Chapter 21: You may now kiss the Brit
Arthur was in heaven. He and Francis had decided on a July wedding, close enough to the boy's birthdays with them but so that they could spend Francis's birthday, which fell on the 14th, on their honeymoon. They were currently relaxing in their bedroom, Arthur reading a book while lying on Francis's lap, the Frenchman sketching something in his notebook, pencil tucked behind his ear and using the Brit's head as a place to rest his notebook. The door suddenly burst open and Lovino barged in, rolled up papers under his arms and pens sticking out of his shirt pocket, complete with a light in his eyes that slightly scared Arthur. "Ciao tutti now listen up bastards!" He yelled, Ludwig following behind him and carrying an easel and corkboard, setting up while Lovino clapped his hands together, glaring at the couple.
"Lovino what is all of this?" Arthur asked, looking at what Ludwig was setting up.
"Just be glad zhat Antonio convinced him to drop zhe fünfzehn slide powerpoint presentation." Ludwig grumbled, Lovino sticking his tongue out at the German.
"Alright so you vino bastard let me arrange your honeymoon, and i'd be damned if mio cugino gets anything less than the very best. By the way, none of you are getting any presents other than this, because we are all paying." He started, waving his hands when Arthur started to protest. "Tomorrow is the wedding, then immediately after you are getting on a plane to Lisbon, where Antonio's brother was nice enough to let you use a house that he owns. You will stay there for two days until the 9th, when you will be flying to Barcelona, and Antonio rented a hotel for you right near the sea, so enjoy that. On the 11th you will fly to Paris, where you will stay until the 16th."
"Paris? Oh merci beaucoup Lovino!" Francis squealed, jumping up to hug the Italian. Said Italian was pinning a map of Europe to the corkboard, instructing Ludwig to place tacks where the couple would be staying.
"Hmm? Get off you bastard i'm not finished yet dammit!" He yelled through a mouthful of pins, huffing indignantly once the Frenchman released him. "Anyway as I was saying before my attack, five days in Paris, before traveling to Corsica. A two day trip through Corsica and north Sardinia, last I checked you owned a home in Corsica so that shouldn't be a problem. Get on a goddamn plane in Sassari, to Roma. Il soggiorno di due giorni a Roma- cosa stai guardando?" He asked crossly when everyone looked at him in confusion.
Ludwig cleared his throat, coughing into his fist. "Jou vere speaking Italian. Could you repeat zhat?"
"Grazie. I said that your two day stay in Roma will end with a plane to London, where you will spend the rest of your honeymoon, returning here on the 27th." He finished, placing the final tack on the map and taking a marker out of his pocket, connecting all of the points and looking at his work with satisfaction. Ludwig handed him a folder that he leafed through, nodding before tossing it at Francis's face. "Here. All the tickets and times, along with locations. Enjoy." Lovino grinned at seeing Francis and Arthur's shocked faces, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "Gli ragazzi will be staying with Allen, Matt, and Allistor, i've already arranged everything and told them. I'm honestly surprised that the little devils managed to keep it a secret."
"It iz totally not awesome zhat neizher of jou lovebirds vill be going to Berlin!" Gilbert broke in, bursting into the room and slinging an arm over his little brother's shoulder. Elizaveta followed, her skillet clipped to her belt as usual. "Jou two are so gay! Jou know zhat song Gay or European? Zhat describes jou perfectly!" He felt the need to blurt out.
"Gilbert you bloody idiot every adult in this room except for you and Eliza married another man, I would be surprised if we were anything but." Arthur scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Besides, I don't think you're as straight as you claim to be." He teased, raising one thick eyebrow at the German.
"JOU CAN'T CATCH ME GAY THOUGHTS!" Gilbert screamed, running out of the room. "NOT TODAY!"
"I'll go get him." Elizaveta sighed, unclipping the skillet from her belt and walking out in search of the German. A dull clang and high pitched shriek followed by a "NEIN LIZZIE JOU CAN'T DO ZHAT" sounded throughout the house soon after.
"Lovino… Thank you so much. This means so much and thank you so much for such a wonderful honeymoon and for taking the time to plan this." Arthur thanked, standing up and clasping the short Italian's hand with his own.
"Tch, British." Lovino grumbled, before hugging Arthur. "You're marrying into this crazy family, so thank me like one." The Italian and German walked out of the room, Arthur flopping back onto the bed, next to his fiancé. He buried his face in Francis's shoulder, a soft smile spreading on his face as the man he loved kissed the top of his head, holding Arthur in his arms.
