Family Matters 5/6 - B/W/T - PG13

["Hunter Ash" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Family Matters, part 5
Red Moon Rising, Book 6

Author: Frau Hunter Ash 

Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx  Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox,
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline,
however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold
or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for
private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship
between people of the same gender and even 3 at the same time <G>.  If
this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave.  Come back when
you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws. 

Spoilers: up to Red Moon Rising and veers off from there.

Summary:  Facing Willow's parents and then Weddings!

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: B/W/T, G/J, An/X

* * *

Willow hesitated outside the door to her parent's home.  The young
woman really didn't consider it her home any longer; it had been too
long since she had even slept under the roof of the place that had
been home.  

The red haired witch knew her parents were anxious to see her but she
wasn't so sure she wanted to see them.  They were mortified to have
learned that Willow had dropped out of the University for the semester
and wanted answers why their straight A, Honor Roll student daughter
had missed so much school that she felt the only answer was to withdraw.

Truthfully, Willow had no idea what she was going to tell her parents.
She couldn't tell them the truth, that was for sure.  Her
ex-boyfriend Daniel Osbourne, the musician werewolf, had returned and
was totally evil but became a good guy and again and died saving her?
The mess that followed that led to Willow being a werewolf and in love
with two women at the same time and part of a triad relationship.

The truth that she was also a witch and wanted to marry both Buffy and
Tara. Her parents couldn't ever remember Buffy's name and had never
met Tara.  Neither of her mates were Jewish, they were female, and
they couldn't legally marry her.

Her parents would not be thrilled with this news.

Willow sighed heavily and knocked on the door. 

Sheila Rosenberg opened the door immediately, as if she had been
watching for her wayward daughter.  Willow thought she probably had.

The young woman accepted a hug but dropped her eyes from her mother's
worried and questioning eyes. 

"Your father will be home shortly," Sheila said softly. "Come in, come
in!"

"Thanks, Mom," Willow said softly.

"Come and talk to me while I finish dinner," Sheila encouraged.

"Okay," Willow said with a smile.  It never failed, whenever they were
home, Sheila Rosenberg reverted to a stereotype.  She became the
cardboard cutout of a Jewish mother.  Cooking, cleaning, talking with
relatives on the phone for hours, bitching about family matters, and
worrying.  

Willow had always found it amazing.  Her parents were professors and
respected around the world for their intelligence and insights into
modern issues and, yet, when they were home, it felt like something
out of 1950's Brooklyn.

When they were on the road, the Rosenbergs were the perfect modern
couple; intelligent, liberal, and very yuppie.  At home, total opposite. 

It sometimes creeped Willow out.

Willow sat down at the breakfast bar and accepted the glass of milk
her mother offered.  Never a soda or coffee, she knew. Soda was bad
for teenagers and coffee was for adults. 

Willow wondered if she would ever be considered an adult by her parents.

"Do you want to tell me before your father gets here or over dinner?"
Sheila asked.

"How about over dinner so I don't have to repeat everything?" Willow
suggested.

"You're&you're not in trouble are you?" Sheila asked, avoiding her
daughter's eyes.

"I'm not pregnant, Mom," Willow said with a smile.  

Sheila blushed but nodded gratefully.  She began telling Willow about
the latest lecture tour and all the interesting places she and
Willow's father had been to.  Willow listened politely.  The hacker
interjected comments where appropriate and helped set the table.

A quick hug from her father after he arrived home and dinner was on
the table.  Once again Willow marveled at the perfect timing her
mother had.  

Willow shifted uncomfortably in her chair, barely able to touch her
food during dinner.  Mr. Ira Rosenberg talked about his latest
theories and colleagues and Willow knew they were killing time until
they felt they could approach their daughter.

"So, you have dropped from the University?" Ira asked finally.

"Only for the semester, Dad," Willow clarified.  "I missed so much
school that I withdrew last semester and skipped this semester."

"Willow, you've only missed school twice in your life," her mother
protested. "You had a fever of 104 degrees and then that accident in
the library at school."

"There was a good reason this time as well," Willow said calmly while
inside she was shaking very badly.  She wished she had brought Tara or
Buffy but knew that would only make her parents even more
uncomfortable.  "I wrote and told you I was attacked by my stalker
ex-boyfriend and badly hurt and in danger."

