Chapter 1
Vayna sniffed as she slide into a room in the library. She hadn't realized was in use until she sat down and noticed the group of people. She knew she should probably leave but something in her told her to stay. The group of people were about her age and all had notebooks infront of them.
'It most be some kind of workshop,' Vanya thought as she watched a man stand up. He was tall and had a similar build to Luther did the last time she saw him. He smiled at the room and picked up his note book.
"Hello everyone, my name is Marcus for those who are new with us, today we are going back to the basics," Marcus announced.
"Do you want some paper?" A man sitting next to her asked. He slid a spare notebook and pencil toward her and she took it with a small smile. She opened it up and waited for Marcus to speak again to take notes.
"Paganism is the belief that nature is sacred and that the natural cycles of birth, growth, and death observed in the world around us carry profoundly spiritual meanings. We all have different approaches to our practices. I've been practicing since I was a baby like my mother before me and her mother before her," Marcus started. "It can be hard to find a starting point, however, and that's why we're here. I will turn the floor over to Fei to talk about the transfer from a different religion to paganism."
A beautiful woman stood with a service dog at her side. She faced the room with a small smile. "Hello everybody. I'm going to jump right in, I came to Paganism from Mormonism or as they are referred to now Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. I grew up believing that I was a mistake and I was prepared to have someone else choice who I should marry. I was extremely depressed and unfulfilled. I went into Salt Lake one day with my father when he went to spread the word. He left me at the library and I stumbled into a group like this. I rejected it at first. I dove into my studies and praise in the Mormon religion but there was the feeling that I wasn't where I need to be. So I called my brother and he took me in and I started on my path with Lord Tyr and Lady Freya. It wasn't easy and it held a lot of deconstruction from my previous beliefs. It was so worth every minute of it," Fei spoke with such passion in her voice that it light something in Vanya's soul.
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The presentation ended with little fanfare fair after two hours. Vanya had taken notes on a little bit of everything. The man next to her seemed amused at how she drank in all the information given to her.
"I'm Chris," he said holding out his hand. Vanya took it and smiled at him.
"I'm Vanya," she mumbled.
"We're going to get some lunch if you want to join us," Chris offered. She nodded and packed their things up. They walked over to the group of people. "Guys this is Vanya she's our newcomer." Chris introduced for her. She gave a tiny wave.
"Hello Vanya! I'm Sloane! It's so nice to meet you," she said with a bright smile.
"Jayme," a woman introduced from her place next to Fei.
"Alphonso," a man said as he ate an apple.
"And I'm Lila. I'm another newbie," she said shaking Vanya's hand.
"It's nice to meet all of you," Vanya spoke softly. They all made their way out as a group. They walked to a little dinner all joking and laughing together. This was the closest Vanya had ever felt to anyone let alone a group.
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"Listen I'm just saying maybe you should get another opinion. Those are really strong," Lila's accent was thinker when she was frustrated Vanya noticed. She stared downtown the pills that's in-between them.
"Okay say I detox from these and start back from square one. What happens if it makes my anxiety worse?" Vanya asked laying her head on the table.
"Then we will be here to help you," Christopher's deep voice said from the kitchen. "You aren't alone anymore my love."
"Okay. Let's do this," Vanya nodded after a while. She wasn't alone her friends were behind her. Chris kissed the top of her head and hugged her from behind.
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They were at the Ostara festival. It was a way for pagan and witches from all walks of live to get together and celebrate the coming of spring. He was joking with Marcus when Christopher walked up to him. He smiled at his boyfriend and turned to him slightly.
"So you know how Ostara is a time to take action?" Chris asked. Viktor nodded with a rush of nerves going through him. "Well it's time that I took action. Viktor Hargreeves I have been blessed to have you in my life. The day you stumbled into our study meeting was the beginning of a new life for me and as Aengus Og as my witness," he said as he dropped to one knee. He pulled out a little black velvet box and opened it to reveal a small silver band with an amethyst placed in a small circle of diamonds. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my husband and sharing your life with me?"
