Dreams of Eternity cont

Dreams of Eternity

Part Nine

Under the lovers' sky
Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
You think that you'll unfold
Well just wait until the sun goes down

Willow uncertainly knocked on the door, and inhaled a very deep breath.

After a minute it was opened, and her eyes met the never forgotten ones of the man standing before her.

Oz averted his gaze from her, but only for a brief moment. "Hey, Will." He whispered.

She tried to put on some kind of a smile, but her mouth didn't seem to be cooperating with her wills. "You.you stopped dying your hair." She observed, inwardly rebuking herself for the lousy beginning of a conversation.

He nodded. "Yeah, you gotta stop at some point. I just thought it didn't look really good for a twenty seven year old to be changing hair-color every second day." He endeavored to lighten up the mood.

Willow nodded, and this time even managed a smile, but kept it to herself, as she looked down from him.

"You.you want to come in?" He gestured inside the house.

Her head sprang up. "Ha?" She looked perplexed for a second, as if forgetting what she was doing here in the first place. "I.umm.sure."

Oz stepped back, and Willow slowly entered the house. After she was inside, he closed the door behind her.

All you need is star light star light
There's a magical feeling
So right
It will steal your heart tonight

They were sitting for what resembled a forever in his living room, until Oz finally managed to utter the first words. "How.how are you?" He inquired. "How've you been?"

Willow sighed. "Great." She almost mimicked. "Just great. What do you expect me to say, Oz, that I was enjoying life? Well, sorry, I wasn't. You know what, maybe I should have been the one to leave you and go find myself, then ask you how you've been."

He looked down from her.

Willow softened. "I'm sorry."

Oz shook his head. "No, don't. You're right."

"That's new." She muttered to herself, but forgot she was dealing with a werewolf.

"No, that's not." Oz replied silently. "I made a mistake, Willow. I'm basically." He sighed. "I'm here to beg you to give me the opportunity to make it right."

Willow looked up at him, her eyes glassy with tears. "Where have you been for five years, Oz?" She inquired.

He gazed at her, the desperate look in his eyes resembling hers. "Nowhere. I've been nowhere. Don't you understand? When I left.I thought that what I was doing was the right thing, both for you and for me. We had so many problems then, and we were too busy trying to solve them to see that maybe they weren't needed to be solved. I left, thinking it'd make things easier on both of us. And I was clearly wrong, because only after I left, I realized just how empty my life without you was. At first, I was deluding myself I really made the right choice, that maybe it's painful now, but it'd get better later, but with time.I just gave up trying to pretend everything was going to be better. I realized it wouldn't be better. Not until I have you back. It took me years, Willow, I know that, and maybe the whole 'better late than never' karma thing isn't really going with that, but.I'm here now. I'm here, and I'm willing to beg if you want me to. I'll do anything for another chance. I'll do anything, because you worth it. You're the one, Willow. I know that now. I can't give you up."

She beheld him, tears were now streaming down her face. He reached out his hand to brush them off, but she recoiled.

Oz sat back, silently awaiting for her to speak.

"Do you love me?" She asked him the least expected question.

He looked at her strangely. A part of him hurt merely because she had doubted it. "What kind of a question is that?" He queried softly.

"The kind you need to answer if you want this conversation to go on. And don't say you want to think about it, because if you need to think about it, so the answer is clear."

He shook his head emphatically. "I never need to think about it. Of course I love you. I have always loved you, Will. How can you doubt that?"

"How can you ask me that after YOU were the one who took off five years ago, excuse me if I say for no reason!" She bellowed.

He sighed. "The answer is yes. It always has been."

Willow wiped her tears and looked at him cautiously. "What if I told you I was dating?"

Oz looked down. "I would say it would be expected, and that I'll fight for you, because I want you back no matter what."

"Do you?" She had to ask. "God, Oz, you come back into my life, after years of 'finding yourself', and expect everything to continue from where we left off! I can't." Her tears started again, and she choked on her words.

"I don't. I don't expect for us to do that. I expect for us to try to open a new page. Start from a zero. Can we start from nothing? Can we do it allover again?"

Willow chuckled bitterly. "Allover again? You know what, no, thank you."

"It wasn't what I meant." He told her again. "I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. We've been through that scenario once. I don't wanna do it again. I wanna take a different path, one through which we can make it. I will try everything. I will do the long distance relationship at the start, if you want to. I heard that helps in these cases. If you have any other ideas, I want you to voice them. Please, Willow, say anything. Anything you want, just don't say it's over."

She gazed up at him again, weeping. "But it is. It has been for years. You know it as well as I do. It IS over."

Oz himself was near tears at her words. "Willow, please.don't." He reached his hand out to touch her, but she jerked away from him.

"No, YOU don't." She said. "Don't touch me. When you touch me, I.I can't.God, I can't even think straight." She blubbered.

"I love you." He tried.

"Don't!" She yelled. "Don't say these words to me, you don't mean them!"

"I do. Willow, you know I do. Please, you know me. I swear, it won't happen again. I WON'T repeat those mistakes. I've had enough of time apart from you. I can't do with any more."

"And how are you gonna do that exactly? HOW are you gonna make it all go away? It's still there, Oz. It's still there. It hasn't disappeared over the years. These are still issues we gotta take care of. Now, how are we gonna do that?"

"We will. We'll do that. We'll find a way. We can overcome it if we want."

"Then how come we couldn't do it before?"

"Because before we just chose to give up. And this is one of the mistakes we won't repeat this time. We WON'T give up. I won't give up. Not on you. Never."

Willow beheld him in silence for a long moment. "I have to go." She murmured rapidly, and stood up, quickly moving towards the door.

Oz stood after her. "No, please, wait. Willow, at least allow me to try to convince you. Allow me to.to say something." He pleaded.

She looked at the tears in his eyes. Those same tears were in hers. "I've allowed you to say enough."

"Why don't you believe me?"

"Believe you? Do you even know that I came her IN PURPOSE to believe you?! I WANT to believe you!"

"Then why don't you? Why can't you give me a chance?"

"Because it is too much on stake! Because my life is depended on it! Because I don't want to risk losing you again when you decide it's too hard to keep fighting for!"

