Chapter Text
Anthony was shaking. His heart was racing. He felt sick with anxiety. He tried to steady his breathing, pacing around the little room he was in. To calm himself down, he often read through his previous texts with Aziraphale, so he picked up his phone, trembling, and opened messages. He hadn’t noticed, in his fit, a new text from his angel. 3 love hearts. It was simple, but sweet, and just what Anthony needed. He felt like he might melt. He steadied himself and replied with 3 hearts as well, cheeks bright red. He scrolled up the thread, and felt his breathing slow.
‘Love you! x’
‘Thinking of you!’
‘Miss you!’
He flopped into the chair in front of the mirror, and stared a moment longer at his phone. He took a deep breath in, and looked up into the mirror, to see Beelz creeping in. They smiled, conveying more warmth, and reassurance than Anthony had ever seen on their face. They pulled up a chair, and swivelled to face Anthony.
“So… big day today!” Beelz looked more excited than Anthony.
“Mmhmm…” Anthony nodded nervously.
“C’mon! You’re getting married to the man you love most in this world today! Why the long face?”
Anthony paused, staring down at the ground. Finally, he whispered “What if… what if he changes his mind?…I… I don’t deserve him. And he deserves better…”
Beelz lifted a hand, and sighed putting it back down. “I would slap you right now, but I won’t give you a red mark for your wedding photos.”
Anthony looked up, slightly startled at the remark, but he shouldn’t have been surprised. They smirked a little.
“Anthony…” Beelz put their face between their hands for a second, before looking back up. “I’m gonna regret saying this… but here I go anyway. Anthony… you’re one of the most amazing people I know. You’re talented, caring, funny, and overall a really great guy. I’m really glad we started the band all those years ago, because it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Making music with my best friend.” They nudged Anthony’s shoulder with their fist, prompting a small smile from him. “Anthony… you are the most deserving person I’ve ever met, and any man would be lucky to even meet you. I’m so happy for you.” They rubbed their eyes. “Oh, come on! You’re not gonna make me cry!” They laughed, pulling Anthony into a hug.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Now, please let me fix your tie. It’s awful!”
Anthony laughed, as Beelz adjusted his tartan tie; a touch he was keeping a surprise for Aziraphale, despite how out of place it looked against his black suit, and dark sunglasses.
——
Aziraphale was doubting himself too. His breath was shaky, and he too had been pacing. He opened his phone and searched for ‘Angel With A Halo’. His favourite way to calm down was to listen to it. He never admitted it to anyone, but he would often play it, when Anthony wasn’t around. Anthony’s soothing voice washed away his worries, as he shut his eyes, swaying his head to the rhythm.
“Knock, knock!”
He lunged for his phone and paused the song.
“Oh… Jim! Uh… do come in.”
Jim-short-for-James-short-for-Gabriel (his given name being Gabriel, however he thought that was much too boring) came into the room, and pulled up a chair.
“I’m so glad you could come.”
“Of course! Anything for a fellow violinist, and friend!”
Aziraphale smiled half heartedly, mind occupied with nerves.
“You’re nervous…”
Aziraphale nodded and sighed. “I just… I feel like he deserves better… and maybe it was a bad call…”
“What?! No!…You love Anthony, and he loves you! Clearly, you both wanted to marry each other, otherwise you wouldn’t have both planned to propose on the same night! Aziraphale… it’s going to be perfect!” Jim’s smile was warm, and sincere.
“You really think so?”
“I know so!”
Aziraphale smiled, taking a deep breath, praying to the heavens that Anthony would be just as happy as he was.
“Right, well I better go take a seat! You’re on soon!” Jim centred Aziraphale’s black bow tie (a coincidentally synchronised surprise for Anthony), before leaving with an enthusiastic thumbs up.
——
In the planning of their wedding, Aziraphale and Anthony had no idea what they were doing. Neither had been to a wedding (Aziraphale having never been invited to one, and Anthony having gone to great lengths to avoid them). They didn’t have a whole lot of close friends either, especially ones who knew any more about weddings than they did, so they decided to just do things their way.
They decided that they would meet in the middle. Both walk from opposite directions at the same time, and find the other halfway, showing that they were on their own side. As Anthony walked on the dark carpet, he felt his legs trembling. It felt as though an earthquake was shaking the ground beneath his feet. He rounded a corner beside the rows of guests, and there was Aziraphale, perfect as usual. His timid face, relaxed, and lifted, the moment Anthony and him locked eyes. Anthony let out a shaky breath, almost of relief. He strode with more purpose, feeling his fingers reaching out, trying to grasp Aziraphale’s. They stopped, barely two steps apart. Their hands intertwined, and Anthony clung to Aziraphale’s, not letting his angel slip away. He felt wobbly, and as though if he weren’t holding Aziraphale, he would topple over.
It was a blur for Anthony. He never took his eyes off his angel, oblivious to the crowd of guests watching. He was hardly listening to the celebrant, too busy being mesmerised by the bright twinkle in Aziraphale’s eyes.
Suddenly a voice startled Anthony from his daze.
“I object!”
Gasps came from the room, and Anthony squinted his eyes through his dark glasses to identify the person.
He shouldn’t have been surprised. “OH, YOU FUCKING METATRON!”
“There really is no need for that kind of language,” Aziraphale placed a hand on Anthony’s arm, but couldn’t hide his shock, and dismay.
