A couple of months pass and it’s finally the day of the wedding. My mom and I have been working hard to plan out everything and she has been surprisingly cool with my dress and my desire to have less than traditional decorations. Anon has largely been out of it, not because he didn’t want to help, but because I kind of want to make sure nothing is flammable in case his normal accident-prone self finds a way to light himself on fire. We made sure to time it perfectly so Naser can come down and be Anon’s best man. He nearly choked up when Anon asked him…hell, both of them did. It was cute to see them being blubbering idiots over a video call.

As much as I have been looking forward to this day, I’m still pretty nervous. My mom and I are in her room getting me ready to walk down the aisle. I picked out a dress that fits the me I’ve discovered after not knowing who I am for so long—a black lace gothic dress, with a high neck and deep open back and scalloped lace edges at the bottom, and long lace sleeves gliding down my arms. Plenty of space for my wings with buttons at the small of my back so my tail can fit through with ease. I’ve kept my same haircut, still shaved on the side, but we straightened out the rest and it rests across my right shoulder. A small leather black choker sits around my neck, and on my crest is a ruffled black lace choker that fits around it just right. I idly thumb my last piece of jewelry. A beautiful white gold pendant with a pristine aquamarine held in its setting, hanging from a filigree chain. Anon gave it to me a couple of weeks ago and I love it, though I have no idea how he afforded it.

I admire myself in her full-length mirror, happy to see the me I never knew. The part left locked behind the grief I’ve carried for so long. So much went wrong this past year yet through it all, I found my heart and the love of my life. I regret the years I wasted growing up, pushing Naser away and hiding my true self behind so many personas. I wish I could get the years back, to have really grown up beside Naser. But at least we are brother and sister again and my family is so proud of who I’ve become. A few tears of joy slide down my face. I’m just so happy to still be here, to finally be free.

My mom is doing some last-minute checking of my dress and my hair and sees me rubbing away the tears. “Are you alright, honey? Is something wrong?” She sets aside her comb and steps in front of me.

I softly chuckle as I flick away the tear with a smile. “I’m fine, Mom. Just…so happy.” A motherly smile spreads across her beak as she listens. “I don’t feel like such a burden anymore. I’m doing what I love, playing music, and I’m living on my own terms instead of anyone else’s.” My amber eyes shimmer as my smile grows. “I’m finally myself, Mom. After so long.”

She looks into my eyes, her own trying so hard to hold back tears of her own, failing as one slides down her cheek. “I’m happy for you, Fang. My beautiful daughter.” She reaches out and rests her hand on my arm. “I’m happy, too. I get to be here for this. I almost lost you this year.” She chokes back a quiet sob, her smile faltering only a little. “But now I get to watch you walk down the aisle and marry that man who has done so much for our family. Without him, I wouldn’t have this…I wouldn’t have you. I love you so much, dear. I’m so happy you are still here.”

She can’t hold it back anymore and her small frame starts to tremble, tears slipping down her face. I try to reach out to her but she stops me as she takes out a cloth to dry her face, looking at me as she does with a tender smile. “We don’t want to get your dress wet, dear, but thank you.” She blows her nose into it after drying off her face, taking a deep breath as she collects herself. “You two will have a wonderful life together…I just know it.”

“Thank you, Mom. I know we will, too. That dweeb…I don’t think I’d ever find another person like him in a thousand years.”

She chuckles to herself as she grabs my makeup off the counter. “Guess the good news is you won’t ever have to. He is devoted to you, heart and soul. Now…” she says as she steps up to me, dusting and drying off my face. “Let’s get this done properly so you can look your absolute best!”

Her expert hands apply my dark eyeshadow with slight twisting curls at the edges of my eyes, not missing a spot and keeping them perfectly uniform in style. She adds a touch of mascara to my lashes before stepping away and admiring her work. “Perfect. There is not a single mouth in there that will not drop when they see you, dear.”

I take a look in the mirror again and I gasp with awe. My mom is an artist and I didn’t even know it. I suppose I had to get my creative talent from somewhere. I turn to her with the biggest grin on my face as I give her a hug. “It looks freaking amazing, Mom! Thank you so much.”

