I figured I'd treat y'all to another, long-awaited oneshot. This one was requested ages ago, and I'm so sorry for the wait; life got in the way and I wasn't really able to write for a spell. I've been working on this for months, and I finally got inspired the other day to finish it up. Writing a wedding scene is actually a bit more difficult than I initially thought, haha.

Hope this oneshot does your idea justice, edb5678 :D

I had Katy Perry's "Never Worn White" stuck in my head the whole time I wrote this.

"If Malroth and the Builder were to get married, what would their wedding day look like?"

Partners for Life

After cooking the scallywinkle until it was properly seared, the Builder handed Lulu her makeshift dinner. The pinkette scarfed it down in an unladylike manner, but the blonde knew better than to say anything. One, it would be rude, and two, what did manners mean when they were on a deserted island, barely figuring out a plan for survival until help arrived? The Builder knew she'd probably eat in such a way once she got hungry, too.

She had to admit, she couldn't have picked a stranger pair to be her fellow castaways. Lulu was bossy and could be a little irritating, truth be told, and Malroth... Well, he was unique, to say the least. Who thought dead bodies were funny? Okay, so maybe his whole "dead in the water" pun was a little funny in hindsight, but it was still morbid. And then there were his looks: she'd never met anyone with glowing red eyes before, and his name... There was something familiar about his name...

Once she was finished eating, realization crossed Lulu's features. "Oh, how rude of me! I just realized I never asked your names."

The Builder offered hers and Malroth gave his. As Lulu mulled the new information over, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "...Builder and Malroth, you say? I know you're a builder, but what do you do, Malroth?"

"Well, I... Actually, I don't know what I do," the spiky-haired male admitted with a shrug. "I woke up on this island, but I can't remember anything before that. My memory's completely blank."

Lulu giggled. "Well, well. An apprentice builder and her amnesiac friend. What an unexpected partnership!"

Malroth scoffed, giving the blonde a once-over that clearly stated Lulu was out of her mind for assuming such a thing. "Oh, we're not partners. If you think a guy like me would team up with a puny little runt like her, you must be dreaming."

Malroth regarded his reflection with a slight scowl, but he wasn't actually angry. He was incredibly nervous, which, he knew he shouldn't be, but the fact was that he wanted her to be happy. Would she be happy to see him all dressed up like this? Or would she burst into laughter and think he looked ridiculous, like a badboon trying to dress up like a human?

Would she think his hair, normally tied back into a ponytail but allowed to be long, wild, and loose for this occasion, looked bad? Would she think he looked so unlike his usual self that she'd call off the whole thing? He knew she wasn't shallow; the Builder wasn't Lulu—far from it, thank the goddess—but this was a special day. Malroth had done enough research and endured enough lectures from Lulu to know this day was supposedly going to be the "best day of a lady's life." If he wasn't perfect in the Builder's eyes, if this day turned out to be a bust, would she... Would she walk away from him?

A knock sounded at his door. Malroth's anxiety spiked for a brief second before he reminded himself that it wasn't time yet, his friends were probably just checking on him. Sure enough, after he called that it was unlocked, Bonanzo, Den, Digby, and Dougie entered, each wearing suits that matched his. The miners cleaned up pretty well considering the first couple of times they'd tried suits on, they began flexing in the mirror, splitting and tearing the sleeves. Lulu had been irate, but the Builder had simply laughed, stating they looked better that way, and besides, what mattered was that they'd be present. So here both miners stood, sleeveless suits and all.

Malroth hadn't needed any alterations to his outfit for today. The crisp white shirt, black slacks, and blazer, along with the shiny black loafers looked perfect on him, like he'd been made to wear such finery. Lulu had once told him that wearing one's best clothes was a confidence booster. These were his supposed best clothes, and if that statement was true, why didn't he feel an ounce of confidence? He had a healthy self-esteem, so why was he feeling so insecure today?

"Malroth, my boy! You cut a handsome figure in that suit if I do say so myself." Bonanzo clapped the other man on the shoulder with pride. "How are you feeling about the wedding?"