As Aziraphale spotted the man, he covered his mouth, as none other than his previous orchestra conductor weaved through the guests. “But… w-w-why?”
The Metatron (a nickname Aziraphale and Crowley had given the man, after his years of being over-controlling and all powerful in Aziraphale’s old orchestra) had a scowl painted on his face, as he marched towards them, coffee in one hand. “Aziraphale, why would you marry him? You need to come back to Edinburgh and rejoin the orchestra! You can make it better! You can make a difference!”
Anthony raised his eyebrows “Waitwaitwaitwait… let me get this right. You crashed our wedding, in a last ditch attempt to get your best violinist back?” Anthony almost chuckled.
“Mr Meta, I-I don’t understand.” Aziraphale whispered.
“If you marry him,” the man pointed a bony finger at Anthony, not bothering to hide his distaste, “you’ll be stuck in London, or-or on tour with him! You can’t want that! You’re the best man for our job! Come on! Make it real! Make it happen!”
“No! Why would I do that!”
“Aziraphale, you must miss the orchestra? Miss Edinburgh? How about that funny little statue in the cemetery?”
“No! I’m never rejoining that… toxic orchestra!”
“How about we go for a chat? I brought you coffee?”
Aziraphale stood defensively in front of Anthony, feeling as though he had a flaming sword in one hand. He inhaled “No! You are not welcome here! I suggest you leave, and never speak to us again or… or I’ll make you disappear for good!”
Anthony watched, impressed by his protective angel. The Metatron stood, dazed for a moment from being called out.
“Go on… and… and… fuck off!” Aziraphale yelled.
Anthony smirked, eyes wide at the remark by his sweet, innocent angel. The Metatron, embarrassed, and face red, huffed, and stormed out, knocking anyone out of his way. The rows of people were unsure of what to do. They sat, quietly murmuring to one another.
“Oh, Anthony, I’m so, so sorry! He’s ruined our wedding, and he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t my fault! And… and-”
“Angel,” he placed a finger to Aziraphale’s lips, hushing him. “That wasn’t your fault at all! And… I’ve gotta say… I’m impressed.”
Aziraphale’s eyes lit up.
“Well… shall we get married now?”
Aziraphale nodded. And so they did. Anthony hardly remembered most of it, overtaken by adrenaline and joy.
——
“Angel, I… I got you a gift…”
“Oh, Anthony! You shouldn’t have!”
The guests watched.
“Uh… let there be light.”
A click triggered light to stream down outside, and Aziraphale gasped, before he skipped across the dance floor to the window. “Anthony… you… you didn’t!”
Anthony giggled, watching as Aziraphale stared wide eyed at the now yellow Bentley.
“It’s so pretty!”
“You like it?”
“Anthony… I love it!” He wrapped his arms around Anthony as everyone awed.
“Oh… and I almost forgot! I also got you this!” Anthony dashed away for a moment, returning with a pot of yellow tulips.
“Anthony… they’re beautiful. I-I know how much you love plants… this-” He wiped tears from his eyes. “This is beautiful!”
“I’m so glad you like it!”
“Oh, how could I not?” Aziraphale hugged him tightly, again. “I… I got something for you too.”
“Angel… you’re too kind.”
Aziraphale smiled “Just give me a minute.”
Anthony mingled, dancing, as he waited (although, it wasn’t particularly good dancing).
Within a few minutes, Aziraphale’s voice was picked up in a microphone. “Um… hello! Uh. I-I um… I composed a piece for you, Anthony. It’s a representation of your life, though, I don’t know all too much about your past, I tried my best. I… I hope you like it.”
Jim-Short-For-James-Short-For-Gabriel, and Aziraphale took to the stage with violins in hand. Aziraphale nodded his head and they began, Jim’s tune accompanying Aziraphale’s melody beautifully, tying the piece into a truly magical work of art. It began playfully, representing childhood innocence, and self discovery. It was light, and fun, before it began to slow, getting darker, capturing Anthony’s rejection from his family. The piece held his misery, and pain, as it faded into a numb loop. Slowly the piece began to shift into an upbeat rhythm, replicating the style of Hell’s Symphony, and the varying range of music Anthony had made over the years. It was pleasant, but Jim stopped playing, so it sounded… empty. Nice, but empty. As the piece continued on, Jim joined back in, softly, adding a sweet, playful countermelody, seemingly representing Aziraphale entering his life. The music built up, intertwining into a beautiful sound. It was joyful, harmonious, and angelic, just like the man playing it. Anthony felt tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to burst over. It was the best thing he had ever heard. It captured his life in a few pages, regardless of having not a single word. His tears spilled over, as he immersed himself further into the lovely sound, until it eventually faded out nicely.
Aziraphale passed Jim his violin, and darted towards Anthony. “Did… did you like it?” Aziraphale pulled Anthony’s sunglasses off, revealing his wet eyes.
“Angel… I loved it.” He wrapped his arms around Aziraphale, not daring to let go, as tears streamed down his face like a waterfall. “Thank you. It was perfect. So, so perfect. I don’t know what to say.”
“Then don’t.”
They held each other tightly, as the night drew on. It was the beginning of a new chapter for both of them. They laughed. They danced. They said their vows. They smiled. They were… happy. Truly happy. A group of the two of them.