The hands in Grace's hair are delicate, deliberate. Carding through every section with the great care of a gardener to a fragile flower.

Grace lets her head be positioned accordingly, tilted this way and that, so that it can be placed at the perfect angle. On such an important day, it's vital that things go off without a hitch.

"Would you like the silver butterflies, or the white flower?" The hairdresser, Ama, asks. She's a plus sized woman with an impossibly beautiful, bright smile and deep, dark skin.

Grace looks up at her as best she can, and is met with a sweet, but expectant expression, "Um, which type of flower is it?" She asks.

"A white lily. I was told you like them?" On cue, Ama pulls the accessory out of her belongings and drops it into Grace's hands.

Grace lets out a fond smile and caresses the flower gently, "Yes. They're my favourite." She hands the lily back to the hairdresser, "I'll have the lily then."

"Always good to match." Ama comments, "Will he be wearing a lily too?"

"Yep." Grace confirms as she once again allows the cloud on her head to be manipulated, "A calla lily, though. I love every type of lily, but he knows that those are my number one."

"How sweet." Ama gushes, squeezing Grace's shoulders affectionately, "I have to say, it's very refreshing that you've chosen to go au naturelle for this. It's quite common for women to want 'neat' hair for this sort of occasion." She audibly scoffs at the word 'neat' and continues, "But here you are going natural and looking beautiful doing it."

Grace grins sheepishly and raises one hand to squeeze Ama's.

"He asked me once if I could wear my natural hair in front of him. I didn't bother telling him that I wasn't trying to hide it. The weather where we lived was not kind on these coils." Grace giggles, "But either way, I think he'll appreciate it."

"Absolutely," Ama nods emphatically as she sections some of Grace's hair and pins it back with a large sparkly silver hairclip, "He's a very lucky man."

"Thank you." Grace responds sincerely, tilting her head so that Ama can fasten the tiger lily to the space cleared by the clips.

"All done!" Ama announces happily while spraying some hydrating spray all over Grace's head, "You look stunning."

Taking a long look in the mirror, Grace sighs happily and stands, rushing to give Ama a warm hug, "Thank you so much! I've never felt more beautiful."

"My pleasure, dear." Ama grips her back, "Be careful now. Don't ruin my hard work."

Abruptly, Grace pulls back, hands clasped onto the sides of Ama's arms. She grins at her with a giddy laugh, and nods obediently.

"Is that my beautiful daughter I hear?" Fiona's smooth voice calls from the outside the room's door. She knocks once, then enters at Grace's approval.

She gasps loudly when she sets eyes on her daughter, "Oh... Oh Grace. You haven't even put on the dress and I'm about to well up."

"Mum!" Grace whines, but smiles anyway, walking over to her mum and giving her a tight but brief hug, "I take it you like it then?"

"Understatement of the year." Fiona rolls her eyes, then scurries into the closet where Grace's dress is hanging on its own, "It's just as beautiful as I remember."

"I know." Grace agrees, "Hopefully I can do it justice."

Fiona scoffs, taking the dress off of its hook and bringing it to her daughter, "Without a doubt."

With a grateful smile, Grace removes the dress from the protective bag with her mother's help.

Wasting no time, she slips out of her robe, and lets Fiona drape the dress over her head.

It floats down to the ground like a snowflake through the winter wind. Grace's hands come down with it and fall to clasp in front of her while her mother fastens her up at the back. When the task is done, Fiona pats her daughter twice on the back and comes to stand next to her in the mirror.

She opens her mouth to speak, no doubt in approval, but her words fall short as she is interrupted by a smooth, posh voice.

"My son is going to melt when he sees you." Alexandra comments, coming to stand behind Grace and her mother.

"Alexandra," Grace says surprised, catching the woman's eyes in the mirror before swivelling round awkwardly, "I didn't expect you so soon."

"Doesn't the bride's future mother-in-law normally assist with the pre-wedding preparations?" Alexandra comments, slightly bemused.

"Not when you were against the wedding in the first place." Fiona grumbles, not bothering to lower her voice substantially.

Alexandra raises an eyebrow, then sighs, reaching a hand out to Grace's mother, "I don't believe we've met. I'm Alexandra... And I'm also very sorry."

