven hours chasing goddamn demons,” Faith complained. She tugged off her slime covered leather jacket and threw it on the floor near the couch.

“Yes, well, it was necessary. We don’t want any demons messing up your wedding,” Wesley tried to explain to the two whiny young adults.

“Yes, I’m sure that Willie will spread the news just fine and I’m also sure that those what, thirty demons we killed, will be message enough,” Gunn said, rolling his eyes.

Angel had insisted that they go out and make sure that no demon or vampire tried to cause trouble during the wedding. Anyone could easily find out what was happening and try to ruin the wedding to get to the two slayers. Gunn and Faith had complained the whole seven hours.

“We had to do it. If any demon happened by here, which mostly likely they will be, they will se what is going on and try to make a fight,” Angel said, defending his decision to search out demons and warns them not to cause trouble.

“Whatever. I’m going to take a shower, first, and then spend time with my daughter,” Faith said, heading for the bathroom.

“Dude, why does she get to have a shower first,” Gunn complained who was soaked in demon slime and goo.

“Cause I called it first,” Faith said from inside of the bathroom.

“Damn slayer hearing,” Gunn mumbled. “She better not use all the hot water or I’ll kick her skinny white ass.”

“I HEARD THAT!” Faith yelled out.

Everyone just laughed at that as Xander walked into the room holding the baby. His hair was mussed, his shirt had stains on it and he had a look of complete exhaustion. He walked up to Oz, the only one not covered in slime or goo, and handed him the baby. He then walked away muttering, “Babies are evil. Never, never again will I be left alone with that little monster.”

Angel, Gunn, Wesley, Giles and Oz looked at each other.

“I think he had it worse than we did,” Oz commented.

“Poor guy,” Gunn said, laughing.

Oz walked into the living room and sat down with the quiet baby.

“I do not see how he can look like that. She seems quiet,” Oz said.

“Yes, but we left him for seven hours,” Wesley pointed out.

“True,” Oz said.

“Taking care of a baby can’t be that hard,” Gunn said.

Giles, Wesley and Angel exchanged glances. Sure, babies seemed easy to take care of but they weren’t.

“Babies are not always cute and quiet,” Giles said.

“Whatever.”

A few minutes later, Faith came out of the bathroom and went into her room to change into some comfortable clothes. Gunn ran into the bathroom to take a shower. Faith came out of her room and walked over to Oz and took the baby from him.

“How’s my baby?” Faith cooed and nuzzled the down soft skin. “Were you good for uncle Xander?”

Xander came into the room and started to complain. He had stayed with the baby a few times but only for an hour or so. So, he had thought it would be easy but after seven hours he quickly changed his opinion.

“No, she was not good for uncle Xander. She cried and cried and cried for hours. She wouldn’t eat and when I finally got her to, she threw it back up. Then she couldn’t go to sleep and when she did, a noise would wake her up and I would have to try and get her back to sleep. Then when I changed her, she peed on me, not once, not twice, not even three times, but four times she peed on me. She soiled her nappy at least twenty times,” Xander complained.

Faith and Angel were trying to stifle laughter while Giles and Wesley cleaned their glasses and Oz raised both eye brows. Xander walked over to a couch and collapsed and closed his eyes. Faith threw her head back and let out a hearty laugh as Angel, Giles and Wesley smiled and Oz smiled slightly. Xander lifted his for a moment and glared at them but then laid his head back, too tired to do anything else.

“Now I know we’re taking the baby with us on our honeymoon,” Faith teased, laughing. She had Buffy had discussed this at length. They had agreed that being away from the baby for twelve days was too long in and fragile stage of development for the baby. Besides, they weren’t going to spend the whole time in the bedroom and when they did want to spend time there, they could always find someone to care for the baby.

“Are you sure you want to take her with you?” Angel asked.

Faith nodded.

“Yes, I’m sure we want to take her with us. We decided that being way from her for twelve days was not an option,” Faith explained. “Besides, this is an important developmental stage for a child. From birth to the age of six is the stage where anything you do could affect the child’s life forever.”

“I see,” the men said.

