Title: B & B Weekend 19
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



Cordelia knocked on the door. "Is everyone in there decent? I need to get Giles' stuff."

Anya let her in and thrust a garment bag at her. "Here. His suit and shirt and tie are in here."

Willow joined Anya at the door. "Don't forget shoes and socks!" She handed them out to Cordelia.

"Oh, he might need these, too." Joyce was handing out his shaving gear and deodorant."

"Wait, you can't forget these." Tara added a pair of cufflinks to the pile.

"Okay, is that it? 'Cause this burro's fully loaded."

The four women nodded happily. Buffy cleared her throat from behind them. They turned to see her dangling a pair of dark green silk boxers. she stepped forward and handed them to Cordelia who turned a deep crimson shade in response. "I so did not need to see that." she muttered as she turned to go.

Buffy looked at her friends staring at her. "What? They're his lucky ones."

*****

Once they had the means and a room to dress in, Giles and Xander were washed, shaved, dressed, and fidgeting nervously well before their time was up.

"Ought we to go out now? Isn't it getting near time?"

"Relax, Giles. I told you the women won't be ready for a while yet. Cordy will let us know when it's time to make our grand entrance."

"Yes, but oughtn't I to meet the judge? Surely she's here by now."

"Okay, time for deep breaths. Try to imagine you're doing something calming, like single-handedly facing a hoard of ravening demons with a vampire army behind them."

Giles glared at the younger man. "Remind me to be as helpful to you on your wedding day."

Xander blanched. "That was uncalled for."

Just then, a knock came at the door.

"Are you guys ready? It's showtime!" came Cordelia's voice.

Xander placed a steadying hand on Giles' shoulder. "Ready, Giles?"

The Englishman straightened his tie and nodded as he gulped as deep breath of air. "As I'll ever be." They took a step before Giles spoke again.

"Xander, before we go out there, I'd like to thank you for everything you and Anya have done for us. I really can't think of anyone I would rather have standing at my side today. Truly, I think of you as I would my own son."

Tears threatened to fill Xander's dark eyes as he blinked. As usual, in times of deep emotion, all he could think of to say was a joke. "Does that mean I can borrow your car?"

"Not on your life. I'm quite attached to it." The smile they shared said more than all the words in a dictionary could.

"Okay, Dad, let's go get you married."

"Don't call me that, Xander."

They left the room.

*****

Buffy gazed at her reflection with wide eyes. The dress was the most beautiful one she'd ever seen. It consisted of a satin slip in the palest shade of ice-green overlaid with a gossamer-fine dress of ivory lace. The lines barely skimmed her body, merely hinting at the shape beneath, but moved fluidly allowing all to see that said shape was well worth the viewing. The vee neckline wasn't really revealing either, but gave the impression that it was. The hemline fell just to her knees in front, dipping gracefully to her ankles in the back. Her arms were left bare beyond the wide shoulder straps. A few crystal beads dotted the lace here and there, and a short fringe of the same beads hung from the hem of the skirt giving an elegant sense of movement to the entire outfit.

"It's so beautiful. Willow, where did you find this?"

"It was Tara's idea. See, she figured we could cover something old and something borrowed at the same time."

"So who'd you borrow it from?"

"Would you believe Anya?"

"Anya? This is yours, Anya?"

The former demon shrugged. "I've been around a long time. I kept a few things here and there. I wore that dress to a Country House party at a Baronet's in 1927...or was it 1928? Anyway, the Baronet was cheating on his wife with both the upstairs maid and the chauffeur..."

"Okay, okay, we get the picture." Buffy interrupted her. "Thanks for letting me borrow it." She gave the girl an impulsive hug. "And, Tara, thanks for coming up with the idea." She bestowed a warm smile on the girl. "And Will, you're the greatest." She squeezed her best friend until she had to protest and gasp for air. "Now could you guys go outside just for a minute? I need to talk to Mom."

"It's cool, Buff. Mom, daughter wedding day stuff." The redhead nodded her understanding. "Just don't take too long, 'cause Cordelia's gonna be here any minute to blow the starter's whistle."

"We won't be long. Now go, scoot. And if Cordelia shows up in the next two minutes, sit on her."

"We'll do that!" Anya looked awfully determined. Buffy wondered if she should have rephrased the thought, but decided not to worry about it. Willow and Tara would probably hold Anya back. Well, Tara would.

Buffy and Joyce looked at one another for a long moment before either spoke.

"You've been awfully quiet Mom."

