Well folks, this is the very last chapter of the SiT series. Thank you to everyone who has been reading this series, and especially to those who have sent feedback! I really appreciate all the support. I hope you enjoy the last chapter!
---------Part 9 – Epilogue
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five months later
"Oh God, I think I'm gonna throw up!" Cordelia groaned, raising a hand to her mouth.
From where she was kneeling on the floor in front of her daughter across the room, Buffy stifled a laugh. She finished fixing the bow on Ashlynn's dress before she stood and walked over to where Cordy was pacing restlessly. Grabbing on to the brunette's arm, she stilled her movements.
"Cordy, you need to calm down. Why are you so nervous?" Buffy asked calmly.
"Why am I nervous?" shrieked Cordy. "Why do you think!? I'm getting married in fifteen minutes!"
"Umm, yeah, but you've known you're getting married for a year now," said Buffy, pointing out the obvious detail Cordy seemed to be forgetting.
"I know! But...but then I was only thinking about it! Today I'll actually be doing it!" she exclaimed, exasperated at Buffy's lack of understanding.
Tugging lightly on Cordy's arm, Buffy directed her over to the couch on one side of the room in the bridal suite at the chapel. She forced the nervous woman to sit down and then followed suit.
"Take a deep breath, Cordy. There's nothing to be nervous about. Doyle loves you, and you love him," Buffy relayed in as soothing a tone as possible.
"I know," Cordy sighed, trying to get herself to relax. "It's just...I'm getting married today! To Doyle! Who would have ever thought I'd marry someone like him?"
"Doyle's a good guy, and he loves you. That's all that matters," Buffy stated seriously. "And besides, the unexpected happening isn't always a bad thing."
"Yeah, you're right," agreed Cordy as both women's thoughts went back to years earlier when they'd struck up an odd friendship and set off on their own together. "Who would have expected we'd end up where we are today, huh?"
Even seven and a half years after leaving Sunnydale, the coincidental chain of events that had pushed them together were still fresh in their minds. If one little thing had gone differently, if Cordy had decided to leave Sunnydale a few days earlier, or if Buffy had gone to a different motel who knew where they would be right now. Neither could have ever predicted what their joint venture out of Sunnydale would turn into.
"I certainly wouldn't have," Buffy answered with a chuckle. "But I wouldn't change a thing."
And she really wouldn't. Cordelia, and then Doyle and Lorne, had been her saviors, unintentionally or not. If one good thing came out of the lowest time in her life, other than Ashlynn, it was the group of people who'd become her closest friends. Without them, Buffy had no idea what would have happened to her. She'd probably either be dead, or some tired, overworked mother on welfare. But they had come into her life, and she would be forever grateful.
"Neither would I," Cordy responded, a soft smile lighting her face.
Before either could speak again, a light knock sounded on the door and soon Angel's head peeked into the room.
"Daddy!" Ashlynn squealed, running to Angel and leaping into his arms.
In the five-plus months since his return, the bond between the former vampire and his daughter had grown each day. One would hardly be able to tell that he had not been present for the first six years of her life. But now, she was Daddy's little princess, as Buffy liked to tease him.
"Don't you look pretty," Angel said with a grin, lightly tapping Ash's nose.
"I got to pick my dress out!" she exclaimed proudly of the lacey pale pink dress she was wearing.
"You picked a good one," he answered with a nod of his head, and then turned his focus to Buffy and Cordelia. "Are you ready? It's time."
"Oh God!" Cordy screeched nervously, clutching a hand to her mouth again.
"Breathe, Cordy," Buffy ordered. "Just think, in a few minutes, you'll be Doyle's wife."
"I will, won't I?" she asked, taking in a deep lungful of air. "Well, let's go get me married then!"
Cordelia gathered the train of her dress up and marched out of the room, leaving a laughing Buffy and Angel, and a confused Ashlynn, behind her. The little girl shrugged at the strangeness of the adults and then followed, picking up her basket of flower petals on the way. Angel, meanwhile, crept up behind Buffy and snuck his arms around her waist.
"You look absolutely beautiful," he spoke softly into her ear.
"Why, thank you, kind sir," Buffy replied, sighing at the feel of his arms around her.
"I can't wait to get you out of that dress later," he whispered wickedly to her.
"Angel!" she chastised, blushing a soft red color.
"What?" Angel asked innocently.
"Never mind," Buffy chuckled, shaking her head. "Come on, loverboy. We have a wedding to go to."
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Several hours later, the wedding reception was going full force with all the gang's closest friends and family dancing and enjoying themselves. Buffy couldn't help the smile that was plastered on her face at all the happiness that surrounded her. Everything was absolutely perfect. She had her Angel, her daughter, and all her friends. What more could there be?
Cordelia looked absolutely radiant, and Doyle looked as if he'd won the lottery as the two danced around the main floor of the club. Buffy was glad they'd found each other. It was a strange match, she had to admit, but sometimes those were the best kind. After all, she was a Slayer who'd fallen in love with a vampire. There wasn't anything stranger than that. In the end, it only mattered that they made each other happy, and she knew they did.
