A Union of Spirits
Characters: Regulus, Gaius, Severus, Remus, Serenus, Tybalt, Snapelings, and guests Summary: "We are gathered here today..."
Gaius Snape had never been so excited.
He felt giddy, almost drunk, and yet he hadn't had a sip of anything alcoholic since the day before, at dinner when they'd all eaten together, a huge Italian feast that Serenus had insisted upon making despite Gaius' protests that he shouldn't work too hard. Serenus had pooh-poohed that in his easy-going way, then had proceeded to cook a sumptuous meal that would have made any five-star restaurateur weep with envy. The wine had been excellent, and Gaius had enjoyed himself very much, laughing with the children and sneaking caresses of Regulus' thigh under the table.
They'd decided to spend the night before the wedding apart, just to heighten the anticipation, so after the meal and many stolen kisses, Gaius had gone off with Severus and Remus to the Manor, while Regulus had remained at Azoth House. It was a form of torture, but one with a payoff, for Gaius was so eager to see Regulus as he walked down the aisle that he was nearly bursting at the seams, and he thought that Serenus and Severus might have to hold him down or he might actually float away.
It was odd in way, he supposed; he'd never really thought of marriage until Regulus had mentioned it, but now he felt like it was the thing he'd been waiting for all his life. His wild youth in Germany had never tempted him to settle down, and Sirius... well, that was a different matter all together. He'd known that there was no tying Sirius down, so he'd never even considered it, and as much as he'd loved Sirius, he'd always known it wasn't destined to be forever. He'd probably have settled for the same thing with Regulus, if that was the only way to have Regulus in his life, but when the subject of marriage, of commitment and permanence, had come up between them, he'd realized that it was what he truly did want this time. The only similarities between Sirius and Regulus were their coloration; in all other ways, they were different men, and although he loved them both, he felt that Regulus was his destiny, the culmination of all his hopes and dreams, even the ones he'd never known he had.
Looking in the mirror, seeing how his cheeks were flushed and his eyes were sparkling without the aid of any artifice at all, he somehow thought that Sirius would be happy for him. For them, he corrected himself. Or at least, he hoped so.
The shimmering silver silk of his robes clung to his slender body, and he thought the cut made him look a bit taller, too - although that could be the effect of his feet floating off the ground, too. With a laugh, he turned from the mirror, beaming at Severus and Serenus.
"It's really happening," he said, hurrying over to give Serenus a big hug, then Severus as well for good measure. "I can't believe it. What would I do without you, my brothers? I'd probably still be lonely in Germany, and not have my wonderful family and my husband-to-be, and that would be horrible!"
Serenus returned the embrace affectionately, delighted to see Gaius so happy. If the soppy smile on Gaius' face was any indication, he wouldn't be getting cold feet, probably not even slightly cool feet. "Indeed it would," he replied. "My life would be much poorer for not having a baby brother around to tease."
Severus gave a quiet "hmph!", but he didn't say anything snarky or quelling; today was a happy occasion, and he wouldn't comment, no matter how nauseatingly soppy everyone around him behaved so as not to ruin the mood. Instead, he allowed himself to be hugged and even deigned to return the embrace.
Gaius wasn't fooled, and he grinned widely at Severus as he pulled back. "I owe so much to you both. Every wish I ever had for having brothers has been more than fulfilled by you both, and I wouldn't change either of you for the world. In fact, I want to give each of you a gift; it's only something small, but I wanted you both to know how much you mean to me."
Pulling his wand from the pocket of his robe, Gaius gestured toward the dresser, and two small boxes levitated obediently over to him. He handed one to each of his brothers. "I know you have your tattoos, the yin and yang of the two of you, but this is for us three. I have one as well." Inside each box was a pendant done in white gold, with a triskele symbol that was similar to the yin and yang. "We are brothers and connected - and I love you both more than my own life."
Serenus opened the box and lifted out the necklace, his expression softening. "It's lovely," he said, gazing at Gaius with fond affection. He quickly fastened the necklace around his neck and stroked the pendant gently before wrapping his arms around Gaius and kissing him soundly. "Thank you," he murmured, giving Gaius a tight squeeze. He was touched by the gesture, and after the distance between himself and Severus of late, the brotherly affection impacted him more than usual. "I love you, too, baby brother."