Truth be told, the master of destruction was sick with anxiety. He was used to feeling butterflies around the Builder, but those were good butterflies; what he was feeling now was bordering on fear. What he couldn't figure out was why he felt so afraid... He and the Builder had been dating for the past two years, and in that time, they'd never been happier. She was his other half in more ways than simply being the vessel of creation, and he couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else. He'd asked her to marry him a few weeks ago and she'd agreed. They'd helped set up the wedding... even though Lulu pretty much took over most of the planning and injected lots of her own preferences and likes, which was fine since the Builder wasn't picky and Malroth had no clue where to even begin when setting everything up. All he was focused on was his bride-to-be and making her happy.

Initially, marriage had not been a familiar concept to him. Lulu had mentioned it a few times in his presence, although each time, she'd been discussing her own looming wedding to Perry, of all people. The entire Isle had been shocked to learn the redheaded farmer had been secretly dating the bossy pinkette for a long time, and truthfully, they weren't the worst couple in the world; funnily enough, they were good for each other. Lulu kept Perry from becoming too lazy and Perry kept Lulu from becoming too overbearing.

If Perry and Lulu could walk down the aisle and make it look like a breeze, why couldn't he do the same? Why was he nervous to marry his best friend and lover?

Den seemed to read his mind. "Everythin' 'll go smoothly, Malroff. It's normal to feel jittery before yer weddin'. This is a big step, after all."

"Jittery? Malroth?" Bonanzo chuckled. "I didn't know both of those words could exist in the same sentence."

The other men chuckled, but Malroth didn't have it in him to even smile. He was trying to get his nerves under control. Logically, he knew there was no reason to be nervous, but logic wasn't doing anything to quell the uneasiness in his stomach.

"Remember that yer marryin' yer best mate," Digby piped up, drawing the destructive male from his thoughts. "You two 'ave gone on all sorts o' adventures over the years, 'aven't ya? Fink o' this as just anuvver adventure."

Malroth considered the miner's words. He was right: this was just another adventure, one that wasn't already somewhat familiar. He'd be with the Builder, the one person he'd been with ever since ending up on the Isle of Awakening. She knew him better than anyone else, just as he knew her best. They always looked out for each other, always had each other's backs, always helped each other see the silver lining in situations where maybe there wasn't much positivity to be found.

She was worth it. If there was anyone Malroth could picture himself spending the rest of his life with, whether there was a ring on his finger or not, it was her.

He could do this.

He could do this.

"Honestly, Builder, if you don't stop moving around, I'll never get your makeup right!"

"Sorry, Lulu." The blonde offered an apologetic smile. She hadn't meant to shift her position; it was an unconscious habit—she fidgeted when her nerves were on edge. "I'm just nervous is all."

The pinkette huffed. "Yes, well, try to be less nervous."

"Cut 'er some slack, Lu," Babs giggled, working on the Builder's hair. "After all, she's gettin' married today! I'd be a little nervous too if I were in 'er shoes."

"I know it sounds silly," the Builder said, trying not to blink as Lulu applied mascara to her lashes. "But this is a big step, you know? What if he realizes he doesn't want to be with me? What if we're not ready for this kind of thing and we find out too late and—"

Her rant was cut off by Lulu's hand. The pinkette huffed again, though she didn't appear the least bit irritated.

"Honestly, Builder, if Perry and I can make it as a couple, then you two certainly can," she assured. "Trust me, I know how nerve-wracking today is, but everything will go smoothly. You're not just marrying anyone—you're marrying your best friend. Not many people get to say that, you know. The bond you and Malroth share is special. You two will be fine."

"What if he regrets marrying me?" the blonde asked meekly.

"Why would he?"

"I don't know..." The Builder knew she wasn't exactly the most gorgeous girl out there... nor was she the most feminine. The Builder was confident in herself: she didn't have low self-esteem or anything akin to that. It's just that sometimes her brain went into overdrive, and because she cared a lot about Malroth, she wanted the best for him... And sometimes that meant worrying that one day, he might think she wasn't the "best." Maybe one day he'd get bored or tired of her, or maybe he'd want someone who was more dainty and feminine, someone more like... Well, like Lulu.

