Jaskier didin't get much sleep that night. It was difficult to sleep when you were getting married the next day, and potentially getting arrested for it. At least he'd be closer to home if he were to go to jail, he thought wryly. His parents were forever complaining about him spending so much time away from home. This way they could visit him every day, if they liked.

Jaskier sighed and rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as the pale light of a new day crawled across the wooden beams. As stressful as it was having Dijkstra breathing down their necks, it wasn't what had his stomach in knots. He thought about the deal that he and Geralt had brokered. It was simple enough: get married, get a green card, get a quickie divorce, and then when they got back home to Tretegor, they could both move on with their lives. And if they got to enjoy a few sexual liaisons in the meantime, then so be it. But things had gotten more complicated in recent days, and not just because of the sex. There were…feelings involved now. Truth be told, Jaskier didn't want things to go back to the way things were. But that wasn't part of the deal, was it?

Jaskier was pulled from his miserable reverie by a polite but firm knock at the door. His stomach did a somersault and he leapt from the bed onto his feet, padding quickly over to the door. Expecting to see Geralt, he was surprised to find his father instead.

"Morning," said Jaskier cautiously.

"I brought you coffee," said Albert, handing a steaming hot cup to his son.

"Thanks." Jaskier set the mug on the table by the door and turned back to his father. "Anything else?"

Albert lowered his voice and said, "Please, don't do this, Jay."

Jaskier groaned. "Not this again."

"There's still time to change your mind."

"I'm closing the door now," said Jaskier.

"Just think about what it'll do to your mother," Albert pleaded. "To your poor grandmother."

"Dad, stop! It doesn't matter what you say, you're not going to talk me out of marrying Geralt. So just leave it, will you?"

"Why are you doing this?" asked Albert. "Is it because I've been pressuring you into taking over the family business?"

"This has nothing to do with you!" Jaskier hissed. "Why can't you just accept that I really do care about Geralt?"

"I find it hard to believe that you'd change your tune about this man in the span of a week."

"Well, believe it," said Jaskier fiercely. "Thank you for the coffee."

Albert opened his mouth to protest, but Jaskier slammed the door shut in his face. He stood there and listened for his father's footsteps to fade away before opening the door again and tiptoeing down the corridor towards Geralt's room. He knocked and waited for a reply but none came. Knowing Geralt, he was still fast asleep. That man slept like a rock and snored like a bullfrog with a sinus infection. Jaskier knocked louder this time before sticking his head through the door.

"Geralt," he hissed. "We need to talk."

Still, there was no reply. There was no sound at all, Jaskier realised, including a distinct lack of snoring. Jaskier pushed the door open and walked into the room only to stop abruptly when he realised that the bed was empty. Jaskier hurried over to the made bed to find a copy of his manuscript, a letter, and the wedding ring that Grammy had gifted Geralt sitting on the pillow. Jaskier pocketed the ring and snatched the letter, his hands trembling as he unfolded it to read it.

Dear Jaskier,

You're right, this book is special. I lied because I knew publishing it meant that I'd lose you as an assistant, but you have an extraordinary eye and I'll make sure that we buy this before I leave the company and go home to Rivia.

I'm sorry that I put you through hell, this past week and for the last three years. Turns out it's not so easy to ruin someone's life once you find out how wonderful they are. You have a beautiful family, Jay, please don't let this come between you.

Have an amazing life. You deserve it.

Geralt

"Jay?"

Jaskier turned to find his mother standing at the bedroom door with a breakfast tray in her hands.

"What are you doing in here?" Seeing the empty bed, she asked, "Where's Geralt?"

"He's gone," Jaskier choked, staring at the letter.

"Gone? But…Jaskier, what is going on?"

"What's all the commotion?" asked Grammy, entering the room closely followed by Albert. "Where's Geralt?"

Mary rounded on Albert and hissed, "What did you do?"

"Me? I didn't do anything!" he cried.

"Then why has Geralt run away the morning of the wedding?"

Albert crossed his arms. "I merely had a frank discussion with him and Jay about their future."

"Well that was a great idea, wasn't it? Because now Jay will go back to Tretegor and never come back home! He's my only son, and I only get to see him once in three years, because of you!"

"Hey, I'm not the one who's cancelled his holiday time over and over again," Albert argued. "You have your butter-wouldn't-melt, future son-in-law to thank for that!"

"Jay didn't come back here because he didn't want to have to deal with you constantly judging him," said Mary, pointing an accusatory finger at her husband. "We're going to end up in this great big house all on our own, just you and me and all that anger you've got bubbling inside of you that you just can't let go of. And god forbid if they should have a grandchild that we never get to see!"

"It's not dad's fault," said Jaskier. "It's mine."

