A/N: song is:

Can't Help Falling In Love - annapantsu cover


Ch 2: The Wedding

It was very hot out this summer night but that didn't seem to stop any of the lively activity inside. Weiss, Winter, Yang and Ruby had spent all week turning the courtyard into everything it needed to be before the wedding affair with the hired companies, getting the main hall of the school converted with several lecture rooms at the very front changed to be rooms for all the wedding party and the couple to get ready tomorrow and a few converted for groups to sleep the night before.

Weiss, Ruby, Nore, Ren, Yang and Blake were all staying in Weiss's office, reminiscing on their old school days as Leo played with some toys in Blake's lap, sitting around a lantern with cots pulled out. They were all tired from all their efforts but excitement was in the air. To quote Yang earlier in the day, who didn't love a wedding? The toddler was clinging to Blake tightly, The woman having been gone for so long in Menagerie helping Jin with something left him clingy.

She stroked his blonde stock of hair as she sat with her friends, no her family, and they remembered old times that felt like such distant memories now. Ruby had just finished retelling about Jaune's bunny hoodie with a sad sort of smile on her leaned into her and ruby wiped the single tear from her eye before she seemed to bounce back. Autumn, Azure, and the twins were in Yang's office for the night, Sterling and Indi were staying in their old dorm, and Jin and Scarlet were in Ruby's office, Yang refusing to let Scarlet in hers. She didn't really care how Jin felt about Scarlet or didn't, Yang still didn't care for the woman and never had since being her instructor at Beacon.

Qrow, Raven, and Tai were all back at Tai's. Willow, Whitley and Klien were all in their own hotel in Vale, and Winter was in her office alone at her desk, holding a photo that generally sat on it of a moment captured in time of Dove as a young girl with her smiling brightly in her arms. She ran her thumb over it and smiled a bittersweet smile. Weiss had kissed Ruby's cheek and headed off, excusing herself and leaving towards Winter's office, slipping in quietly, "Winter?"

Her sister glanced up, setting the photo back down on the desk, "Come in Weiss."

The younger woman closed the door behind her and walked closer, stopping at Winter's desk and leaning into it, watching her sister closely with a soft smile, "How are you?"

Winter was leaning into her hand, looking past Weiss about the room. She could see every memory of Dove over the years within these walls as if it had all happened this morning. From the time she was a little girl rummaging through books on the wall to try to teach herself to read them, to the days she was a preteen and poking at instructors and students as they passed through for answers to her many curious questions until they were so flabbergasted and out of breath Winter would have to rangle Dove in, her memory was there burned into the air. She felt Weiss's slender fingers brush her cheeks and realized they were wet, "Pardon me."

The gentle chuckle from Weiss drew her eyes over, "Winter it's fine to be tearful you know? Your daughter is getting married tomorrow. She's been your entire world for more than two decades. It would be weirder if you didn't cry at all."

The older woman sighed, "I suppose so. I just… where did the time go? I'm so proud of her and she seems so happy finally but… I miss that little girl that chased me around these halls tugging at my hand wanting to know everything about anything she could understand dragging that silly little stuffed crow around like she would die without it. Seeing her all grown up and ready to spread her wings and fly away just feels so hollow…"

Weiss nodded, moving closer to Winter, gently hugging her, "Of course it does. But it'll be fine. This time was always going to come some day. And you'll still have me and Mom and Whitley and Klien and Dove will still be your daughter even once she's married. It's a new chapter, not the end of the story."

When she pulled away, Winter was rubbing her face and nodding. Weiss touched her cheek and stood up, "Get sleep Winter. She's going to need you at your best tomorrow."

The woman nodded and thanked Weiss as her younger sister made her way out and back to the others, entering the room to Ruby at the mercy of Yang and Nora in some sort of pillow fight, Leo squealing and laughing as Blake was shouting at them to behave and Ren was just trying to stay out the way, "Geez I leave you all alone for a few minutes…"

—-

Rosy flopped back onto her cot and rolled, purring as her tail swayed and twirled, watching Dove who was sitting up leaned back into her own cot, Venere sitting next to her on one side and Rye on the other, "You nervous songbird?"

Dove tucked loose hair behind her ear, prompting Venere to move and sit behind her, playing with the soft short bob of two colored locks, "Well… of course… And I'm still struggling with these vows."

The boa faunus leaned over to stare at the notebook in Dove's hand propped against her thighs, "Hmmm to think you would have trouble with words on paper Dove."

Eyes rolled and Rye just chuckled, Rosy grinning, "You'll figure it out Songbird. Just put down what you feel. Never stopped you before."

"But that's just it. Everytime I try, nothing feels special enough or like it's the right thing for this," Dove whined, head falling back into Venere's lap as the girl was perched on Dove's cot to mess with her hair.

