The morning of their Joining saw two harried, jumpy, panicked, clumsy, profusely sweating, constantly in motion, babbling-like-village-idiot Slayers. Not to mention extremely pissed off at having been sucker punched with the sleeping spell the night before. After the first hour everyone involved in helping the two Slayers get ready wanted to pull their hair out of their heads and have the Wiccans' cast silence and paralyzing spells so they could help the Slayers get ready in a timely manner.

When the time came for them to make their way over to the clearing, Mars and Angel, Giles and Xander, nervously waited impatiently outside of Faith and Buffy's bedroom doors, respectively, for them to finally come out. While inside the bedroom, the two Slayers madly brushed their teeth again having emptied their stomachs for the umpteenth time that morning and hurriedly reapplied their lipstick.

All four men were rendered speechless when the door to their Slayer's bedroom was opened. They were both visions to behold. Dressed in almost identical outfits, Faith's outfit was a deep dark purple that bordered on black, while Buffy's was a light silver-blue-gray. They each wore full length, collarless satin and silk coats that had a single button holding them closed midway down their chests. The sleeves of the coats came down and flowed softly over each of their hands almost to the point of completely covering them. The only difference in their coats was the long slit up the back of Faith's. Underneath each wore silk camisoles with only the slightest hint of lace. Faith had on low-slung silk pants that had the slightest of flares at the bottom, covering her new platform boots, while Buffy had on a low-slung full-length silk skirt, which also covered her new platform boots. Each Slayer wore their hair down; it fell softly, thickly around their faces and shoulders. Each had a single small braid no more then a half inch wide on either side of their faces. Buffy's braids were interwoven with silken threads in the same color as Faith's outfit, while Faith's were interwoven with beads in the color of Buffy's outfit. Both of their outfits were a gift from their family who had decided to surprise them with them the day of their Joining, after hearing that the Slayers were just going to wear something from their closets at home. And amidst all the endless babbling of the Slayers that morning they had both thanked them over and over again.

Each Slayer took an arm offered by both their escorts with trembling hands and made their way out into the beautiful, bright clear day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They approached the clearing from opposite sides to the sound of a single bagpiper playing Amazing Grace. Faith astride Obsidian and flanked by the large black steeds that Angel and Mars rode as they were escorted into the clearing by half of Mars' royal guard. Buffy entered the clearing riding Sol sidesaddle, flanked by the smaller white mares that Xander and Giles rode and the other half of Mars' royal guard.

Their eyes locked as they saw each other from across the clearing. They were oblivious to Lily asking each person as they moved to join and form the horseshoe shaped circle that would surround them during the ceremony, 'How do you enter this circle?' Nor did they hear each answer, 'In perfect Love and Trust.' A million and one images filtered through their minds as their escorts helped them to the ground on wobbly legs. They made their way slowly towards each other and stopped when they stood in front of Lily, The Green Mother, who was performing the Joining Ceremony for them. They turned around to face their escorts, tears gathering in their eyes as at the same time Mars and Angel leaned in to kiss opposite cheeks on Faith, while Xander and Giles did the same to Buffy. They turned around to face one another again, they smiled softly at the other and all nervousness fled leaving in its place just simple joy and love. They clasped hands and turned together to face Lily who gave them a gentle smile.

Lily bid those that were acting as the physical representation of the four elements to enter within the circle to take their places, "Let the four directions be honored that power and radiance might enter our circle for the good of all beings." She asked each group as they entered, "How do you enter this circle?" to which each in turn answered, "In perfect Love and Trust."

She then clasped the already-joined hands of the Slayers with one of her own and turned them towards the East, dropping their hands after the turn was complete.

"Spirits of the East, whose element is Air, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined." Lily spoke quietly to Luc, Atropos and Wesley who were the representatives of Air. She continued in the same quiet voice and none there doubted that they stood in the presence of The Green Mother. "Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, I invoke thee of old and call upon thee to witness this rite. Stand guard upon this quarter that no power of malign intent may pass. Hail, Element of Air! Primordial spring of knowledge and inspiration. Cast your breath across this circle and cleanse it. Be here now!"