At first, before she'd fallen in love with Malroth, she'd thought he would make a good match for Lulu, if anyone. The pinkette was like a princess and he a prince (and yes, the Builder was aware that they both already thought of themselves as royal-material as well—Malroth with his Empire of Evisceration; Lulu with Lulutopia). There was a certain tension between the two that sometimes made the blonde wonder if they secretly liked each other with how they bickered. There was always a fine line between love and hate, right? And besides, if Lulu and Malroth thought of themselves as royalty, wouldn't it make sense for one "royal" to marry another?

The Builder recognized she was more on a servant level than that of royalty. Unlike her two best friends, she didn't care about golden tiles, silken gowns, or piles of riches to be happy (not that Malroth or Lulu were materialistic; the Builder could understand their preference and appreciation for finer things). The blonde was happy to help others and get her hands dirty; she was happy to sacrifice her time, energy, and happiness to ensure others' needs were met. She didn't need a kingdom; she'd be happy just to have a roof over her head and a hot meal before bed at night. It didn't take much to make her happy.

Lulu and Malroth, however, were not interested in each other in the way she'd initially thought. They were good friends, sure, but not lovers. Malroth even gagged when the Builder asked him if he viewed Lulu in a romantic light. It turned out that he viewed someone else romantically, and it certainly wasn't Lulu or Babs or any other woman on the Isle of Awakening... This mystery woman he was pining for turned out to be a certain builder who had helped him save the world. Little did he know, however, that during their adventures, the bubbly blonde had developed feelings for him, too.

On the outside, Malroth was gruff. He was brash, brutish, and intimidating. He could take down armies single-handedly without breaking a sweat; he could wield the heaviest, most devastating weapons without issue whereas if any other man or woman tried to do the same, or even lift said weapons, they'd topple over, weapon included. Along with brawn, Malroth wasn't stupid; actually, the Builder had found herself spending multiple evenings and afternoons having insightful conversations with him. She understood everything he said or didn't say, and he understood her. They connected effortlessly. He protected her while she built wonderful things, and in exchange, she made him anything and everything he asked for, no matter how big or small. On top of possessing inhuman strength and sharp intellect, Malroth was handsome. He may have thought of himself as a potential ruler over the Isle of Awakening, but truthfully, much like Lulu looked like a princess, Malroth looked like a prince, and when he put on that suit he wore when he played piano at Den's bar... He truly did look like royalty.

Somewhere along their adventures, the Builder started noticing how handsome he was, how attractive it was that his muscles would bulge and ripple whenever he worked out, trained, or fought; she started thinking he was cute when he laughed or grinned, the tips of his canine teeth poking out from his upper lip like two tiny fangs; she started feeling butterflies anytime his eyes would lock with hers for too long, his gaze intense and always enough to make her feel weak in the knees. It actually really hurt when, during their time on Moonbrooke, they'd had that big fight and he'd walked away from her, stating matter-of-factly that once Atlas was defeated, their friendship was officially over.

It was because of Moonbrooke that the Builder realized her feelings ran deeper than simple, platonic friendship. She loved Malroth. She was in love with her best friend. And so after she rescued him from Hargon and they made their illusory world a firm reality, she'd sat down with him and expressed her feelings.

...And by 'express,' she'd cupped his face and kissed him silly, and because he'd been feeling the same things too, he'd kissed her back with just as much enthusiasm, if not more. The rest, as they say, was history.