Veneer traced her nose and booped it, "Oh Dove. Loki doesn't need anything but your honest feelings. Haven't you figured that out by now?"

Dove huffed up at Venere who grinned at her. She leaned her head back up and glanced at the band members who were giving her confident reassuring glances and she roamed her eyes back down to her page. So far she had scratched through every attempt to convey her emotions on paper. It had never been this hard before. Finally Rosy rolled to her belly and watched Dove, "Alright we'll help, what would you say if you could tell her anything at all about how happy she makes you and what you hope this future holds?"

Dove nibbled her pen, staring up at the ceiling in thought. Rye leaned into her hand cross legged and glanced over at Rosy who held a finger to her lips with a wink. In no time at all, Dove grinned and was furiously scribbling at her paper. When she finished, Rye had dozed off and Venere was also barely awake but Rosy was still watching her patiently as Dove leaned close, handing Rosy the page, "I want to do something I bit unorthodox and unplanned. Help me?"

Rosy watched that curled eager grin that was screaming emotion silently at her and smirked happily, "Oh let's do this Songbird. Show me what you got."

—-

Raiden had passed out long before the rest of them and had they all still been teenagers he may have woken the next morning with art on his face. Loki was facing off with Fern in a game on their scrolls while Prince had a smoke by an open window and Troy was cheering Loki on. Everyone could tell that even though Loki seemed excited and pumped she was anxious so they did their best to keep her distracted. Already several times tonight they had to stop her from forging towards the girls and bothering Dove who had asked not to be seen once they all went to bed until the wedding, wanting at least the one tradition. When asked she had just smirked and claimed knowing it would drive Loki nuts was satisfying enough.

And she had been right. If they didn't keep the crazed woman distracted long enough, she would begin to squirm or tap in her nerves and try to dart for the door with one excuse or another. Trying to tire her out was proving to be a difficult feat in and of itself as well, Loki clearly running on adrenaline and nervous energy. After so many rounds of losing Fern had enough, groaning, "Ok I'm tapping out! Someone else's turn!"

Loki quickly stood, "Nope I need to stretch my legs. I'm feelin really cooped up!"

Fern immediately snagged Loki and yanked her down, wrapping around her to lock her in place, "No you don't! This room is plenty big enough it's a damn lecture hall! You just wanna irritate your fiance! We aren't falling for that one!"

Loki was growling and squirming, but Troy could see a hint of it in her eyes, the anxious nervousness that needed to be calmed, quieted. He reached and plucked her from Fern, setting her gently down next to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Hey Loki. Relax. She loves you. She's not going to change her mind tomorrow, ok? She's not the kind of woman to put this much effort into something and just quit. Breathe buddy. You need to calm down. You're going to work yourself into a frenzy and mess your head up for tomorrow."

Loki inhaled deeply and nodded, fists clenched into her sleep pants, "I know I know it's just… It all still feels really surreal. Like any minute I'll wake up and it won't be true. Or like I really did die in those woods and none of this is real. Before all that she never would've let me mention this and now here we are and she's all for it. Hard to believe it's possible. Then all I could come up with for vows is a few words but I hope it's enough yea? Hope she'll remember what they mean, what they've always meant… I'm just freakin out Troy. In a good way ya know but like… shit!"

He patted her shoulder and nodded, "You'll be ok. Trust me. Rosy knows these things and she knows Dove's not going to back down. That woman wants you and only you for the rest of her life. You make her happy, something she's wanted for a long long time. It's ok to freak out a little just try not to panic ok? And we're all here for you if you need us ok?"

Loki nodded, grinning wildly in her nervous state. Fern just nodded and they got Loki to bed and watched to be sure she stayed down before they went to sleep too.

—-

By morning, everyone was a bustle of energy getting ready. The rest of family and people arrived, bride's maids and groomsmen were in their own changing areas trying to get dressed and people were making their way to seats. No one bothered with sides for either couple except family, as most of their friends were all the same or in the wedding. It was such a small afford they just filled in around the designated seating for parents and desired close loved ones.

Qrow was waiting outside the girls' changing room for the rest of them, fussing with his pink and white suit. He wasn't super fond of it but it was the colors of the bride's party so he was stuck with it as her man of honor. He envied Loki's group who got black with pink accenting. Even Fern's black dress with pink sash and hair accents were nicer in his opinion than a pink tux with white tie and shoes. But for his daughter, he would make it work for him.

He watched wedding party members running around back and forth trying to help get each other and the couple of the hour ready with a chuckle, occasionally checking his watch. Everyone still making good time but barely just. Inside the girls' changing quarters, Rosy, Venere, and Rye were all trying to get into their pink dresses and white heels, each in a variation that seemed suitable for them. Rye's even had a more dead poet aesthetic to it even in its soft tones, including her signature sloughed beanie in white and white shaw, while Venere was in a simple dress, white tights and waist sash and Rosy was in one with thin straps and a bit of a slit to the side like her preferred show dresses so she could wear it right after when they played for the reception and Dove's entry, a white accent pinning her mane of white hair from her face and her rosy colored eyes shining with excitement.

