I Do
(P.S. People Speak In Bold For This Chapter)
"All right, let's get started, shall ve?"
About time, Elizaveta thought, nearly strung out. Choosing out her own wonderful dress did not really make her feel as if it made up for everything else which had happened to get to this point. She glanced over to Feliks, who was clutching at Toris' hand and looking like he was going to cry. Whether it was because of all the hard work he had put in this or because he was freaking out that Gilbert was talking, she had no idea.
Gilbert seemed calm(er), more than he had been previously. Not nearly as cigarette-scented as she had thought he would be by this point either, she had checked before he had gone up.
I think I am done with weddings. At least, for a while.
Against her will, she looked over toward Sadiq, standing near the back. His face was tilted upward and he appeared to be muttering some sort of prayer. As he always seemed to be during weddings. As if he was apologizing to someone he never took up to the altar. I will never make that mistake. Roderich?
But this was worth it. So worth it.
She focused on Gilbert again.
"Ve all know vhy we're here. Most of us didn't efen hafe to read de invitations, ve vere dere for de proposal. Dat's de great part of living in such a small town, ja?"
The truth was that Feliciano did not know how people could live in a larger town. Who was not here? Maybe Young Sil... but even Yao had come out for this! Everyone was here to see his brother get married.
It was difficult to stay quiet, but he managed. Fingers intertwined with Ludwig's, trying to keep him calm. Ludwig seemed really concerned about how Gilbert was going to get through this. Knowing Gilbert, the speech would not take to long. It would likely get to the point quickly. Then again, Lovino liked getting to the point, so that would be good, right?
"I dink I finally realized vhat dese two people had vhen 'Toni asked me to do dis for him and Lovino did not kill me during de night. Or try to convince me or Antonio odervise." He turned to Antonio with a grin."Sorry man, but efen I vouldn't hafe dought I vas a good choice for dis. It taught me a few dings however. Like how today is going to be awesome, starting vith now."
Marcus did not agree with that. If there had been any time someone should have realized it, it would have been when Antonio, eighteen years old, nearly fell off of his house after climbing up to his grandson's window to try and get Lovino to tell him why he was in a bad mood that day.
The conversation he had with him soon after...
"Why... I'd do anything for him~!"
It had struck Marcus at the time as being rather strange. Then he had realized that it was not as strange as Marcus was just jealous at what Lovino did not comprehend that he had. Ludwig was a good kid, but Feliciano was better for Ludwig than Ludwig for Feliciano. Antonio was probably the best thing to ever happen to Lovino. And Marcus had been jealous that he had never had similar.
He had gotten over that jealousy, it did not take long. He was simply grateful that someone had that. And really, Marcus was too old to expect himself to find someone like that now.
"I am not going to talk about love, because I do not dink either of you need someone to tell you about how dat is, or vhat to expect, or vhat anyone hopes for you. You both already know dis. Vhich is why I decided to skip asking for objections here, as funny as it vould be to hear Lovino disparage vhatefer idiot spoke up for dat. After all, who knows better about de two of you dan you do? You don't need to ask for anyone else's permission for this. Hell, dis ceremony is just dressing for vhat you both already hafe."
Again Gilbert leaned over to whisper toward Antonio and Francis. "Odervise I might hafe said I don't completely condone dis. But hey, your life. Seems to be vorking out for you there!" Antonio stared at him with slight confusion. Francis tried his hardest to keep a straight face. Gilbert glanced back down at those cards he was gripping as if they were the only things keeping him alive.
"Antonio, do you take Lovino as your lawful husband, promising to continue to do vhat you'fe been doing, in sickness ant in health..."
Gilbert had written down 'for as long as the marriage lasts'. He had planned on saying it too, because he did not see anything wrong with it. Not until he looked at the two standing in front of him. While he was not the biggest fan of Lovino...
He had never seen Antonio look so... Gilbert could not say happy, because saying that he had never seen Antonio look so happy seemed like blasphemy. Not in the religious way. Simply in the way that Gilbert realized (by the moment he had realized Antonio was so good at faking his smiles) that ever since Antonio had met Lovino those smiles were less fake. He was not happier now, he was just happier with him.
He could not understand this concept, but he could keep talking.
"...for so long as you both shall live?"
Antonio was looking at Lovino as if he was really the only other person in the room. "I do."
"Lovino, do you take Antonio as your lawful husband, promising to continue to do vhat you'fe been doing, in sickness ant in health for so long as you both shall live?"
Talking up here was easier than Lovino thought it would be. Then again, it was just two words. "I do."
"I'll let you both say your stuff now," Gilbert shrugged, taking a few steps back to get out of the way. He felt like he was intruding.
Antonio glanced down at his own note card once before he placed it back in his pocket, eyes fixed on Lovino. It was not hard to remember what he wanted to say here. These were the things he had taken for granted that he wanted everyone to hear, Lovino to hear.
"We should have done this sooner."
Lovino looked surprised at that and Antonio grinned. "For that, I'm really sorry. I don't know why it took me so long to ask you when I could never think of anyone else at my side than you." While it was so difficult to not just close the small distance between them, Antonio held his ground and continued to speak. "From this day on I know what we will be together. On this day I know what we have been. Together. It has been years and my feelings for you have not changed one bit. If anything, you have always made me want to be more than I am for you, to give all that I have to you and more... whether it is possible or not."
