“And then I said, ‘Oatmeal, are you crazy?’”

Octavia deadpanned, having a huge desire to insert her cello bow into Harpo’s ass. Though, if Bea was to be believed, Harpo might even like it. The cellist tried to get her mind off that mental image. Vinyl glared at the harpist, her gaze stern enough to kill a squirrel. Bea just shook her head.

Frederic sighed. “Harpo, it’s been the tenth time you’ve told us that story, and it hasn’t made any sense once. Now, guys.” He smiled, looking over the quintet. “Time to get through the suite one more time. We have a concert this Saturday, after all.”

“We’d love to,” Octavia chimed in, “but Vinyl and I have a little something we have to do today.” She waved her hand in the air. “You know, some arranged stuff? Something we have told you guys?” she emphasised. The trio blinked. Octavia groaned. “Us getting married and all?!”

“Oh!” Bea hit her forehead with a hand. “Of course! I’m your bridesmaid, after all!”

“Yes,” Octavia said, staring at the woman with acceptance. “The best bridesmaid who cannot remember the day of the wedding.” She smiled. “Still the best bridesmaid that could ever be.”

“And Lyra texted me that she’s already at the registry office, waiting for us,” Vinyl chimed in with a smile. “It’s not a long walk. We can get hitched and then go back to the rehearsal.”

“But…” Octavia pouted, looking at her fiancee with sad eyes. “What about the hot steamy sex? Our first sex as a married couple?”

Vinyl sighed and rubbed her eyelids wearily. “Okay. We get married, then we have some private time and then we can do the rehearsal. Sound good?”

“You know, Vinyl,” Frederic said, exchanging knowing glances with Harpo. “I think we can all ditch the rehearsal and attend your wedding.”

“You know that today’s just the formality, right?” Octavia asked, standing up and packing up her cello. “The posh party will be on Sunday, and today it’s just the registry office.” She looked at her friends. “But hey, we would love it if you came with us.”

“Okay.” Vinyl checked her tie. “How do I look, Tavi?”

Octavia came up to the woman and checked her tie as well. “Stunning, love. You look stunning.”

***

“Well, that wasn’t that hard.”

Vinyl took a sip of her champagne, sitting opposite Octavia in the kitchen of their flat, looking at the sausage the two had bought for the occasion. “I mean, it’s cool. Now we’re married.”

“Yes, love.” Octavia took a sip of her champagne as well. “And there’s a beautiful, long, meaningful life ahead of us. And we’ll walk through it together.”

Vinyl winced a little. “Can you promise me that, Tavi?” She put down the glass. “I mean, are you sure there’s a happy life waiting for us? With all that we’ve been through…”

Octavia pressed her finger against her wife’s lips. “Shh. A beautiful, wonderful life. Nothing but happiness ahead of us.” She smiled and downed the champagne.

“Trust me.”

Moscow, 2014-2016