“Don’t you think she’ll get in the way when you want to… uh… you know,” Xander said, blushing.

“I’m sure we can figure something out,” Faith said.

After that, everyone agreed to rest until seven. Then they’ll eat dinner and start the party at eight o’clock. Giles volunteered to watch Joyce while the rest enjoyed the party, claiming he was too old to participate. Everyone headed to their rooms to rest. Faith, carrying Joyce, walked into her room and closed the door. Faith walked to the bed and laid down Joyce and then lay down next to her. Faith laid a hand on her daughter’s stomach and let sleep claim her tired body.

It was now eight o’clock and they were all waiting for Xander and Gunn to get back from where they were picking up the entertainment. Giles had taken Joyce upstairs after they had eaten dinner. Xander and Gunn had announced that they had a surprise for Faith and quickly left to go and get it before they could question the two young men.

“Where are they?” Faith asked, almost bordering on whining.

The three men shrugged as Xander and Gunn came into the living room followed by a … stripper. The stripper was wearing low rise jeans, a tight t-shirt, a tie, a leather jacket, and high heels. Faith’s jaw dropped open and Wesley blushed furiously. Angel and Oz seemed unaffected; they merely raised a brow and shrugged.

“You… You… You brought a stripper for the entertainment?” Faith stuttered out.

“Yep,” Xander said.

“This is your last night a free woman. She’s just here for a couple of lap dances,” Gunn said, smirking.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Faith chocked out. “But you do realize that my DAUGHTER is upstairs, right?”

At that, both Gunn and Xander froze. They looked at each other and then back at Faith and offered her a shrug.

“Not like she’s gonna see it,” Gunn pointed out.

“True, but I’m not sure about this,” Faith said.

“Faith, it’s not like you’re gonna do anything. It’s just fun and it happens to almost all guys when they get married,” Xander said.

“Xander, I’m not a guy, remember,” Faith said.

“Yeah, but you’re the male part of the relationship,” Xander pointed out. “Besides, we already paid her and it’s a no money back thing.”

“Fine!” Faith said, throwing her hands in the air in defeat.

Xander and Gunn grinned as they set up for Faith’s lap dance. Xander moved a chair into the middle of the living room while Gunn put a c.d. in the c.d. player. Terri the Tease, the stripper, led Faith to the chair and told her to sit down. Faith sat down and tried to get comfortable, but couldn’t. Gunn started the song and Terri began to dance. Terri moved her hips side to side as she did a slow turn. Terri took her tie off and swung it around and threw it at Gunn. Faith squirmed, not because she was aroused, but because she was uncomfortable. Usually this would turn her on to no end, but it didn’t. All she could think about was Buffy. Terri dropped her leather jacket half way off so that it pooled at her elbows and she ran her hands down the front of her body. Terri twirled, dropped the jacket and kicked it up into Xander’s face. Terri did a few dance steps before reaching for the bottom of her shirt. Terri started to pull the shirt up when a cry came from upstairs.

And it broke the mood completely.

Giles came down with a crying Joyce in his arms. He looked at Terri and raised his eyebrow.

“Do I even want to know?” Giles asked.

“Stripper,” Xander said.

“Oh lord,” Giles muttered, walking over to Faith. Faith jumped up and held out her hands for her daughter. Giles handed Faith the baby and the baby instantly stopped crying.

Faith turned to Terri.

“Sorry about this, I don’t want to be rude but…” Faith started.

“You want me to go? It’s ok. I have two kids at home. But, there are no refunds,” Terri said, smiling.

Faith smiled back and got her wallet out of her back pocket. Faith took out two hundred dollars and handed it to the protesting stripper.

“No, I couldn’t,” Terri protested.

“Take it, I insist,” Faith said, stuffing the money in Terri’s hands.

“Alright, thank you,” Terri said, reluctantly taking the money. Terri gathered her things and quickly left.

“Ok, this group is totally pathetic,” Gunn said.

“This happens when you have a kid,” Faith said, cradling Joyce.

“What are you going to do when you and Buffy have to patrol? You can’t take Joyce with you,” Oz said.

