When the three ladies came back inside, no one was sure what to say.

But Shine briskly told the kids to gather around and she'd tell the story--complete with using the figurines to help her.

The kids, and Esmeralda, were eager enough for this entertainment. Everyone else decided not to interrupt it.

They tried not to look at Raven, so as not to embarrass her more, but the effect was more to make her feel they were too awkward to even meet her eyes.

Shine was a good storyteller usually, as the others knew.

Oscar and Ruby at least weren't feeling too uncomfortable to enjoy the tale.

"All right," she said, picking up the figurine of Mary. "This story really begins in the very beginning. When Man fell from grace and was cast out of Eden (which means Delight). God had meant for man to live forever in Delight and without hardship, as long as man did one simple thing: Not eat of the forbidden fruit which would give him knowledge of good and evil. Man wanted to be like God, so he ate the fruit, after the serpent, the devil, had deceived the woman. But it was a lie, because the fruit did not make them gods. They were already like God--they were in God's image. But it did give them knowledge of good and evil. They did not realize that they already knew what was good, because they knew God, so only gaining the knowledge of evil could not possibly help them. Evil only existed because the devil had already sinned and fallen from grace himself. So you might say knowing evil was really knowing the ways of the devil. And Man became like the devil, full of pride, and arrogance, and greed, wishing to usurp God's position."

The kids' eyes were huge.

"Much like the Grimm," Shine added, to punctuate the meaning.

Esmeralda covered her mouth.

"Man let himself be influenced by sin, and so sin claimed Man's whole being," Shine went on. "Though he lived for hundreds of years after that, he died inside on that day. Sin is death. No one can truly feel alive who is caught in sin. God punished them further by sending them out of the Garden of Eden. He also cursed them with hard work and pain in childbirth and inequality between the man and the woman. But he made another promise to the woman: That the devil and her would have hatred and strife between them, and he would bruise her child's heel, but her child would bruise his head. A head wound is worse than a heel wound, so God was saying that the serpent would hurt him, but would suffer worse for it in the end. This was the prophecy that Jesus would one day defeat the devil."

The kids nodded.

Shine held up an angel. "So, after about 4,000 years or so, after many generations of God's promises being continued on through His chosen people, and through the people who trusted Him, even when the world turned its back on Him, He preserved one bloodline, through His servant King David, who would have the Christ, as we call Him. And He said He would be born of woman who had never been with a man, so that He would not have the sins of Adam passed down to Him, but He would be human and still subject to being tempted and being weak, like a human being. God Himself would make the child at the right time. And so He sent a messenger, an angel, to a young woman named Mary, who was engaged to another man named Joseph, to tell her she would have Jesus, also called Emmanuel (which means "God With Us"). Mary knew that people would not believe her if she told them this story, but she told the angel, 'Let it be with me as you have said,' because she was faithful to the Lord. She was brave. That was why she was chosen. But she didn't even know exactly who Jesus would be."

They blinked.

"Jesus would be the king of kings." Shine held him up. "The Lord of lords, and the God of gods. Yet God prophesied that He would be born in the lowliest of cities, Bethlehem, where David was from. And so He was. Joseph was from Bethlehem...but at first he thought Mary had cheated on him, and he was not going to marry her, but God sent another angel to him to tell him the truth. And then he took her and they returned to Bethlehem for a census. There, she had the baby."

She put them back onto the stable model. "And the son of God was born in a small stable, with animals in it and straw, because there was no room in any inn for them. And she had to lay him in a manger, because there was nothing else. Can you imagine that? It would be dirty and smelly and noisy, but that was all they had."

Polly wrinkled her nose at the thought of that setting.

