Author's Note - This is set about four years after Carry On. Loads of credit to the co-authors of this fanfic - my brilliant and talented friends demonoa and .olive. All credits to Rainbow Rowell for these characters. Thanks for reading!
Baz
The suit fits perfectly. Sharp, elegant - exactly what I wanted. I look over at Snow. He's standing at the altar in crisp grey, a white rose tucked into his breast pocket. And he looks so happy. His smile is stretched across his face and I can tell he ran a comb through his curls this morning. I'd do anything to make Simon that happy.
Merlin, I need to pay attention. The only weddings I've ever been to were Pitch weddings - and they seemed more like Satanic rituals than weddings - so I'm not sure how long they're supposed to be. Maybe I should have paid more attention during the practice last night. I make eye contact with Simon, and it's clear we both think there should be some sort of legal limit on wedding length.
I glance at Micah, his thick brows draw together anxiously as he chews on his full bottom lip. I can see Penelope intertwine Micah's dark fingers with her own bronze ones. A subtle squeeze from her transforms his expression and she turns back to face the droning vicar.
Inhale, exhale. I used to do that when Father gave me that cold glare that came with loving Simon. A boy. A beautiful boy. The head of the Grimm household isn't here today, he disapproves of my friends as much as he disapproves of me.
Inhale, exhale.
The vicar clears his throat and I suddenly become aware of all the faces staring up at the beautiful couple standing on the altar - hands clutched, turned towards each other with something sparkling in their eyes.
"And now, you may kiss the bride."
Penelope looks gorgeous in a wedding dress.
Simon
All the happiness around me makes up for my suit that's slightly too tight on the shoulders. After all I put Penelope through in our school days, she deserves it. And Baz looks so sophisticated, almost regal, in his suit, it makes it worth it. And to think that I'm lucky enough to love him.
A sudden burst of cheering pulls me out of my thoughts and back to the present. People are standing up, smiling and crying as Penelope and Micah kiss, marking the end of the wedding ceremony. A massive grin stretches at my lips, my heart almost bursting for them. I reach out for Baz, wanting to share this moment with him. As my fingers brush his, he turns to look at me. His eyes crinkle into a smile that I know is only for me. I squeeze his hand three times, our silent code for I love you. He smiles again, then squeezes back.
Penelope
I find Micah's fingers, still standing beside him as we face the vicar. The happiness I'm feeling threatens to spill over the edges of my smile as I squeeze his hand reassuringly. As the officiant brings the ceremony to a close with his final words, and we turn to face one another, Micah tucks a piece of my blue hair behind my ear - with a touch as light as a feather. My heart races as the weight of the moment sinks in. This is real. My life is changing forever.
And after this? Micah and I have found a little flat to live in, just two blocks from where Simon and Baz are. Simon. I look over at him, briefly, just long enough to see the radiance on his face, his gray suit, standing there next to Baz. He's found his happy ending. He'll stay in my life, I'll make sure of it, though my own is just starting. Micah will apply for technology jobs, as I start mine as a Coven Secretary. A small life, but it doesn't matter as long as I'm with him.
Is this my happy ending? My pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? I think about the long walks we take together, the way he smiles at me. How whenever I mess up dinner, he swoops in with a kiss and a spoon, ready to transform whatever burnt mush I've created. And how my heart swells every time I see him. Swells with love.
Baz
The wedding party, despite its small number of attendees, is becoming slightly raucous. Guests are drinking, dancing with their partners, enjoying the celebrations. Daylight is streaming in through the gaps in the white tent over our heads. Penny and Micah sway together on the dance floor, smiling at each other nauseatingly to the rhythm of the band.
There's a reason I don't do weddings - aside from the fact that this is the only one I've been invited to outside of the ones The Families hosted. All the love, I suppose, is hard to stand. There was never much of that in the Pitch household.
Snow, on the other hand… I cut a glance at his bold profile, standing next to me. He sees me looking and pulls one of his seducing grins (I don't know if that's what he intended. Either way, it worked, I'm seduced).
"May I have this dance?" He asks in that ridiculously low, soft voice of his. I roll my eyes in response.
"Crowley, Snow, you really know how to entice, don't you?" I say, taking his outstretched hand. It's soft and warm, his cherry-red nail varnish chipping around the edges. I'm staring at our clasped hands - his just look so right inside of mine.
"What?" Simon says, "Don't tell me you only fell for me because of my hands."
"Don't flatter yourself Snow. Your hands look ridiculous. Like… scones." Simon snorts and flips his tangled hair back off his forehead. Merlin, what has this boy done to me? All I can do when he's looking at me is compare his hands to scones. Seventh Year Basilton would have had a heart attack. Even First Year me would have had a better comeback then that.
But I've moved on from that. And with that I let go of his scone hands, wrap an elegant arm around Simon's waist, and press my right palm into his left.
