I'm horrible at updating, I know. However, I still hope you will enjoy this despite all of it.

Also, just in case there is any confusion. This is somewhat of a traditional Swedish wedding. Where both "bride and groom" walk down the aisle together, instead of the traditional walk with the parent.

Tino stood quietly pacing back and forth, he could feel his nerves getting to him. He stared at the door that led out of the room. Everyone already gone outside and he was sure he was going to throw up. "I don't think I can do this," he whispered and looked down at the vase of moon roses. He stared at them as if they were going to respond, but he shook his head thinking how silly he must sound.

He then returned to his pacing, he could hear the people outside and he knew if he drew back the curtains he would able to see the dozens of people that showed up. The tears were already pooling in his eyes, "Oh shoot," he said quickly and wiped them away before pulling out the small book from his tux. He looked down at it and ran his fingers over the cover, he took a seat setting the book down right in front of the vase.

"Mom what do I do?" he asked staring at the worn out cover. "I know you said to keep an open mind and heart… but...but I'm marrying someone I don't even love," he said softly. The tears came down his face before he covered it. "Mom what do I do?" he sniffled.

The room slightly dimmed around him as he glanced up and looked over at the moon roses, they glowed softly with the silver leaves shining just like stars. This time it couldn't be his imagination, he knew this was real. He quickly pulled the vase closer staring at the flowers, "What do I do?" he whispered again. The roses glowed a little brighter as the tears fell, one landing briefly on a rose.

The burst of light that followed blinded Tino and he covered his eyes. He looked back to see the book open in front of him, it was on the last page where his mother wrote. The last few lines where handwriting became nearly unreadable, and over the years faded. But he knew the words by heart. He furrowed his eyebrows a bit as he read the first few lines out loud to himself. "When faced with fear, show courage. When faced with sadness, show kindness. When faced with the unknown, show understanding. When faced with hate, show love." He quickly looked up at the roses as they glowed brilliantly and he smiled. "Be brave, right? That's what you're saying?" The roses glinted slightly, and he smiled gingerly and nodded. "I'll try my best," he said and then pulled the bouquet of roses out of the vase and to his face.

The roses brushed against his cheeks, just like gentle kisses. His heart swelled, and his body was overcome with peace. He kept his eyes closed for a few moments he could've sworn he felt something else, as if someone was hugging him, holding him close to them. But, he wasn't afraid. He let the sensation fill him until there was a knock on the door and he opened his eyes gently. The moon roses were no longer shining and he looked to see who it was. "Tino, are you ready?" Mathias asked.

Tino nodded getting up and closing the book before putting back into the pocket of his tux where it fit perfect. He walked over and Mathias kept the door open for him. He thanked him and saw Berwald standing there looking just sas stunning as he did in his own suit. He held out his hand toward the other and Tino hesitated before he slowly let his hand slip into his. He smiled up at Berwald who still had the same expression as he always did, but this time his features looked much softer. He didn't know if it was the lighting or maybe just his imagination, but he looked kinder.

Meanwhile, Berwald was internally freaking out. He was holding Tino's hand and he was actually smiling at him. Tino's aura was also the same beautiful colors, of course a peachy orange of nerves, but he hoped it would slowly disappear. He cleared his throat, "You...look good," he said quietly.

Tino's lips parted for a second, his face heating up. "Thank you," he whispered, "You look good too."

Berwald looked away quickly before his own blush would give him away. Just then the traditional music began to play and Mathias urged for the two to get going from beside them. "Oh right," Berwald said before leading Tino down the path. His eyes focused where a man in a white robe stood at the end.

Tino's face only became as red as could be seeing all the people there. They each smiled at him and he looked amongst the crowd a few people crying and sniffling. He kept a surprising even pace with the beat of the song and with Tino until they finally reached the altar. "Shall we begin?" the man asked looking amongst the crowd that Tino could hear sit down behind him. "Welcome everybody, we are gathered here today…"

Berwald could hear what the priest was saying, but he couldn't quite understand. He was sure his hand was getting sweaty by now, and he wanted nothing more than for it to be over. He glanced over at Tino who kept a soft expression on his face, his aura slowly relaxing and the peachy orange color slowly disappeared. He smiled internally, it was really quite a beautiful sight to see.

The rest of the ceremony went by undisturbed, no intrusions and certainly nobody calling out against their marriage. Although, Tino was sure he saw his Uncle Elo restrain Lukas. "Now, you may kiss," the man said and the two turned toward one another. Tino could feel his heart beating quickly with the other slowly leaning down.