Everyone turned to him. The comment came out of no where. Although Oz did have a tendency to do that, make a comment from out of no where. Make a comment that had nothing to do with what was being discussed and that threw everyone, even Giles, Wesley and Angel, off balance. But almost all of his comments had relevance and made some sense in a turn about way.

“That is what Dawn is for,” Faith pointed out. “I already talked to Dawn and she volunteered to baby sit while Buffy and I patrol. Of course I have to pay her five bucks an hour but hey, it’s all good.”

“Five dollars an hour to baby sit? But aren’t you out there for like seven hours?” Xander asked.

“It’s not like I can’t afford it,” Faith said, sitting down on a couch.

After a few minutes of silence, Faith smiled.

“Sorry about the party. I’m sure it didn’t turn out how you wanted it to,” Faith said to Gunn and Xander.

“Not really, no,” Gunn said.

Faith shrugged.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m not ‘party girl’ any more. Sure, I still like going to clubs and dancing, but the whole slutty I don’t care thing is over,” Faith said.

“Well, what shall we do now?” Wesley asked, changing the subject.

“How about we watch a movie?” Xander asked.

“We could play poker,” Angel suggested at the same time as Xander.

“Poker sounds good to me,” Gunn said.

“Alright,” Faith said.

Angel and Gunn got a table and brought it into the living room while Wesley and Oz got the chairs. Giles got the cards and the poker chips. Xander brought out the food and drinks. Faith got Joyce’s bassinet and put her into the bassinet and placed the bassinet onto the couch. The seven of them sat down at the table and made Giles, the most trust worthy person at the table, the dealer. They began playing, eating, drinking and talking. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. They played poker for hours. They talked about everything and nothing important. They joked, they laughed and they teased each other until late into the night.

Chapter 18: A Summer Wedding (Part 4)