Viktor teared up as he nodded. Chris slipped the ring on his finger as he stood and kissed the shorter man. They held each other tightly as their friends clapped and hugged them. This was the happiest he's ever been.
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Viktor cried when the only one of his siblings to rsvp to his wedding was Klaus. Chris held him and whispered sweet things into his hair. Christopher was furious at his soon-to-be-in-laws. How could they not want to come to their brother's wedding?
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They stood with their facing each as the ceremony started. Marcus brought everyone's attention together and smiled at the two men he sees as brothers.
"Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us. For those who may not be familiar, a handfasting ceremony is a little different from a traditional wedding ceremony in that it recognizes that love, like life, is dynamic. Christopher and Viktor have chosen to commit to one another today for the rest of their lives, but they understand that the love they commit to is dynamic and fluid, and what we celebrate is the eternal connection between the souls of Christopher and Viktor, no matter what physical form their love may take. Having spent time with Christopher and Viktor before agreeing to officiate their handbinding, I've seen the evidence of that connection between these two souls. It's in the way Viktor smiles when he sees Christopher comes into the room, or the way Christopher holds him close when they are together. There's no denying that these two souls are connected, and that is what we've gathered to celebrate, here in this moment, the love Christopher and Viktor share between their spirits," Marcus's voice held the love and power they were so use to hearing when he taught his classes both spiritually and educationally.
"Christopher, Viktor, let there be no mistake. While the tradition of handbinding recognizes and accepts love as dynamic in nature, it is not to be entered into lighthearted, because it is a sacred vow. The vows you make today signify that you souls are bound eternally, whether or not your bodies are. You make these vows today with the understanding that you are committing to be a partner to one another, and to honor the connection your souls now share with one another. These vows are sacred, and they should not be broken easily, as you make them to one another in the site of these loved ones as witnesses. Knowing this, Christopher and Viktor is it your intent to enter into this community to one another?" Marcus asked smiling at the couple. The two of them haven't taken their eyes off each other.
"It is," Christopher's deep voice rang out as he smiled at the other half of his soul.
"It is," Viktor's voice cracked with the amount of love and safety he was feeling. He knew without a shadow of doubt that this man was his. In this life and the next.
"Then let us begin. If you would please join hands. Christopher and Viktor, you will be making six vows in total to one another before me and these witnesses. For each, I will ask Christopher for his commitment first, then I will ask Viktor. Once they have both affirmed, we will move to the next vow. Christopher, will you share Viktor's pain, and seek to protect him from it and ease him of it?" Marcus smiled as he spoke.
"I will," Christopher response in an instant.
"Viktor, will you share in Christopher's pain, and seek to protect him from it and ease him of it?" Marcus asked the starstruck shorter man.
"I will," he said softly. He was willing the tears not to fall as the made these vows.
"Then let the binding be so," Marcus said as Fei stepped up and wrapped a purple cord around their arms and hands. Fei stepped back and Marcus continued. "Christopher, will you share in Viktor's joy, rejoice in it with him, and look for the best in him always?"
"I will," Christopher smiled at the man.
"Viktor, will you share in Christopher's joy rejoice in it with him, and look for the best in him always?"
"I will," Viktor let his tears fall as joy over took him.
"Then let the binding be so," Marcus said nodding slightly as Fei stepped back up. She wrapped a white cord around them and stepped back again.
"Christopher will you share in Viktor's hardships and toils, so that the two of you may grow together?"
"I will," Christopher said. He wanted nothing more then to wipe the tears from his beloved's face.
"Viktor will you share in Christopher's hardships and toils, so that the two of you may grow together?"
"I will," he breathed out smiling brightly.
"Then let the binding be so." Fei stepped up and wrapped a blue cord around them. She stepped back to her place next to Jayme and smiled. She wish she had a crow put to see their faces. She had never meet anyone so happy and complete with each other then the two of them and her and Jayme.
"Christopher will you share in Viktor's dreams and work with them to fulfill them?"
"I will."
"Viktor will you share in Christopher's dreams and work with him to fulfill them?"