This was it, his first kiss not only as a married man, but in general. He let his eyes close quietly and he gripped the bouquet to his chest tighter. The moment of peace he had just before the ceremony returned to him. As if the energy from the flowers slowly filled his fingertips and then travelled all along his body.

Berwald felt their lips press together, even if were only for a few brief seconds. He swore Tino's lips were the softest things to ever touch him. His eyes slowly opened looking at Tino, his lavender eyes huge and bright. It was as if time was frozen, the beautiful colored eyes bright as the sun. It only lasted for a few moments however as the sound from the cheering of the crowd quickly reached his ears. He cleared his throat moving away from the smaller man and couldn't help but having a small smile reamaing on his lips.

Tino's stare lingered on Berwald for a few brief moments and then he turned to the crowd, a large smile on his face. They threw small petals at them as they made their way back down the aisle hand in hand.

Everyone was moved inside to the large ballroom. Inside guests were seated and served food while Tino and Berwald sat at a separate table looking at everyone. "This is a nice wedding," Tino smiled tucking hair behind his ear. Berwald glanced over with a small smile as he looked down and ate the food quietly beside his new wife. He was glad Tino was enjoying himself and he glanced around seeing children run around and laughing.

But they were both pulled out of their thoughts when one of the children screamed, followed by the other children screaming. Berwald stood up just as Mathias walked over, he saw two large ravens outside the window. One of them was larger than the other, and the smaller one had white specks decorating his feathers. Three times the size of the children and both of them looking ominously at them, one of them ruffled their feathers and Mathias cleared his throat. "It's nothing to worry about, I'll get rid of them right away!" he smiled.

Berwald then turned to Tino, "Excuse me." Tino watched as Berwald quickly exited the large ballroom. Moments later with a wave of his hand the birds disappeared from sight. The children no longer scared, as they were fascinated by Mathias.

"Excuse me," Mathias said finally getting away from the kids and his eyes momentarily locked with Lukas'. Lukas then glanced away and Mathias pressed his lips in a firm line before leaving the room.

Berwald awaited for Mathias to enter the upstairs room that was his study. To the side of him were two large doors that led to a balcony, the two large birds from earlier were perched right outside. When Mathias walked in a few minutes after him he opened the doors. The two large ravens suddenly shifted forms, both becoming human like. "What brings you? Did something happen?" Berwald asked looking at the two men. One of them blond and blue-eyed like he was, with his counterpart that was albino and seemed to shift a bit uncomfortably in his other form.

"We were at the edge of the woods, and on the other side there was a home on fire," the blond one, Ludwig said. "The home of your new bride."

Berwald tensed a bit and bit the inside of his lip. "Are you sure?"

"We wouldn't be here unless otherwise," Ludwig replied. He glanced at his other brother who was now dusting off some twigs from his shoulders.

"Did you see anyone near the home?" Mathias asked.

"Just a man, he looked homeless," the albino, Gilbert, said. "We didn't see his face or else we would have risked being seen. The people in the town did see the fire however, before we left we saw some of them trying to put it out."

"You did good, thank you," Berwald said quietly. The two nodded before walking towards the window again.

Gilbert was out of the window first shifting into the large raven with white speckled dots. His brother stayed at the window and turned to Berwald, "The moon roses, those are what you're after, right?"

Berwald didn't answer.

"The man that we saw, he was burning them," Ludwig said. With that he walked out the window turning into the large raven and the both of them took off.

"Sir," Mathias said but Berwald was already heading out of the room back towards the ballroom. He quickly followed after him, "What are you going to do?" he asked him but Berwald wasn't responding.

Berwald felt an ache in his chest, as if someone was slowly squeezing his heart. He could only imagine the horror on Tino's face when he finds out the news, and he stopped right outside the doors to the ballroom. He can't tell Tino, he would be devastated. Crushed. Heartbroken. He needed to think this through and he glanced back at Mathias who looked at him with worry, but moments later he had a smile on his face. As if he had come up with a plan before Berwald had even asked him too.

"Why don't we tell Taisto first?" he suggested and Berwald pondered this for a moment. "He can go back in a carriage with either you or me, and see the damage, afterwards we can tell Tino when all the guests have left."

"It's like keeping a secret," Berwald muttered.

"It's not a secret persay," Mathias said quietly but Berwald wasn't buying it. Mathias walked inside the ballroom and Berwald waited patiently outside. He wondered who could have done such a thing, but of course he knew the answer to that already. The only person who much rather be a child who doesn't get their way.

