Author's note: Thank you to NotMarge, ZabuzasGirl, NicoleR85, Rasha007, and partygirl98 for the reviews! Hope everyone had a happy Halloween. We're getting to the wedding day now, yay! Anyone else picturing Nicholas Hoult in a tux now? Yum!
Apologies
"Lookin' sharp, Beast," Sean said, clapping me on the shoulder.
"Really?" I asked nervously, fussing with my tie. "Because this feels much too tight."
"He's lying to you," Alex assured me. "You look terrible. I told you, you should've gone for the plaid tux instead."
Our wedding day had finally arrived, and I was doing my best not to panic. Everything was already in place outside in the school's gardens- the chairs, the aisle runner, the flowers and lights draped on the gazebo where Zoey and I would say our vows. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the day was cooling rapidly as sunset approached. All was according to plan.
We'd already dressed (in plain black tuxedos and ties, despite Alex's wacky fashion convictions), though there was still an hour until the ceremony started. That left nothing for my groomsmen to do but watch me fidget and pace nervously in my room while we waited.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous," I admitted, ignoring Alex's comment. "Nothing's going to go wrong- right?"
I looked at the other two hopefully, praying for reassurance.
They exchanged glances, eyebrows raised.
Wait- never mind. Don't answer that. Please.
"I dunno..." Sean began. "The power could go out. We'd be doing the wedding in the dark!"
"The Brotherhood could show up," Alex offered.
"Or the FOH."
"And Zoey could still ditch you at the altar."
"Or Alex could lose her ring."
I collapsed onto my sofa, head in hands. "I think I'm going to be sick."
The other two chuckled.
"You guys aren't helping at all."
I hate you both right now.
"Beast, relax," Alex said, finally taking pity on me. "It's going to be fine. You'll be married to your old ball-and-chain soon enough."
Sean snorted.
"Hey, laugh it up, Banshee. I've seen the way Maeve's been eyeing all the wedding stuff," Alex warned him. "You're next."
"Well-"
I ignored their bickering, trying to focus on breathing.
Was I having second thoughts? Not at all. I was more concerned about something happening to mar this special day. What if my voice stopped working when it was time to say my vows? What if I dropped Zoey's ring and it fell through the floorboards of the gazebo? I'd been worried about the little things, but Alex and Sean had brought up a whole new bevy of possible catastrophes to ruminate over.
A light knock sounded on the door, and Sean got up to answer it.
"Hi, Charles," he said. "And, uh-"
Sean opened the door wider, revealing Charles-
And my parents.
"M-mother? Dad?" I sputtered.
"Hello, son," my father said.
Sean whistled, looking between myself and the newcomers. "Havok, I think that's our cue to exit."
"Agreed."
They both gave my parents jaunty waves as they beat a hasty retreat. Leaving me alone with my family and Charles, who I felt would be taking on the role of Judas in this little drama.
Charles?
Weddings are a time for family, he said. His mental voice sounded unrepentant. Just talk to them, Hank. Trust me. Give them a chance.
I bit back a retort, knowing that our unspoken conversation would be conspicuous if we continued it. I stood up and came closer as Charles ushered my parents into the room and excused himself politely.
Nosy, interfering, cowardly-
Deep down, I knew I was only upset with him because he had done what I should have. It was a curious mixture of pride (I did have a little, after all) and pusillanimity that had held me back from calling my parents myself, though I knew Zoey secretly disagreed with my decision. I was determined to not let their negative opinions destroy me ever again. I was afraid that after all this time, I was still a disappointment to them. And I didn't want to find out if that was true or not.
But as much as I embraced the family I'd chosen, the middle-aged people in front of me were still my only flesh and blood in the world. I could see myself in the tall lankiness of my father's frame, the angularity of my mother's face. It might have been unfair of me to not give them a chance to perhaps let bygones be bygones. And while Zoey would never double-cross me by going against my wishes, Charles apparently had no issue with forcing me into confronting the past head-on.
I couldn't decide if I was absolutely livid with him for being so interfering again, or grateful that he'd given me an opportunity to possibly make things right with my parents. It rather depended on how this uncomfortable conversation would go.
"How-?" I began.
