At last, the day was here: the day I was about to marry the man that I loved most in this world.
Viktor had slept in Katya and Aleksei's room, while I stayed in our room and Maccachin. I couldn't sleep a wink, my mind raced and my heart pounded all night long, thinking about everything that had led up to this point.
Despite not being able to sleep, I rose early to get ready. I stood staring out the window at the mountain, lost in my thoughts. So much has changed in this short year. I can't believe it, I thought as I pulled my shirt on, buttoning it and tucking it in.
I was tying my tie when Mom knocked on the bedroom door. "My boy, my little boy," Mom whispered, her eyes welling as she adjusted my tie and straightened my jacket. She stepped back, beaming from ear to ear, tears welling in her eyes.
"Hiroko, Yuri…it's time to head down," Dad said, poking his head into the room.
I took a deep breath, and followed Mom into the living room. "Ready?" Dad asked, clasping me on the shoulder. Unable to speak, I nodded.
Mari-chan grabbed Maccachin's leash, and, after double checking that we had everything, stepped into the hallway. "See you down there," Mari-chan said, hugging me tightly. They headed down the elevator first, while I would take the next one alone.
My heart thundered in my chest as I rode the elevator down. Determined not to start crying, I forced my mind to think of everything that had led us to this point (again.) By the time the elevator arrived on the lobby level, I was so lost in thought, I almost forgot to get off.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped off the elevator and walked down the hallway to the room the ceremony would take place in.
I waited outside until I heard the music begin. Slowly, the doors opened, and, after taking another deep breath, I walked inside. Everyone was standing, all of them smiling, some crying.
At the end of the walkway, was the man that I loved most in the world. He looked stunning in his white suit, his beautiful blue eyes twinkling. I walked towards him, locking eyes with him the entire way.
I finally reached the end of the walkway, and moved so that I stood in front of him, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey," I mouthed, grinning. "You look stunning."
"So do you," he mouthed, his beautiful blue eyes glittering.
The presiding official cleared his throat. "Please be seated," he said, as everyone took their seats. "We are gathered here this day to bear witness to the marriage of these two men, Katsuki Yuri and Viktor Nikiforov. Both men will now recite the vows that they have written."
Viktor cleared his throat. "Katsuki Yuri, from the first time I watched you skate to my routine, I knew that I had to be your coach. I'm glad that Axel, Lutz and Loop recorded that video, because it was through them that I found love and life again, something that I had been neglecting for most of my life," Viktor said softly, his voice cracking as he slipped the ring on my finger. "Katsuki Yuri, I promise to love you and only you with all my heart until the end of time."
My eyes burning, I cleared my throat. "For all of my life, I idolized you, and when you and Maccachin appeared at my family's hot spring, I was not only caught off guard, but I felt like I was dreaming," I said, as the room filled with chuckling.
"But I'm glad you did appear, because you helped me to not only find my love of skating again, but you also taught me to love, which was something that I thought I was never going to find. Viktor Nikiforov, I promise to love you and only you with all my heart until the end of days," I whispered, my voice cracking as I slipped the ring on his finger.
The presiding official stepped forward again. "If anyone has a good enough reason as to why these two men should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace," he said to the room at large. When no one spoke up, he continued.
"I now pronounce you married. May this marriage be a long and happy one," the presider said, smiling.
Viktor stepped forward, and, with his beautiful blue eyes sparkling, leaned in to kiss me passionately. I threw my arms around his neck, leaning into the kiss, enjoying the moment. The room filled with thunderous applause and cheering as we walked back down the walkway, hand in hand.