“No,” Rio gasped as I laid out the plan Felix and I had come up with last night, “We stayed up all night workin’ through legal loopholes and finally found one!”

“But it’s going to take six months to get Felix out of that contract, and I don’t think we can wait that long!” I sighed, handing Felix coffee as he cuddled with Simon on the couch in one of my nightshirts, “Dad, I’m sorry to tell you this, and I appreciate you bending over backward to figure it out, but this is our plan.”

“Asher, marriage is a huge deal,” Koa pushed his glasses up to pinch the bridge of his nose, “it’s not something you just decide to do on a whim. You only spent two months together before three years apart. You’re different people now.”

“But that didn’t change anything for either of us. We never stopped caring about each other or wanting to be together. This is the best thing to do to save Felix and stay together. Please. You know I’m rational. I’m acting out of both intelligence and emotion right now. Do you want them to get Felix back and ruin his life?”

“Of course not!” Rio shouted, slamming his fist into the table, “But ya… ya really need to think this through!”

“And we did. Last night. Before we scheduled an appointment for this afternoon,” Felix finally joined the conversation, “We’re marrying to keep me with Asher and your family. I want to be a part of your lives, I always did. I spent time with Bailey when I first met Ash, and he was a wonderful big brother to me. He was just as protective of me as he is of Asher. I care deeply for your son, and I never stopped. We plan to use the marriage as a front. But we’re together. Dating or whatever you want to call it. I don’t particularly care to really label it, but we’ll stay together. We already agreed that if we realize that our dating doesn’t work, we will divorce amicably. But if we continue to believe that this is what is meant for us, we plan to have an actual wedding ceremony. I understand if you think we’re being rash. But it comes down to my safety, and we need two witnesses to consent to this. I’m not asking for you to be happy about it. I can’t even really expect that out of you. But this is for my safety, for the life I was supposed to have before the Brenners nearly destroyed me. I look horrific right now,” he looked at his arms, and I watched Koa and Rio soften, “and Asher still thinks I’m the most attractive person in the world. He told me this morning when we woke up. Please,” he set Simon down and came to my parents, his hands tight on the bottom of the nightshirt, “I will do anything you need to make you understand how truly I care for Asher and how necessary this will be for the future.”

“You care that much about him?” Koa whispered, and Felix nodded without hesitation, “Okay. Is your name Felix on your birth certificate, or is it Taia?”

“Felix. Felix Awena Mahuta. I made my middle name my father's first name.”

“Well… in a few hours, it’ll be Felix Awena Bennett. Rio, do you have a single thing that we can quickly adjust for Felix?”

“Hm,” Rio shrugged, “I actually might. My outfit from our weddin’. I’ll have to use hem tape for the pants and roll the sleeves to his wrists, but it should fit. Ash, do you have anything white?”

“Um… oh yeah, I actually do,” I nodded, looking around, “Dad. Matua. Please… just understand why we’re doing this as best you can.”

“We do. I woulda married your Matua the week after I met him, but I ain’t met Bailey yet and didn’t have pressin’ circumstances like this one is. Your brother is gonna kill ya for not bein’ there,” Rio laughed softly.

“He can come to our actual big wedding. This is just paperwork. Doesn’t mean I care about Felix any less, but I want to take the time to actually ask him to marry me when we’re ready and have a big wedding. Today is about his freedom.”

“Alright. We can witness. We’re on board. Come on, Asher. I’ll help you get ready,” Koa followed me to my room before sighing when he saw Felix’s clothes on my floor, “Look, I don’t care if you mess around, but don’t be making babies in my house. I’m barely used to having Ava around. Your brother needs to bring my grandbaby over. I miss her little face.”

“Huh!” I gasped, my entire face warm, “No! Matua, I’m a virgin! Plus, we can’t get each other pregnant, we have the same parts! Felix wanted to change into something because he was sweating in his sleep due to nightmares. I only had that nightshirt that would fit him. Jesus, don’t do that to me.”

“Fine, fine. Has he had any surgeries?”

“No. Doesn’t want to until he has kids.”

“Do you want kids? You’re getting married to him and plan to see if you’ll stay that way. Does what you want line up with Felix?” Koa opened my closet and started pulling anything slightly formal and white out, throwing it onto my bed.