"Your hand seems fine now," Sheila frowned. "When you first called us,
you said it would take a year or longer to heal and then there would
be permanent damage."

Willow sighed.  "I can't explain it. I was terrified and Oz wanted to
kill me and my friends if he couldn't have me. It wasn't just the
physical that was affected."

"Well, we can understand a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, honey,"
Sheila said gently.  "You couldn't catch up in school though?"

Willow gritted her teeth and unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it aside.
She heard her mother gasp in shock and her father drop his fork as
they took in the healing scars from the emergency surgery to repair
the damage done by having a knife stuck through her heart.

"It took longer than we thought after Oz attacked me the second time,"
she said softly.

"What&what happened?" Ira asked softly.

"He put a knife through my heart," Willow answered. "Buffy and my
friends found me and saved me with quick reactions."

"That's when you moved in with them?" Sheila asked and Willow nodded.

"Yes, they helped protect me from Oz," Willow answered truthfully. 
The rest of it had been the truth, sort of.  Enough truth in the
statements that Willow didn't have a major attack of the "guilts"
about it.

"What happened to the little bastard?" Ira demanded and Willow was
shocked.  She had never heard such language from her father before nor
had she ever seen him that angry either.

"He died in an explosion," Willow said softly.

"Good riddance," Sheila muttered.

"So you'll be going back to school this semester?" Ira asked.

"Yes, sir," Willow nodded.  "I have some news about that, actually."

"Really?" Sheila said, enthusiastically, she could tell Willow was
holding back some good news after showing them those horrible scars.

"Yes, I've been accepted at Oxford for one or more school years,
starting this term," Willow said with a smile.

"Oxford, England?"

"Yes," Willow smiled.  "It's a special program. I'll be learning a lot
of what Mr. Giles was taught. Setting up computers, working with
museums and libraries and stuff like that."

"That means you'll be leaving soon," Sheila frowned.  "How soon?"

"End of next month," Willow answered.  

"What about the cost for Oxford?" Ira demanded.

"Full scholarship, housing, stipend, transportation and special
training," Willow answered proudly, knowing her parents would be
astounded by the lengths Oxford was going to for Willow.

"I thought you didn't want to leave your friends," Ira complained. 
"That's why you didn't go to a better school in the first place."
"I, uh, well, I, uh, Buffy and Tara are going with me," Willow said
softly, her eyes on her plate.

"I don't understand," Sheila Rosenberg admitted.  "How can they go
with you? All three of you were accepted? That's impossible!" 

"The group sponsoring me is making an exception for Buffy and Tara,"
Willow said slowly.

"Why would they do that?" Ira demanded.

"Their grades are good enough and they are&they&" Willow stammered. 
"Buffy and Tara are considered my domestic partners and the group
wants me bad enough."

"Domestic partners?" Sheila questioned.  "Isn't that a gay thing?"

"Uh, yeah, it is," Willow admitted.

"Are you telling us that you're gay?" Ira demanded.

"Yes, Dad," Willow nodded, still looking at her plate, her food
suddenly feeling like a brick in her stomach.

Ira and Sheila Rosenberg both fell quiet for several moments as Willow
began to shake.

Finally they seemed to exchange telepathic communication and turned to
Willow with stern expressions.

"Willow," her father began slowly. "This is not the future we would
wish for our only child."

"I understand, Pappa," Willow said softly.  

"You mentioned two people going with you," Sheila frowned.

"Yes, Mama," Willow nodded.  

"You're telling us that you are a lesbian or bisexual with two
different women?" Ira demanded.

"Yes, sir," Willow nodded, not meeting his eyes.  "Buffy and Tara."

"We know the name Buffy," Sheila said slowly. "We don't know her
though or the other girl."

"Tell us about them, are you happy? Can you be happy with two&two
girlfriends?" Ira asked.

"Yes, Papa," Willow tried to smile.  "I never knew love could be like
this. It happened while Oz was stalking me. We've been together
several months now."

"Are all three of you&I mean, two separate girlfriends or is&." Sheila
stammered.

"We're all together, Mama," Willow said softly.  "It's like a magical
connection. I think they are my Zivuks, my soul mates."

