Sons of Light: The 128th Hunger Games

by CelticGames4

Times of peace beckon. Warring sides reckon. Peace shall fight... Dawn shall break through. (SYOT Closed)

46. Danzón

He was just so… Confused.

He didn't really know why he was still alone.

He dropped everything and sold out everyone and it was all for him. So why did he want to stay apart?

Basil Oberoi was left alone once more. Feeling like an intruder. He didn't belong here after everything he did. He didn't feel like he did anything to deserve being here. Hell, he ran into the Capitol to try to sell out these people. He did it all for Cruise, and now they were still apart, and Basil felt more lost than ever. Without his foster family, without him… Basil went right back to that crushing feeling of loneliness in the world that he'd experienced for thirteen whole years. And so many others, like Kodi, experienced for so much longer. He was just trying to save kids from that fate, kids like himself. That was why he was here in the first place.

They had a place.

He had a job already.

They were well on their way to creating a life together. And one rejection spent him spinning. That was only one orphanage, he was sure there were others.

Cruise had pushed back against him hard when he started talking about the Games. Was it related to that?

Why was the man he loved running away from him, and not to him?

That was what bothered him most.

He looked up when the door opened, knowing when he saw the man there and the look on his face that he was about to get the answer.

"Cruise," he said, just… So happy to see him and hurrying over to give him a huge hug, and when Cruise hugged him back, for just a moment everything was okay again. "I missed you," he said into his shoulder.

"I am right next door…" he said, but he knew it wasn't the same and he just frowned a little bit. "Sorry. I can explain."

"I would like that," Basil said, slowly sitting down with him and just looking at his face, trying to figure out what it could possibly be. "Whatever it is, I'll fix it," he said right away – rashly if anything, he just wanted to make this right already. "I'll do anything."

"I know, you always do and always will," Cruise said with a small laugh and a smile, gently rubbing his cheek a little bit, the motion still a little sluggish from all the drugs.

"Anything for you," Basil said quickly, looking in his eyes and trying to figure out what was wrong as his own filled with tears. "Fuck, Baby, talk to me, please," he said desperately. "I missed you. I love you. I just want to be back with you, how things were."

"I love you too," Cruise said slowly, blinking sluggishly and closing his eyes. "Things will never be how they were," he said, shaking his head a little bit.

"We're going to get better," Basil said, but he couldn't help but feel like it was his fault that Cruise looked so shabby. They could have both been home right now out of the action if Basil hadn't made himself a name by volunteering. Fame came with just as many negative consequences as it would positive, he was sure of that now… Gone were the days of being a nobody. Now they went through such extremes to hurt him as capturing his boyfriend. Why wouldn't they let him out when they got Eve and Mako? It was just so troubling to him… All of this was troubling.

"They won't be the same," Cruise said quietly, shaking his head.

Basil wanted to push back, but he didn't because he knew he was right. He just slumped over a little bit and let out a sigh. If only they hadn't been denied for adoption and put into this whole mess…

"They won't," he conceded, knowing that Cruise just wanted him to listen right now. "But I'll do anything to help with healing from it all and rebuilding our life together, because it was perfect. Well… Almost perfect."

Cruise wasn't looking at him anymore, and Basil suddenly felt like his heart was crashing down and exploding. He could see the look in those eyes. Did he not agree? Why? Everything seemed perfect…

"I don't know if I want kids," Cruise finally said. "At all."

Basil was absolutely blindsided. "What?"

Cruise frowned at the slowly-growing realization on Basil's face. "I don't know," he said again. "I- maybe I will want them, I still just don't know," he said, wanting to save this because he and Basil loved each other so much.

Basil could feel the disappointment in his limbs which seemed heavy as steel. "I… I don't understand. Why didn't you say anything?"

Cruise looked away from him and took a heavy breath. "I knew it was your dream," he said quietly. "I just couldn't figure out how to tell you that I wasn't sure if it was mine. And terrified that if I did, we would have to break up."

Basil shook his head. "So you were glad that we got denied by the agency."

"I was the reason we were denied by the agency," Cruise said finally, raising his voice only the slightest bit as he watched Basil freeze in shock.

"What?" Basil blinked slowly, trying to process this.

"I didn't feel ready to be a parent," he said, shaking his head. "I still don't."

"So you went behind my back?"

"At the time I thought it would be easier than disappointing you, or worse, losing you…" Cruise said quietly. "I realize now that it was a horrible decision."

"I…" Basil said slowly.

"I'm sorry Basil," Cruise said, putting down his face. "I should have just been honest from the start. I thought foolishly that maybe I could get us back on the same page if I just had a little more time…" A tear dripped out of his eye and he shook his head. "Then we just ended up on two completely opposite pages."

"Yeah," Basil said, looking around them for a moment. All of this was… Was because of that dream. The extent he was willing to go for it was so great. Vounteering, training, hamming it up for sponsors. Robin's life, leaving Dante for dead. Selling out Eve, and Mako, just to get him back, and now he ended up here. All for his dream.

But was his dream worth losing Cruise too?

Cruise shook his head. "I know it's a deep betrayal and I just didn't know how to bring it up," he said with a sigh. "All of this has changed our lives forever and I think we just need some time apart to figure out just exactly what we want. Then maybe we come back and see if there's any way we can possibly make those two ideas work together. And then decide."

Basil could feel his lips quivering a little bit. "I… We'll definitely make it work. You don't have to do a damn thing, I'll do all the parenting, I-"

"It would be crueler to bring a child into a house where a parent doesn't want them that to let them stay in foster care," Cruise said, shaking his head. "I think you know that."

Basil hung his head, because he was right. And he didn't know what to do. Back then, it felt like things were moving so quickly because they were perfect. But now, it feels like everything they ever were was a lie, and it just moved by so quickly that neither of them could see it. "I hated being apart from you. I love you."

"I don't think it matters how much we love each other," Cruise confessed to him. "If we can't agree, then we have to move on."

Basil sighed heavily. "I guess we do," he said softly because fuck, he wasn't expecting… This.

"It's not doomed," Cruise said, giving him a small smile. "I just need to do some thinking now that there's a moment of quiet," he said. "Now that I know you're safe."

"Guess that's a good first step," Basil said as he looked at Cruise and he barely recognized him. He looked so sad, and weak, and his eyes were still a little foggy. But it was still him… "I don't know what I would have done if you weren't."

"Yeah, me neither," Cruise said, getting up slowly and taking a deep breath, obviously trying to slow his tears, but it was fruitless. "Let's just take a few days now that we can. Okay?"

Basil's heart hurt seeing him stand there looking like that by himself, and quickly got up to go give him a hug, squeezing tight because he missed him and was worried sick. He tore himself to shreds every second they were apart.

"Okay."

Basil was quickly realizing that none of his dreams of having a family mattered if it meant he was going to lose Cruise. Even after everything he went through for that dream, nothing mattered to him like Cruise. The only person that made him feel like he truly belonged anywhere. His person. The one he loved, the one he dropped everything and everyone else to try to save…

Cruise hugged him back and for just a moment everything felt okay again. Suddenly we'll find out sounded just fine. Suddenly, maybe someday was good enough because at least they would be together. When they were together, he was home, and everything was going to be fine. But just as soon as it started, the hug ended. Cruise gave a small wave and a little goodbye as he walked out, sliding Basil's door closed behind him, and leaving him alone again, back to his thoughts.

Fuck.

The man he threw it all away for… How could he survive without him?

The dream he did everything to have…

…

Was it really something he could give up?

~.~.

He was just straight-up in the dumps.

There had been a lot of great victories – but it seemed for every great victory, there was another shattering loss. And each loss, no matter how small it seemed, was someone that would still be alive today if not for what he did. People with family, friends. A whole District destroyed. He still wasn't even sure he could look June or Prentice in the eye, knowing they had families. And friends. People they cared about. People that were celebratory, just starting to heal after so many years of no victories. Complete lineages were wiped out in seconds. And after they attacked the Capitol… It was just a question of where they were going to target next.

It was all a waiting game, now. Waiting to see who else would lose their lives, while he was here hiding away, safe. And he was lucky enough to have the ones he cared about most right here by his side – his sister and his forever. Without them he wasn't sure what he would do. And yet he asked many others to figure it out. People who are innocent and those who are willing alike. No amount of reassurance from anyone could take the tremendous weight off of his chest.

"Sandwich."

Stellan looked up when Kat came in with the plate. "This stuff from 2 isn't going to last forever, even in a cooler."

"Take it to someone who needs it," Stellan said right away, putting up his hand.

"You need it," Kat said stubbornly, coming in with it and holding out to him, pushing the holo he was looking at out of the way for a moment and looking into his face. "Take this, Atlas, and give your eyes a moment to rest. I want Stellan back please."

Stellan sighed. This was the thing he didn't love about having them here. "Not right now."

"Yes." She sighed but then she reached over and pressed the power button.

"Hey." He finally blinked and became aware of how tense his jaw was from clenching his teeth. "Ugh. I'm sorry Sweetie." He rubbed his face a little bit, and the exhaustion fell back upon him, causing him to slump.

"Did you do this all the time when I was away?" Kat asked, before putting up a hand because she knew the answer and didn't want to hear him say it. "No matter. I'm here now. Eat."

"Sure," Stellan said with a sigh. He was glad that Scorp was there to go be with Pri after everything that happened with Jun – who he struggled to even look at even though they needed him. And it was great to have Thack back safely as well, but… Things just felt empty without the others. To think that all of this happened because of him. He still struggled with that, years later, and seeing Jun brought it all back up.

