Erskine tore up a bit, smiling tearfully as he did the same, taking out his gold ring, "I, Abraham Erskine, vow to love you with all my heart, to be there with you through all our days, and to take care of you through health and sickness, to be your husband through and through to the end of my life.", donning the gold ring on Thaddeus's ring finger.
Thaddeus's heart skipped a beat, smiling so brightly, as the Atlantean music changed a pitch, and they then took their crystal necklaces, to touch their hearts upon their chests, with Erskine speaking first, "Time flies. Suns rise and shadows fall. Let time go by. Love is forever over all.", as tears fell even more.
Thaddeus gently caressed his cheek, wiping tears as he spoke passionately, "Time flies. Suns rise and shadows fall. Let time go by. Love is forever over all.", and their crystals glowed brilliantly under their palms.
Milo then spoke, "Thaddeus Thatch, do you take this man as your husband under the eyes of the Great Kings of the Past?", and Thaddeus removed the silver earring from his pocket, smiling as he gently put it in Erskine's right ear, "I do.", glad that yesterday that some of the Atlanteans saw fit to prime the skin in the ears to be fine with the earrings.
"Abraham Erskine, do you take this man as your husband under the eyes of the Great Kings of the Past?", Milo asked clearly, and Erskine did the same thing, gently caressing the silver earring in Thaddeus's right ear as he put it in, smiling happily, "I do.".
Milo then pronounced, "Then in the city of Atlantis, before the people, I now declare you two as husbands, Mr. and Mr. Thatch. You may kiss the groom.", smiling brilliantly, happy as he can feel the love between them like everyone else in the whole crowd, stepping back, as Thaddeus gently took Erskine in his arms, leaning in to kiss him tenderly, deeply, and in love, unknowing of the great changes coming for them while they are embracing.
At the moment, they were just happy that they could be so free with each other, even in their twilight days. No worries of the war or anyone coming after them and surrounded by a society that welcome their love with open arms and not hatred or bigotry.
The crowd's hearts were filled with love and happiness and joy for the newlywed couple, their crystals feeling the strength of their approval and open arms for this pair of men, two of their heroes who saved Atlantis, and were blessed to talk with King Kashekim, and so, the Heart of Atlantis heard the mini crystals, the little pieces of the Heart, echoing through the city, and the Great Kings of the Past in the Heart agreed vehemently to give the greatest gift to bestow the two men tonight after the whole reception and party, as they cannot argue against the fact to know that those men deserves it, especially after what they've endured.
The crowd cheered loud and clear, ringing through the air as the two men pulled back for fresh air, with Erskine blushing and smiling, "Hello, husband...", joy, disbelief, love going through him as he felt incredibly free to say it out loud at last.
"Hello to you too, husband...", Thaddeus teased, feeling so relieved being able to say that and say it so openly. "I really can't believe we can actually say that...".
Erskine chuckled warmly, "Well, get used to it now as I'm never letting you out of my heart, Tad...I love you, Thaddeus Thatch.", taking his hands, squeezing them tenderly, and Thaddeus smiled brightly, "I love you too, Abraham Thatch...", squeezing the hands right back, fitting so right together.
They then looked at the happy faces in the crowd as they cheered for them, and Thaddeus chuckled, "Never thought this would happen in our time...Let's celebrate with our friends and family, shall we?".
"Let's.", Abraham smiled happily, as he's no longer Erskine, but Thatch...Abraham Thatch...Yes, he can get used to that just fine. After all, Erskine was a surname used by people to respect his job and such on the surface, but now, he's able to live a free, happy, and prosperous life with the man he loves, in the city of Atlantis.
Milo smiled happily, "People, celebrate today with song and food, for today's a good day to remember that love dominates evil!", and the crowd cheers as music became more upbeat, as the celebrations began, with people leaving here and there to start the feast.
The others came to congratulate the couple, with Steve smiling widely, "Way to go, Doc!", and Abraham smiled, "Thank you, Steven, and for all of you, please call me Abraham as I'm no longer an Erskine, but a Thatch.".
"Might take some time to get used to there, Opa...", Milo teased. "Well, at least it would be slightly easier for those of us that only just met you.", Kida added as Milo rolled his eyes.
Sweet laughed warmly, "Too right! But we're happy for you two, Thaddeus and Abraham...I never thought I'd see two of my favorite people getting married, and I did!".
Peggy chuckled, "We have seen a lot of new things, Dr. Sweet, and I doubt that would never end as there's always something new to see or know every day.", and Sweet nodded, as Audrey replied, "Atlantis suits you, guys. You look great in those wedding clothes...".
Thaddeus smiled, "Thank you, and we will be wearing everyday Atlantean clothes, for sure, but we're not quite Atlantean fully, yet that's okay.", as Sia smiled, "Naturally. But there's still another thing to do, and that is getting your tattoos...Have you two thought about what you're getting?".
Abraham smiled, "I have decided on 'Healer', as it makes sense since I'm a man who wants to help people by healing.", and Steve smiled, "That fits you since you technically healed me, Doc.".