Oz attempted to take her in his arms and hold her, but she wouldn't let him, darting out of his reach.

"Stay." He grabbed her arm gently. "Please."

She released her arm. "No. I've been hurt enough, Oz. I don't need another doze of that pain."

"So you do love me." He whispered, there was so much hope in his voice.

She replied him with a rueful gaze.

"How can you risk in getting hurt with me if you don't love me?" He asked silently.

Willow rotated and strode the rest of the way towards the door.

There's no escaping love or to charity
Spread these spells upon your heart
No matter what you think
It wont be too long till you're in my arms

Willow quietly entered through the front door, and headed straight into the living room.

"Oz?" She called softly.

He rose his eyes from the floor and peered at her.

She sniffled and smiled shyly, walking over to where he sat.

His eyes watched her every movement with expectation, and locked with hers when she was finally standing before him.

"I changed my mind." She whispered quietly. "If.if your offer still stands."

Before she could finish, he jumped up from the couch, gathering her into his arms.

Willow wrapped her arms around him, rehearing Buffy's words in her mind again, but now she was finally sure. She DID feel the same. EXACTLY the same, and she wasn't more sure about anything in her life, than that now, she made the ultimately right choice.

They pulled apart a little, still touching foreheads. "I love you." She told him.

"I love you too." He inclined his head, meeting her lips in the sweetest kiss.

"Oh, God, Oz." Willow sobbed silently after their lips parted.

"What happened?" He asked with concern.

She shook her head, gazing into his honest and loving orbs, and tenderly caressing his cheek. "Nothing. Nothing happened, I just.I almost forgot how a real kiss feels like."

He smiled, reinforcing his hold around her. "I'll never let you forget again." His lips slowly neared hers again, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, lowering his head.

When they parted, they were both smiling.

"I was thinking." Willow spoke first, her mind reeling from the feeling of being once again in his arms, and her heart beating faster than it ever had. "I know it's kinda early, but would it be okay if I asked you out on a date?"

He chuckled. "I would be thrilled. But shouldn't it be my line?"

She shrugged, grinning. "Normally, yes, but I really need a date to a wedding. It's in a few days, sorry for the short notice. You gotta have a tux."

"Anyone I know?"

Willow nodded. "Buffy. So, will you take me?"

Oz smiled. "Of course, I'll take you." Then he looked at her oddly. "She's getting married? After Angel.well, I just never thought she'd get married."

"She is." Willow beamed. "And wait till I tell you who's the groom."

All you need is star light star light
There's a magical feeling
So right
It will steal your heart tonight

"Anya?" Xander called her from the entrance to the bedroom.

Her eyes left the magazine she was reading and concentrated on her boyfriend.

Xander gulped, unable to take his eyes off of her. She suddenly looked so ravishing, prone on their messed up bed, wearing nothing but his boxers and one of his flannel shirts, her hair gathered upwards in a girly ponytail. He was so sure that moment in just how much he loved her, but he wished he knew how to show it to her just right.

Her large eyes gazed at him questioningly.

"Uhm." He swallowed, nearing the bed. But then, in the last moment, he changed his mind, and turned on his heels. "Don't move." He told her, just before exiting the room.

Anya frowned, but then waved her hand and went back to reading her magazine.

You can try to resist try to hide from my kiss
But you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
But you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart

After a minute, he was back. He stopped in the doorway, and turned the lights off before walking in.

"Hey! What." Anya exclaimed angrily when she couldn't see the letters in front of her anymore, but her vexation quickly faded into amazement when she saw what he was doing. She sat up in bed and watched with astonishment.

Xander quickly cleared the small low table they had in the room loaded with journals, and moved it in front of the bed, right before Anya. Then, he carried in a burning candle in a candlestick and placed it in the middle of the table. Next followed a bucket of ice with a bottle of Champaign, and two high glasses.

"Wow." Anya couldn't believe her eyes. "You've never done anything like this for me before.it's.thank you. It's really beautiful."

Xander let out a breath of relief. *Good. She likes it.at least for now...* "Umm.for you." He gave her a bouquet of ravishing blood-red roses.

Anya accepted it and smelled the flowers. "Thank you." She smiled. "But what's it all for?" She inquired hesitantly.

"For?" Xander asked, almost confused. "Right.for.for." He suddenly forgot what it was for. "I.well, umm.for.I just wanted to.to." He took a deep breath to control his nerves. "Anya, are you.are you happy with me? Here, I mean, with me.are you happy?"

She looked at him skeptically. "Why? Is that a trick question?"

He chuckled nervously. "No tricks. Honest. Are you happy?" He needed to know.

"Well.yeah. Sure. Why?" She asked again, in her former suspicious tone.

"Because I.I." He went down on one knee.

Her eyes widened when she saw the ring in the little box he held before her.

His eyes never left hers, he just held the ring out for her.

She coughed, but couldn't keep her smile off of her face. "Xander Harris, what are you doing?"

"I'm proposing!" He exclaimed. "What does it look like I'm doing?! That's the point when you're supposed to say 'yes'."

"No, actually, from my experience, that's the point when you're supposed to ask something." She prompted grinning.

"I." He looked at her with confusion. "I didn't ask?"

Anya shook her head.

"Right.umm.what am I supposed to say? Umm.would you.Anya.do you want to...oh, God...would you.would you.marry me? Please?" He added hesitantly.

She beamed. "I will."

Xander let out another breath, and waveringly slid the ring on her finger. "Did I do okay?" He asked.

She climbed off the bed and sat on the floor next to him. "You did just right." She whispered, meeting his lips in a sweet kiss.

All you need is star light star light
There's a magical feeling
So right
It will steal your heart tonight

Part Ten

When the blonde detective entered Angel Investigations, she was surprised to find no one there. She had no idea where they all were. She checked Buffy's office, but it was empty too. Even more surprising was the fact that for some reason the radio was on, and the music was loud allover the room. At first, Kate considered going down into the apartment, but she had to admit it to herself it was highly unlikely Buffy would be found there. She was there only when she needed somewhere to sleep in LA because she had to stay the night. It might have been the case now, however, especially taking into account the latest occurrences, but Kate had no way to know for sure. She sighed, and sat down on the sofa, waiting for someone to show.