"Thank you," Kat said with a sigh, watching him for a moment and reaching over to gently rub his cheek. "One of these days I'm gonna make you have a good sleep too."

"I'm sure you won't stop trying," Stellan said, but he could never just lay down without thinking way too much. Not even with her here. He wasn't solely responsible for anything, but he had partial responsibility for everything.

"Mockingjay returning. Repeat, this is mockingjay, returning in two. Over."

"Oh," Kat said, sitting up. Anakyn had been out for a few days in a row now. Usually he did his own thing, she worried a little bit but she knew that Stellan had nothing but upmost trust in his friend. "What now?"

"I don't know," Stellan said, shoving food into his mouth because he didn't realize how much he missed himself some deli meat and cheese. Shit, dog, that was good. "I'll meet him around for a debrief."

"Alright, but I'm not done with you yet," Kat said, putting her hands on her hips. She was still trying to find a balance between letting him do what he had to, and making him find a moment to rest. It was much easier with the other boys because their part in all of this had decreased or dissolved. With Stellan it was a constant burden. And she was just as proud as she was worried. She went over to take his hand as she stubbornly followed him to the west wing.

Sure enough, it was practically to the second that they heard him approaching, and Stellan was quick to assist in letting Anakyn back in, waiting to see what information he would have for them – what big secrets he'd found this time.

Kat let out a gasp and Stellan froze when they saw what Anakyn had brought back with him – well, not what, but rather… Who.

"Get Ambrose."

"I'm on it," Kat said, just as shocked, but she quickly turned and ran the other way.

"Thor!" Stellan said, still blinking in shock seeing him even as his bandmate shrugged off the big case on his back to go over and give him a hug. "Wh-What are you doing here!?"

"I picked him up off the side of the road. Oh, please, Papa, can't we keep him?" Anakyn asked with a grin from ear to ear.

"My family understands," Thor said as he slapped Stellan's cheeks a few times. "You know I always do a terrible job being away from Brose… And my other friends." He then pulled back his hand to give him a huge spank.

"Oh! Hey!" Stellan said, breaking out of his shock a little bit and managing a laugh. "I thought that now that we have partners we're too old for that!"

"You're never too old to spank your friends!" Thor said with a laugh, but he heard the footsteps and Kat hit the wall to get out of the way for the running start on both ends.

The crash together was so hard that Ambrose made a sound upon impact and even Thor made a small face of pain from how fast they ran into each other.

"Ow," Thor said, tears pouring out of his eyes.

"That definitely hurt," Ambrose said, rubbing their chest a little bit, and soon they were both crying and laughing. "I'm confused. Why are you here?"

"I wanted to be with you so I did something that made me a war criminal. Problem solved!"

"Thorlief Koa, what did you do?!" Ambrose asked, their mouth falling open in shock as they pulled back to look at him, before just grabbing his cheeks in shock that he was here.

"Oh, he just helped me ransack a Peacekeeper barracks in the fishing district, it's no big deal," Anakyn said, holding up a few holos. "There ya go, Happy Winterfest."

"Oh shut up," Kat said, crossing her arms, but she was so happy for Ambrose – and Stellan looked a few years younger too seeing his friend again.

"Oh goody, just what I wanted," Stellan said, rolling his eyes a little bit as Ambrose was back to hugging Thor.

"No, what you really want is in our bags," said Anakyn, bouncing his eyebrows, and Kat crossed her arms.

"Is that a garment bag?" she asked as she took a long look at what he was holding.

"Maybe," said Anakyn, but he didn't hesitate to unzip it a little bit to show… Wait, it was white.

"Anakyn Skyavich, what are you doing?" asked Kat, immediately narrowing her eyes at him as Helen was coming over with her hair wrapped up in a towel, fresh from the shower.

"Ani!" she said, about to run in for the hug before she slowed down a little bit as he was pulling it out from the bag to show her. It wasn't all that ornate – chiffon capped sleeves with a lace design over a sweetheart neckline with a floral lace pattern that flowed down to the chiffon tea-length skirt and buttons down the back. "What?" she asked, stopping with a hand on her heart.

"Let's get married," Anakyn told her. "I know that we're missing a lot of people, and we'll want to have a more formal wedding after all of this is over. But the more time we spend apart… The more time I am kicking myself that I can't call you my wife. I love you. Will you marry me? But like, today?!"

"TODAY!?" Stellan asked, slapping his cheeks.

Helen grinned, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at the dress, and back at Ani. "Yes!" she said.

"Yes!" Stellan repeated, before he shook his head a few times in shock. "Oh my God!"

"We're having a wedding!" Helen said loudly.

"Oh boy, this is going to be a production," Kat said quietly with a chuckle.

"W-We need so many things!" Stellan said, quickly pacing in a circle. "Kat, you're in charge of telling everyone. ARTHUR! Time to use those baking supplies!" he said, hurrying off in a tizz.

"Oh goody," said Kat, watching him go, before turning to Anakyn and Helen, a smile spreading across her face because something about it had brought the old Wolf back. "We needed something happy so bad," she said to them. "Thank you."

"We have gifts from my family," Thor said, going to the large case he was wearing on his back and pulling out a few bags. "Everything from my sisters' makeup and hair drawers. Every tie me and Rowe and my Dad own. And some sashes to bring in a little color. There's some champagne in here too, that shit is heavy. Oh, here," he said, handing a delicately-wrapped up object to Ani.

"Of course!" said Ani, suddenly full of nerves. What if she didn't like it? What if it wasn't wrapped up well enough and it broke? What if what if… He pulled out the flower crown that he wove together while they were out, looking at it for a moment and breathing a huge sigh of RELIEF! It was just fine. "I made this," he said, holding it out for her. "For my Helen of the Daisies."

Helen looked at the crown for a moment, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh Ani… It's so beautiful," she said, still aghast at how beautiful it was, and gave him a hug around everything. "I can't believe this!"

"Well then, we'd better get everyone ready," Kat said, smiling at how thoughtful and cute it was. She'd never really imagined herself getting married before – and sometimes since she started dating Stellan, but… She wasn't really the white-dress kinda type. But this was making her start to think about it a little more. She stood up a little taller, a true smile starting to spread across her face as she looked at Helen and Anakyn for one more second. "Alright!" she said, patting Thor on the shoulder a few times and then marching off towards the residential compartments, clapping her hands. "Alright people! We're having a wedding!"

"We're having a WHAT?!" Camellia asked.

"You heard me! Anakyn and Helen!" Kat said quickly, not wanting Camellia to get any ideas. Camellia deflated only a little bit as Kat started moving past them to go rouse the other mentors and escorts, quickly trying to figure out where everyone was going to get ready. "You go that way, I'll go this way."

Camellia slapped her cheeks and Jo looked at Malloy.

"Oh here we go."

"Yep," sighed Malloy.

"ALRIGHT!" Camellia said loudly as she went to start throwing open compartment doors. "EVERYONE LISTEN UP!" she said, and yelled it a few more times until she had a small crowd of band members and rescued tributes gathered around to listen to her. "Helen and Anakyn are getting married! And you know what a wedding means!" she said, looking right at Bonnie. "It means if you have a crush on someone, you have to ask them to be your wedding date or else you'll PERISH!"

"AH!" screamed Vos, leaning into Chica which was funny as the blonde was shorter than her.

"Yes!" Camellia said, looking at them.

"ANAKYN'S GETTING MARRIED?!" Tessa asked, slapping her cheeks a few times. "Oh my God!"

"Wait, who's doing the music?!" Trap asked. "Out of Spite, reunite! ALRIGHT!"

"Yes!" said Malloy, perking up right away at that.

"Not without us!" Freddy said, gesturing to himself and Lizzie and putting an arm around her.

"And Kodi!" Shani said loudly, blushing a little at their attention as he pointed over at him.

"Me too!" Mary added quickly.

"We got a guitar in the house," Thor said, bringing over the reason his backpack was so big.

"AH!" Malloy said, slapping his cheeks.

Now Jo was looking at Camellia. "Oh boy."

"Wedding's in the cafeteria in T-minus two hours. I gave Jill the hair stuff and make-up."

"Girls we're getting ready in the westward common area!" she said. "Boys… Fuck man, just take a shower!"

"Ties," said Thor, tossing them at Jace. "Oh shit dude, forgot you're blind."

"It's fine," said Jace, shaking his head as Trap took all the ties.

"Musicians, we're rehearsing in an hour!" Trap said decidedly. "Be there or be square!"

"Alright, I'm going to tell the others, ready… Break!" Camellia said, and there was a great murmur amongst the group as everyone wasn't sure where to go or what to do. But she made eye contact with Bonnie for an extra moment before she was pulled off by her partners to go make sure everyone else knew as well.

"Oh no," said Ruthie when she saw Kaoru looking off. "Don't do this."

Kaoru pulled up his sleeve.

"Oh bitch he doin it," Vyka said, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "I love romance and even I know this is a bad idea."

But no, Kaoru was marching his way over to the girl from Eight with the green streak and big boobs. "Hey," he said, trying to be suave.

"Hi," said Roxy mildly, looking for her sister as Chica was grabbing Vos and bookin' it the other way.

"I'm Kaoru. But I bet you knew that. Since ya' know, I'm kinda famous."