Jacques glanced at Thaddeus, "And you, Thaddeus?", and Thaddeus smiled, "I'm going to go with 'Explorer', as it technically means that on adventures, we are all explorers despite our different skills, eh?".
Kida smiled, "That's quite fitting, Grandfather.", and Thaddeus chuckled, "Of course, it doesn't hurt when the tattoo artists apply their crystal while tattooing people.", and Vinny asked, "Can I watch the process, Papa?".
Jacques chuckled, "I'm curious too, son.", smiling, and Abraham smiled, "We couldn't mind a few friends to attend the tattoo ceremony, but I'm sure most of you would want to dance and have fun, and pig out, no pun intended, Mole.".
Mole grinned, "None taken, doc!", before leaving the group, as Sweet smiled with a roll of his eyes, "I'd better keep an eye on him in case if he bothers the single women more than necessary.".
Cookie grinned, "Wanna dance with me, Packard?", and Packard deadpanned, "If you can stand another Atlantean meal, Cookie.", with a small smirk, and Cookie smirked, "You're on!", as they left the group.
Peggy smiled, "I'm really curious to see how the tattoos work.", and Steve nodded in agreement, as the others smile, with Audrey commenting, "I'm going to see if it's possible to make one of the Ketaks make crazy loops in the air.", with a grin before leaving the group.
And so, Thaddeus and Abraham went to get their tattoos, with the others observing and making small talk with some citizens while eating or dancing, and at the end of the tattoo ceremony, Kida announced, "As you all welcome Thaddeus and Abraham as citizens, they are part of Atlantis now and forever, and I give you the first dance of the newlyweds, Thaddeus and Abraham Thatch!".
The people cheered once again as the celebration continued on, with music changing all the time, with food everywhere and people drinking and dancing, and Thaddeus smiled warmly, "Shall we dance, husband?", offering his hand.
"I've been waiting for so many months to do this again...", Abraham smiled as the two of them slowly started their dance once again; it was a bit hard at first, considering Atlantean music was so much different from what they were used to, both in modern and classical forms. But it didn't take too long before the rhythm started to come to them.
Thaddeus looked at Abraham lovingly, "You never cease to amaze me, my heart...", caressing his cheek as he landed a tender kiss on his lips, and Abraham blushed, "Tad...", smiling happily, overjoyed to dance with his husband...Gods, they're married, and they're husbands now...He hopes that his former wife and children is happy for him like how Thaddeus' former wife and son is for Thaddeus.
Milo sighed contentedly as he danced with Kida, showing her the waltz, smiling, "The world feels right again for a while at least, you know?", and Kida chuckled warmly, "I'd never thought we'd add more family, yet we have...Grandfather and Opa will be a wonderful part of our lives, and they will be great babysitters...", smiling tenderly as she glanced at her baby bump, feeling excited fluttering, almost like the baby's joining in.
"We'll certainly have quite a lot on our hands with what you have to give us back.", Kida then said. "It'll take some time just to so much as relearn our own language.".
"Not to mention exploring the new routes the volcano caused, as well as seeing what other secrets Atlantis that has around here needs reactivating.", Milo added.
Kida smiled, "Indeed, but for now, let's just enjoy the joy and love surrounding around us.", kissing him on the cheek, and so, they did. Eventually, after a whole great night of food, dancing, laughter, music, everybody went home late, especially the children who was excited at being able to stay up late.
Sia smiled at Kida, "You go with Milo, I got this...", and Kida glanced at her, "You sure?", and Sia nodded, "Positively, and besides, you must be feeling over the limit tired, and the baby would need all the rest from you to help them grow.".
Kida nodded, "Alright, sister.", before leaving with Milo, and Sia glanced at Jacques, "I'll be back shortly. You take Vinny to bed, okay?", with a tender smile.
Jacques nodded, kissing her on the lips warmly, "You got it, my love.", before tagging Vinny, "Race you home!", and Vinny laughed, "No fair, Papa!", chasing after Jacques.
Sia then glanced at Thaddeus and Abraham, "We will keep your equipment safe in the guest tower of the palace, but I suspect you two would want a house of your own, so yesterday, I and Kida found one, with many citizens fixing it up. It's somewhere between the palace and the marketplace, not far from here, and don't worry, it's a one floor house.".
"We really owe you so much, Princess...", Thaddeus said. "We don't know where we could even begin when it would come to thanking you.". She smiled upon hearing that as she chuckled.
Sia replied, "Again, no need to be formal when it's only casual...Yes, it's true that you might have to be formal when it comes to the Council or something of that nature, but you are family now.", with a smile.
Abraham smiled, "Thank you, Sia.", as they followed the princess, seeing that they hadn't truly gone too far when they saw that they aren't far from the jungle residences, yet it's like one of those inland edges of a bridge meadow of sorts as a backyard, as they turned around the corner, to the front, and saw that it was a stone/wooden longhouse with a well-insulated roof of straw and tiles, yet made of Atlantean stone carvings.
