It was a beautiful wedding. Cordelia was already so frazzled by the preceding events that she cried the whole way through, and she wasn’t the only one.  Angel and Oz looked slightly embarrassed when they had to stop the vows  three times because Buffy and Willow would just take one look at their prospective husbands and just start bawling.

Joyce cried, too,and if Giles wasn’t such a man, he would have let that tear that was in his eyes come down.

Only Xander, the true soldier, didnt’ cry as he watched his two best friends pledges themselves for the rest of thier lives.  He simply kept handing Cordelia kleenexes the whole way through, until he was out of them, and his pockets were full of wet ones.

Buffy looked up at the vampire who was gazing at her with such love and adoration, and as the tears
trickled down her face, she could barely speak, so full of happiness.   they had done it. They had overcome the odds, and they were together, forever, finally.

It had finally  happened.

It had finally happened, he finally had her, and Oz felt his own eyes begin to water as he saw the love that Willow had in her heart shining at him from her eyes.

The priest just about had a heart attack when Oz kissed her before it was time.

That kind of ended the ceremony early, with the priest, who had had enough of the crying, and pretty near tears himself,  and so full of shock that they insisted the wedding take place after the sunset, hastened to pronounce them man and wife.

As the two couples kissed, Cordelia began to sob all over again, and Xander began to panic, because he didn’t have anymore kleenexes. Thankfully, Giles came the rescue, giving his girlfriend, his hankercheif, which she accepted gratefully, honking into it loudly.

“That’s gonna be us.” she whispered, between hiccups, and he felt such a burst of pride he kissed her right then and there, giving the priest yet another scare, because he certiantly hadn’t expected *them* to be a couple, and the poor man tripped in the middle of the aisle, in front of everyone.

The reception  was better for him. The priest sat at the head table, smiling at everyone, blessing left and right, his foot on an ice pack, and the cake in his hand.

This, he declared, was his kind of party.

Xander Harris agreed, and he danced his Xander dance, which still was his trademark all over the base, with Cordelia.

“I’m gonna find someone, Cordy.” He said, swinging her around.  “I’m gonna find someone that loves me just as much as you love him.”

She gave him a soft smile and a kiss on the cheek before answering simply, “Xander, with you, they’ll be waiting in line.”

He pulled her to him and gave her a crushing hug.
 

“One thing, Angel.”

Angel gave Buffy a suprised look, marveling at her sharp tone.

“What?” He asked, his voice full of concern.

“I don’t care if I’m not as good as Willow, you can NOT kill people, you hear me?”

Angel was shocked into silence, but seeing her face spread into a smile, he leaned back and laughed, pulling her in closer, and kissing her deeply.

“I love you, Buffy Summers.” He whispered.

She nodded, hugging him back. “I love you, too, Angel.... Hey, wait a minute... what’s my last name?”
 

“Rupert.” He turned from watching Cordelia and Xander with a sad smile to see Joyce staring at him, looking quite beautiful in her gown.

“Joyce.”  He grabbed her hand, squeezing it.  “You look ravishing.”

She chuckled. “That’s the point, Rupert.” she took  a  breath, and sighed. “Congradulations, on your
engagement, Rupert.  I have to tell you, I thought you were in love with an idiot, but you’re not.  She’s a very sweet gir.... woman. And you two ... you’ll be happy.”

He regarded her for a second.  “And you, Joyce?”

She smiled, cocking her head.  “I’ll  be happy wherever I am, Rupert. You know that.”

He stared at her, and  smiled.

“Thank you, Joyce.” He bowed, kissing her hand tenderly before rising, and walking to Cordelia.  Joyce watched as the young lawyer smiled at him with unparalleled affection, smiling her goodbye to Xander as the librarian pulled her away, the pair laughing at each other as they headed to the door.

She finally allowed herself to smile sadly.  “No, Rupert.” She whispered. “Thank you.”

“Joyce.” She turned, and felt her throat tightened when she recognzied her ex husband.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He put his hands in his pocket, and looked at Buffy, who was smiling with Angel. “She’s married.”

“I know.” Joyce smiled, her eyes growing teary.  “It’s a very scary thought.”

He nodded, and then looked at her. “You look very beautiful, Joyce.”

She closed her eyes, and smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“Would you like to dance?”  She turned, smiling at his hopeful look and taking a deep breath, nodded.

“I would like that very much.”
 

“What do you think, Oz?”  He breathed in, pretending to think before smiling grandly and pulling her in for another satisfying kiss.

“I think what I think about every one of your ideas.” He said warmly.  “I definitely agree. We should live here.” He cocked his head as he motioned to Giles leading Cordelia out of the room and onto the patio.  “I can’t wait to see what happens.”

“Oz, don’t you get it?” Willow leaned into him, a satisfied smile floating on the red head’s face. “We
belong here. We always have.”  But she gave him one smirk as she added, “plus I’m also dying to see what happens when Cordy tells her father she’s finally marrying Giles.”

Their laughter caused several executives to glance their way, and the power couple paid them no mind.  They had finally come home, and neither had ever felt happier.
 

He held her close, watching the moon, bright over the city with the Hellmouth, feeling so blessedly content it was almost sinful.

“Rupert, all this craziness has made me see something.” Her voice was soft, seductive, and Giles felt his heart tremble for just a minute before pulling her closer and placing a soft kiss on the nape of her neck.

His voice muffled, he asked, “And this great insight would be?” She closed her eyes, leaning her head back to give him better access, and she was rendered incapable of thought by his caresses.

“Well...” she began, her voice gruff as she slid a hand back to entangle in his hair.  “We belong together. And nothing is gonna change that.”

He smiled, using his palm to turn her head back so she had it craned to look back at him. He allowed his eyes to twinkle at her, indicating he was pleased by her admission.

“Oh, my dear Miss Chase.” He said, waiting a moment.  “I figured that out a long time ago.”

Watching him, Cordelia had only a chance to smile before his mouth settled possessively on hers. She surrendered herself to it, closing her eyes as she let the kiss become slow, lingering and passionate. He was claiming her, she knew it, and she didn’t seem to mind it at all.

Because she had already claimed him.
 
 

He drove away, the liquor back in his veins. It had been a complete and total disaster, and he knew that he was back to square one with Drusilla.  But it didn’t matter. He was going to get her back, if it killed him, or her.... and even then....

He had always liked brunettes, they had bite, they had passion... and that Chase girl had lots of it.

He grinned, howling with the music.  Time would tell... maybe he would one day find his Drusilla in
another neck of the woods.

Because Sunnydale would always be home.