Ira frowned, watching his daughter.  "We must insist on meeting both
these girls, Willow. You know we are very progressive people but I
admit that this is pushing those boundaries."

"I know, Papa," Willow nodded. "I love them both, more than anything.
It was because of them that Oz attacked me."

"I suppose it's too much to hope that at least one of them is Jewish?"
Sheila asked hopefully.

"Uh," Willow hesitated. "Buffy was raised non-denominational Christian
and Tara is pagan."

"What about children?" Ira demanded, lost in his own thoughts and
questions.

"We all want children eventually, after school," Willow said slowly. 
"We haven't discussed who would carry the child or children or who
would be father material."

"All three of you would go to Oxford?" Sheila asked, still puzzling
over everything.

"Yes, Mama," Willow nodded.

"In a month?" Ira clarified.

"Yes," Willow said.

"Then we must meet them soon!" Sheila declared. 

Willow felt tears of gratitude filling her eyes.

"We're having a bonding ceremony, a kinda marriage," Willow said
slowly.  "We can't get married legally so this is a ritual where we
affirm our love and commitment to each other in front of our friends
and family. I'd really like you to be there."

"A commitment, this is not an experiment or a passing fling then?" Ira
demanded.

"No, Papa," Willow said firmly.

"Then we will be there," he said just as firmly. "After you introduce
them properly!"

"Yes, sir," Willow smiled and jumped out of her chair to hug her
parents.  "I was scared."

"Of us?" Sheila asked with a warm smile as she hugged her daughter.

"Tara's family rejected her but Buffy's Mom is okay with us," Willow
said shyly.

"How can someone reject their daughter because she found happiness?"
Sheila demanded.

"I think that's exactly why they rejected her," Willow said bitterly.
"They preferred her unhappy."

"Like your sister Ruth," Ira nodded. "She hates Sarah being happy."

"That is not true, Ira Rosenberg!" Sheila snapped.  "My sister Ruth
just worries for Sarah."

"Sarah is twenty three years old!" Ira growled. "She can buy her own
groceries and do her own laundry!"

Willow smiled as she sat back down to her desert.  She had actually
missed the kibitzing. She felt a sense of amazement at what had
happened, Willow had never expected her parents to suddenly want to
meet Tara and Buffy. They hadn't even consulted their schedules about
possible wedding dates and conflicts.

* * *

Buffy spun, kicking a vampire in the chest and backhanding another one
who was closing in for an attack.  The Slayer grinned as she staked
the one she had kicked. A quick flip and she had her stake in the
second one.

All the time it took to take down four vampires, Buffy kept her a
close eye on Tara as the witch watched from the cemetery wall.

Buffy grinned and held out her arms as Tara jumped down. The Slayer
took advantage to quickly kiss Tara passionately.

"You're still not off the hook for thinking we'd reject you," Buffy
growled playfully.  "We accept Anya as a former demon."

"That's not the s-same, Buff," Tara said softly as they began walking
towards the gate.  "Former demon, not part demon now. I grew up being
told it was evil and no one would love me except my family."

"Twisted bastard," Buffy grumbled as she thought about Mr. MacKelvey,
Tara's father.

"I can't believe they all lied to me and my mom," Tara whimpered. 

Buffy held her mate's hand tightly. "You've got family now, Tara.
Nothing is going to come between us again."

"Not even the Council?" Tara teased, knowing how Buffy felt about the
Watcher's Council.

"Especially not them," Buffy growled. "We haven't heard from Willow so
I'm hoping it went alright. Shall we swing by and walk her home?"

"Sounds good," Tara agreed with a smile.  "I hope it went well. What
are her parents like? I get the sense they weren't around a lot."

"Nope, always off on some lecture tour or something," Buffy nodded. 
"She loves them but they just weren't around. Didn't even come home
when she was in the hospital."

"Do you think they're gonna freak?" Tara asked shyly. 

"Probably," Buffy said wearily. "How do you explain to traditional
Jewish parents that you're gay and with two female lovers? They're
very progressive except when at home and they expect Willow to be
perfect. They nearly wigged when she was dating Oz because he was in a
band."

"We'll handle it," Tara said firmly as Buffy smiled. 

"Yeah, three weddings to plan!" she agreed.

"And school," Tara smiled.

