The Circle of Slayers Series 35/35 Complete (Yahoo!)
Chapter 35: Epilogue
By Denna at dennaseer@hotmail.com
Rated G for happiness and love!
Keywords: Buffy and Spike.what else could there be?
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. They belong to Joss Whedon.
Jar'vees belongs to me. I love feedback, by the way.
Summary for Chapter 35: Takes place 4 months after the last chapter

Chapter 35: Epilogue

May 30th, 2002 10:22 PM

The moon shone down brilliantly on Sunnydale that night. The sky was the
perfect shade of twilight blue and a midnight breeze warmly moved through
the trees.

Sunnydale, always a beautiful city despite the demon population, seemed
absolutely gorgeous now. The streets and gardens were lined with spring
flowers. The grass grew a brilliant emerald and the water in the fountains
was fresh and cool. But it was most beautiful in the house of Buffy Summers
where the much awaited even was taking place inside.

~

"Calm down, boyo," Spike said after Xander had tugged on his collar for the
millionth time in the last five minutes. "You'll be fine." The vampire put a
hand on his friend's shoulder to reassure him.

"Easy for you to say," Xander muttered, tugging at his collar again, "I'm
getting married today!"

"Say," Spike drawled, "What a bleedin' coincidence! So am I!"

Xander turned to glare at the other man only to find him grinning widely at
him with that easy smirk on his face. "I hate you, you know that?"

"Aww.I hate you too."

Huffing, Xander turned to look out the window to stare at the decorated
back yard below. Clem was playing 'Wind Beneath My Wings' while a small
assortment of people filled the seats. "Yeah, well," Xander rasped. "You're
not marrying Anya, Patron Goddess of the Cash Register. Do you know what
that makes me?"

"One damn lucky bloke," Spike said before Xander could say anymore. "You
think you got it crazy? You're not marrying Buffy Summers, the Demon Spooker
herself."

Xander stared at his new friend a moment before laughing slowly and shaking
his head. "All right, you win," he said helplessly. After all, there was no
arguing with that. However, he leaned forward and said in a whisper and a
sly glance, "I wonder what she would think if she found out you called her
'Demon Spooker'."

"Nothing she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?"

They both went down the stairs and it wasn't too long before he was up in
front of the bench, with Xander close by to the side. It was a very small
wedding, and it certainly wasn't your normal Christian wedding. There were
no loud drunken relatives, or demon uncles. It was just all of them,
together, the way they had wanted it.

Spike jumped a bit when Clem changed to a soft song, not a wedding march,
but on that sang of love and friendship. Then the porch doors opened and all
was forgotten as his attention was firmly fixed on the small woman who was
framed in them.

The summer moonlight shone down into the yard, touching on and bringing out
the vivid colors of the flowers growing in the garden. When she stepped into
the light from the dark shadows of the doorway, she seemed like an angel as
he watched. Her dress was made of white fabric, but she carried a small
scarf around her wrists that was gold and her hair fell elegantly around her
shoulders. It was beautiful in its simplicity. The liquid ivory of the moon
clung to every line of her body and seeped into her hair, making it seem
like rare sunlight in the dark. Spike watched her, aghast with wonder, as
she stood there, looking as radiant and beautiful as only a woman in love
could look.

Giles stepped forward, held out his arm, and Buffy laid her hand upon it,
flashing him a soft, daughterly smile. He smiled back at her, obviously very
proud that she chose him to escort her to the bench and covered her hand
with his. Together they moved down the path, the long skirt of her gown
trailing behind her and seeming to drag the pure white along with her. Buffy
tried very hard to keep her eyes forward, but they kept darting nervously
back and forth as she felt everyone's eyes on her. Spike could see her grip
the long stemmed bouquet of daisies tightly as she approached the altar.

As she approached, she glanced at Xander, who gave her the barest wink.
Flashing him a brilliant smile, she let Giles hand her to Spike, who led her
to kneel with him in front of the bench, their hand forward onto the table,
in front of Willow.

Buffy looked into those eyes that were the color of the summer sky and felt
herself shiver with happiness. They did not look at her in wonder, or
adoration, but were filled with the purest love anyone could feel for
another. He had chased her into Darkness and followed her into Light. He'd
sacrificed himself too many times to count. He had battled the most horrid
monsters alongside her and won. He'd faced his greatest temptations and
defeated them. All for her. She felt her face go warm under his penetrating
gaze and her smile softened into something gentle, meant only for him. He
loved her and had proven it beyond any doubt, which she had never done.