She and Buffy had become closer over the years. Kate understood quite quickly that the Slayer was the only girl to ever own Angel's heart, and he was the only man to ever own hers. They belonged together, and she didn't even bother trying to convince herself otherwise, because she wasn't stupid. It was enough for Kate to see them together, the way they looked at each other, and touched each other, and she could see clearly how much they loved each other. There was no room for her in his heart. There never could be. He belonged to another for all eternity, and it was distinct to Kate. She didn't hate Buffy. Her conduct and attitude towards the Slayer were never driven by blind jealousy. She respected her. Kate saw she was a good person, a responsible and mature to her age, and also guessed her destiny as the Slayer had something to do with that, after Buffy had began trusting her enough to tell her she was the Slayer. Kate could see that despite Buffy's young age, her heart was fully devoted to the ex-vampire, and that it was his even when he was still a vampire. She had to respect her for that, and for so many other things. She liked her more with every day she got the chance to know her any further, and albeit what she said when she had first met Kate, Buffy saw the cop as a friend. Maybe not the best friend, but still a very good one. Kate even was the one who had helped Angel to pick an engagement ring for his beloved, and she did it gladly, finding the best one there was in the store. Even Cordelia, who used to virtually hate Kate, turned out to the detective as a very nice person, once Kate's infatuation for Angel was over. Cordelia even told her once, that it wasn't that she really detested her when she had a crush on her boss, she just found it really stupid that a woman would knowingly make such a fool of herself. And Kate had to admit that, in a way, that was exactly what she was doing.

Her heart broke when Buffy had brought the confirmed word of Angel's death with her return from Ireland. That was it. He was truly dead. There were no more maybes, no more chances, and no more hope. THAT was final. Kate had known even before that he was dead. She knew it to be true, and she knew Buffy knew it as well. Her heart didn't only break for the good friend she had lost, it broke also for the woman who loved him, and their child he had left behind without even a single chance to see. Kate saw Buffy couldn't deal with his loss, and she could understand why. She loved him more than anything, and suddenly he was gone. How could she ever deal?

At first, Cordelia would tell her that Buffy was occasionally coming here to sit down in his apartment, locked there for hours, just to be among his things, trying to somehow feel his presence through them. Then, came the biggest surprise. After Liam's birth, Buffy took over Angel Investigations completely, working there full time. Kate had never thought she would do that. Angel had left it to her. Everything he owned, he left to her. So was said in his will, if anything happens to him, she would own everything. Kate never even assumed Buffy would keep the agency. She saw perfectly well that the Slayer couldn't be around things that reminded her of Angel after a too long time had passed and he still hadn't come back. She was walking around looking like a ghost sometimes. Kate could see distinctly how the perpetual woe and anguish were slowly consuming her, cutting deeper and deeper, and yet she managed to keep her old spirit going in front of other people. Kate had admired her for that, she could understand her pain, and she could understand the emptiness she was feeling, and the will to stop that loneliness, and that torture that was now also known as life. She could understand her even more after her father was killed by vampires, and a similar vacuity took over her. Kate presumed Buffy would sell Angel Investigations, definitely not come here to run it instead of him. So, Buffy had surprised her. She had surprised her even more, Kate couldn't deny that, when she had actually SUCCEEDED in running it. Buffy had done a great job with this place. The clients kept on coming, even though the original owner had died, and she herself could always count on the Slayer whenever she needed help. And that was the case now. Kate had last been here over a couple of months ago. She was suspended from her duty for three months. A demon-related case had gone wrong, and in the LAPD, who naturally knew absolutely nothing about demons, had blamed the miscarriage of the case and the deaths of the few of the officers involved on her, because she was the one in charge. So, she left town for that time, having no will to stay in LA until her name would be cleared.

But now she was back, and already received another case. If Kate were a regular cop, she would consider it a regular crime, but she could practically smell the demons involved in it. Naturally, the first thing she did was to come to Buffy.

Her eyes turned towards the elevator, once its doors opened, and the Slayer walked through them with Cordelia in tow. Kate was spotted by them at once.

"Hi, Kate." Buffy beamed.

"Hey, Kate, what brings you over?" Cordelia smiled too.

Kate looked at both of them strangely. The Slayer hadn't looked so shiny and happy in.well, years, actually. *I wonder what's going on.* She pondered. "Hey, guys." She answered their greetings with a grin of her own. "I was really hoping my first visit here after I'd be reinstated would be under different circumstances, but I need your help."

"Oh, you got your job back?" Buffy inquired. "Congrats. What they finally got the brains to figure out you had nothing to do with that?"

Kate shrugged. "Not really, but I did get my job back."

"Cool. So, what do you need?"

"Honey?" They both heard a familiar voice coming from the elevator, and both saw Angel and Doyle approaching, the ex-vampire leafing through some envelopes. "This arrived here instead of the house, I don't know why. It's for you, from Giles." He handed her an envelope. "Kate." He acknowledged the cop's presence as he looked up from the letters.

Kate tried really hard not to faint. She gaped at the man standing before her, at the same time not believing he really was there. "H.How?" She stammered, not taking her eyes, which now started welling with tears, from him. "Angel?" She asked in a small, sanguine voice.

"I." He couldn't find the words. How do you tell a person who was for years thinking you're dead that you're not?

Buffy put a reassuring hand on Kate's shoulder and the cop turned from him to face her. "It's Angel, Kate. It's really Angel." She smiled.

Kate took a deep breath, to control both her wobbly voice, and the tears. She reached out a wavering hand and touched his arm. It was solid. It was warm. It was alive. She brought that same hand up to her face, and covered her mouth with it, making a shaky step backwards. "Oh, my God." She whispered, still gawking at Angel, the tears were now cascading freely down her cheeks, stumbling over her palm.

Angel sighed and embraced her. "It's okay, Kate." He whispered softly. "It's okay. It's me."

From the corner of his eye, he could perceived his love with also tears in her eyes, and Cordelia too, who found comfort in her boyfriend's arms.

Kate pulled off after a short while, and her eyes traveled between Buffy and Angel. As if in a silent understanding, she moved from him, allowing Buffy to take her place in his arms.

