FF Keeper of the stars (2/5)

["Christeen Demons" <Shyfox30@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay, let's try that again. Somehow I don't think the last one got 
through...if it does, you can string me up later.:-)

Disclimer: Creations of Joss belong to Joss, my creations belong to me.:-) 
Be polite and ask me if you want to use them, 'kay?:-)

Chapter two: practice makes perfect.

The cheerful, almost overflowing with joy atmosphere that reigned supreme at 
Mario?s restaurant would catch the casual observer off guard. Attention 
would be drawn almost hypnotically to a radiantly happy couple that were 
laughing and talking with each other, as well as their close friends and 
relatives. That observer wouldn?t know that the last month had visited the 
couple with a flurry of preparations that had to be made, cakes to order, 
clothes to buy, rings to get sized. Family to pick up at the airport and get 
situated in the hotels around SunnyDale. The fact that all of these things 
had come together perfectly, as if by magic or a guiding hand, would not 
even cross the idle mind. All that person would see, would be a happily 
beaming couple that were ready to face tomorrow and the joyous joining that 
would take two halves of one soul and forge them together forever, making it 
whole.

The couple in question were talking about the events that had taken place 
that day, their practice session, if you will. "I?m pretty sure I?ve got the 
words memorized...with a little coaching, I just might be able to say them." 
Buffy teased Willow, lightly, stealing a kiss from the beautiful red head 
that sat next to her, studiously ignoring the entertained looks given by her 
family.

"Just as long as you don?t trip over your own feet again, eh, Buff?" Xander 
chortled, watching Buffy?s face turning pink as he reminded the group of the 
fall that had occurred when Buffy was practicing stepping forward to greet 
her bride at the alter that had been set up on the beach.

"Well...that sand was very slippery." Willow defended her red faced lover, a 
quirky smile lighting her face as the others resumed their chuckling, no 
doubt remembering the Slayer?s header into the warm sand.
"Well, I?m certainly glad you guys are amused by that." The slayer said, 
ruefully, rubbing at her cherry colored face.

Willow took pity on her embarrassed fiancée and shamed the others into 
silence with a look. "We should probably put more mats down tomorrow." They 
had decided to hold the wedding on the beach, with the reception at Mario?s 
afterward. The weather had been forecasted to be sunny and warm, with a 
light breeze, perfect for a beachside ceremony. They had bought a very large 
white canopy that they would set up on the beach, and had rented about 
eighty white wooden fold up chairs for the guests to sit on during the 
ceremony. The alter would be up front, of course, and Willow would be led up 
the middle between the two rows of chairs.

Mario brought the food out as they were discussing the wedding, much to 
Buffy?s mouth watering delight. The smell of the hot baked Ziti and the 
garlic bread sending delicious wafts of aroma to her nose. She didn?t know 
how Mario was managing it. He had promised a full Italian feast for eighty 
people for tomorrow, though he had yet to divulge the menu, Buffy was sure 
it would be a fabulous dinner.

Mario set the large platters of food down on the table, beaming with pride 
at the murmurs of delight and hunger that went around the table. "Thank you, 
Mario. This looks great." Buffy said, enthusiastically, as she dug into the 
hot pasta dish in front of her. The rest of the group wasted no time in 
helping themselves to the steamy pasta and soon all of their plates were 
brimming with the delicious food.

"Eat...enjoy...dessert comes soon, eh?" Mario proclaimed, jovially, before 
he gave them all a beaming smile and headed back for the kitchen. He had so 
much to do, antipasto?s and canoli?s to make, as well as baked Lasagna and 
other such dishes.

The table was actually silent as the group feasted on the spicy pasta, their 
sounds of satisfaction being the only audible noise the group made.
After the meal, Oz and the other Dingoes checked out the small stage that 
was set up in the restaurant. Tomorrow part of the floor would be cleared of 
tables so that the happy couple would be able to dance.

