Bleeding Feathers Chapter 21: Timestamp: The Ceremony, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

(A/N) I'm really sorry that the Percabeth wedding is so short, but I can only assume that everyone knows how a normal wedding works and that I didn't have to explain everything like with an angelic wedding.

Chapter Soundtrack: Tear In My Heart by 21 Pilots

-Ω-

The Daily Disciple

Machen, Thursday, July 16, 13.75 Billion Years since the Beginning of Time

ARCHANGEL MICHAEL/ANNABETH AND PERSEUS TO BE WED IN TWO WEEKS!

Love is in the air in Heaven as we prepare for the first ever union between an Archangel and another being. The entire month of July has been dedicated to preparing for the ceremony, and with the two already boasting prominent mating marks (see picture below), the lovely pair seems to be going strong! It's the biggest talk of the millennia, and people are already adorning their homes with streamers and ribbons to prepare for the gigantic parade scheduled to occur on the big day! The plans are huge, and with the Maid of Honor, Hazel, and the Best Man, the one and only Archangel Gabriel, mostly in charge of the proceedings (Michael, Annabeth, and Percy didn't dare argue with them), it is sure to be a grand event! Angels are streaming in from all of the seven Heavens in order to oversee and experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it has even been decreed that every worker shall be able to take the day off in order to travel to Machen, where Michael's palace resides.

Men and women, young and old, are all raring to witness the parade and perhaps manage to squeeze into the ceremony, which is being held in the cathedral inside Michael's palace. This, however is just the beginning! The couple will be wed with Michael in charge of the vessel, however to make sure that the lovely Annabeth didn't miss out, they are holding another wedding on Earth reserved for only close friends, and at that one Annabeth will, indeed, be in charge. It will also be held in the mortal style rather than the angelic, which is rather bizarre but also endearing, since it means they are celebrating both of their cultures.

Hotels are overflowing with people, all booked up for this single day, and many construction angels actually had to widen Main Street by a couple of thousand feet just to accommodate the sheer amount of angels that are flowing in. Performers, musicians, and everything else under the sun are scrambling to sign up for the parade, and it will break thousands upon thousands of records, including but not limited to the largest group of assembled musicians and the largest parade in the entirety of the universe!

Make sure you're ready for the special day!

-Ω-

This was it. Nico was disappointed that he hadn't been chosen as the Best Man for this particular wedding, but A) Percy had made him the Best Man for the human wedding and B) Only full-fledged angels were allowed to assume those positions. He was, however, in the Bridal Party, as were Calypso, Frank, and Piper (and of course Hazel), though the humans were only allowed to attend as honored guests. This was clearly an angels-only event. The stress, however, was real.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!" Gabriel yelled as he ran around the huge penthouse they'd rented to change in. "WHERE'S MY FUCKING SUIT?!" The bridesmaids were in the penthouse next door, and Nico didn't think they were nearly as disorganized as they, the groomsmen, were. Michael and Percy were in separate rooms in separate hotels as to make sure that they didn't see each other too early, and Nico was glad because Michael would totally rip them a new one if he saw that it was only ten minutes until the parade and half of the guys were still in their underwear. Everyone was scrambling to get dressed, and it was complete and total chaos incarnated into an event.

"GET YOUR FUCKING SUITS ON!" Uriel bellowed, still in his boxers, and Nico found it quite overwhelming to be in the same room as four out of five of the Archangels and to actually be changing in front of them. He felt a sort of brotherly bond, since all of them were freaking the fuck out over their tight time frame. He'd had his suit on the fastest, considering he didn't have any wings to worry about, and was now helping other angels into their suits and tying their sea green ties if they didn't know how to. The room was a blur of light grey fabric and feathers of all different colors, and more than once Nico had been smacked around by a flailing, feathery appendage.

"Holy shit, Hazel's going to be pissed," Frank squeaked as he frantically fumbled with his tie, his rust-colored wings quivering in his excitement and anxiety.

"Flower, flower, flower, flower," Raphael murmured to himself as he pinned on their boutonnieres in rapid succession, which were roses whose petals were the same color as their ties. It was all incredible planning on Gabriel and Hazel's part, and Nico had no idea how they and they'd even thought of planning those things. He surely would've forgotten.

