Disclaimer: Nope, unfortunately I don't own them. Heavy sigh! So don't sue.
Timeline: immediately after "Hidden Day" (well, the morning after)
Feedback: pretty please! It's really needed, life is so busy and feedback keeps me writing!
Dedication : to all my fellow B/A-shippers. Let's not loose hope!

Cordelia wasn't worried she told herself. Why should she be anyway? She had a good life or as good as a life could be, growing up neglected by your parents who thought they could substitute the lack of love with money. To find out that all the money was actually fake and taken away. So she had learned to live without it, tried to get her foot into filming and failed miserably. After her fruitless attemps with show-business she had to admit she had absolutely no talent as an actress. She had certainly never been fond of Angel's evil self, but the demon had opened her eyes being the first who had been totally honest with her.

She hadn't become an actress. So what? That was certainly no reason to get worried. Then what about the fact she was living together with an afro-american who was as poor as a church mouse and showed absolutely no signs he'd propose marriage to her any time soon? No worries, either. She loved Gunn and he loved her, they were good for each other. They understood each other and what was a marriage certificate in the 21st century worth anyway. Only giving you trouble during a divorce. Not that she was planning to get rid of him at a point. No, it was much more the opposite. She inteded to keep him as long as possible.

So no worries there? And still ...

Making her way towards the Hyperion hotel she could feel her tension grow. Okay so she was working for a recently humanised vampire who had exchanged his super-powers for the possibility of a sun-tan. Not that Angel was interested in sunbathing, but he could if he wanted to now. And his permanent brooding attitude had turned into a goofy-grin plastered on his face ever since a certain blode slayer had re-entered his life.

Now that was reason to worry!

Angel and Buffy, they loved each other so much that it was almost palpable in the air between them, still they managed to make each other more miserable than one would think humanely possible. Seeing Angel wandering around like a shadow the last days and finding an almost drowned slayer in front of her door the last night wasn't helping either.

So take it as it was, Cordelia had to admit she was worried. She could feel her steps growing heavy when she approached the hotel not sure what she would find. Buffy had left her apartment in the middle of the night to talk to Angel and each possible outcome of the latest Buffy-Angel-drama worried her. First possibility, they would both behave stubborn as usual, shout at each other and be more miserable afterwards than before. The second case was certainly better for her friends, because it included severe kissage. Yet it didn't mean Cordelia liked the idea. Knowing the slayer and the ex-vampire, the brunette knew how fast their make-out sessions could become x-rated which was never good for the clothes and Buffy had left the apartment in one of Cordelia's most expensive outfits.

So the former cheerleader took a last deep breath and then pulled the door open, entering the lobby cautiously and peeping around to find any sign that could tell her what had happened here last night. But - nothing. A frown appeared on her forehead. There was just plain nothing wrong. Neither she found trashed furniture nor clothes laying around indicating the one or the other outcome.

"Buffy? Angel?," she asked into the emptiness but nobody answered. And no Gunn or Wesley around to get rid of her upcoming frustration. And then some people were wondering why she was worrying all the time?

She spun around when she heard the door and let out a frustrated sigh seing the brunette slayer entering the lobby. "Faith," she greeted the other woman.

"Hi," came the reply. Faith was holding up a bag, "Dognuts for everybody, I just went out to get them." Then she suddenly stopped and looked at the former mayqueen, "Is something wrong?"

"Wrong?," Cordelia gave her an annoyed glance, "No, why should anything be wrong? Look at me. Do I strike you as the worrying kind? Certainly not!"

"Cordelia," Faith deposed the bag on the sofa a stepped closer. "Are you alright?"

"Sure!," the former cheerleader threw her hands in the air. "Why shouldn't I be? Everything is peachy. My boyfriend is gone out of town to work at a case, Angel is brooding 24/7 and on top of all this Buffy in all her wet glory stood in front of my door and in the middle of the night, if I may add, depriving me of my beauty-sleep."