"At the same time, there were shepherds in a field nearby," Shine went on. "And an angel appeared to them also, and told them they would find the Son of God in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, that there would be Peace on earth and good will toward men on whom God's favor rested. They told this to lowly shepherds because Jesus would not be for the rich, or the famous, or the strong, or the wise. He would be for everyone. The poor, the meek, the lame, the sick, the criminals, the outcasts. He is for the rich too. Jesus is for everyone. Wealth does not impress Him, and so He was not born in a palace but in a stable. And He did not summon lords and nobles to his birth, but shepherds. And they came and worshipped him, and then they rejoiced and told people what they had seen."

She put the shepherds next to the stable.

"But the devil knew that Jesus was born," she said. "And he roused the king of the land at that time, because he had heard of the prophecy from three wise men, who had seen the sign in the sky, a great star that was over Bethlehem. And they told the king what it meant, and the king was jealous and feared that Jesus would take his kingdom. So he sent soldiers to slay all the babies 2 and under in the town of Bethlehem."

Esmeralda gasped.

"But Joseph was warned in a dream yet again," Shine said. "And he took Mary and the boy and fled to Egypt. Where the wise men eventually found them and gave them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This shows that, while Jesus was humble enough to be born in a stable, He is still a king, and He is still worthy of the recognition of kings. Also, frankincense and myrrh were used to anoint people for burial, and they symbolize how Jesus would die for the sins of the world."

She moved the 3 kings while she spoke.

"And that is why we celebrate Christmas," she said. "To celebrate the birth of the savior of the world."

"Wow," Franz said. "That was a cool story."

"If it was just a story," Shine said, "it wouldn't do us any good. But some think that the story is also meant to show us the course of our Christian lives...in that we must be almost as a little child, like Jesus, and allow His life to be born in us, like Mary. And we will become rulers, like Joseph, who was from the line of David. Some say that myth becomes fact with this story. God can be both literal and figurative in His actions, unlike us."

"Try to wrap your head around that..." Meridian muttered.

"You tell a good story, Mrs. West," Royal spoke up. "I've not heard many better ones. All our old stories are confusing, but you made it make more sense."

"I did try," Shine said. "Some of it is just theory, I suppose, but theory I think that makes sense. I think all of you reflect this story in a way. All of you are so different. We have rich, we have poor, we have the strong and the weak, the young and the old(er). We have the innocent and the guilty, but as the Word says, you're all one in Christ. No one is better than anyone else, and no one is worse."

They nodded.

"I like what you believe," Esmeralda spoke up. "My whole life, no one ever told me there was a God. I don't think they believed it. And what did it do but make them act like beasts? You believe there is something that gives our lives meaning, outside of our strength. We don't always have to be fighting."

"I don't mind a good fight though," Nora spoke, getting a laugh.

"I kind of thought you'd have a song." Mercury directed this at Shine, humorously. "A story but no song? Are you even Shine?"

Shine raised an eyebrow.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel," she began in a low tone, "and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. 

"Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

"O Come Thou Dayspring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here. Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

(Chorus)

"O come Thou Wisdom, from on High, and order all things far and nigh. To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

(Chorus)

O Come Desire of Nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind, bid Thou our sad divisions cease, and be Thyself our King of Peace."

Some of the group joined in on the final chorus, "Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to thee, oh Israel."

"Since we're all here," Pyrrha said, once they were finished, "let's just do the gift exchange now. Everyone brought theirs, right?"

People shuffled to pick up their parcels or bags they'd brought with them.

"Some of you are just impossible to shop for," Roman complained. "I drew Winter's name."

Winter raised an eyebrow.

"That is bad luck," Mercury said. "I was hoping I wouldn't draw anyone's names who I knew wouldn't want anything."

"Neo said I should just get a hat," Roman sighed, passing the gift over. "But I told her no one but us appreciates fashion."

Neo shrugged.

"Wait, who did Neo get?" Oscar asked.

Neo pointed at Libby.

"No, really?" Libby laughed. "I didn't even know what I'd get myself. This should be good."

She tore open the box. "I say, it is a hat."

She pulled out a new top hat.

