NOTE: I've decided that the time is ripe for a happy Xander future fic.
*****
The Wedding Party
Don Bentley
"Over. Around. Through... Damn it!"
Xander pulled at his bow tie and, after smoothing it out against his shirt, girded himself for yet another attempt before admitting failure and resorting to the clip-on he'd stashed away in the back of his sock drawer.
"Dad?" came the soft voice from the other side of the bedroom door.
"Willow! Thank God. Your old man needs your help. Again."
The door opened and Willow Joyce Harris smiled at the sight of her father all dressed up in his tuxedo, but for the bow tie laying limp about his neck. Willow stepped up to the plate, some traditions never die, and tied his tie with neat precise movements.
"There. Handsome as ever," Willow said before planting a kiss on his cheek, giggling as his short salt and pepper beard tickled her.
"Yeah, Daddy. Looking good," added Jessica Anne as she walked into the bedroom to hug and kiss her father.
"My God, you two. You're beautiful."
The twins, now all of eighteen and a half years old, were striking young women, with their mother's slender build and their father's dark eyes. They were lovely in their matching pale blue gowns; their 'best men's gowns' as they called them. Willow, the taller of the two, by all of a half inch, wore her blonde hair short; Jessie, the 'younger' sister by all of ten minutes, kept her dark brown hair long and free.
"Did you look this good when you married Mom?" asked Willow as she adjusted his boutonniere.
"He was the most handsome man alive! Just like now."
"Anya!?"
His ex-wife was standing by the bed, a bright smile on her face as she opened her arms and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Xander!"
"Surprise!" shouted the twins as they too joined the embrace.
"When? I thought- You two said-," Xander's happy face slipped a bit. "How?"
"Aunt Dawn. Honest, Daddy," insisted Jessie.
"She did, Xander," said Anya rising to her daughters' defence. "Our girls know better than that. Don't they?"
"Yes, Mom," the twins sighed in unison.
"Good. Out! I want your father alone for a moment or two. I'll see you two later at the reception. Okay?"
"Great. Love you Mom," Willow and Jessie kissed their parents and left, closing the door behind them. "Love you, Dad."
Xander took Anya's hands in his and smiled at her for a long moment. She was beautiful, her hair was darker than last time, longer than he remembered, and she was wearing a stylish dark grey suit with pale pink silk blouse.
"Anya, you're lovely."
"Of course. You too. So, you're finally getting married then? How long has it been?"
"Four and a half years since..." Since the funeral. "We moved in together six months or so after that."
"You're happy?" She knew that he was, that anyone could see that he was, but she still needed to hear him say it.
"Very," came the honest answer. "Thank you for asking."
"Good. Because I'd hate to have to do anything rash if she hurt you."
"She couldn't hurt me, Ahn," Xander reassured her. He then laughed a cheerful laugh.
"What?"
"You two. So much in common. She said the same thing when we were sending out the invitations."
"I have nothing in common with her, Xander Harris!" she said harshly. Then she relented. "Except for you."
"God, Ahn, it's good to see you."
"Thanks for inviting me."
"Hey! How couldn't I? We're still friends, still parents- Oh, that reminds me. Ask Jessie about Greg."
"Why? Who's Greg?"
"That's what I want to know."
"Oh, I see. Okay. Uh, Xander. About that. I'll... I'll be back for the reception. To see the girls, but-"
"You're sure? I'd love to have you there. The girls too, of course."
"I'm sure you do, but she doesn't. Does she?"
"No, not really," he answered honestly. "There was... relief when we didn't hear back from you right away."
"Well, we only really have you in common, and what with you getting married and all today, that probably isn't enough," Anya's brow furrowed. "Or it's way too much."
"You're right, of course. I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too."
"Dad? Mom?"
"Come in."
Willow and Jessie walked into the bedroom, followed by a young man. A rather tentative young man who was well dressed in a fashionable suit and carrying an old fashion film camera.
"Mom, Daddy, this is Greg," said Jessie, introducing the man before he could turn and bolt from the room.
"Ahh, so you're Greg," said Anya as she inspected him. "We'll talk at the reception."
"Yes, Ma'am. Uh, h-hello sir," he stammered as he offered Xander his hand.
"Greg, is it?" said Xander taking his hand in a firm, manly grip and meeting the young man's eyes with his.
"S-sir. Yes, sir."
Only the fact that Willow had just closed the door behind her seemed to stem a rather precipitous flight on Greg's part as he stood before his girlfriend's parents.
"Leave him alone, the both of you," snapped Jessie. She grabbed Greg's hand in hers and pulled him to her side. "God, you're worse than Aunt Buffy and Uncle Liam! Greg's going to take our picture. It's his major."
"A photographer? That must be... interesting," said Xander, his deceptively conversational tone a clear red flag to his daughter.
"Daddy! Stop it!"
"If- uh, if I could, maybe, get you all over..." Greg took in the master bedroom in a single glance. "Here, by the window. No! Beside it, not in front. Mrs Harris, and you, sir, uh, Mr Harris, here beside her. Will, beside your mother- No, beside your father. Jess-"
Greg reached out to pose Jessie beside her mother, a hand on her hip as he pushed her in closer.
"*Cough*-hands!"
"Daddy! I mean it!" snapped Jessie as Greg snatched his hand back as if it had been burnt. "I can make you a grandfather before you're forty five. Think about it!"
That threat served to silence her father, and almost left her date catatonic, even as it reduced her mother and sister to giggles.
"Oh, take the damn picture Greg," she ordered.
"Okay. Big hug all around. Look at me... Smile, please...."
*Flash*
"One more. Mr Harris turn a little more to your right. Mrs Harris your left. Will and Jess slide in and..."
*Flash*
"Thank you Greg," said Jessie as she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Go! I'll be right down."
For a moment it was touch and go whether or not he'd use the door or just jump out the window.
He opted for the door.
"I like him," said Xander pleasantly.
"DADDY!"
"What? I said I liked him."
"Ohhh! Sometimes-"
Anya pulled Jessie into her arms.
"Think of it as trial by father. Even more effective than trial by fire. And less illegal."
"For who? Me or Greg?"
"Both, sweetheart," confessed Xander. "Go. I'll be right down. It's time."
"Ahn?" he said when their daughters had left the room.
"Xander?"
"Do I... Do I have your blessing?"
Anya knew better than to ask if it would make a difference if he didn't.
"Yes, Xander. You have my blessing," she leaned in and kissed her ex-husband with a lingering kiss. She did miss him. "You'll always have my blessing. Just do one thing for me?"
"Anything."
"Make her as happy as you made me. Please?"
"I'll... I'll do my best."
"Then I know she'll be happy."
"I love you, Ahn. Dance with me later?"
"Any time, Xander. You just have to call. You know that."
End