A/N: Okay, I know I said five more chapters, but I lied. This will be the last chapter. School and RL are just getting to be WAY too demanding and I don't have time to really finish it the way I want to and it came down to either finish it now in one chapter, or drop it like I do way too many of my fics. Since you all have been so loyal in reviewing, I felt like you deserved to have the story wrapped up, even if it's not perfect.
I hope you all enjoyed this fic, I have certainly enjoyed writing it. I'm going to try finishing the Bodyguard next, but who knows?
Read and Review!
Chapter 11
"Oh my God, Harmony, there is no way my bridesmaids are wearing a yellow dress! It won't go well with anyone's skin tone."
"Buffy, come on. Yellow is great!" Harmony said, her voice verging on a shriek. Buffy winced.
"No. We're doing red," Buffy insisted. Harmony sighed, but let it go. She and Buffy had been arguing over wedding details for hours, and Buffy was starting to regret telling Cordelia she'd hire her friend. Harmony knew how to get things done quickly, but her taste was a little…loud for Buffy's liking.
"Fine, red. Be conventional. Have you and Angel finished the guest list? I need to get the invitations out in the next day or so," Harmony reminded her. Buffy reached into her purse, pulling out several sheets of paper, and handing them to Harmony.
"Two fifty, even."
"Great. And your dress fitting this afternoon. You're lucky that Harper Vega was willing to do a custom rush job for cheap, she's not easy to get to," Harmony said. Buffy rolled her eyes. Harmony was constantly reminding Buffy how lucky she was to be throwing a spectacular wedding together in such a short amount of time.
"I know, Harmony." Buffy was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hold on."
She crossed the room and opened the door to see who could possibly be dropping by. Looking through the peep hole, she saw Riley standing there and her blood immediately started to boil. Swinging the door open, she glares.
"What do you want, Riley?" she snapped. Riley arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I want to take Iona for a while," Riley said. Buffy shook her head.
"She's out running errands with Angel," Buffy said. Riley glared.
"Buffy, until the hearing I would appreciate if Iona wasn't alone with Angel," Riley said. Buffy laughed.
"Well I didn't want Iona alone with Darla, but you didn't respect my wishes there, did you? Riley, you're not going to win this battle. You want to know what errands they're running? They're at the florists, reviewing the order for our wedding flowers. Angel and I are getting married in three weeks, and then there's nothing you and Darla have over me. So get used to that."
Riley sputtered and Buffy shut the door in his face.
"Wow, you and your ex really don't get along, do you?" Harmony asked. Buffy just glared.
#
"Angel, mate, calm down," Spike said as he watched Angel adjust his tuxedo jacket for the millionth time. It was t-minus fifteen minutes until Angel was due to take his place at the front of the church and Spike thought the man was going to lose his lunch.
"Sorry. Nervous," Angel admitted.
"Not thinking of pulling a runaway groom are you?" Xander asked. "Because I'll kill you."
Angel glared at Xander, who was only one of his groomsmen because Buffy promised to do that thing that makes his eyes cross in Angel agreed. She'd kept up her end of the bargain, but Angel still wasn't sure it was worth it.
"Stuff it, Xander," Spike growled. Xander just shrugged.
"What?" He asked. Angel took a deep, cleansing breath.
"I love Buffy, and I can't wait to be her husband. It's just adrenaline," Angel said. After a brisk knock, Cordelia stuck her head inside the guy's dressing room.
"Harmony says it's time to take your places," Cordelia said. Smiling, Angel followed his sister to the front of the church.
#
"Buffy, you look gorgeous," Willow sighed as she fixed Buffy's veil. Iona was dancing around in her flower girl dress. She'd been itching to sprinkle the flower petals since they gave her the basket, but Buffy had been able to convince her to wait.
"Thanks, Will," Buffy said, her eyes watery.
"You ready to be a married lady again?" Faith asked from her seat in the corner. She looked like a vixen in her slinky red dress and dark hair. Buffy had chosen a deeper red color so that Willow's bright hair wouldn't clash, and her bridesmaids looked gorgeous.
"I am," Buffy said, taking a deep breath. "It feels right with Angel."
"Good girl," Faith said. Cordelia burst back into the room, interrupting their conversation.
"The boys are ready," she said. Buffy smoothed her hands over the front of her strapless, ivory dress. It was a thing of beauty; silk A-line skirt and a beautifully embroidered top with a sweetheart neckline. For a rush job, it certainly didn't look it.
"Okay, let's go," Buffy agreed.
The ladies assembled in their line outside the doors leading to the sanctuary. As the organ started playing, the doors opened and Iona started down the aisle. All Buffy could see was Angel. He met her eyes and smiled at her, holding her gaze as she walked towards him. Buffy felt the tears well in her eyes and prayed that they wouldn't ruin her make-up. She wanted to look perfect on her wedding day.
The preacher went through the ceremony and they recited standard vows. Every few words they would squeeze each other's hands.
"I now pronounce you man and wife."
Buffy though a simple kiss had never been so perfect as the first official married kiss.
#
"Your Honor, Mr. Finn is no more fit to be Iona's legal guardian than Ms. Summers," Giles said to the judge at their court hearing the next week. "Ms. Summers is an excellent student who in just a few short years will far out-earn Mr. Finn, she's created a loving and stable home life for Iona, and they live comfortably. Ms. Summers husband is also a student, but he had a lucrative career before entering law school and they live off of that money."
"I see Ms. Summers only remarried a week ago, what does she have to say about that?" The judge asked. Giles looked to Buffy, who calmly stood.
"Your honor, my decision to marry Angel had nothing to do with this hearing," she insisted. The judge nodded.
"I think you're both children," the judge said. "You got married too young, had a child too young, and you're still in a pretty damn juvenile state of mind. Mr. Finn, you are clearly using your daughter as a weapon against your ex-wife, and Ms. Summers, you're rising to the bait. My decision is this: full custody of Iona will go to Ms. Summers, with one afternoon per week spent with her father. Mr. Finn and Ms. Summers will attend counseling, together. You need to work through your issues and learn to parent together, because no matter the state of your relationship, there is a young child involved. In two years, you'll come back before this court for a review."
It wasn't all that Buffy had hoped for, but she knew it was a fair decision. Turning, she thanked Giles, hugging him tightly.
"Next time, I'll be able to pay you," she said, smiling through tears. Giles put a hand on her shoulder.
"You won't need to, dear girl." Buffy then thanked the judge and ran outside where Iona was waiting with Angel.
"I think we should celebrate," Buffy said.
"Take out and a movie at home, just the three of us?" Angel suggested.
"Sounds perfect."