Gaius returned the kiss and the hug, pleased that Serenus seemed touched by it. "You're welcome," he replied, reaching up to caress Serenus' cheek tenderly. "You, big brother, are a haven for me, and I can never thank you - either of you - enough for what you did for me during the deepest despair of my life. You both brought me back, and nothing, not even our respective partners, will ever come between us."
He turned to Severus, feeling a bit more uncertain of Severus' reaction to the gift, especially because of the rift between the twins. "You're a haven for me too, Severus - and a good dose of reality when I need it."
Severus removed his necklace from its box and slipped it on as well, although he didn't melt into a soppy puddle like Serenus; he was touched, though, and he was more pleased than he would admit to have Gaius as a brother. "Someone has to be the sensible one," he said with a haughty sniff. "The rest of you are too maudlin for words, so it's up to me to be the pragmatist." He paused, then added in a softer tone, "Thank you. I like it."
Gaius smiled, then put a hand on Severus' cheek and craned up to kiss him. "Good," he murmured, then brushed his nose against Severus' playfully before pulling back. "Well, then, I think that's it. Is it time to go yet? My husband-to-be had better be down there waiting for me, or I'll have to set the two of you on him!"
"Yes, it's time," Serenus replied, smiling widely. "I'm sure Regulus is ready and waiting for you."
"Let's go, then," Gaius said. "If you think I look presentable enough, that is. Severus? Will I do?"
Severus looked Gaius up and down with a critical eye and drew his wand to steam out a few tiny wrinkles with a steam spell, and then he fussed a little with Gaius' collar before stepping back at last. "There. You'll do, I suppose. Just don't transform into Anubis or you'll get mussed and wrinkled."
"Don't worry, this is one time when Anubis would be out of place," Gaius said, although he raised a hand and ran it over the lapis beads he always wore, both necklace for him and collar for Anubis - and a sign of Regulus' ownership of him, body and soul. He drew in a deep breath, then took a hand of each of his brothers. "Let's have a wedding, shall we?"
They moved downstairs, then headed toward the doors into the garden. There was soft music playing, courtesy of the band Regulus had found to also play for the reception. The scent of the garden wafted in through the doors, redolent of sweetness from Serenus' carefully tended flowers. Gaius wasn't going to carry a bouquet; that was just a bit too effeminate for him, but there was no need, for Cymbeline carried one almost as large as she was made of flowers from the garden, and Gaia had a basket of petals, which she was watching with her tongue clamped between her lips in utmost concentration.
Remus smiled as he caught sight of them. "You look beautiful - all three of you," he said, but his smile was especially warm for Severus. "Are you ready?"
"Ready!" Gaius said with a nod, eager to get started.
"Go on then, baby girl," Remus said to Gaia, and she nodded, then started off down the white runner laid on the grass, scattering the petals before her as she went.
At the end of the runner was the white wrought iron arch under which the ceremony would be performed, and an official from the Ministry stood beneath it, waiting patiently. The arch itself was covered in roses and ivy courtesy of Serenus, who had used a combination of magic and his innate green thumb to coax the plants to grow and twine over the arch. Regulus waited there as well with Tybalt and Lysander beside him, and when he looked up and saw the procession was about to begin, he smiled and tried to catch a glimpse of Gaius behind the others.
He wasn't an effusive man by nature, thus he had kept his thoughts to himself as he'd dressed, responding to Tybalt's teasing about cold feet with a Severus-like snort. But he had thought about the seriousness of the ceremony and the commitment they were making; he had imagined spending the rest of his life with someone once upon a time, thus the thought of permanency didn't frighten him. Although Gaius wasn't the one he had dreamed about in his youth, his adult self was ready and willing to commit; he wasn't meant to be with one Snape, but he had found a future - his destiny - with another, and he considered Gaius worth the wait and all the changes he'd had to undergo in order to reach this point. Thus he watched Gaia start down the "aisle" without any doubts, qualms, or anxiety, only the calm certainty of having made the right decision in asking Gaius to marry him.