Fiona narrows her eyes as she looks the taller woman up and down. Then she glances to her side, where Grace is watching the exchange with anticipation. Her daughter looks back at her, then nods slightly, prompting her to take the pale hand that had been offered.

"It's not me you should apologise to."

"I know," Alexandra concedes, then looks at Grace sincerely, "That's why I was hoping we'd have a second to chat?"

~~~

"I know you probably don't have the highest opinion of my right now."

Alexandra and Grace are by the window, looking out at the gardens of Westminster Abbey, the same ones that the Duchess-turned-Queen consort had found her son over a year ago.

Grace looks at her future mother-in-law and frowns, "I don't hate you, your majesty."

"Alexandra, please, we're about to be family." The older woman tells her, tenderly.

"I don't hate you..." Grace pauses, "I know why you did the things you did, and even though they hurt me, I can't blame you for wanting your son to have the best chance."

"It still doesn't excuse the way I spoke to you."

"No." Grace ponders for a second, "It doesn't. But the past is the past, and you and Arthur's father have been kind to me since we returned. So, I refuse to let what happened stand in the way of the future."

Alexandra blinks slowly, a wry smile growing on her pink lips, "You're too good for my son. He used to say it to me before, but I can definitely see it for myself."

Grace blushes, despite her dark complexion, "I don't know about that.... But thank you."

"Modest too..." Alexandra grins, "A perfect match."

~~~

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Like really sure-"

"Richard, shut the hell up!" Arthur exclaims pulling away from his cousin who had his hands under his chin, fixing his white bowtie.

"Alright, alright, calm down! Just making sure you won't bottle it like last time."

Will cackles from where he had been sat, perched on a footstool across the room, "Elina would probably have your balls if you walked out on Grace the way you did Bex."

Rich shivers at that, "That's a horrifying image."

Arthur grimaces in agreement, turning to the mirror to look himself over one last time.

"Are we ready then?" Will asks, standing slowly and grabbing his grey top hat from where it had been lying next to him.

The three boys, plus Arthur's brother, Henry, all had top hats. The groomsmen all have grey ones, to match the grey dress trousers they're wearing, but Arthur's hat is jet black, to fit the black ensemble he's adorning.

"Looking good, curly fry." Rich winks as Will passes him with a furious blush, "Good enough to eat."

Will rolls his eyes, "The only thing you'll be eating is the reception buffet."

"And I will be very satisfied." Rich responds, then presses a soft kiss to Will's lips.

Arthur pretends to gag, brushing past the flirtatious display to exit through the doorway of the room.

"Guys. We have a wedding to attend... you know, mine!"

"Right, right." Will says, slightly flustered, eyes still trained on Richard's, "Time to get you hitched, eh boyo?"

"You're so aggressively Welsh." Rich comments as the trio descend the stairs to the hallway outside the ceremony hall.

"Better than being English." Will taunts, earning a playful shove from the shorter man.

~~~

"I can't believe you're about to be married." Elina says in awe.

"You can't believe it? Imagine how I feel!" Grace exclaims at her best friend, breathing deeply as they wait for the double doors to open and the music to start.

"At least you know he won't leave you at the altar." Bex tries to joke, but Grace just looks at her plainly.

"I wouldn't be so sure." She says worriedly, "He has all the gumption of a revolving door."

"And yet you stay with him," Elina grins, "That's what I call true love."

"Or insanity." Grace frowns, trying her best to breathe steadily.

"I'm sure he'd say the same about you." Rebecca smiles, and rubs one comforting hand up and down Grace's arm.

"Probably."

There's a moment of silence which is only disturbed by the soft steady rhythm of Grace's nervous breaths.

"Grace," Bex begins, turning completely toward her dark-haired friend, lowering her voice to just above a whisper, "I just... want to apologise again."

Grace looks at her appraisingly. Taking in the sharp line of her nose, and soft edges of her eyes. The sleek shine to her hair, and then the worry-lines between her shapely eyebrows.

She smiles kindly, reaching a delicate, ebony hand to rest on the milky white of Rebecca's shoulder. She leaves it there for a second, squeezing slightly, trying to convey her thoughts through her actions. Then she pulls Bex into her, wrapping her soft arms around her friend in a gesture that can only be described as nurturing, motherly.

"Bex..." she starts, rubbing tender circles on the taller girls back, "The past is the past."

Grace pulls back, hands firm on Rebecca's upper arms, "We're both happy now. Right?"

Bex nods her head. But it's barely visible, making Grace shake her slightly and press on, "Right?"

"Yes. Yes, we're happy." Bex smiles now, small and nervous, looking over at Elina who is absorbed by her own reflection in the mirror. Her face splits into a grin, and she dives headfirst into the embrace that Grace gives her.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's all this?" Elina exclaims, finally noticing the tender moment occurring beside her, "You'd better not be trying it on with my missus, Grace."

Grace laughs brightly, pulling away from Rebecca and winking teasingly at her best friend, "Wanna get in on this?"

"A cuddle-fest with my favourite women in the world? You don't have to ask me twice." Elina giggles, and rushes over to engulf the two women in an all-encompassing hug.

Grace's heart is so full it might burst. Arthur is the love of her life, there's no doubt about it. But Grace's first love will always be her friends, and Elina sitting at the top of the pile, tanned skin and bright white smile, with a cheeky glint in her eye.