Notes: The songs in this chapter are: ‘Bring Me To Life’ by Evanescence; and ‘Wanna Be With You’ by Mandy Moore.

~~~~~

“BUFFY! Time to get up now!” Willow called out and knocked on the door.

“Go away,” Buffy muttered at the person who was knocking on her door. She was three-quarters asleep and one-quarter awake.

Willow opened the door, ran in and jumped onto the bed making Buffy jump three inches off of the bed. Buffy started to giggle.

“Gees, Willow, what are you eating, bricks?” Buffy asked, laughing. “I almost flew off of the bed!”

Willow stuck out her tongue as Cordelia, who was in the door way, just shook her head.

“Nope! You’re just a light weight!” Willow teased and Buffy stuck her tongue out at Willow.

“Come on you two. Fred and Dawn are making breakfast and we have to get going soon, or you’ll miss your own wedding,” Cordelia said.

“Right!” Buffy said and then jumped out of bed.

Willow and Cordelia laughed at her enthusiasm. They walked down the stairs and to the kitchen. Buffy, Cordelia and Willow stood in the kitchen doorway watching Dawn and Fred cook breakfast. The two were listening to the radio and singing along with it. They were also dancing around and being playful. Suddenly, Cordelia started to sing too and danced up to Fred who had turned around. Cordelia pulled Fred into her arms, spun her around, dipped her, spun her away and the spun her back into her arms. Cordelia laid a small kiss on Fred’s lips and whispered sweet endearments. Buffy, Willow and Dawn cheered. Cordelia threw them a haughty look, while Fred blushed and buried her face into Cordelia’s neck. After that tender moment ended, they all got their breakfast and started to eat. After they finished with their breakfast, they cleaned up the mess they had made last night at Fred’s insistence. Then they all took showers and put on fresh around the house clothes. They got their dresses and their make-up and then went out to Cordelia’s car and got in and headed for the mansion.

A few hours later, Buffy was very amused. Dawn and Fred were running around like chickens without heads. The two of them were nervous and excited. Dawn, Fred, Cordelia, Willow and Buffy had left the house at eight o’clock and had arrived at the mansion at eight fifteen. Buffy, Dawn and Fred were put in a room upstairs. Dawn and Fred had helped Buffy get into her dress, put her hair up and put on her make-up. Then Dawn and Fred had gotten into their dresses, put up their hair and put on their make-up. Now, Dawn and Fred were talking a mile a minute about the ceremony. They just kept talking and talking and talking. Kind of like that damn Energizer Bunny that just kept going and going and going. Buffy suspected that they were trying to distract her so she wouldn’t get nervous. She wasn’t a totally airhead blonde you know. She was smart, she just hid it well. So, Buffy blocked them out and thought about the ceremony. THE ceremony. The wedding. HER wedding ceremony. She was going to be married and become Mrs. Summers-Winters. She was so excited. She wasn’t really nervous, she was too happy, and too excited to be nervous. Buffy was content with her relationship with Faith. For the first time she didn’t have to put on an act, neither strong nor one in total control. She could be herself and didn’t have to play a part.

Buffy’s musings were interrupted by Dawn and Fred.

“Buffy, are you listening?” Dawn demanded.

“Nope, I’m thinking about the ceremony,” Buffy replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Are you nervous?” Fred asked softly.

Buffy looked at Fred and smiled. She liked Fred. Fred reminded her of a younger Willow, the one she had just met before she had been corrupted by the evil in the world.

“No, I’m happy and excited,” Buffy said smiling.

“You’re not? How can you not be nervous?” Dawn asked.

Buffy opened her mouth to reply but a knock on the door stopped her. The door opened and Giles stepped into the room.

“Girls are you… ready,” Giles said. He then cleared his throat. “Buffy, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Buffy said, smiling at her surrogate father.

Giles then turned to Dawn and Fred.

“Dawn, Fred, you two look lovely,” Giles complimented.

“Thanks Giles,” Dawn said, beaming.

“Thank you, Mr. Giles,” Fred said, blushing.

“They are ready to start the ceremony. Fred, Dawn go down stairs and stand where Willow tells you to. Buffy and I will be there in a minute,” Giles said.

The two girls nodded and left without complaint, both realizing that it was a father-daughter moment. Giles and Buffy stayed quiet for a moment. Buffy broke the awkward moment by pulling Giles in for a hug.

“Thank you so much,” Buffy said into Giles’ chest.

“For what?” Giles asked, perplexed.

“For giving me away at my wedding. For being a father to me when my own abandoned me. For everything you have ever done for me,” Buffy explained, pulling back but remaining in his arms.

“It has been a delight to do all of these things for you Buffy,” Giles said, pulling Buffy into a final hug. He pulled back and offered Buffy his arm. Buffy took his arm and smiled up at him. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” Buffy said with laughter.

