Eight Months Later
Summer was just starting when Ginger, Baljeet, and Buford invited their friends and family over for a special party. Baljeet's parents couldn't get a visa in time, so they had to attend via video chat, but Ginger's parents and sister were there, along with Buford's friends from the hockey team, the Fireside Girls troop, and the rest of the folks from the Fletcher-Flynn backyard activities. Isabella and Phineas were taking a break from their own wedding planning with three weeks to go; Django and Gretchen were scheduled for two weeks after that. More engagement rings were being shown around, as well; Ferb had given one to Heather just before Christmas, and Adyson had received one from her college boyfriend, Steve, just before they had each gone home for the summer. Heather was meeting folks for the first time, and everyone seemed to get along with the quiet British blonde. She didn't say much more than Ferb did, but they still understood each other without words.
Ginger called out, "Okay, if I could have your attention? So the reason we've invited you all over tonight is to celebrate our transition to something new. Unfortunately, we can't make this legal and official, but we've done what we can on that count. Many thanks to Isabella's father for his legal help getting powers of attorney and all that set up.
She stood with Baljeet and Buford; Stacy took up a position behind her, as Jack did behind Buford and Phineas did behind Baljeet.
"It's been almost a year of this weird relationship between the three of us," Ginger continued, "and we've finally figured out what to call it. We're calling it a marriage." She took Baljeet's and Buford's hands as their other hands met; the three of them smiled at each other.
Baljeet spoke first. "I, Baljeet Tjinder, choose to proclaim Ginger Hirano-Tjinder and Buford van Stomm as my spouses. They are my partners and companions, and I promise to love, honor, and care for them for the rest of my days."
Ginger then spoke up. "I, Ginger Hirano-Tjinder, choose to proclaim Buford van Stomm and Baljeet Tjinder as my husbands. They are my partners and companions, and I promise to love, honor, and care for them for the rest of my days."
Buford took a deep breath. "I, Buford van Stomm, choose to proclaim Baljeet Tjinder and Ginger Hirano-Tjinder as my spouses. They are my partners and companions, and I promise to love, honor, and care for them for the rest of my days."
Ginger turned to Stacy, who shook her head as she pulled out a ring. Ginger said, "We had a heck of a time finding another one to match mine and Baljeet's, but we finally managed it." She and Baljeet both held the ring as they took Buford's left hand.
Together, Ginger and Baljeet said, "We give you this ring as a sign of our commitment to you," and slid the ring onto Buford's finger.
The three of them leaned in together for a series of kisses. As they finished, Ginger laughed and said, "Okay, folks. Let's celebrate!"
Stacy pulled Ginger aside during the post-wedding party. "Okay, I never thought you'd top the last one, but a poly marriage to your ex-boyfriend and his boyfriend totally takes the cake."
Buford and Baljeet sat back against the headboard of the king-sized bed they'd all been sharing, both wearing black silk pajama pants; Ginger and Baljeet had given Buford a pair as a wedding gift.
Buford shook his head. "I don't get it. It's not like this is that new for us. Why does it feel so different?"
Baljeet smiled, and leaned over and kissed him. "Because we have made it public and as official as we could. We love you, Buford. We are all partners in this now."
The bedroom door opened, and Ginger came in wearing her green silk robe.
Buford grinned at the sight. "Buford like."
Ginger climbed onto the bed between them. "My husbands. Both of them."
Baljeet grasped one loose end of the knot in her robe sash; Buford followed suit and gripped the other. "Shall we unwrap our present?" Baljeet asked, and they pulled the knot loose.
As Buford opened the front of her robe, Baljeet pulled the sash out from the loops holding it to the robe, then climbed behind her and tied her wrists with it.
"Oh, is that the game we're playing tonight?" she asked. "Don't I get any say in this?"
"Do you want one?" Buford asked.
She pondered for a moment. "Not particularly, no."
His hands coming from behind her to grasp her breasts, Baljeet said, "Buford wants a Ginger sandwich."
Ginger leaned back against him, sighing, and said, "Mm. Helpless bride ravished by two strange men on her wedding night."
Buford said, "Hey, we're hardly strangers," as his hand slid along her thigh.
Gasping at what her husbands were doing to her, Ginger said, "I didn't say strangers. I said strange men."
Baljeet nibbled on her neck and said, "That we are."
Many thanks to everyone who's read this far - as always, your attention is a gift, and I thank you for it. Extra-special thanks to mcamason for reviewing above and beyond the call of duty, and even more especially for his chapter 6 review, which is my new favorite review ever.
One more bingo story to go; I'll be updating status on it at my dreamwidth account (link in my profile), but it needs to be out by the end of the month to count for a second bingo, so...