Angel tenderly embraced his beloved, letting her cry her tears into his chest, as her small fists clinched the fabric of his shirt. He held one arm firmly around her, while his other hand was gently caressing her hair, his lips brushing against it concurrently.

Kate wiped her tears away and watched the two of them. She knew now why Buffy was so shining. She had no reason in the world not to be. She had her life back. Kate was so happy for her friend, for BOTH of her friends.

The Slayer finally pulled away from her love's embrace, and turned to look at Kate, also brushing away her tears.

"I'm glad you're back, I.is it even what I'm supposed to say? What am I supposed to say?" Kate spoke with bafflement. "How.can anyone tell me how it happened?"

"He just came back. About two months ago, he was brought back. I don't really understand how, and I don't care. It's just a complicated long story, which we'll tell you later if you want. I guess someone thought he was still needed here." Buffy told her, leaning back against Angel's chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "He's here, and that's all I care about. That's all that counts." She beamed.

Angel smiled down at her, and gently kissed her head. "Forever, love." He whispered.

Buffy revolved in his arms and faced him, encircling her arms around his neck. "You can bet on it." She replied, before their lips found each other in a fiery kiss, during which Angel pulled her to him, tightening his arms around her waist.

"Alright, I can understand it might be classified as an exception, but PLEASE quit the PDA." They soon heard Cordelia's typical remark.

The couple parted, but remained in each other's arms.

"So, Kate, what brought you here?" Buffy asked.

"Umm." Kate had utterly forgotten about her case. She chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry." She paced over to the couch and picked up the folder she had brought with her. "I wanted you to take a look at this." She handed the folder to Buffy.

She started immediately leafing through its content, with Angel peering at them over her shoulder, his arms encircled in a tight embrace around his beloved's waist. "Sweetie, I think that's our boy's handiwork, wouldn't you say?" She voiced her pensiveness.

"Yeah, it probably is." He assented.

"In these photographs are the bodies of three cops." Kate explained. "I never saw a body mangled like that. What.demon would want to do that? Usually they only kill, but this.I have never encountered anything like it. Have you?"

"Yeah." Angel replied. "This type of demon likes to mutilate the bodies of its victims. The worst thing is that it does it usually before it performs the kill. It likes the torture a lot more than the kill itself."

Kate gasped. "My God. Do you.do you know how to kill it? From what I heard another officer was.found like this today. How do you stop that?"

"We're on it, Kate." Buffy told her. "Doyle got a vision today, so we know where to find these guys. We'll get it done by tonight. We have private business with these bastards." Buffy muttered, leaning back against her lover's chest. "They ruined our day off."

"Will you need my help?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, you better stay out of it. We wouldn't want you to wind up like your colleagues here." She handed her back the file. "We can handle it."

"Are you sure?"

"We're sure." Angel confirmed. "There's no need to endanger another ordinary human's life."

"But we'll let you know if we need anything." Buffy added, knowing that Kate genuinely wanted to help.

Kate smiled. "Okay. So, I.I guess I'll be going now. Would you like to, you know, to meet for launch or something?" She spoke to both Buffy and Angel, but her eyes were focused on Angel alone. It was obvious she still hadn't reconciled with that he was here, AND alive.

He smiled. "Sure. We'd love to. Just say when."

She nodded and turned to leave, but Buffy's voice stopped her. "Kate, wait." She left Angel's arms and took his hand, dragging him after her, advancing in Kate's direction.

The cop turned around, waiting for whatever Buffy had to say.

"Since we couldn't get in touch with you sooner." She pulled Angel's arms around her waist, inclining her back against his chest and smiling happily. "We're getting married on Sunday. You think you could make it to Sunnydale?"

Kate's mouth opened wide.

"We really should have told you before, but you were." Angel started saying.

"Away." She interrupted him. "I know. I.wow.sure, I'd love to come. I'm gonna have to call Jack right now to tell him."

Buffy grinned. "Remind him to buy a tux. Guys never think of that."

Both women laughed.

"Who's Jack?" Angel inquired.

"My husband." Kate replied with a smile.

"Oh.well, then congratulations."

"To you too. To both of you. I'm very happy for you." She hugged them both. "Well, I guess I'll see you on Sunday then. I'll contact you later today about the details."

"Sure. We're all looking forward to Sunday." Buffy grinned.

Kate laughed. "Oh, I'm sure you are." With that she turned around and left.

Buffy retrieved the letter from Giles from the desk and opened it.

"What does he say?" Angel asked.

"Oh." He heard her disgruntled moan. "Damn."

"Love, what is it? Has something happened?" He looked at her with genuine worry in his eyes.

"He can't come." She tossed the letter back onto the desk. "Giles can't make it to the wedding. The Watchers' Council has him occupied somewhere in Asia, and he can't make it."

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." He hugged her lovingly.

"I wanted him so much to walk me down the isle, and to give me away, and.and to see us getting married.damn, why do these things always happen to me?" She muttered against his chest.

Angel stroked her hair soothingly. "Maybe he'll come, my love. I'm sure Giles will do everything to come to our wedding."

She looked up into his soft brown eyes, and couldn't help but smile. "Are you sure?"

He smiled too, and kissed her nose. "I'm sure. And in the meantime, I think I have a pretty good candidate to walk you down the isle if needed, and who I'm sure we'll both agree on."

"Who?"

Part Eleven

Angel stripped off his slacks and T-shirt, and carefully climbed into the bed, not wanting to awake the woman sleeping there.yet. He carefully lifted the comforter off of her, tossing it to the edge of the bed, from which it fell to the floor, but Angel didn't notice. His eyes roamed over the peach silk of her tiny nightgown, the only clothing that stood between him and the satiny skin of her back.Angel felt he was becoming hard the moment his mind originated that thought. The effect she had on him was inconceivable. He took off his shorts, now remaining fully naked. His erect cock almost touched her back as he moved on top of her, his strong legs bestriding her small frame. He rose on his four and gently pulled at the laces of the nightie with his teeth, untying them leisurely.

Buffy opened her eyes with a knowing smile on her face. Her head remained lying on the pillow of her arms since she hadn't even bothered to look at what he was doing, knowing it all. "What are you doing?" She asked grinning.

