Percy mentally smacked himself. Of course Rein was going to be here. He was a part of the group, a part of their family. Rein would never turn down a huge event like this.

The chair next to Percy croaked against the floor as Rein slid into its empty space. 

“Drinks already? It's just after noon,” Rein chuckled while he looked at the couple. 

“Oh, let loose oh great High Wizard,” Poppy said in an effected voice, “This is a party! We're not going to judge you if you can't hold your liquor.” 

A chorus of oohs fell upon the table. 

“I can hold my liquor just fine, Galanodel. Or you'll be Highland soon?” Rein raised an eyebrow. 

“Highland-Galanodel! We're hyphenating, dwarves do it and we think the concept is great,” Brianna smiled brightly while she turned her head to Poppy, “Plus, it's a way to keep their legacy going…”

The day they stopped the apocalypse was also the day Jackie Highland defeated the evil that threatened all planes of existence. It was all thanks to her they lived in such peaceful times. Percy glanced at Celena to see her eyes beginning to gloss. A dull pang hit his heart. Grievous silence blanketed the group before an awkward cough cut through. 

“I think…” Paxus scratched the back of his head, “she would be upset if we were upset. So we shouldn't... be upset that is…”  Everyone's eyes trained on Paxus.

“If that makes sense..?” 

A cheerful sob escaped Poppy, “You're right, Paxus.” After a quick swipe at her eyes, Poppy raised a glass and intertwined her fingers into Brianna’s. 

“To new beginnings!” She beamed. 

“To a celebration of love!” Yekatarina gently smiled. Just before people began to move in, Celena’s deft hands quickly danced in the air as Lani translated out loud.

“To the ones who celebrate with us from beyond,” Lani squeezed Celena’s hand before reaching out and saying, “cheers!” Scattered cheers and clinking echoed within the group as the light mood began to return. 

Sweeping around the table for a clink, Percy’s eyes landed on Rein’s. A slight pause. The heat under Percy’s cheeks stung a bit, but he shoved it behind an easy smile and the tilt of his glass.

Rein’s gaze flicked to Percy's glass before he succinctly gave his seat mate’s glass a tap. 

“Cheers,” a translucent honey mead tilted from the glass and into Rein’s lips. Percy had to tear his eyes away before taking a sip himself. This reunion was going to kill him.

________

It had been a few hours after dawn when Percy woke up. A powerful yawn forced his jaw open as he stretched his arms out. 

“Aunty Yak?” He turned to find the bed empty and neatly remade. He figured she must have gone out foraging for breakfast…or that she was at the wedding rehearsal.

“SHIT!” Percy yanked the covers off of him, scrambling to get out of bed, “I almost forgot! C’mon Muratov, you’re a pro-hunter!” He threw on his clothes and half considered jumping out of the window just to shave off some time. Deciding that he didn’t want to cause a stir so early in the day, he swiftly moved through the proper path and to the ceremony hall. 

When Percy walked into the rehearsal, all hell had broken loose. Brianna was frantically pacing at the front as Poppy quietly conversed with another halfling man. Mostly everyone else was already in the room sitting in different spaces. Percy glided to Lani who happened to sit towards the back.

“What’s all the fuss about?” He shifted his weight to the back of her chair. Lani grimaced and turned around.

“I’m not exactly sure, but just when I walked in, this man came running through. I think he might be the wedding planner,” Lani shifted nervously in her seat before continuing, “I got a glimpse at his little clipboard, and it looks like a lot of venues fell through.”

“Ouch,” Percy winced, “On the day before the ceremony too? That’s gotta sting.” Suddenly, Percy felt a figure brush past him. He turned to watch Celena rope her arms around Lani in a lazy embrace. 

“Good morning, Celena!” Lani cheered. Celena quickly signed with her hands before giving Lani a light jab on the shoulder. Lani giggled a little.

“You looked really cozy was all. I promise to wait for you next time,” Lani patted Celena’s head gently. Smiling gently at the two of them, Percy observed how Celena’s knife sharp edges dulled over time with Lani’s warm presence. After the end of it all, Celena ran away. No one knew what it was for sure, but they all figured it was due to the pain of losing Jackie. It was months until Lani managed to convince her to come home. After all those years, Celena had grown into a strong and capable person. And Lani was the one who stayed with her through every step of the way.

Painful daydreams of the past crept up on Percy. Wishes of warmer nights and brighter laughs tugged at the back of his head. His eyes flicked over to Rein who was towards the front and far from the aisle. 

His back was poised, one ankle casually crossed over the other knee. He seemed to be reading a book of sorts from what Percy could tell. Just when Percy was about to turn, Rein peeked over his shoulder and locked eyes with him. Percy nonchalantly raised a hand in greeting. Rein nodded back. 

Neither moved. Friction grinded in their gazes, the terror of what was and what could have been pulled at the air. After a millennia long battle that occurred in a split second, Percy squashed all his thoughts and strode to the seat behind Rein.

