Louie felt like he could breathe freely for the first time in a long time and Boyd felt like he could breathe for the first time at all. It was exhilarating, the notion that they'd officially been a couple for two years and they were tying the knot in front of all their friends and family. It was freeing. Any guilt or worries or irrational thoughts melted away as they got ready for the wedding.

Since they wore matching suits they'd allowed themselves to get dressed together, mostly as an excuse to straighten ties and collars, still always itching for even a dash of intimacy after two whole years of stolen touches.

When they were satisfied with the suits and before Louie got a chance to burst into tears about how handsome they both looked, Louie was whisked away for hair and makeup and Boyd did last-minute checks to make sure their fairytale was on track.

Of course, everything was perfect. Boyd sometimes worried about Louie's insistence on perfection but everyone had wanted today to be the fairytale of his and Boyd's dreams and the hard work had paid off. Brooke had provided gorgeous blue flowers for the venue and Daisy had done the outfits for everyone in the wedding party and all of the niblings. Huey's triplets were excited and attentive ushers and Mikey and DJ guarded the guestbook. Raph watched over Leo and Mo as they prepared for their big debut as ring bearer and flower boy respectively. Excitement was in the air.

And Louie was able to steal a moment with Uncle Donald in between makeup and the beginning of the procession.

"Uncle Donald?" He said quietly before they got queued up to walk down the aisle.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think mom would like… All this?"

"She'd love it, Louie. She'd be so proud of you. And I know that she would adore Boyd. And Mo."

Louie beamed at that.

"I got really lucky."

"Even us unlucky Ducks can find love sometimes. But you deserve this, Louie."

"Yeah, everyone tells me that. I finally believe it."

"Good."

The musical cue sprung up and Donald and Louie got ready to walk. Donald was feeling pretty emotional. He hadn't gotten the chance to give Huey away like this at his wedding and Dewey would be blissfully single forever, so this was really very special.

Louie briefly glanced at the people standing and watching him walk down the aisle. Most of his family was waiting near the altar, divided between him and Boyd. Aunt Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, and Goldie all sat together with Leo, Mo, and Raph, who were done with their wedding duties. Gyro sat with Tara and Yuri, all three looking incredibly excited if not a little nervous after last night's rehearsal. Brooke, Paige, and Craig sat with a couple of Boyd's college buddies. Fethry and Gladstone sat with Panchito and José. Gosalyn and Lena sat near the back with the other heroes in case someone decided to crash the wedding. Several other friends and family were there as well but Louie's focus was drawn to his husband, waiting at the altar, looking the happiest he'd ever been.

Immediately, Louie wanted to cry. This was similar to the feeling he'd been feeling last night but this time it was a hopeful, happy feeling. He stood across from Boyd and he was transported back to the first time he woke up next to Boyd. Okay, he'd been pretty scared then, too, but he'd started falling in love that day. And he fell a little bit more in love every day since.

Boyd immediately took Louie's hands, feeling the same surge of love and warmth.

"Louie," he whispered as Shiloh began to speak.

"Boyd," Louie whispered back. They almost broke out into giggles, but Shiloh gave Louie a look and he sobered up.

Finally, they got to the vows.

"Louie, I genuinely never thought that our lives would end up like this. But from the moment we met, I knew you were someone I could fall deeply in love with. I'm glad I walked you home that night, I'm glad I left you my number and you decided to text me. I feel so lucky that the universe aligned so that we could be together. I never thought I'd be so lucky, that I'd have a husband and a kid and a whole beautiful future… I thought I'd just always be some dorky scientist married to my career but you came along and offered me something more incredible than I could have ever imagined. And I love you, Louie. I know you always say that I made you better but I don't think you understand how much you made me better. I'm the person I am today because of you. And I know together we will never stop getting better. Because we were made for each other, love. Truly and really made for each other. Forever and always."

Louie felt like he was going to sob at Boyd's words, but he took a deep breath and composed himself, remembering the vows he'd worked so hard on. He… Didn't want to say them.