Angel released the lace he was holding in his teeth. "I've just sent Liam out to school." He explicated, picking it up again and tugging at it slowly.

"Ahmm." She moaned, still not looking back, but catching his underwear on the floor from the corner of her eye and grinning inwardly. "And Spike?" Buffy also descried the bowl with the strawberries on the nightstand by the bed. She knew how he loved strawberries. Buffy couldn't help but smile at that too. She also loved it. Only the thought of the gentle caress of the cool fruit on... She closed her eyes with a beam.

Angel had just finished loosening the laces and gently dislodged her hands from under her head, placing them parallel to her body, slowly decorticating the nightgown off of her, exposing her nudity, and hurling it to the floor. Her panties soon followed the same direction. "Out." He answered her question.

"Oh." She moaned silently, as Angel rubbed his hands down her arms, entwining their fingers once his palms met hers, and stretching his body over hers, but still not touching her. "Oh, God." She groaned, as the wet apex of his cock slightly touched her exposed back.

Angel clasped their hands together, and descended his body farther down, now only a hair away from hers. He smiled as she groaned again, when his hard shaft wetted her bare skin.

"So.it means the house is empty." Buffy uttered the unessential words.

"It does." He replied huskily, releasing his hands from hers and rubbing them up her arms, pulling his body up hers simultaneously.

"God, Angel." She sighed and her body quivered momentarily, as she felt his erection leaving a damp trail upwards her spinal line to her nape, where it lingered, as Angel's knees straddled her head. Buffy closed her eyes, when his moist penis started drenching her neck, mildly caressing allover it, as Angel's hands gently massaged her shoulders.

Buffy rotated on her back beneath her lover, finding his erection approximately on her lips.

Angel didn't even bother trying to hide his desires from her, as his hands traveled to her breasts, catching both and manipulating them eagerly. Their eyes were locked together. Four orbs dark with unbridled passion.

Buffy smiled at him. She let out the tip of her little tongue and touched the head of his shaft, pulling it right back, tormenting.

Angel groaned at that small touch, which made Buffy only grin wider and with more gratification. She opened her mouth, exhaling a caressing breath which made Angel shiver with desire, and gently kissed the brim again, keeping it between her lips for a few seconds, but still not allowing it into her mouth. Then she released it again.

"God, don't stop." Angel moaned, closing his eyes and drawing him nearer to her lips in blunt craving for more, as gripped firmly at her breasts and flung his head backwards.

Buffy saw he was going to come, and beamed, as she saw him starting all but shivering with want. She wanted to please him as much as she could in his coming, and she knew she would be also pleasing herself. Buffy's hands moved to grab his buttocks tightly, jostling him forward with one swift motion, as she hungrily closed her mouth on him, taking whole of him in, gulping his sperm as he came, her hands still urging him forward.

Angel cried out in pure delectation as her teeth lightly closed around the base of his cock, and squeezed her swell breasts. He shoved it deeper into her mouth and she welcomed it, sucking more and more, hungrily, as he spilled again and again, groaning with pleasure.

Finally, he finished, and his body relaxed.

Buffy started slowly releasing him from her mouth, gently lapping the erection with her tongue. When he pulled out of her, she enclosed her mouth around him again, drawing him back in with one powerful slurp, and releasing again. Angel groaned, moving his hands to the sides of her face, as she stuck her tongue out again, caressing him, until he drew away, slithering his body down on hers, to lay on top, caressing her gentiles with his hard.

Buffy gazed into his eyes and beamed. "Was I good?" She inquired in a hoarse whisper.

Angel responded by catching her swollen lips in a ravenous kiss, letting his tongue explore the so familiar mouth.

After a long kiss, he drew back a little, removing his lips from hers. The tips of their flexible tongues continued swirl together outside their mouths for a second, before Angel pulled his tongue away, and began kissing down her neck, to her breasts, and from there to her gentiles, relishing on the sweet smell of her arousal.

His tongue licked hungrily at the blonde curls around her center, tasting every drop of her he could get. His hands gripped her vibrating hips, as hers urged his head down. Angel complied voraciously, caressing her hot center with his ravenous mouth. His tongue concentrated on her clit, teasing it, making her shiver almost like a leaf in the wind, as she came, urging his head down between her hips, and burying her hands in his spiny hair.

Angel smiled and reached a hand to retrieve two strawberries from the bowl. He gently kissed her center, before taking a strawberry, and gently dipping it into her luscious juices and sucking at it with a loud gulp, before completely putting it into his mouth. He closed his eyes for a second, relishing the unique taste of her arousal, mixed with the fresh strawberry, and swallowing it, before immersing the next one, again and again. He knew that no matter what, he'd never get enough of her. Never. He deepened his tongue into her, entering her slowly, and mildly stroking her wet insides, tasting more and more of her, demandingly licking his lover's sweetest honey. He proceeded his tongue even deeper inside, he heard her cry with pleasure, and felt her pressing her fingers into his scalp. Angel continued caressing, and licking, allowing his tongue to snake inside her, alluring from her endless sighs and groans evincing her satisfaction, as she came again and again.

Buffy sighed as he finally pulled his tongue out of her, and closed her eyes in pleasure. There was no one who could ever top what he did to her, and she was only surer of it after every time he touched her. She moved her leg, gently rubbing his erection with her toes, as he rose his face from her center, halting a breath when she touched him. He hardened more due to that alone. "God, Buffy." He sighed, as she kept teasing him with her toes. Her simplest touch could set him off in a ways he'd never be prepared for, no matter how hard he'd try.

Angel's hands roamed up the curves of her perfect body, back to her breasts, and his mouth landed on them, kissing allover them, as she ascended her legs and wrapped them around him. Angel pulled his body upwards, his mouth never neglecting her swell breasts, and Buffy knew he was going to enter her. She dislodged her legs from around his waist, and spread them for him,
welcoming his erection.