Roxy narrowed her eyes. "Uh huh."

"Oh boy, why?" asked Ruthie, covering her eyes and watching through a crack in her fingers. She was awkward and she was feeling some serious second-hand embarrassment right now.

"So, you got a date to the wedding?"

"I can't watch this," Vyka said, but she also couldn't look away.

"No," Roxy said, just watching him.

Kaoru cleared his throat, obviously intimidated. "You wanna go with me, pretty thang?"

"Oof," said Ruthie, waiting a long moment before Roxy laughed in his face.

"Sorry kid, I don't go for little babies," she said as she was still laughing and walked back off to join her friends.

Kaoru was slumped over as he walked back to the two girls, his face burning in shame and embarrassment.

"Good try," Vyka said, and Ruthie shook her head.

"No, I can't condone this behavior," she said, tsking her tongue. "Stop being a thirsty ho."

"I thought I would at least try," sighed Kaoru, but his parade was fully rained on by now as he went to go back to his compartment to freshen up.

"That was so pathetic," Ruthie said, the two girls giggling the whole way back to their compartment.

"What did that guy want?" Chica asked with a giggle as she elbowed her sister.

"Oh, he thought he was real hot shit," Roxy laughed, before she looked at Vos sitting on the bed clutching her cheeks, the crisis written all over her face. "Oh boy. What's her problem?"

"I don't know," Chica said, looking at her for a moment.

"What does she mean we're gonna perish?" Vos asked, staring at the ground.

"I don't know," Chica said, grinning as she flopped down beside her. She still felt a huge hole in her heart after losing Janine, but after a few days to grieve, something happy felt great and she was going to try to keep that feeling. "Guess you have to go with me. Oh no!"

"Yeah, yeah, but like, does she really mean perish?" Vos asked, and Roxy just gave her a look and laughed at Chica's offended expression that her sister was clearly judging them.

"I'm sure she doesn't," Chica said, kissing her cheek. "But we'll go togetha anyways, how 'bout that?"

"…..Ye." Vos sighed and nodded, but she had to find that ginga and try to figura out what that meant.

Meanwhile Bonnie knew exactly what it meant as he was walking back to his compartment with Lester who was swinging his hand a little bit. He didn't think she would actually off him if he didn't do it, but part of him didn't want to risk it. Well… What was a better opportunity going to be than this?

Lester did a little twirl and turned around to grin widely at Bonnie with those sweet little dimples that melted his heart and he felt terrible for even having the thought when he smiled back. He turned around, walking backwards and putting two hands together, palms toward himself and fingers together.

Wedding!

"Wedding?" Bonnie asked, copying the sign as his brows furrowed in focus.

Lester grinned and nodded, giggling a little bit and forming D shapes and tapping them together twice.

"I don't know who we're going to meet there," Bonnie said, and Lester laughed and shook his hands a few times, putting up one to spell it for him.

"D…" Bonnie said, squinting and then nodding. "Date?" He did the sign and Lester nodded quickly. "Aha. So meet is once, and date is twice?"

Good.

"Good," said Bonnie giving him a smile.

Wedding date you?

Bonnie grinned and held his little cheekies to give him a kiss. "Of course I'll be your date." And that was perfect. …That was perfect, right?

The very two boys that he was thinking about in the back of his mind went back to Shani's compartment together, tittering and giggling between themselves.

"You didn't have to volunteer me like that, you know," Kodi said to Shani.

"Yes I did," Shani said, grinning at him and wondering if he was going to ask him. Or if Shani should ask him. He wanted to… But they didn't know each other that long… "Come on Kodi, you love singing, you'll fit in just great!"

"I hope so," Kodi said, his cheeks flushing when he looked at Shani and his heart started to go a little faster. "So…" he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I could use some sign help."

Shani could feel his heart pick up a little bit as he started to get nervous. Sign help? For what? For Lester? No, Lester was going to go with Bonnie. "Y-Yeah," he said finally, swallowing down some nerves as he got a little clammy. "What do you want?"

"So… How would you ask someone to be your date to… A wedding?" Kodi could feel his face heating up and he cleared his throat, looking away bashfully.

"Oh," Shani said, feeling like his heart was in his throat and he could vomit it up. Oh this was all silly… "Sure," he said, going through the signs. "So you would say…" He almost didn't want to show him. He just… He was too scared of him running off to ask Lester… But like clockwork, he showed him the signs, and Kodi was copying them, getting Shani's damn hopes up.

Thanks, signed Kodi, looking at him. He took a deep breath. Now or never, Kodi. "Soooo…" he said, but he had to show Shani he was serious about this so he took his time. I like you Shani. I want you me sweethearts. Want go wedding dates you with me?

Shani's heart fell from his throat to his stomach. "O-Oh," he said.

Surprised why? Kodi asked, laughing at his reaction a little bit.

"I-" he said, before he switched to sign. I don't know. He blinked a few times as he felt his whole body growing warm.

I want learn more sign for you. I want better me for you.

Shani's eyes filled with tears witnessing this and he was in complete disbelief. "S-Sorry, I don't know what to say," he said, collecting his thoughts, before he took a deep breath because he did know what to say. Something he had been milling over and thinking about for a while now. Yes, he signed. I want sweehearts you me. I want go wedding with you… He formed his hands into K shapes and touched his lip, letting it drop on his right hand, revealing to him a new sign. Kodiak.

Kodi was following until the end, creasing his eyebrows. What… He copied that sign, confused.

Shani just smiled and sniffed a little bit as a tear broke out of his eye and he fingerspelled. When Kodi realized what it was, his eyes got wide and filled with tears.

"Oh," he said.

"For the man that keeps his promises," Shani said, grinning at him and hating those tears because he was a sympathy crier. "Kodiak."

"Thank you," said Kodi through his tears as he gave him a huge hug.

"You're welcome," Shani said, his heart beating so hard as he giggled a little bit. "Guess we're wedding dates now."

Kodi grinned. "Yeah," he said. "I guess so."

Shani giggled a little bit, and quickly got on his tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I guess we get ready before you have to rehearse. I would say we'll go to the guys side together but…"

"This pretty face needs to be dolled up," Kodi said right away, and Shani laughed.

"Alright, fine," he said, because he was looking forward to it. "I guess I can let you go."

"We'll meet up later," Kodi said, looking at him for a moment, and chuckling nervously before he started quicky out the compartment, and Shani blinked in surprise before following. They met up with Lester and Bonnie.

"Oh hey!" said Shani in surprise when he saw them, but smiling at how Lester was swinging Bonnie's hand.

"Lester wants to go get his hair and make-up done with the girls," Bonnie said, smiling at the two of them and noticing how they were both blushing.

"Well then you've got a buddy," Shani said, bumping Kodi a little bit. "My wedding date can go with you," he said, beaming widely.

Lester let out a small squeal and slapped his cheeks and Bonnie just grinned knowingly.

"Yeah," said Kodi, blushing as he was a little shy about it still.

I want know EVERYTHING.

"I'll tell you later," Shani laughed, bumping Kodi and Lester along a little bit. "Go on now."

"Okay!" Kodi said, and Lester took his hand and started swinging it on the way out.

Shani sighed and shook his head, but he was smiling. "Guess it's just us," he said, gesturing to him, but blinking in surprise when Bonnie held out his hand to him. "Oh," he said, and his ears heated up a little bit as he took Bonnie's warm hand, and Bonnie swung them a little bit as they walked to the boys' area.

It was already a little bit crazy and busy already between the Victors and few escorts that were mulling about and chattering between themselves. But there was one Victor that was missing from the bunch of boys.

And he was awkwardly creeping on the girls' setup in the west wing, leaning into the doorway and trying to catch her attention. "Psst," he said when it even seemed like she was looking at him. "Pssst."

"Bruh, why you bein' a creep?" hearing June's voice made him jump a little bit.

"I'm not!" Bates said quickly, putting up his hands as he felt his cheeks heating up quickly.

June squinted at him for a moment. "Hm…" she said, crouching down to get to his height and squinting as she was trying to figure out who he was looking for. "I heard that the kiddo from Five already got turned down by Tits McGee, but you can try."

"What?!" Bates said, but it was pretty clear which of them was Tits McGee. "No," he said, smacking his forehead.

"Alright, alright, who then?" June asked, before she squinted and found the woman he was actually looking at. "Aha," she said. "Oh duh, I should have figured that one out." She looked over at where the escort was helping do Ember's make-up who was smiling as they were chatting in the process. "Got it."

"Wait," Bates said, because now all of a sudden he wasn't ready.

"Too late!" June said, sauntering over to the girls. "Oooooh Angeliiiiina!" she said loudly.

The woman looked up and grinned. "Oh, there you are!" she said. "Getting' all dolled up for Prentice?"

June blushed at that and blew a raspberry. "Yea yea," she said. "Bates is creepin' on the girls to see you," she told her point-blank.

Angelina blinked in surprise. "Huh? Oh," she said, her cheeks flushing a little bit as she giggled. "He's not supposed to be here, I have to give him a piece of my mind!" she said, but Ember and June exchanged a look, not at all fooled by that.

"Go on," Ember said, but her smile got a little sad and Calliope quickly took over doing her make-up to try to keep her mind off of it.

Angelina walked toward Bates, trying not to laugh when she saw him loitering like that. How did he think she was going to get her attention from all the way over here? And also… Why? Well, she had an idea… She was still thinking about Camellia's perishing threat herself. Not because she thought she would perish, but because it was time someone said something! She just felt… A little dampened, forced to wear old dirty gray clothes, and even the make-up that Thor wasn't as vibrant as she liked.