"Oh," Faith said with a sudden understanding in her voice, "that's where she got the clothes. I was wondering already."

Cordelia's head snapped around, "So you've seen her? Are they alright? What happened?"

"No, you're certainly not the worrying kind," the brunette slayer teased her.

"Faith!," Cordelia shouted impatiently.

The other woman held up a hand, "Alright, alright. Yes, everything is alright again. They are allover each other. They aren't even up yet."

"Not true," came a voice from the stairs. Buffy was descending them, a huge smile on her face. "Morning Cordy, morning Faith."

"Good morning," the former cheerleader and the brunette slayer greeted back simultaneously.

"Oh, dognuts. I'm starving," the blonde exclaimed, took a jelly one out of the bag and let herself fall onto the sofa exhaling a content sigh. "Life is good, isn't it?"

"Okay, who are you and what did you do with the Buffy I saw last night?," Cordelia eyed the slayer carefully.

"She disappeared into thin air," Buffy joked and gave the former mayqueen a grin. "Under Angel's skillfull hands of course," she added with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Stop right there," Cordelia held up a hand. "I really don't want to hear this." Hearing a noise from the stairs she looked up and rolled her eyes, "And there he comes, no brooding look anymore, so I guess it's safe to say everything is alright again."

"Hmmm," the blonde slayer mumbled over a bite of the dognut and smiled at Angel who took the spot beside her, then turned his head towards the former cheerleader.

"Morning Cordelia," he said.

"God, this is scary! Yesterday I was seriously considering to get you some therapeutic sessions as a present for your next birthday, and now you look as if you've won the lottery." She shook her head and made her way towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make some coffee, anybody want some?"

With a look of panic that was almost comical Angel looked at Faith, "It's your turn, you know," he said.

She gazed at him quizzically, "My ... oh, OH! Right, my turn. Cordelia," she exclaimed and followed the other brunette into the kitchen.

Seeing his lover's questioning look, the ex-vampire explained, "Cordelia makes the most horrible coffee ever."

She grinned in response, "I see. That's the reason it's always ready when she gets here. I've already wondered." She paused for a moment and then asked, "You didn't forget what we were talking about?"

"Whatever did we talk about?," he teased.

She playfully punched him into his ribbs and he yelled in mocked hurt, "Don't do that Angel." Her face was serious, "This is no matter of fun. We've waited a long time to get to right where we are now. I don't want anything to disturb this now."

He took her hands in his, "No, I didn't forget. I was just wondering if you wouldn't prefer to have some of your friends there?"

"They are here. We can ask them right now. And Wesley..."

"No," he interrupted her. "That wasn't what I meant."

She looked at him for a long moment and then slowly shook her head, "No, I don't want them here. We might have talked, but it's not as if everything is right all of a sudden. I have been thinking abut Xander, but then I'd have to ask him not to tell Willow and I don't want him to choose between the two of us. He might keep quiet for me, but he'd feel bad about it."

"I love you," he said and kissed her hands, then took a deep breath, "Alright. So if you're serious and not changing your mind ..."  When he saw her annoyed gaze he grinned and held his hands up, "Alright, alright. I was just asking." He stood up and walked over to the phone on Cordelia's desk. "I have friends who owe me some favours you know."

"Now, that sounds interesting," she replied and followed him to stand beside him while he dialed. "Would this speed up the licence?"

His only answer was a shrug while he listened, "Hello Brandon, this is Angel. Yeah. ... Fine, great in fact. ... No," he laughed. "Not that way. I'm going to get married." He looked at Buffy and pulled her to him, holding her close with one arm. "Well, as soon as possible. ... Really? That'll be great. ... I know, but Vegas isn't what I want. ... Great. Fine, see you then. Thanks a lot." He put the receiver back on the cradle and gave Buffy a sweet kiss. "We can be married this afternoon at four, if it's convenient for you?," he said with a smile.

"Really?," her eyes lit up. "Who is Brandon? A wizzard?"