It was finally time to be honest with his family. He confessed to them what he and Geralt were doing: he told them about Geralt's visa application being rejected. The sham marriage. The book deal. All of it. By the time he got his family up to speed, his mother looked as though she was going to be sick.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Mary cried.

"I don't know!" Jaskier replied. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"And you knew!" Mary yelled, rounding on her husband again. "You knew and you didn't tell me!"

"I only found out yesterday!" said Albert. "I told them it was a stupid idea, I tried to talk them both out of it."

All the while, Grammy had remained uncharacteristically quiet. In fact, she had a guilty look on her face.

Mary shook her head. "Violet!"

"You knew, too?" asked Jaskier in disbelief.

"Well, I am in the room across the hall from yours," she shrugged. "The walls in this old house are pretty thin. You hear a lot. Also, I hate to break it to you, kid, but you and Geralt aren't winning any awards for your acting."

"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Albert.

"It wasn't my truth to tell," she argued. "Plus, once the babymaker had worked its magic—"

"Grammy!" Jaskier groaned.

"I figured it was better not to intervene at that point." Grammy looked up at her grandson with big, sad eyes. "All the complications aside, you and Geralt really seem to care about each other. I just want you to be happy, Jay, I don't care about how you get there."

Mary stepped towards Jaskier and took ahold of his arms. "Does Geralt make you happy?"

Jaskier tried and failed to swallow down the lump forming in his throat. "Yeah, he does."

"Do you love him?"

"I do," said Jaskier, sounding half-surprised at the truth of his words. "I really do."

Mary gave her son a watery smile and nodded. "Well, then that's settled." She turned to her husband and said, "You are going to fix this, Albert. Right now."

"I am?" he exclaimed.

"Yes. You're the reason why Geralt has run off, so you'll be the one to bring him back."

"And how do you propose we do that?" he sneered. "Drag him back here bound and gagged against his will?"

"You will apologise to him for your outrageous behaviour this past week, and that's just for starters," said Mary fiercely. "But first we've got to find him."

"I'll grab my binoculars and check the coastline," said Grammy, already hurrying towards the exit.

"If he left last night, he'll be long gone by now," Albert argued.

"We don't even know if he's left the island," said Mary. "I'll go check if all the boats are still at the pier."

"Mary—"

"Albert, I don't want to hear it!" she snapped. "I am done arguing about this. When we find Geralt, you are going to apologise to him. You will say whatever it takes to convince him to come home. And from now on, you are going to be supportive of all of Jay's life decisions, including his marriage to Geralt. That is final."

Albert looked as though he were about to argue but thought better of it. Instead, he pursed his lips and nodded. Then Mary turned her attention to Jaskier.

"And as for you," she began. "You are going to work harder to be a part of this family. Is that understood?"

"Yes, mum," he replied sheepishly.

"Jay, you better get in here!" cried Grammy.

Jaskier ran into his grandmother's bedroom and found her standing on the balcony with her binoculars pressed to her eyes. As Jaskier approached, she turned and handed him the binoculars.

"Found your boy."

Jaskier lifted the binoculars and scanned the horizon. Sure enough, bobbing aimlessly about in a small boat in the middle of the sea, some two miles out from shore, was Geralt. There was no mistaking that shocking white hair.

Without warning, Grammy nudged Jaskier in the ribs. "What the hell are you still doing here? Go get your man!"

"Oh. Right." Jaskier handed her back the binoculars and stepped towards the door before pausing. He turned and gave his grandmother a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you."

"You can thank me later," she chuckled, patting him on the cheek. "I expect a brood of great-grandchildren after this!"

Jaskier grimaced. "One step at a time, Grammy. I still need to convince Geralt to come back."

"Well, you're not going to do that standing here." Grammy pushed him towards the door. "Get going!"

Jaskier ran as fast as his legs would carry him down to the pier, where his father was already waiting for him aboard the Rosemary and Thyme. Within a few minutes, Jaskier and his father were sailing towards a marooned Geralt.

"Did you really mean it?" asked Jaskier. "When you said to Geralt that you just wanted me to be happy?"

"Of course I did," Albert grumbled. "I still do."

Jaskier looked at his father. "Geralt makes me happy. I know that you don't understand that—"

"I don't need to understand it," said Albert. "But if he hurts you, I guarantee that he will be lost at sea."

Jaskier smirked. "Thanks, Dad."

Albert smiled and they fell into an amicable silence. As they approached Geralt's boat, he looked embarrassed and cold.

"What are you doing here, Jaskier?" he asked, hugging himself.

"Rescuing you, of course," Jaskier declared. He climbed into the little boat and threw a woolen blanket over Geralt's shoulders. "How long have you been out here?"