"EVERYONE STAY FUCKING CALM," Gabriel screeched despite the fact that he was probably the least calm out of all of them, and his words only made their group of six scramble even faster. Uriel conked Nico on the head with a blood-red wing when rifling through his duffle to try and find a matching pair of socks, and Frank and Azrael collided trying to look for mirrors to fix up their hair.

"SHIT WE'RE LATE!" Raphael shrilled, and everyone crowded through the door and dashed down the hall as fast as their legs could allow. They'd forsaken the elevator and simply jumped out the nearest window, their wings fanning out to make sure they didn't splatter on the pavement, and Nico clung to Frank will all of his might as the angel of nature descended. Nico couldn't help but feel awed at the magnificent colors of the Archangels' wings. From the bright crimson of Uriel's wings to the dark green, almost black of Azrael's. Gabriel had the biggest wingspan of all time, the huge, golden appendages spanning at least fifty feet from tip to tip, and Nico couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, considering the fact that he had no wings while Gabriel had wings that were too big.

The bridesmaids were waiting, their soft, silken dresses the same color as the groomsmen's ties, and they didn't look the least bit happy as they touched down. There was no time for argument, though, because the carriages were lined up already and everyone had to find their partner. Hazel took Gabriel's arm, much to Frank's disappointment, and went to the carriage in the front of the line, though the rusty-winged angel did have Calypso as a partner. They went their separate ways with pats on the back and murmurs of "good luck" as Nico joined Piper in their carriage; each pair had their own open-topped, gold-embellished coach pulled by a team of two pegasi. The carriages themselves couldn't fly, but Nico feared that the horses would spook and take off, and with their tremendous strength they could no doubt lift them a couple of hundred feet into the sky. The street was jam-packed with huge floats and acrobats, and Nico's mouth dropped open as a daredevil placed his head into the open mouth of a drakon and didn't get his skull crushed by its huge jaws.

"LET'S GET THIS FUCKING SHOW ON THE ROAD!" Gabriel screeched and sounded his horn, and all at once the carriages lurched forwards as the drivers whipped up the pegasi, who whinnied and bucked in their excitement, the bells that adorned their bridles ringing melodiously. Excited chatter clogged the air with raucous babble, but it was the good kind, and Nico felt like he was walking on air as the carriages took off, the performers trailing behind. Almost immediately as the color guard and the flag bearers rounded the corner, music exploded from every single building, and it was just the right volume to make Nico's heart soar in his chest. He caught a glimpse of the bearer of God's flag, who was riding Hazel's pegasus, Arion, and the bearer of Poseidon's flag, who was riding Blackjack/Mrs. O'Leary, Percy's mastiff-pegasus hybrid. They were followed by bearers of all the flags from the seven Heavens, the flags of notable officials such as Malakai and the Archangels, and flags representing every single country on Earth. The most enthusiastic seemed to be Paolo, an angel of nature who was animatedly waving Brazil's flag. The entire mounted procession looked like a rainbow of all different colors (of course, the LGBT+ flags added to that, all of which were represented), and never before had Nico's breath been stolen from him in such a manner.

"It's so beautiful," Calypso whispered faintly, blinking furiously in a vain attempt to preserve her makeup. "For many centuries I thought I'd never see Heaven again and now…"

"Trust me, I get it," Nico mumbled, crying incredibly masculine and totally non-pathetic man tears. The pegasi trotted along, the ground smooth beneath the wheels and Calypso and Nico smiled and waved at the hordes of people crowding the streets and waving colorful flags and banners from the windows of the buildings lining the streets.

"Ave! Ave Sancti Michaelis! Ave Perseus nuntius!" they cried, many of them brought to tears and weeping into handkerchiefs. "Ave! Ave! Ave!" Nico nearly joined them in their tearful cheering, but was content to gaze around in wonder as angels tossed confetti and streamers and glitter from the windows, showering them in a hail of rainbow colors, and Nico had never felt any happier in his life. If he looked behind him, all he could see was an endless stream of performers and floats, but all the way in the back he knew there were two huge carriages, each pulled by six pegasi each, in which Percy and Michael resided. They were allowed to wave out of the side they were closest to, however the windows that would've allowed them to see across and into the other carriage had been blacked out.