Angel entered her, slowly, engendering sighs from them both. Then he pulled out a little, and entered again, all the way in, filling her inside with his large shaft. He sat upright, removing his hands from her breasts, and Buffy rose her legs, and enclosed them around his shoulders. As his hands lay on her hips, hers grabbed the crimped sheets underneath them. Angel withdrew from her again, but just a little, instantly driving her hips and thrusting back in. the slow pace was soon gone, and its place took Angel's rapid and powerful lunges, with which Buffy colluded flawlessly, increasing the tempo all the time. Buffy screamed his name, as Angel jostled intensely in and out of her. Her hands tugged at the sheets with every thrust, until they moved to lay over his pelvis, impelling him to meet her faster.

Their bodies were soon shimmering with dripping perspiration, their hearts were racing, and their lungs barely having time to inhale the required oxygen, but they still went on, moving in an interdependent sharp cadence as Angel proceeded pounding into her.

"Buffy." He groaned loudly, jerking his head backward, removing her hands from his pelvis and lacing their fingers, shoving her faster and faster to meet him in the wild climax of their orgasm, until he finally spilled all of his seed into her. "Buffy!" He screamed her name, as he shoved one final time, provoking a boisterous shriek from her as well.

When he stopped, they were both still. Their chests rose and fell, and their hearts pounded as if in madness. Buffy's legs slowly dropped down to his sides, but closed around him again, when he lay down on top of her, kneading one breast, as his head used the other as a pillow.

Buffy wrapped her arms around him, one hand stroking his clammy nape, while the other hiding in the slit of his buttocks, gently caressing his brawny curves.

Angel inhaled a deep breath, closing his lips on her rigid nipple. His hand roamed down to her groin, to caress her hot center. He lifted his leg from there, and glided down, to gently trust two fingers into her. Buffy shuddered and he smiled when he found her G-spot, and started gratifying her with his competent fingers.

She moved her hands to his balls, as she curved underneath him to reach his gentiles as well, and started manipulating them, as he groaned, and added a third finger into her. Buffy came again, as he rubbed her G-spot, and he pulled his fingers out, getting off her and laying on the bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing her back against him.

Buffy closed her legs over his still erect cock, having its purplish edge peeping from between her hips. She reached her hand down there and lifted one of her legs, allowing herself access to caress whole of it, alluring satisfied groans from her lover, as he pressed her more fiercely against his chest and intensified his hold around her waist. Angel seemed to be erecting even more with every caress she rendered on him, by which causing him implausible pleasure, knowing exactly where he liked most when she touched or massaged him.

"You feel up to it?" He asked her, whispering in her ear.

Buffy knew what he was referring to. Oh, how she felt up to it."Yes." She replied, in a whisper similar to his own, removing her hands from his hard.

"Are you sure?" He still asked. "Because we don't have to, if you don't feel ready..."

She stopped his babbling with a kiss that said it all. "Angel whether it will be now or sometime later, I'll still have to deal with a first time. And besides, it's not like we haven't done it in this position before."

"This wasn't what I meant. Before was years ago, now the first time can hurt you."

She smiled, caressing his face. "Honey, you could never hurt me."

Angel kissed her nape, and she knowingly rotated on her stomach, by that indicating for him to climb on top. He rode her again, and she arched underneath him. Angel girdled his arms around her waist, as he slowly entered her. Buffy bit her lip at fist, and gasped. It's really been a long time since he had last done it to her. A very long time.

Angel didn't disregard it. "Are you okay?" He asked with concern, but still remaining inside her, so that she could adjust to him.

Buffy smiled. She was okay. She was more than okay. She had never doubted he'd feel her first pain with her, but this pain was now gone. She knew he'd carry out the first entrance as delicately and painlessly as it only could be done, constantly attentive to her needs first. It was, after all, Angel. And he hadn't let her down.

"Sweetheart? Are you all right? Did I hurt you?" He asked again.

She grinned. "No. No, Angel, it's perfect." And it really was.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I'm sure. Please, Angel.don't stop." She closed her eyes in content as he slowly withdrew from her, and reentered right back, also smoothly, and blandly.

"Angel, go on." She pleaded, moving her pelvis to meet him, craving for more. "Please."

He obliged, always ready. He thrust in and out, mildly and gingerly, increasing the pace from time to time, but never too much. Knowing that the only one who could get hurt in this position was she, he was doing it as gently as only he could, yet with the utmost delectation for them both.

Buffy lifted her hands one after another and gripped the bed railing. One of Angel's hands tightened around her waist, while he wrapped the other around her breasts, catching one of them with his palm, thrusting harder, as Buffy moved under him, in accord to his pace.

The moment he withdrew the final time, Buffy's body caved in to the bed, and Angel lay on top, both panting. Angel wrapped her in his arms, and shifted her body on top of his, when he rolled off of her onto the bed, wearily letting his head fall on the sweat-soaked pillows. Buffy rotated on her stomach and entangled her limbs with Angel's, snaking her arms around his neck, as he slid his around her, caressing her smooth skin. After a while of silence, their hearts were finally returning to their standard beat.

Angel took a deep breath. "I love you." He whispered to her, gently stroking her hair, and placed a tender kiss on her damp temple.

Buffy beamed against his chest, and kissed it. "I love you." She replied quietly, before they both sank into a fast and serene sleep.

IMPORTANT NOTES - 'mo ghraw' is Gaelic for 'my love', and 'luran' is Gaelic for 'darling'.

Part Twelve

Life is a moment in space
When the dream is gone it's a lonelier place
I kiss the morning goodbye
But down inside you know we never know why

Xander, Anya and Oz were already waiting for them outside the church when they arrived.

"You're so beautiful!" Anya exclaimed and ran to hug the bride. "Wow! Buffy, this dress looks amazing on you, Angel will love it, I'm sure."

"You look amazing, Buff." Xander said, gracefully kissing her hand, a gesture that made both him and Buffy burst in laughter. "Angel's gonna lose it. And Miss Rosenberg...splendid." He smiled at his childhood friend, kissing her hand too. "Mrs. Summers." A similar kiss was Buffy's mother's share, which she equally returned with a smile.

"You really are beautiful, and what's more important, happy." Oz smiled at Buffy and especially Willow, who left her friend's side and stood next to her boyfriend, taking his hand. Oz put one arm around her slender shoulders and placed a light kiss on her temple.