* * *

The next two weeks were busy for everyone as three different weddings
were planned.  The Summers' home became Wedding central as Joyce
rushed between getting the gallery ready for Xander and Anya to take
over and planning her own wedding. Everyone was also helping everyone
else plan. 

Willow smiled as Xander squirmed while she tried to adjust his tie.
The bandages had come off his face but he was still wearing an eye
patch as his eye healed. The cast on his arm had also come off, finally.

"Xander!" Willow scolded. "Hold still!"

"Oh God, Will," Xander stammered. "Why am I so nervous? I'm already
married to her!"

"Because that was the legal thing, this feels spiritual?" Willow
suggested.

"Yeah, that's probably it," he nodded as Willow slapped Xander's hand
away from his cummerbund and then turned her attention to Giles as he
tugged on his tux jacket.

Willow grinned when the door opened and Buffy stuck her head in the
door. "How goes with the groom types?" the Slayer asked.

"Nervous as hell," Willow grinned.  "They're fine."

"The brides are about to drive Tara and me crazy!" Buffy smirked.
"They're ready though."

"Good Lord," Giles muttered, pulling at his tie. 

"Second thoughts, Dad?" Buffy teased.  

"Of course not," Giles grumbled. 

"Ring check?" Willow prompted and Buffy laughed at the matching
panicked expressions and desperate probing in pockets.  Both Giles and
Xander sighed at the same time and produced ring boxes.

"Let's go, guys!" Buffy smiled and opened the door wide.  "The guests
are waiting, including your annoyingly British boss. Brad is anxious
as the best man and Fox looks absolutely stunning in a tux."

"Easy, Slayer," Willow grumbled. "You're next."

"I can admire a good looking guy, even if he is FBI," Buffy protested.
"Angel's in under the canopy and I'm sure Spike is sulking somewhere
in a sewer nearby."

"Cordelia taking care of the guests?" Xander asked nervously.

"Along with Theresa and Dana," Buffy nodded. "They talk shop in
between taking care of everyone. "A police detective's wife and an FBI
agent, you know."

"Who else made it?" Giles asked.

"Wesley, and a bunch of your scholar types. Xander's construction crew
also made it," Buffy smiled.

"Even though I haven't started work yet?" Xander asked with a goofy grin.

"You made an impression this last week, Xan," Willow said gently.
"They like you and your skills."

"D-did my Mom show up?" he asked softly.

"No, we haven't heard from her," Buffy shook her head.

"I kinda figured," he said sadly. "He probably wouldn't let her."

"Anya's waiting for you, Xan," Willow said softly. "That's who counts."

"And my Mom is about to have kittens, Giles!" Buffy urged.

"Shall we then, Xander?" Giles smiled.

"Of course, after you, my good man," Xander grinned.

The bridesmaids, Willow, Tara, and Buffy met in the hallway among
giggles as they lifted their dresses and dashed down the stairs.

"At least neither Anya nor my Mom picked lime green for our dresses,"
Buffy giggled.

The bridesmaids waited at the bottom of the stairs as the grooms
rushed past them and out the back door to assume their places near the
preacher. The music started and the girls began the walk down the
aisle with flowers in hand, followed by the radiant brides, Anya and
Joyce.

Buffy really didn't hear the words from the preacher, she was too busy
marveling at how happy Giles and her Mom looked. Having lived with
Xander and Anya in an RV for two months, she had gotten used to Anya's
beaming every time she looked at her wedding ring.

Willow felt Tara's hand slip into hers and smiled.  Willow's parents
were among the guests and Tara felt her throat tighten with emotion.
The red-haired witch's parents had been very open and more receptive
than Willow had thought possible.

Between Willow's parents, Giles and Joyce, Tara was beginning to
really believe deep in her soul that she was accepted and loved. 

In moments Giles and Xander were kissing their brides and everyone was
cheering.

"I don't believe it," Buffy said softly.

"What's that, Buff?" Willow asked.

"We got them through a wedding without giant snakes, zombies or
something jumping out of the punch," Buffy grinned.

"We still have the reception to get through," Tara pointed out.

"Bite that tongue!" Willow admonished with a grin and a wiggle of her
eyebrows. "Or I will." 