He laughed, "No, he's a lay magistrate here in L.A. I met him on a case. A demon was living in his basement. He said he'd owe me a favour ...," he trailed off.

"This is so great," Buffy cried and hugged him. "So ...," suddenly her face fell. "Oh no I don't have any decent clothes. Not for a wedding."

"Wedding?," Cordelia asked coming back from the kitchen. "You know," she looked at Angel, "Faith is really getting on my nerves. She things I can't even make something as simple as a coffee. What is this about a wedding?"

Buffy and Angel looked at each other and chuckled, then the ex-vampire gazed at the former mayqueen, "Cordelia, Buffy and I are getting married this afternoon."

"You're getting married this afternoon," she grinned at him. "You almost had me there," she began but then saw their faces, dead serious, "WHAT?," she shouted. "You can't be serious. No way you can get married this afternoon!"

"Married, who is getting married?," Faith asked coming into the lobby.

"Me and Angel," Buffy informed her.

The brunette slayer's face broke into a huge grin, "Was about time," she said and hugged the couple. "Congrats."

"Oh this is great," Cordelia's annoyed voice interrupted them. "Hug each other. But has anybody of you ever thought about clothes and things. Or do you intend to get married like this," raising her eyebrows she pointed at the couple, Angel wearing a shirt and sweat-pants, Buffy in a similar outfit.

"Of course not," the blonde slayer shook her head. "I have to go shopping. Soon."

"Now we begin to understand each other," the former mayqueen looked at Buffy with a certain glimpse in her eyes that made Angel groan thinking about his credit card limit. "You need a nice dress of course and then we have to think about the wedding night." Turning towards the ex-vampire she held out her hand. "We will need money. I'm the maid of honour of course and you wouldn't want me to go in shabby old clothes either, would you?"

Sighing Angel went to his office and came back holding one of his credit cards in his hand, then handed it over to Buffy. "Buy whatever you need," he smiled and bent down to kiss her. "I want you to be happy today." And inwardly he vowed that one day they would have a church wedding with all their friends but he could understand it was too early for her now and he didn't want to wait anymore than she.

"I don't know how to take the fact that you gave the card to her," Cordelia said in a gruffy voice, sending him a look.

Grinning Angel turned towards her, "She's my fiancée, you're not."

She narrowed her eyes at that, "That'll better be the only reason." Then she shrugged. "Anyway," she turned towards Buffy. "We better get going. Put some clothes on and let's go shopping. You too." She looked a Faith. "I bet you don't have anything to wear at a wedding."

Faith eyes flew open, "Me? Whatever do you need me for?"

Buffy took her arm, "You're the bridesmaid of course. Come on."

"Angel, please," the brunette slayer sent the former vampire a pleading look while the two other women pulled her with them, but Angel only shrugged and smiled. Nothing would ruin his mood today. Nothing.

*****

Three hours later - when he saw the three woman returning - he wasn't so sure anymore, their hands loaded with shopping bags, Cordelia and Buffy were smiling and joking, Faith on the other hand looked as if she was right on her way to her execution.

He and Wesley had been discussing a new demon in his office over a cup of coffee when the women entered the lobby of the Hyperion hotel.

"Shopping is supposed to be fun, you know," he heard Cordelia's voice.

"Fun!," Faith's voice sounded pained. "Can you explain to me where the fun is?"

"Hopeless," the former mayqueen snorted while Buffy just grinned and walked over to Angel's office.

"Hi," she greeted the two men and walked over to her fiancée. "Business?" "Yes," Wesley answered with a nod. "A new demon. But it's nothing that can't wait. So I'll ... oh, Buffy, congratulations by the way," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," she smiled back while slipping on Angel's lap.

The ex-watcher was about to leave when the ex-vampire's voice stopped him, "Wait!"

Wesley turned and looked at the couple behind the large wooden desk. They really looked stunning together. "Yes?"

