Like a fighter and the only other broken-hearted

I've been spending my life building walls to guard this

This was it. Mark wasn't ever sure this day would actually come anytime soon, given everything he's been through so far in his just over 30 years on the planet, but it's here and it's happening and nothing was going to ruin it for him.

Little bit of love that I've got left from the ones before you who took the rest

And all those not meant to be's added up to you and me

He's standing nervously underneath an arch of white roses and white and gold balloons, artfully decorated with white drapery woven though that almost makes it look ethereal as it flutters in the cool breeze that sweeps though every few minutes, its surroundings in the middle of Sierra La Verne Park assisting in that endeavor.

Along with the arch, the white chairs, hedges and some of the trees are also covered in the same cloth, but the attention is more on himself and not the fairy lights blinking above everyone like little fireflies as sudden music signals the arrival of the real star of the show, his breath leaving him as he watched and waited.

With every mistake, I was paving my way to you

With every heartache, every dream that didn't come true

His heart pounding, Mark eyes the entrance to the sandy path just adjacent to his feet as Jason appears with Mika on his arm, the pale blue of her dress contrasting with the black and white roses in her bouquet, one of which sits not only in Jason's pocket, but his own as well, bright against the black pinstripe vest and white shirt it's pinned to, Bob helping with that as they had been getting dressed at his home that morning.

(He'd been too shaky to do it himself.)

Didn't see it then, but I know it now

I was falling up, I wasn't falling down

Speaking of Bob, he's next to emerge, along with his wife Mandy, then it's Lixian and Amy (the latter of whom kisses Mark on the cheek before she fits into her spot), Andrew and his girlfriend, then Marcus and Rachel, then Wade and his wife Molly, before finally (finally!), the music changes once again.

You were right on time, not a second too late

And baby, you were worth the wait, worth the wait

Mark's entire lung function ceases to exist once he sees Ethan standing at the end of the path with his parents on either side of him. He looks so fucking beautiful, his blue and green suit practically screaming at everyone to look at him as he moved, a golden leafed crown of black and white roses placed delicately on his head and one also in his pocket like every other person as everyone in the small crowd of friends they've invited stand to attention.

Like a ten-foot tidal wave, you came without warning

You swallow me up, now I'm lost in every moment

Thankfully before he can kneel over at the sheer might of how the fucking fuck is any of this shit real, they catch eyes and it's like he's floating on air now, all the nervousness he'd been feeling for almost a week falling away in chunks and clenched fists dropping like stones as Ethan's eyes well up at the sight of him, but he also grins in tandem as his mother and father take his hands and they start moving towards him.

I'm drowning in your eyes, your touch, your kiss

Never thought I'd ever find a love like this

It feels like an eternity before Ethan is finally at the end of the path and music slows to a stop to let the semi-quiet back in again, his person mere inches away from Mark's face and body and hands and all the things he wants to touch him with, but he knows he can't.

Not yet and definitely not here.

Now I know with every mistake, I was paving my way to you

With every heartache, every dream that didn't come true

When his parents let go of him, Mark quickly took up the slack left behind, Ethan's shaking hands in his own as they stand opposite eachother, both equally not wanting to start crying and totally fuck up their own ceremony.

However, it's not long before the waterworks not only start on Mark's side, but Ethan's side as well, audible sniffles from the audience also chiming in as the celebrant starts to read.

Didn't see it then, but I know it now

I was falling up, I wasn't falling down

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in a spectacular part of Los Angeles, California, to wed these two perfect souls together as one going forward in the future."

You were right on time, not a second too late

And baby, you were worth the wait, worth the wait

"Mark Edward Fischbach and Ethan Mark Nestor-Darling met officially in 2014 and it was clear that according to friends, there was something special between them. Over the years that passed, romance soon blossomed, as well as bruises thanks to Ethan as, during their first kiss, he preceded to accidentally punch Mark in the face."

Everyone, including Mark and Ethan, died laughing at the joke, tension fizzled out by the time they were asked to say their vows.

Every mistake was worth the wait

And every heartache was worth the wait

"Mark, my best friend, my short stack hunk of fun and owner of my heart and everything it gives out. I wonder what would have happened, had I not found the balls to go up to you and do that backflip at PAX East. I wonder where I would be, who I'd be with, what my life would have been like - but that no longer matters as right now, I would take a thousand lifetimes and never live them, if only to live this one lifetime with you as your partner, forever by your side."

Yeah, every mistake, I was paving my way to you

With every heartache, every dream that didn't come true

"Ethan, my dear, sweet yet diabolical key to my heart. Usually, I'm no good with things like emotions, I never have been a man of sappy words and even sappier occasions, but as I stand here before you now, opening up a vulnerable side of me and asking you to be bonded to me for the rest of our lives, I can't help but think how fucking lucky I am to not only know you, but to be the one to take you as my own and live with you and our growing family, whatever it may become, in the future that is from this moment onwards."

Didn't see it then, but I know it now

I was falling up, I wasn't falling down

Mark's ring finger had never felt so warm when Ethan's smaller ones curled his newly minted gold wedding ring around it, feeling the shakiness of Ethan's excitement already starting as he did the same to him, both fighting the urge not to let go as they pulled back from the other.

You were right on time, not a second too late

And baby, you were worth the wait, worth the wait

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you as of this day, Mr and Mr Mark Fischbach!"

Oh baby, you were worth the wait, worth the wait

Sure, there was spontaneous applause that suddenly erupted from the small crowd of people in front of them, there as cheering and dumping of rose petals which Mark felt vaguely against his cheek and hands, but he couldn't really care less as his lips were too busy kissing his husband (his husband!) to near gagging point, before they broke apart nosily with a burst of giggles and raucous laughter following as they raised their clasped together hands to more cheers before the wedding party all headed out towards the reception in the building next door to dance the night away, the day still a fresh memory in their minds despite the mind-numbing amounts of alcohol.

When Mark and Ethan woke up the next morning for their flight to Korea, they just turned to each other and sleepily smiled. That day was most definitely worth the wait.