The night before the wedding, Spike and Willow had an argument about some silly ritual. Buffy and Willow claimed it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the Wedding. Willow and Buffy wanted Spike to sleep elsewhere for the night and meet them at Witches Hollow the next day.
Spike thought this was ridiculous and said as much.
" I'll not leave tour bed for a stupid superstition, Red"
" If I'm so stupid why on earth would you want to marry me?"
" I never said that, your putting bloody words in my mouth now!"
" Well, maybe, I don't want to marry someone as stubborn and pig headed as you!" Willow yelled, beginning to cry.
Giles intervened and tried to play mediator.
" Spike, Willow, you both got a case of the jitters." " You both need to sit down calm down before you both say something your sorry about."
Both shot him a nasty look but sat.
" Alright now Spike, can you tell Willow how it makes you feel, to do what she's asking?"
Spike scowled at Giles; " I don't understand what she wants." ' I promised her when I came back that we would not be separated again not even for one night." " Now I'm supposed to break that promise so she can throw it up in my face later?" he said angrily. < I also am scared bloodless, I'm not about to admit that if I let her out of my sight she could change her mind and leave me. >
" Spike, that's so sweet" Willow cooed.
He looked at her suspiciously, is she still angry or is this some ply to trick me." He stared at her.
" I don't really want up to be separated either but, it'll be more fun tomorrow night," she grinned.
" I'll not leave you in the mansion." " What if you have one of those nightmare trances?"
" Buffy will sleep over?"
" You rather have her in your bed them me?"
" No, silly"
Spike paced and glared at Willow. < She doesn't look like she's going to budge. We'll I'm the demon in the family and I'll not leave..
"Perhaps a compromise?" Giles offered.
Both Willow and Spike looked at him.
" Willow you can sleep alone and Spike shall stay here in the mansion in another bedroom. You can manage to not see one another and Spike you can stay close to Willow to keep her safe."
They both conceded. Buffy came over and stood guard over Willow. Both girls giggled and laughed into the night. Spike wasn't going to take any chances. He dragged a pillow and blanket outside Willow's bedroom and crashed. < What are those women laughing about? >
In the morning Buffy shooed Spike away from the door. She sent Spike into the kitchen to help the caters set up the tent and make sure the food delivers was correct.
Giles spent the morning supervising the placement of the chairs and altar in Witches Hollow for the ceremony.
At about 1:00 p.m. Giles returned to the mansion to find both Angel and Xander pacing nervously as if they were the ones going to be married. Spike was sprawled across an armchair like he hadn't a care in the world. Giles couldn't help buy notice that the vamp had a stupid grin on his face.
" Have you been drinking?" he asked in alarm.
" Not a drop, I want to be able to keep up with my bride later." He chuckled devilishly.
" I think it's time we all change into our tuxes" Giles advised. " I'll go and see how Buffy and Willow are doing."
Giles knocked on Willow's bedroom door.
" Spike go away before I have to stake you." Buffy growled.
" Buffy it Giles, May I come in?" he asked
Buffy opened the door her hair in rollers. Willow sat calmly at the vanity applying makeup.
She turned and gave Giles a dazzling smile.
He couldn't help but smile back at her.
" So Willow, I can tell your doing fine." Giles said.
" Giles I'm so happy she gushed."
"It shows on your face my dear."
"Willow, I want you to know how glad I am that your so happy and that I'll always be here for you and you new family." He said kissing her brow softly.
Willow stood up and embraced Giles in a tight hug. " Oh Giles, I love you so much, I can't thank you enough for your support and friendship." She said tearfully.
" Here, here, don't mess up the lovely face, I'll let you both get ready and I'll be back to get you at 2:00." Giles said as he left.
Angel and Spike drove out together to the wedding sight.
Xander went with Giles to get Willow and Buffy. " Xander's breath caught in his throat as he saw how lovely his best friend look. She was wearing an off white, knee length dress. Willow back was bare down to her waist and her hair was pinned up and little red wisps frame her face. Buffy and Giles went off to drive the car up front of the mansion.
" Your gorgeous" Xander finally gasped.
" Thanks Xander,.. I will always love you.. you know that don't you?" Willow said softly touching his face.
Xander felt tears well up in his eyes, " yeah, me too Wills, and he hugged her tightly." " Come on you've got a wedding to get to."