"I haven't really known what to say, Honey. I know I'm supposed to have some words of impressive Mom wisdom, but with my track record, what advice could I give you?"

"All I really need from you is an honest answer to a question: are you okay with this?"

Joyce sighed and shook her head ruefully. "Buffy, you know that Rupert Giles is not the man I would have chosen for you..."

"But Mom..." Buffy protested. Joyce held up her hand to quiet her daughter.

"Let me finish. He's not the man I would have chosen for you, and I'm terribly concerned about the way you two are rushing this. You've been dating for a few weeks, and suddenly you have to get married right away. It worries me. But I know you're the Slayer, and that means you have to reach for happiness in a hurry. And, as much as I hate to admit it, Mr. Giles seems to make you happy. I know he'll never intentionally hurt you, and I know he'll take care of you. This may not be what I had in mind for you, but if the two of you are sure this is what you want, I'm okay with it."

Buffy rushed to her mother's arms, breathing a deep sigh of relief.

"Thanks Mom. I really, really needed to hear you say that. I love you."

"I love you too, Buffy. And I want you to know, if things go wrong, you can always come home."

The two women held one another for a long minute. Finally, Joyce pulled back.

"Now before you go, I have something for you." She pulled a flat velvet case out of her purse and presented it to Buffy. When she opened it, she found a pair of pearl stud earrings and a matching choker.

"Mom, these are Grandma's pearls."

"She wanted you to have them on your wedding day. So, that would be today. Actually, I thought I might get to wear them for another year or two, but..."

"Mom, you can borrow them whenever you want."

"Am I really that transparent?"

"You're totally made of glass."

The bride added the studs to the line of graduated hoops up her multi- pierced ears, and put the choker around her throat.

"So, how do I look?"

"Good enough to almost make you old Mom go non-verbal. Mr. Giles may succumb to a heart attack."

"He's going to be your son-in-law in less than an hour. Maybe you should get used to calling him either Giles or Rupert. Oh, and way to do the wishful thinking! Heart attack? You want me to be widowed before I'm married."

"Let your mother dream, Honey. Just be happy. That's all I want for you."

"I want that for you, too." Buffy gave herself one last look. "Okay, I think I'm ready."

"Then let's get you married."

*****

Giles stood nervously at the makeshift altar in the rose garden. A casual observer wouldn't have known that he was virtually petrified, but those who knew him well would have spotted the clenched jaw and unusually stiff posture.

>From some unseen spot, a guitar began to play as Xander escorted Joyce into the garden. He left her standing in the front of the small group and moved to Giles' side. As Giles looked out at the tiny group, he realized that these were all the people he cared about having see the event. Both of Buffy's parents, her insanely young stepmother, Cordelia, Wesley, Tara, Anya. Even Riley and his new wife had stayed. While that didn't matter much to Giles, he knew it would please Buffy. The only living person Giles wished could be there who wasn't was Oz. Still, one couldn't have everything.

A moment after Xander joined him, the guitar tune changed and Willow approached the altar. She looked lovely in a forest green linen sheath dress, carrying a nosegay of pale pink roses tied up in a darker pink ribbon. He smiled warmly at the young witch who was, in so many ways, his closest friend as well as Buffy's.

Then he saw his bride. A moment later he became aware of Xander's voice, telling him to breathe. When she smiled at him, he relaxed. Everything would be fine as long as they were together.

The ceremony was short and simple. A few traditional words that would bind them legally, as they were already bound in spirit, an exchange of rings, and finally the kiss. Giles cupped Buffy's face in his large hands and pressed his lips to hers chastely. There would be a time and a place to express their passion later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Giles" the judge introduced them to the few assembled friends. The unseen guitar broke into a celebratory tune as the couple turned to greet their guests.

Chip arrived handing glasses of champagne to those old enough to drink it, and sparkling apple juice to those who were not. Nobody was quite certain how he knew which were which, but he clearly did.

They ate, they drank, Joyce glared daggers at her ex-husband and slipped her card to Crystal when he wasn't looking. Crystal palmed it quietly and smiled at Joyce. Giles noted the scene and almost felt a twinge of sympathy for what Hank would suffer at the hands of those two women...almost.

Xander called for silence and raised his glass.

"Since it falls to me as Best Man to make toast - make A toast, (damn Anya and her magazine) I'd like to thank Giles and the Buffster for putting on this great party, and giving us all a chance to make with the happies instead of going through hell the way we usually do. But seriously, I've known these two as long as they've known each other, and I love them both like family. Pretty much everyone here today is a little better off, and in some cases a lot better off, for having this pair in their lives. So thanks, guys; no problem will ever be the end of the world as long as you're around and together. Here's to these wacky kids: Buffy and Giles!"