~~~

Arthur stands at the altar with hot, clammy hands.

There's a low hum of conversation settled around the ceremony hall. He takes a deep breathe, letting a wave of calm to wash over him before it's immediately overrun by a tsunami of anxiousness.

"Relax."

"Easy for you to say."

"You're not wrong."

"Am I ever?"

"..."

"Don't answer that."

Rich grins smugly, nudging Arthur's shoulder with his own.

"Seriously though, relax. She'll be here" He tells him, straight-faced this time, "She'd come charging down that aisle on roller-skates is she could."

Arthur lets out a sly smile at the mental image, "Mum would probably have a heart attack."

"Still wouldn't come close to the drama of your last wedding."

Arthur winces, then shoves Richard softly. He goes to respond, a typical snarky comment on the tip of his tongue, when the low buzz around the room comes to an abrupt halt.

In its place comes the soft harmonies of the soulful choir that Grace had insisted upon having at their wedding.

"It's important." She told him, flicking through her thick scrapbook. As she turned the pages, various bits of paper fell out like leaves to autumn ground.

"Why?" Arthur asked curiously. His mouth was turned up in a fond half-smile as he picked up one bit of paper that read:

cake:

chocolate?

vanilla?

fruitcake? (gross.)

"I don't know. I... I just always had this image of myself - walking down the aisle in this...beautiful flowy dress, and people singing... something - I don't know - pretty?"

"Pretty?" Arthur scoffed teasingly, "How descriptive."

"I don't know!" Grace laughed, smacking him lightly on the shoulder, "I have a list of songs I'd like."

"Well, let's pick one."

Arthur smiles at the memory as the lyrics of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' come drifting beautifully out of the mouths of the singers.

He looks to his left, at his groomsmen, Rich, Will, and his little brother Henry. The latter of whom gives him a soft smile and an encouraging nod before turning to look behind himself eagerly.

And then Arthur hears the doors open.

He feels his heart sink with nerves as he continues to look straight ahead, trying to distract himself by counting the ridges on the walls of the cathedral.

"Fucking hell." He hears Rich breathe out from beside him. Then he feels him come close to his ear and mutter, "You lucky prick."

Arthur can't help but let out one delighted chuckle. He looks down with a grin and takes a deep shaky breath, trying to regulate his heartbeat enough before he has to turn around. He knows that as soon as he looks at the woman who just entered the room it'll be over for him. Goodbye composure. So long street-cred.

There's movement beside him, and suddenly he is joined by Grace's cousin, Nina, who smiles politely at him, then notices his obvious nerves and gives him a teasing wink. It makes him breath a laugh again, and calms him down just enough to not embarrass himself.

Then Bex appears and she's smiling from ear to ear. She looks more beautiful than he'd ever seen her, so happy and content, as if she has all she needs right there with her.

And she does, because not one minute later, Elina takes her place beside her, in the Maid of Honour position.

Arthur watches as the pair share a meaningful glance and squeeze each other's hands, before he feels Rich by his ear again.

"Are you ready?" He asks him lowly.

"Absolutely not." Arthur responds, voice wobbly.

"Right answer," His cousin smiles, then taps his arm, "It's time."