"I love this," she said. "Real shiny. Not bad, Neo."

Neo nodded and then looked at Roman smugly.

"So you got the one other person who actually wears hats," Roman pouted. "You just got lucky."

Winter opened her gift with some apprehension.

"I... What is this?" she asked, holding it up.

"That, Commander, is a genuine cigar cutter," Roman said proudly. "Guaranteed to make any office look more upscale."

"In a 50s movie maybe," Wally muttered to Shine, who choked on a laugh.

"She doesn't smoke," Qrow said.

"Oh? Well, I know, but the look of the thing is distinguished." Roman didn't seem to see the problem.

Winter bit her lip in a way that some of them thought was offended, but Qrow was pretty sure was her trying not to laugh.

"I suppose in these cases, it's the thought that counts," she said with forced stiffness.

"I like that," Roman said. "No appreciation for class."

"I feel less bad now," Whitley muttered. "I had his name, and I didn't know what to get."

Roman was opening the card. "A coupon for dust cartridges?"

"Whitley!" Weiss was shocked. "That's all you got?"

"That coupon is worth a lot of lien," Whitley said indignantly. "It's a special promotion. I figured it was something any huntsmen could use. I don't know what you people like."

"Well, I suppose it's useful," Roman said, tucking it into his pocket. "Can't be too picky about saving money."

Neo nodded.

Most of the swap mates had gone with more general gifts, but there were a few more unique choices in there.

Someone had gotten a fountain pen, probably for the same reason Roman had chosen his gift--for the class. Willow had thought it was a good gift for anyone, though it was doubtful that Sun would have much use of it.

Thankfully, Sun wasn't picky.

Blake had gotten a voucher for a month's supply of tuna, which somehow Hazel had talked someone into agreeing to. (Maybe they were scared of him.) Hazel had literally only been able to think of one thing everyone knew Blake liked.

Normally for someone who was pregnant, this might not have been the best fit, but Blake didn't find fish repulsive now, being a cat Faunus, so she was thrilled. You could see the hungry stars in her eyes.

Shine, since she hadn't been part of the draw, had just brought a bulk gift, a copy for everyone of a story called A Christmas Carol, which was small enough for her to bring enough copies for everyone.

Wally had taken inspiration from sports teams and gotten them all t-shirts that said "World Heroes Unite" on them, the way a team logo would look.

That got mixed reactions, but they were too nice to say if they didn't like it.

Shine suggested they all sign the shirts as a way to commemorate it more, which the kids warmed up to...and Winter and Willow thought was insupportable, writing on clothes deliberately. Klein told them that t-shirts were made for this, to try to make them feel better.

"I'm flattered that you included me in this." Royal was enthused about his gift. "Even though I'm not one of the World Heroes."

"Oh, sure you are," Nora said cheerfully. "You still helped save the world from that nasty bandit tribe. You can be a world hero for more than one reason."

"I mean, technically Whitley and Libby aren't either," Weiss said, "or Mom or Klein, but it's not like they weren't still important."

"I have something for Shine and Wally," Oscar said, handing them a box.

Wally took the lid off. "What are these...? Wait, are those our medals?"

"Wow, I'd forgotten about these." Shine lifted hers up. "Why are you giving us these? We asked you to keep them."

"You said they couldn't got to your world because they might give something away," Oscar said. "So I took the Remnant part off the inscription and just left the medals' title. I figured you could just say it's from a book or movie or an art project."

"It would be cool to show this to the guys..." Wally admitted. "They'd have to give me a little more respect, you know. I'm a World Hero."

"You were already a world hero," Shine said dryly. "But...this is actually really sweet, Oscar. Thank you."

"Oscar, how did you get them to take the inscription off?" Ruby asked. "I'd think the metal worker would have thought that was suspicious."

"I did it myself," Oscar said. "I mean, we learned all that stuff in weapons class. I thought I could put it to use."

Ruby looked pretty impressed.

