The Cure:
Always
by Ducks

Xander and Angel were the only ones left in the dressing room. Xander stared at himself in the mirror and was suddenly glad that Angel cast no reflection -- that way, he didn't have to look at him... watch him gloat over the victory this day represented...

But when he turned around to look at the vampire, his heart turned.

Angel stood on the far side of the room, struggling with his bowtie. He looked two shades paler than usual, and wore an expression that could only be described as pure panic. Plus, he was cussing up a blue streak the likes of which Xander had never heard before... some of it was in a language he didn't even recognize.

He liked that in a guy. Besides, he did owe Angel a debt or two... or fifty... from a number of things that had passed between them over the years. Not the least of which was Angel's granting Buffy's wish to have Xander in the wedding party. He couldn't have been terribly comfortable with the idea, considering he hated Xander, but he agreed without a whimper -- without Buffy even having to pout, even -- nonetheless.

Xander didn't hesitate to approach the vampire, who by now had assembled something more closely resembling a knot in the silk tie. But not really...

"I should have gotten the cravat." Angel complained, "They come pre-assembled."

"Yeah, well, take it from one who knows-- clip-ons aren't all they're cracked up to be. I'll get Willow... or Cordy... or Mrs. Summers, if I have to... Hey! Why is it that women always know how to tie a tie and men never do?" His own still hung limply about his collar, waiting for its own attentions from a feminine member of the gang.

Angel shrugged. "I've lived 250 years. I speak 7 languages fluently, including a couple that are dead. I can briefly explain the theory of Relativity. I can undo a corset in three seconds flat, with one hand. And my eyes closed. But I can't tie a bow tie."

Xander nodded sagely, and left.

Angel sat, brooding, for the three minutes Xander was gone. When he returned, he had Oz in tow... neatly bow-tied.

"Hey." He said.

"What are you doing here?" Angel asked, shooting Xander a look.

"Looks like I'm Tie Guy." The werewolf said, "Willow won't come in the men's room."

"And plus, they're all wailing and blubbering and stuff." Xander said, "What's up with that?"

"Is Buffy okay?" Angel asked, lifting his chin so Oz could reach up and tie his tie. He and Buffy had spent the previous night talking... She still kept insisting that after what happened with Spike, she didn't deserve Angel, and he had spent the hours, and all his energy, convincing her it wasn't true.

It was better than any bachelor party anyone could have dragged him to.

"Oh yeah. You know..." Oz said, "Girly stuff."

The other two men nodded in pained understanding.

"Xander..." Angel said hesitantly.

"Yeah..." Xander continued fidgeting with his hair.

"Thank you. For being here... and for sticking by Buffy, despite your feelings about me." Oz finished Angel's tie, and the vampire sat, exhausted, on the lounge sofa. Xander looked at him for a moment, then sat beside him.

"Listen," Xander said, "I know I haven't always... uh... supported you... or you and Buffy together. But honestly? After everything that's happened? I can't imagine anyone better for her. You're the one who's always stood by her..."

Angel snorted bitterly. "Not always."

"Okay... so neither of us have a perfect Buffy Track Record. But we both know how important she is... how precious... How important it is that she have what she needs... and she needs you, so..."

The two men looked at one another.

"Truce?" Oz suggested.

Xander reached out his hand first. Angel sat, staring at it, for a long moment, then looked up into the boy's face and shook.

"Truce." He said.

"Truce." Agreed Xander.

Oz grinned.

The temple, and the people inside, were dressed in the hushed, dark, subtle hues of a night wedding. Earth colors and scarlets, navy blues and charcoal greys dotted the cavernous hall, broken in pattern only by the line of groomsmen in black morning suits and the emerald green silk worn by the bridesmaids.

Angel stood before the altar, shaking. Allaistair stood beside him, trying to send waves of strength as much as he could from beside him. It touched him deeply that a man who had seen so much was truck senseless by love...

When the traditional wedding march began, Angel thought he might faint. The Priestess stood before them, smiling up at the vision who passed through the entrance arch on the arm of a dashingly attired Giles.