Willow gazed at the band, as she imagined dancing with Buffy tomorrow after 
the wedding. She had danced with her before, of course, but she wondered how 
different it would feel, if she felt different at all, to be dancing with 
her new wife. Willow beamed at the word every time she thought about it. It 
sent a happy thrill down her spine at just the thought of Buffy being her 
wife. She had never felt so possessive over anything before, not even Oz, 
but she knew deep in her heart that tomorrow she would be claiming Buffy as 
hers, her wife, and she couldn?t wait for the moment to get here.

Willow was startled out of her reverie when she caught a flash of black out 
of the corner of her eyes. She swept the room with her eyes until she 
settled on the imposing figure in black that was standing near the entrance 
of the restaurant. She met the soulful gaze with her own green eyes and 
watched as they gestured toward the door. She nodded briefly, then started 
to stand up from the table, catching Buffy?s attention away from the 
conversation she was having with her grandmother about weddings in her day.

"Hey, where are you going?" Buffy asked, catching Willow?s hand in hers as 
she started to walk away from the table.

Willow turned her attention back to her lover, a slight flush brushing her 
cheeks. "I have to go to the bathroom." She whispered into her ear, not 
wanting the others at the table to overhear her.

"Oh." Buffy said, flushing as well as she wondered why she had questioned 
her lover on this in the first place. "Well, hurry back. I?ll miss you."

Willow smiled at her, kissing her cheek. "I won?t be gone long." she replied 
as she slipped off, heading in the direction of the bathroom.
Buffy watched her in bemusement for a few seconds, something cloudy swimming 
in the deep blue of her eyes, then shrugged her shoulders and tuned back 
into the conversation that her mother was having with her grandmother.

Her grandmother picked this time to wheedle out. "Are you sure you want to 
get married, Buffy? I mean, I?m sure Willow is a very lovely girl, but 
surely..." She was cut off by a very serious vampire Slayer.

"I?m very sure, Nan. I love her." Blue eyes radiated the seriousness in her 
words to her grandmother, who suddenly saw the errant teenager she used to 
be in a new light.

"Well, who am I to stand in the way of true love." Nan said, in a gesture of 
showing her support. Buffy smiled at her grandmother, then excused herself 
as she went to find her fiancée.
*****

"Angel?" The soft whispery call startled the vampire and he swung on his 
heel to meet the vibrant green eyes. The two stared at each other for a long 
moment, each unsure what to say to the other as past and present lovers of 
Buffy Summers met under a starless sky. Willow shot an uneasy look at the 
door, then returned her gaze to the vampire, taking a restless breath. "Did 
you want to come in?" She asked, warily, wondering why Angel had chosen to 
show up, the night before the wedding.

The vampire with a soul shook his dark head after a moment of quiet 
consideration. "No. This is your time. Tomorrow is your day. I don?t want to 
intrude on that. I just wanted you to know that I think Buffy has finally 
found what she has been looking for all of this time and I?m very happy for 
the both of you."

At Willow?s startled look, Angel smiled mirthlessly. "Not that happy." He 
clarified, noticing Willow?s shoulders sag with relief.

Willow knew what a sacrifice this was for the vampire and she was grateful 
that he had made the effort to close this particular chapter in Buffy?s 
life. "Thanks, Angel. I?d invite you to the wedding, but it?s kind of going 
to be outside and I wouldn?t want you to go all poof." A teasing lilt filled 
the red head?s voice and lightened the conversation considerably.

"Probably wouldn?t be a good idea." Angel agreed, a slight grin twitching on 
his normally somber face.

Willow grinned, unsure what to say now that the air had been cleared. She 
opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, before sighing and 
letting it out in one big breath. "Angel...I want you to know that 
I...really love her."

He could see the love radiating from the intense green eyes and he nodded 
his head sadly. "I know. I trust you to take good care of her, Willow." The 
dark Angel said, relinquishing any hold he might have still had on the heart 
of the Slayer. Willow shivered as she felt him let go, and she claimed the 
gift somberly.

"I will." A fierce surge of protectiveness rose in the Wiccan, feeling the 
power of it vibrate through to her very soul. "With all my heart." The power 
was tempered by the beat of her heart, as she felt the promise of tomorrow 
on her lips.