"Well, it doesn't even look that damaged. You did a good job," Shine commended him. "This is a good gift. Now we can feel connected to you all even when we're not here, even more."

"Wow, you just had to show us all up again, huh?" Yang ruffled Oscar's hair.

Oscar pushed her hand away a little saucily. "It's not like it's my fault you didn't do anything."

"Ooh, burn," Mercury said.

"I didn't know they were coming," Yang pointed out.

"Yeah, it's not like we expected you guys to be ready," Wally said.

"Oh, I don't know, I think we really have to be ready for you to pop up out of nowhere," Pyrrha remarked. "It keeps us on our toes."

The party continued from there with playing some games and learning some new songs with the help of Jaune's guitar playing. Shine and Wally taught them all their favorite carols, which weren't that hard to learn.

Weiss took to them very naturally.

No one spoke to Raven about what had happened before, and they seemed to forget about the awkwardness eventually.

Tai wisely also stayed away from the topic.

Qrow couldn't help but feel Winter was not speaking to him very naturally though, so she was still mad.

But it wasn't till it was late, and everyone was finally going home, that there was any chance to talk about it.

Willow had taken the twins home early, once she herself was tired. She had her social limits, so Winter and Qrow had to be quiet when they returned to their house.

Winter felt she needed some tea after all the excitement.

Qrow didn't turn in immediately like she expected. Instead he followed her to the kitchen.

"Look...about earlier," he said, "with Raven...I've been thinking about it, and I think what you said--"

"I shouldn't have said that," Winter said. "Comparing it to your problem was harsh." She stirred her tea. "I suppose I wanted to shut Tai up, but it was thoughtless. She was embarrassed and I saw it, but sympathy for one person does not excuse cruelty to another."

"I was going to say," Qrow said, ignoring the apology, "that I thought you were right. Granted, we've all had our fair share of bad history with Raven, but none of us don't have our own problems. The drinking thing was a bit of a harsh blow, sure, but you were saying that it's something that bothers me, just as much as this whole thing with the kid bothers her. She doesn't cast that up to me these days, so I shouldn't be casting up her mistakes to her. Right?"

"That is what I meant, but I regretted saying it that way." Winter looked down.

"It was tough, but we were being pretty stupid," Qrow admitted.

He moved closer to put a hand on Winter's, making her stop what she was doing. "You defended her, and she's not even your blood relative. I think you just made Tai and me look bad, so maybe we were a little ruffled, but I shouldn't have been agreeing with him so easily. I've seen Raven change more than he has. I guess...sometimes I just don't know if I believe it still. It's not really her--it's me. This thinking anything could really stay better than before is rough."

"It's easier for me to defend Raven because her crimes were never against me," Winter remarked in a low voice. "And because I could understand a little of how she feels. I had some concerns about being a mother also."

"I had more than a few about being a father...still do. That's why I think it's worse that I didn't give her come credit." Qrow rubbed his neck. "Of course she's scared...but we're not sure what she'll do. It's just that, I spent so many years wishing she'd come back. Maybe, deep down, I thought she abandoned me also, though she alway said I was the one who left. It's so great when both sides can feel like they have the high ground, isn't it? No one ever has to admit they share the blame. She never would come back though...and then suddenly she does, but it's not for me, or Yang, or any of us. Two strangers talked her into it. Then she hit it off with you." He laughed dryly. "Maybe I was even a little jealous. Not that I blame her for liking you, but that everyone else has an easier time understanding my own sister than I do. And she is my only blood relative, or was, until the kids and Yang were born. It's just...it's a mess."

He rarely spoke this much about it.

Winter looked up. "Well, my relationship with my own brother has been far from perfect. I suppose I see why Raven has had a hard time with it. Sometimes we're too close to something to see it clearly."

"That's an excuse though," Qrow said. "Nothing's stopping me from trying to be more sympathetic to her, except me, isn't that right? Normally you'd just say that. Are you trying to spare my feelings?"