* * *

Buffy rounded the corner into the kitchen and playfully squeaked when
she caught Giles and her mom kissing passionately against the fridge.
"Whoa! Married couple alert!" she shouted.

"Isn't there something you should be doing for the reception?" Giles
growled playfully.

"I came on a mission," Buffy declared with an impish grin. "I came in
search of those cheese things everybody likes so much."

"In the refrigerator," Joyce said softly, her arms still locked around
Giles' neck.

"Which the mature adults are standing in front of, grossing me out by
public displays of affection," Buffy countered.

Joyce and Giles both blushed and moved out of the way.

"I think they want you to open gifts soon," Buffy informed them as she
grabbed another tray of snacks for the reception guests for the caterers.

"Alright," Giles nodded, holding Joyce tightly.

Buffy smiled, glad to see her surrogate father and mother so happy.

* * *

A week later, Buffy was pacing restlessly in the Summers' home as
Giles and her mother tried to keep her calm.  The Slayer was dressed
in a white lace top, dark blue long skirt and matching vest. 

"How did I get chosen as the butch?" she grumbled as Joyce brushed her
hair and Giles smirked. 

"Well, you are the Chosen One," Giles quipped.

"And why did I agree not to see my girlfriends for an entire week?"
Buffy demanded.

"Because Willow's parents are working very hard at accepting the
relationships," Joyce reminded her. "I'm glad Willow is doing this as
a compromise."

"I know, the wedding showers for each of us were fun," Buffy smiled.
"Now what do I do again?"

"You and Tara meet at Willow's house and make nice with the parents,
pull her veil down and then get back here for the ceremony," Giles
recited.  "And no snacking!"

"I know, I know," Buffy nodded. "Fasting until after the ceremony, got
it.  B'deken, the veiling of the bride to symbolize that we're not
marrying Willow for her looks, check."

"Xander is already there," Joyce commented. "I'll pick up Tara and
Anya and Giles will drive you."

"Everything ready for the ritual?" Buffy asked for the fifth time.

"Yes," Giles nodded. "The rabbi and priestess are ready, Brad and
Theresa are ready to seat the guests and the food arrived safe and
sound." 

"Any word from the LA gang?" Buffy asked softly.

"On schedule," Giles nodded.  "Shall we?"

"Oh God," Buffy muttered. 

* * *

Joyce found Tara just as nervous as Buffy and stuttering as Anya
chatted on and on as she helped the blonde witch get ready.  Tara was
dressed in a more traditional white wedding dress with a complicated
and beautiful lace front, highlighted with pearls and small beads of
sapphires.  

"You're beautiful, Tara," Joyce said softly as Anya beamed, pleased
with having helped with the hair and makeup.

"How's B-Buff holding up?" Tara asked shyly.

"Nervous as hell!" Joyce laughed.  "Sheila said that Willow has been a
bundle of nerves all night and day."

"Let's go, I want the opportunity to tease Buffy about being nervous!"
Anya urged.

"Oh Goddess," Tara muttered as Joyce laughed.

* * *

Willow squirmed in her chair as several relatives recited Bracha,
blessings on her upcoming marriage. Sheila and Ira Rosenberg had
fought long and hard with several of the relatives on both sides and
had stood up for their daughter and her choice in mates. One uncle
shouting that the entire matter was Aggada, non-legal and even
perverted beyond belief, especially since Buffy and Tara were
Apikoros, non-believers and Tara a heathen.

Only a few relatives refused to attend the ceremony and reception and
both parents calmly wrote those relatives off their Chanukah lists and
moved on with the Kabbalat Panim, the separate receptions for each
young woman. 

Now they stood ready to let their daughter marry two different women,
neither of who were Jewish nor male.

Sheila squeaked when the doorbell sounded downstairs. "Your chevra,
your friends and mates are here," she said softly as Ira went down to
greet them.

"Mama, I know by being with Buffy and Tara, I'm breaking the din, the
law," Willow said, almost in a whisper.

"Shhh, you'll bring a dybbuk, an evil spirit to the celebration!"
Sheila scolded.  "You are happy with them, your father and I can see
this and we see the love in their eyes when they look at you. We are
progressive enough to know that homosexuality has been around since
the beginning of time and exists in nature everywhere. Therefore, we
think the Judaic laws are dated in a lot of regards."

