"We can be ourselves, finally." Dark sighed in content as he loosened his red tie slightly, smirking as he watched Anti mess with his hair to return it to its original poofy state.

"Hey nerd, I wanna talk to ya!" Mark shouted from where he was standing by the gazebo next to Amy, Jack, and Signe.

"I'll be back." Dark promised Anti, kissing his cheek before walking over to his cousin.

"So, are you sure you still want to do this?" Mark asked Dark in a conspiratorial whisper, glancing over Dark's shoulder to make sure Anti wasn't listening.

"Honestly, no." Dark admitted nervously as he anxiously ran a hand through his hair.

"C'mon, I spent hours practicing!" Jack whined like a child, causing Dark to chuckle lightly in response.

"Alright alright, I'll still do it. Where are we setting this up?" Dark asked Jack.

"Distract Anti, we'll set everything up on the gazebo." Mark instructed, patting Dark on the back before walking off with Jack.

"What's up Darki?" Anti asked Dark as he walked up behind his husband, wrapping his arms around Dark and resting his head on Dark's shoulder.

"N-nothing much, Mark and Jack are just setting up the snack table and stuff." Dark lied.

In reality, Amy and Signe had already taken care of refreshments and had moved chairs out of the way for dancing, but Anti didn't know that.

"I know you're lying when you stutter, so spill the beans Mr." Anti whispered in Dark's ear.

"It's nothing." Dark assured Anti, mentally cursing his inability to hide secrets as he craned his neck to look at Anti.

"C'mon, let's go on a walk." Dark continued, taking Anti's hand before the male could protest and dragging him away.

Dark glanced back over his shoulder and saw Jack setting his drum set up on the gazebo while Mark fiddled with a mike stand, his cousin looking up at Dark to hold up seven fingers.

I have to distract Anti for seven minutes while they finish getting everything ready, Dark thought as he returned his attention to Anti.

"So, any reason why we're leaving our own party without telling anyone?" Anti questioned as he held Dark's hand in his.

"You'll see." Dark promised with a smile as they walked towards the nearby park.

The peaceful atmosphere shifted instantly when the pair spotted a familiar face they hadn't seen since high school, causing them to freeze in their tracks.

Xilef was sitting at a bench off of the side of the path dressed in a black suit and sky blue tie, his cool gaze boring into Dark's.

"Why are you here?" Dark demanded defensively as he stood in front of Anti to protect him.

"I heard about the wedding and decided it wouldn't hurt to visit you guys." Xilef stated simply with a shrug as he stood up, straightening his tie.

"If you're expecting a warm greeting or anything, you're not getting it." Anti growled.

"I know that. Actually, I figured I'd find you guys and thank you." Xilef corrected.

"For what?" Dark countered warily.

"In high school, I was a bitch, I know that. Anti, for a time I really did love you, but at that dance....I remembered the heartbroken look in Dark's eyes when I took you away from him, so I found a random drunk girl and kissed her to drive you away." Xilef confessed.

"Y-you actually liked me?" Anti stammered in disbelief.

"What's not to like? Dark's a lucky guy. But I'm thanking you both because I learned that popularity isn't everything once I got to college. Now I'm dating the man of dreams, pursuing my dream career, and couldn't be any happier." Xilef added with a smile.

"Um, no problem I guess." Dark chimed in awkwardly.

"Oh by the way, I brought a wedding gift." Xilef remembered aloud as he handed Dark a black gift box wrapped in blue ribbon.

Dark carefully untied the ribbon to find a framed picture of a high school Dark at the park in Brighton with Anti, Jack, Clarissa, Middy, Virus, and Die all smiling.

"I know this won't fix all of the dick things I did back in school, but I figured that this would help fix things between us." Xilef interjected as Dark showed Anti the gift.

"It's amazing, thank you!" Anti gushed in awe as he examined the picture with wide eyes.

"Ya know, we haven't started the after party yet, you wanna come?" Dark invited, earning a surprised look from Anti since he knew how much Dark hated Xilef.

"Really? Sure, that'd be awesome!" Xilef exclaimed.

So together the three returned to the gazebo to find Jack sitting at his drum set twirling his sticks in hand, Mark making last minute sound checks on the mic before motioning for Dark to come onstage.

Dark had forgotten all about his anxiety until he remembered what he had planned to do, his hands shaking slightly as he walked up to the gazebo.

Anti shot Dark a confused look as he watched him go, everyone else seeming just as confused as Dark stood at the mic.

Dark looked back at Jack and nodded, signaling for him to start the song.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Mark provided the echo at the beginning before stepping back, allowing Dark to take over the mic.

"Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you." Dark began, his eyes roaming the crowd until he found Anti.

"Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you." Dark continued, his deep voice echoing around him.

"Yeah, you're all I never knew I needed
And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating
And love, if your wings are broken
We can brave through those emotions too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you." Dark sang on, holding a hand out for Anti.

Anti grinned through his happy tears as he allowed Dark to pull him onstage, Jack smiling at them as he played on.

"Oh, truth, I guess truth is what you believe in
And faith, I think faith is helping to reason
No, no, no, love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you."

Mark was tapping his foot to the beat from where he was standing near his cousin, Chica and Buddy howling along to the song.

"I'll be your eyes when yours can't shine
I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite
And when you can't rise, well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees
'Cause I
(I'm gonna stand by you)
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through (come on)
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Love, you're not alone
No, I'm gonna stand by you
(Even if we can't find heaven, heaven, heaven)
I'm gonna stand by you."

At the end of the song, everyone broke into a raucous applause, causing Dark to sheepishly smile in return as he held Anti in his arms.

"That was beautiful love." Anti complimented as he kissed Dark, smiling as Dark gently wiped away a stray tear from his face with the pad of his thumb.

"It will never be as beautiful as you." Dark replied, earning a laugh from Anti.

"Oh my god that's so cheesy." Anti snickered.

"What can I say, I'm just a walking talking cheese factory." Dark retorted jokingly.

"Well, would the walking talking cheese factory like to dance with me?" Anti countered as he offered Dark a hand.

"Gladly." Dark nodded, intertwining his hand in Anti's as he followed his love off of the gazebo to dance to whatever the next song would be that Mark would be singing.