"Oh," said Bates, blinking as his brows went up in surprise. "I feel like this is forbidden sight."

"I haven't done my hair yet," Angelina said, rolling her eyes at him a little bit for thinking that she was going to wear a messy bun to a wedding. "Either way, you've seen it, silly," she said, putting her hands behind her back and waiting (im)patiently for him to speak.

"So I don't want to perish," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

Angelina laughed at him being so awkward all of a sudden. She didn't see him like this very often – usually he was a funny and confident prankster, not an awkward mess! She had to enjoy every second so she put her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," said Bates, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck – and he was blushing! She loved this and was just grinning and watching him.

"Okay," Angelina said, having way too much fun teasing him like this and making him blush even more.

"Alright," said Bates, and he finally made eye contact and she just leaned in and raised a single brow at him. "Don't make me be all pathetic," he whined at her.

"Why? I think you're cute when you're pathetic," she said with a hearty laugh at him. "Alright, you'd better spit it out before it's time for you to perish," she added with a chuckle. "The clock's ticking. I saw Camellia foaming at the mouth earlier."

"Oh-kay," Bates whined and blushed, grabbing his cheeks at how she was looking at him. Now there was an expectation there! "I'm sorry."

"For what? Creeping on the girls? I can't believe you thought that would work," she said with a laugh.

"It would if you paid more attention," Bates said, and he laughed and punched her arm before he got awkward again.

Angelina's hands moved from behind her back to her hips. "Well? Go on."

"Alright, fine, will you be my wedding date?" Bates asked, finally able to spit it out in a moment of sudden bravery before his face blushed. "Please?"

Angelina wanted to make him wait, but she couldn't – she quickly gave him a big bear hug and giggled. "Of course I will," she said, pulling back to kiss his cheek a few times. "Now hurry off and go get cleaned up. You can't see me all dressed up til it's time!" she said, turning him around and shoving him back towards the boys.

But as soon as he was out of sight, she started giggling like crazy and shook her hands a little bit in excitement as she started back towards the girls – and when her sights set again, she changed her direction, strolling right over to Piccolo looking for a little bow to put in her hair. She had been waiting for a good excuse to talk to the interviewer now that they were both here. After all, she'd heard so much about them from her sister Lyra!

At first it was all about how Piccolo Wallace had come to start learning sign from her and how intimidated she was by having someone so famous in her class. Over time it switched from that to excitement to go out and see her and practice with her. And then of course, it switched again to I think I have a crush and she does too.

Right before she left, Lyra gave Piccolo her name sign. But Angelina needed the tea for herself! Since her little sister wasn't here to stop her, she strode right over to her. "Hello, Piccolo!" she put up her hands to demonstrate the name sign to her.

Piccolo blinked in surprise at seeing that and blushed deeply immediately. "Oh yes, hi Angelina," she said, standing up a little taller. "So… You know that…" she said, getting a real bad feeling.

"Of course I do," Angelina said, giving her a grin. "Lyra tells me everything. She tells me everything," she added, bouncing to her eyebrows and grinning.

"Uh huh," Piccolo said, chuckling a little awkwardly. "I figured." She used to tell Viola everything once too.

"Soooo…" she said, sitting Piccolo down and taking it upon herself to do her make-up. "What's goin' on there anyway?"

Piccolo shrugged a little bit. "Nothing right now since we're apart and she probably doesn't even know where we are," she said quietly, and Angelina noticed her rubbing a rainbow bracelet on her wrist. Oh. Angelina softened up right away seeing that obvious token from her sister. It made her miss Lyra more than she had. Made all of this more real that they were here and she was all the way over there, by herself for once. Angelina was always her protector and now she couldn't do that.

"Right," she said, frowning for a second, but she couldn't stay down for too long. It just wasn't the way she was. "I see you got a little token from her," she said with a grin. "Not that I would be surprised to see you wear rainbow either."

"Yeah," Piccolo said, looking at her and thankful for her positivity. "I asked for it knowing I was about to leave. Was gonna say something and didn't. Trying to protect her."

"Don't tell her that's why, she'll have a fit," laughed Angelina, shaking her head. "Treacher-Collins never stopped her before, and it won't now, that's for sure," she reassured Piccolo with a smile. "I've learned the hard way that she doesn't want to be protected all the time. It was a hard pill to swallow."

"Yeah, I heard about it," Piccolo said, and her smile was just so infectious that she couldn't help but smile back. "I know, I know. Different kind of protection, I didn't even know if I was gonna get out alive."

"Yeah, protecting her heart," Angelina said, smiling at Piccolo. "Well, she can protect herself until we get back. I'm sure about it. She's really grown a lot these past few years, and some if it is because of you," she said, smiling at them. She wanted to be bad cop but she could tell that she really cared about Lyra, Treacher-Collins and all. "So thank you," she said with a smile, giving her a hug.

"Oh," said Piccolo. "No, we just bonded a little bit over sign language and more," she said, but she quickly hugged her back before Angelina could let go because that hug and nice words were just what she needed right now. "Thank you."

"Alright! We need Jill and Calliope stat, the bride is ready for hair and make-up!" Camellia said, looking sweaty and tired from all the emotional excitement of the day. "CHOP CHOP LADIES!"

"Alright, quit ya bitchin'," Jill said, as Calliope was hustling, not wanting to upset Camellia.

"So, about the whole perishin' thing," Vos said, pulling Camellia aside a little bit. "That ain't real, right?"

Camellia stared at her for a second. "Of course it's real!" she said, barely even hesitating about that. "So ya better go tell them crushes how you feel!"

"Please don't make me perish," Vos said, claspin' her hands together to beg. "I'll do anything!"

Camellia raised an eyebrow. "Anything?" she asked. "I'm listening."

"Musicians finish getting ready and report in ten!" Trap said loudly as he walked past the girls' area without looking. "TEN MINUTES!" he said as he walked back to the boys' area as well.

"Ow, that was my eardrum," Gian grumbled a little bit before he turned back to Riggs. "You'd really think that as a musician he might be considerate of other people's hearing."

"Oh, lighten up, you," Riggs said with a laugh, grinning at him as he put the tie around Gian's neck and held both sides, using it to pull him in and give him a kiss. "All this time and I still have to say it. When will you learn?"

"Never," said Gian, and Riggs just grinned.

"Hey, you said it, not me," he said, putting up his hands in surrender. "So. When are we tying the knot, handsome?"

Gian thought about it for a moment. "When all this is over," he said right away. "We're gonna do it right."

Riggs just smiled as he pulled his tie, pushing up the knot and making sure it wasn't crooked. "If I'm marrying you, there's no way to do it wrong," he said, grinning and leaning over to give him a kiss. "I'm still trying to get Prentice to let me hand the bouquet to June like in all those viral videos."

"Which is a stupid idea," Prentice said, eavesdropping even if he was pretending not to.

"I don't know," Gian said thoughtfully.

"So that's when you agree with him?" Prentice asked. "Unbelievable."

"Well I can't agree with you," Gian said, slightly teasingly, and slapped his cheeks a few times.

"It would be so much fun!" Riggs said. "And you know that June's happiest state is outshowing me. Which she doesn't do that often," he added, clicking his tongue and giving a finger gun.

"Whatever you tell yourself to sleep," Prentice said, and Gian made a face of offense.

"Leave him alone," he said right away, and Riggs and Prentice both laughed at him.

"Someone needs his coffee," said Riggs, causing them both to laugh together some more.

"What? I do," said Gian, groaning at them acting like fools together and shaking his head. "Is it too late to divorce?"

"We gotta be married to divorce," Riggs said, his hands still on Gian's chest from where he finished with the tie.

"Fine then let's get married so I can divorce you."

"I see how it is," Riggs complained loudly. "Take my rose and leave it on the rooftop to die, get married just to divorce me, when does the emotional abuse end?!"

"Stop that!" Gian said right away, his ears getting red as Riggs just started laughing heartily at that and gave his pouty boyfriend a kiss.

"Just kidding," he said, but he was still laughing about it as Trap was giving the last call for the musicians, being considerate enough to put his hands over Gian's ears.

"All musicians to the cafeteria, stat! If you're not interested in singing you can still make yourself useful moving chairs and benches!" he said, taking Jace and pulling him along even as he complained, and then going to fetch the girls. "LET'S GO QUEERS!" Trap was yelling through the hallway on his way there.

Shani looked at Bonnie for a moment, gesturing with his head. "Go ahead," he said, smiling at him looking so damn handsome with a bowtie and his hair cleaned up. The brown roots that were starting to show were… Cute.

Bonnie bit his lip. "I don't know about that," he said, shaking his head. "I don't want to cause trouble. Freddy still doesn't like me. A lot of them still don't," he said quietly.

Shani frowned for a moment, then shook his head. "Nope, I'm going with you," he said. "And nobody's gonna give you a problem." He started marching right toward the cafeteria. "Just to help move chairs," he said, but it was clear he was going to be pushy. Aye yay yay.

But when they got close to the cafeteria and saw some of the girls coming the other way, Bonnie suddenly got nervous – and then oh.

"Oh," Shani said out loud, stopping in his tracks and grabbing onto Bonnie's arm when he saw the two of them coming closer. "U-uh…" He suddenly felt shy again and held Bonnie tighter.