"I am Air," Atropos, Luc and Wesley spoke in complete harmony then continued, "...Within my domain you may find knowledge, enlightenment, and inspiration. With the first, you may find the answers to the questions of your hearts. With the second, you may drive the shadows from your souls. With the third, you may create that which only two souls enjoined can give life to. With the three combined - there is no obstacle that you cannot surmount together. I gift you with these from my Realm."

Once again, Lily grasped the joined Slayers' hands, this time she turned them towards the South. Again she spoke, this time to Clotho, Lilith and Cordelia. "Spirits of the South, whose element is Fire, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, I invoke thee of old, I call thee to witness this rite and guard this circle. Hail Element of Fire! I invoke thee and call to thee, Great One of the Day, Giver of Life, send forth your beautiful fire and cleanse this circle. Be here now!"

As the three before them had, Clotho, Lilith and Cordelia spoke in complete harmony, "Spirits of the South whose element is fire, Give your blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Passion should warm your hearts, Light that shall guide you in the darkest of times, Love that shall burn in your hearts till the end of time, and the greatest of these is perfect Love and perfect Trust. Let these be burned in your hearts forever."

The Slayers let Lily turn them towards the West and Anya, Lachesis and Spike, who much to their eternal amusement was a nervous wreck. The each gave him an encouraging smile, which he gratefully acknowledged.

"Spirits of the West, whose element is Water, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Mighty art thou, Guardians of the West. Paladins of the Gates of the Dreaming Islands, From Avalon, Arthur's Heart's-Ease - From Tir Na Og, the Land of the Young, Princes of the Summer Country, Masters of Healing I call to thee from the heart of this circle...May thy Watchtowers ward us in our workings this day!"

As the others had, the representatives of the Water Element spoke in harmony. "Queen of Life, thou who restore Waste Lands, Blessed Mistress of the West, I call to Thee, entreat Thee to watch over this couple, Mother and Cradle of Life, from which we came in ancient days, Mystery of life-in-death We Remember Thee. Pure spirit, Wielder of the Force of Ages, Thou Well of storms, Thou who looked ever upon the open face of new stars before the earth was born from your cool waters of lake and stream, I call to Thee, entreat Thee, Guide this pair from cathedrals of coral and thrones of pearl to this circle we call Thee."

This time Lily turned the Slayers to the North and towards one of the most important people in both their lives. The smile that Dawn greeted them with made their breath catch and their hearts thump wildly. They broke their locked eyes with their little sister to smile at Willow and Tara who flanked her.

"Spirits of the North, whose element is Earth, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. I call to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the North. I call to you spirit of the Earth, make your presence felt in this circle and witness this rite. May your eternal strength guard this circle and your everlasting stability cleanse all present."

Their voices almost musical, Willow, Tara and Dawn spoke in harmony, "I call from the spirits of the North, the Element of Earth with this blessing to Faith and Buffy on this day of your Joining. May you be blessed with a love that stays strong as the day it was born. In your eternal walk together, remember to look down to the Earth for the stability that will go hand in hand with the strength of your bond for each other. The strength of your bond to each other will provide the stability to overcome all obstacles."

For the final time Lily clasped the Slayers joined hands and turned them back towards the stone altar and the waterfall, which was its magnificent backdrop. "In case you were wondering since I am Mother Nature, the Earth, you truly do have my blessing." She told them softly, mischievously, with utter sincerity for their ears only as she turned them.

"May the harmony of our circle be complete," Lily soft intoned, as her gaze fell upon all those gathered then back to rest upon the Slayers. "We stand upon this Holy Earth and in the Face of Heaven to witness the Sacred Joining between Faith and Buffy. Just as we come together as family and friends, so we ask for the Greater Powers to be present here within our Circle. May this Sacred Union be filled with their Holy Presence. By the honor bestowed on me by Faith and Buffy to perform this wonderful event and by the power vested me by the Creator, I invoke within this circle the power of Love to be present in this Sacred Place. And in doing so is Love declared. By the power vested in me, I invoke the Bright Flame to be present in this Sacred Place. In doing so is Peace declared. In the name of the Ancestors whose Traditions we honor, in the name of those who gave us Life. May we all unite in Love."