Then I remember I'm queer. We're queer. By reflex, my eyes scan the surrounding dancers, searching for the narrowed eyes, the dirty looks that I'm accustomed to receiving from my father. I can't see anyone, so I twist my head further and further until I feel warm hands pulling me back.
"Baz. It's okay." I know. I know it's okay. "We're okay." My eyes leave Simon's again, I can't help it. "Baz. I love you." That snaps me right back to him. Every I love you is a beautiful poem, a promise. "Did I ever mention that?" My eyes open wider as we begin to sway to the gently melody. "Well, I do."
"Simon." He doesn't know how many nights I lay awake at Watford mouthing I love you to the rhythm of his breathing. How every time it tore my heart into another bloody piece, because unrequited love was never the only problem.
Simon's looking at me, not expectantly, but like I'm the only person in the room. And with that, the staring strangers fade for me too. And all there is is Simon.
"I love you too."
Penelope
We're all ready to drive off, but there's one more thing I have to do. I toss the bouquet behind me, my eyes squeezed shut and my mouth open as I laugh at this tradition - one of those silly little moments I hope I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Baz
The flowers fly through the air, past the crowded dance floor, over the heads of the single women, their arms all outstretched in an attempt to grasp the bouquet. Past the cake, on and on until finally…
Simon
The bouquet is still soaring through the air. Penny has a serious throwing arm. I'm beginning to wonder if they'll ever drop when suddenly the velocity of the flowers slows dramatically. Right in front of me.
Baz
No. It can't. It's not possible that this is happening.
Simon
The flowers are coming at me so quickly that you would think that I was magnetic.
Baz
I refuse to believe this is happening.
Simon
I don't even have time to react. One moment they're above me, the next the hit me squarely in the temple.
Baz
Merlin.
Simon
They bounce off my head and I fumble awkwardly, trying to catch them.
Baz
I stand frozen where I am. Snow's squashing the roses irreparably as he tries to grab ahold of the stems. His hand-eye coordination is appalling.
Simon
My cheeks turn red as I stare at the bouquet. I know what this means.
Baz
Simon just stands there, eyes fixated on the roses, stubbornly not looking at me. His pink cheeks are a flustered mess. If I wasn't undead, the implications of this would make me blush too.
A quick glance at the gawking spectators confirms that it's too late for Snow to hurl it at someone else and run. Bunce is laughing her head off, clutching Micah for support (it's rather terrifying), but everyone else stands there with their eyes fixed firmly on Simon. One by one they take in the nervous looks Snow keeps throwing me and connect the dots. Most smile, but there's some who seem to agree with my father.
The lump in my breast pocket feels heavier than before. I've been carrying it around for quite some time now, a velvet box with a simple silver band inside.
Simon
Baz is staring right at me, along with a hundred other guests. I cough awkwardly, not sure how I should react to this sudden attention. Guest began returning to the inside the tent as the band strikes up the music again. I walk over to Baz, still clutching the flowers in my hand. Suddenly, a car motor starts. Standing up on my toes, I crane my neck to get a glimpse of what's happening on the 's a jumble of white fabric swishing through the crowd - Penny. And she's seems to be running straight for me, face red from laughing. At me, probably.
"Simon!" She throws her arms out just as she slams into me. "I almost forgot to say goodbye!" Penny squeezes the life out of me, let's go, hugs me again, then turns around to leave.
"Pen, wait!" She turns, smiling.
I grin too. "I'm happy for you and Micah." She blows me a kiss in response, then runs back toward her car. Then, abruptly, she changes course, heading towards Baz.
Baz
Penelope, almost tripping over the massive folds of white fabric bustling around her, is stumbling towards me. I fold my arms in anticipation of what she's going to say to me. Instead of stopping, she runs almost right by me, so I miss my chance to make a snarky remark about how she's only going on a week long honeymoon. And to San Francisco, of all places. How… quaint. Typical Bunce. Slowing just enough to talk into my ear, she lifts herself on her tiptoes, just enough to reach my chin.
"Baz."
"Bunce." Penelope raises a quizzical brow, she's almost as talented as I am in that department. "Penny." I amend.
"Simon loves you. Do it soon." She turns promptly, "And Baz, I'll miss you." And with that, she's gone in a flurry of white. I feel my cheeks heat at her comment. Quite honestly, that girl never fails to surprise me.
Simon
I see Penelope get into the passenger's side of the car, shutting the door accidentally on her dress. She opens it just enough to pull in the folds of white before she closes it again. I see her lean over to kiss Micah before they begin to drive away in Penny's tiny white Beetle. I wave frantically, knowing she can't see me. Slowly, they drive out of sight, and I only put my hand down when I can't see them anymore. Baz walks over to me. I meet him halfway, smiling.
"Ready to go home, Snow?"
"Home. Yeah, I'm ready." I grab his hand (they fit mine like a glove), and lead him towards our car.
Two weeks without Penny. Not that much can happen, right?