Elvis's "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" blared, and Nico furiously wiped away his tears as everyone joined in.

Wise men say…

Though it was the middle of the day, fireworks exploded off to the east, the sky alight with colors that were surprisingly vibrant for the afternoon and no doubt developed by angels.

Only fools rush in…

Calypso clung to him as they watched adults hefting their fledglings onto their shoulders, most who probably didn't know what was going on, and yet they flashed their gap-filled smiles and waved their flags and streamers. "Ave Sancti Michaelis! Ave Perseus nutius!"

But I can't help…

Nico looked to the crowd, some magical force pulling his attention to the area, and saw Will and the other humans clustered by the guard rail, each decked out in suits and dresses and brandishing their own wedding memorabilia. Will's face lit up and he waved and Nico wildly with one hand while holding a small flag with the other. Nico's heart reached for the stars as he shot to his feet and waved back, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt as he called out greetings to his friends, with Calypso cramming beside him to blow kisses at Leo, which were returned in kind by the grinning fool that was her husband.

Falling in love with you…

-Ω-

This was the day.

A constant swarm of butterflies fluttered their wings in Percy's stomach as he waited inside the little room between the outside and the inside of the cathedral, where brides and grooms waited to walk down the aisle. He heard the excited chatter of the people packed tightly into the pews like sardines in a can, as well as the cacophony that was the hundreds of thousands of angels clustered outside, all who were going to watch the ceremony from huge flat screen TVs that had been moved there several hours prior. Those who were at home had at least twenty broadcasting services covering it live, and the mere thought of his face being displayed to millions of angels throughout the seven Heavens was nerve-wracking, so he concentrated on studying the small stained glass windows on the door in front of him that depicted crosses and the like. They would've done it in the mosque or the temple that also resided in the palace, but Michael liked the layout of the church better, so they'd chosen that.

The room they were in was paneled with wood, and there was pale brown linoleum beneath their feet. The cathedral itself was huge, almost an exact replica of the Milan Cathedral, and it was so gorgeous that he'd almost fainted out of vertigo during the rehearsal. Hopefully that wouldn't happen again. The whole place smelled of myrrh and flowers (kudos to the many bouquets around them), and it only made Percy's heart beat faster. The select newscasters who'd paid to get in on the action of before Percy came out (though they were not permitted to follow Percy down the aisle) filmed him, and the constant blinking of red lights always lingered at the corner of his vision. Though he would've liked to have the illusion that this wedding was private, Percy didn't really mind since he was going to have another wedding with Annabeth in a week's time. It didn't, however, mean that he was any less excited for this one. The messenger angel fiddled with his clothing for the thousandth time and grinned to himself, his wings fluttering in his motley of anxiety and excitement.

"Just to let you know before we go out," Poseidon murmured, breaking the hush that had settled over the church. The priest, who just so happened to be the Metatron, must've asked for silence. Percy hadn't noticed. His father turned and grasped his shoulders, his eyes wet. "That I am so…" he choked, wiping at his face a bit, "so proud of you. I'm glad to have you as my son."

"Thanks, dad," Percy whispered, willing the tears away. He was so happy. So very, very happy. The beginning notes of Mendelssohn's Wedding March began and the two of them hooked arms, hearts in their throats as the two guards waited for their cue to open the doors. A chord was struck and it all began. A red carpet extended towards the altar, and Percy felt the weight of all eyes on him as he and his father began their walk down the aisle. He imagined that he must've been a sight:

He was wearing his armor, his silver breastplate shining and his blue sash with all of his honors a dark contrast against it, and a cape of the same color dragged behind him like a wedding train, emblazoned with golden patters and symbols of good luck and happiness. He was, indeed, wearing a tunic that only came down to his knees, with no pants beneath it, and it must've looked like he was wearing a skirt, though all of the intricate interlocking pieces of his belt separated it and gave it some shape. He was wearing sandals as well, and in his sheath was Riptide, his trusty sword that had serviced him through thick and thin. Sure, many people got married in their military uniforms, though this one was less conventional, however the traditions of angelic weddings were plain.