Everyone was sharing a vanity to get themselves ready as Winter stood in her best white suit to help Dove with her hair and veil. Dove's dress was strapless, hugged to her torso perfectly, and had shape to the bottom to give it the smallest amount of body that suited her shape perfectly. Black slips over her arms that are attached at the middle finger on each hand stopping at her elbows and a white choker of a collar that had lace that ran to the bodice in the front, transparent but beautiful. The length of the dress stopped just beyond her knees, not fond of the idea of a train or trailing it and never one for long dresses. Her heels ribboned up legs covered in opaque tights in black, the dress and shoes white. The accent of the veil that held it to her head was black but the fabric itself was white. Accents on the dress itself were soft pink.

As her mother brushed through her hair and pinned it back from her eyes, adjusting the veil in place on her head, Dove started longingly at the bouquet of dog-roses in front of her, tuned out to everything around her and nibbling her lip. Winter leaned in, kissing her cheek lightly and giving her shoulders a light squeeze, "You look beautiful my dear."

Dove's smile was soft and warm as her heart swelled and her nerves turned her stomach, "Thanks. Mom… I'm nervous…"

Winter smiled and gently hugged her, "That's natural dear. Tell me, you truly love her, yes?"

Dove nodded, "With all my heart."

"You can't think of spending your life without her?"

"Absolutely not."

"She makes you happy, treats you right?"

Dove's eyes threatened to water and she bit her lip fighting it back to not ruin the simple but beautiful makeup on her face, "So much Mom. You have no idea."

Winter Kissed her hair and gently slid the veil over her face, "Then you are going to be just fine my dear. Dove nodded and leaned into Winter before Qrow knocked to get their attention, calling through the door, "Ladies we are gonna be late if you don't all hurry it up."

—-

In the boys' changing area, Fern had already gotten changed and joined them, helping some of them with their sloppy pink ties to fix them and fussing over sad looking hair before making her way to Loki who was gripping the counter and staring in the mirror. When she stopped next to her she watched her, "You have that look like you are about to do something stupid in your eyes."

Loki pulled open a drawer and held out a pair of clippers but Fern frowned, "No way. I'm not about to help or allow you to make any drastic changes before your wedding Dove will be pissed! You will totally freak her out!"

Loki chuckled anxiously and stared at them, "But… I… I'm freakin out. I'm about to marry someone I've only thought I'd marry in my dreams. Do ya know how fast she just accepted me for me Fern? How much she just… how much she had to go through all the time just to stay with me? I honestly am still shocked we're even here. I think I might panic if I don't do something crazy. Come on, help me so I don't fuck it up?"

Fern folded her arms but then caved, holding out her hand with a groan, "Ok fine but you're just lucky you aren't dressed yet or there would be no way there'd be time. That bird of yours would kill us if we were late because you suddenly had an identity crisis. Sit."

Loki pulled out a chair and sat, leg bouncing like crazy and Fern could tell she was about to fly out of her skin. Loki wasn't scared to do this; she was just so overwhelmed that she was struggling to contain everything raging inside herself and still struggling to truly settle in her mind. Fern thought for a moment with a hand on her chin before she reached and brushed over locks, buzzing the entire side from Loki's head then folding everything the other way she did the other side before dusting Loki off completely and using a hair dryer to fulling clean off the loose hairs. She grabbed a wet rag, wiping little cuts from her skin clean and helped brush it all to one side so the thick mane of furious pink mohawk unstyled and laying flat fell over long and trailing down Loki's shoulder and back to her stomach length.

When Loki looked at it, she got that grin and flew to her feet, nearly squeezing Fern before making a dash for her white suit and tie, black vest and black vest and shoes, pink shirt. Before Fern could even blink the woman was getting dressed fast, rolling her sleeves and trying to put on her jacket but Fern stopped her and made her fix them, "Do that after! For once wear the damn thing right!"

Loki just chuckled but allowed Fern to fix it. When they were all ready someone came for them. Loki headed out to the altar to wait and smiled at Sterling though he seemed less amused in his white shirt, black suit and vest and pink tie. Autumn was excited in a cute pink dress with a basket of dog-roses. The wedding party lined up, Qrow with Fern, Rosy with Troy, Prince with Rye, and Raiden with Venere. Autumn got in line in front and Sterling at the end. The band members were ready to part once they got to the front so they could go right to their instruments to play Dove down the aisle and of course Rosy and Dove had a secret plan too.