Buffy was like an ivory spot of light, draped in velvet and sating as she floated down the isle. All eyes were drawn to her, and her friends didn't think she'd ever looked so beautiful.

Angel gaped at the sight before him. 'Like a ghost...' he thought. Like the ghost of all the things he'd ever dreamed of for his life, and never thought he'd get to have... a cloud of hope, shining, drifting down the aisle toward him.

When Giles and Buffy arrived before Angel at the altar, he released a deep breath he'd forgotten he'd taken who knows how long ago. The Watcher smiled warmly at him for the first time Angel could remember, then turned to Buffy, lifted her veil slightly, and gave her a warm, brief kiss on the cheek.

"I believe you've chosen wisely, Buffy." He said, looking into the cool hazel of her eyes, "You'll be happy, and very well taken care of... I love you, my dear... very much."

Tears began to run down Buffy's cheeks -- all of this felt like a dream... all this happiness... The days and weeks of wedding preparations had seemed to blot out the memory of all the years of pain that had come before.

Giles gave her hand to Angel, looking deeply into the vampire's eyes once again. He silently reminded him how dear she was to all of them, and how he was now bound to take care of her... forever.

Angel smiled nervously, but with certainty. Both men knew too well that this ceremony was only a formality -- Angel had been bound to the Slayer from the first moment he lay eyes on her. Nothing could keep him from her -- not monsters, not fear, not Hell, not even death. She was the deepest core of him... for as long as his soul existed.

Angel clutched Buffy's hand, smiling wanly at her through the haze of her veil. He could barely tell if she was smiling, crying, or both. The couple turned to face the altar.

The Priestess raised her hands high in the air, signaling for silence. Willow took that as her cue and approached the altar, standing between the Priestess and the wedding party. Amy, too, came from the gallery, so the two Witches directly flanked Buffy and Angel.

The Priestess spoke, her voice deep and resonating. "Welcome, loved ones. Thank you for choosing to witness this blessed event. I've been asked to give you some explanation of this ceremony, as I'm certain many of you have never before attended a Handfasting. The structure of the ritual is based loosely on the modern Wiccan rites, handed down from Angel's Irish ancestors. The ceremony will begin with the blessing of the circle, wherein these two beings will be bound in peace and love. Then, the celebrants will be blessed individually, and the full meaning of the rite explained. The members of the wedding party will then offer blessings on the union, and finally, Buffy and Angel will give their vows to one another."

She lit the censer on the altar before her, and the air quickly filled with the sweet, rich scent of frankincense, myrrh, sage, and rose petals. She nodded to Willow, who stepped forward, reached out, and took a crystal goblet of clean water from the altar. The Priestess then turned to Amy, who took a matching bowl of salt. The Priestess lifted the censer, and the three women began to move clockwise around the room, cleansing the area with salt, water, and the incense. When the arrived at the Easternmost point of the circle, Willow carefully sprinkled the water, and held the goblet high.

"Guardians of the East
Powers of Air
Brother Eagle, Sister Raven...
We conjure and call thee forth
As we perform this ancient rite.
We ask for the blessing of your wisdom,
The strength of knowledge,
And the ability of far sight.
Blessed be."

"Blessed be." The two Witches behind her echoed, and all three traced the sigil of air before them.

They moved on to the South, where Amy stepped forward, sprinkling the salt before her.

"Guardians of the South
Powers of Fire
Sister Phoenix and Brother Fox...
We conjure and call thee forth
As we perform this ancient rite.
We ask for your blessings
Of passion, of righteous cleansing,
And light when the way is dark.
Blessed be."

They arrived in the East, and the High Priestess let the censer swing before her.

"Guardians of the West
Powers of Water
Brother Salmon and Sister Dolphin...
We conjure and call thee forth
As we perform this ancient rite.
We ask for your blessings
Of deep emotion, of security, serenity,
And flights of imagination.
Blessed be."