Angels were all about hidden meaning, and Percy, Michael, and their wedding planners all knew that people would be scrutinizing every last detail with a critical eye, so they were carful that everything was exactly right. Percy was wearing a halo of holly and ivy, which represented domestic happiness and fidelity, and his blue sash and cape represented faith, the gold embroidery representing wealth in physical money and wealth in happiness and contentment. The silver of his breastplate represented feminine energy (the traditionalists still insisted that the one walking down the aisle, whether male or female, should be wearing silver), but on top of that it spoke of level-headedness and a shoulder to lean on in times of need. On his hands and arms, were tattoos that looked like henna (which had taken hours to complete the day before), but in reality they were all symbols, proclaiming Percy to be Michael's and vice versa, as well as assuring undying love. The best part, though, were the two webs of pearls on strings that had been draped over Percy's wings. They represented purity, as well as the moon, which was how far and back each of the lovers should adore one another. The humans must've been completely oblivious, and Percy smiled softly to himself as he thought of all the things they were missing out on

Then he looked up to see Michael. He looked drop-dead gorgeous. He was standing by the altar in his armor, with his sash (which held marginally more gleaming medals and awards than Percy's did) and cape. He, however, was much flashier. His cape was red for passion, his golden armor a symbol of wisdom, wealth, and higher ideals, and though he was wearing a crown of holly and ivy like Percy was, the berries were white. That wasn't for any deep meaning, however; it was because Michael was 100% pure extra virgin. Well, in the eyes of the public he was. His wings were draped with webs of garnet the glittered and sparkled, representing constancy and loyalty; a promise to defend Percy's honor if needed. Percy's heart fluttered against his ribcage as he saw the henna tattoos adorning his bulging biceps, proclaiming to all that he was Percy's and Percy's alone.

The most incredible thing, though, was the look on Michael's face. His mouth was slightly open, his grey eyes shining like the lingering clouds after a storm, and he was looking at Percy like the messenger was his whole world.

He was about halfway down the aisle now, and as he looked around he saw his mom smiling and waving at her through her tears, and Will using a constant stream of tissues as he and everyone else cried their eyes out. Leo seemed to be trying to hold it in but was failing miserably. The cameras filmed, yes, and there were many people that Percy didn't know, but in that instant he felt surrounded by family. Cherished and supported. He bid his father farewell when the pews ended, and for a moment his father clung to him, seeming unsure to let his son go on and grow up, but he relented and took his seat beside his mother.

The bridal party was fanned out across the altar, the groomsmen to the right and the bridesmaids to the left, and they were all grinning like madmen. Percy had never actually seen all of the Archangels in one place, and he marveled at them for a moment before he scaled the steps and joined Michael in front of the altar. The Archangel's scent was alive with lovinghappymate, and Percy allowed himself to wallow and get drunk on the smell of it. Hazel immediately hustled forwards to adjust his cape so that the long and luxurious fabric was fanned around and in front of him, the glittering golden symbols out for all to see. The Metatron smiled softly at the both of them, decked in luxurious silks for the occasion, and took his book in hand, and Percy's hands began to shake slightly as the organist pulled the wedding march to a close. This was it. This is what it was all about,

The Metatron adjusted his microphone and declared in a booming voice, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this these two angels in holy Matrimony. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any person can show just reason, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold their peace." Nobody spoke up, and Percy's heart beat faster, the light inside of him blazing like an inferno. The Metatron's smile brightened, "Splendid. Now, may the Best Man and the Maid of Honor please step forwards."

Hazel and Gabriel broke away from the bridal party to stand between the couple and the altar, both of their eyes slightly red but their faces plastered with ear-to-ear grins. The Metatron continued, "Hazel, messenger angel and former deliverer of Michael's scrolls, please take the mortar and pestle from the altar." The golden-eyed angel did so, holding the blessed marble items with great care. "Gabriel, take the primrose stem, present it to this lovely couple, and repeat after me: This primrose stem,"

"This primrose stem," Gabriel echoed, turning to Michael and Percy with the single stem of a primrose, all of the leaves and petals stripped.

"Represents your eternal love."

"It will prevail through thick and thin."

"Now, place the primrose into the mortar. Hazel, please thoroughly grind it," the Metatron ordered, and the two angels did so, with Hazel using the pestle to smash the stem to a pulp, though she somehow managed to do it quietly and neatly. "Now, Gabriel, take the aloe, present it to the couple, and repeat after me once more: This aloe,"

"This aloe," Gabriel parroted.

