Nuptials and Reception: Part VI: Vows
by Azrael
Disclaimer located at Part I.

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Part Six
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Part VI: Vows

< I was worried, > Angel thought at Buffy, as they ascended the steps.

she thought back.

he admitted.

"Dearly beloved," Father Caraso began," we are gathered here, to join in holy matrimony, Angelus Aestas and Buffy Anne Summers." " Two people who have known each other for their chosen spouse, whose love graces this house of God today. If anyone present feels that these two should not be wedded, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Of course, no one spoke up.

"Then, let us continue with the vows."

"Do you, Angelus, take Buffy to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?"

"I do," Angel answered, his tone ringing, triumphant, and jubilant all at once as he gazed at the shining emerald eyes before him.

"Do you, Buffy, take Angelus to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part?"

"I do," Buffy replied, softly, with all the love she felt for the glowing, yet pale, face before her.

"The rings, if you please." Selena climbed up the steps, and Oz at once noticed the same thing Faith did. His mouth fell open slightly, but he soon went back to his usual calm composure.

he thought to himself, while hoping that no one else in the church noticed that small fact. There had already been enough whispers about Selena when Angel announced the couple's engagement at the high school graduation.

All in attendance unwittingly held their breath, as first Angel, then Buffy placed the gold bands, each engraved with a Celtic knot design, around each other's fingers. That done, they clasped hands, and turned their eyes toward the priest once more.

"By the power vested in me by the almighty Lord, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may-"

Before he even finished the sentence, lips met, tongues entwined, as the lovers sealed and reaffirmed their love, for all time. Father Caraso merely beamed.

Suddenly, two doves flew in through an open window, and looped towards the altar. They circled around the heads of the newlyweds, who were so involved in each other that they didn't notice, before leaving through the way they came. With that remarkable event, the breath that had so long been held in was released in a cheer.

The organist began to play the wedding march again, and the bridal party and groom's party linked up, Willow with Oz, Cordelia with Xander. As they walked down the aisle, Joyce rose out of her pew to join her smiling husband, while Faith followed, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

As Rose skipped ahead, Selena ran up to her flushed but happy parents.

"What took you so long?" she asked, plaintively.

"Why?" Angel asked, lifting her to his shoulder, while placing his other arm around Buffy.

"My feet were getting cold," Selena said. That was when her parents saw that she was barefoot.


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