"Wait!" Camellia yelled. She was walking behind them with Jo, but now she wanted to be front row!

"No!" Kodi said, rolling his eyes at her. But he was fucking gorgeous with his make-up done perfectly like that and a tiny little golden hair clip on the short sides of his hair and a ribbon tied around his collar in a bow.

"You can wait," Bonnie said, gaping a little bit seeing Lester and just trying to figure out what to say. In addition to the beautiful make-up job, he was wearing a lighter shirt and a darker undershirt had been folded off, the sleeves tied to the side, to make a skirt. Lester in a skirt?! What?! He looked so beautiful in it, his hair half up, half down, and held up with a big white bow in the back.

"Wow," Shani said, sinking a little bit. Oh all he did was put some water in his hair and push it to sit nicer, then put on a tie!

"Hi there," Kodi said, putting a hand across his waist to give him a proper bow.

"Ooo," said Shani, and giggled a little bit. "Hi," he said, blushing at that as his heart was racing.

Lester waved and did a small curtsey to Bonnie, who quickly reached over to take his hand and hold it up to let him do a twirl while Shani was still holding onto his other arm.

Shani realized this and let go of him quickly, his cheeks heating up quickly. "Sorry, I don't know how to react to you," he said with an awkward laugh. Either of them, really. "Gorgeous." He put up his hand to show the sign for beautiful.

Thank you! Lester signed, settling under Bonnie's arm.

"Where's Boss?!" Trap asked loudly from the cafeteria, and Camellia shook her head.

"Go tell him to fuck himself, I'm watching young polies in the wild," Camellia told Jo, sending her off to do just that. Jo sighed but Camellia looked poppin' in that outfit with her make-up done and she was a weak lesbian, so off she went.

"You're coming to do music with us, right?" Kodi asked Bonnie, melting a little into Shani at how nice he looked.

"Oh," said Bonnie, and Shani just gave him a look. "Guess so now."

Yeah! Lester signed, with a big grin, but they waved quickly to get Shani and Kodi's attention. Camellia was right. There was no better time to say something about the big ol' crush they had and they didn't wanna perish either! And Bonnie wasn't gonna do it – that was a foolish hope and they all knew it. They gestured between the two of them, both looking so handsome. You us go wedding?

"What!?" asked Kodi, turning to look at Shani who was staring at them with eyes wide in surprise.

Sorry, what? He signed quickly, looking at Kodi and yeah, by how red his cheeks were getting, Kodi definitely saw the same signs he did.

"Lester," Bonnie said, his entire face getting bright red in response to this. "I'm sorry about him."

You us. We, he said, making a square, Go wedding. Dates.

"I have to go pee," Kodi said, and Shani grabbed his hand, pulling him back, because he knew that he was just trying to escape the situation. He knew because that was what Shani wanted to do too!

"Excuse him," Bonnie said, giving Lester a hard look. "He is too forward for his own good. Come on Lester."

"You want to?" Shani asked Kodi, because of course he wanted to but he couldn't just say that because Kodi was the one that chose him first!

"Uhhhhhhhh…" said Kodi.

"Don't worry about it Kodi," Bonnie said.

You don't want?

"Well yeah," Bonnie grumbled under his breath. "But you can't just ask that."

"I mean, he did," Shani said with a shrug, putting a hand on his cheeks and looking at Kodi who looked like a deer in headlights.

"Let's just do one step at a time," Bonnie said, giving Lester a look and going over to Kodi. "They're asking for musicians and I don't want you to miss it, so let's go." He held out a hand to him, wiggling his fingers a little bit.

"Uh…" said Kodi, and Shani let him to and nudged him a little bit.

"Go on, don't miss your chance," he said, gesturing him along with Bonnie. "Off you two go. Are you going too?" he asked Lester, who frowned a little bit and shrugged. "Alright, you stay with me and listen to them rehearse then," he said, and he would be lying if he didn't like seeing Lester's legs out like that as they reached over to take his hand all dainty-like.

"Last call!" said Trap loudly.

"No!" Camellia said, grabbing her cheeks, watching Bonnie and Kodi go over to join the others, keeping distance from Freddy. "Oh, I'm gonna give him a talking to later!" she said with a huff as she went off to join the others and Shani went to the small group that was setting up chairs. And of course the leader of the group was Monty – Cyrus? He knew Rafa's older brother only vaguely because he was in the same year as Shani's sister, and he could only imagine the cow that Raf was going to have when he realized that he was alive and doing this – but it was easier to just pretend this was a stranger called Monty, so that was what he did.

"Hola twink amigos!" Indy said cheerfully hanging off of his arm, before raising his eyebrows at Lester all dressed up. "Or amigo and amiga!"

Lester giggled a little bit and their cheeks blushed a little as they shrugged. Shani raised an eyebrow at them but felt extra protective of them right now after they spilled to Kodi and kept a tight hold of their hand.

"Alright, big man, what we doin'?" Riggs asked, putting his hands on his hips and happy to help do this for his friends' wedding day! So exciting!

"Please don't call him big man," Gian complained right away.

"I mean… He's not wrong," Prentice said.

"Don't you have a girlfriend to annoy?"

"You think she's going to be helpful?" Prentice just laughed. "Ha."

"Well, I guess since the stools are attached to the tables we just need to clear an aisle way between and turn the tables so people can see. Two people per table so find a buddy – and watch the toes!"

"Yeah, watch the damn toes," said Vos, pointing at Chica, as Prentice paired off with Roxy and started to help her move tables.

Trap took charge of the rehearsal – Thor, Thack, and Stellan were with the groom and Kat was with the bride currently along with Calliope and Jill.

"What have we got?" he asked, looking at the few cases that were produced – the nicest of them from Thor, and another that was pulled from Inky's dusty attic of 11 and brought with Jun and Lizzie. A few things around that could be used as makeshift percussion that Bonnie was quick to collect and start testing out elsewhere. "Alright, we got voices and hands and… one guitar."

"Dibs!" said Malloy and Freddy whined.

"I wanna play too, please!"

"Alright, fine, guess I can share," Malloy said, because he didn't mind.

"Yeah, he's gotta dance with us looking so nice with that handsome beard!" Camellia said, grinning proudly and still keeping an eye on the TBFs setting up chairs.

"And then we got this," Trap said, pushing open the old case to reveal a banjo. "Oh wow! Guitar folks?"

"Oh don't look at me," Malloy said, putting up his hands.

"I've tried it once," Freddy said, shaking his head. "No dice."

"Hey," Monty said, dropping his table and Indy made a noise of struggle before looking over at where Monty was going over to Vos. Damn, did everyone think they were Vos's Primo now that Indy was gone for a few years!? Fucked up.

"What?" Vos asked, but it was obvious she knew what he was going to say. "No."

"What?!" Chica said, looking at Vos. "Noooo, you need to!" she said right away. "Come on, play for us Foxy!"

"Aye aye aye, I'm involved in this discussion now," Indy announced as he marched over there in a pushy fashion. "And you don't force Prima to do anything she doesn't wanna."

"I…" Vos said, looking at the instrument as her cheeks flushed. "No."

"Come on," Monty said, going over to hold his hand out to her. "I'll sing. They'll be too busy laughing at me to care about you."

"Papi's going to sing!? What is going on?!" Indy asked, looking at Chica. "You disappear for a few years and suddenly everyone is different, it's like they all grew without me!"

"That's because we did," Monty said with a laugh and an affectionate smile at him. "We found ways to make do. Come on," he said, as Trap was warming up the singers in a fashion that would make Stellan proud. "Got a banjo player!"

"Fine," Vos said, not putting up too big of a fight and following after him as he was holding her hand.

Indy squinted at them and then reached up to rub his chin. "Huh."

Vos was greeted with great excitement and Chica smiled and went over to put her arm around Indy and lean into him. "Aawwwww, this is so good for Foxy."

"I'm worried," Indy said, knowing that they didn't like to relive their past. "Guess I just have to trust Papi." But with Vos it was hard to trust anyone.

"Oh, lighten up," Chica said, grinning as she went over. "And help me move a table, I love weddings!"

The rehearsal went well and Shani even convinced Lester to join in for some of the a cappella tunes in the backgrounds to just get their vocal chords warmed up a little bit, even if they couldn't do more than an oo right now. And soon, Trap quickly shut down the rehearsals as guests were starting to come in and find places to sit, all of them chattering excitedly amongst themselves.

"You sure eloping was the right option?" Miracle asked as Chervil stretched out and put his arm around her.

"Oh Jesus, we're too old for all this shit," he said, shaking his head right away, stretching out his leg because this little stool made his body ache. "Just let the youngins have their time."

"Aw, you two crazy kids could get away with a big damn wedding after all this if you wanted," Cartier said with a chuckle.

"Yeah yeah, let's just keep you away from the wine," Miracle teased him.

"There's wine?!" Chervil asked.

"I heard it from a little birdie," Miracle said, laughing at the thought of how wildly excited they were about the little bit of alcohol and a wedding.

"Wine? When do we get to have some?" Vyka waved to them and presented Antonio to them, who put up a hand to wave in recognition of his mentor. "Can we sit?"

"Oh absolutely," Chervil said right away, patting a stool for him to sit beside him and Vyka, Ruthie, and Kaoru filled in next to them. "You're always welcome with us."