"Is a blessing to keep you and your family."

"Healthy-bodied and healthy-minded."

"Now, give the aloe to Hazel," the Metatron ordained. The messenger angel ground up the aloe with the primrose stem, a thick green paste beginning to form. "Gabriel, will you take the cumin seeds now and repeat after me: These seeds,"

"These seeds."

"Represent your fidelity."

"They will assure that you will never have eyes for another."

"Now, give the seeds to Hazel." The process was repeated, and the seeds gave the paste a brownish tinge. "Gabriel, pick up the myrtle petals." Percy laughed softly to himself; though the petals did have meaning, they were simply to change the color of the paste and make it seem more appealing than the green-brown sludge that it was now, and he'd been specifically told this information by the Metatron himself. "Present them to the couple and repeat after me: These petals."

"These petals."

"Are the emblem of marriage and true love."

"Please utilize their power."

"To keep the spark alive."

"Because you two are going to be stuck with each other for a long, long time," the Metatron finished with a wicked smirk.

Gabriel, slightly dazed, continued, "Because you two- hey, wait!" The entire church burst into laughter, a roar so loud (since it also included all of those assembled outside and watching from their televisions) that Percy almost covered his ears, though thankfully the massive bought of laughter was short-lived and everyone settled down afterwards. Michael gave him a wink, which Percy returned in kind, and the rukus finally managed to die down enough for the Metatron to go on with the ceremony.

"Now," he declared, seeming excited. "Hazel, please place the mortar and pestle onto the altar." Hazel did as she was told, giving an almost unnoticeable, giddy bounce. She looked beautiful in her dress, and he knew that Frank, without a doubt, was a lucky man. Percy, not to be hubris or anything, was much luckier, however, as he glanced at his smoldering Archangel boyfriend, soon to be husband. "Swipe two fingers through the paste borne of the ground plants." Hazel did so, and Percy was glad to see that the myrtle petals had made the paste a very, very dark crimson. It was a shade darker than blood and smelled both odd and good at the same time, though Michael crinkled his nose a bit. Wuss. "You may say your blessing that you have prepared."

Hazel turned to Percy, her eyes shining. "Percy," she murmured, her voice wavering, but she cleared her voice and continued in a stronger voice, "Despite the challenges you have faced, despite the fact that everything that has ever happened to you forced you in the direction of sin, you have emerged and become one of the best people I have ever known. You are good. You are kind. You are fair." She turned to Michael, her face saying "smile" but her eyes saying "I will fucking kill you you fucking fuck if you ever fucking do anything to him you fucking hear me". Instead of saying those things out loud, however she simply told him, "Michael, you have to earn him. Keep him." Michael was practically radiating nervous happy excited mate, and Percy tried to weave comforting things into his scent to soothe the Archangel, though he didn't know whether it worked or not.

"I will," Michael murmured, though he sounded slightly freaked out about Hazel's death stare, and Hazel gave a determined nod of approval. She turned back to Percy.

"Perseus the messenger, I give my blessings and mark you with the gifts that these plants provide," she announced softly, her voice nearly a whisper. Percy's gaze locked with hers as she, with her two paste-covered fingers, drew the angelic sigil of matrimony upon Percy's forehead.

Though it was probably his imagination, Percy thought that every place the paste touched was warmer than the rest of his body. He closed his eyes to take it all in as Hazel stepped back and Gabriel took her place. The Archangel was glorious, nearly outshining his elder brother. They looked nothing alike, however; Gabriel was more soft around the edges. Though he was constantly moving, whether his wings were shifting, his foot was tapping, or his fingers were drumming, he had a beauty to him that spoke of warm, welcoming homes and kindness. He boasted the signature Archangel blondness, but his hair was more like a very, very light shade of brown, unlike Michael's golden locks. The corners of his mouth quirked as he regarded Michael.

"Now, Gabriel," the Metatron decreed, "Swipe your fingers through the pulp like Hazel had done and say the blessing you have prepared."

