We climbed higher until we reached the residential level. I let Cyane lead the way to the familiar home that he shared with his fiancé. It was one that looked like an everyday home: a wraparound balcony, hanging gardens, three stories, three walls with the back one being the trunk of the tree supporting it, and the flowers in shades of blue and white and black (courtesy of Callum for his lover. Ugh, why’d I use that word? I just mentally gagged).

Tending to one of the gardens was Callum himself. Callum's feathers were pale gray with scattered patches of peaches and cream on his forearms, and partial rings of black on his wings. The feathers on his head were settled, a contrast to Cyane's messy mop. Like Cyane, however, Callum was wearing only a loose shirt and pants, but he didn't need his pants to be held up with a rope. Come to think of it, Callum was probably the one to wrap that around to keep Cyane's pants up, since Cyane would put on whatever he found and be out the door without a second thought.

He rose from the pot and smiled warmly as we landed. When Cyane landed, Callum pulled him close and kissed him. They've been a little more… touchy-feely?... since they got engaged. Whenever they were within ten feet of each other, they had to kiss. It got old pretty quickly.

When Callum pulled away, he spotted the folder in Cyane's hand. He closed his eyes for a second, took a breath, and said, "What have you two decided now?" He's been through this process more than a few times.

Cyane gave Cal's hand an apologetic squeeze before saying, "Well, we've come to an agreement on a location."

"Is it the meadow again? I know she was really pushing for that one."

"No," Cyane replied, a smile beginning to form. "It's the lakeside in Wake."

Cal was still for a second, then he smiled broadly. "So you were listening when I suggested it! I thought your head had been lost in the clouds."

Cyane pulled Callum close again. "I wasn't lost in the clouds. I just couldn't focus because I was looking at you~" Cyane purred. "Can you blame me when I had someone like you sitting so close to me?" He closed the already small distance between with another, deeper kiss.

Well, this is getting awkward… I'm all for love, buuuut…

Cal, after a minute, put a hand on his fiancé's shoulder and broke their kiss. "Come on, sweetie, you're going to embarrass me."

Cyane was already leaning in again. "How? There's no one here~"

Cal pointed over Cyane's shoulder, my brother seeming distantly puzzled.

"Ahh hem!" I cleared my throat as loudly as I could.

Cyane followed Cal's finger and noticed me for the first time since we arrived. "No one important, at least."

I politely made a gesture with my middle finger to repay that sentimentality.

Cal chuckled, freeing himself (a little reluctantly) from Cyane's embrace. He took the folder and gave its contents a quick look over. He rolled his eyes as he took in the information. "Wake is in a completely different territory, but she still has an entire wedding planned ahead of time. I don't know whether I should be impressed or scared."

"That sounds like mom," I added.

"Food, cakes, florists, everything ready at a moment's notice," He looked at me with an amused resignment. "Do you think I'll get a say? You know, I'm just one of the two Harpies actually getting married, but that doesn't stand for much, it appears."

I took his hand in both of mine and bowed. "I am so sorry for the way the members of my family are. However," I said, releasing him and raising my finger like a teacher trying to drill a lesson into a student's head. "You're the one that said yes when my brother proposed. You knew what you were getting dragged into."

"I know! It doesn't seem worth the trouble," Cal said with an air of exasperation. "But you know, I couldn't say no to that lug. He wouldn't have a shot with anyone else, so I guess I had to settle."

I patted Cal's shoulder. "I know how you feel. I grew up with him and it was no picnic."

Cal patted my shoulder. "I'm so sorry for what you had to go through."

"And I you, for the trials that will soon plague your life."

"Please guide me, oh Wise Kestrel!" He placed his other hand on my remaining shoulder.

I withdrew my hand and placed it on top of his head. "Run while you still have the chance, my child."

Cal placed a hand over his mouth, faking being shocked. "Oh, but what if I do love him, despite my better judgment, Wise One?"

I moved my hand down to his forehead. "Then you must resign yourself to a life of his stupidity and dim-wittedness. It is the only option."

Cal's shoulders slumped and his wings drooped. "Is that truly all I can do?"

"It is."

"I guess I'll do it if I must."

I took his face in my hands like I was some mother from a children's book. "I am sorry, my child. You will bear a heavy fate in the near future. You have my best wishes. Please stay strong."

