Quickly adjusting her bow tie in the mirror, Willow glanced once more at the stairs in Buffy's house. "Do you think I should call him again?"

Buffy picked a piece of lint off her raspberry pink chenille dress and shook her head. "Give him a moment. He's probably just doing his mascara again. I mean, he ain't born with it, it really is Maybelline. 'Sides, it's customary for the bride to be late."

"I just don't want a repeat of the last time."

"That was Anya. This is... different. He'll go through with it."

Willow sighed. "I know. I just have this feeling he's getting a little concerned about the morality of it all. Even though President Etheridge legalised it."

Buffy nodded. "I still can't believe she got elected. It was almost like magic."

Willow laughed nervously.

"Anyway, I'm sure he's fine. Let's just give him five more minutes."

"Yeah."

***

There were two of them in the room wearing white gowns. Only one had the choice.

"You look beautiful," Higher Being Joyce said, misting up a little.

Xander shrieked, jumped three feet into the air and dropped his bouquet. He spun around to the sudden glow and there she stood, like an angel on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry dear."

For a moment joy spread across his face like jelly on a crumpet. But then his eyes narrowed just as quickly. "Hey, wait a minute. You better not be here to tell me getting married is a mistake. And you really better not be the First Evil masquerading as Joyce."

She smiled beatifically. "Would evil have hair this good?"

Xander considered this for a moment. "Fair point." His face lit up once more. "So you really are Joyce?"

Somewhere in the distance, a choir of angels began to sing. "I am the physical representation of the good and glorious soul which once inhabited her body. The essence of her love, wisdom and charity. The projection of her glorious good taste and fabulous bone structure. The higher being to which she has ascended."

He waited until the singing died down. "So that's a yes?"

She nodded. They regarded each other for a moment longer before she spoke. "Honey, I can't come to the ceremony: Buffy would only get hysterical and she doesn't look good when she's red and puffy. Not with a dress that colour."

"Gotcha."

"But I had to let you know how proud I am of you, Xander. I thought of you as my son." She paused. "Well, apart from that one time when I tried to seduce you. Not so much then. But otherwise you were as my child. And now you're going to make for a wonderful life partner."

Now Xander got a little teary. "You don't know how much that means to me, Joyce. I really wish you were my mom."

"I know."

He dragged the back of his hand across his face. "Damn, I smeared my mascara."

Joyce laughed, and the sound was like little silver bells of joy. Then she twitched her nose and suddenly his make up was perfect once more.

"Hey! Thanks!"

"The least I can do. I must go now, dear. And so should you..."

He raised a hand. "Wait! Joyce, I have to ask you something."

She cocked her head to one side. "Of course."

"You're up there with the Big Man, right? The Almighty? So you know what's the what with the who and the where and... does He approve?"

"Of what?" she asked, although she knew the answer.

"Of me marrying another man."

Higher Being Joyce smiled and put a hand to her heart. "Of course He does. There are many things of which He disapproves, like hate and war and "Gigli" - but love is not one of them. Some things got lost in the translation that should not have been lost. Some things were added that should not have been added. Such is the way of things. But your love is beautiful, no matter who receives it."

"So to speak," he said, then blushed.

She merely giggled. "Now go to your wedding day, Xander. And remember your bouquet."

"Oh, yeah." He bent to get it and when he straightened up, she was gone.

***

Willow was pacing. "Maybe I'll just go check on him."

Just then, they heard the bedroom door open and Xander appeared at the top of the stairs, a vision in ivory silk and pearls. A soft veil fell across his face and the bouquet of spring flowers was clutched to his chest.

The girls both sighed in delight.

"Ready to give me away, Will?"

"Just so long as he knows it's a temporary loan."

He smiled. "Of course."

***

The church was not packed, but then neither party had wanted a big event. Just their nearest and dearest.

Clem was officiating, having become a clergydemon through a correspondence course. He was in a purple cassock, talking quietly to the groom, when the organ started to play Patsy Cline's "Crazy".

The congregation stood, and looked in the direction of the door. Kennedy was already crying, and Xander hadn't even entered. When he did, on Willow's arm and followed by Buffy, she began to sob loudly. Even Spike appeared a little red-eyed.

By the time Clem reached, "you may kiss the bride" everyone from Dawn to Giles looked quite emotional.

All except the groom, stoical as ever. And when he finished his soft kiss, and the confetti began to fall, Oz leaned over and whispered in Xander's ear, "just so we're clear: you're carrying me over the threshold, right?"

***