Lily then bid the Slayers to turn and face each other. She turned around and picked up the two rings they had gifted each other with and the cord they had loving braided together. She could feel the love that flowed from all three in her hands. The braid had been created from one red, one black and one white silk thread. The three colors a representation of the Fates, the Maiden, the Mother, the Crone and jointly their meanings were, spiritual purity, truth, peace, serenity, devotion, will, strength, courage, health, vigor, passion, empowerment, wisdom, vision, success and pure love.

She turned around to face the Slayers again, they dropped their clasped hands and each held out their left hand. She placed Buffy's ring in Faith's hand and Faith's in Buffy's. Then she encouraged them to join their left hands, she started to bind their hands together in a lovers knot as she spoke, "I tie this Lovers Knot so that you walk your path as one, in light, in love, in respect and in gentleness. Is this your desire?"

"Yes." The Chosen Two answered together.

Lily slipped their hands from the knot. Once their hands were free, both Slayers allowed the rings to fall into her open palm. She handed Buffy back the knot while she spoke, "Within this sacred circle you have now been joined in the physical and the spiritual...keep this knot always as a visual symbol of your bond for each other."

She bowed her head holding both rings within her own clasped hands she blessed them so quietly that even the Slayers could not hear what she was saying. When she was finished, she lifted her head and smiled at them, she placed Buffy's ring in Faith's right hand and Faith's in Buffy's right. "All things in Nature are circular - night becomes day, day becomes night and night becomes day again. The moon waxes and wanes and waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and then the Spring returns. These things are part of the Great Mysteries. Faith and Buffy, as you exchange your symbols of these Great Mysteries of Life, please say the vows which you have written."

The Chosen Two continued to stare at each other for long seconds after Lily finished speaking. Together, they slid the rings made of two strands, now each with one black and one white strand, but appearing as if they were a single woven strand onto the other's ring finger. Each encircled the rings and the other's hand with their own. Buffy mouthed to Faith, 'Ready?' and Faith silently mouthed back, 'I love you', to which Buffy silently mouthed back, 'Love you too, S.O..'

As those gathered listened to the vows spoken by each until they spoke the last few lines as one, they were amazed to realize how easily they flowed, how it just sounded right that one Slayer spoke the beginning of the shared sentiment and other Slayer finished it until they spoke the final few lines together as one.

She stared deeply into the eyes of her heart, her soul, then began...

"I don't have all the pretty words..."

"I am not a poet..."

"I am just me..."

"And you are just you..."

"I only know what I feel..."

"What you make me feel..."

"I only know that the sound of..."

"Your voice fills me..."

"I only know that you are the spark..."

"The fire in my heart..."

"I only know you are the peace that soothes..."

"And comforts my tattered soul..."

"The touch of your hand both calms..."

"And excites me..."

"The love I see in your eyes claims..."

"And captures my soul..."

"With you I see the world through the eyes of a child..."

"Bright, shiny, innocent, full of laughter, joy, love and so beautiful..."

"With you by my side and I by your side..."

"I've found my place in life..."

"And the miracle that is life..."

"And the miracle that is love..."

"With you I've found..."

"A place I can call home..."

They smiled softly at each other before they continued in harmony as one,

"I am both your light and your dark...
Together we are balance...
We are separate, yet we are united,
We are two, individual, whole, yet we are one,
Together we are just simply more.
I am your and you are my...
Complement."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the other side ~ Amazing grace ~ Has touched my face ~ And the sweet sound doesn't lie...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She stirred waking slowly, a gentle smile already gracing her face. Something almost forgotten stirred inside of her, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew what it was, just like she knew without opening her eyes the light coming in softly through the window would be that dark-azure that herald the coming of a new day. For the first time since that morning outside of the Magic Box the day of their fateful meeting with Glory, she had the urge to watch the sunrise and to listen to its voice as it brought forth the new day.

She glanced down, her smile growing wider seeing their clasped hands and the rings upon their fingers. She had almost been afraid to go to sleep last night after they had made-love far sweeter, passionately, tenderly then they ever had before. Afraid when she woke that it would all be a dream, afraid like she had been that first time she had spent the night with 'her' Light Slayer. But the fear had receded quickly, for in her heart, in her soul she finally believed that her life, this love they shared wasn't a dream. It was real and it always would be real, it would last throughout both their lifetimes and even beyond.