Giles and Buffy walked out of the room and headed for the top of the stairs where they waited until they heard the music begin to play. Giles walked down the stairs to wait for Buffy at the bottom of them. The Wedding March started and Buffy started down the stairs…

****

Faith lay on her back on the bed with Joyce lying on her stomach. She had just finished feeding Joyce and had decided to rest for a little bit more before she got up. She had awoken at seven forty by Joyce’s cry and fed her. It was now eight o’clock and Faith decided to get up. Faith slowly sat up and readjusted the baby before getting off of the bed. Faith laid Joyce on the bed before walking over to the dresser that had a small plastic tub on it. Faith got the tub and went into the bathroom and filled it with lukewarm water. Faith put it back onto the dresser and went back to the bed. Faith took Joyce’s pajamas off and carried her to the small tub and began to bath her. Faith was giving Joyce a bath when she heard the girls come into the mansion and go upstairs. Faith raised a brow when she realized that they were hurrying so that she and Buffy wouldn’t see each other before the wedding.

Faith turned her head when the door opened and Cordelia walked in with her dress.

“Hey, Faith,” Cordelia greeted her friend as she walked into the room with her dress in her hand.

“Umm… Hey… Cordy,” Faith said slowly, a little dumbly. She then raised a brow in confusion. “What are you doing?”

“I’m here to make sure you look your best and at least a little bit like a girl,” Cordelia said teasingly, hanging up her dress.

“Oh… okay,” Faith said and then turned back to washing her daughter. Faith washed the shampoo out of the baby’s hair, grabbed a small soft pink towel, picked up the baby and dried the baby off. She then walked to the bed and laid Joyce down in the center of the bed with pillows surrounding her. Faith got a dipper, and the dress Joyce was going to wear for the ceremony. Faith put the dipper on her daughter and then dresses her into the pretty white dress and white shoes with little white hair ties. Faith then laid Joyce back down in the center of the bed and kissed her forehead softly before turning around to face Cordelia.

“You’re here to annoy me, aren’t you?” Faith mock demanded.

“Damn right,” Cordelia teased.

“If you’re here, who’s helping B?” Faith asked suddenly.

“Dawn and Fred,” Cordelia replied.

“Poor Dawn and Fred,” Faith laughed.

“No, poor Buffy. Dawn and Fred are talking non-stop hopping to keep Buffy from getting nervous,” Cordelia said and Faith laughed.

Cordelia lightly hit Faith on the shoulder as they joked around. Faith and Cordelia then started to get dressed. As they dressed, they talked. Faith and Cordelia had become close after Faith had gotten out of jail. They had more in common then they had first thought. So, they grew to have a deep, trusting semi-friendship. When Angel had told Faith he needed her to go to Sunnydale, Cordelia and Fred had offered to go with her to Sunnydale and to help convince Buffy that Faith was no good and to protect her if necessary. Although Faith had declined the offer, Faith was grateful for the support.

“So, how are you doing? Afraid? So nervous you might throw up? Excited? Happy?” Cordelia asked.

Faith looked at Cordelia for a moment before answering.

“I’m happy and excited. I’ve wanted this for so long. And that’s why I’m very, very nervous. I keep thinking that everything is happening so fast. For years Buffy has hated my guts to the point she wanted to kill me and now, she’s in love with me. And now we’re getting married,” Faith admitted.

Cordelia was quiet for a moment. She had wondered when Faith’s insecurities were going to show up. That had been the only thing that made Cordelia forgive Faith so quickly and start to build a friendship. Sure, she would have forgiven Faith over time while she redeemed herself, but she had finally seen through the façade. It had been two months after Faith had been released from jail. Fred was at school taking some classes to get her doctrine. Angel, Wesley and Gunn were on a job. Cordelia and Faith were manning the fort. Cordelia had been reading a book in her office hopping for a call to get some money in… some business in. Faith was in the basement working out and staying away from Cordelia. At noon, as ordered, Cordelia went down to the basement to ask Faith what she wanted for lunch. When she got down there, what she saw horrified her. Faith was hurting herself… on purpose. So, Cordelia had confronted Faith and they both had a long talk and things had come out. Badass Faith was just a façade to cover her vulnerability.