"It's 20 minutes to the palace, and 20 minutes to the docks either way, with the marketplace in the middle, and of course, the jungle in the far back.", Sia commented as Thaddeus and Abraham looked at the tapestry above the door, almost placed like a flag on the wall, except that the tapestry is made Atlantean style, with a constellation of stars in light blue against the dark blue background.
Thaddeus exhaled, "That's our favorite constellation...", as it was the constellation of Ursa Major, with the North Star. They always tried to find it through the clearing at Thaddeus's secret cottage.
Sia smiled, "Milo told us, and he knew where the star points are, and the stars represent the fact that you were from the surface, from the stars above Atlantis. And the citizens have stocked food for your first week along with fixing the pipes for the bathroom. We still need to figure out how to bring back the kitchens for the people, but luckily, we have earth stoves. I hope you two are pleased.".
"Very much so.", Abraham said. "Again, you really make us feel like you're giving us way too much...", with a smile. "I know.", Sia nodded. "But, as we've said, you two played quite a part too in helping us in ways we never could truly repay...".
Thaddeus chuckled, "I think no matter how many times you'd think this is too much, Sia and Kida would always be stubborn, wanting to see all of their people including us to be happy on our own will and all, Abram.", kissing Abraham's knuckles softly.
Abraham blushed, smiling, and glanced back at Sia who smiled, "You are always family, Opa and Grandfather. Make the best of this, you two.", with a nod before leaving the couple.
"For being a princess, she's wise.", Abraham smiled, taking a deep breath, "Shall we?", looking at Thaddeus, and he nodded, "Let's.", as they went into their own house, seeing a crude Atlantean kitchen, with a small library of scrolls and few foreign intact books, a delightful bathroom, with two bedrooms, with one of them being the master bedroom.
Too tired to change out of their wedding clothes, with their glasses removed to rest on the side tables, Thaddeus happily spooned Abraham, intertwining their hands as he sighed softly, "I'm sorry that we would never get the chance to consummate our night, Abram...".
Abraham kissed him on the cheek, "It's okay, Tad. Being like this in your arms, it's wonderful, and we're husbands, which is better than the little things... I love you.", and Thaddeus smiled, "I can't argue with that...I love you too.", somehow feeling like he can sleep easier as Abraham tucked closer to him, falling asleep, unknowing of the Heart of Atlantis pulsing through the crystals, and so, blue glowing energy whooshed around the couple.
As they welcomed dreamland, they found themselves in a grassy and cloudy meadow, feeling awake in a way, as they looked around, with Abraham wondering out loud, "Where are we?", and Thaddeus replied, "I don't know, but...", before pinching his arm, and blinked, "Yep, we're in a dream...somehow dreaming together...Why?".
Abraham shook his head, "I don't know...", before hearing two young voices he never thought to hear again, "Daddy! Dad!", and his heart skipped a beat, gasping as he turned around to see his 8 year old daughter Marlene with her trademark ponytail of lush dark brown hair and brilliant teal eyes, and his five year old son Klaus with his scruffy light brown hair and dark brown eyes, running to him, and in the distance, is a group that consisted of smiling, familiar faces, for both of them; Greta, Abraham's former wife, along with Thaddeus's former wife Grace, his son Augustus, and his daughter in law, Lucille.
Thaddeus looked to Abraham. "You're not seeing what I am seeing, are you?", he whispered as Abraham shook his head, "No... I see them all too...".
"Dad! Daddy!", Marlene and Klaus cried out happily once more and Abraham sobbed as he dropped to his legs, opening his arms as they collided gently into Abraham's embrace, "My children! Oh, I missed you so, Marlene and Klaus!", kissing their foreheads.
"How have you been, Thaddeus?", Grace asked as she was the first to reach Thaddeus who couldn't help but wrap his arms tight around her.
"Grace... you, you don't know the rush of emotions I'm feeling right now with this moment, with you here...", Thaddeus spoke softly. It certainly was a whirlwind of such.
Grace smiled warmly, looking younger than how she was when she died, now middle-aged, having light blonde hair, slightly curly with dark green eyes, "Thaddeus, I would never be mad at you for finding love again, and I have watched over you, along with our son and our daughter-in-law...And to be honest, we were best friends in love, Thaddeus, but I wasn't your soulmate...I deeply loved you, yet that's okay, as it was a different kind of love...Abraham truly makes you happy, and there's no other better man I'd prefer for you...", before blushing nervously, "And I hope you aren't mad if I found love again in the heavens...", glancing over at Greta who is now hugging Abraham after he affectionately kissed his children over and over.
Thaddeus was almost a bit dumbstruck. "You mean... you and her?", he asked as Grace chuckled. "It's funny how life and death works...", she admitted. "But trust me, you don't need to worry about what I think about all this anymore.".
Thaddeus smiled softly, relieved to hear that, and then saw his son Augustus looking at him, "Hello, Father...", with a smile, and Thaddeus whispered, "Augustus...", before they wrapped their arms around each other in a father-son reunion, not shocked to see that Augustus remained the age he was when he died in that train wreck crash with his wife, being middle 20s.