Dove was fidgeting with her flowers standing with Winter. All their guests were seated and everyone was ready to go. Loki was ready up front. She had not seen Dove in her dress before as requested by Dove and now Dove was nervous again. Of course she knew Loki would say she liked it no matter what but she had never been to a wedding before, never seen healthy love much before except at such a young age she didn't fully remember it, never watched her prior generations getting it right properly and now she was remembering how out of her depth she felt again like she did before she met Loki.

Winter gave her hand a squeeze and the line was already moving. When Dove looked up, everyone had already gone and it was just the two of them waiting. Winter wasn't rushing her, she was smiling and warm and patient, as her mother had always been. Dove could feel her courage returning to her. She was going to be ok. Her mother was right there and she wouldn't let her fall. She had Dove's hand with every ounce of care she had from the time Dove took her first steps all the way until now and it was all Dove needed to be ready. She looped her fingers through Winter's arm and let her mother guide her as she had any time Dove had needed her.

The music was beautiful as the band played, Rosy softly giving a harmonic melody to the tune without words and Dove noticed the moment Loki's eyes landed on her, going wide and freezing. She of course twitched at Loki's hair but once it sunk in she realized it was very suiting for the woman and wasn't really surprised Loki did something rash so suddenly. It made her heart race and swell when she noticed Loki was tearing up unable to look away from her and shifting on her feet anxiously with a biggest growing grin on her face Dove had ever seen, causing one to grow on her own as well.

When she got to her energetic lover, Winter gently let go even though Dove's fingers gripped tight briefly, the scared little girl there for the shortest of moments not wanting to let her mother leave before seeing those blue eyes telling her she would be alright and Winter left for her seat next to Weiss who was pretending not to be teary eyed while Ruby beside her was already balling. The exchange had felt so permanent and Dove felt it wrench in her chest painfully but as strong hands took hers she felt that feeling drain instantly and her eyes could only see Loki and nothing else mattered.

They got through the Priest's portions and a candle lighting exchange that was a custom Loki wanted to uphold, each lighting each other's candle as the man said the words that went along with it about an everlasting fire to be kindled until the day the flame runs out of substance to burn and the soul moves to the next life. Truly, neither Loki or Dove could really focus on him at all, too lost in each other and the moment to even care what he was saying.

When he opened up for vows, Dove wanted to go first, "Loki… The first time you truly made me feel something meaningful, the first time you made me notice something stirring I didn't want to acknowledge in the beginning, we danced and music played and the world disappeared and no one else existed. You told me let them stare, they don't matter, it's just you and me. I didn't know it then but that would become the essence of everything precious between us. Just you and me while the world drained away. Last night, while I struggled to find the right words to make this moment meaningful, I remembered that night and I thought there was no better way to do this, but from me, the way you always seemed to be awestruck by."

Loki was smiling like a fool, teeth gleaming and eyes beaming as the band picked up and Dove never looked away, singing sweetly to her.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you

Like a river flows surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you

For I can't help falling in love with you

She could see the glaze over Loki's eyes as a trail was already down her own cheeks, a hand holding her cheek and wiping them away. Ruby's whimpering could be heard but they ignored everyone else. For Loki's turn, her own words only seemed more perfect now, "I will never leave you. Not today, not tomorrow, not even with my dying breath. I will always be right here for you forever."

Now she really couldn't help it, holding back a light sob and desperate to cling to Loki but resisting. She heard Loki's I Do and choked out her own and was never more grateful when she heard him say, "You may now kiss the bride."

Before Loki made it fully to her, Dove was already gripping Loki's lapels and pulling the taller woman down to her, pressing her lips in hard, crashing into soft lips with a overwhelming emotional whimper of joy, trembling slightly as strong arms pulled her in tight and her heart burst with every beat pounding in her chest. She could swear she could feel Loki's thumping against her as well as they were melded together engaged in this long passionate lip lock, tongues gliding in sweet gentle caresses against each other as if holding one another tenderly in a desperate attempt to become one, the blare of cheers only blurred noise in their ears. What was only moments felt like an eternity that neither wanted to every end and Dove even whined lightly as they had to part to breathe, clingy to Loki in a joyous daze and swooning at the way so much love was gazing at her in those brilliant pink orbs, Dove whispering under the cheers of the crowd, "God I love you."

Loki reached and swooped her up in a bridal carry, nuzzling her face as she took Dove towards the building, "I love you too Babe. I always have. Fell for you the day I knocked you over."

Dove could only laugh with a big smile that Loki was melting at, the couple being praised on their way out the area. Dove ran a hand over the soft fresh fuzz and Loki smirked, "Like it?"

"I'd like it a lot better if I knew you were going to do it right before the altar," she returned but leaned Loki's face close, lips ghosting her ear, "but it's fucking hot that's for sure."

Loki twitched a bit but chuckled. They got through pictures before they made their way over to the reception set up into the gym. If only these calm moments could last but the party was only just beginning.