The blonde knew she had no reason to be nervous. She and Malroth knew each other better than anyone else; she trusted him with her life, and vice versa. They'd been roommates for goddess knows how long, so moving in together wouldn't be anything new, and whatever habits they both had, they'd already grown used to them. It was just that the Builder knew she wasn't the prettiest. She wasn't always the smartest, she had her days when she could be a jerk, and she wasn't always able to be "on." There were lots of other women on the Isle far more gorgeous and interesting than she was, and in fact, many women had even approached her best friend, asking for a date, yet he'd turned each and every one of them down. It became obvious that Malroth could have anyone he wanted, so what if one day he decided to drop her for someone else who was prettier, smarter, tougher... Someone better? Malroth was a warrior, so it'd make sense that he chose someone who could hold her own with a weapon, and what if one day he decided she wasn't strong enough or good enough? What if—

Babs clucked her tongue disapprovingly as she began to secure some of the Builder's hair with a bobby pin. It was as if she'd read the anxious girl's thoughts, displeased at what she'd seen there. "'Ave a little more faith in Malroth. I've seen the way 'e looks at you—'e wouldn't 'ave asked ya to marry 'im if 'e wasn't serious about makin' ya 'appy."

"I know, but what if..." The blonde worried her bottom lip. She had so many "what if" questions whirling around her brain that it was hard to pick just one, plus Babs and Lulu seemed to have an answer to everything she threw at them. Surely they wouldn't have an answer about how married life would work out between her and Malroth. It hurt a lot to even consider the possibility that one day, Malroth might tire of her company. What if he found another woman who was prettier, smarter, and better than she was? What if he wound up regretting choosing her?

"One bouquet for the beautiful bride, all ready to go!" Rosie chirped as she entered the room. Babs and Lulu squealed in delight at the beautiful arrangement of coralilies, milkblossoms, and roses, all carefully grown and handpicked by the head farmer herself. Each of the leading ladies of the Isle wore different colored dresses (Rosie suited light green; Lulu looked good in blue; Babs shone in gold; Anessa would be donning a red that matched the color of her usual armor), and for good reason—their colors helped to make the Builder stand out in her white, princess-style wedding dress.

The tealette beamed at the sight of her friend all prettied up. "You look amazing, Builder!"

"Thanks, Rosie." The blonde didn't feel amazing.

"Everything will be fine," Lulu piped up, noticing her friend's discomfort. "Unless you don't want to marry him."

"Oh, Builder... Are you getting cold feet?" Rosie asked, her features softening sympathetically.

Hurt flashed across the Builder's face as she turned to her oldest friend. "I want to marry him! That's not the issue here, it's just that.. what if one day he meets someone better than me? What if one day he regrets asking me to marry him? There are so many women who might be a better match for him... What if he ends up wishing he had married someone else?"

"Malroth wouldn't ask you to marry him if he wasn't serious," a new voice reasoned. "Trust me when I say, he's serious about you, Builder."

Anessa joined them then, the picture of fierceness even in her long lavender gown. When she wasn't leading an army or training soldiers, she cleaned up nicely. It was a little odd to see her without her usual armor and helmet, but overall, Anessa was a knockout in her own right. "Builder, please have confidence in yourself. You're an incredible woman and any man would be lucky to have you. We've all seen how Malroth treats you, how he raves about you and looks at you. He's a man head over heels in love, and if he wasn't, he isn't the type to lead someone on or play games. If he didn't think you were worthy of becoming his bride, he would have never asked you."

"Isn't that kinda what I said before?" Babs murmured, nudging the Builder playfully. The blonde smiled weakly.

"He loves you, plain and simple," Anessa continued, her expression gentle for once instead of sharp. "I obviously don't know Malroth as well as you do, but I like to think I know him well enough to surmise that he isn't looking for anyone else to spend the rest of his life with. He wants to marry you because you're you. It doesn't matter if there are other women around who are prettier or somehow better; Malroth only has eyes for you, Builder, and that's what matters. Have confidence in yourself and your relationship. You two are a perfect match and you share a bond unlike any I've ever seen before. You care deeply for each other and you both get along so well that I know of multiple men and women who look upon your relationship and hope they meet someone who makes them happy as much as you and Malroth make each other happy. If that is not true love, then I cannot fathom what is."

Lulu nodded. "Well said, Anessa! Couldn't have put it better myself."

Turning to the Builder, the pinkette raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Hear that? You need to be more confident in yourself and you need to have more faith in that heathen you'll be marrying. You trust him, don't you?"