"I need a best man, you know. I mean, that's not a church wedding but still...," he trailed off and then gazed expectantly at the man who over the years had become one of his closest friends. There wasn't anybody else he could've asked. Well, Gunn, but he wasn't even in town."

"Me?," the ex-watcher looked completely surprised. "I ... well ... I really never ... that's a great honour," he stuttered and colour rose in his cheeks.

"So you'll do it?," Angel asked and exchanged a quick glance with his future wife. Wife, it sounded almost unreal but somehow it sounded right.

"Yes, if you really mean it?," Wesley could hardly believe it. The ex-vampire was a man he admired greatly. He'd gone through hell, even literally, and had always managed to keep his head high. To find a purpose in life, to find a reason to go on. There weren't many people with such outstanding strength. If anyone deserved a reward from the Powers it was him. And Wesley felt deeply honoured that this man would ask him to stand beside him at his wedding. "Alright," he said, "I say yes, gladly."

"Fine," Angel gave him a smile. "We leave at half past three," he looked to the clock, "that's in about two hours." Then he suddenly grinned, "you'll need a tux."

"What?," Wesley's eyes flew open. "Well, there should be one somewhere in my apartment. But I should go and get it now, see you later."

"That was sweet," Buffy said when the ex-watcher had left the office.

"What do you mean? Asking Wes? No it was extremely selfish. He's the only real friend - females excluded - I have. Okay, there's Gunn, but he won't be back until tomorrow."

"He could hardly believe you choose him," she replied and laid her head on his shoulder. "He admires you, you know."

Angel shrugged, "Maybe. But I never did anything to encourage it."

"That's no reason to be embarrassed," she told him. "And it's not what I meant. You don't need to encourage admiration. It just happens. You're an outstanding man, Angel."

"Am I now?," he asked with a grin and kissed the tip of her nose. "What happend with Faith?"

She rolled her eyes, "Cordy and she were bickering all the time. Their tastes in clothing are ... well, let's just say different. Whatever Faith liked, Cordy wouldn't approve and after an hour Faith was ready to kill her."

"I know the feeling," he muttered under his breath.

But she'd heard him and punched him playfully in his ribbs, "Angel!"

"I love her like a sister, but that doesn't mean I'm blind. Sometimes I'm only that far away from throttling her," he showed the distance of an inch between his thumb and index-finger.

"That's not a very nice thing to say," she scolded, but grinned.

"Angel," the very same moment Cordelia strolled into the office. "I don't want to interrupt your," she gestured with her hand at the couple and rolled her eyes, "whatever you're doing right now. But Buffy needs to get dressed, she needs her hair to be done, there's makeup to consider...," she trailed off and tapped her right foot on the ground, at the same time raising her brows to emphazise her intentions.

"Cordelia...," the ex-vampire growled at the former cheerleader.

"Alright, alright," Buffy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then turned with a bright smile towards the brunette, "I'm coming. She's right, you know," she kissed him again. "I *need* to get ready. It's my wedding after all and I want to look at least tolerable."

"I'm sure you'll look much better than that," he replied and tightened his grip around her waist, not willing to let her go again.

She sighed and smiled, "You're so sweet and I love you, but your opinion is biased, so it doesn't count." She removed his hand from her hip and slipped from his lap. "See you later," blowing him a kiss the two women left the office.

A minute later he heard a shout, "No way," it was Faith's voice. "Cordelia I hate you."

******

Brandon Gifford greeted Angel with a handshake and a big smile on his face, "My friend. This is indeed a pleasure."

"I'm sorry this came on such a short note," the ex-vampire started to apologize, but the magistrate made a dismissive gesture.

"Nonsense. It's a honour for me to do this for you and you lovely bride," he looked at Buffy. "Miss...?"

"Summers, Buffy Summers," Angel introduced her. "Buffy, this is Brandon Gifford. We met some years ago."

"You can say that," the man in his middle ages replied and shook his head, cuckling all the time, "I had a ... er ... unconventional problem."

