She could feel his eyes upon her as she stood at the altar listening to the words of the minister. She'd felt his presence the minute he'd walked into the church, but the traditions had to be maintained and so she'd dithered in front of the mirror and tried to calm jittery nerves, and longed to see him. As she'd walked down the aisle, she'd forced herself not to seek him out, knowing she'd go to him and disrupt the ceremony.
She'd invited him and he'd said 'yes', but somehow she'd thought he wouldn't come.
Of course he'd come. When she needed him, he always did.
The words flowed over her and she clutched the bouquet of pink roses and baby's breath to her chest. Suddenly tears welled up in her eyes and she blinked rapidly, trying to deny them, and then the minister pronounced the final words and cheers and applause rang out.
Buffy looked at her sister, radiant in simple white silk, and smiled through her tears. The new Mrs. Campbell smiled back, then kissed her husband again and stepped off the dais. Buffy fixed Dawn's train, then took the arm of the best man and followed her married baby sister from the church.
It was full night but the path from the church to the country house where the wedding party was staying and the reception was being held was lit by torches. A light early summer breeze brought them the scent of early roses and lavender. In the distance the strains of Big Band music could be heard coming from the open doors to the ballroom.
Smiling and feeling that, for once, all was right with the world, Buffy stepped into the mansion and joined the receiving line.
For the next half hour she shook hands, smiled, spoke pleasantries, and refused to fidget. The maid of honor couldn't fidget. She had to be in control of everything, even the bride who was about to bounce off the walls.
Friends, loved ones, all passed by--some she saw daily, some she hadn't seen in years. There was no sign of her father, but Buffy refused to be depressed over that and hoped Dawn did the same. Anyway, Giles was more their father than their biological one had been in a decade, and he'd done superbly giving the bride away.
Looking away from Giles and the massively pregnant Olivia who stood next to the best man, Buffy glanced up at the next in line and smiled.
"Hi."
Spike grinned back and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "You look beautiful, luv."
"You're supposed to say that to the bride," she teased, for the hundredth time eternally thankful that Spike was alive and back in her life, even though they'd both decided that friendship was all they wanted or needed. She glanced at his companion, seeing the demon inside the bubbly young woman once known as Fred, and managed not to frown. Spike was happy with her, even if she was really a million year old Old One with tacky blue hair.
"Save me a dance," Buffy added as Spike and Illyria moved on to the bride and groom, and Dawn's happy squeals covered up Spike's affirmative reply.
More people passed down the line, and she began to grow restless. She knew she'd sensed him. He was here somewhere. He had to be.
Maybe he wasn't alone. Maybe, like Spike, he'd moved on, too.
The frown did break through this time and a voice broke through the beginnings of a pout.
"I don't think the maid of honor is supposed to frown on a night like this," Angel said softly.
Buffy's eyes lit up and the frown disappeared. "You did come." Their hands met, held tightly.
"I said I would."
"Yeah, but, you know, an apocalypse is always around the next corner to get in the way of festivities."
"Nothing would dare disrupt this wedding. Not even an apocalypse." His big hands squeezed hers gently. "You look so beautiful, Buffy."
She felt herself blushing, but smiled as happiness tingled through her. "You look pretty good, too."
A rustling of impatience came from behind him and they both gave each other chagrined looks before Angel slipped his hands from her. "We're holding up the line."
"I don't actually care."
Grinning, he leaned in and whispered, "We don't want to cause a riot on Dawn's big day."
"Yeah, let's not do that," Dawn interjected, reaching out and hugging Angel. Buffy watched them for a few long seconds, glad that they had grown closer over the years, then turned back to the next person in line.
*****
Finally the welcoming part of the evening was through and the eating and dancing and partying could begin. Buffy helped Dawn detach her train then stored both their bouquets, before leading the happy couple into the ballroom. It was a gorgeous room, with a painted ceiling, pale green walls with lots of white plaster work, and a gleaming parquet wood floor. She watched as Dawn dragged her bridegroom onto the dance floor to dance to their song, "Night and Day" by Cole Porter, then let her eyes drift around the room. Angel was sitting with Wesley, Andrew and a couple other of the new Watchers, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
She skirted the dance floor to go rescue him.
"Dance with me?"
Angel rose, a grateful look on his face and took her outstretched hand. As they walked onto the dance floor, he leaned down and murmured, "I think those Watchers were about to stake me."
"They seem to have this unhealthy dislike for vampires," Buffy teased back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and beginning to sway to the music.
"I can't imagine why. We're such likeable fellows. Well, Spike's not."
"I can't believe you're making jokes." She grinned up at him. "I like it."
"I'm striving to brood less."
"It looks good on you." Flushing, she buried her face in his chest and felt his arms tighten around her.
"I've missed you, Buffy," he murmured after several minutes of dancing.
She lifted her head and smiled sadly. "Me, too."
"I was...well, I was really happy that you invited me to the wedding but I was almost worried you..." Angel let his voice trail away and he shifted his feet nervously.
"Me, too, you know. It has been several years since we've seen each other and email messages can't convey everything." She took a steadying breath. "I've dated, thought I was in love a couple times, even, but..." Shaking her head, she gave him a rueful look. "There was no one to compare to you."
Angel smiled, a smile full of wistfulness that nearly broke her heart. "It's been the same with me. I've just been waiting."
"Im not making a stupid cookie analogy again. I blame that on the influence of way too many teenage girls under my feet," she laughed softly. "But, I think I'm all grown up now. I'm sorry I made you wait."
"I'm not. No, really," he added quickly due to the confusion crossing her expressive face. "We weren't in the same place back then or during the last few years. I think maybe now we are."
Relieved, Buffy nodded and gently caressed his shoulders as the music changed but stayed slow and romantic. "We could have lost each other."
"Oh, I doubt that would have happened. The Powers owed us a big one. This is destiny, Buffy, but one we made together. I hope, together."
Rising on her toes, she pressed her lips to his in a soft, gentle and completely loving kiss. "Definitely together. You're the love of my life, Angel."
"And you're my heart and soul, Buffy." They kissed again and twirled to the music, both feeling like they were the bride and groom beginning their life together.
End