“Yes. We both want a few kids. He wants to be the advertising manager of the company he owns on Pitt Island. I’ll keep running the business I have now, but strictly mail stuff. I’m not going to fly two hours to Christchurch weekly to drop off packages.”

“You’re moving there then?” Koa smiled gently, and I shrugged.

“Not yet. But there was a time when Felix offered that to me. To have me move to his house, and I agreed. Thought it would be a great place for inspiration. I’ve seen photos of the beach, but he told me that the house needs work. Luckily, my Matua ensured I knew how to fix things with my hands,” I winked, making Koa laugh, “I know you’re worried. But this will be for the best. I feel it in my heart.”

“I know. I agree. I was just being cautious. You’re my baby,” he cupped my cheek, and I sniffled, “I have to protect you. But you’re also an adult now, so I know that I have to back off a little. I know you, Ash. You would have borrowed two people from the courthouse and married Felix if it kept him safe. It’s better if it’s us.”

“I just hope this is enough.”

“It should be. We have two hours to get there. So pick an outfit, do your hair. I’ll go make sure Felix and Rio are okay.”

“Matua?” I called as he reached my door, and Koa nodded, “I love you. Thank you for always being supportive of my craziness.”

“Eh. I’m used to it by now,” he laughed loudly, “I love you too, kid.”

Once Koa had left, I locked the door and quickly stripped down, digging through my underwear drawer to find my nicer chest binder. Although I wasn’t ashamed of my body, I actually found myself very attractive, I didn’t feel comfortable wearing anything tight if I didn’t have my chest entirely flat. This had been a habit since I was a teenager and carried on to now. I left my outfit behind me and slowly braided a piece on either side of my head before twisting it and pinning it back with a clip in the shape of the moon.

Grabbing the outfit I wanted, I quickly dressed, ensuring that the shirt lay flat, and laced the corset back of my vest, watching myself in the mirror until I reached the point where I couldn’t do it alone anymore due to my back. I called out for Rio, and he came running, smiling gently and taking over for the corset.

“I love this one,” Rio whispered, adjusting the straps so they lay on my shoulders, “prettiest vest ya own.”

“I uh… was saving it for my wedding reception whenever that happened. I bought it on clearance a few years ago. Felix met me when I was wearing an insanely colorful outfit. I know he won’t care.”

“Of course he won’t. I think he’s already in love with ya.”

“Probably,” I laughed, “God, this is insane of me to do, isn’t it?”

“Little bit. But is it worth it? Is Felix worth this to ya? It’s gonna cause backlash with that family.”

“Mhm. I know. But I can’t lose him again, Dad.”

“Then there ya go. Come on, my lovely groom-to-be. Your groom is waitin’ for ya, and I did a bang-up job if I say so.”

Laughing, I let Rio pull me from my room after I grabbed my cane and short white boots, as I was no longer able to wear anything higher than a tennis shoe, or I would lose my balance. Felix was pacing the living room, his curls perfectly done around his shoulders as he stared at the ground, fidgeting with a gold chain in the pocket of a cream-colored vest I recognized as the one Koa had worn during my parents' wedding. Everything else belonged to Rio, from the white cotton shirt and tan pants to the shoes: a light tan pair of loafers that probably had sand in them still from the beach they married on. The very beach behind their home. He stopped for a moment, and Koa fixed the vest a bit, tightening the back as it was clearly too big for Felix but had been altered enough that it was passable for an impromptu wedding.

“Fe?” I called softly and Felix turned around, dropping something small that he had been playing with, “I have the rings in my bag,” I held up a small clutch, and he never moved, “Are you ready? We need to leave soon.”

“I uh…”

“We’ll warm up the car,” Koa smiled, and I realized both of my parents had changed to be a bit business casual, and I knew Koa would want to take photos to at least remember how crazy I was acting today. They left, and I crossed the room, looking down at Felix, who had never stopped staring at me.

“Ipo?” I whispered, rubbing Felix’s cheek with my thumb, “What is it? I can go change if…”

“No. Don’t,” he quickly shook his head before resting his hands on my arms, “You look so handsome, Asher. Is it okay for me to say that? I’m still learning the proper way to compliment a partner who is trans like me.”

“It’s fine. I love being called handsome. Thank you,” laughing, I kissed him softly, moving my hand to the side of his neck, “You look fantastic.”