"Thanks," said Antonio, looking up when Wendy waved to Miracle and Cartier, and sat on the other side of him with Basil beside her. Cruise stayed apart from them and looked awkward, waved over by Eve as Mako had joined the other musicians, ready once more to contribute his beatboxing talents.

Ania gave an apologetic smile when Cheri and Angelo called Shani over and made him sit with the three of them, and since all three of the others were doing musical duties, he begrudgingly sat beside them. He was just glad that his Mom was still a little forgetful and not quite aware enough to notice him blushing and looking.

"Alright, are we ready?!" Stellan asked quickly, peeking out his head for just a moment.

"Go for it!" said Trap with a nod as he looked at Malloy to start playing to begin the ceremony. Everyone stood for Anakyn coming down the aisle by himself – he was reserving the right of giving away for his parents when this was all over. He moved somewhat quickly, turning and smiling as the stand-ins came down the aisle next to Malloy's singing.

Stellan and Kat came down first, holding hands as the excitement was evident on his face and he was already getting a little emotional.

After them came Thor and Ambrose, separating to stand on one side or the other though they were there to support both the bride and groom.

Behind them were Calliope and Thack, the latter of which had tears streaming down his face already that his girlfriend patted a few times before they separated and he went to stand for Ani and Calliope for Helen.

Next, everyone smiled when two tributes that worked with them came down the aisle. For Helen, Mary was happy to walk rather than sing, honored that of everyone she was one of the few that was asked to come and stand for her. On the other side was Tessa, who Anakyn had escorted for, beaming with excitement and dropping ripped up pieces of toilet paper on the ground, which made everyone laugh.

The last behind them were Camellia and Riggs. Camellia was crying at Malloy's singing and holding Riggs's arm who was grinning hugely at Anakyn – and the other who had snuck around the side, his boyfriend who was already standing at the front as he had been asked to "officiate" despite not having any qualifications to do so.

Once everyone was in their place, everyone rose for the appearance of Helen. In her dress and flower crown, she looked absolutely gorgeous – not gaudy, but simple. They had made it work and it was perfectly imperfect. She was an absolutely brilliant sight to behold – the epitome of a blushing bride as she was looking at all of the people there – some she knew, some she didn't – standing for her as she went to join Ani at the front of the cafeteria. She gave Em a smile and a wave, glad he was there with Maggie, and he looked more than thrilled to be in attendance for Anakyn.

He knew what the dress looked like – he chose it for heaven's sake – but he was still stunned at her beauty and his eyes filled with tears seeing her look so damn beautiful – it was worth all the risks he took to make this happen right now and he was so excited to marry her.

"Uh, you can sit," Gian said awkwardly, not sure if he was supposed to be the one to say that or not, and everyone sunk down with a buzz. "Welcome everyone, like you have anywhere else to be right now," he added, and that got a laugh as he cleared his throat. "Today we are here to recognize two hearts that wish to be joined in marriage." He looked over at Riggs who grinned and gave him a thumbs up. "There is something special about a love like this," he said, smiling at the two of them. "Helen and Anakyn's love has always been the type that finds a way, despite the circumstances." He felt his eyes fill with tears as he realized that this was real, swearing under his breath as he wiped his eyes.

"Don't start crying, Mariani!" Anakyn teased his friend, but he was misty-eyed himself. In truth he chose Gian because he thought he would be one of few that wouldn't cry, but he was wrong.

"Sorry," Gian said, shaking his head and blushing.

"Ha, big softie, who cries at weddings?" Prentice asked, looking over at June and realizing that those were definitely tears on her cheeks. He quickly put an arm around her and pulled her in. "Never mind."

"Yeah," she said, but it brought up a lot of feelings seeing this happen – some of them grief and some of them excitement.

"So even today, in a refugee bunker, Helen and Ani's love continues to find a way, and the two of them continue to light up the lives of others, on their own, and together, with their love. I believe they would both like to do vows. Ani?"

"Of course," said Ani, looking at Helen. "Firstly I want to thank everyone that made this happen, we couldn't have done it without you." He smiled and stepped closer to his beautiful bride and took her hands. "Helen, I am so thankful you just agreed to run into this with me despite having no idea it was going to happen today. It speaks to the trust we share, and how lucky I am to have a best friend who is so willing to drop everything and marry me on a whim." He laughed and reached up to rub her cheek softly with his knuckle as tears were spilling out her eyes. "From the first moment we met there was an immediate connection and I was sure that you were the one way before I probably should have been… But every moment makes me more and more sure that you are my forever, and I am the luckiest man alive to somehow be your husband." She let out a little sob and he laughed at her – but felt equally overwhelmed with emotions. "As your husband I vow to always protect you, take care of you, and wipe every tear away, whether happy or sad. Hopefully happy right now. Not mourning those single days too much, are you?"

"No," Helen said with a laugh as she started laughing through her tears. "I am not!"

"Just checking," Ani said with a laugh through his own tears. "I am so ready to call you my wife, and do everything right for you all the time. And when I'm not perfect, I promise to fix it and make everything better. I love you, Helen."

Helen laughed through her tears as he took her hand and gently put a kiss on her engagement ring, not having a true wedding band to put on it. "Someday," he whispered against her soft skin.

"Helen?" Gian said with a gesture to her.

"Oh yes," she said, taking a deep breath and sniffling at the sounds of various people in the room crying – whether they knew her or they just loved weddings. "Anakyn Skyavich," she said, reaching out to take his hands again and rub her thumbs on the top of them. "I didn't know what to think the first time we met. But it became clear quickly that I had been blessed with a kindred spirit. And even more evident now that I have been given a great gift, a man that always takes care of me and puts me before himself, and as your wife I promise that I will do everything in my power to treat you even half as well, make you even half as happy as you make me every day just by being yourself. I will take care of you even when you don't take care of yourself, and always be there for you to make things better. I love you." She brought his hand up to kiss his engagement ring softly. "That's all, I just want to be Helen Skyavich now please!"

"Please," Anakyn said quickly, tearing up again as he squeezed her hands and looked into those beautiful green eyes that always were his personal spring and brought so much warmth deep inside of him.

"Alright then," Gian said, smiling at them as he looked at everyone wiping their eyes in the crowd. "Well then. I don't know who vested what power in me, but I'll figure it out sometime after all this shit is over. But regardless, I now pronounce you man and wife! You may now kiss the bride!"

Helen giggled and then let out a yell of surprise when Anakyn scooped her up easily into his arms to give her pretty lips a sweet and passionate kiss, and she quickly leaned up to grab his face and kiss him back. For just a moment she didn't hear anything except his gentle breaths when they pulled back, before she could hear everyone cheering, yelling, clapping, stomping…

"Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Skyavich!" Kat said loudly as Wolf was inconsolably crying and she clapped her hands. "Let's eat some food and have some fun! As you could smell, Arthur made some cake and we have enough wine for everyone to get a little bit if they want."

"Wow, thank you so much," Helen said, before Anakyn was pulling her up to kiss her again and she held onto his face to kiss him back once more, so happy to be married.

"Alright, let's party!" Trap said, immediately getting up to start the group of singers in an a cappella joyful version of Longest Time.

Anakyn grinned at that, absolutely happy at the choice and he set Helen on her feet to hold her close and sway with her, both of them crying and laughing together.

"Alright!" Riggs said, taking Gian after the first verse to join in the dancing as tables were quickly cleared out of the way for room to dance and partake in a great celebration.

"So, where's your wedding date?" Cheri asked Shani finally and he quickly blushed.

"Somewhere."

"Wait, you actually have one?!" Angelo asked, leaning over right away.

"Maybe," mumbled Shani, but he was blushing so hard it was obvious.

"Who? Lester?" Cheri asked, getting up to look for him as Ania held her to make sure she didn't try to move too fast.

"No," said Shani. "I mean, maybe," he added, before he groaned because he didn't want to explain this to his parents. "Kodi!" he said finally. "And I'm going to go watch him now so don't be embarrassing!" he said, going over right away to be closer to the singers. Ugh. They were totally going to be embarrassing. But it was worth it to see how happy Kodi was singing bass for them and snapping his fingers – and they even gave him his own line! Shani made sure to clap aggressively despite embarrassing him, he wanted to be supportive. Even Lester looked happy doing what they could to help the group and Bonnie had a hand on each of their shoulders. Shani was thankful to him for keeping them both safe – and hope they did the same, and if not, Shani would.

"Well, we can't be upstaged by those two," Prentice said, holding out his hand to her. "Wanna dance?"

June sniffed and then nodded. "Yeah, I guess the wine can wait," she said, going out with him and remembering how they danced together before the party and actually had a good time. With Jasper. The grief and guilt about moving on without him still haunted her all these years later, and the bombs taking her home made it all come back. But when she was with Prentice, she felt like whatever happened, she would be alright. And that was what she needed right now.

"Oh, the wine has our names on it for sure," Prentice said as he swayed with her a little bit. "So what's with the tears? I know you like Ani and Helen but not that much."

"Lots of stuff," June said with a small sigh, looking over at where Odessa had been stolen away by Vasilisa since Freddy was singing with the others. "Home, you know. Memories." Of Vale, of Jasper, of her own family, Prentice's sister. "Careful there buddy, we're gonna make this go from fluffy to angsty real fast."

"We'll save the angst for another day," Prentice said, a master at pushing it off – much like his girlfriend, for better or worse, and they went back to dancing and enjoying the music Trap was able to put together with Out of Spite and One Man Circus.