"Your friend Charles called and told us you were getting married," my father explained. His eyebrows- so similar to mine- puckered in a regretful expression. "We know it's been a long time, but-"
"Oh, Henry," Mother cried out, interrupting him. She threw her arms around my neck in an uncharacteristic show of emotion and burst into tears. "We're so sorry. We never meant to make you feel- but we were afraid you'd never forgive us-"
Since when are you a crier? Or a hugger?
As I helplessly patted my weeping mother's back, it all became clear. By the time they'd realized the damage their emotional neglect during my formative years had caused, it was too late. My parents thought I was lost to them forever, felt that any gestures on their part to make amends would be rebuffed. Just as I thought any overtures I made would be useless, because I could never be the son they wanted.
"All those wasted years..." my father murmured as he gave me a manly hug, having finally peeled Mother off of me. "I'm so sorry, son."
"Look at the man you've become now," Mother whispered, her blue eyes still swimming with tears. Her hand came up to stroke my face. "Charles told us how well you've done for yourself, all you've achieved. And we didn't- we weren't there for you at all-"
Nope. You weren't.
"We're proud of you, Hank," Dad said. Suddenly his eyes were over-bright.
My mother nodded earnestly. "So proud," she agreed. "I'm sorry it took us so long to understand what a gift you were, Henry. But we know that, now."
"Th-thank you."
Their apologies didn't make the pain that I'd felt for all those years any less potent, any less real. My hurts were valid, and they knew that. The wounds were still there, too deep for time and acknowledgment, however heartfelt, to fully erase.
But hearing them say that- for the first time, I felt a semblance of healing, of peace. An inner serenity I'd only heretofore experienced in Zoey's presence.
I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry.
"W-will you tell us about your fiance? Zoey, Charles said her name was?" Mother asked tentatively.
I sensed the choice before me. This was a chance to offer forgiveness and give us all the opportunity to start anew. The past could not be forgotten, but the future was a blank slate. We could fill in the story any way we wanted to.
"Actually, I'd like you to meet her," I said quietly. "After the wedding, of course."
My mother's face lit up with a cautious hopefulness.
I checked my watch- the watch Zoey had gotten me for my birthday.
"Let me show you where to sit. We'd better hurry, though. I don't want to be late to my own wedding."
I offered Mother my arm, the way she'd taught me. She linked her other arm with my father's, looking incandescently happy as I led them from my room. I took them down the stairs and outside to the arboretum I'd shown Zoey so long ago, on her first visit to the Institute.
This was where we would get married, under a filigree gazebo covered in lights and adorned with white roses along the columns. The trees that stood guard over the fifty or so guest seats were also decorated with hundreds of rose garlands that gracefully hung down in long strands. The branches met overhead, creating a ceiling dripping with flowers and twinkling lights. I thought it would look like toilet paper hanging from the trees when Moira first suggested it, but the lights entwined in the rose cascades succeeded in giving off a lovely ambiance instead.
It seemed like most of the guests had taken their seats by the time we got there, meaning we would start soon. I sat my parents down next to Charles and Moira, who greeted them warmly.
How angry are you with me? Charles' voice whispered in my head.
Oh, I'm furious, I replied, pursing my lips. But I'll get over it.
It was for your own good, Hank. But don't worry, I won't be doing such a thing again. From now on, that's your wife's job.
I made a face at him, remembering him forcing me out of the laboratory, onto this new path I was on.
How far I've come since then, I mused as I took my place.
The reverend from Billy and Marceline's church was already waiting, as were Sean and Alex.
Both of them grinned in reassurance. Alex, my best man, punched me in the shoulder. But I didn't mind- from him that was almost like an "I love you, brother. Don't choke."
Marceline, the last guest to get settled, caught my eye as she took her seat. It was the place traditionally reserved for the mother of the bride. She beamed at me, and I took courage from her expression. If she was smiling, everything was well with Zoey. Right?
I felt a tremor of almost unbearable anticipation, but managed to nervously return her smile.
The sun had finally set on this longest day of the year, leaving us in the balmy embrace of an effulgent fairy forest. Beyond the illuminated tree canopy- in the direction from which my bride would come- I could see the flickering fluorescence of fireflies in the darkness. I grinned as I thought of my Pyralis surrounded by her own kind as she made her way over to walk down the aisle.
I hope she gets here soon. I'm about to pass out from nerves.
Suddenly the first strains of the wedding march began to play. I stood up a little straighter, taking a deep, steadying breath.
It was time to marry the woman of my dreams.