Lovino was bright red at this point. Antonio once more had to hold his ground. Lovi, you are too damn adorable for your own good. "Giving myself away has never felt as good as it does with you. And as long as we live... that is how it will remain."
Now it was difficult to start talking. Lovino wanted to blame Antonio, for having to say all of that before him and making it difficult for him to keep going. Then again, Lovino supposed it was better than his reaction before this. He remembered when his reaction would have actually been to tell Antonio he was lying and to shut up. Which would have made this wedding somewhat laughable.
He cleared his throat. Before he could start talking though, he started to laugh. "That's great! You know, Gilbert already said some of what I was going to say!"
From where he stood, he could see all three of that Bad Friends Trio and they each had the same look of surprise on their faces. Lovino hoped Heidi and Maddox had gotten that on camera, because if he had not been in the middle of his wedding he probably would have laughed again. Lovino smiled.
"I love you."
He could look at Antonio now, when he remembered a day he could not. Especially not when saying those words. "You showing up when you did... you were a miracle." These were the words he had never told him, never told anybody. And Lovino wanted everyone to know them."I tried to deny it then. Hell, I've tried to deny it since because giving anyone so much say over me was the most frightening idea my mind could conceive of. Even after meeting you I have always tried to be independent from everyone... you know why."
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... mammina? I can finally wish the best for you without caring how you abandoned me. I can finally just be happy.
"I don't know why it took you proposing for me to understand. It is something I should have known a while ago. I don't have a choice but to be dependent on you. I don't have the choice because it is everything I ever wanted, ever needed." To know Antonio had always felt the same was better than any promise of Heaven. "Without you, I don't think I could have remembered to smile."
Elizaveta was right. It was only because of this man in front of him that he could smile again.
"As long as I can wake up and see you there... I do not need anything else."
Without those green eyes, Lovino would have never had the courage to say anything like this anywhere, to anyone, ever.
You understand, Antonio.
Of course I do, Lovi. I always have. You know this.
I do.
Gilbert cleared his throat, almost having forgotten there was more to do. Now he really felt awkward up here. Thankfully he had Elizaveta and Francis to join him in that, since they had to bring forward those rings.
"Repeat after me," Gilbert said to Antonio, "Dough vithout de accent, right?" he grinned. Antonio fought a laugh, rolling his eyes. Francis gave him the ring however and he repeated the words without a second thought.
"I, Antonio, give to you, Lovino, this ring as a symbol of my love, dedication, honor, and respect of you." He slid it on Lovino's finger.
"Ant as a vay to dissuade women from hitting on me, am I right?" Gilbert added, nudging Antonio with his elbow. Lovino shot daggers at him with his eyes and Gilbert cleared his throat again. Well, he had not really thought Antonio would repeat that. Was worth a shot though.
Lovino calmed himself down by taking his ring from Elizaveta. The ring he was going to be seeing on Antonio's hand every day for... forever. "I, Lovino, give to you, Antonio, this ring as a symbol of my love, dedication, honor, and respect of you."
He placed it on Antonio's hand, but this time Antonio grasped his hand and did not let go.
This was really happening. Neither of them really heard what Gilbert said next.
"By de power vested in me by de Internet, I say dat you are now married. Go do vhat married people do."
Antonio did not kiss Lovino. Lovino did not kiss Antonio. What is the right way to write how two people move toward each other for a kiss at the same time without placing more importance on one name coming first?
Still, it was over. Francis sighed with relief as the guests clapped loudly. They were still kissing though and it did not seem as if they were going to stop any time soon. Francis struggled to keep his face straight once more, reaching over and tapping Antonio on the shoulder.
"Antonio... come on now..."
Lovino pulled away long enough to glare at Francis. "Fuck off." Then he returned to kissing Antonio.
"Fucking off," Francis responded quickly, hands up in surrender.
Eventually though Lovino pulled away again, much to Antonio's disappointment. Not that this had gone badly, not at all. This had been...
Everything.
"You're married now," Gilbert shrugged. "Go vhere you vant."
"We will," Lovino smiled at him.
They walked back down the aisle. Francis looked over at Gilbert, then Elizaveta.
And hiccuped.
Notes:
I bolded speech in this chapter just because. I thought it appropriate.
Marcus jealous of Lovino? I think I just blew up the world. Nope, still here. Never mind.
There you go, they are married. It happened. Nothing too terrible occurred. I am now sick of weddings and all they entail. Bleh. There was too much fluff. I was choking on it. So much so I cannot tell if it was written well or not. I will leave it up to your reviews to tell me.
Now, to wrap up some things, mention others, and hope I have not forgotten something. Reception is next! Which means more speeches... by the best man, the maid of honor, and presiding family! I am getting sick and tired of speeches, but there you go!
Also, I thought I would mention that DF is drawing a lovely thing which shows how Yao found Kong in Hong Kong. Anyone who was curious about that can continue to be curious, even while seeing it. It is called A Siren In Hong Kong and I have a link to it on my profile.