Arthur rips of the band-aid.

And...

Oh.

Oh god.

He's crying.

It took mere seconds, if even that.

Just a few feet away, dressed in pure, magnificent white, an angel stands before him, blessing the cathedral with her ethereal beauty, her glow.

He doesn't know what to focus on; the gorgeous flowing dress that hugs her curves, her deep skin that seems to glisten and shine, the soft hair that seems to float around her head like a jet-black crown. It feels like forever before he finally decides to look at her face.

Big mistake.

The tears cascade down his cheeks as soon as he gets one glimpse at the wide smile threatening to split the angel's face in two.

Arthur had never felt lucky to be alive before, but he damn well does now.

The angel steps up to the alter and gives him a soft, shy smile. Even that is blinding.

"Hi."

"Hey... Sunshine."

~~~

"So, Artie... Did you like the speech?" Rich asks smugly, placing his knife and fork onto the empty plate.

Arthur raises an unimpressed eyebrow, "You mean the one where you exposed all of my poor life choices?"

"Hey, I had to humble you somehow." Richard grins cheekily, a small dimple appearing in his tanned cheek.

"You're an arse."

"You love me really."

Arthur rolls his eyes then surveys the reception hall. His eyes come to rest on his brother, dressed in sleek grey trousers and a waistcoat, his matching jacket discarded on his seat at the head table. Henry's slender hand snakes its way up into his hair, pushing it out of his face slowly... seductively.

Arthur squints with a frown. I taught him that move.

"He's flirting."

"What?" Rich says, mouth stuffed with leftover food. Arthur cannot for the life of him, remember when Rich had gotten seconds.

"My brother is flirting." Arthur clarifies.

"With who?"

"With..." His eyebrows shoot up and he gapes for a second, "With Sam."

"Sam?" Rich scrunches up his face, "I don't know any- Oh. Oh."

Rich grins then nudges his boyfriend, who's sat beside him, devouring his third plate of food. Greedy bastard.

"What?" Will grunts, barely stopping for breath.

"So sexy." Rich comments with a smirk, "I want to ravage you right here, love."

"I think the fuck not." Will grimaces, "Stay away from me, demon."

Rich laughs, and plants a wet kiss to the taller man's cheek, earning a rueful smile and a soft pink blush where his lips made contact.

"Seen your brother lately, Will?" Arthur interrupts, gesturing to the two boys across the room who seem completely wrapped up in each other.

"My brother? Samantha?" Will questions, then follows Arthur's gaze.

The boys are even closer now, and Henry has his mouth pressed against Sam's ear, no doubt whispering sweet nothings with a practiced silver tongue. He learned from the best. Arthur smirks.

"Do I need to give Sam the talk?" Arthur asks with a hard look that lacks any real heat.

Will scoffs incredulously, "Give Sam the talk? Henry's the one who's behaving like he's straight out of a 90's teen movie. What the hell kind of moves is he pulling on my sweet innocent baby brother?"

"Hey! I taught him those moves." Arthur pouts, "They've proven very successful."

"Since bloody when? When have they ever worked?" Rich raises a disbelieving eyebrow.

"I'm married, aren't I?"

Grace, who seems to have a radar which tells her when there's an opportunity to mock Arthur, pipes up with a teasing smirk, "Trust me, it wasn't your moves that drew me in."

"Of course not," Arthur rolls his eyes, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "It was my piles and piles of cash."

"Bingo." Grace winks, planting a soft kiss to his lips and nuzzling his nose with her own.

"Gross."

"Get a room."

The two girls beside Grace say simultaneously, causing everyone to focus on them.

"Bit rich coming from the girls who suck face literally every time they're together." Grace scoffs with a sly smile, flicking Elina on the forehead.

"I can't help that I have the hottest girlfriend in the world." Elina shrugs, nonchalant. All Rebecca can do is blush and smack her arm.

"Um, I think that honour belongs to me." Arthur says proudly, kissing Grace on the cheek.

"Not anymore," Grace says with a laugh, "I have to be your girlfriend to qualify. Last I checked, you put a ring on it."

Arthur beams down at her, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips, planting tender kiss to the metal on her finger.

"Best thing I've ever done."

"Ditto." Grace hums, looking into his eyes intensely, studying him.