"Boyd, I've got to go off-script, because the things I was going to say I've said before. And I know I've said before that I love you but I more than love you, I need you. You complete me. We've been through so much and I wouldn't change a single thing about it, I wouldn't change a single mistake we've made together or the times we fought to keep this relationship intact. If I could take back any nightmares or heartache I wouldn't because I weathered those storms with you. Every moment we've had has been priceless and the time we'll have together in the years to come is worth living for, worth changing for. You complete me, and I am so lucky to have you as my better half."

They moved through the rest of the ceremony with stars and tears in their eyes, right up to their "I dos," and the kiss that followed. The crowd cheered but Louie and Boyd didn't hear it, pressed together as if they had never kissed before. When they finally pulled away the world came rushing back in and they remembered their friends and family who surrounded them. Louie and Boyd shared a surprised laugh and then led the wedding processional out of the church.

Their reception went by like a blur, with cake and ice cream and dancing. Louie felt terrible but he knew he wouldn't really remember much of it, compared to the ceremony. He wished he could have stayed in Boyd's arms forever during their first dance together, but after the traditions were out of the way he and Boyd were left playing hosts and fathers, giving Mo a little extra attention before they left him with Dewey for the week.

Mo was pretty okay with the idea of a week without his daddies since it meant that he and the kitties were gonna be at Uncle Dewey's house with Raph and Leo and DJ and Mikey. He loved his cousins so much and was babbling to Louie about all the things they would do together. Louie had offered Raph some money for helping watch Mo the following week but Raph had surprisingly rejected the offer, insisting that he liked watching Mo. Boyd had, separately from Louie, offered Mikey twenty dollars for helping watch the cats and Mikey had readily accepted the cash.

But eventually, the couple said goodbye to their loved ones, left Mo in Dewey's arms, and drove off in Boyd's convertible.

The sudden freedom was like flipping a switch. Louie began to laugh and Boyd joined him without having any idea what they were laughing at.

"You okay, Lou?" Boyd asked after a moment.

"This is genuinely the best day of my life, Boyd. My fairytale dream come true, of course, but even better. I didn't think it could get better from the first time we got married, but we have this whole life together now. I'm so happy."

"Me too. I told you that there would be good days."

"I love you, Boyd."

"I love you too…" They didn't have to say much after that. So they just blasted Don't Stop Believing and stopped to get Dairy Queen before they arrived at their honeymoon cabin.

As soon as they got inside, they crashed on the king-sized bed, cuddling close.

"Am I supposed to be this tired after my wedding?" Louie asked as Boyd pulled a fluffy blanket over them.

"Yes. Weddings are exhausting…"

"I'm still happy, though. I'd like to relive today forever for the rest of my life."

"Okay. Want to watch my memories?"

"Yes please…"

"And eat popcorn?"

"I'm gonna marry you," Louie said with obvious delight.

"We already did that, love. Twice."

"We could always do it again."

"Maybe after May and Shiloh get married. It would be unfair to have three weddings before they had one."

"Deal."

Louie and Boyd got up to make hot chocolate and popcorn and then they rewatched the wedding a couple of times before their exhaustion carried them to bed. And then they dreamed about the future they had ahead of them, so excited for whatever happened next.

Oh my gosh, arc 3 is actually done. I could have had no idea that THIS would be where we ended up when I started. I owe a lot to my friend Sally for inspiring me and brainstorming with me, as well as everyone who has left comments on this story. It's been a really good six months of Jailbird.

I've decided on the approach I'm going to take with the final arc, as well. We're treating it as an epilogue, essentially ten years later showing what the future holds. Mo will be a teenager, Louie and Boyd will (probably) have it all figured out… I'm really excited to go on this last leg of the journey with you for the final ten chapters of Jailbird. In the meantime, I'll be editing the first FIFTY chapters of Jailbird, I've already edited the first fifteen, and I'll be working on some other fics, old and new, as well.