She was dragged back to reality as Willow took their hands and folded them
together. She held their hands in hers and said a few words, which neither
of them heard. Spike looked into Buffy's eyes and she looked into his and
for the longest time, the world was defined by that alone.

Her attention snapped back to the present as Willow concluded the ritual
and motioned to Buffy's golden scarf. Buffy unwrapped the golden fabric from
her arms and handed it to Willow. The scarf was made especially for the
occasion and they knew what they had to do. Spike took one end of the scarf
and secured it around Buffy's delicate wrist. Willow then nodded to Buffy
and she did the same.

Tara, the one Spike chose, came and kneeled beside the two and kissed
Spike's wrapped wrist.

"I give my blessing, and the blessing of all, to give this man to this
woman. May he find peace and harmony as their souls will bind."

Next, Buffy's chosen, Dawn came and kissed Buffy's wrist. She smiled shyly
at both of them and spoke with a calm, unfaltering voice.

"I give my blessing, and the blessing of all, to give this woman to this
man. May she find peace and harmony as their souls will bind." Dawn grinned
widely at both of them as she got up and moved to the side.

"You may now kiss," Willow said formally though she was smiling widely at
them both as she stepped back and beamed at the newly wed couple. Spike took
Buffy's hand and held her close. Using his other hand to lightly brush
through her hair, he leaned down until his face was close to hers. Pausing
just before their lips met, he looked into her eyes and smiled at her. Then
he kissed her and the world ceased to exist.

After what seemed to brief a moment, he felt a discreet poke in his ribs.
He pulled back and looked at Buffy, who looked a little disoriented still.
Glancing around, he found Xander standing close to him. The man coughed and
jerked his head slightly in Willow's direction. Finally getting the hint,
Spike looked back at Buffy, squeezed her hand one last time and stood up.
She gave him a similar squeeze before they stood off to the side.

Spike turned and found Xander standing immobile next to him. With a smile,
he put his hand behind Xander's back and gave him a light shove. Almost
stumbling over his own feet, the brunette took his place before Willow and
watched the porch doors. The moon had almost reached its zenith now, and
great shafts of moonlight set the yard aglow.

Clem began playing again, this time a real wedding march. All eyes were
instantly on the porch doors. As they watched, they swung open and into the
light stood Anya. Where Buffy had shined with a beautiful strength, Anya's
fair beauty crystallized into a rare grace. Both Buffy and Spike watched as
Xander froze, eyes wide with wonder at the commanding young woman who stood
on the porch. There was a true happiness on his face, the first they had
seen in a long while. Their eyes met behind him and Buffy winked at Spike,
while he smiled back and wiggled his eyebrows.

A movement to Anya's left caught their attention and D'Hoffryn stepped
forward to escort her to the altar. As he paused next to her, his tall
figure looming over the young woman, she looked up at him and her eyes shone
with the love one would show for their father. Laying her hand lightly on
his arm, she gave him a beautiful smile. He looked down at her and nodded,
covering her hand and patting it warmly.

Anya turned and together they proceeded down the path. Xander hadn't moved
and just watched her as she came towards him. When D'Hoffryn took her hand
and handed her to Xander he stepped forward and grasped it while slipping
his other hand around her waist and led her onto her knees. Eyes fixed as
they were on Anya, he didn't noticed the wink D'Hoffryn flashed in first
Buffy then Spike's direction as he moved to take his place next to the
blonde vampire.

Willow stepped forward and they turned to face her. Xander had not dropped
Anya's hand and the witch reached forward and took their hands in hers, just
as she had done with Buffy and Spike. She repeated the formal words of the
ceremony, which no one really heard because their attention was fixed on the
two young people staring into each other's eyes. They certainly weren't
paying attention.

Her next words brought them back, for this is what they had been waiting
for. "This binding is the greatest act of love and communion two people can
show for each other. Two individuals vow to devote themselves to one
another, foregoing all others. They vow to protect, care for, and support
each other for eternity. They vow to honor the other and most importantly to
love each other. Through the act of this binding, two souls will become one
soul."