"Thanks, Mama," Willow smiled gratefully. 

Sheila stood and placed herself between Willow and the door as
footsteps sounded on the steps.  Willow turned slightly pale.

"Wife and keeper of the house," Ira said formally. "The mates of our
daughter have come for the veiling."

Since the marriage wasn't going to be binding legally or within the
Jewish community, some of the formal ceremony was being left out or
rewritten by Willow, her parents and the Rabbi.

"I welcome them with open arms and grant them Kol Tuv," Sheila said
firmly, glancing back at her daughter with the beautiful white wedding
dress and red hair and smiled. "Everything good to come to them."

Buffy and Tara entered the room, both looking as nervous as anyone had
ever seen them.  Behind them were Joyce and Giles.

"As the escorts of Buffy and Tara, we thank you for your welcome and
your blessing," Giles said calmly. "The bride is beautiful and of the
highest character and honor, she will be greatly welcomed into our
family."

Buffy and Tara stepped forward as Sheila Rosenberg stepped aside.
Together they approached the third person of their triad, holding hands.

"Willow Rosenberg," both began, their voices soft and shy. "As your
mates, we place this veil upon your face to symbolize that we are
marrying more than just your beauty and youth."

"As a Shomer, a Guardian called by the Higher Powers," Buffy
continued. "I promise to protect you, provide for you, and keep you
happy to the best of my ability."

"As part of your Neshoma, the soul," Tara followed, "I promise to
protect you, provide for you, and keep you happy to the best of my
ability."

Together Buffy and Tara pulled the veil over Willow as tears of joy
escaped down the young woman's face.

Both leaned in and kissed Willow's cheeks through the veil. 

"We love you, Willow," both said softly. "Hurry to the house."

Willow, speechless with emotion, nodded as family and friends
applauded the completion of the ceremony.

* * *

Buffy watched as one of Tara and Willow's magickal friends, acting as
High Priestess, cleansed the area with sage and then those already
gathered in the circle.

The sun was just setting as the rest of the guests arrived.  Buffy
smiled as Angel, Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn entered the back yard. A
moment later Spike stepped out of the shadows with a smirk.

Starbird, Willow and Tara's friend, formed the official circle by
calling the Quarters and then summoned the deities to bless the event.

The Rabbi, a liberal man, smiled and read from the Talmud as the
Priestess worked and blessed him.

Buffy glanced over at FBI Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder
and smiled, then her breath caught in her throat as Willow and Tara
walked out the back door.  Anya and Xander, acting as best man and
bridesmaid, followed Buffy's glance.

"Wow!" Xander exclaimed. 

"You are all very beautiful," Anya added.

Willow reached down for Tara's hand as the Rosenbergs and Giles'
walked in front of the brides.  Tears sprang to Willow's eyes when she
spotted Angel and Cordelia and then she grinned when she saw Tulsa,
Rusty and Skates from her time in Los Angeles on the run.  Tara smiled
shyly as Leonard and Jerry, ex-Initiative computer techs, waved at them.

The two women approached Buffy under the canopy, the chupah, as
fitting the Jewish tradition.  The young women had worked very hard to
combine paganism, non-specific Christianity and Judaism for all
families and the women involved.  Part of that was the Jewish
tradition that the brides were wearing no jewelry for the ceremony,
symbolizing that they were marrying each other for their souls and
selves, not for material possessions.

"The chupah, the canopy, represents the home you will build together,"
the Rabbi explained to the guests and brides.  "The sides are open as
was Abraham and Sarah's tent was when they married, to welcome all
guests and family to the wedding and home. 

The three women circled each other as per tradition and turned to face
the Rabbi and Pagan Elder.

The Elder stepped forward with a bundle of lit sage, pine, cedar, and
lavender, smudging the three women. "May you be cleansed and
protected, within and without. The blessings of the deities upon you
all," she intoned.

The Rabbi came towards the altar with his own traditional blessing,
the passing of the cup of wine to the brides after the blessing.  

Both religious leaders returned behind the altar and the three brides
moved forward to stand in front of them.  The Elders invoked the
"Higher Powers", each according to the mixture of beliefs and then
blessed the rings in front of them.