It was time; the music-started strains of Pachelbel's Cannon in D Major could be heard across the meadow.
Giles took Willow's arm and placed it across his. " Are you ready?"
Willow nodded her head, her vale fluttering slightly in the summer breeze. She clutched the bouquet of wildflowers tightly as they began to walk towards the altar.
Willow looked at saw Angel with dark sunglasses smiling at her. Her eyes saw Buffy and Xander also smiling at her. Willow eyes looked at Spike. He stood grinning in his Ray Bans, his soft blond hair and fair complexion contrasted with his dark tux. Willow knew it was right this time and nothing and no one would separate them ever again.
Giles placed her hands in Spike's and moved back to sit down next to her parents.
Spike removed his glasses so he could look into Willow's shiny green eyes. He softly caressed her hand in his.
The minister began by welcoming the guest to witness this union. He explained that Willow and William had written their own vows.
The minister began, "William Ashton do you take Willow Ann Rosenberg to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do" he replied and smiled at her squeezing her hand.
"What have you to say to your bride?" he asked
William began:
I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am, when I am with you.
I love you, Not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me
I love you For the part of me that you bring out;
I love you For putting your hand, Into my heaped-up heart and passing over All the foolish, weak things That you can't help dimly seeing there, And for drawing out, Into the light, All the beautiful belongings That no one else had looked Quite far enough to find
I love you because you Are helping me to make the lumber of my life Not a tavern, but a temple; Out of the works of my every day Not a reproach, but a song
I love you because you have done More than any creed, could have done To make me good, And more than any fate Could have done, To make me happy You have done it Without a touch Without a word Without a sign You have done it, by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means After all.
I will love you forever; he ended kissing her hand.
"Willow, do you take this man to be your lawful husband?"
"I do", she replied
"What have you to say:"
Willow began:
Come my darling one, closer up against me, Creep right up, with your head pushed in my breast. How I love all of you! Do you feel me wrap you up with myself and my warmth, like a flame round the wick?
And how I am not at all, except a flame that mounts off you. Where I touch you, I flame into being-but is it me, or you? That head pushed in my chest, like a nut in a socket, And I the swift bracts that sheath it, your chest, your thighs, your knees,
Those shoulders so warm and strong: I feel that I am sunlight upon them that shines into being. I feel that we are a bonfire of oneness, me flame flung round you, You the core of the fire, crept into me, And oh, my darling, you whom I enfold, How quaveringly I depend on you, to keep me alive Like a flame on a wick!
I the women who enfolds you and holds you close, How my soul cleaves to your chest as I clasp you, The very quick of my being. I now am full and strong and certain with you firm at the core of me, keeping me
How sure I feel, how warm and strong and happy, for the future! How sure the future is within me, I am like a seed with a perfect flower enclosed. I wonder what it will be, What will come forth of us? What flower, my love
No matter, I am happy, I feel like a firm, rich healthy root, Rejoicing in what is to come
And there will come forth from us, we two folded together A child. Willow uttered moving Spikes hand to touch her abdomen, her eyes dropped tears.
And you will always be with me. I shall never cease to be filled with newness, having you near me.
Red tears spilled from William's eyes. The minister asked, " What tokens of love do you give one another?"
Angel handed Spike Willow's ring. William slipped a gold band surrounded by emeralds unto her finger."I give this ring as a token of my love, it shall forever remain unbroken."
Willow took the gold band from Buffy and slid it onto Spike's finger " I give this ring as a token of my love, it shall forever remain unbroken."
"I minister in Sunnydale am empowered to pronounce you man and wife. What God has brought together let no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride."
Spike lifted Willow's vale, her eyes glistening like diamonds, and he caressed her face and kissed her lips gently. He was whole, complete, he was home.
The crowd clapped and cheered. Xander, Angel, Buffy and Giles were all crying.
Later that evening Spike pulled Willow out of Xander's arms as they were dancing.
" I'd like a chance to dance with my wife if you don't mind." Spike said grinning.
He whispered into Willow's ear. " Come, let us have a private dance" he asked as he pulled her out from under the tent and deeper into the courtyard.
He took her into his arms and kissed her softly, " I love you so much, Red, you make me feel complete."
Willow kissed him back, " Darling I love you too, it's right this time, everything will work out." " Look we're dancing under a blue moon.
THE END
prequel Dragon's Lair