"Of course, Wise One. Thank you. I'll try my best."

We stayed like that for a moment, but neither one of us could keep it in any longer. We both started laughing, letting each other go to wipe tears from our eyes.

Cal, taking a stuttering breath, said, "I almost couldn't get that with a straight face!"

I managed to say, "Nothing about you is straight! Don't worry about it!" This sent us into another chorus of laughter. Cal grabbed the railing to keep himself on his feet.

Cyane, his face blank, but in an unamused sort of way, said, "That's it, the wedding's off."

"You're free, my child! You're free!" I cried.

"Oh, Wise One, it is such a relief!"

We both laughed even harder, struggling to draw air into our lungs. Cyane groaned and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "You two really are the worst."

"We know," Cal and I said at the same time, finally recovering from our fit.

Cal shook out his wings as he finally regained his composure. "At the very least, I got to pick the destination, so that's a win." Cal gave the papers another glance over. "What do you think those two will have us wear for the big day?"

"I would suggest something with a giant bow on top," I chimed.

"For me or your brother?"

"Yes."

"Fair enough," He nodded. "I have to admit, Cy would look really cute with a bow." The mental image made both of us chuckle.

Arms wrapped themselves around Cal from behind. Cyane leaned against him, his expression both annoyed and good-humored at the same time. "Come on Cal, you get to make the important decisions, too."

Cal ran a hand through Cyane's feathers. "Let's see: you picked the date, Robin chose the color scheme, the two of you got most of the guest list, and you both agreed on fish as the main course."

"Don't forget they settled on the flowers yesterday," I added.

"Thanks, Kes," Cal nuzzled Cyane's cheek. "You two have done more planning than I have, and the only part I'm getting a say in is the location."

Cyane returned Cal's nuzzle and gave his temple a quick kiss. "I'm sorry. I guess we did take control, a little-"

"Ahh hem!" I put in.

"Okay, a lot," He relented. "Everything's pretty much decided, but whatever's left is up to you. It's your special day, too, and I want you to enjoy it."

"Awww," This exchange is getting the better of me. They can be so frickin' cute sometimes!

Cal mulled it over. He and I exchanged eye contact. I remembered the box I had set down when we landed. I gave it a glance and Cal did the same. We looked at each other, the idea forming in both our heads and smiled.

"Well," Cal began, "In that case, I'm choosing the cake." He gave the folder a shake. "I don't know if it'll be the one your mom recommended, but if it isn't, you two will just have to put up with it."

Cyane gave a worried look at the side of Cal's face, but it melted into a defeated smile. "Alright, if you insist. Anything you want."

"And Kes will help me decide," Cal added on.

"What?"

"I accept!"

"Are you sure about that?" Cyane asked with a note of concern. "You and she on your own can be a bad combination."

Cal rubbed his forehead against Cyane neck. "You said anything I want, right? Well, this is what I want. That is unless you want to take away one of the only things I get to chose on our special day?" He emphasized the last two words.

"Yeah, Cyane," I began, "You wouldn't break your promise to your future husband, would you?"

Cyane looked at both of us before burying his face in Cal's shoulder. "You two are pure evil," He mumbled.

"And proud of it," We said together.

He looked up at the sky with a pleading look, then rest his chin on top of Cal's shoulder. "Fine, you two can do whatever you want. Just don't get crazy, alright?"

"No promises~" Cal purred and kissed Cyane's cheek. "Come on, Kes has got a cake and I have no attention of letting it go to waste. Let's dig in!"

"Cal, I always knew you were too good for my brother!"

He shrugged, "What can I say, I love him too much to turn him away."

Cyane twirled Cal around and picked him up while hugging him at the same time. "I love you, too, despite your obvious alliance with my sister to work against me."

"You're the best." They started kissing again.

"Come on, lovebirds! There's a cake that needs our full attention!" I cried pushing them towards the door.

"Would you mind, sweetie?" Cal asked Cyane, while still in his arms.

"Of course." He tossed Cal over his shoulder and walked through the door, a huge smile on his face, as Cal beat laughed and hit playfully at his fiancé’s wings in false protest.

Those two are going to be insufferable when the wedding gets closer! I felt myself smile, driving away my annoyance. What dorks! I followed them inside and prepared to stuff myself full of cake! It was going to be a great day!