To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
"Does anybody here know of any lawful reason why this man and this woman should not be joined together in holy matrimony? If so, speak now or forever hold your silence,"
There was a lengthy pause. All eyes were on the bride and groom at the altar of the church.
"I do,"
Heads snapped around as a figure somewhere in the middle of the congregation stood up.
Vexen.
Marluxia glared at him, lips parted ready to shut the stupid man up, but the nobody held up his hand to call for silence. Everybody was watching as he slipped into the aisle, a box in his hands.
"Should a couple without hearts really be allowed to marry?"
There was a murmur amongst the assembled crowd. "They're about to say that they will always love each other, and shouldn't they be telling the truth?"
Vexen had reached the altar, just a few feet away from Larxene and Marluxia.
"I know that I would," Marluxia hissed. "Just shut up,"
Vexen shook his head.
"Don't you think you deserve to be able to truly love each other, with more than simply hollow ghosts of emotion?"
"For what do you care?" Larxene demanded quietly.
Vexen opened the box. Inside, two perfect hearts glittered like rubies.
Larxene gasped.
"They're fortified against the darkness," Vexen explained. "And they're yours if you want them,"
Larxene reached out to touch one of them, but her hand stopped a few millimetres away from its shimmering surface.
"All you need to do is touch them," Vexen said quietly. "The emotions are already there. They just need a heart to align them,"
Larxene nodded. She made contact. The heart dissipated into a speck of golden light, then twinkled out.
"Oh, God,"
She took an unsteady step backwards and Marluxia neatly caught her.
"Oh my God," She repeated as she gazed into his eyes. "Marluxia..."
The bemused priest made a gesture as to ask what on Earth was going on, but something stopped him. There was glitter in the air, pure, undiluted emotion, as Marluxia gently reached out and touched the remaining heart. It, too, disappeared, in a kind of inverted, soundless shatter. The stunned silence lasted for eternity, as Vexen slipped quietly back into his seat, mission accomplished.
Then, Larxene gingerly reached up to place a hand on Marluxia's chest. There was the steady heartbeat she never thought she'd feel, beating softly again as though it had always been there.
"It- it worked?"
She realised she was whispering, but her voice seemed so loud. Who knew an excess of three hundred people could be so utterly silent?
The poor priest coughed, and the moment shattered.
"I... I'll take that as a no, then,"
There was a murmur of polite laughter amongst the congregation.
"Then, do you, Marluxia de la Fontaine, vow to take Larxene as your lawful wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, until death do you part?"
"I do,"
"And do you, Larxene Brooks, vow to take Marluxia as your lawful wedded husband-"
"Blah, blah, blah," Larxene interrupted. "Of course I do!"
Abashed, because this wasn't usually the way weddings worked, the priest took the two delicately crafted rings. He gently slipped them on.
"I now pronounce you man and wife,"
She leaned up to kiss Marluxia.
It was beautiful.
No - words couldn't describe the pure bliss of a body so long without emotions finally released, a heart eagerly ready to spill out all the love and joy that had been locked up so long it could burst.
He swept her off her feet, and carried her down the aisle to the cheers and applause of all their friends and family, the entire former- Organisation and their acquaintances, and even confused passers by who had slipped in to watch.
They bundled into the awaiting car, kissing again like they'd never have another chance.
"I love you,"