Buffy reached out to hug him and then Xander. "Is he already inside?"

"You bet he is. I don't recall ever seeing ex-Dead Boy THAT nervous." Xander offered Anya his arm. "May I escort you inside, my lady?"

"Certainly." She giggled, and entwined her arm with her fiance's.

"Where are Cordy and Doyle? And Jack and Kate? Aren't they here yet?" Buffy inquired.

Xander waved his hand. "Oh, please, Miss Chase is probably still locked in her room trying on dresses!"

"Kate and Jack are already inside." Oz informed. "They were talking to Angel last time we saw them."

"Honey, let me look at you." Joyce put her both hands on her daughter's shoulders, examining her appearance and fixing up make up or stray hair.

Buffy sighed with a smile and rolled her eyes. "Mom......"

Joyce shushed her immediately. "Buffy, this is the happiest day of your life, which makes it the happiest day of mine. I just want everything to be perfect for you."

Buffy beamed. "Mom, I'm marrying Angel. It CAN'T get more perfect than this."

Joyce returned her a knowing smile, taking one final look at her. "I'm so happy for you." She said. "You're the most beautiful bride, and you're shining so much you could lit up the entire room." She wrapped her arms around Buffy. "I love you." She whispered, pulling off. "And you tell this husband of yours that he'd better make my baby as happy as she is now for the rest of her life, or else he's gonna have to answer to me."

Buffy giggled. "I have a feeling he will."

Joyce waved her hand. "Oh, I know, I just..." She smiled nervously.

"Being a mom." Buffy completed.

"Pretty much full-time. I will wait for you inside, honey." Joyce kissed Buffy's cheek, grinning, and whispered another 'I love you'.

Buffy beamed. "I love you too, mom."

Joyce gave everyone on last smile and disappeared inside the church.

"We're here!" A familiar and slightly annoying voice drew their attention.

"And look who decided to show eventually! We already started to think the mirror didn't want to release you." Xander quipped.

"You know what, Harris?" Cordelia grinned. "Even you can't ruin this day for me, so give it up." She embraced Buffy. "I couldn't possibly miss the event of the year, now could I? You know, with you and Angel it was always just a matter of time. Well, I gotta tell you, you look superb. Truly, you do. I bet Angel also does." She beamed. "Now, really. I'm so very very happy for you. So, I won't be palling you with wishes and just.wish you whatever you want for yourselves. Use your imagination."

"Congratulations, beautiful." Doyle hugged Buffy and grinned. "I look at you now, and I know how lucky my man Angel truly is."

"Hey!" Cordelia nudged him playfully.

Doyle giggled and embraced his girlfriend's shoulders.

"Not luckier than I am." Buffy beamed.

He chuckled. "Never crossed my mind."

"Buffy, where is Liam?" Cordelia asked.

"He's with Angel and Spike." Xander answered for her.

"He must be such a sweetheart." Cordelia smiled at Buffy. "A small copy of Angel in a tux."

"He is." Buffy beamed knowingly. "He wanted to look perfect for this. He even allowed me to help him dress. He's his daddy's best man, after all."

"Beautiful morning, isn't it, Slayer?" She herd Spike's voice as he was exiting the church, proceeding in her direction.

He took her hand and kissed it, before entwining her arm with his own. "Ready to walk down the isle to your doom?" He joked.

Buffy laughed and hit him playfully. "More than ever." She replied.

"Why, William, I never thought I'd say this, but you actually look handsome." Cordelia complimented the vampire.

If Spike had a circulation, he'd probably blush. "You aren't so bad yourself, pet." He only smiled instead.

"Okay, now that everyone's here.everyone is here, right?" Willow inquired Buffy.

She nodded.

"Well, then let's come in. Now, I'M getting all jittery."

The road is narrow and long
When eyes meet eyes and the feeling is strong
I turn away from the wall
I stumble and fall but I give you it all

Doyle and Cordelia were the first couple to come in and take their seats. Willow and Oz followed, and after them Xander and Anya. And then Buffy stepped in, folded arms with Spike. All the guests stood up, and they started to walk down the isle, to the sound of the wedding march. Angel turned around and saw her. He smiled at her and she returned him a smile. Liam gazed at his mother with the same smiling brown eyes. *Cordy was right.* She thought. *He is the exact image of his father.* But then again, she already knew that.

Buffy gazed into Angel's eyes, and reminisced of the years they had spent together. The amazing years that brought with them the best as well the worst things in her life. All their time together passed in front of her eyes. All those things that brought them to this wonderful and perfect moment. Images from the first night they met ran in her head. The first time of many to come, when the mysterious cryptic guy with the angelic face appeared beyond her shoulder. Even then, she already knew he was about to change her whole life. Even then, she loved him. The cross he gave her that night, was a sign for his constant protection. She recalled the night he proved his loyalty to her, by killing his Sire. A loyalty that later was expressed as a total devotion, and eventually.as love. The night he gave her the Claddagh ring, the symbol of their love, and the same night, when they made love for the first time. The loneliness and the pain, which were her share after he had turned back into Angelus, and the depression and the loss she sank into after she had killed him, they all vanished as if they never existed in the first place. Instead, she felt every kiss he had ever given her, every gentle touch he had ever touched her. She felt as happy as she was when she got him back. When he came back to her, as a wild beast after centuries of torment in Hell, and she wrapped him with her undying love, took care of him, and restored back her Angel. The feeling of holding him in her arms again filled her heart and mind, and there was no room left for common sense or reason of any kind. She remembered how she used to protect him from her friends and Giles, because when she saw her Angel, they saw a monster that must be eliminated. Then, facing Angel's wish to kill himself not to hurt her, this was when she told him how much she loved him, for the first time since he came back. The tears and the heartbreaking of the goodbye, the seclusion and the hollowness that filled her heart after he died, and the countless shattered dreams that she thought would never come true, and were coming true now in the eyes of her love...they were also far from her thoughts right now. Instead, she recalled the wonderful and precious times they had spent together ever since finding their way back to each other, taking pleasure in his gifted humanity, and the other treasured moments that were to last for all times after today. And their son, and the happy life they were about to have as a family.she halted her thoughts as she felt Spike's kiss on her cheek, and found herself standing in front of Angel. He took her hands into his and smiled, and she smiled back.