“Faith, don’t do this. Don’t deny yourself happiness because you’re afraid. Buffy was in love with you before you came back. She loved you back then THAT is why she was so upset, YOU had betrayed her. Faith, you have changed so much over the years. It doesn’t take one long to see that. All Buffy had to do was open her eyes and her heart to love again and she’d see you for who and what you really are. A wonderful, loving person who made some bad choices but paid for them by going to jail for five years and proving to everyone that she was good and will stay good. She saw that and forgave you. Believe me when I say that you two are soul mates,” Cordelia said.

Cordelia cupped Faith’s face in her hands and looked her in the eyes.

“Don’t let what your mother and other people said about you, rule you. She loves you. Buffy is one of the most stubborn people I know. She wouldn’t love you unless she really did. Buffy doesn’t give her heart out easily,” Cordelia said.

Faith nodded.

“Thanks Cordy,” Faith said.

Cordelia was about to say more when there was a knock on the door and angel walked in. Cordelia rolled her eyes.

“Angel, you are supposed to wait for one of to say ‘come in’,” Cordelia said.

Angel raised a brow.

“They’re ready for you,” Angel said.

“Alright,” Faith said.

Faith holding Joyce, Cordelia and Angel walked out of the room and headed for where the wedding would take place. Faith handed Joyce to Dawn and took the place Willow indicated. Everyone stood where Willow told them to. A few minutes later Willow stood in front of a small altar with Faith to her left in front of the altar. Angel, Gunn, Wesley, Oz, Dawn, Fred and Cordelia were in a semi-circle around them. Dawn was holding Joyce in her arms. Giles was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Candles and flowers were all around the room. Fred hit play on the remote she had when Willow signaled to her. The wedding March started, signaling the start of the wedding ceremony. They all turned to the stairs and waited for Buffy to come down. As Buffy came down the stairs slowly, the candle light reflected off of her making her look like an angel. Faith felt her breath catch in her throat as Buffy descended the stairs. Angel had to lean over and remind her to breath. Faith sucked in a ragged breath as Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs and took Giles’ arm. Faith felt her heart beating wildly as Buffy approached her. Faith and Buffy’s eyes met and locked. To them, the music died away, and there was no one in the room but them. ‘I love you’ was mouthed between the two as Buffy stopped along side Faith. Giles handed Buffy to Faith and stepped back to complete the semi-circle. Buffy and Faith linked hands and turned towards Willow as Fred stopped the music.

“Family and friends, we are gathered here to witness the most sacred of ceremonies, the bonding of two souls. Before we begin, I ask of the Goddess weather or not she will bless them in this union,” Willow said, lifting a small bowl filled with red liquid in the air. After a minute, she lowered the bowl and smiled. The liquid had turned white. “The Goddess has blessed you and has granted you this union.”

Willow put the bowel down.

“We are all here for the bonding of these two special women. They have had their ups and downs over the years. They have gone to Hell and back, but they still found love with each other. Their love has been put through the test of time, hardship, jealousy, death, anger, pain, betrayal, stubbornness and rage. Against all odds, they have come together and formed a unique bond of love, pure and simple,” Willow said and then looked at Buffy and Faith. “Repeat after me.”

Faith and Buffy nodded as they took out the rings.

“I, Faith, pledge thee my heart and soul for all of eternity. I will love, hold, cherish, protect you and ensure your happiness. And with this ring, I wed thee,” Willow instructed.

Faith and Buffy faced each other looking deeply into the other’s eyes.

“I, Faith, pledge thee my heart and soul for all of eternity. I will love, hold, cherish, protect you and ensure your happiness. And with this ring, I wed thee,” Faith said and slipped the ring onto Buffy’s finger.

Willow turned to Buffy and nodded.

“I, Buffy, pledge thee my heart and soul for all of eternity. I will love, hold, cherish, protect you and ensure your happiness. And with this ring, I wed thee,” Willow instructed.

“I, Buffy, pledge thee my heart and soul for all of eternity. I will love, hold, cherish, protect you and ensure your happiness. And with this ring, I wed thee,” Buffy said, sliding the ring onto Faith’s finger.

Willow took a white scarf and tied their left wrists together.

“You are bonded for eternity. You may now kiss the…err… bride,” Willow said.

Faith pulled back the veil covering Buffy’s face and slowly brought the smaller girl into her arms. Buffy wrapped both of her arms around Faith’s neck and shoulders. Faith wrapped one arm around Buffy’s waist and cupped Buffy’s cheek with the other. Faith slowly dipped her head and pressed her lips to Buffy’s. Buffy let out a little moan and melted into Faith’s embrace. Faith ran her tongue along Buffy’s bottom lip, searching for entrance. Buffy opened her mouth and Faith thrust her tongue into Buffy’s mouth and slowly kissed the smaller slayer. The broke the kiss, panting heavily, and laid their foreheads against the other’s. They never noticed the flash of the camera go off.