The music was so cheerful that even Stellan and Kat were dragged into it despite not having rehearsed with the group, and was met with great applause and cheers from everyone when they were gifted a line. Mary did some ad lib at the end that was impressive to everyone. Even Em was convinced to dance with Maggie and he had a great time doing it – even she was loosening up a little bit with him being so happy. Calliope went in to see what other songs they had planned as Thack went to get them a small piece of cake. There were a few more group songs that were received equally as joyfully, the bride and groom dancing happily and going to partake in some of the special treats. There was even some fresh fruit - and Thor got a lot of impressed oohs and aahs when he showed off his party trick of tying a cherry string in his mouth.

The a cappella set ended and everyone looked at Vos who was setting up the banjo, having taken the time to tune it and clean it up as much as she could. She was a little nervous at first but Monty gave her a reassuring smile so she took a deep breath and didn't allow the room to be silent for too long, playing the beginning of one of the songs Monty knew to sing – from an old movie she'd watched in the Capitol where she grew up, something she taught the friends when she was a little drunk and had the confidence after they thought they lost Indy.

And sure enough, just as he promised, Monty sang, his voice rugged, unimpressive, especially compared to the showing before. But consistent on the pitches. "Hard times, come again no more."

The song was recognized by more than a few of them, and when he hit the chorus, he was joined by multiple voices – and in harmony.

Freddy took the guitar, following the chord progression, and started strumming. Only a little hesitantly at first, and then more confidently when he heard how it fit together. "Keep going!" Malloy said reassuringly.

"What the hell, I didn't know he was good!" Indy said.

"Oh stop that and dance with me!" Chica said, taking his hands before deciding that it was too awkward. "Like for real dance!" she said with a laugh, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him in.

"Aight aight!" Indy said, wrapping his arms around her waist and letting her sway him to her heart's content.

Kodi took one chorus to get it in his ear and wanted to join along in the second chorus, and Bonnie hurried to get the cup of rice turned into a makeshift shaker and kick a big container for a deep bass sound.

Lester clapped for the two of them and went over to Shani right away, taking one hand and putting the other on his waist, not even asking for a dance and just pushing right in there to sway with him.

Viola was wandering a little bit, but she realized that they were making music and hurried to find her sister. "Piccolo!" she said, pulling something she'd been holding onto out of the inside of her jacket. She was trying to find a good time to talk to her, and just kept chickening out, but… She had to now.

"Huh? Oh my God!" she said when she saw the little case that Viola was holding. "Wh-What?!"

"I couldn't bring Fritz," she said, thinking about her trusty trombone. "But I could sneak this from home."

Piccolo's eyes filled with tears. "Viola…"

"Go on!" she said loudly, shoving her a little bit toward the other instrumentalists with a laugh.

Piccolo quickly took the instrument of the same name out of the case and started putting it together, glad that she was paying attention to the melody. "Key of D?" she asked quickly.

"Yeah," said Vos, and she set up her instrument to do an instrumental verse along with the others and that caused a lot of whoops and cheers from the friends who were dancing together. The sound of the wind instrument made Helen and Anakyn stop their impromptu cake fight, both of their faces covered – and go back over to dance with the crowd that was forming in the open middle of the floor. And another pair was going to join them.

"Alright kid."

"AH!" Kaoru yelled a little bit when he saw Roxy approaching him, all made up and looking so damn pretty – and her boobs. "I'm sorry!" he said, putting up his arms.

Roxy just chuckled and put out her hand. "Come on," she said. She knew it was what Janine would have bugged her to do, the right thing. Or the nice thing. Couldn't be worse than her gross old man clients back home. "Let's dance."

"What?!" Kaoru asked.

"What?!" Ruthie asked, putting a hand on her hips as she was hanging with him while Vyka had dragged Antonio out to dance with her.

"See ya!" Kaoru said to Ruthie, quickly taking Roxy's hand and going to dance with her.

"Betrayed by Kaoru, once again," said Ruthie, shaking her head, but she was laughing at how awkward he was even with Roxy being kind.

Malloy put out his hand to stop the instruments for an a cappella chorus and then they finished the song with fervor, to great applause from everyone who was having an incredible time.

"Let's keep it going!" Trap said, and the festivities continued with a guitar piece from Malloy. Piccolo was getting plenty of compliments, and a big hug from Lux, but before she could go talk to her sister, Viola was swept up by Malloy's older brother Jack for a dance.

"Thanks so much for that, that was so fun!" Stellan said, going over to Vos to squeeze her shoulder.

"Aye aye aye doggy boy, away from mi Prima!" Indy said, shooing him off to give Vos a big hug – underneath the arms as she was better but still healing. "Wow Prima, you sounded amazing."

"Thanks," Vos said, her face heating up. "Do you really think she meant perish perish?"

"Aye yay yay," Monty said with a laugh as he shook his head. "Just enjoy the wedding party and stop worrying about Camellia being weird."

"Yeah," Indy said, grinning at her and a little emotional because it was just another way she'd grown so much without him there, to revisit her past like that… "I'm proud of you, Vos," he said softly, holding her face for a moment before letting it go. "Now where's that alcohol!?" he asked, grabbing Monty's arm as they went in pursuit of the goods.

There were plenty of festivities to be had – and songs to be sung. Kodi had a great time joining the chorus for some and some of them spent with Shani. Everyone had nothing but good things to say about the cake, and everyone had congratulations for the bride and groom – the new Mr. and Mrs.! Even Angelo spared a dance for each of his godsons, even with Andy seeming awkward and out of place.

But things got a little serious about half an hour in as Stellan had done a little bit of his own planning.

"This one is a special song dedicated to the groom and hoping to bring happy memories," he said, collecting the small group that remembered and knew the back-up to sing Numi's favorite to them- Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

"Oh," Ani said, freezing up at all the memories of that song, and Helen gently took his hand.

"Numi would want us to smile," she said, though her eyes filled with tears at him crying. "Come on, husband," she said, taking his hand and pulling him in to hug him and sway gently through the emotions.

"You're right," he said, putting his hands on her waist, but that didn't mean it didn't sting a little bit. He would make sure to give Aristotle and Trixie a part in their more formal wedding – they deserved it, and he should have been there. "He would."

"Oh shit, it slowed down," Kodi said, his face getting red as he already saw Lester and Bonnie slow-dancing together, their arms around his neck and beaming up at him happily. He smiled a little at them. "I'm sorry I panicked a little earlier. I wasn't expecting that."

Shani looked over at him. "Yeah," he said with a small chuckle. "Me neither. But… We should probably give him an answer you know."

Kodi blushed again and shrugged. "I don't know. I'm confused."

Shani sighed, but he could relate. "Yeah, me too," he said. But he was so happy to see them dancing together like that and he wanted to go over there. But not without Kodi. So he held his hand out to him. "Bonnie's right. One step at a time. Want to take one with me?" He suddenly got worried. If this wasn't what Kodi wanted… He could ruin everything.

Kodi swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, taking his hand and nodding. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I do."

Shani grinned and hurried over to the other two. But he wasn't letting either of them steal away his first slow dance with Kodi. "Hey. Mind if we infringe on your space?"

Bonnie looked up and smiled a little bit. "Not at all," he said, and Lester was shaking their head.

"Cool," he said, looking at Kodi for a moment and hoping he would take the lead. But when he didn't, Shani just put his arms around his neck, pulling him close, and Kodi quickly wrapped his arms around Shani's waist, smiling.

"Sorry," Kodi said quietly. "I'm not good at this."

"It's okay," Shani said, his heart racing being close with him like this and when he had him this close, he almost didn't want to share these moments with them. "I got you."

"I know," Kodi said with a smile. "Thanks."

Shani smiled back and put his head on Kodi's chest. And then… He felt a gentle, hesitant touch on his arm around Kodi's neck. He smiled a little bit feeling Lester's hands – still a little rough from what they both went through. He pulled one arm from Kodi's neck to slide his hand into Lester's, holding Kodi closer with the other. "That okay?" he asked, still unsure.

"Yeah," Kodi said, closing his eyes as Lester was grinning.

Bonnie just sighed as he made eye contact with Camellia from across the room who was staring at him over Jo's shoulder. "Alright alright, I don't want to perish," he finally said, and then he pulled an arm from Lester's waist and put it gently around Kodi's shoulders.

"Oh," said Kodi, his face heating up again and he was still… Confused. But he was happy. Shani looked up at him and smiled, and Kodi grinned back, his cheeks heating up at being nestled between them. He never felt love before and now he felt so much of it at once… He didn't know how to handle it. So he just closed his eyes and tried to hold onto every second of it.

"I still don't know how to answer your question from earlier," he said, frowning at Lester. "Do you hate me?"

Lester shook their head. This was more than enough of an answer for him.

"Don't worry about it," Bonnie said softly. "One step at a time is wise, he's just a dreamer."

"No kidding," Shani said with a laugh, but he still felt… A little weird, infringing on Bonnie and Lester's relationship after everything he'd heard about it… "You just let us know if it gets weird…"

"Right," said Bonnie. "I mean, it's weird, but it's a good kind of weird." Lester nodded.

"Yeah," said Kodi. "I just… Yeah, am confused and this makes me more confused so this is probably all I can give you," he said honestly.

"That's okay," said Shani, because he wanted Kodi tonight anyway.

"It's perfect," Bonnie said reassuringly, pulling the others in a little closer as the harmonies got quieter for the final line of the song sung by Stellan's wavering voice.

