BAZ
I'm so stunned I can barely speak.
"Pardon?" I ask. I'm not sure I heard him correctly.
"If the two of you are going to raise a child together," my father says, "then you should be properly married. It's the only appropriate course of action." I look over at Simon and he's as dumbfounded as I am. My father's eyes narrow.
"Don't tell me you two haven't thought about that?" my father says. I shake my head.
"That's not it father," I say. "I just didn't think you would approve of such a marriage." My father sighs.
"I didn't," he says. "I still don't. Not entirely. But a child should be raised in a stable home. No Pitch should have un-married parents. It's improper. And if Simon Snow is the one you've chosen to raise a child with, then I suppose I cannot argue with you anymore. You should have the wedding as soon as possible." I don't know what to say, so I just nod my head, willing myself not to cry.
"Thank you Mr. Grimm." I turn my head and gape at Simon. I don't think I've ever heard him speak to my father directly like that. And he's certainly never thanked him. My father also seems to find it both surprising and distasteful, but he doesn't say anything.
"Thank you father," I say with gratitude. "Thank you."
SIMON
Baz and I can't let go of each other. We're kissing fervently and passionately, our limbs a jumbled mess. We haven't slept together since Natasha was born (she's needed too much of our attention, and it felt weird to do it at Penny's house with its extremely thin walls and creaky beds), but tonight we can't help ourselves. We feel rushed, fevered, like if we don't hold each other as tightly as we can, we might break. We pounced on each other the second Baz's family left, so we haven't even had a chance to discuss everything that happened, but right now, this feels more important.
We lay in bed, panting, our arms still around each other, our foreheads pressed together.
"I thought we said we weren't going to grope each other on the couch anymore," I say.
"Technically, the groping happened in here."
"Where are your pants Baz?"
"On the couch."
"Exactly." We laugh and I pull him closer. He closes his eyes.
"I still can't believe it," he says. "We're getting married." I grin.
"Aren't you supposed to defend my honor in a duel or something before we can get married? Isn't that a Pitch thing?" Baz chuckles and opens his eyes.
"It is, but as my father wants us to get married in a hurry, I think we should take him up on that before he changes his mind." Marriage. Baz and I are going to get married. Like, actually married. Marriage was another one of those things I gave up on when I chose Baz. Baz was so worried about what his family would say if we got officially married that I told him years ago that we didn't need to do it. We love each other and are going to stay together forever, so what does one little ceremony matter? It's not like I think it will change anything. I had basically forgotten about the fact that Baz and I aren't married. But still, the idea of having a wedding is exciting, and I know Baz wants one.
"We should do it before term starts," I say. "So you're not so busy with classes."
"That only give us a few weeks." I shrug.
"So? We'll keep it small. Just your family and Penny and Micah or something. We can't invite any Normals anyway. Besides, I thought you wanted to get married in a hurry." Baz gives me an enormous smile and kisses me.
"I think that sounds perfect," he says.
SIMON
"I can't find anything," Penny says. Baz growls.
"Keep looking. There has to be something." Baz has a mountain of books in front of him. On the other side of the computer screen, Penny does as well. Baz, Penny, and I have been digging through stack after stack of books for days. We're looking for a magickal wedding ceremony that won't require me to cast a spell. It doesn't exist.
We've tried everything. I called Penny's mum to ask if I could borrow some of their books on family magic (which is the source of many of the books in front of us now), Penny ripped right through her own library, and Baz even contacted the Coven and some of the members of the old families who he can stand.
"A wedding is a time for magic," Penny says. "A typical ceremony has dozens of spells. It's a ward against marrying Normals."
"I know!" Baz grumbles, tossing his book aside and reaching for another. "I was at my father and stepmother's wedding. It felt like Simon had gone off in there when they were done. And you two left the room glowing. But there has to be something. Anything. I don't care how obscure."
"You two could just have a Normal ceremony," Penny suggests. Baz scowls at her.
"Over my dead body. Simon is not a Normal!"
"I know he isn't Baz, but that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't have magic anymore."
I think this is the biggest sticking point for Baz. I wouldn't mind a Normal ceremony. I don't even think Baz would really mind (although I certainly think his family might). But Baz spent so much time convincing me that I'm not a Normal at a time when I was desperate and hopeless and trying to leave him over it, that I think the thought of a Normal wedding ceremony frightens him to death. It doesn't frighten me (I'm never leaving him now, even if I miraculously meet my parents and find out they're merwolves), but it's so sweet watching him try so hard that I can't bring myself to stop him. Penny, I think, is just having fun.