The twins followed, carrying matching pillows, one ring perched carefully on the top of each. Next was Remus, wearing an amused smile, no doubt because of who followed him - Cymbeline, holding her head up with queenly dignity. Nanny Stella was waiting to guide the younger children to the front row, where seats had been reserved for them, while Cymbeline took her place at the arch, her tiara sparkling in the sunlight; she took her duty seriously, and she was determined to be very grown up and show she deserved her promotion from flower girl to maid-of-honor, thus she stood with utmost solemnity - looking remarkably like her papa in the process - and held her bouquet high, keeping her robes straight and spotless.
Then the music changed, announcing Gaius' entrance with a fanfare, and Regulus leaned forward, eager to catch sight of his husband-to-be coming down the aisle.
Gaius watched as the others began the procession, resisting the urge to run down the aisle and fly into Regulus' arms. He managed it, but his smile was broad and his cheeks were pink with excitement still, and he looped an arm through each of his brothers and gave them a squeeze. "This is it," he murmured, then started down the aisle, his head held high, his eyes immediately seeking out Regulus. He didn't try to hide his happiness or his love; he was about to be bound forever to the man he loved, and he didn't care if the whole world knew that Regulus Black made him the happiest man on earth.
Serenus sniffed quietly as he walked beside Gaius, tears prickling his eyelids; he was proud of Gaius and happy for him as well, glad that he'd found someone to love and be loved by even after the devastating blow he'd suffered. But if anyone said a word about Serenus getting weepy, he intended to blame it on hormones.
For his part, Severus presented a dignified figure as he walked on Gaius' other side, and while he too was pleased for Gaius - and for Regulus - he wasn't about to turn into a soppy mess. Instead, he patted Gaius' arm and proceeded with regal hauteur until they reached the arch.
"Who gives this man in matrimony?" the official asked.
"His brothers do," Severus replied, since Serenus had turned into a watering pot and didn't seem able to speak. Then he fixed Regulus with a stern look. "Remember: no returns."
"Not a problem," Regulus replied, chuckling as he gazed at Gaius with obvious affection. "I have no intention of giving him back."
Gaius chuckled, then turned to kiss Serenus on the cheek, followed by Severus. "Thank you - both of you," he murmured, then with a smile, he moved toward Regulus, his breath catching as he looked into Regulus' eyes. No one in the world was more beautiful to him than Regulus, no one more desirable, no one more beloved.
"Please join hands," the official said, and Gaius held out both of his, wanting the warmth of contact, ready to belong to Regulus forever.
Smiling, Regulus clasped Gaius' hands, his own warm and steady, while Severus and Serenus joined the children on the front row, and Serenus whipped out a handkerchief so he could wipe his eyes, and he snuggled the twins as an outlet for his overflowing emotions.
Tybalt looked at Serenus, giving him a smile of loving support, and a little wink as a promise he'd give his own snuggles as soon as the ceremony as over. Then he turned his attention to the official, who was smiling at Gaius and Regulus as though pleased by their obvious affection.
"Friends and family," the official began in a deep voice that leant some solemnity to the occasion. "We are here to celebrate the marriage of Gaius and Regulus. Their hearts and spirits are entwined as one, and hey now desire to profess before all the world their intention henceforth to walk the road of life together."
Gaius squeezed Regulus' hands; he was eager to take his place by Regulus' side for all time, no matter where the road might lead them.
The official looked between the two of them, then spoke in a more intimate tone. "If you would have the foundation of your marriage be the devotion you have for one another, not just at this moment, but for all the days to come, then treasure the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Establish that your love will never be blotted out by the common nor obscured by the ordinary in life. Faults will surface where now you find comfort, and admiration can be shattered by the routine of daily life.
"Dedication, love, and joy can grow only when you nourish them together. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives."
Turning to Regulus, the official smiled. "Regulus, will you take Gaius as your husband, pledging to him your love and faithfulness, cherishing him in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Regulus squeezed Gaius' hands tightly and gazed into Gaius' eyes to let Gaius see the depths of his emotions, especially those he found difficult to speak of aloud. "I will," he said, his voice soft but full of conviction.
Gaius' throat was tight as he read Regulus' love in his gaze, and he returned the pressure of Regulus' hands, his breath catching at the certainty in Regulus' voice.