Angel nodded one final time, then disappeared into the shadows, the night 
enveloping him and embracing him with the cover of darkness. It was the 
place the souled vampire felt most comfortable and it was the only place 
that welcomed him back time and again.

Willow felt an almost tangible sadness for the lost vampire, sad that he 
could never experience the all consuming happiness that she felt with Buffy. 
Quiet footsteps on the floorboards behind her, alerted her to someone?s 
presence as she felt warm arms sliding around her, and a warm body embracing 
her from behind. She leaned back into the comforting presence feeling the 
security she never felt anywhere else.

"I was starting to wonder where you?d disappeared to." Buffy said quietly, 
into her lover?s ear, feeling her tremble under her touch. She watched the 
evening shadows move with a life all their own as she sighed. "Angel." It 
was more statement than question, Willow noticed, as if the Slayer had known 
he had been here all along.

Of course, she had probably sensed his presence, Willow reflected silently 
as she nodded her head slowly. She felt Buffy squeeze her gently, enveloping 
her more, if that was at all possible.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked, wondering what they had been discussing with 
each other, though she herself was the most likely topic she considered 
ruefully. "What did he say?" She prodded her reluctant lover, gently.

Willow stiffened at the questions, unsure how Buffy would react to their 
discussion of her. "He kind of gave us his blessing, I guess."

"Well, that was sweet of him. Not that I need it, of course." Buffy said, a 
twinge of amusement mixed into her melodic voice.

The good humor in Buffy?s voice relaxed her, and Willow leaned back against 
her peacefully, glad for a moment alone with her after the hectic activity 
of the last few weeks. As they stared together up into the black endless 
night sky, Willow noticed the almost dream like quality of bliss she was 
living in and it scared her to think she might wake up. "Would you mind 
pinching me?" She asked, a hesitant note in her request.

"Why?" Buffy whispered, bemused by the odd request.

She waited in silence for a few moments, before the whispered reply reached 
her ears. "I keep having this strange feeling that this is all a dream and 
I?m going to wake up back in high school, and I?ll be the class geek that I 
was before I met you."

Buffy?s hold on her lover tightened at the pain she heard in her voice. 
"Hey...I will never let that happen. I will never let you go." She vowed 
vehemently, turning her lover so that she could look into her eyes. "I don?t 
know what I?d do without you. I love you Willow Rosenberg and tomorrow I?m 
making you my wife." She vowed, just before her lips met the red head?s. A 
better cure then a pinch, the Wiccan concluded distractedly, just before she 
lost herself in the kiss.

*****
"I can?t believe I let you talk me into this." Buffy grumbled, as she 
crossed Giles living room and tossed her duffle bag and the bag carrying her 
tux onto the couch. "I should be sleeping with Will, not Mr. Gordo." Not 
liking the idea of sleeping with her stuffed pig one bit.

"Really Buffy, it?s only one night. You can?t expect Willow to forego 
tradition."

Buffy flopped down on the couch releasing a huge groan. "I don?t want to 
offend the Goddess of tradition, but personally, I think this tradition 
sucks, Giles." Buffy pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I mean, 
obviously we?ve been sleeping together for a while now."

"Look, surely you can sleep without Willow for one night." Giles said, 
rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"No, really...I can?t, Giles." Buffy said, earnestly, looking up at her 
Watcher. "I always sleep the best wrapped around Willow. I can?t explain it 
really...it?s just feeling her soft skin against mine that..."

"Uh...more than I needed to know really." Giles said, interrupting the 
Slayer quickly.

Buffy blushed, and looked away. "Yeah...uh, you mind if I call Willow." 
Buffy asked, darting her eyes to the phone.

Giles rolled his eyes. It had been less than twenty minutes since they had 
seen each other at Mario?s restaurant. "Very well, but do try and get some 
sleep. I?m going to bed." Giles said, trying to remember when or if he?d 
ever seen two people so much in love.