"A few hours," he admitted. "Turns out I'm as good at steering a boat as I am at swimming."

"Yeah, you're not going to get far with only one oar. Where's the other one?"

"Lost it," Geralt sighed. "Dropped it about an hour after I set sail, been floating about aimlessly ever since."

"Ah. And here was me thinking that you were having second thoughts about leaving," Jaskier quipped.

Geralt squirmed in his seat. "I'm sorry that I left the way that I did. I've already caused you and your family so much trouble—"

"That's an understatement," said Albert from his boat.

"Dad," Jaskier admonished. Albert raised his hands before heading below deck to give them some privacy. Jaskier turned back to Geralt and said, "You ran out on me before I got the chance to tell you what I really think about you."

Geralt bowed his head and nodded. With no means of escape, he braced himself for the verbal takedown that he more than deserved. "Alright, let me have it."

Jaskier took a deep breath. "A week ago, I couldn't stand you. I used to hate the thought of going to work every day and doing your bidding. It's a thankless job, and the pay isn't even that good."

Geralt grimaced. "I mean, if you want a wage rise, we can certainly discuss it further…"

"Since I had the misfortune of meeting you, you've been nothing but a gigantic pain in my arse," he continued. "For three years, you have been the bane of my existence; no vacation time, no private life at all, because every minute of every day has been spent catering to your needs."

"Alright, you've made your point," Geralt grumbled. "We've established that I'm a shitty boss and a shitty person. Can we please just get out of here?"

"I'm not done yet," said Jaskier. "Just when I thought you couldn't be any more awful a person, you blackmail me into marrying you! And then we went on our little trip to Oxenfurt to meet my parents. And that's when things began to change. Things changed the night we kissed. And after we slept together. And when you told me about your tattoo. And when we started to learn things about each other, things that weren't on the list of questions to answer to Dijkstra. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I wake up to find the man that I've fallen in love with has gone and run out on me the morning of our wedding."

Geralt's mouth fell open. "Y-you're in love with me?"

"Ridiculous, isn't it?" said Jaskier. "I mean, I get why you left: it's a sham wedding. Kind of stressful. But then you go ahead and leave this bloody letter!"

Jaskier pulled the crumpled letter out of his pocket and brandished it in Gerat's shocked face. "Because you didn't have the decency—nae, the balls—to say it to my face! Three years I slaved away for you, never once in that time have you had a nice thing to say to me. And then you go ahead and write this beautiful, heartfelt letter. And then what do you do? You leave! You really are the most insufferable, infuriating man I've ever met!"

"Are you sure that you're in love with me? Because you sound like you'd rather punch my lights out than kiss me," Geralt mused.

"Honestly? Right now, I want to do both," Jaskier admitted. "Look, whatever this is between us, I don't want to give it up. Things have changed between us, Geralt. You still drive me crazy, but now I wake up every morning and I can't wait to see you lying next to me, your hair all messed up and drool on the pillow—"

"Hey, I do not drool in my sleep!" Geralt protested.

"You do," Jaskier chuckled. "It's gross and it's cute and it's just another thing in a list of reasons longer than my arm why I don't want this thing between us to end. And I'm willing to bet that you feel the same way."

Geralt worried his lip. "But what about Dijkstra?"

"Screw Dijkstra!" Jaskier cried. "He thinks that our relationship is a sham. Okay, it was in the beginning, but now? This thing that we have, I think it's worth fighting for. Tell me that I'm wrong. Tell me that I've completely misread the situation, that you don't have any feelings for me. If that's the case, then I won't stop you from leaving. But if you do feel the same way, then stay. Please. Give us a chance."

Geralt shook his head. "You don't need me, Jaskier. You never have. You're going to get your book published and make your family proud all off of your own merit."

Jaskier rolled his eyes. "Geralt, I know that I don't need you." He reached out and took Geralt's hand into his own. "I want you. All of you. The good and the things that drive me round the bend."

It was with some difficulty then that Jaskier got down on one knee. The water was so choppy that he had to hold onto the side of the small boat to stop himself from being thrown overboard, but when he finally steadied himself, he pulled his grandfather's wedding ring out of his pocket and held it out to Geralt.

"The series of events that have led us to be here, in this moment, are screwed up beyond comprehension, but right now, I don't want to be anywhere else, or with anybody else." Jaskier took a deep breath and asked, "Geralt Haute-Bellegarde, will you marry me? Because I'd really like to date you."

Geralt looked as though he were about to cry. He looked between the ring and Jaskier, trying to find the words.

"Just say yes, already!" Albert shouted from one of the yacht's portholes, evidently eavesdropping the whole time.