The official looked at Gaius. "Gaius, will you take Regulus as your husband, pledging to him your love and faithfulness, cherishing him in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Gaius replied huskily, clinging to Regulus' hands. He was so happy he thought he might die right there on the spot.
"May I have the rings?" The official looked toward the twins.
Serenus released the twins so they could perform their duty, which they did with solemnity. Etienne's features reflected his uncle's solemn dignity, while Serafino was smiling as they moved forward in unison, offering the rings they carried - Etienne having claimed Regulus' ring while Serafino wanted Uncle Kitty's ring - to the official.
"Thank you, gentlemen - very good job," the official said as he took the rings, smiling at the boys before straightening again. "This circlet of precious metal is justly regarded as a fitting emblem of the purity and perpetuity of the Marriage State. The ancients were reminded by the circle of eternity, as it is so fashioned as to have neither beginning nor end; while gold is so incorruptible that it cannot be tarnished by use or time. So may the union, at this time solemnized, be incorruptible in its purity and more lasting than time itself."
The official held out Gaius' ring to Regulus. "Regulus, place this ring on Gaius' finger, and repeat after me. I, Regulus..."
Regulus took the ring and slid it slowly onto Gaius' finger until it fit smoothly in place, and then he gazed steadily at Gaius as he spoke his vows, repeating after the official. "I, Regulus, take you, Gaius, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer from this day forward as long as we both shall live."
Gaius felt the weight of the ring on his finger, but it was a welcome one, a symbol that he was both proud and honored to wear for it showed to all Regulus' bond to him. Then he took the other ring the official held out, and slowly slid it onto Regulus' finger, ending with a small caress of the back of Regulus' hand. "I, Gaius, take you, Regulus, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer from this day forward as long as we both shall live."
Smiling, Regulus lifted Gaius' hand and pressed a kiss over Gaius' ring to seal the bargain between them, and in the front row, Serenus began sniffling again.
"In as much as Regulus and Gaius have given their vows before this company and have pledged to each other by the giving and receiving of rings, by the power invested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce them married. You may kiss your husband."
Gaius beamed, so happy he wanted to give a very undignified squeal. But he settled for flowing into Regulus' arms and tilting his face up. "My husband," he murmured, eager for Regulus' kiss.
Winding his arms around Gaius' waist, Regulus pulled Gaius close and bent his head to brush his lips lightly against Gaius'. "My husband," he murmured against Gaius' lips before returning for a deeper kiss.
Gaius wrapped his arms around Regulus' shoulders, returning the kiss with enthusiasm and parting his lips on a soft moan of pleasure. He didn't care who was watching; this was their moment, the moment they became one, and he wanted Regulus to know just how much he was loved and cherished. Regulus lingered over the kiss, in no hurry to end it, and when he did pull away at last, he did so slowly and smiled warmly down at Gaius, giving him a little squeeze before releasing him.
"Honored guests, I present to you Gaius and Regulus," the official said, and with that, Tybalt began to clap, smiling at them before turning to blow a kiss to Serenus. Remus clapped as well, and his look at Severus was heated, as though he was as eager to kiss Severus as Gaius had been to kiss Regulus.
Regulus reached for Gaius' hand and twined their fingers as they faced the crowd. Serenus was weeping openly, having given up all pretense of self-control, and Severus sat with Gaia on his lap, returning Remus' heated look over the top of her head.
Gaius took Regulus hand willingly. He smiled at the sight of Serenus sobbing, and he turned to nod at Tybalt, seeing that his brother-in-law was torn between wanting to go to Serenus and not wanting to wreck the processional. He nodded, and Tybalt smiled before stepping back and slipping away behind the arch, not taking the focus off of Regulus and Gaius as he made his way to Serenus, sitting down beside him and pulling Serenus into his arms comfortingly.
"Shall we go, then?" Gaius asked, looking up at Regulus with a smile. "You promised me dancing, I believe - and at this moment, I feel as though I could dance for the rest of my life."
"Then let's get started," Regulus replied, mirroring Gaius' smile. He paused long enough to lean over and claim another brief kiss before tucking Gaius' arm through his and leading him back down the aisle.