Gazing around the room, she took in all of her friends. Willow and Oz were swaying in each other's arms off in one corner. Tara was dancing with her girlfriend, a fellow Wicca she'd met at a retreat a few months earlier. Buffy had been a little surprised when she met the young woman for the first time, but Tara seemed happy so who was Buffy to judge her lifestyle?
A loud giggle, coming from her daughter, reached Buffy's ears. She searched the room and found Ashlynn laughing like a hyena as Angel danced exaggeratedly with the little girl in his arms. It was an amusing sight considering how much Buffy knew Angel hated to dance, but he'd do anything to make his little princess happy.
Then her eyes landed on Lindsey and Faith, who looked almost as if they were glued together. There didn't seem to be enough room to squeeze a piece of paper between the two. For Buffy, it was a little odd seeing them together, but she was glad they'd found each other. Lindsey deserved someone who could love him, and Faith needed a stable influence in her life.
The dark haired Slayer had stayed in Seattle for three months after first arriving. It was risky leaving the Hellmouth unguarded, but Giles had sources there to let him know if there was trouble. He'd asked her to stay in Seattle, saying that with the turmoil in the Council it was safer for her to be around people she could trust. So she'd stayed around, helping out at the club and with slaying, and also getting to know Lindsey.
When she'd gone back to Sunnydale, after Giles had assured them it was safe for her to be on her own, Lindsey followed not much later. Buffy missed her friend, but they still talked on the phone often, and now he and Faith were back for Cordelia's wedding.
"How come you're over here all by yourself," Willow spoke up, dragging Buffy from her internal thoughts.
"Huh? Oh! I was just getting some punch," Buffy answered, holding up the glass of red liquid. "Aren't they just so cute?"
"Who?"
"Angel and Ashlynn," Buffy said, pointing to her boyfriend and daughter.
"Oh, yeah, they are," the redhead agreed, though her voice took on a sad quality.
"You okay?" asked Buffy, facing Willow after noticing the depressed tone.
"Yeah," Willow replied with a sigh.
"Still no luck, huh?" It had taken her a moment, but Buffy suddenly realized what had changed her friend's mood. Willow and Oz had been trying for a baby, and so far they had not been able to conceive.
"No, and we've been trying. A lot," explained Willow, shoulders slumping as she spoke.
"I'm sorry," Buffy apologized, placing a comforting hand on Willow's arm.
"Thanks. The doctor said we're both healthy and that we just need to relax and let it happen," Willow relayed.
"Well, she's probably right," agreed Buffy.
"I know, I just hate waiting," Willow half pouted. "Anyways, is Giles here? I haven't seen him."
"He came for the ceremony, but then he had to leave to fly back to England," Buffy answered. Things between her and her former Watcher were better than they had been, but at times their relationship was still a bit stunted. She didn't know if they'd ever be able to regain the close relationship they'd once had, but she was trying her best to put the past behind her.
"He's really wracking up those frequent flier miles," Willow pointed out.
"I know, but until the Council moves into their new headquarters he doesn't have much of a choice," Buffy explained, thinking about all the changes that had been set in motion with Quentin Travers' death.
One of Giles' first moves as the new Council head was to start the process of moving the Council to a large compound he'd acquired in northern California. He'd said it did no good for the group to be located so far away from both active Slayers. To better serve the Slayers, he felt it was beneficial for them to be closer. So at the moment, he was quite busy getting every transferred to the Council's new home.
The move was only one of many changes. Another immediate act Giles had initiated was to abolish the Cruciamentum test, which Buffy whole heartedly agreed with. She'd always felt it was a horrible thing to do to Slayers. The executive committee of the Council was also looking at ways to change how they handled Slayers so that they would be able to help them fight better and live longer.
"He's coming back next week isn't he?" Willow asked.
"Yeah. He has some stuff he wants to go over with me and Angel."
That was another thing that had changed: her involvement with the Council. Now that Giles was in charge, Buffy had reinitiated her contact with the group. It wasn't the only thing that had changed with regards to her position, though. Seeing as how she was the longest living Slayer in a long time, and how Angel was a former vampire with a wide expanse of knowledge, they had both become Giles' respected advisors.
At first, Buffy had been unsure about taking such an active role with the Council, but then Angel had talked to her about how much they could do by helping the Council. And he was right. This was her chance, their chance, to help make the world a better place, and to do anything possible to make future Slayers' lives more bearable. So now, they talked with Giles and the other members of the executive committee often about changes they could make. It was a daunting task, but both she and Angel knew it was worth it.
"May I have this dance?" a voice whispered into Buffy's ear, causing her to jump.
She turned and grinned at the speaker. "I don't know. My boyfriend gets kinda mad when I dance with other guys."
"You better not be dancing with other guys," Angel growled possessively.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Buffy teased innocently.
"Oh will you two just go dance!" ordered Willow, rolling her eyes at their playfulness. It didn't really bother her; she just enjoyed picking on them. She was happy that they'd worked everything out.
"I guess we better go dance," Angel answered, tugging Buffy out onto the dance floor.