Like she had that morning in the pre-dawn so long ago, she silently thanked whomever it was that was in charge for giving her a lifetime filled with waking to the beautiful woman in her arms.

The 'Get some, get gone' girl knew, without having to think about it, she was exactly with who and where she was supposed to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The same stirring that woke her soul-mate woke her too. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that her soul-mate was already awake. She could feel her so clearly through their bond and she too thanked whoever was in charge for giving her a second chance to make a life, to find this love with 'her' Dark Slayer. All her dreams, all her mate's dreams, all the things they had dreamed of for themselves when they had been held captive were all beginning to come true one by one.

She opened her eyes and smiled just as her mate had at their clasped hands and the rings that were the physical and spiritual representation of them.

The first of the Chosen Two knew, without having to think about it, she was exactly with who and where she was supposed to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Without needing to speak, they both rose from the bed and donned the silk robes that had been another part of their Joining gifts from their family. They quietly made their way through Mars' Mansion and let themselves out into the pre-dawn. They walked hand in hand down to lake and sat down upon the thick, lush grass by the shoreline. Faith leaned back against one of the large oak trees, pulling Buffy back into her, folding her into her embrace. They remained silent, quiet, secure, at peace, safe, loved, warm in each other's arms.

Eyes turned up towards the sky they waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neither were sure what woke them, something had and without knowing why both Mars and Giles rose from their separate beds. Neither was surprised when they saw the other in the upstairs hallway, together they made their way downstairs and outside. They both stopped just a step outside the door, quietly drinking in the sight of the two Slayers, whom both men thought of as their daughters by the edge of the lake. Just as silently they began to turn to go back inside and allow them their privacy when Faith's soft voice was carried to them on the morning breeze, "Come 'Athair's' join us."

They made their way slowly over to them; they sat down on either side of them. Both smiling lightly Buffy reached out and give each of their hands a gentle squeeze.

Like the Slayers, they too turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the first time, since they had been spending their nights together Cordelia woke before Angel. She had a vision while she slept; only it was more like a premonition. She ran her hand down the side of 'her' Vampire-with-a-soul's face and knew that even that light touch would wake him. He stared at her with half-opened eyes and without a word, he rose from the bed bringing her up with him.

They moved quietly through the slumbering house and neither was surprised when they saw the four figures sitting down by the lake.

They joined those already sitting upon the plush grass, making themselves comfortable and they too turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He woke alone, yet he knew that in reality he was not alone. His knew that one day his time would come and he too would wake beside his soul-mate. He rose from the bed, brushing the hair from his face. He pulled on his black robe and opened the door to his room. He padded silently down the hallway, down the stairs and outside. He hesitated briefly once outside until the Slayers turned towards him and waved for him to join them.

With a smile on his face, Zane walked towards them.

He sat down next to Mars, turned his eyes up towards the sky, and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lily whispered a hand softly down the chest of the man beside her, waking him. He fumbled blindly for his glasses. With a lilting laugh, she handed them to him. Wesley blinked owlishly at the woman smiling above him, who with an impish grin planted a quick kiss upon his mouth and got up off the bed. He had no idea where she was leading him but he would follow her anywhere.

Like those before them, they quietly made their way outside, while he was surprised to see those gathered by the lake, she wasn't.

Silently they joined the group and with eyes turned up towards the sky, they waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn woke to find herself half on top of Crow in Mars' game room where they both had fallen asleep. She felt a stirring and with a wide ear-splitting grin, she knew what it was. She gently brushed the tangled mess of hair off Crow's forehead and felt another stirring inside of her that she instinctively knew was the beginnings of love.

Crow blinked sleepily at the young girl hovering over him with the huge smile. His heart thumped hard in his chest and he felt lightheaded as he looked into the eyes of the young woman who he hoped someday would do him the honor of becoming his spouse. He smiled back up at her and he sat up bringing her with him, holding her close for a few minutes. Hand in hand they made their way towards the door, they both smiled when they saw his parents, Christopher and Charlotte waiting for them.