"Listen here, you annoying older brother," Gabriel began as he covered his fingers in the reddish paste, eliciting a hearty chuckle from the guests. "You scored big." He clapped Michael on the shoulder with the hand that didn't have the paste on it. Percy squirmed a little where he stood, because no matter how funny it was to watch Michael get the death stare from Hazel, it was beyond unnerving to be on the receiving end of one, especially one from Archangel Gabriel. "You deserve him, Percy, make sure it stays that way." Percy could only swallow hard and nod. Gabriel inclined his head and turned to Michael. "Brother of mine, you basically raised me. Hell, you were like a second dad," he got a bit choked up, but soldiered on, "You gave me food, reprimanded me, and shaped me into who I am today, and for that I'm thankful. We've been through Hell and back together, and that's why I sincerely hope this lasts. Because Percy makes you happy, and if that's the case then I want him to stick around." Gabriel cast a sidelong glance to Percy, his expression soft.

"So, without further ado, Michael the Archangel, Guardian of Heaven, humanity, and the leader of the angelic host, blah, blah, blah if I listed all your titles we'd all be dead by the time I finished," everyone laughed, "I give my blessings and mark you with the gifts that these plants provide." He mimicked Hazel and drew the angelic symbol of matrimony onto his forehead. Everyone applauded, and Percy looked at Michael, awed. He was marrying an Archangel. Right now. They were on the altar and mostly through the ceremony. They both had angelic matrimony symbols on their foreheads. He realized that his love for Michael was borderline worship, and the Archangel seemed to be realizing it as well. He seemed shell-shocked, and his expression made Percy smile.

"Excellent. You two may rejoin the bridal party," the Metatron replied. Hazel nearly tripped and fell on her speedy retreat back to Piper, Calypso, and Zoë, who already had a set of tissues on hand. She snatched them away and began dabbing her eyes, trying not to mess up her makeup too much. Nico, Frank, and the Archangels greeted him with brotherly hugs, but their eyes were all red, including Nico's, though the fallen angel would continue to deny it for the rest of his days. "Perseus and Michael, may you two please take each other's hands." Percy stepped forwards and almost shyly took his mate's hands in his, and he had to resist the urge to kiss the life out of him. He loved him so much it almost hurt.

The Metatron walked around the altar to stand beside them. In his hand he held a simple red ribbon about four feet long. "With this ribbon," he declared, his voice echoing throughout the church. "This ribbon that is love and trust and fidelity and caring and beauty. This ribbon that is all that once was and all that will be. This ribbon that is your friends and your family and everything in between." The Metatron took a deep breath. "With this ribbon, I bind you." Everyone applauded, calling out and whistling as they rose from their seats in a standing ovation as the Metatron took their left hands and wrapped the ribbon around them.

With this ribbon, I bind you.

Percy broke down, and with their hands still clasped and bound by the ribbon, Percy grabbed the back of Michael's head and pulled him down for a kiss. The guests went wild, cheering and crying and clapping. It was loud, but Percy didn't care, crushing Michael's face against his own as tears streamed down his face.

He'd been so happy.

-Ω-

Percy felt like he was a balloon, floating so very high and only tethered to the ground by a string. He feared he would actually start floating as he watched Annabeth walking down the aisle. Her father had been brought from the Third Heaven to guide her, and he seemed happy and awed at the same time as he regarded Percy standing by the priest, his wings fluttering giddily. This priest running the ceremony just so happened to be one who'd worked in the city that the Golden Swords had lived in for a large portion of their young lives. He went by the name of Father Rick, and Jason had claimed that he was the best guy for the job, despite the fact that many, many famous religious figures had offered to do so instead. Needless to say, Annabeth had politely declined, claiming that it would be a little awkward to have Jesus or the Apostles leading the ceremony.

Percy was glad that mortal weddings were so much simpler, but he missed trying to pick out all of the hidden meaning; angelic weddings kept up with the times, changing and evolving if traditions became too archaic, but with mortals it had been the same for hundreds of years. The woman wore white to represent her purity/virginity, and it was uncommon now-a-days for couples to still be virgins even after dating for many years, though they still kept it up because that was the norm. Percy and Annabeth had still indulged in wearing the nets of jewels over their wings, with Percy's pearls being a large contrast to Annabeth's garnets, and he didn't think that this week could get any better as Annabeth was given a kiss on the cheek by her father and left to walk up to Father Rick.