"With my life." It wasn't even a question.

"Then you'll be fine. Stop overthinking it and start focusing on how wonderful the wedding will go. You have to keep a positive outlook, Builder. If you think negatively, of course negative things will happen, but if you think positively, then think how many good things will come of it. It's okay to be nervous, but remember: you and Malroth are a team. You can and will make this work, I just know it. Have faith in yourself, and have faith in him."

The blonde exhaled the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Anessa, Babs, and Lulu were right; Malroth had chosen to ask her to be his wife. He only ever said what he meant and meant what he said. He'd probably call her a wimp for overthinking all of this and worrying about whether or not he'd regret marrying her...

She could do this. She was marrying her best friend and the love of her life. Everything would go smoothly.

She could do this.

Standing at the altar was a weird experience. Malroth kept fighting the urge to tug at his tie. The pews were already filled with their friends and a few newcomers who had joined the isle's population throughout his travels with the Builder. The chapel was decorated from head to toe with floral decorations, all placed perfectly and carefully along the stained glass windows. It was a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a wedding, and everyone was chatting excitedly; many cast glances towards Malroth and his best man, who was, funnily enough, Perry of all people. Digby and Dougie were going back and forth about some railroad track plans, and truthfully, Malroth was grateful that no one was trying to talk to him. He was too busy trying to hold himself together to hold a decent conversation.

A few girls entered the chapel, of which he instantly recognized Rosie, Anessa, and Babs. They hurried towards the front, each looking rather beautiful for the occasion. Digby and Dougie just about broke their necks to get a better look at Babs.

"Bloody 'ell, Babs, you look gorgeous!" Dougie whistled, earning a punch from Digby.

"You knuckle'ead, she's more than gorgeous! She's a right goddess!"

"Oi! Don't be wailin' on me!"

"I'll wail on ya anytime you fink o' makin' goo-goo eyes at Babs!"

"Me muscles are better fer Babs! Not like yer muscles which are goin' all flabby."

"Why I oughta—"

"Dougie and Digby!" Babs' voice rang out, her tone stern and unimpressed. Even in the smooth, elegant gown she wore, Babs still managed to maintain an air of no-nonsense when she put her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed. "You better not be startin' no trouble! This 'ere's Malroth and the Builder's weddin' day. If I gotta drag you two out by yer ears in front o' all these onlookers, I'll do so and I can promise ya it won't be pretty. Behave yourselves."

"Yes, ma'am..." Both miners quit their bickering and shuffled back into place.

Malroth, who had been watching the scene with amusement, made a mental note to never get on Babs' bad side.

Lulu entered the chapel next, and beside him, Perry sighed dreamily. He lifted a hand to wave at his wife, who smiled and blushed, waving back as she took her position next to the other leading ladies. Before she did so, she pulled Malroth into a friendly half-hug.

"Wait 'til you see your bride," she gushed, her eyes twinkling. "I think you're in for a shock."

"Is that good or bad?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

She chuckled. "Definitely good. Congratulations, by the way."

The destructive male nodded his thanks, his nerves even worse than before at the prospect that this was all really happening. Now that all the best men and the bridesmaids were in their places, it was time for the bride to arrive. Pretty soon, Malroth would be a married man. It was an odd thought, regarding himself as married... He could still remember the first day he'd met the Builder, how weak and scrawny she was, and how he'd scoffed at Lulu's assumption that they were partners.

Now look at us, he thought, a soft smile tugging at his lips. We're partners, alright.

Suddenly, Perry nudged him. "Oi, Malroth, you still nervous at all?"

The groom glowered at him in reply.

Perry chuckled weakly. "Just askin'. Don't worry none, it'll go right as rain, you'll see. It's always nerve-wrackin' before the weddin' gets underway, but once you see your bride... Everythin'll be alright. Trust me on that, mate."