She wraps her arms around me and gives me a gentle squeeze. “You are very welcome, honey.”

We hear a knock at the door. “Hey, Fang! You dressed up yet? Can I come in and see?” It’s Trish.

“Yes, Trish, you can come in.” I barely finish the sentence before she opens the door, runs into the room, and quickly closes it behind her. She looks stunning in her dark purple tea-length dress. She’s got gold hoops around her tail and on her horns, with her hair neatly styled back with the bit behind her head bound tightly with a matching hair tie.

She’s positively bursting with energy as she runs around me, checking me out from every angle. She finally stops, bouncing in place a little as she holds her hands together. “Oh my god, Fang! You look gorgeous! Anon might die at the altar.” She smirks. “Which would be funny as hell. But I suppose him falling off the stage is all I’ll get for laughs.”

I roll my eyes at her, shaking my head with a smile. “Thank you for the compliment but stop hoping Anon hurts himself, especially at my own wedding! I’d like him to make it through this without a concussion.”

“Not that it would have much to damage up there,” she says and I want to smack her but…he does probably have a few screws loose at this point.

“True, but let’s not mock him today, alright? Not that it would bother him…he’s got skin of iron.” Half my insults go over his head or he wears them like a badge of honor. I love that dweeb.

My mom pats my dress one more time as she does a final check before nodding to herself. “You are all set, dear. I’m going to go get to my seat before it starts. Your father will come get you when it’s time.” She leans up and kisses me on the cheek, gently putting her hand to my cheek as she smiles at me. “I love you, honey. This is your day, enjoy it.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I give her a tiny kiss on the cheek and she walks out of the room, leaving me with Trish. I examine myself in the mirror for a moment before Trish tugs on my sleeve a little. I turn to look at her and she has a complicated look on her face.

I tilt my head to the side. “You okay, Trish?”

She fidgets in place a bit before giving me a tiny nod. “I’m fine, Fang. I’m just…I’m so happy you let me back in your life after what I did. I’d be lost without you, my best friend. That you could look past all my mistakes and still be willing to stay…I can’t ever say how thankful I am, Fang.” Her amethyst eyes glitter with tears as she raises her head up to look me in the eye. “You gave me a second chance. I hope I can prove I’m worth it.”

I cup her cheek in my hand as I stare into her eyes. “You are, Trish. You kept me going when I wanted to give up as a kid. I never want you anywhere else but by my side. My best friend, for life.”

Tears trickle down her face and over my hand but she keeps her smile, trembling a little as emotions threaten to overwhelm her. She takes my hand in hers before giving it a squeeze and letting it go. “I’ll never be anywhere else, Fang.”

A tender moment is shared between us as we chat a little. She has paid for her mistakes, almost with her own life, and has shown herself to be the friend I always knew she was. She kept me alive after Naser’s accident…I’ll never forget that.

Another knock comes at the door and I hear the voice of my brother just beyond it. “Hey, Fang. Is it alright if I come in?”

“Yeah, come in, Naser.” He quietly opens the door, walking in. He looks amazing in his dark purple tuxedo with a matching tie. He’s wearing the leather boots I picked out for him that surprisingly he had no trouble lacing up himself. He shuts the door as he turns to face us both.

“Oh hey, Trish. Wondered where you went. We gotta meet up in a bit to walk down together. But if you guys are done talking, can I have a moment with Fang?” He looks over at Trish, who shrugs as she starts toward the door.

“Sure, but don’t take too long! Don’t want her to be late and have Anon fall asleep at the altar.”

“Not a problem, just want a moment with her.” Naser says as Trish heads out, shutting the door behind her.

He looks over at me with a soft smile on his beak. He steps close to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. “You look fantastic, Fang. Never thought you’d get married this young. Heck, didn’t think you’d want to get married at all. Never seemed like a priority but I guess after how this year went…a lot of things changed around here.”