They'd forsaken a church and simply had held their proceedings in the long-lost Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Yes, they were still in Heaven, but it was the only way their wedding could be completely and totally private; there were very few places on Earth where their weddings couldn't be observed by others, and Annabeth had been A-OK settling for the Hanging Gardens when the Garden of Eden proved to be too crowded with plant life to properly host a wedding. Fold-up chairs were set up in rows, and all of the humans and fallen angels were in the bridal party, with Reyna and Nico as the Maid of Honor and the Best Man. Needless to say, the others had been quite wounded, but they were content with sitting in the front "pews" in their tuxes and dresses. Percy's parents had come, too, and Annabeth had thanked them for doing so even though they could've just attended the one between Percy and Michael and been done with it. Hazel and Frank had been invited as well, and they seemed simultaneously bewildered and intrigued at the mortal customs.

Father Rick went through the proceedings with great passion, and Percy agreed that they couldn't've chosen a better man to do it (no offense, Jesus and the Apostles). His attention, however, always slid to Annabeth. She was stunning, her crystal blue eyes and honey blonde hair standing out against her glittering white ball gown, which was adorned with beading (the "beads" being real diamonds) and other incredible embellishments. She was holding a bouquet of red roses to match the garnets on her glittering white-gold wings, and he didn't think he could ever see someone as beautiful as she was. Her hair was done up in plaits, a few stray strands having fallen loose, and he wanted to just reach over and tuck them behind her ear. He felt that that was against the human custom, though, and refrained. He spent most of the pastor's speaking in a daze, torn between disregarding the traditions and kissing Annabeth until she couldn't breathe and fainting like a damsel in distress. He settled for rubbing his wings against Annabeth's, his gaze still trained on Father Rick while his feathers gently caressed hers.

"Now, Annabeth and Perseus, by coming here today, you have reached a crossroads in your lives," Father Rick, boomed, jolting Percy back into reality as his heart flew in his chest, readying himself for the vows. You're turning away from your yesterdays and looking ahead to your tomorrows. Your past is a distant memory. Your future a waiting adventure. It is a new dawn, a new commitment, a new life. The bonds you are forging today will change your lives forever." Percy exchanged a giddy glance with Annabeth, a huge smile breaking out across his features, one that she mirrored back at him.

"Do you, Perseus, promise to take Annabeth to be your wife? To comfort her and care for her; to make her laugh, and help her when she cries? To offer your best counsel and give your sincerest support with all the love you have to give?" Father Rick inquired, leveling his glacier-blue gaze upon Percy. The angel knew he only had to say two words, but hell was he nervous about them anyway.

"I do," he murmured. Somewhere from the bridal party he heard someone sniffling, and he was willing to bet all of the money earned from the bridal shower that it was Nico.

"Is it your choice that Annabeth be the one with whom you wish to spend your life?" Father Rick questioned, and with a bit more confidence Percy replied:

"It is." Annabeth seemed near-ready to cry, but unwilling considering her eyeliner was forty dollars and her foundation nearly fifty, and he gave her wing a reassuring brush with his own. Father Rick smiled softly at Percy and turned to Annabeth, but not before adjusting his half-moon glasses slightly to better read off the page.

"Do you, Annabeth, promise to take Perseus to be your husband? To comfort him and care for him; to make him laugh, and help him when he cries? To offer your best counsel and give your sincerest support with all the love you have to give?" Father Rick asked.

"I do," Annabeth told him firmly, so much conviction in her voice that she might as well be confirming her enlistment in the army rather than saying her vows.

"Is it your choice that Perseus be the one with whom you wish to spend your life?" Father Rick queried, his smile growing impossibly larger and practically lighting up the entire ceremony.

"It is," Annabeth replied.

"Then that settles it!" Father Rick announced, closing his book with an audible thump. "You may kiss the bride!" The small group assembled cheered and wept as Percy pulled Annabeth close to him and pressed his lips against hers, tasting her lipstick and smirking as her wings cocooned his.

"I love you so much," he murmured to her.

"Honey, I already know," she scoffed, but there was a playful spark in her eyes. "And just in case you didn't know this, I love you too."