"Perhaps some affectionate blindness is to be expected on my part," Winter said, which was an oddly endearing thing to say. "I don't mean that I don't understand why Raven is annoying at times to her family. But for her sake and for your new niece or nephew, we should try to support her. Besides, I meant what I said--she has her good qualities."

"Yeah, well," Qrow said, "maybe I still envy her a little. I know she's had s--- to deal with, but being the brilliant one and not the one with the tricky Semblance, she's always impressed people so easily. But she always treated it like it was no big deal and she could just walk out whenever she wanted."

"Yes, being exceptional can make you feel like a slave to people's expectations," Winter said. "The benefit to your Semblance is that the people who are close to you must really like you and not just be wishing to get something from you. So you see it goes both ways."

"You'd think after 5 years we'd be past letting it bother us," Qrow mused. "I just wish I knew if she was determined to stick around for this kid."

"What does she need to prove to you, Qrow?" Winter said, slowly. "That she deserves your forgiveness? That is not something you earn. It's a gift. That's even in the name, as Shine would point out, no doubt. Does she need to prove she's changed? Why should she need to do that to be worthy of love or support? She's not more likely to change by people calling it into question. I spoke to her, and while I can't repeat it all without her permission, I'm sure at least that a big part of her misgivings is thinking that everyone will expect her to fail."

"I'm going to guess you didn't have that expectation," Qrow said. "You never expect anyone to fail."

"Not if I can help it."

"That's what people like about you. You're hard on them without tearing them down to bits. I'm glad you were there, I mean that." Qrow sighed. "Too bad the rest of us didn't think of that in time."

"I'm sure you were surprised..."

"No, don't make excuses for me. It's not like you, and it's kind of strange to hear," Qrow said.

"Really, Qrow, I don't think I'm being that unusual. I'm just weighing both sides--" Winter was cut off by Qrow giving her a kiss.

She stopped.

"I love you," Qrow said.

Winter swallowed. "I...love you too. What was that for?"

"Oh, just for being yourself. And I was going to tell you before you got on that roll that I'm going to apologize to Raven for not handling it with more grace. And I'll look forward to her telling me that that's true and that I'm a jackass and being her usual moody self. But I guess we deserve it. There, now what do you want to say?"

Winter smiled finally. "I suppose there is nothing else to say."

"There's a surprise from you."

"Is that how you respond to my graciously letting the subject drop?"

"No, this is." Qrow kissed her again.

[Still my favorite.]

* * *

Qrow and Winter were not the only ones who had things on their mind still after the party, naturally.

Hazel and Raven were walking back to their home after getting off the tram.

The snow had stopped falling at least, so it was pretty quiet walking on the fresh powder.

Raven had been telling herself for several minutes to just bring up the subject, but her courage kept failing, and then she'd scold herself for being such a wimp.

Hazel startled her by speaking first.

"About before," he said, "I recognize that I wasn't exactly helpful. I didn't know what to do, but, West explained to me that I should have done something. I should have asked why you were upset."

Raven blinked.

"Or I should have just explained myself, like an adult," she said.

"If you felt like you couldn't, I should have noticed that sooner," Hazel said slowly. "I'm not...very good at this. But you can tell me what you really think. It won't bother me."

Well, that was actually pretty sweet.

Raven sighed. "The truth? You're happy about this. And...once I thought about it, I saw why. But I've...been through it already. I know how difficult it is, and that's before they're even born. I'm a little old to do this again, and it's worse than the first time. I didn't exactly handle it well. On top of that, the people who know the stories about that are all right here, in Argus, except for Tai, and he did have some thoughts about it--I could see it in his eyes. So it's humiliating... If Winter had not stood up for me, I probably would have just left the party."

"Winter was admirable, but it should not have just been her," Hazel admitted. "Their doubts aren't ones I would take seriously, but I did not realize that you were. Normally, you do not care what people say."