“This is the most I’ve ever looked like a man. It’s so strange for me. Koa gave me an old chest binder, and I was trying to figure out where it came from. Turns out, it was Evander's. Koa happened to still have it around, and when I asked why, he told me he kept it as a memory. From the day your brother was born.”

“Yeah, Koa is super sentimental, that doesn’t surprise me at all. What is this?” I poked what he was holding, and Felix gently clipped it to my vest.

“Something new,” he whispered, “it’s a brooch. Made to look like the sun. It was a gift from Rio for you, but he decided I should give it to you instead for today. Something borrowed and old is my outfit. It’s older than both of us, after all. And this,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a locket, the outside some kind of blue shell, “is something blue,” Felix gently put it on me, a small smile on his face, “It belonged to my Pa. It has a picture of us inside. I want you to wear it today. So it feels like he’s here. Even if this wedding isn’t exactly… it means a lot to me. Thank you. For saving me from that hell.”

“I would have done anything to get you out of there had I known.”

“You know now, Kairoro,” he smiled gently and pulled me down to kiss me as deeply as he could, “Let’s go. I’m scared, but we can do this.”

“This is to get rid of your fear, Felix.”

“I know.”

We left the house hand in hand, climbing into the backseat of Rio’s car and heading toward the courthouse, Felix squeezing my arm the entire time. I was scared they wouldn’t process our paperwork or license due to Felix only having his birth certificate, but it went through fine, and we took a seat, waiting for our names to be called.

“Asher and Felix?” a soft voice came from our right, and Felix helped me to my feet, handing my cane over, “Do you have witnesses?”

“My parents,” I nodded with a smile.

“That works. Come along.”

We entered the courthouse chapel, making Koa laugh, and we turned to look at him.

“Sorry. This is where my parents got married. They hated the idea of a huge wedding.”

“It’s meant to be, then,” Felix shrugged, and I kissed the top of his head, “Ma’am?” He called to the judge as we approached, and she nodded, “My partner struggles to be on his feet for too long due to an accident. Do you have a shortened form of the vows so it doesn’t leave him in pain?”

“I can do that,” she laughed softly, “face each other and hold hands. My name is Judge Pendley. I am authorized by the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand to conduct this ceremony today. Felix and Asher, in marrying, you are making a promise to go forward in your lives as partners. You are promising to support and encourage each other throughout your lives together. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I nodded.

“Absolutely,” Felix smiled, squeezing my hands.

“We come now to your vows. These are legally binding words that confirm your decision to marry and the commitment that is required of each other. New Zealand law requires that each of you declare before me, and at least two other witnesses, that you are freely entering this marriage and that you take the other person to be your legally wedded partner. I want you to repeat this statement after me, starting with Asher. I, Asher Alexander Bennett, am freely entering into this marriage and take you, Felix Awena Mahuta, to be my legal husband.”

I repeated her words with confidence, staring into Felix’s eyes as he did his best to hide the tears attempting to escape him. Felix’s voice shook as he repeated the words back to me, his grip tight, and I rubbed his knuckles with my thumbs, hoping it would relax him.

“If you have rings, exchange them now and say what you wish,” Judge Pendley smiled, and I pulled them from my bag, handing Koa’s to Felix before taking his left hand.

“I can’t wait to see the beauty of a life we create together, Felix. I’m happy we did this,” I whispered, placing the ring on his finger.

“Thank you,” Felix smiled, carefully slipping the ring onto me, “for always being my safe space and protector. For caring for me as I always appeared in front of you. There is nothing I want more than to continue life with you.”

“Asher and Felix, it is my honor to pronounce you legally married,” Judge Pendley bowed politely, “Congratulations. You may kiss your husband.”

Felix swallowed nervously, and I giggled, kissing him gently, my hands still tight in his, and he finally smiled, cradling my cheek.

“To complete the legalities, I invite our witnesses to approach the podium and sign the license. I will turn it in with our recorder, but as of this moment, you two are married,” Jude Pendley nodded at my parents, who rushed over to sign it, both crying.

“How do we get a copy?” Felix leaned against me, his arm around my waist, “It’s needed.”

“Meet me at the desk, and I’ll have them issue an immediate certified copy. We normally mail it, but it’s clear you’re in a rush. Congrats, you two. I love seeing young love.”

“It is rather nice,” Felix smiled at me and I kissed him again, “only took three damn years.”

“We got here in the end,” I muttered, my nose wrinkling as I giggled, “to the future we go.”