Chapter Text
Virgil looped the yellow silk around itself, trying to be as neat as possible as he tied the fancy knot into the tie. The tying would've been much easier if his hands weren't shaking and sweaty.
"Thank you, dear," Janus said softly.
Virgil gave him a small smile, nerves racing through him still.
"It'll be ok," Janus said reassuringly.
Virgil nodded. "I-I know. I just-- I don't even know what has me so nervous, but I am!"
Janus tucked a stray lock of hair behind Virgil's ear, unknowingly making him worry about how his hair looked, if he'd messed it up. "It's a big event. I'm nervous too."
Virgil sent him a skeptical glare. "Yeah, right."
Janus chuckled lightly. "I get nervous about plenty of things. I'm just better at hiding it than you are."
Virgil scoffed, looking at his handsome husband, all poised and smooth, compared to himself, jittering into a sweaty mess.
Janus caught his hand, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to perform well for this to go well, Virgil. You don't have to look perfect. You don't have to say everything right. You just have to come out there and be happy with us."
Virgil nodded, sucking in a deep breath.
"Why don't you go see Patton?" Janus suggested. "I'm fairly certain his tradition only counts against the alpha."
Virgil tried to smirk, his nerves making it rather wobbly. "I'll get to see him in his dress before you then."
"Perhaps I'll have you report back to me about how beautiful he looks," Janus said, his smirk much more successful. "If I can't see him myself, I'll have you describe how he looks."
"And who says I won't keep that information to myself?" Virgil teased. "I'll only get a bit of time with it, maybe I want to hoard it."
Janus shrugged, acting as if he were inspecting his gloved nails. "Every moment I delay you here shortens the time you'll have the advantage over me."
Virgil snorted, taking a step away and avoiding the feint grab of his arm. "You dork," he teased as he slipped out of the room.
The room where Patton was getting ready was nearby, but guarded by his mother, a sweet beta that had clearly given Patton his good looks.
"Hello, Mrs. Sheppard," Virgil said awkwardly. "I... wanted to see if I could go in with Patton?"
She smiled softly at him, her eyes crinkling up in a more dramatic version of the way Patton's did when he smiled. Virgil hoped Patton would get more of those crinkles as he aged. "Oh, dear, of course you can."
Virgil stepped forward, but she held up a finger. "But! You'll have to call me Mom. Once you've married Patton I won't be accepting any more 'Mrs. Sheppard's."
Virgil blushed at her insistence. It was difficult for both him and Janus to call Patton's parents Mom and Dad, much as they wanted the two of them to do so. But Janus was far more clever about avoiding any sort of address at all in his interactions with them, while Virgil kept defaulting to their last name, and being gently scolded or coaxed into using parental titles. And it wasn't as if he had any real objection, it was just... strange. And felt very familiar, when he didn't really know them all that well.
"Could I... go in... Mom?" Virgil forced out, the awkwardness building.
It all was banished at the sweet, bright smile she gave him in return, stepping aside from the door.
Virgil entered, and his jaw dropped. Patton looked gorgeous, wearing a flowy ball gown in a pale blue, his shoulders nearly bare and showing off his light tan and scattered freckles. His hair had been curled properly, rather than the little waves it had naturally, and surrounded his head like a halo. He had on light lacy white gloves, and a sheer drape over his arms. He was looking in a mirror, trying to see where to place the tiara-like piece that held a veil. He caught sight of Virgil in the mirror and turned with a bright smile.
"Virgil!"
Virgil rushed into his arms, careful not to let his face touch the dress anywhere and get makeup on it. "Oh, Patton, you look..."
He didn't come up with any suitable word, but Patton giggled, clearly flattered anyway.
"Oh, stand back a minute, let me see you!" Patton insisted.
Virgil's shirt was ruffled, but snug, in a lavender that went well next to Patton's blue. His pants were flowy in a way that suggested a skirt, black like Janus's suit.
They'd both tried to get Janus to branch out from suits for the wedding, but he was too uncomfortable trying new things in such a public way, and had batted away all their encouragements and coaxings.
"Oh, Virgil, you look so pretty!" Patton gushed, bringing his hands to his mouth.