“My wife,” Faith breathed, smiling.

Buffy smiled softly and pressed a small kiss to Faith’s lips.

“Yes, and you are my wife,” Buffy agreed.

The moment was broken when Joyce let out a small cry. Buffy and Faith let out a small laugh as they broke apart. Dawn stepped forward and handed Joyce to Buffy. Buffy cuddled the small baby in her arms as Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy from behind. Xander quickly took another picture of them. Buffy looked up at Faith and they both smiled widely. Xander took another picture. After the moment pass, Xander became a picture taking fiend. He got individual shots of everyone. Then he got ones with the people who were couples. Then he got one with Faith with Angel, then Oz, then Gunn, then Wesley, then Dawn, then Joyce, then Buffy, then Willow, then Fred, then Cordelia and then himself. Then he did the same with Buffy. Then he did one big group picture. And then he did a picture of Faith with Angel, Oz, Gunn, Wesley and him self and one of Buffy with Dawn, Joyce, Willow, Fred, and Cordelia. Then, for the last one, he got one with Faith, Buffy, Dawn and Joyce.

“There, done,” Xander announced an hour later.

“Oh thank God!” Faith and Dawn whined together.

Everyone laughed at their childlike antics.

“Can we go now? I’m hungry and I wanna dance with my wife,” Faith whined and pouted.

“Want some cheese with that whine?” Cordelia asked.

Faith stuck her tongue out at Cordelia and quickly danced away before Buffy could smack her. Everyone laughed again as they started to get things together to return to the Summers’ home. They all left the mansion and headed for the house. They entered the house and headed for the backyard that had the protection for Angel over it. When they got out there, they were all stunned speechless. The backyard had been transformed. There were two large white tables with table cloths over them decorated with hearts that had plates, sliver wear and glasses on it. There was an even larger table piled with food a little bit away. Then there was a small table with a cake covered in a glass case. Then, there was yet two more tables pushed together and had wedding presents on it. Then there was a large platform with a DJ station next to it. There were a lot of white balloons and white streamers all around the backyard. There was also a hug banner that said ‘Congratulations Buffy and Faith Summers-Winters’.

“Wow.”

“Who the hell did all this?” Faith asked.

“The whole town,” Giles said.

“WHAT?” everyone yelled out.

“The whole town chipped it. Or, so it says on this card,” Giles said.

Buffy grabbed the card from Giles and read it.

“Dear Buffy and Faith. We thank you for protecting our town and its people. For this, we honor you on the day of your marriage and have done up your wedding reception in the backyard of your house. The money your friends used to pay for some of the stuff has been put in a draw in your kitchen. We thank you for our lives and hope that you two live a long and happy life. The town,” Buffy read aloud.

“I guess people aren’t as clueless as we thought,” Cordelia said dryly.

“Well, I say we party. They did this to thank us. Let’s not dwell on it,” Faith said.

“I agree with Faith,” Xander said, looking at the food.

“Let’s party then,” Buffy said, setting down the card as Faith ran to the DJ station and started up some music and Xander ran to the food.

“Hey, before we start eating and shit,” Faith said into the microphone. Everyone turned to her. Faith was standing behind the DJ station with the microphone in her hand looking very nervous. “I wanted to say something. Well, I’m not really good at saying my feelings so I decided to sing them. It was what I had hoped would happen a few years ago but it didn’t. This is what I wanted you to do for me, B. But, better late then never, right? You’ll understand what I am saying from the song.”

Faith pushed a button and music started to play. Faith motioned for Buffy to come onto the stage with her. Buffy walked up to the stage and stood before Faith.

***

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I’ve become so numb without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can’t wake up
Wake me up inside
Save me
Call my name and save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run before I come undone
Save me
Save me from the nothing I’ve become

***

Buffy looked into Faith’s eyes which her completely unguarded. She saw all of the emotion Faith felt at that moment: anger, hatred, pain, confusion, forgiveness and love. All the other emotions died away as love conquered them.

***

Now that I know what I’m without
You can’t just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Frozen inside
Frozen inside without your touch without your love
Darling only you are the life among the dead