"Do you, Xander Harris, agree to this vow?"

Xander looked down from Anya's eyes to their entwined hands held in
Willow's soft, strong hands, then his eyes were looking into Anya's again.
Joy filled his heart for the first time in a long while and he nodded. "With
all my soul." He saw her breath catch and her smile widen. Her blue eyes,
looking into his, were mirrors to her soul. Xander could see the love and
devotion she harbored for him; yes, love, not just a young girl's crush.
He'd finally come to accept that a long time ago, and that fact that her
love was for him alone was nearly overwhelming.

"Do you, Anya, agree to this vow?"

Without hesitation she responded. "Oh! Yes, very much. With all my soul."

"Then, by the will of the Ancients, I declare you one for all eternity."
She beamed at them and stepped back, releasing their hands. "You may now
kiss the bride." She couldn't help but giggle a little. Anya had told her
before the ceremony that she wanted to be told that and even if it didn't
fit quite well with the old ritual, she wouldn't say no.

Time seemed to stand still for Anya and Xander as he lifted his hands and
caught the light fabric of her veil, lifting it over her head. Leaning down,
he looked into her eyes, and giving her a soft smile, he touched his lips to
hers.

Behind them, cheers broke out. Buffy and Dawn were the loudest, but Xander
could hear his new 'sister-in-law' Halfrek cheering away with the best of
them, her loud, obnoxious giggle cutting through the other's cheers. Xander
ignored her and kept kissing Anya; he would have kept going if eager hands
hadn't pulled them apart.

"Hey!" he shouted, rounding on Spike. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Keeping you from embarrassing yourself, that's what, you stupid sod," he
said, but was grinning broadly as he cuffed him across the head. Buffy,
Dawn, Willow and Tara, had pulled Anya into a bear hug. Halfrek came over
and slapped Xander on the back.

"Congratulations, young man!" she roared, pulling him into a hug. "You're
part of the family!" Not losing her hearty smile, she leaned down and said
to Xander, "You take care of her, you understand? Or you'll be answering to
me."

"Don't worry, that won't be a problem," Xander said, unfazed.

"Congratulations, all of you!" Halfrek shouted and made as if to hug Buffy.

"Hey! Cut it out! You'll wrinkle the dress!" she shouted, pushing back.

Just when Buffy was afraid things were going to get even crazier, Dawn came
up behind her and grabbed her hand. "Come on!" she shouted, pulling the girl
towards Spike. "It's time to go!"

"Go?" Buffy shouted as Dawn caught Spike's hand and together they headed
through the house to the front porch. "Go where?"

"On your honeymoon!" Dawn called over her shoulder, grinning from ear to
ear. Spike stumbled but Dawn steadied him and they ran onto the front yard.

"Honeymoon?" Buffy asked, "What are you talking about?"

She stopped suddenly and Spike started laughing. The black DeSoto was up on
the curb, with tin cans tied to the bumper with little hearts on them. A big
"Just Married" sign hung on the roof and was decorated with more little
hearts.

"I did it myself!" Dawn said, opening the door for them.

"Uh." Spike said, "This paint will come off, right Nibblet?"

"Sure.of course.heh."

"But, Dawnie," Buffy asked, "Where are we going?"

"I dunno.that's up for you two to decide."

Buffy smiled. "Thanks Dawn." She kissed her on the cheek and Spike ruffled
her hair.

"Geez.you guys. Stop it and get in the car!"

"Whatever you say, Bit."


A few hours later, a group of hitchhikers saw a huge black car with a 'Just
Married' sign and half-a-dozen tin cans come roaring and beeping up the
highway. They could see a pretty young blonde girl holding a handsome man's
hand as they sang to the Ramones.

"Whoa," one of them said to the other, "Where do you think there going,
Geri?"

"To the ocean of course. It's only the most romantic place on earth!"

"They sure looked happy."

"Of course, Harvey, newly weds are always happy."

"What's next on the map?"

Harvey opened up the map and looked inside. "A town called.Sunnydale. It's
just a couple miles up the road."

"Sunnydale? Sounds boring."

"Ehh.At least we'll get some rest there. Maybe look to see if there's any
hot spots, maybe a dance club or something."

"Yeah, I mean, what else could there be in a place called 'Sunnydale'?"