Virgil blushed, a thing he'd been doing all day when he wasn't shaking to pieces.
To his alarm, Patton was tearing up.
Roman, who'd been in the room but whose presence Virgil hadn't noticed till now, rushed over with a tissue, gently holding it to Patton's eyes without smudging the his makeup.
"Thanks, Ro," Patton said with a sniff. "I'm just very full of happiness today, and it has to leak out sometimes."
Virgil took Patton's hand in his, the only thing he could think to do. Patton squeezed his hand, sniffling slightly, but with such a happy, soft look on his face.
There was a knock on the door, and Patton's mother peeked in, immediately rushing to Patton with a soft exclamation. "Oh, Patton, you look so lovely."
Her comfort and presence didn't help Patton hold back the tears, and Roman pulled another tissue from his pocket, tossing the used one into a can that already had quite a pile of tissues.
"Thanks, Mom," Patton said, his voice breaking.
"I just came to let you know it's almost time to head outside," she said softly.
Patton nodded, clearly trying to get ahold of himself before having to go out.
"Should I... go somewhere else?" Virgil asked. He knew that he and Patton started the ceremony in different areas, he couldn't accompany him the whole way.
"Oh gosh! Yes, get out there, I'm sure Janus is waiting," Patton's mom said.
Virgil nodded, squeezing Patton's hand once more before slipping out of the room.
They were taking some of the existing traditions, especially the ones Patton's family liked, but changing up bits of others, and had come up with a way they wanted to have the wedding. The ceremony was being held in their gardens, which Patton had filled with as many flowers as they could possibly hold, planting and watering diligently months before the wedding. In attendance were a few friends and Patton's family. For obvious reasons, Janus's family were not invited, and Virgil didn't have knowledge of any family outside the two of them. There were also a few guests from the Royal household, who had gotten to know them and had asked if they might be invited. It was a fairly small, intimate ceremony, with less than 100 total guests and members of the wedding party.
Janus was already there at the center of the garden, talking with the officiant.
Virgil hurried his steps a bit to get there and hold his hand. "I'm not late, am I?"
Janus gave him a very soft smile. "Not at all."
The officiant stepped to the side then, guiding them to their places. There was a thick rope, with strands of purple and yellow woven through it, and he tied it over their held hands, binding them together.
"There. Shall I tell them the ceremony can start now?" The officiant asked.
"Yes, please," Janus answered, giving Virgil's hand a little squeeze.
Virgil was starting to tremble again, and the little squeeze helped to ground him. He took in a slow, deep breath, watching as the officiant walked back to the house. The guests all started to filter out, sitting in the seats and staring at Virgil and Janus.
Technically, many of them were looking around at the decorations and the flowers, murmuring softly to each other, smiling and excited. But Virgil felt the full force of every pair of eyes turned towards him and Janus. His grip on Janus's hand gradually got tighter, but Janus just kept warm hold of him, his hand steady and comforting.
And then the music began to play, and Patton walked out.
Oh, he was gorgeous, and surrounded by flowers, walking arm in arm with his parents, all smiling bright behind the lace veil. But Virgil especially loved being close enough to hear the gasp from Janus as he got to see Patton for the first time in his dress. Virgil's nerves faded in the face of his joy, as Patton kept walking closer, beaming at them both.
Patton's parents released his arms as he got close enough to connect with the other two.
"You take good care of him," Patton's dad said, looking in turn at Virgil and then at Janus.
Virgil nodded firmly.
"We will," Janus promised.
Patton's mom sniffed, all teary-eyed, and kissed Patton on the cheek over his veil. "Be happy, Patton."
"I will, Mom," Patton said, his voice thick and his eyes shiny.
Then they went to take their seats in the front row, leaving Patton with Virgil and Janus. The officiant approached again then, lifting Patton's right hand, and Janus's left, letting them clasp their hands together in view of everyone.
"Patton Sheppard, do you join this pack out of love and desire, binding yourself and your life to Janus Baron, both as pack member and as husband, to twine your fortunes and destinies together, however fate may turn them, for the rest of your lives?"
"I do," Patton said, tears beginning to slip from his eyes.