The rings were an ancient Celtic design, based on a triple knot,
representing the three lovers and their commitment to each other. They
also had a simple gold band to represent the simple beauty of love.

The three women turned to each other, forming a triangle.  

"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time does pass,
remember, like a star should your love be constant," the priestess
intoned.

"Like a stone should your love be firm. Be close, yet not too close.
Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience each with the
other, for storms will come, but they will go quickly," the Rabbi
continued.

"Be free in giving of affection and warmth. Make love often, and be
sensuous to one another. Have no fear, and let not the ways or words
of the unenlightened give you unease. For the Goddess and the God are
with you now and always," the Priestess said softly.

"Is it your wish, Willow Rosenberg, to become joined with these
women?" the Rabbi continued.

"It is, with all my heart and soul," Willow said firmly.

"Is it your wish, Buffy Anne Summers, to become joined with these
women?" the Rabbi asked.

"It is, with all my heart and soul," Buffy smiled.

"Is it your wish, Tara MacKelvey, to become joined with these women?"
the Rabbi asked once more.

"It is, with all my heart and soul," Tara said softly.

"What contract have you made together?" the Rabbi asked.

"To provide for each other financially, mentally, physically and
emotionally," Willow said firmly.  "We have a secure future, each of us."

"Are there any who say Nay to this union?" the Priestess asked.

No one stepped forward and Buffy sighed with relief.

The three women each took a ring and slowly slid them on the left ring
fingers of each other.  Then the gold bands were placed on the right
hand, per Jewish tradition.

The Rabbi took the "contract" from the altar and began reading in
Aramic, detailing that each agreed to provide clothing, food, shelter,
and to be attentive to each other's emotional needs throughout their
union.

Xander and Brad stepped forward as witnesses and signed all three
copies of the document.

Giles then stepped forward, holding up one of the goblets of wine and
intoned a blessing over it for the young women, the first of seven.

Joyce, Xander, Anya, Brad, Mulder and Scully, and then Ira and Sheila
Rosenberg followed.

The glass goblet was passed first to Willow, then Tara and Buffy last,
each taking a small drink of the wine, taking the blessings into their
marriage and themselves.

The Priestess took the goblet and poured the rest of the wine out in
front of the altar. "Blessings to the Higher Ones," she intoned and
handed the glass to the Rabbi.  The male elder wrapped the goblet with
a handkerchief and placed it at the foot of the altar.

"Lord and Lady, give these women your love and passion and your all
consuming ardor," the priestess invoked.  "Be with us here and tie
closely the bonds between these three.  Be with us here, give them the
deepest of love and richness of body, of soul, and of spirit.  Be with
us here, let your strength and constancy be theirs for so long as they
desire to remain together. Blessed Goddess and Laughing God, give to
these before us, we do ask, your love and protection. Blessed be."

Buffy stepped forward and smashed part of the goblet, followed by
Willow and then Tara.

Shouts of "Mazel Tov" greeted the women along with other shouts and
cheers.  

The three brides kissed before they dashed through the crowd towards
the house to spend a few minutes alone in their room, a Jewish
tradition Buffy and Tara were very anxious to share with Willow.

A half hour later the women returned to what was now the reception,
food, music, laughter and good natured teasing.

Ira Rosenberg stood with wine in his hand. "Willow, I was unsure about
this union but seeing the love between the three of you, I have no
doubts any longer. Willow, you are the Naches of our life, the pride
and joy from a child.  On this Simcha, this happy occasion, we say
L'Chaim! To life!"

"To life!" everyone shouted as the girls blushed.

Soon everyone has risen to offer a toast to the young women, even Spike.

After hours of eating, dancing, and celebrating, the three women stood
to head up to their room for their bags. Giles was treating them to
three days at a resort hotel along the coast. 

Willow frowned as she noticed a figure in the shadows and Buffy
turned, alert. "Is that Spike?" Buffy asked softly and then pulled
Willow behind her when she noticed Spike taking with Angel.

"I didn't invite another vampire besides Spike and Angel, how about
you?" Buffy quipped, getting ready for a fight.

Willow, looking slightly stunned, stepped around Buffy and took two
steps towards the shadows.

Buffy blinked as Carson stepped from the shadows.

"Carson?" Willow whispered softly.





Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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