"I will."
"Then let the binding be so."
A red cord was added to the growing group.
"Christopher will you use your anger to strengthen and temper the bond between you and Viktor?"
"I will."
"Viktor will you use your anger to strengthen and temper the bond between you and Christopher?"
"I will."
"Then let the binding be so."
A green cord was added.
"Christopher will you honor and respect Viktor, treat them as an equal in this bond?"
"I will."
"Viktor will you honor and respect Christopher, treat him as an equal in this bond?"
"I will."
"Then let the binding be so."
A gold cord was the last to be added. Fei stepped back and was fighting to keep from being too emotional. Jayme squeezed her hand and made a silent promise that they would be up there next.
"Now that the binding ceremony is complete, it's time to seal your bond with the exchange of rings. The ring has a special significance within the Pagan culture because it is a symbol of unbrokenness. It is also a symbol of completion, as the two of you are now complete. Christopher please repeat after me: Viktor I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the mazeof life together as our love grows with us."
"Viktor I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the mazeof life together as our love grows with us," Christopher said as he slipped the ring onto Viktor's left hand. He was so overcome with all the love he felt and the love he felt from Viktor that he was glad to have his veil on. He was ready to spend the rest of his life with the man in front of him.
"Viktor please repeat after me: Christopher I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the mazeof life together as our love grows with us."
"Christopher I promise on this day to share your pain, your joy, your burdens, and your dreams, and to help you navigate the mazeof life together as our love grows with us," Viktor let out a small sob of joy. This is what love and life felt like and he was so thankful he could feel it. If they had gotten married a year ago the twenty-five year old would have been too numb to enjoy his own wedding. He slipped the ring on to Christopher's finger blinking away his tears.
"Christopher and Viktor having proclaimed the bond of you should together in the sight of these witnesses, and based on the strength of that bond, and the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you married. Please seal your bound with a kiss!" Marcus announced and stepped back as Christopher pulled Viktor to him and dipped them down in a kiss. Marcus and Fei helped take the cords off of them and the two of them ran down the aisle together.
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The reception was about to get started when Alphonso grabbed the mic. "Ladies, gentlemen, and entities of questionable origins please help me in welcoming for the first time Mr. and Mr. O'Connor!"
Viktor and Christopher ran in with their hands still linked. They made their way to the dance floor for their first dance. The slow sound of Hoziers "Like Real People Do" floated in as the two were engrossed in each other.
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Klaus caught his brother when the reception was in full swing. The two of them danced wildly to Britney Spears "Toxic" while laughing. The two of them sat down and talked for a while after that.
"I'm so proud of you Klaus! Three years sober is amazing," Viktor congratulated his brother holding his hands tightly.
"Proud of me? No no no little brother I'm proud of you! The last time I seen you were a ghost of a person. I'm so happy you found life again," Klaus said hugging him tightly.
"Oh yeah that's a whole thing I'd rather not think about on my wedding day but I will fill you in later," Viktor promised as his husband wrapped an arm around him from behind. "Oh right, Klaus this is my husband Christopher. Christopher this is my sibling Klaus."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Christopher said shaking the hand of the only member of Viktor's family he respected.
"Back at you. Take care of my brother," Klaus warned. They had Ben in their back pocket and would let him sink a tentacle in the guy if he hurt their brother.
"Or you'll kill me?" Christopher joked. He chuckled to himself as he looked over the toothpick of the person infront of him. He had no doubt the former superhero could kill him but the thought of hurt Viktor was too ridiculous to imagine.
"No but my buddy can. Say hi buddy," Klaus said smiling. He let his powers activate so Ben could finally say hello and congrats to their brother.
"You had to bring me into the shovel talk Klaus?" Ben whined before turning to his brother. "I'm so happy and proud of you Viktor. I missed you so much."
"Can I hug him?" Viktor let out another soft sob stepping closer to his dead brother.
"Yeah go ahead," Klaus said smiling. The hug felt like home for both men. The one they didn't get to share before the fated mission took Ben from this world.