I shrug a little, looking off to the side a bit. “Didn’t think I would be either but…like you said, so many things happened. I guess I just don’t want to miss my chance at this. So many things could’ve gone so much better but—”

“Things…could’ve gone a lot worse, too,” he says, interrupting. He carefully pulls me into a hug and he rests his head across my shoulder. “I’m so happy you are alive. That I get to see you walk down that aisle, instead…instead of so many other things I could’ve had to do this year.” He fights back tears as he holds me gently. “I’m proud of you, and I love you, Fang. Can’t wait to see where you go from here after all the hell you’ve been through.” He pulls back from me. “I’ll be there for you whenever you need me.”

“Thank you. I love you too, Naser. And I know you will be…you always were, even when I was pushing you away. My baby brother. I couldn’t have asked for a better one.”

He groans a little as he shakes his head. “I’m only two years younger than you!”

I stick my tongue out at him. “Doesn’t matter, still my baby brother even when we get old.”

He chuckles and smiles at me. “If it means you are still in my life, I suppose I can live with that.”

In the distance we hear music start to play and he checks his watch. “It’s almost time, Fang.” He pats me on the shoulder one last time. “Knock ’em dead.”

I nod to him as he quickly heads out the door. I sigh as I steel myself for this. I’m still nervous as hell…it’s just my family and friends but still, I’m getting married. As much as I love it, it’s a major thing and my one chance to get it right. Fuck me, nothing better go wrong today.

I can hear the thumping sounds of my dad’s footsteps well before he gets to the door. “Come in, Dad,” I call out and he sounds like he does a double take before opening the door and coming in.

“I really need to work on walking quieter.” he grumbles as he closes it.

“Like you could, Dad. You are a frigging giant.” I gaze at myself in the mirror, rubbing my arm as I gather all the courage I can find.

He steps beside me and looks at me in the mirror. “You are going to be fine, Fang. I’ll be with you all the way up the aisle. Nothing to be scared of. We all love you.”

“I know,” I say with a wary sigh. “Just still not all there, you know? Worried something could happen and make me freak out. I’d hate to ruin this…”

“You won’t.” He puts a finger under my beak as he raises my head to look him in the eye. “You are tough as nails. You’ve proven to me time and time again that I don’t need to worry about you anymore. As much as you have suffered, you’ve come out stronger for it. You are—and will be—amazing, Fang.”

I don’t say a word as I lean against his chest, wrapping my arms around him as he hugs me back. To think I always thought he was so disappointed in me, the failure of the family. If only I had just stopped tearing myself down, I might have seen how much he always loved me, even if he didn’t know how to show it. The music shifts and I know it’s almost time for me to start my walk and a pang of fear hits me.

He must sense it as he lowers himself to look me in the eye. “Don’t be afraid. I’m with you, now and always.” He stands up straight as he offers me his arm and I take it in mine.

The music starts to change as we reach the back door leading to the yard. The gothic décor of the garden looks amazing, with drapes hanging over arches and red roses scattered all about. Sharp angled lamps stand up, lining the side of the seating area. A black and red carpet leads all the way up to the altar where—through the small window—I can see Anon waiting. He looks fantastic in his red and black tux, standing proudly at the altar with the biggest grin on his face. Seeing him so happy gives me confidence as I grip my dad’s arm a little tighter.

He looks down at me with a grin on his face. “You ready?”

I nod to him with a smile. “I’m ready, Dad.”

He pushes open the door just as the music hits the right moment and starts to walk me down the aisle. Everyone is already standing as I make my way to the altar, my dress trailing ever so slightly behind me as the cool breeze keeps me comfy. Anon looks like he’s about to explode with happiness as his smile only grows seeing me. It sends a few flutters of joy through my heart to see him like that.

Just before we reach the altar, Anon comes down and meets us, my dad standing back as he lets me go. He’s not giving me away, but he wanted to be present and I wouldn’t take that from him. Anon takes my hand in his and we walk up to the altar together. Moe is looking spiffy, somehow finding a tux that fits his rather large frame as he holds a book in his hands.

“We are gathered here today to see these two kids get married.” Wait…that is way more official than he’s ever sounded. Has he been messing with me with the exaggerated accent this whole time? “They are here to cement their love in front of all of us gathered here, and to unite themselves together in marriage. They have written their own vows and Anon has asked to go first. Go get ’em, kid.” Okay, so not completely faking it, I guess.