Berwald could feel the anger grow inside of him, he stepped back from the doors to the ballroom and began to pace. He thought of all the possible scenarios that could happen once he sees the person who is behind all of it. He thought of tearing them to shreds. Making them beg for mercy. Forcing them to apologize to Tino for what they've done. But none of it would matter, he realized this just as the door opened.

"Berwald?" he heard Taisto say. His smile a little faint as he spotted Berwald pacing back and forth. "Everything alright?"

He looked at him, and he could see the eyes of the father who begged him to care for his child. He bit his lip, how was he going to say this? Of course it was going to break his heart, it was going to hurt him. It was his home, where he had raised Tino. Where he had planned to raise his family with his now deceased wife. He cleared his throat, "Those birds from earlier were informants," he said and tried to look Taisto in the eye the best he could. "I told them to watch over your home while you were away and…'

The words died at his lips as Taisto held his hand up. The mans features soon became soft and he couldn't tell if it was the dim lighting in the hallway but the man seemed to age several years right in front of him. He glanced around before taking a seat and leaned over. His elbows on his knees and his head down with his hands interlocked. "Continue," he said barely above a whisper.

"There was a fire," he said softly.

"How bad it the damage?"

"We're not sure yet," Berwald replied, "We can give you a carriage that will you take you there right away."

Taisto was silent as he gazed down at the plush carpet beneath his feet. It didn't feel real, hardly any of it. His son getting married to this man, and now his house was set on fire. What was going on? Why did these things keep happening? He sat up and leaned back in the chair looking at the Duke, "Thank you. I will take the carriage back to town, let me just say my goodbye's."

Berwald only nodded as he watched Taisto rise up from the chair, tired and looking almost dazed he shuffled back into the ballroom. "What are we going to do?" he heard Mathias asked moments after the door closed.

Berwald had no answer.

Tino was drinking the tart liquid in his cup just as he watched his father approach him. His shoulders were slightly slumped and he wore a tired smile, "I'm going to go back home," he said.

Tino gripped the stem of the glass and set it down, "Already?' he asked hoping he didn't sound to pathetic. "How come?"

"Oh you know," his father said with a small chuckle now glancing off to the side and watching the party goers. "A man like me gets tired very easily."

Tino looked over him, silently studying him. He didn't want his father to go for two reasons. One, he was scared. He didn't know how things were going to be after everyone left. He didn't want to make it noticeable either and worry his father, but the thought had loomed in the back of his mind all day. Two, he knew something was wrong. His father was acting strange and just moments ago he seemed so happy. So full of life, it was the happiest he's seen him since this entire thing began. "I can ride back with you, and the carriage…"

"Don't worry," his father said cutting him off. "I don't want to ruin the celebration for you."

"It's not much of a celebration if you aren't here," Tino said. He watched his father shift a bit and shrug his shoulders. He wondered what Mathias had told him outside in the hallway, why had he been taken outside? Was something wrong? "What did they tell you?" Tino asked.

He watched his father visibly tense up and Tino pressed his lips together. "It's nothing you should worry about. Today is a day to celebrate."

"Dad," Tino said this time as if he was a parent scolding a child. "If there is something wrong you don't need to hide it from me."

Taisto looked at his son, in his white suit and beautiful crown of marjoram leaves. He thought back to how much Naimi would have loved to see her son like this. Even with the circumstances she would have been balling at the sight of her son. "There was a fire," he whispered.

"A fire? Where?"

"At the house, I'm sure it isn't as bad as it sounds…" but before he could finish his sentence Tino was already walking towards the door. He quickly tried to walk after him, this was only to get worse.

Tino opened the ballroom door to see Berwald and Mathias, he held his breath for a moment and then spoke. "Pull up a carriage, we have to get back to the cottage."

"Tino, I don't think it would be safe," Mathias tried to explain but Tino wasn't having it. He already walked past the two of them and toward the front of the large mansion. Mathias glanced at Berwald who was silent before walking after his new bride.

"Tino… Tino," Berwald called again. Tino stopped at the doors and glanced back at him, his eyes already glossy.

"If you're going to tell me not to go, don't bother."

"I'm not," Berwald said. "Let me get a carriage, I'll go with you and your father. Mathias will take care of the guests."

Tino looked at him for a few moments and then nodded. He didn't expect the response and it surprised him in a delightful way. Well, the most delightful way it could seeing the situation. He waved his father over as they then headed out and waited for a carriage to be pulled around.

Short chapter, but hopefully the next one will be longer. I've had writer block and well not anymore. Hopefully it lasts, anyway leave a review if you like. Thanks!