The four of them made their way down to the lake. Dawn leaning over to kiss both Slayers on their cheeks before joining Crow and his family.

She snuggled into Crow's arms; they shared a brief loving smile with each other and his parents, then all four turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both Wicca's eyes opened at the same time. Blue gazing into green, both filled with a timeless love. They shared a knowing smile, both feeling the Slayers and the others already awake. They rose together, pulling on their big fluffy robes and arms wrapped around each other they made their way outside to join the others.

Leaning into each other, they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He struggled, yanked himself out of sleep. He knew, just knew, the others, the Slayers, were outside in the pre-dawn. He sat up abruptly, after a hundred or so years of running from the sunrise it wasn't quite in his vampire nature to be suddenly running towards it. He turned his head to look into the twinkling eyes of his soul-mate, Lachesis, still a little bit surprised after the last few months to see her there next to him.

She grinned at Spike, 'her William', when she saw the surprise in his eyes and the love he still tried to hide. Not yet to the point where he had completely let all his walls drop in her presences. He didn't need to tell her where they were going and she gladly followed him out into the pre-dawn. They sat down comfortably side-by-side, leaning into each other.

They turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Clotho woke Lilith with a kiss that made her toes curl. She deftly dodged the arms that came round to pull her down onto her mate. She laughed at the pout Lilith gave her and tossed her robe to her. Quickly, silently they made their way outside.

Then they too sat upon the grass, turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the slight change in his breathing that woke Anya, she snuggled for a second longer in Xander's arms which held her to him closely, tightly, lovingly. Finally, she lifted her head from his chest and opened her eyes. The love he felt for her just shone from him and it made her heart ache with joy.

Together they got up and holding hands, they made their way outside to the others. Xander sat down and then Anya joined him, laying on her back her head in his lap.

Together they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James' woke his mate with a poke to his side. Gary's eyes shot open and he was greeted by the impish smirk of his lover. He was puzzled at being woken until he realized what time it was and with a poke and an impish grin of his own, he jumped from the bed.

They chased each other playfully down the stairs and out of the house. They slowed down to a walk when they saw the others sitting peacefully by the lake.

Sedately they joined them and then they too, turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fred and Gunn had woken when they heard the playful running of Gary and James. They stayed resting against each other for a short time, then without a word they rose from the bed. Each silently giving thanks for having found the other. Holding hands, they ventured out to join the others.

Smiling at all in turn and cuddling into each other upon the grass, they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She felt his gaze upon her and she opened her eyes carefully. In a way, it still came as a surprise to see him there with her after all they had been through over the eons. He smiled that lopsided-grin at her and she gave her own version of it in return. He rose from the bed and reached a hand out to help her rise. He helped her into her robe and cradling her hand within his own he led her outside.

As they walked towards the others, Faith turned her head towards them. Atropos nodded towards the Dark Slayer confirming the silent question Faith was asking. Faith gave her a smirk, then turned her eyes back up towards the sky, knowing when they returned home to the Mansion that the Tapestry the Fates had given them the past Christmas would have come to life showing them all here, watching the sunrise on the day after their Joining.

Luc sat down pulling Atropos into his lap and they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In silence, the ragtag family - both of blood and of the heart - of two Slayers, a Seer, a Key, four Witches, a Watcher, two Vampires with souls, three Humans, an Ex-Watcher, an Ex-Vengeance Demon, all the Incarnates, one with an Immortal spouse from the time of the Garden of Eden and another with a human spouse; all with eyes turned up towards the sky, sat in the stillness of the pre-dawn, waiting for the sun to rise and bring to them the promises of the new day, with hope in their hearts that today would be better then yesterday...

...and all gathered heard for the first time the whispered pledge of the new day to fulfill those hopes, those promises for untold tomorrows...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the other side ~ I'll take what I've earned ~ These lessons I've learned ~ I'm ready for the ride ~ Heal me lift me ~ Take me and my soul will fly ~ My battered heart will make a new start Let everyone know ~ I'll be coming home again ~ Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the waterside ~ Drop me in ~ Come on and watch me swim ~ Let everyone know ~ I'll be coming home again...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~