"Janus Baron, do you accept Patton Sheppard into your pack, with all love and desire, binding yourself and your life to his, as a pack member and as your husband, twining your fortunes and destinies together, however fate may turn them, for the rest of your lives?"
"I do," Janus said thickly.
The officiant took another rope, this one twined through with light blue and yellow, and bound their clasped hands together. Then he walked around to the other side of Patton, lifting his left hand for Virgil to clasp in his right.
Virgil smiled at Patton, squeezing his hand gently. He was glad they'd all decided to wear gloves for this part, as he was positive his palms were all sweaty. Patton gave him such a happy look, and Virgil's heart filled even fuller.
"Patton Sheppard, do you join this pack out of love and desire, binding yourself and your life to Virgil Baron, both as pack member and as husband, to twine your fortunes and destinies together, however fate may turn them, for the rest of your lives?"
"I do," Patton said, sniffing slightly.
Virgil was going to end up crying too at this rate. Happiness and love could only rise so much before it spilled over.
"Virgil Baron, do you accept Patton Sheppard into your pack, with all love and desire, binding yourself and your life to his, as a pack member and as your husband, twining your fortunes and destinies together, however fate may turn them, for the rest of your lives?"
"I do," Virgil swore.
The officiant then pulled out the final rope, light blue and purple through it, tying together Patton's and Virgil's clasped hands.
"I now pronounce Patton Baron to be a part of this pack forever. He is loved and desired, a husband to Virgil and to Janus. May their fortunes be blessed and their destinies bright, but above all let them be happy together."
The three of them raised all their hands, still clasped, into the air. All the guests broke into a cheer and clapping. A bright laugh bubbled up from Virgil's chest, too full of happiness and joy to contain.
The officiant reached in to take Patton's veil and lift it. "You may now kiss."
A three-way kiss was a bit silly and awkward, but Virgil was too full of love to care about it much anymore. They brought all their hands in, and began untying the ropes. It took a bit of effort to do, since each rope had to be untied without using the hands that were tied together, and they had to stay clasped as much as possible. But with a few giggles and some encouraging chatter from the guests, they got the ropes off their joined hands, and tied instead into a single knot.
The officiant took the knot, holding it up for all the guests to see. "Let any and every change to the binding between them be from their hands only, with all love and equal participation."
The crowd cheered and clapped again, a loud whooping from Remus rising over the other sounds.
They could then let go of each other's hands, and each of them removed their gloves. The officiant picked up a small pillow with the rings on it, and held it for them to take the rings and put them on. This time each of them put on their own ring.
"Let these rings be a visual symbol of your ties together. Willingly binding and holding yourselves to your husbands, and representing this to the world."
They had gotten new rings for this, the bands made of twisted metal made to look braided, with each ring having three stones, one to represent each of them in their signature colors, nestled together and bound within the braided metal.
Then Patton turned around, facing the crowd with Janus and Virgil.
The officiant smiled at them all, making a wide gesture out towards the crowd. "Enter the world together, as a pack."
The crowd all suddenly stood, crowding the center aisle. Virgil clung to Patton and Janus, giggling already, as the three of them tried to fight their way through the aisle despite all the attention and pats on the back and well wishes. Once they made it through the aisle, the ceremony was complete, and the more relaxed party part of the wedding began.
The music shifted from something soft and meaningful to something more upbeat and happy. Drinks and desserts were brought out, and everyone began mingling. Virgil stuck to either Janus's or Patton's side, a bit overwhelmed, even as he was enjoying himself.
The chairs were rearranged, leaving a wide space for people to dance in. Dancing and focusing entirely on his partner was easier for Virgil than mingling and chatting, so he coaxed Patton and Janus into several dances each, enjoying the glow on their cheeks and the moments where it felt like all the world shrank to just them, their happiness filling the air around them.
He got many kisses and hugs that afternoon, from his husbands, friends, and new family-in-law. Everything was such a celebration of love and affection. He filled up and spilled over with it, over and over again, tears and laughter coming from him in almost equal measure. He was so very, very happy.
It was all just so good. Something truly good they'd made together. A thing he could say was right, after their lives being so filled with wrongs.