Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter Sixteen

Angel stands staring at the stairway. Willow come down in a royal blue dress carrying a blue candle amongst pale blue flowers. As she reaches the altar, Giles starts escorting Buffy down. He is on her right, so he is all anyone can see. As they reach the bottom of the stairs, Buffy appears wearing a powder blue suit with satin trim and iridescent beading . It accentuates he petite figure. Angel is mesmerized. Giles escorts her to the altar, kisses her on the cheek and hands her off to her groom. Giles joins the others Angel can not take his eyes off of Buffy. The reverend begins.

Reverend: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

Reverend: Angel Will you have this Woman to thy wedded wife. Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?

Angel: I will.

Reverend: Buffy Wilt you have this Man to thy wedded husband, Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

Buffy: I will.

Reverend: Repeat after me, I Angel take thee Buffy to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

Angel: I Angel take thee Buffy to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

Reverend: Repeat after me. I Buffy take thee Angel to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

Buffy: I Buffy take thee Angel to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

Reverend: The Rings please. .Angel Repeat after me. With this Ring I thee wed.

Angel: With this Ring I thee wed. (he places the band on her finger)

Reverend: Buffy Repeat after me. With this Ring I the wed

Buffy: With this Ring I thee wed. (she places the band on his finger)

Reverend: Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. .For as much as Angel and Buffy have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by the giving and receiving of Rings, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife. You may kiss the bride.

Angel takes his bride into a deep kiss that makes both their knees practically buckle.

Reverend: May I present for the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Angel Summers.

The couple walk back down the aisle and stop at the base of the stairs to accept the congratulations. As the last guest wanders either toward the living room or dining room, Buffy notices her father standing a few steps away looking oddly at the long window near beside the front door. She looks and realizes the light inside and dark outside have turned the window into a mirror that shows her reflection…..and nothing else. She quickly guide Angel into the dining room. He leads down feeling her panic.

Angel: What is wrong?

Buffy: My dad just noticed your not reflection.

Angel: Oh ( he looks back at Hank)

Buffy: Well I will deal with that tomorrow. Nothing is spoiling this night.

Dawn: Buffy, dad is asking me a lot of questions.

Buffy: Tell dad he if he has questions then ask me, but tomorrow, not tonight.

Dawn: Okay.

Angel: Buffy I wondered if you would honor me with a dance.

Buffy: Well I think that I could be persuaded to dance with my handsome husband, but I don’t hear any music.

Angel waves his hand and Lorne breaks into his own version of "First time ever I saw your face". Angel and Buffy dance for the first time as a married couple.

After the cutting of the cake and the numerous toasting with champagne and sparkling apple cider for our new mom, time comes to throw the bouquet. Dawn, Willow, Tara, Anya, Fred, and Cordelia make up the single female population. Buffy throws the flowers up over her shoulder.

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