~Time skip~
A crisp note reached Arthur's ears from where he was hiding behind a grove of trees, the flute mingling with the sound of a violin as Gilbert and Elizaveta began to play, the music drifting through the early July morning. The Englishman squeezed his eyes shut and rested his forehead against the bark of an old oak, aware of the people outside and the bouquet of flowers he held in his hands. Their families had all come from Europe to see them get married and were waiting in the clearing as Arthur's cue to walk down the aisle approached. A high trill from the flute sounded and Arthur steeled himself, straightening his blue tie, one that perfectly matched the Frenchman's eyes, and stepped out from the trees, beginning to make his way down to where Francis was standing. He took Allistor's arm as they began to walk, smiling softly when he saw his oldest brother trying to hold back tears. Arthur had asked the Scotsman to give him away at the wedding, and Allistor had agreed, answering that it would be his pleasure to help in anyway he could.
There was a sweet smell of iris and rose in the air, the dappled sunlight gleaming off of Francis's golden locks and his lips curling up in a gentle smile, blue eyes beaming. Gilbert stood at his side, playing the flute beautifully, eyes closed in concentration as Elizaveta stood across from him, a violin in her hands. Antonio stood beside Gilbert, his flamenco style strawberry coloured dress matching with his husband's tie. Lovino was sitting in the audience, a content look on his face as he observed the wedding. Gil and Toni had tried to get Arthur to wear a dress but he had furiously vetoed that idea, Antonio instead asking Lovino if he could wear a dress in place of Arthur. Lovino, though grumbling and bitching about the Spaniard's choice in what to wear to a wedding, had sewed and designed the gorgeous dress. Arthur stepped beside Francis, sweeping aside the petals that Alfred had scattered there before with his feet. He blushed softly as Francis lifted his chin with a delicate hand, nearly melting when he saw the overjoyed tears shining in the azure orbs. Ludwig took his spot in between them, clearing his throat and opening his book with the lines.
"Guten Tag everyone." He began to speak, his deep bass voice soothing and steady. He had gotten a certificate online after he had learned of the engagement, knowing firsthand the hassle of getting a minister. "Ve are gathered here today to celebrate zhe union of two unique souls, may zhey find nothing but happiness from zhis marriage. Francis Bonnefoy, do jou take zhis man, Arthur Ignatius Kirkland, to be jour husband?"
"I do." His velvet accented voice was a low murmur in Arthur's ears, those two simple words causing Arthur's heart to swell.
"Arthur Ignatius Kirkland, do you take zhis man, Francis Bonnefoy, to be jour husband?"
"I do." the Brit's voice was surprisingly clear and strong, ringing out to the audience.
"Zhe couple will now read zhe additional vedding vows given to zhem by Arthur's bruder, Patrick Kirkland."
"Arthur, you are blood of my blood, and bone of my bone. I give you my body, zat we two might be one. I give you my spirit, `til our life shall be done. You cannon possess me for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give you zat which is mine to give. You cannon command me, for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in zose ways you require, and ze 'oneycomb will taste sweeter coming from my 'and." Francis said, his accent shining through the traditional Celtic vows. Arthur had never been particularly close to Patrick, and had nearly cried when the Irishman approached Arthur and Francis, giving them the vows as a suggestion.
"I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine, from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night, and into your eyes that I smile each morning; I shall be a shield for you back as you are for mine, no shall a grievous word be spoken about us, for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance. Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life, and into the next." There was not a dry eye in the audience of friends and family at this point, even Allen and Matt, who were in charge of photographs, could keep back a few tears.
Ludwig paused to blink away tears, and with a proud smile he proclaimed, "Zhen by zhe power vested in me by zhe internet, I now pronounce jou husband und husband! Jou may now kiss zhe Brit." Francis placed his hands on either side of his husband's face and leaned in, connecting their lips in their first kiss as a married couple. Cheers sounded behind them as Francis spun Arthur around, dipping him down, one hand supporting his back while the other held his leg, kissing Arthur passionately. They finally broke apart, Arthur's arms around the Frenchman's neck, foreheads touching and eyes closed in happiness.
"Je t'aime Arthur." Francis breathed out as he straightened up, setting Arthur back onto his feet. Arthur smiled and held up his hand where his wedding band glinted in the light.
"I love you too Fran-"
"JUST THROW YER FOKIN BOUQUET ALREADY!" needless to say, Allistor got a bunch of flowers thrown at about the speed of a fastball to the face and walked around the rest of the day with petals in his hair.
"YAY I HAVE 2 DADS NOW!" Alfred yelled, bursting from his place in the line to hug both males around their legs, Arthur falling onto Francis from the force of the grasp. Matthew followed him, hugging the newlyweds tightly.
"Merci beaucoup Arthur. You made papa happy." he whispered into Arthur's suit, the entire family sinking down into a group hug. "Merci Arthur, for being there for us." Matthew Williams now had his mother out of the picture, two loving dads, and a stepbrother, all who he loved and who loved him in return. As Francis and Arthur took their first dance together, Matthew could only think one thought. Francis and Arthur had finally found someone who loved the other and treasured them like the gift they are. They were finally in love, finally noticed by someone just as special as the other.