The chapel doors opened and the chatter immediately quieted down as everyone turned to see the bride. Malroth straightened, his eyes instantly fixing on the two figures entering. The first person his gaze locked onto was Bonanzo, the Builder's self-proclaimed father figure (of whom he'd actually become sort of like a father to over the years she'd known him). He was the one who would walk her down the aisle, proud tears already streaking the older man's face despite the wedding just beginning.

The second person, the one he'd been nervous and excited to see, the one he was ready to jump head-first into married life with... The second person was the Builder, her delicate hand resting on the crook of Bonanzo's arm.

Malroth had seen the Builder at her best and worst. At best, her hair was in perfect twin tails that shone in the sunlight, her face bright and cheerful, a spring in her step and a rosiness to her cheeks. At her worst, the Builder was still pretty, just covered in a wealth of dirt and grime. She'd never been the type to shy away from swamps, mud, or even the plasma rivers that ran throughout the Unholy Holm. She wasn't afraid to get dirty, and boy had she gotten filthy throughout their quest—sometimes she acquired so much muck that a regular ten-minute bath would end up taking two hours. Even so, no matter how clean or dirty she was, he always thought she was beautiful.

He'd seen her get so mad that she'd stomp her feet, her pretty face twisted into a pout that was more adorable and endearing than it was intimidating. He'd seen her cry, seen her sick and weak, banged up from battles, chipper at the prospect of building new things or having built things that were being used and appreciated by others. He'd seen her happy and worried and everything in-between.

Whatever anxieties and worries had been spinning around in his mind vanished at the sight of the white-clad woman approaching him. Her hands, which were covered in lacy white gloves with a floral pattern, clutched a bouquet comprised of milkblossoms, coralilies, and roses. The Builder's usual pigtails had been traded in for an updo, a few strands of her hair framing her face. It wasn't often that the Builder wore makeup, yet today, her eyes popped more than usual with a dash of mascara and eyeliner. Her lips were glossy and her cheeks had a touch of blush to them.

Lillian tossed flower petals behind the blonde as she walked, grinning and practically skipping, yet Malroth barely even noticed. His eyes were glued to the woman he loved, the wind practically knocked from his lungs as he drank in how utterly gorgeous she looked.

If people had once thought him a god, then they didn't know what a divine force looked like. The builder, on the other hand... She looked heavenly. Like she'd come down straight from the heavens to grace them all with her presence. The words I'm one lucky man played through his mind on repeat, and he had to admit, he certainly did feel lucky that this woman was the one he would get to call his wife.

Through the thin veil, he could make out her features: the small, cute mouth; the button nose; the bright blue eyes that always seemed to hold a spark of determination in them; the light freckles courtesy of countless days spent working under the Khrumbul-Dun sun. Malroth couldn't help but gape at her. There were so many emotions overwhelming him that it was hard to tell which one won out: love, admiration, pride, excitement, happiness, awe... In the end, his feelings decided for him and his eyes grew watery. He fought to keep it together—how dumb would he look bawling at his own wedding?!—yet his body betrayed him, and a single tear slipped down his cheek before he could wipe it away. He'd never been a crier, but damn it, she was so beautiful and sweet and amazing, he couldn't believe this incredible woman was the one he'd get to spend the rest of his life with.

She was stunning. The Builder was already so beautiful, even without makeup, even when she had a bad case of bed-head or she had an adorable frown on her face, her cheeks puffed in a pout, eyes narrowed but never quite intimidating. To see her dressed up in such a beautiful, expertly sewn white dress, makeup accentuating her natural beauty, her pretty hands clutching a bouquet suitable for someone as gorgeous as she... He still couldn't believe someone like her would say yes to someone like him.

What he didn't realize was that she was just as awe-struck as he. The blonde had seen her best friend get all fancied up before. She knew good and well that Malroth could pull off a suit, wild hair and all, not to mention he looked rather striking in his normal purple jacket and orange pants, yet today... Today he was the picture of "dashing." Handsome. Dare she say it—sexy. His hair looked good in its natural, wild state, no hairband holding it all back, and the tuxedo fit him perfectly despite his muscular build. Those fierce red eyes seemed to pop even more thanks to the monochrome clothes he wore, his smoldering gaze almost enough to make her weak in the knees. Upon drinking in his appearance, all dressed up like this in such form-fitting, dapper clothing, the Builder could understand how Hargon had created this person to be the vessel of a god. He was the picture of what a god-turned-mortal would look like.