Natasha cries and Baz is so absorbed in his book he doesn't even fight me for the bottle. I sit next to him on the couch, feeding Natasha and reading over his shoulder. He's looking up African traditions. There's a lot of African tribal magic that holds tremendous power, and they have ceremonies that no one in Europe uses, but they still all require spells. It wouldn't be a magickal ceremony without spells.
"I wonder if we can find some way to use his wings," Baz wonders aloud, turning the page.
"I can't fly Baz," I say. "I've tried. You know I've tried. I have no control."
"You could learn control."
"Do you really want me to break my neck?" Baz shrugs.
"I can fix that."
"Focus boys!" Penny says.
"We are focused Bunce," Baz barks, abandoning his book for another. He's read them all already, but now he's just trying to see if there's anything he missed. There isn't.
I look over at him. He's so engrossed and agitated, he's sucking on his fangs. He hasn't done that in a long time. I sigh. I have a suggestion. I thought of it yesterday, but I don't really want to voice it. I don't really want to do it. But this has gone from sweet to painful. I hate watching Baz suffer like this.
"We could use Simon says," I say. Baz gapes at me and I hear something break on Penny's end.
"Simon…" Penny says sadly. I look down at Natasha so I don't have to meet either of their eyes.
"Simon, you hate Simon says," Penny says. "You told me never to use it again."
"I know," I say. "But it might be the best solution in this situation."
"But," Penny argues, "what if something goes wrong." I shrug.
"It should be ok if cast an actual spell afterwards instead of saying unpredictable words. I dois just about the easiest spell there is. You can't mispronounce it, and it works as long as you mean it."
"Simon," Baz says. I look at him and his eyes are wide as dinner plates. "I think that's the most brilliant thing you've ever said." I roll my eyes.
"You've been saying that a lot lately Baz. I'm not as stupid as you think I am." Baz is still looking at me in awe, but he smiles.
"Yeah, maybe you're right. Maybe I'm rubbing off on you."
"Baz!" I whine, but he laughs and kisses my cheek.
"It's brilliant Simon," he says. "It's perfect."
"Baz, I can still see you," Penny says. "But I agree Simon. It's perfect. It's the only solution really. And it should work. I'll do a little research into Simon says to make sure we use it right, but let's go with this."
"Great," Baz says. "Talk to you later Bunce." Penny hangs up. Baz wraps his arms around me and kisses me properly.
"We're getting married Simon!" he says. "We're actually getting married."
"We were getting married before Baz," I say, but I'm grinning.
"I know, but now we know how. I can work with I do. It's not the big magickal spectacle I'm sure my family was hoping for, but it's binding and traditional and no one can complain about it. You're a genius." I stare at him.
"You've never said that to me before. Ever. Not once."
"Well, there's a first time for everything right?" I roll my eyes, but I kiss him again. We're getting married!
BAZ
I'm not nervous. I'm not nervous. I'm not nervous.
Ok, fuck it, I'm nervous.
"You're not getting cold feet now, are you Baz?" Bunce asks as she pins a flower to my lapel. I roll my eyes.
"Of course not," I say.
"Are you sure? You look worried."
"Of course I'm worried. Why aren't you worried? Simon hates Simon says. It's probably his least favorite spell. He wouldn't even let me practice. I'm not sure it's going to work."
"It'll be fine," Bunce says, straightening my tie and spelling my tux perfect. I'm so nervous I didn't even do this stuff myself. "I've done loads of research. I know how to use it. And Simon's right, if he casts a proper spell afterwards, it'll work the way it should. We won't have any surprises like last time."
"Still, you can't blame me for worrying. Things do tend to blow up around him when he tries to use magic. You know that better than anyone." Bunce grins.
"Simon hasn't gone off in years, Baz. Besides, he'll be using my magic. I don't think he can go off."
"I know. But that doesn't mean he won't. Knowing Simon, he'll set the whole house on fire without even trying."
"Your faith in him is astounding." I grin.
"I can always count on him to be unpredictable." Bunce laughs.
"I'm going to go check on Simon," she says. "Do you need anything else?" I shake my head.
"I'll be alright. Just make sure his room isn't smoking." Bunce rolls her eyes and heads out.