The three women completed the circle in the North, where the altar and the two nervous vampires stood.

Buffy and Angel stepped forward, and spoke together:

"Guardians of the North
Powers of Earth
Brother Buffalo and Sister Wolf...
We conjure and call thee forth
As we perform this ancient rite.
We ask for your blessings
Of strength, perseverance,
And steadfast loyalty.
Blessed be."

"Blessed be." Echoed the Priestesses.

Angel looked down at Buffy when they had finished speaking, and squeezed her hand. Now he was certain that she was smiling.

Willow stood behind the altar, facing the, grinning. It was her first official ritual in public, and she couldn't be more pleased that she got to help conduct her best friends' wedding ceremony. Of course, it had been she who suggested a Pagan Handfasting, once the issue came up that a church service wouldn't have been in the best interest of all concerned...

She took the bowl of salt from Amy and held that and her own goblet aloft, blessing them, then setting them back down. She poured the salt into the water, and stirred it clockwise with her ritual knife. Then, she came down from behind the altar and stood before the couple. She nodded her head -- their cue to kneel, which they did.

Willow dipped her hand in the salt water, and touched her damp fingertip to Buffy's veiled forehead.

"Blessed be your mind, the seat of knowledge."

She re-wet her fingers and touched them to Buffy's lips.

"Blessed be you lips, so that only truth may pass."

She touched where Buffy's heart once beat, "Blessed be your heart, the home of love..."

Willow gave Buffy her hand, and helped her up; she then knelt before her, touching her feet.

"Blessed be you feet which have brought you this way."

The two women smiled at one another as Willow stood once again. She repeated the same motions with Angel, and when she had finished, the three stood once again in a triangle before the Altar. Willow reached out to draw Buffy and Angel's hands together, touching them once again with the blessed water. (This had been tested thoroughly beforehand... it would appear that only holy water in the traditional sense could do the two vampires any harm...)

"May this union be blessed by the Powers that Be." She said, and winked at them. The both smiled back. They'd been through so much together, and it seemed that never before had they shared such a happy moment as this one."

Willow drew herself up to her full height, which seemed suddenly much more impressive thanks to a tiny grammar and her proud carriage. She raised her voice from deep inside her, so that its echo resonated in every corner of the enormous temple, and looked somberly at the couple before her.

"Know you, before you go further, that since your beings have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal ties between you. As you seek to enter this rite, you will raise power that will strengthen those ties further. The promises you make today, and the ties that are bound her in this temple will seal your union; they will cross the years and lives and future lives of each soul's path, to eternity.

Do you still seek to enter this rite?"

Buffy and Angel gazed at one another, and answered "Yes." Simultaneously, without hesitation.

The High Priestess stepped up to the Altar, and Willow turned to look at her.

"These two understand the full significance of what they seek, for I have questioned them and told them the meaning of this rite." She said.

The Priestess looked at Buffy and Angel. "And do you still seek this Handfasting?"

"Yes." They repeated.

Cordelia and Xander stepped forward, holding a long strand of cream colored silk between them. They approached Buffy and Angel, and lightly bound their hands with it.

"I wish you communication of the heart, mind, and soul." Cordelia said.

"I wish you fresh beginnings with the rising of each moon." Xander said, and winked at Buffy. She smiled.

"We wish you the knowledge of growth found in the sharing of silences." They said together. Then Cordy stood on tiptoe to kiss Angel's cheek, and Xander leaned down to kiss Buffy's, before they both moved back to their places.

Oz and Amanda approached next, bearing a red strip of silk. They repeated Xander and Cordy's movements, wrapping it around Buffy and Angel's already bound hands.

"I wish you the warmth of hearth and home." Oz said.

"I wish you the heat of love's passion." Amanda recited.

They both said, together, "We wish you the light created by both, to sustain you in the darkest of times."

Willow and Allaistair came next, binding the couple with dark blue silk.

"I wish you the deep commitments of the lake and the swift excitement of the river." Willow said.

"I wish you the refreshing cleansing of the rain." Allaistair followed.