I am a woman in love and I'd do anything
To get you into my world and hold you within
It's a right I defend over and over again
What do I do?

Angel drowned in the orbs of his love. The only woman of his life was standing right before him, ready to be his wife. The same one he remembered as the fifteen-year-old girl he perceived one sunny day coming out of her school, soon after that, being called by the Council to fulfill her destiny as the Slayer. In the second he discerned her walking down the stairs, he fell in love with her. He saw her, and he knew he'd give his life for that girl. He'd give his life to protect her from any harm she may face, to keep her safe and happy. Only for her, he had neglected his irresponsible, pointless, and miserable existence, and gave it a purpose. To live for her, with her. He promised this to himself back then, and now, the only one he loved stood in front of him, and he could finally flawlessly keep his promise. To build their lives as he had always wanted to. A small eternity of love.

"Are we all ready?" The priest asked the guests. Their silence answered him. "Then let us begin. Who gives this woman to this man?"

Just when Spike wanted to answer, a familiar British voice came from the entrance to the hall. "I do." Giles said, rapidly striding towards his Slayer and her ex-vampire. He smiled at them when they mouthed him a 'thank you', and a single tear of happiness trickled down Buffy's cheek, as she saw he made it after all. But she knew it somehow in her heart, not for the world he would miss his daughter's wedding.

"Glad you could make it, Watcher." Spike whispered to him, when Giles took the seat next to the vampire. "Wouldn't be the same without you."

His smile told Giles just how much he meant those words. He nodded in response, and the two men's attention turned towards the altar.

"Very well. We're all gathered here today, in this holly place, under the eyes of God, to celebrate one of life's most beautiful and unforgettable events, the union of this young couple in the holly matrimony. Whatever was made by God, can no man revoke, therefore whoever has any reason to annul this union, may he talks now, or forever holds his peace."

Willow felt an abrupt urge to turn around...and her eyes spotted a blond young man standing at the door. His face was a mixture of pain and anger, but his lips were sealed. The redhead breathed with relief and faced back to the couple.

Oz clasped her hand to ease her perceptible anxiety, and she smiled in return.

When he received no answer, the priest spoke again. "Good. Let us proceed, then.I was told the couple had something to say to each other, so before I go on, please." He took a step backward and gestured towards Buffy and Angel.

Angel gazed up at his love, and gently squeezed both her hands, smiling happily at her. Buffy could see the tears in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and started to speak. "Mo ghraw, I thought a lot about what I was going to tell you when you would be standing right here, in front of me, about to become mine for all eternity. I could never find the words, however. There is nothing in this world, no words or deeds, that can describe my love to you, because I can't even describe it myself. My life was meaningless before you entered them. You're my life, my one and only guardian angel, and my dearest treasure of all. Trying to picture an eternity without you is the same as trying to picture dying. You have given my life so much meaning, that I feel there is no way I can ever repay you. If someone ever asked me how much I love you, I would never be able to answer, because as I said, there is no answer, and together with that, I can always answer if someone asks me how much you love me. Your love...its tenderness, passion and devotion are things I thought I was never worthy of, but then I met you, and with only a look in your eyes, you convinced me otherwise. You always loved me, regardless to everything. Your love, and our son are the biggest gifts life has ever given me. They are what I thank God every day for, and will continue doing so forever. Every breath I take, and every heartbeat, I want to share with you. You're my only one, my true happiness, and that's what you will be always. I love you, luran."

With you eternally mine
In love there is no measure of time
They planned it all at the start
That you and I live in each others heart

Buffy bit her lip, trying not to cry, but was already too late for that. She locked eyes with him, and beamed her most beautiful smile. After a deep breath of her own, she began. "My angel..." She pronounced softly. "Years ago, I was fortunate to come across a very annoying cryptic guy in a dark alley. I was only sixteen then, and the emotions that were born within me the moment I looked into the softness of your eyes were the most wonderful thing I was ever to experience. Something that I didn't understand then, turned out as my love for you later. As you said, there is no way to describe my love for you, but there is every way to describe your love for me. I feel Heaven on earth when you hold me in your arms, and the thought I'm standing in front of you now, committing myself into those arms forever, is the most wonderful conception. My heart was always yours, my love. In the hardest times we had, I was confident in your love, and I trusted you to remain by my side forever, no matter what. I can never thank you enough for you. I can never thank you enough for any of those amazing things you have given me and done for me, and especially, I can never thank you enough for loving me, for being my lifeline, my hopes and my dreams, in those precise times I needed you the most. All there is left to say now is that I will love you forever. I will always be your girl."

We may be oceans away
You feel my love I hear what you say
No truth is ever a lie
I stumble and fall but I give you it all

There was almost no one in the entire church whose eyes managed to remain dry after this.

The priest approached the two, and spoke again, continuing with the ceremony. "Do you Angel, take Buffy, to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in richness and in poor, for better and for worse, from this day forth, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Angel couldn't stop looking at Buffy, and how beautiful she was.

Next, he faced Buffy. "Do you Buffy, take Angel, to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in richness and in poor, for better and for worse, from this day forth, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." She beamed at Angel.

"The rings, please."

Liam handed his father the two golden Claddagh rings, set on a small red satin cushion, grinning proudly and happily at his both parents.

The priest turned to Angel. "Repeat after me: With this ring I sanctify you to be my lawful wedded wife, and promise to love you, for as long as we both shall live."

Angel slid the ring on Buffy's finger. "With this ring I sanctify you to be my lawful wedded wife, and promise to love you, for as long as we both shall live."

The priest turned to Buffy. "Repeat after me: With this ring I sanctify you to be my lawful wedded husband, and promise to love you, for as long as we both shall live."

Buffy slid the ring on Angel's finger. "With this ring I sanctify you to be my lawful wedded husband, and promise to love you, for as long as we both shall live."

"Then by the sanctity of your exchanged rings, the power of love and your vows, and by the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holly Spirit, and by the authority granted to me by the state of California, I now pronounce you; husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

I am a woman in love and I'd do anything
To get you into my world and hold you within
It's a right I defend over and over again

END.