We're at my family estate in Hampshire. The holes in the magickal atmosphere disappeared steadily after Simon defeated the Humdrum, and the hole in Hampshire closed enough a few years ago that my family moved back in. There's still an area in the east wing where I think the magic is thin, but Pitches are stubborn and we wouldn't let a little thing like that keep us from our estate. Or something. I've become much less involved in the old families' politics since I started dating Simon. Technically, the house in Hampshire belongs to me now that I'm of age (it is the Pitch estate and my father is a Grimm), but my father and stepmother are much more attached to it than I ever was, and I have no interest in moving into it right now. But it seemed like a decent enough place for the wedding, so here we are.
Bunce is acting as both of our Best Man. There was no one else either of us wanted to ask, and since the wedding is small (just my immediate family and some of Bunce's), we thought it would be fine. Fiona actually flew in from Rio, where she hunts vampires and drinks to excess, even though I know she hates Simon (the feeling's mutual). Simon invited Wellbelove, but she's not here (she sent a card). And headmaster Bunce agreed to perform the ceremony for us.
There's a knock at the door. I banish all traces of nerves from my face. (It's one thing for Simon and Bunce to see me vulnerable. I'd die before I let anyone else catch me looking like that.)
"Come in," I say. My father and stepmother come into the room. My stepmother is holding Natasha. She's all decked out in a gorgeous red and gold dress that my stepmother bought her, and she looks fine. My stepmother is dripping in diamonds. My father is dressed to the nines in tie and tails with his hair slicked back. (Mine is loose. Simon prefers it that way.)
"Oh Baz, you look brilliant," my stepmother gushes. My father just nods his approval. Natasha reaches up to me and I hold my hand out to her so she can grip my finger. I kiss her on the forehead and my stepmother beams at me. She's never seen me like this. I was never this affectionate with her children (I was ten when Mordelia was born. I was hardly of an age where I wanted to dote on my younger sister, and it just became habit after that. And my family's not overly affectionate to begin with.)
"Daphne," my father says. "Can I have a moment alone with Basil?" My stepmother smiles at him.
"Of course," she says. I watch with a twinge of sadness as she takes Natasha away from me (I hate it when I can't see her), but my father clears his throat and my attention turns back to him.
"Basil," he says. "I know you think that I don't approve of this marriage. And honestly, I'm not thrilled. This is not the life I would have chosen for you." I know all this, but I don't really appreciate my father bringing it up on my wedding day. But I swallow my annoyance and keep my face impassive. My father continues.
"But this is the life you have chosen. You are my son, and I respect your decision. I'm proud of you Basilton. I want you to know that." I don't know what to say. I thought my father was begrudgingly agreeing to this marriage because Natasha forced his hand (maybe that's still true). But I never expected him to say he was proud of me for it. I will myself not to cry. I'm not that pathetic.
"Father…" I begin, but before I can say anything else Fiona nearly breaks down my door. (I actually thank her for that. I don't know how I was going to finish that sentence.)
"Baz!" she says, gripping me by the shoulders.
"Yes Fiona?" I ask.
"I'm here to talk you out of this. You don't have to do this. There's still time. There are plenty of other men out there. We'll find you someone." (Fiona has never been bothered by my gayness. Just my dating Simon Snow-ness.)
"You're not going to talk me out of this," I say. "I'm marrying Simon whether you like it or not." Fiona scowls.
"I swear Basil, if you hadn't named that brat Natasha, I don't think I'd even be here. What's your plan now? After you bind yourself to the Chosen One forever?" I shrug.
"To be happy." Fiona glares at me. Fortunately, Bunce sticks her head in the room so Fiona can't finish her tirade.
"It's time," she says.
My father leads a smoldering Fiona out of the room and we head outside to the garden where we have a few chairs set up. My stepmother and siblings are already waiting for us, the kids bouncing up and down in their seats. Natasha has fallen asleep in my stepmother's arms. Micah and Bunce's father have their heads bent together in deep conversation (they have a surprising amount in common), but they look up when I come over. Headmaster Bunce is standing at the front, looking a bit like my mother in her red Watford robes and tight bun. She gives me a nod and I nod back. Then Bunce steps out of the house with Simon. And all my fears melt away.
He's wearing a tux similar to mine and his hair is gelled flat and parted on the side. He looks ridiculous without his curls falling in his face and I don't care one bit. Because he's looking right at me and there's so much joy and tenderness in his eyes that I can't see anything else.
Simon Snow. The love of my life. I don't care if he sets the whole world on fire. Together, we can take on anything.
There's one more chapter coming :)