"For now…

…That would be enough."

"Alright, let's keep up the dancing!" Trap said, as Freddy started playing something more upbeat on the guitar and brought the group back into the festivities.

And yet, despite the happy atmosphere and merriment, there was one heart that was still hurting.

Ember Caine sat with her arms crossed tight to herself, closing herself away once more. She had to step up when it mattered, but now that she didn't feel needed anymore, she was back to being closed off. She wasn't blind, nor deaf, she could see everyone together and she could hear how happy they were, how sappy they whispered to each other, how close they were all holding each other.

There was only so long she could sit there and watch the festivities before she had to excuse herself, hoping for some time alone. She couldn't keep opening herself up like this, setting herself up to lose people. Setting herself up for betrayal. Or worse.

I'm Ember Caine. I'm in the catacombs of District Thirteen. But I have one home. District Twelve is my home. Where my family is. Where Flint is. I miss them.

"I miss them."

Tears formed in her eyes that she tried to hold back. She just felt so lonely. She felt so…. Lost.

She heard all the time about others – some as young as herself – taking it into their own hands to do something about it. Make sure their families were safe. At the very least, going to be with them instead of hiding away here.

Maybe it was her time.

Twelve was close enough… She could go back and be with them. She was going crazy here being so cooped up like this, and she would do anything to see them all again. The memory of her sister and her boyfriend was becoming distant, and they were becoming almost strangers. She couldn't let that happen. She still remembered her Dad, teaching her how to remind herself who she was, before they lost him. Before she was left alone, the lone protector of Quartz fighting against her sexist grandparents. Now Quartz was alone – she could only pray that despite not being interested in being a parental figure, her brother Blaise has chosen to step up and do it for her sake. Him or Flint, or both.

She always wanted to protect Quartz before. Maybe now was the time to take her own adventure. She knew that the coup had no means by which to support her on the mission besides a pack of essentials, and she would largely be on her own. That was what gave her pause. She was much better to them dead than alive.

But also, she was better to them there than here.

Ember stopped in her tracks when she saw someone that was also escaping – and almost bumped into her from how she was hugging herself. "Sorry." She blinked in surprise. "Piccolo? They're still playing music in there…"

The interviewer cleared her throat a little bit. "Yeah, I'll be back in soon," she said, letting out a small sigh. "Who's them?" she asked, and Ember stopped in her tracks. "Your family, no? And your boyfriend, Flint? That's his name, right?"

"You actually remember?" she asked, not sure why but that came as a surprise to her.

Piccolo chuckled quietly. "I try," she said, frowning when she saw the look on Ember's face.

"I thought Kodi's ugly-crying would have outshone everything," she said.

"Oh, that was wild," Piccolo said. "But I guess I just have always had a soft spot for the outer Districts," she said with a shrug. "I always remember when a tribute's story moves me. And it happens quite frequently. It's why I'm here, I guess."

"I guess so," Ember said, still not trusting, but oddly… Touched by that. "Yeah. Of course I miss them. It's been weeks and I don't even know for sure that they're okay."

"Yeah," Piccolo said, running her thumb across the rainbow bracelet she was wearing and sniffing a little bit. "There's no way to know for sure that they'll stay that way. Don't even get to look at the same sky, the same moon and stars…"

Ember felt her heart drop to her stomach at that, missing every single comfort in that moment, no matter how small. "At least Viola is here now."

"I'm glad she is," Piccolo said, but it was obvious that she was thinking about something else. "Lyra," she said, not afraid to just put it out there. "That's her name. She taught me a little bit of sign and we just kept seeing each other until practice became… Hanging out, and hanging out became… Dating." She smiled, but there was pain behind those eyes and she sighed. "I know you didn't ask. But I just can't stop thinking about her now. Lyra Evangeline Santoro."

"You know her middle name, that's serious," Ember said with a small laugh, before she perked up a little in recognition of the name. "Santoro? So… Angelina…"

"Sisters," Piccolo said, rubbing her face. "That's why she wanted to talk to me so bad and gah, I feel like I was such an idiot," she said, gently patting her cheeks a few times as they were heating up.

Ember didn't know that Piccolo had anyone – nobody did or else it would have been big press, like Viola with the Head Gamemistress. "I'm sure it was fine, Angelina can't hurt a fly. Unless it says that Bates has a muffin-top, then squish."

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Piccolo asked, before shaking her head. "Never mind," she said, just looking back at the bracelet. "Lyra has no idea where I am. She might even think I'm dead at this point, I disappeared and have been gone for so long. No idea if she has any idea that I'm still alive. She probably doesn't even know how much I'm thinking about her."

Ember frowned, and she wondered if her family knew just how much she thought of them. She just had a feeling in her heart that they did, and that they were thinking of her too. But was it real?

It had to be real… It felt too real. And if it wasn't… Why was she even still here?

Sure, the chosen family thing with the small group of rescued tributes was fine. She didn't really have a choice – the getalong shirt was the first lesson there. And she made friends doing that but they were nothing compared to her real dead.

"They know," she said, trying to sound confident. "They know."

"Maybe," Piccolo said, but she wiped at her eyes and the little make-up she did have on was running something fierce.

"I'm sure she has a feeling in her heart. The knowledge to not give up, from somewhere."

"Maybe," Piccolo said again, making a small squeak and reaching up to pat her eyes. "I wish I could drop everything and go to her. I didn't even get to fess up before this all happened, and I did it to protect her from losing me if things went awry, but now I wish I hadn't waited."

"Aha." Ember frowned a little. "I wish I knew how to help, but… I don't really." She was just a teen after all. "But I can help you with some deep breaths."

Piccolo smiled and reached over to touch her shoulder, even though her arms were still crossed into herself. "It's okay," she said. "I know. I guess I just feel comfortable talking about it since I know you're the same."

Ember didn't like that Piccolo could read her like that, but… She was right. "It's easy to have regrets in hindsight," she said. "Maybe I shouldn't have waited to save up, and should have just taken Quartz and make a leap, try to make it work. Maybe I'll regret forever sitting here and hiding right now, maybe it's time to take the risk and go."

"I've thought about it sometimes," Piccolo confessed quietly. "But I'm in too deep now. I just have to have faith that she can protect herself and be independent out there until I get back. Because it's no good if I try to get back, and don't. You're too high-profile now, the moment anyone sees you and knows they can sell you out…" She shook her head. "You saw Tonio."

Ember's blood ran cold at just the thought of that. "I did." Was she that important to them? Why? Just because the nation knew her name and face?

"They tried to hijack Lis when they had her. They are trying to use you as weapons." Piccolo shook her head in pure terror thinking about it, and Ember could see genuine empathy in her gaze. "Any of us with a name that they can reach," she added, because she understood. "I can't stop you, but… I fear for you."

"Why?" Ember asked. "You don't know me."

"Guess it's just part of caring way too much," Piccolo said. "Why I suck at my job and ended up here in the first place."

"You don't suck at your job. You were a great interviewer. Maybe you'll keep having a talk show after this," Ember said, trying to find something optimistic to say and trying a smile. But the thought of the extent of the Capitol's cruelty still scared her.

"They turned Em against the one he loved. They know no bounds. Protecting ourselves is a brave decision to make right now," she said. "Or I think so."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Ember said, because she couldn't imagine a reality where she would be pushed that far, as far as she witnessed that night, and she could see the lack of life in his eyes even now as he was having fun at the wedding.

"You make your own path," Piccolo said reassuringly, and Ember nodded a little bit, realizing that she just needed to hold the hope for a someday right now. "I've just reached peace with it myself. I just… Man. It sucks."

"To see all of them," Ember filled in, because she understood. "Yeah."

"Even Viola is trying to find a rebound," Piccolo said, rolling her eyes at her sister and laughing a little through her tears. "I'm sure that PR relationship breaking off has her just devastated."

"Oh for sure," Ember said, but she rubbed her arms a little bit awkwardly.

"I'm going to go back," Piccolo said, taking a deep breath as she was still crying a little bit.

"Just remind yourself who you are, and why you're here," Ember said, smiling just a little bit as she finally uncrossed her arms to put one on Piccolo's shoulder. "You are Piccolo Wallace. You're safe now in District Thirteen. You're a great interviewer, a good friend. And you're going to come home someday to Lyra."

Piccolo took a deep breath, nodding a little through her slight tears, and smiling. "Right," she said.

"My dad taught me that," Ember said, before she felt like she overshared talking about her parents, whose memories she held close.

"It's a good trick," Piccolo said, and wiped her eyes as her tears were slowing a little. "Alright," she said as she thought about it for a moment.

Ember could have let her walk back and gone off to be alone, but… That wasn't what she really wanted. Not deep inside, not now after everything she'd seen and all the trauma she held deep within. "Come on," she said, patting their shoulder a little bit.

"Oh," Piccolo said, smiling at her help. "We can go together."

"Alright," said Ember, but she pulled her into the girls' changing area, taking a quick detour.

"But we're fixing up your make-up first!"

~.~.

A/N: Six.

I'm hoping this chap is the last beast of its kind. But I had so much good content to shove into that wedding and wanted to limit the number of deleted scenes that came with it and I think I did that.

Happy 11:00. Time for bed.

Next chap: District Nine Angst (Cont.), one tribute discovers what's worth dying for, and the most difficult conversation Indigo Alejo has been brave enough to have.