Buffy waited until he had disappeared into his bedroom before she picked up 
the phone and dialed the number, waiting breathlessly for that familiar 
voice to answer the phone.

"Hello?" The voice coming across the phone line lit the spark inside her 
heart and she had to fight the grin that was taking over her face.

"Hey you." Buffy said, the smile in her voice carrying quite nicely to 
Willow who was curled up on their bed, staring longingly at her wedding 
dress.

"Hey back. How?s Giles couch treating you?" Willow teased, lightly. "Is Mr. 
Gordo keeping you nice and warm?"

"Funny Will." Buffy said, as she soaked up the sound of Willow?s relaxed 
voice. "To tell you the truth, I?d rather be sleeping with you. I don?t know 
how I?m going to get to sleep tonight." Buffy said, ruefully.

"My poor baby." Willow said, in a mock commiserating voice. "Still, I think 
you should try. You don?t want to be all pooped out on the Wedding night." 
Buffy heard the grin as well as the seductive tone to her fiancee voice and 
it sent sweet tendrils of desire through the Slayer?s bloodstream.

Buffy chuckled, as thoughts of ways she?d like to spend their wedding night 
danced in her head. "Mmm, I think I?ll find the energy somewhere." She 
promised huskily, feeling their connection sparking down the phone line. "I 
can?t wait to get you alone in our room."

Willow felt the connection stirring her blood, and knew she had to get the 
Slayer off of the phone or she?d be awake all night with butterflies in her 
stomach. "I can?t either." She admitted breathlessly. "But we have to, and 
your not making it easier." She admitted regretfully.

Buffy laughed, imagining her red haired lover getting all worked up. "Sorry. 
This isn?t helping either one of us." She said, with a great amount of 
chagrin. "See you tomorrow?" She questioned, as if she was half afraid her 
bride wouldn?t show up.

"You betcha." Willow chirped back at her, sensing her partner?s loneliness. 
"I?ll be the one in the long white dress and veil."
Buffy smiled at the words. Willow always knew how to cheer her up. "I love 
you, Will."

A stunning glow lit Willow?s cheeks when she heard the words, and she let 
herself absorb them, relishing the rare gift Buffy bestowed on her each and 
every day. "I love you too, Buffy. Get some sleep, I?ll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Will." Buffy whispered into the phone, hearing a soft murmur in 
return, before she hung up, gazing reflectively at the phone before she laid 
her head back and stared at the ceiling in quiet reflection, hugging Mr. 
Gordo to her. Maybe this was what Giles and her mom had in mind, she 
pondered as she stared at the white painted surface above her head. To give 
them a chance to realize just what they were getting into, and a chance to 
reflect on how different their lives would be without the other one.

It really wasn?t a lesson she thought that she needed. She already knew 
Willow was her life, she had been since she had arrived in SunnyDale, 
really, and one little ceremony wasn?t going to change that...except perhaps 
allow everyone else to realize just how much they meant to each other.

It occurred to her that the ceremony really wasn?t for them, she already 
felt like she was married to Willow in her heart. The ceremony really was a 
declaration to the world that she and Willow were meant to be together. She 
smiled at that thought, imagining standing by the altar with Willow at her 
side, looking into her eyes and declaring her undying love for her. Corny as 
that thought was, it made her grin from ear to ear. Yup, she couldn?t wait 
to be Buffy Rosenberg Summers.

*****

The sound of Giles? doorbell ringing disturbed Buffy from the wonderful doze 
she had been falling into, and she glared ominously at the door. "I can?t 
believe it." She growled, as she got up and went to open the offensive door.

Ripping the door open, not knowing who she was going to find on the other 
side, she was surprised to see Xander, holding a pizza box and a six pack of 
beer, and Oz and the Dingoes behind him, carrying various other snacks and 
paraphernalia, some of which Buffy couldn?t make out at first glance. "Hey 
Buffster! It?s party time!" Xander announced as he slipped his way past her, 
and headed over to the coffee table.

...to be continued(LOL)
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