Geralt laughed and looked into Jaskier's eyes. The fear and uncertainty that had clouded them only moments before had vanished, and Jaskier couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.

"Yes, Jaskier," Geralt replied. "It would be an honour to marry you."

Albert applauded as Jaskier slipped the silver band onto Geralt's ring finger. He pulled Geralt into a tight hug and kissed him.

"Alright, there's plenty of time for that later," Albert shouted. "Get on the boat, will ye? We've got a wedding to attend."

Grammy and Mary were waiting for them when they made it back to the pier. As Geralt stepped off of the boat, the two Pankratz women pulled him into a tight hug which he gladly returned.

"When we found your bed empty, we were so worried!" Mary sobbed.

"You scared us half to death!" said Grammy. "You can't do that to us, Geralt. I'm very old, remember? My heart can't take it."

"I'm sorry," Geralt mumbled. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble that I've caused."

Mary stroked Geralt's cheek and smiled up at him. "You know, families are like old quilts; they can unravel from time to time, but they can be stitched back together with love."

"Like the babymaker," Grammy added.

"As heartwarming as this reunion is, we better get a move on if you're gonna make it down the aisle on time," said Albert, nodding towards the ferry that was pulling into the pier.

"Oh my goodness," breathed Mary. "That'll be the caterers! And the waiting staff, the bar staff, the florists, the band, the priestess… oh Albert, we've still got so much to organise!"

"Don't you worry about any of the logistics," said Albert. "You lot just go up to the house and get yourselves ready for the ceremony. I'll handle everything else."

Geralt watched from the bedroom balcony as another ferry arrived, this one filled with wedding guests. As they disembarked, he recognised Pris amongst the crowd, her distinctive blonde locks fashioned in a tousled chignon. She walked towards the old oak tree, which had been adorned with yellow ribbons for the wedding ceremony, with a tall, handsome man on her arm. She was one of the few guests that he knew by name. Hopefully, in time, he'd get to know everyone in attendance for his and Jaskier's special day.

There was a polite knock at the door and Grammy entered, dressed head to toe in a beautiful violet gown and headpiece. "Ready, dear?"

Geralt nodded. "You look lovely."

"As do you," she grinned, hooking their arms together. "Nervous?"

"A little bit," he admitted. "Don't worry, I'm not running away this time."

"I didn't think you would," she chuckled as they walked out of the house and down towards the oak tree. "Not that you'd get far. I was a pretty good flanker for my college rugby team back in the day. I could have gone international."

"Is that so?"

"I would tackle you to the ground as a demonstration, but I don't want to get your suit dirty."

Geralt smirked. "Appreciate it."

As they approached the old oak tree, all of the guests turned their heads towards Geralt and Grammy. Geralt unconsciously tightened his grip on Grammy's arm as she walked him up the aisle towards Jaskier, who was positively beaming at him. When they reached the end of the aisle, Grammy kissed Geralt on the cheek and hugged Jaskier before taking her seat next to Mary and Albert in the front row. Jaskier and Geralt turned to face each other.

"Hi," said Jaskier in an uncharacteristically shy voice.

"Hey yourself," Geralt replied with a smile.

The priestess, a wizened woman who looked as old as the tree she stood under, cleared her throat and addressed her audience.

"Everyone, please be seated. We are gathered here today to give thanks and to celebrate one of life's greatest moments. To give recognition to the beauty, honest and unselfish ways of Jaskier and Geralt's true love in front of family and friends." The priestess turned her attention to the betrothed. "Geralt and Julian. Today, you will receive our Blessed Lady Epona's greatest gift: another person to share with, grow with, change with, be joyful with, and to stand with as one when trials and tribulations enter your lives. Do you accept this gift?"

"I do," said Geralt and Jaskier in unison.

The priestess raised her hands into the air and closed her eyes. "Lady Epona, the most gloried, the most high. We ask you to pour your blessings upon these men, that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship, in holiness and commitment to each other. Praise be unto them and unto you."

"Praise be," everyone replied in unison.

After the priestess completed her oaths and blessings, Jaskier and Geralt performed the handfasting ceremony. After they recited their wedding vows and committed their lives to each other, the priestess proudly declared them married.

"In order to seal this union, you may now kiss," she instructed.

Jaskier cupped Geralt's cheeks in his hands and kissed him. He was only vaguely aware of the whoops and cheers of the guests when his and Jaskier's lips touched. Everything else in the world seemed to melt away until it was just him and Jaskier. It was a long, sweet kiss, one that Geralt didn't want to end. But end it must, because as much as Geralt would have preferred, they couldn't stay under the canopy of rustling leaves for the rest of the day. But no matter—there would be plenty of other opportunities to kiss his husband. They had their whole lives to be together.