***

Buffy felt her heart swell at the emotion that this song evoked. Buffy finally understood. She knew of their past and everything that had happen and she understood that Faith had been used. But, she understood why Faith had been easily seduced. There had already been a ‘darkness’ there and all she needed was someone to care enough about her to push through her barriers and to show her there was someone willing to do it. To show Faith that her bullshit and fake storied weren’t going to hold or be tolerated and that they wanted to she the real Faith, not the made up version.

***

All this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don’t let me die here there must be something more
Bring me to life

***

Faith had been buried so much behind her walls that were there to protect her that she couldn’t get out on her own when she wanted to. Buffy knew now and understood. She finally brought Faith out of the darkness and into life, love. She had finally saved the real innocent, the one who had been hurt time and time again; The one who had seen so much in her short life that she had been corrupted by it; The one who only wanted someone to care for her and love her; The one who had been lost and had no where to go. Faith was the real innocent that Buffy should have saved; not from the monsters of the night, but from her past and from herself.

***

Tears fell from Buffy’s eyes as Faith finished the song. Buffy brought Faith into a hug and held onto her.

“I love you. I love you. I love you so much,” Buffy said.

“I love you too, B,” Faith said.

A couple hours later after the emotional outburst, eating everyone was dancing and having a good time. Faith and Buffy were sitting at the table talking and watching their friends and family have a good time. If you had told either of them a few years ago that this is where they would have ended up, they would have either laughed in your face or hit you in your face. Oz, manning the DJ station, suddenly got everyone’s attention and indicated the start of the married couple dance. Everyone who was on the dance floor got off of the dance floor at the mention of the married couples dance. Faith raised a brow and jumped up. She held out a hand to Buffy and smiled at the smaller girl. Buffy took her hand and let Faith led her to the dance floor. Faith led Buffy to the middle of the dance floor and brought the older girl into her arms as the song started to play.

***

I try but I can't seem to get myself
To think of anything but you
Your breath on my face
Your warm gentle kiss, I taste the truth
I taste the truth

We know what I came here for
So I won`t ask for more

I wanna be with you
If only for a night
To be the one whose in your arms
Who holds you tight
I wanna be with you
There's nothing more to say
There's nothing else I want more than to feel this way
I wanna be with you

***

They slowly swayed to the music. They looked into each other’s eyes and saw only love. Buffy lowered her head to Faith’s shoulder and snuggled closer to the taller girl. Faith nestled her face into Buffy’s hair and breathed in deeply. Buffy pressed small kisses to Faith’s neck and Faith sighed with contentment. Faith kissed the top of Buffy’s head and closed her eyes. This was it. The feeling that she had always tried to avoid: happiness, love, contentment and safe in another’s arms. It all led to hurt, pain and loneliness, but not anymore. Being alone and afraid to have it all hurt more and cause her to feel nothing. She had all that she wanted and yet didn’t want at the same time. This was heaven.

***

So I`ll hold you tonight
Like I would if you were mine
To hold forever more
And I`ll saver each touch that I wanted
So much to feel before (To feel before)
How beautiful it is
Just to be like this

***

Buffy pulled back and mouthed the words, ‘I love you.’ Faith mouthed them back. Faith leaned down and captured Buffy’s lips in a sweet kiss. Faith ran her tongue along Buffy’s bottom lip, seeking entrance. Buffy opened her mouth and their tongues meet in a duel. Faith broke the kiss and buried her face in Buffy’s neck. Buffy brought a hand up and stroked Faith’s hair lovingly. She knew. She knew that Faith had become overcome with emotions. Faith was trying to keep them back, but at Buffy’s reassuring stroking, she broke down and cried with happiness. Buffy shed her own tears of happiness as she hugged Faith to her tightly.

***

Oh baby
I can`t fight this feeling anymore
It drives me crazy when I try to
So call my name
Take my hand
Make my wish
Baby, your command?

Yeah
I wanna be with you
There's nothing more to say
There's nothing else I want more than to feel this way
(I wanna be) I wanna be with you (I wanna be with you)
I wanna be with you
Wanna be with you (Yeah)
(I wanna be with you) I wanna be
I wanna be with you
(I wanna be)
(I wanna be)
(I wanna be with you) Yeah
(I wanna be with you)
I wanna be, I wanna be baby
I wanna be
(I wanna be with you)
I wanna be with you, yeah
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you

***

Faith and Buffy took a while to break apart at the end of the song. Faith could smell Buffy’s arousal and could take it no more. She swept Buffy up and into her arms and carted her off to the house and into their room.