Anon takes a deep breath, holding both my hands in his as he stares deeply into my eyes. “Fang, it’s hard for me to know what to say. I’ve been a shut-in for so long. Living off the corners of the internet, not wanting ever to be seen, until the day I saw you on those steps when I first arrived here. I didn’t know it then but you would change my life in ways I never expected. Showing me that there is so much more to life than just living. That there is beauty in art and music and even in other people. Without you, I never would’ve known any of this, and I never would’ve found a love like yours. I love you, Fang, from here until the end of time.”

It takes all I have not to burst into tears, but I keep myself steady as Moe nods to me. “Anon, I was going nowhere fast. I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be. I drifted between so many things, losing parts of myself each time. I thought my life was over…that I had nothing left to push for. But then you came along, and you saved me when I was at my lowest point. Without you, I wouldn’t be here at all. I’d be gone from this world, never knowing who I truly was or what I could do. Thanks to you, I’m still here, and I finally found myself and what makes me happy—my music…and you. I love you, Anon, with all of my heart.”

Moe nods to us one more time as we stare at each other. He turns to Anon and smiles. “Do you, Anon, take Fang to be your wife? To have and to hold and to love for all your life?”

Anon nods, the look in his eyes radiating love for me. “I do.”

Moe turns to me. “And do you, Fang, promise to do the same?”

I smirk at Anon a bit. “Fuck yeah, I do.”

The crowd bursts into laughter even as I can feel my mom slightly giving me a look. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her shake her head ever so gently with a smile on her face.

Moe spreads his arms as wide as those thing things can go. “Well den, I pronounce youse kids officially hitched, now kiss already, ya goofs.” Well that fully answers that question.

I quickly move and grab Anon by the collar, pulling his lips to mine as I kiss him as deeply as I can while he staggers to stay upright. Emotions flood my heart as I hear my family and friends cheering and clapping for us. A moment I never expected, a moment I never believed could happen. That I could truly be happy, that life could be more than the pain I have gone through for so long.

I hold him there, my wings enveloping us both as time slows down to a trickle. I never want this moment to end. A culmination of everything he and I suffered through to get to this point. To have each other when we thought we never wanted anything more than to be alone. Now, we’ll be together for the rest of our lives, and I couldn’t be any happier if I tried. The warmth filling me lights my soul ablaze as I keep his lips locked with mine. My Anon, my future, and the family we will one day have.

I finally break the kiss before he runs out of air and catch him as he nearly stumbles off the platform. I pull my wings back behind me as we turn to the crowd.

“Here before ya is Mr. and Mrs. Mous!” Moe says and the crowd cheers again as we start to make our way down the aisle hand in hand. Anon gazes into my eyes with all the love in the world as I do his, intertwining our fingers tightly as everyone looks on.

To think, almost a year ago, I wanted to die. I thought my life was over. That I had no reason to live anymore, believing my dreams were shattered and the only option I had left was to take my own life. Thanks to Anon, I got my second chance. He saved me when I didn’t want to be saved. He showed me a love I never knew existed or ever cared to try to find. He has given so much of himself and never once left my side since. A love so true that I could look for a thousand years and never find it again. I still hurt—my wounds are deep, and some will never heal—but with him and his love, I’ll never face the pain alone ever again.

As we make it to the end of the aisle, we turn to the crowd one last time, holding our hands up together, our matching rings glimmering in the sunlight. They clap louder for us as I hear both Trish and Naser whistling. Reed gives us a thumbs up from his DJ spot as Anon and I turn to face each other.

I reach up, pulling his face down to mine as I close my eyes and kiss him again. I have nothing left to fear. My life won’t be perfect, and there is so much more I need to do. But I have something to look forward to. A dream, a hope, a light in the dark that will keep me warm for the rest of my life.

As we break the kiss and head into the house, I turn back to look at our family and our friends, celebrating the happiest day of my life so far, and I close the door on the darkest chapter of my life. I’ll never worry about what comes next. With Anon, my family, my friends…my life will always be worth it. I smile one last time to them as we head to the front, the rest following us to the reception dinner. Hand in hand we walk out the door, hearts full of love and dreams that we will make true, together.