"A demon, yes, Angel told me about it," Buffy grinned when the magistrate raised a brow in surprise.

"So you know about demons as well?"

"You can say that. It's my job, well, sorta," she explained.

"But you can't be that old. Since when ...,"

"My 15th birthday," she answered the question he hadn't really asked. "So I'm quite a pro."

"I see," still a little bit confused Brandon greeted Cordelia and Wesley, whom he remembered from their meeting years ago. Then his eyes fell on Faith. "She too?," he gazed at Angel.

"Yes, she knows too. They all work for me," the ex-vampire told him.

"Seems the business is blooming. It's a disturbing thought, you know. So many things most people are oblivious to."

Buffy shrugged, "That's the way it goes. Same old, same old."

"Yes, well," the magistrate walked over to his desk and picked up the phone. "Muriel, would you please come in to witness a wedding. Yes, a wedding. I know, I know, but this is a special case. ... Thanks." He looked up and smiled, "Muriel is my secretary. Usually I don't do weddings anymore, but in your case ... it's really a honour. Would you all sit down please," he motioned towards the chairs in front of his desk, then with a smile sat down in his.

When Muriel entered the room he quickly flashed her a smile, "Ah, there you are. Please find a seat," then glancing at Angel, he asked, "are you ready?"

Both, slayer and ex-vampire nodded and then suddenly grinned at each other when they heard Cordelia sniffling behind them. Faith gazed at her curiously, but the fromer mayqueen only shrugged, "I'm emotional. I mean, Angel and Buffy are getting married, if that isn't a reason to spend some tears ... well, besides the gross-factor of course, the fact that Buffy will be some kind of boss now, and ..."

"Thank you Cordelia, I think we all understood," Wesley interrupted her, but he had a smile on his face when he said it.

"Fine," the brunette sniffled again. "I just wanted you to know that I'm really happy about it."

"Thank you, Cordelia," Angel and Buffy said unison.

"Alright then," the magistrate opened a book on his desk and began to read. Many words to remind them what marriage was about, why it shouldn't be done without love and so on. The couple didn't hear any of it. Both were deep in their thoughts.

Buffy remembered the first moment she'd seen Angel, when he'd stalked her in the dark alley behind the bronze and given her the cross she was still wearing. Their first kiss, her initial shock when finding out he was a vampire, the many times he'd held her in his arms, he'd saved her life, their patrols with heavy make-out sessions. The night at the docks when he'd given her the ring she was wearing on her finger, the first time he'd told her he loved her, Angelus, sending him to hell, getting him back. More and more images were rushing through her head. Angel laying in his bed in the mansion, almost dying from the poisoned arrow, beating him so that he would give in and drink her blood, the moment he'd disappeared in the smoke after defeating the mayor.

But there were not only the images but with them the emotions came rushing back. All the love, the agony, the misery, the loss seemed to be poured over her head and when she realised that the magistrated was looking at her expectantly, she had to wipe tears away. Quickly glancing at Angel she saw that his eyes were watery as well. He'd probably thought the same.

And now, after all this, after so many years of separation they'd finally made it. They were together again. And they would be married soon. Her dreams were really coming true. Another rush of anger against Willow and Giles welled up in her, she'd come so close to loose all this. But no, she decided, not today. No heavy thoughts on a wonderful day like this.

Buffy and Angel spoke their vows and exchanged rings. Two simple gold bands which they wore together with their silver Claddaghs now.

"You may kiss the bride now," the magistrate said to Angel with a smile.

The ex-vampire turned and their eyes met. Their lips touched in a gentle, sweet kiss that was a promise of more to come, of a life together, of eternal love.

When their lips parted their foreheads stayed connected. Deeply gazing into each others eyes they smiled at each other. Not everything was right in their world, but today nothing seemed to count. Today was their day, a wedding that seemed like a fantasy some years ago had become reality.

They would deal with their problems tomorrow, but today they had become husband and wife and at the moment none of them could think of anything more important.

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