They spent the rest of that afternoon and the next getting organized for the wedding. Cordelia with her usual tact asked, "do we have to buy gifts? It’s not like they’re really getting married."

Surprisingly, it was Wesley who answered. "Yes, actually, we should. It would look rather odd if we didn’t purchase wedding gifts."

"Of course." Cordelia was disgruntled. Wesley smiled at her.

"Perhaps you and I could... collaborate? If you'll pick it out I'll...."

"Great," she said happily, latching onto his arm. "Now?" He nodded and they left together. The others followed suit. Leaving Buffy and Giles to contact the Immigration Department.

Giles called Mr. Corwin of Immigration, and told him about the wedding. Mr. Corwin gave him a very sobering speech about fraud. Giles was able to assure him that he loved the woman {that much was true}. When Mr. Corwin asked for more information, Giles told him the mixture of truth and lies that he and Buffy had concocted. That they had known each other for a while {true}, had been talking about marriage for a short while {okay a couple of days, small lie} and had pushed the date forward {beyond lie}. Mr. Corwin asked when the happy day was and Giles gave him the details.

After he had hung up, he met Buffy's eyes. She rested her hand on his shoulder, "Giles, it's going to be fine." She gazed at him, head tilted to one side. "Should I call you Rupert?"

"I don't think that you can say it and sound natural. So you'd better not."

She grinned, "yes, dear."

His green eyes were alight with laughter; "you're starting getting the hang of that."

"Euw," said Cordelia from the doorway. They both turned to face her. "We're all here," she continued. "I think it's time." They nodded.

"Buffy," said Giles, after Cordelia had left. "If you're having second thoughts...."

"I'm not," she said firmly. "This is the right thing to do."

"Very well, then," he reached into his jacket pocket and came out with a small jewelry box. When he opened it, Buffy gasped. Nestled inside was a wedding band set. The engagement ring was silver with a marquis cut sapphire, surrounded by small diamonds. The bride’s band was plain silver, as was the groom’s. He took out the engagement ring. "These belonged to my Grandparents."

"Giles, I can’t…."

"Buffy, we need rings, and I have rings. Would you prefer to buy rings?"

"Well, no, but… I hate it when you’re right." She held her left hand out, and he with only the slightest hesitation, placed the ring on her third finger. She didn’t notice that his hand had shaken. She held her hand up to the light, then with an impish grin at Giles, started counting. She made it to five when Cordelia walked in. Buffy said quietly to Giles, "her jewelry radar went off." He covered his mouth as he laughed, but he couldn't contain it.

Hearing Giles’ laughter the others came to crowd around the door. They saw Giles laughing, Buffy grinning, and Cordelia holding Buffy’s hand turning it this way and that in the light.

"Wow, Buffy, it’s beautiful." Said Cordelia enviously. "Giles, you picked this out?" She was very dubious.

"No, Cordelia, it belonged to my Grandmother Giles."

"She had good taste."

"Yes," he agreed.

Willow and Joyce came over to look with Cordelia, and Anya felt a strange compulsion to go and see it also. The women were gathered around Buffy now. The men, at a loss, just stood there. Finally Wesley spoke up. "I think perhaps we should go."

"Yes," agreed Giles.

They had already packed the cars with the necessities for an overnight stay in Las Vegas. Wesley, not surprisingly, was riding with Cordelia, Xander with Anya; Giles rode with Oz and Willow, and Buffy with her Mom.

They all stopped for a rowdy dinner on the way, then were once again on the road. They arrived at a little after 11:00pm. At Willows request, they were getting married at midnight, as she didn’t want them to have the bad luck that comes from seeing the bride before the wedding on the day of the wedding. Willow figured that enough could go wrong without pushing their luck. No one could argue with that. They got checked in and Buffy went to her Mom’s room to get ready. Willow, Cordelia and Anya came to help. Even though they all knew that this was a sham, they couldn’t help getting caught up in the excitement.

Giles and the other men stood in the chapel that Xander had chosen. As Giles looked around he decided that it was all right, not gaudy, as he had feared. Then the door opened and Joyce came in; Cordelia, then Willow carrying a small sprig of wildflowers followed her, and went to stand next to Oz. Finally Buffy came through on Wesley’s arm. Giles turned to look and his breath caught. Staring at her he looked stunned. She was wearing a cream colored knee-length dress. The color made her skin look even more golden than usual. Her hair was swept up from her neck. Giles couldn’t seem to catch his breath. Mr. Corwin, from where he stood next to the door, just watched silently. He saw the bride (he had to admit that she was lovely) smile warmly at the groom as she reached his side. The tall young man standing next to the groom looked quite overwhelmed by the bride. He saw the groom swallow, then take the brides hand. Looking around, Mr. Corwin noticed that except for the stand-in father-of-the-bride, the mother-of-the bride and the groom, everyone was quite young.

The wedding official gaped at the bride, then said, "Honey, whatever he’s paying you, you could double in two nights here."

The groom took a second to realize what had been said then stepped toward the man, and hissed, "you had best watch what you say to her, you pillock." The bride grabbed her groom by the arm. He looked down at her, then back at the official.