They settled into each other's arms, swaying slowly to the soft song playing over the speakers. Those who knew Buffy and Angel, and knew of their tragic past, smiled at the two who seemed oblivious to the world.
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three weeks later
"This is the perfect day for a picnic" Cordelia sighed happily as she reclined on her towel. "I so needed a day off."
The entire group had decided to spend the day on the beach in front of Lorne's waterside condo. It was the first chance they'd gotten to relax since Cordelia and Doyle's wedding three weeks earlier because of work with the club, and for Buffy and Angel, helping out Giles with the Council. A day at the beach was definitely needed.
"A day off?" Willow repeated with a raised eyebrow. "You just got back from your honeymoon last week!"
"So?" Cordy asked, not bothering to look up at the redhead.
"Never mind," Willow said, shaking her head at Cordy's oddness.
"Hey, man," Doyle greeted Angel as he took a seat next to him under the large umbrella Buffy had insisted they needed so Angel wouldn't get sunburn. "Where are your girls?"
"They're down by the water," Angel answered, nodding to where he'd last seen them.
Angel looked on curiously when he noticed that Buffy was kneeling down in front of Ashlynn and appeared to be whispering something into their daughter's ear. Being so far away from them, he couldn't hear the secret conversation, but he saw Ashlynn's face light up, and then he thought he noticed Buffy glance in his direction. Angel was about to get up and go see what they were talking about when suddenly Ash took off running toward him.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" the little girl screamed all the way up to the chair her Father was sitting on.
"What is it, Princess?" he questioned, nearly falling backwards as Ashlynn threw herself onto his lap. His eyes gazed at the blonde-headed little ball of energy for a moment, and then searched beyond her to where Buffy was casually strolling up the beach toward the group.
"Guess what?!" Ashlynn exclaimed excitedly.
"What?" he asked, trying to keep a hold of his squirming daughter.
"Mommy said I'm gonna get a brother or sister soon!" she revealed loudly, causing each and every one of the group to turn their heads quickly in her direction.
Angel was stunned into stillness at the words. It took several seconds before the meaning truly sank into his mind. He opened his mouth to speak, then quickly closed it, finding himself at a loss for words. Quickly, he looked up to where Buffy was standing only a few feet away. She nodded her head, confirming what Ashlynn had just told him.
Rising swiftly, Angel carefully set Ashlynn down onto the sand and rushed over to Buffy. He swept her up into his arms, tears already falling from his eyes. "We're going to have a baby?" he questioned softly when he pulled back to look at her face.
"We are," Buffy verified, touching his cheek with her warm hand.
"I-I....I don't know what to say," Angel managed to say, totally shocked at the unexpected news.
"Are you happy about this?" she asked nervously. They hadn't been trying to have another baby. Like this first time, this one just happened.
"I'm ecstatic!" he nearly screamed in response, then kissed her soundly.
Seeing the heated kiss, Cordelia leaned over and whispered to Willow, "I'd say that he's very happy about this."
"I think so!" Willow laughed in agreement.
When the kiss finally ended, Angel stared lovingly into Buffy's eyes. He almost couldn't believe that they were going to have another child together. And this time he would be able to experience it all. He would be able to see her grow large with their child, and be able to feel it move underneath her skin. He'd get to be there for the birth and see its first breath. It was everything he could have ever dreamed of.
Happy tears fell down Buffy's cheeks as she met Angel's eyes. She knew just what he was thinking. It still upset him from time to time that he had missed out on so much of Ashlynn's life, but now he would be there for their second child. It wouldn't erase his previous absence, but it would ease the pain of the memories, or rather the lack thereof.
"I guess it's a good thing I brought this with me today," Angel spoke suddenly as he took a step back from Buffy and reached into the bag that sat next to his chair.
She watched with wide eyes as he produced a small velvet box and then proceeded to kneel down in the sand in front of her. "Angel?" she whispered, stunned.
"I had planned on doing this later tonight, but I think now is better," he started. "I love you, Buffy. I have since the first moment I saw you, and I never stopped, even during all the years we were a part. I never thought that we could have a life together, but now that we can, I never want to let you go. Will you marry me?"
For nearly a minute, Buffy said nothing. Her mind was still trying to clear the daze that clouded it. When she realized everyone, most importantly Angel, was staring at her waiting for an answer, she snapped herself back into reality.
"Yes! Of course I will!" she finally answered, her voice breathless as she leapt into Angel's waiting arms.
"I love you," Angel proclaimed softly, wrapping his arms around his now fiancée.
"I love you, too," Buffy repeated just as quietly before pressing her lips to his.
They kissed gently, a reinforcement of the love they felt for each other. Around them, their group of friends watched teary-eyed, embracing their significant others and overjoyed at the peace and happiness that all of their friends had found.
The path hadn't been easy; it was marred by a patchwork of shadows that signified the darker times. They'd survived, though, found their ways out of the shadows and back to each other. Fate had thrown them more obstacles than one could count, but they faced them all, persevering when others would have quit, and now they were reaping the rewards. They were finally able to be together, and really, that's all they'd ever wanted.
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THE END!!! (finally!)