“Lots of commotion so early in the morning, am I right?” Percy chuckled and flopped into the chair. He subtly pulled the seat closer, leaning his arms on the empty chair next to Rein.

“It’s 11, Percy,” Rein pointedly said. Percy guffawed in response.

“That’s early for some folks! Not everyone can wake up at the rise of dawn and read…” Percy glanced down and his face lit up, “steamy romance fiction!?” 

Red burst onto Rein’s face as he promptly shut the book. Upon seeing the sensually erotic oil painted cover, Percy began wheezing in delight. Rein slid the book in his cloak before he hissed lamely, “You really think I’d read something like that!?” A few glances aimed at the two of them.

“Apologies, High Wizard,” Percy managed to say between laughs, “I must be seeing things, it’s obviously a magical dissertation.” Upon Percy’s declaration, the attention easily died down. Rein bit back a smile.

“You obviously must have had some inappropriate dreams if you’re going to translate them to totally different things,” he muttered to Percy. 

“My bad,” Percy chuckled, “So what’s the deal with this guy?” Percy jabbed a thumb in the direction of the discourse. Rein hummed as he tilted his head towards him. 

“You heard it from Lani, some venues fell through.”

“Oh so you weren’t reading, but you were spying on me,” Percy teased.

“Are you gonna let me explain?” Rein said without any real malice. After a gesture of ‘go ahead’, he continued, “The florist is out and so is the caterer. The planner’s trying to pitch some other options to Poppy.” Percy frowned.

“Yeah that seems like a real hassle. I guess Brianna’s taking it a little hard?” 

“Not about that,” Rein shook his head, “Turns out Kri’s spouse is the person who’s conducting the ceremony and they got in an accident on their trip.” Percy sucked in a tight breath and looked at Brianna. Her hair was a little frazzled and her eyes a little too dry, every so often they darted to the side as if she was about to consult a person who wasn’t there anymore. 

After a final word with the halfling man, Poppy took in a deep breath before striding over to Brianna.

“Steady there,” Poppy gave her an easy smile as she wrapped her arms around Brianna’s torso, “It’s gonna be ok.” Brianna nodded nervously.

“I know, I know…” she smiled back with some mustered bravado.

“Alright crew,” Poppy’s braid whipped back as she turned to address the room, “Here’s the plan. Paxus, you’ll go to Fleila to pick up Valvyre and Quellena. They’ll be here to help with the decoration. Yekatarina, you’ll go and meet with Kri. They came on the road from Silvermore, so they shouldn’t be too far.”

Lani raised a hand, “Anything the rest of us can do to help?”

“Yes! Our caterer is out, so we’re just gonna let the chef’s at our own damn tavern do what they do best! Unfortunately, we can’t use the goods for our business for our own wedding, so the rest of you are gonna do some shopping.” Poppy put her hands on her hips, “And by shopping, I mean you have to forage and hunt.”

“Perfect,” Percy piped up from his seat, “I am very good at that.” 

“Great! So Celena and Lani can go forage and you and Rein can go catch some meat for us,” Poppy’s eyes glinted mischievously. Percy and Rein turned, locking eyes with each other before glancing back to Poppy.

Rein coughed awkwardly, “Well, with my expertise I’m sure I’d be better at–”

“It’s settled! Alright people, let’s get to work!” Poppy clapped and walked forward with purpose, “We’ve got a wedding to put together!”

Percy popped up from the chair, stretching his arms as he did. 

“Well, that venison ain’t gonna drop dead while we’re here. Should we head out?” Percy cocked his hip out and watched Rein squirm in his seat.

“Yeah, probably…” he gazed as Rein rose to his feet. Rein was so tall, much more filled and defined than he was in his youth. A regal air floated about him, the robes of the Academy proudly wrapped around his shoulders. Percy didn’t realize he was staring until Rein shrunk back into himself.

“...what?” Rein’s eyes darted to the side. 

“S-sorry, it’s nothing,” Percy’s mouth forced itself into a polite smile.

The air of the room seemed to grow thicker. A nagging feeling tugged at Percy’s gut. He couldn’t tell if it was shame, guilt, or something else entirely.

“Hey,” Percy scratched the back of his neck, “If you’re not comfortable with it, you can forage with Celena instead.”

“What?” Rein’s eyebrows furrowed, “No, it’s–”

“Yo, Lani!” Percy half jogged to her, “I didn’t really get to see you in action, c’mon show me some new tricks. Celena, you cool if we hunt instead?”

Celena huffed and raised her hands to respond when Percy tugged Lani to the doors and said, “Great! We’ll see you two later!”

Lani laughed and began to strike up a conversation as the two walked out the doors. As the oak doors began to swing shut behind them, Percy caught a glimpse of Rein.

He wasn’t sure if he correctly saw that look of regret or if he was wishing it was there.