Whatever the official saw on Mr. Giles’ face, caused him to swallow nervously and nod. The groom stepped back into position, and the wedding proceeded. When it came time to say their vows, they both spoke in very clear tones. The rings were exchanged, and the official, now sweating nervously, announced that they were husband and wife. "You may now kiss the bride."

Buffy’s eyes widened in surprise. She had forgotten about that part. Giles cupped her face and leaned down. She closed her eyes, trusting him, as his lips captured hers. The kiss was tender and loving, yet not demanding. Unconsciously, she leaned into him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. When he broke the kiss, he looked down at her, and smiled.

Later, at the party, Buffy and Giles sat together, opening their gifts. Joyce had got them a microwave, knowing that Giles didn’t have one. Wesley and Cordelia had gotten them a set of cappuccino cups, saucers and little plates. Buffy laughed, and even Giles grinned. Willow and Oz had gotten them a matching set of place mats, napkins, and napkin rings. Xander had gotten them "his" and "hers" bath towels. But, Anya had surprised them all, with her gift of a crystal picture frame.

Taking in their surprise, she spoke defensively. "What? The woman at the store said it was traditional." Buffy hastened to reassure her.

"No, Anya, it perfect, and lovely. I guess we need a picture now." Oz stepped forward with a camera.

"You two should stand up." They did so, and Giles placed an arm around Buffy and drew her to him. Oz looked at them and said, "say cheese." He snapped the picture as they obeyed.

Wesley stepped forward with a glass of champagne and said, "May I propose a toast?" As everyone raised their glasses, mostly soda’s, he continued, "Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Giles." Everyone repeated it and drank. Wesley handed Giles a glass of the champagne.

Giles raised his glass, "To the best of friends." He took a cautious sip. Not bad, Wesley had hidden skills.

Mr. Corwin saw Buffy try to take it from Mr. Giles for a sip, but he held it out of her reach and laughed at her. She said something to him, and he grinned at her, then spoke, "all right, but just a sip."

She laughed up at him, "yes, dear." He murmured something and she grinned up at him again. Mr. Corwin had to admit that if it was a hoax it was a damn good one. The bride and groom were very comfortable together, and showed every sign of affection. Not to mention Mr. Giles’ very real reaction to the wedding official’s insult to the bride.

Mr. Corwin stepped over to them. "Congratulations, Mr. Giles, Mrs. Giles." Buffy smiled as she realized that he meant her. "I believe that I’ll be going, now. Please remember that we can visit at any time, and that you will have interviews later." With that final warning, he left.

"Whew," said Xander after he left. "I didn’t think he’d ever leave. Seemed nice enough, though. Now what?"

"Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but Wesley and I are heading down to the casino," said Cordelia.

Joyce spoke, "Cordelia, you do realize that you have to be 21 to gamble?"

Cordelia nodded. "Living on the Hellmouth is enough of a gamble. I just want to be where all that money is changing hands. Come on Wesley." And they left. Willow and Oz went to their room, and Xander and Anya decided to wander around Vegas, and see if they could find an Elvis impersonator. That left Buffy, her mother and Giles. They sat, looking awkwardly at each other. Finally, Joyce crossed to the door. She took one last final look at Buffy, another at Giles, and then a long look at the room’s double bed. She hugged Buffy and left. Buffy spoke as soon as the door had closed. "That was weird." But Giles didn’t agree.

"I thought she handled this surprisingly well. I had rather expected her to speak up during the ceremony to stop it."

"You too? I thought it was just me." She smiled at him, then clearly at a loss, looked around the room that they would be sharing. "She seemed very disturbed by the bed, Giles."

"Hmmm?" He responded, absently, apparently engrossed in setting the alarm.

"The bed." She looked at him. "I know we discussed it, but… it seemed to bother her."

"Yes. If you’d rather go to her room…or I can go to…."

"No," she interrupted. "That Corwin guy could be lurking around. We can do this." She looked at him, eyes huge. "Right?"

"Absolutely." She sighed in relief. "You go ahead and take the bathroom first."

"Thanks," she said as she gathered her things. Several minutes later she emerged, wearing her pajamas. He was sitting in a chair surveying the gifts. He had a peculiar expression on his face. "Your turn." He nodded, and rose.

He entered the bathroom, and her things were there. It was odd to him. He had lived alone a long time. And now…

When he came back out, Buffy was already in the bed. She had taken the side he usually slept on. He decided not to say anything about it and got into the bed. They lay there for a few minutes, stiffly, not at all comfortable. Finally Buffy broke the awkward silence, "Giles, do you snore?" She teased.

"I-I …probably," he admitted with a grin, just before he shut off his light.

"Great," she said. He could hear the smile in her voice.

When he woke the next morning, they were both in the middle of the bed, and he was pressed up against her back, spoon fashion. He gently disengaged himself from her warm body, and went to take a very cold shower. She woke up shortly thereafter, because she was cold. He came back out, towel drying his hair, wearing a robe. She sat up and stretched, then headed in to the bathroom for her shower. They were supposed to meet the others downstairs for breakfast, so they dressed and went.

When they joined the others at the breakfast buffet, everyone was staring at Xander in awe. His plate was heaped, and apparently this was not his first helping. After breakfast they left, Giles riding with Buffy and Joyce. At Giles' place, Joyce lingered for a few minutes outside, then reluctantly left.