"We wish you the all-encompassing comfort of the sea."

The Priestess finally stood alone before them once again, and wrapped a final cord around their colorfully bound hands -- this, a green one.

"We wish you a firm foundation on which to build, fertility of the heart and mind to enrich your lives, and a stable home to which you may always return. Blessed be."

"Blessed be." Echoed the wedding party.

The Priestess walked forward and stood directly before them. She looked her steely blue gaze on Angel's.

"Will you cause her pain?" She asked.

"I may." He answered... ten times more steady than he felt.

"Is that your intent?" The Priestess asked.

"No."

She turned her eyes to Buffy. "Will you cause him pain?"

"I may." Buffy said softly.

"Is that your intent?"

"No."

"Will you share one another's pain and seek to ease it?"

"We will." Buffy and Angel said, together.

The vows went on.

"Will you share his laughter?"

"Yes."

"Will you share her laughter?"

"Yes."

"Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in one another?"

"Yes."

"And so the binding is made." The Priestess said.

Looking once again to Buffy, she said, "Will you burden him?"

"I may."

"Is that your intent?"

"No."

"Will you burden her?"

He looked at Buffy for a long moment. "I may."

"Is that your intent?"

"No."

"Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?"

"yes."

"And so the binding is made."

"Will you share his dreams?"

"Yes."

"Will you share her dreams?"

"Yes."

"Will you dream together to create a new tomorrow?"

"Yes." They said.

"And so the binding is made."

"Will you cause her anger?"

"I may." Angel said.

"Is that your intent?"

"No."

"Will you cause him anger?"

"I may."

"Is that your intent?"

"No."

"Will you take the heat of your anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?"

"We will." They said.

"And so the binding is made."

"Will you honor him?"

Buffy looked deeply in to her one true love's eyes... never, in all of her day dreams in all of her life, did she ever think she could love someone as much as she did Angel in this moment.

"I will." She said earnestly.

"Will you honor her?"

Angel smiled. "I will."

"Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor?"

"We shall never do so." Buffy and Angel said, not looking away from one another.

The Priestess touched their bound hands. "And so the binding is made." She removed the strands from their still-joined hands, and tied the silk in a knot at one end, whispering, "Blessed be this union," before placing the bundle in the center of the altar. She turned back to the couple, who finally tore their eyes away from one another to look at her.

"What gifts bring you as tokens of your love?"

Angel turned to Allaistair, and Buffy to Willow, and took the rings their friends held out for them.

Angel took Buffy's left hand, and slid the simple silver band on her ring finger, moving it gently until it touched his mother's ring.

He could barely hold back his tears as he spoke, "With this ring, I take thee, Buffy, as my soul's mate, until time ceases to be."

Buffy returned the gesture, placing a matching silver band on his finger, "With this ring, I take thee, Angel, as my soul's mate, until time ceases to be."

They looked into one another's smiling, tear-stained faces for a long moment, then turned to look out at the gathered audience. Joyce was sobbing uncontrollably in the front row, and Giles was doing his best to comfort her... or shut her up, it was hard to tell by looking.

The Priestess spoke once more, "As these two have taken vows of bonding by their own free will; as they have been blessed by the elements and by this beloved company, I do hereby declare that they are husband and wife."

She turned and smiled amicably at Angel, "You may kiss the bride."

Angel felt his heart swell, as he lifted Buffy's veil and looked into her eyes. She smiled broadly up at him.

"I love you, Buffy... Always." He said, and kissed her.

A cheer rose up from the assembled company. The soft music began from the string quartet once again, and the Priestess spoke:

"May the circle be open, but unbroken. May the peace and the wisdom of the ages be forever in your hearts. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed Be."

Angel and Buffy grinned and waved as they walked back down the aisle, followed in procession by the rest of the party. Xander reached out for Cordy's arm, and smiled at her.

"Thank God!" he whispered, "Another couple of minutes and I think my legs would have fallen off!"

Willow turned around and shot him a look.

Cordy laughed.

The End

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