His personality was a direct contrast to hers. He was gruff, rough, and tough, through and through. Where she was soft and compassionate, he could be harsh and blunt. While he looked like the picture of a dark, foreboding night, she was sunshine and bright summer days. They complemented each other in every way possible, at least, she liked to think they did. He protected her and taught her how to be strong, and in return, she softened his rough edges, helped him to be a little more understanding. They encouraged each other to be the best version of themselves, and whether they were going through rough patches or smooth sailing, the Builder knew she could count on Malroth, and Malroth knew the Builder was always right there beside him.

The girls had been right. As the Builder stared at her groom, she couldn't help but think that she really was lucky. She was marrying her best friend. Marriage was a little scary, but it was another adventure, one that she and Malroth would be tackling together. If they could defeat Atlas, the Brainy Badboon, hell, even Hargon and the monstrous, real incarnation of Malroth to boot, then they could handle a semi-normal life together, hand-in-hand.

...After all, weren't they already doing just that? Hadn't they been doing that for years now, even if for a while, they hadn't been anything more than simple friends?

Lulu was right. If anyone could make it work, the Builder and Malroth could.

When the Builder was finally standing before him, her lips turned up into a nervous smile, he reached over and took her free hand into his. For once, his gloves were absent; his tan skin and black fingernails contrasted nicely with her porcelain complexion, her hand small and delicate within his own rough, calloused one. They were direct contrasts in every way, even in attitude, yet these contrasts are what made them such a great couple.

You're so beautiful, he thought. As if she'd heard his thoughts, she blushed and looked away bashfully. He found himself thinking that he could stare at her for hours, because honestly, she was just so pretty.

The priest cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the name of our fair goddess to witness these two souls joining together in holy matrimony..."

The rest of his words seemed to be a blur. Malroth and the Builder kept stealing glances at each other in between trying to listen to what the priest said. Unlike most wedding ceremonies, they didn't exchange their vows publicly; it wasn't that they didn't have vows, it's just that Malroth felt weird about saying mushy things in public. The Builder knew him well enough to know that later on, when it was just them together privately, he'd say whatever was in the deepest parts of his heart.

"...Do you take Malroth to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

The Builder blushed. Her heart was pounding and the butterflies in her stomach were intense. This was it, this was the man she was to spend the rest of her life with, and goddess, she was so excited to start this new adventure with him.

"I do."

"And Malroth, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." He couldn't say yes fast enough. He'd choose her over and over again, every single time. He was pretty sure his heart had belonged to her from the moment they first met.

"Then by the power and authority vested in me by our wonderful goddess, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Malroth carefully lifted the veil from her face, a rare, genuine smile lighting up his features as he fully drank in the Builder's appearance. Whoever had done her makeup knew what they were doing because somehow, she looked more radiant than usual. His eyes flickered down to her pink, gloss-covered lips and, as he leaned in to kiss her, she surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck and smooching him senseless.

The guests cheered and clapped at the sight, Babs and the miners even wolf-whistling at the Builder's boldness. Malroth chuckled against her mouth and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him as they kissed, their first official kiss as husband and wife.

When they pulled apart, Malroth rested his forehead against hers, both of them grinning like idiots. As they looked into each other's eyes, two glorious aquamarine oceans delving into a pair of rubies, they could see the rest of their lives stretched out before them. They could see a bright future filled with more adventures, more laughs and smiles, more moments where things were a little rocky but would ultimately make them stronger. They could see their friends remaining around them, a rag-tag little family comprised of big hearts, and maybe one day... Maybe one day, Malroth and the Builder would find themselves welcoming a little one to add to their family.

Most importantly, however, they could see that in each other, Malroth and the Builder had a partner for life, and they would face everything together just as they always had.