At that moment, the guitar player strolled out into the garden. the first person to notice him was Willow, whose eyes went wide with surprise, but he shook his head slightly, asking her to keep silent. Soon though, Buffy spotted him and squealed:

"Oz! Omigod! You're here!" She rushed over to welcome her friend.

"Hey" the werewolf replied. "Nice wedding." He approached Giles. "Congratulations, man."

"Thank you, Oz." The Englishman smiled. He'd always been fond of the quiet young man. "It's good to see you."

Oz shrugged. "Pretty much couldn't miss this one."

"But how did you know?" Buffy was confused.

"Angel. He called, told me to call Cordy. She gave me the details and asked me to play. Consider it a present. I don't have much in the way of tangibles."

Before Buffy could reply, Anya was at her side.

"When are you going to throw the bouquet? I think it's time."

The ex-demon dragged her to an open spot and announced the bouquet toss without waiting for the bride's approval. Buffy shrugged as the single women gathered. She turned her back on them, closed her eyes, and tossed the flowers gently back.

"I got it! I got it! I'm next to get married!" Anya bounced and held the nosegay aloft triumphantly. "Xander, look! I caught it!"

Xander swallowed hard. "Oh my God."

Anya ran to Giles. "Now you have to throw the garter to see which man is the next to be married. You can throw it to Xander."

"I-I'm sorry, Anya, I don't believe we have a garter to throw."

"Yes you do." She rummaged in her purse and pulled out a blue satin and white lace garter, dropping it in Giles' hand. "Throw it to Xander."

Giles reluctantly took the snippet of lingerie and motioned Xander and Oz to follow him. Along the way, he caught Wesley's eye and indicated that he should join in the ritual.

Anya went to Willow and Tara and told them "Giles is going to throw the garter to Xander." The witches looked oddly at one another, then turned to watch the proceedings.

Giles shot the garter into the air. All three men reached for it in a half-hearted manner, but it fell into Wesley's hand. Anya looked stricken.

Xander ambled over to his girlfriend with a sheepish look on his face.

"Sorry, An. It flew straight to Wes. Nothing I could do."

Anya's lip trembled.

"Hey, it's okay. No big."

The girl raised her expressive eyes to him. they were brimming with tears.

"But I don't want to marry Wesley. I don't like him."

"Marry? What are you talking about? Why would you marry Wesley?"

"It said in the magazine. The woman who catches the bouquet and the man who catches the garter are the next ones to get married. But I don't like Wesley."

Xander nodded, understanding finally. "Let me have a word with him, man-to-man. I'll let him down gently for you. It'll be okay."

"Really? I won't have to marry him?"

"I promise."

*****

Soon it was time for the happy couple to pile into the Citroen and return home to Sunnydale. As they drove off, most of the others joined them in a convoy for the Hellmouth. Cordelia turned to take one last look at Lakewood Cottage. Chip was on the front porch waving goodbye to his guests, but who - or more accurately what - was that next to him? It was dressed in purple, unless that was the color of its skin, with a vapid, round face and a red handbag on its arm. Cordelia blinked, then looked away. She really must be losing her mind.

Chip turned to Betty. "Another successful weekend. Let's fire up the screen and see who we're helping get together next, shall we?"

Betty peered down at the screen on her belly.

*****

Giles lifted Buffy into his arms and carried her into their apartment.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Giles." He kissed her soundly before letting her down.

"Thank you, Mr. Giles. I can't believe we're home. And I can't believe I have class at eight in the morning."

"We'd best get to bed early then, hadn't we?"

"I'm loving the sound of that."

They locked the door, turned out the downstairs lights, and headed for their bed in the loft.

*****

"So, do you want to come in?" Cordelia asked Wesley as they stood at the door of her apartment.

"If it's all right with you." Wesley wasn't sure why he was so nervous.

Cordelia slid the key into the lock and pushed the door open. As they entered the room, the stereo turned itself on to a romantic tune, and a pair of glasses floated into their hands. A bottle of champagne Cordelia had been saving up for the day she got her big break popped itself and poured into their glasses.

The girl raised one flirtatious eyebrow at Wesley and led him to the bedroom. She felt quite certain there hadn't been satin sheets on the bed when she left.

Just before she closed the bedroom door, she stuck her head out and whispered: "Thank you, Phantom Dennis."


THE END...OR IS IT?


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