"On the surface," Raven muttered in a lower voice. "But who really doesn't care at all? Anyway what if they'd said the same about you?"

They had, actually, but Hazel had not heard them.

"I would understand their concerns, but it wouldn't change what I need to do," Hazel said.

"Really? That wouldn't bother you at all?" Bitterly.

Hazel envisioned it more vividly. Well, perhaps if it was a person's he actually cared about, like Emerald maybe...

Or perhaps Oscar.

"Perhaps," he admitted. "But not everyone is holding that opinion of you. Perhaps you should listen more to the people who believe in you."

"Yeah, right." Raven shook her head. "As if it's that easy."

Pause.

"How can I help?" Hazel asked.

"I don't know." Raven threw her hands up. "This is going to take time anyway... Aren't you worried? I mean, what if I 'leave'?"

"I wasn't worried about that," Hazel said.

"Why not?" Raven was surprised.

"Where would you go?" Hazel did not have the most flattering response.

Raven paused. "What?"

"There's no tribe left, and you're easily recognized all over the world now," Hazel said, like it was simple. "You couldn't actually run away successfully. You could choose to leave me, but that could happen with or without children. I suppose I thought it was not more or less likely this way."

Raven couldn't believe he'd take such a logical view of it...then after a moment's thought, she realized that he had a point. Where exactly would she go if she did leave?

She laughed suddenly. "I guess. I might not leave in reality, but I could still be a crappy mother."

"That would depend on what a good mother is," Hazel said. "Who decides that?"

"I don't know... The other ladies seem to be doing pretty well." Raven paused. But they'd both said that they had their doubts about their abilities.

"It can't be all easy for them." Hazel knew at least that much.

"No..." Raven admitted. "But they're willing to try."

"Are you?"

Pause.

"I'd...like to be willing," Raven said. "If I thought I could be."

"That's all anyone can ask," Hazel said with confidence. "The rest just has to be figured out along the way, I would say."

Raven shook her head. "You always talk as if things are simple."

"You always speak as if they are complicated. But either you do a thing or you don't. There is no in-between."

[Hazel would make a good Yoda. "Do, or do not. There is no try."]

Raven glanced up. "I don't know about that. But...I guess we're doing it, then."

Not the most confident way to accede to it. Still, it was a start.

* * *

True to his word, Qrow did apologize to Raven later that week.

Raven accepted it more graciously than he thought she would. 

"We're all going to be there for you," Qrow ventured to say. "It took us off guard, at first, that's all. But all of us help each other here, you know that."

"Probably too much," Raven said, thinking of how often people babysat for the other ladies. "I hope that makes a difference. I've been thinking of Yang, though."

Qrow knew that was...awkward.

"Don't worry about Yang," he said aloud. "Once she gets over the weirdness of it, she'll be thrilled about having a new brother or sister."

One she'd be old enough to be the mother of, Raven thought.

In fact, Yang was kind of thinking the same thing.

Ruby and Weiss talked to her a long time about it, trying to help her get used to the idea.

"It could be a really great thing, having a new sibling," Weiss said. "I'm sure they'll love you."

"Yeah, but I'll be so much older than them. I can't horse around with them," Yang said.

"Yeah, but you could teach them to fight," Ruby said. "They'll look up to you."

"I hope so," Yang said, shaking her head. "My mom...gosh. I wonder if this is how it was for her when it was me."

"I think it's better not to wonder about it," Weiss said. "I mean, I guess you can't help it, but we can't be sure."

"Yeah, I should just forget about that," Yang said. "I want to be excited." She smiled nervously. "Do you think I'm ready for this?"

"Of course you are," Ruby said, with confidence. "You'll be the best mom ever. And I'll get to be an aunt, finally."

"And I get to be one, again," Weiss said. 

"And I really want cookies, right now," Yang said.

"I'll bake some," Ruby volunteered. "I want cookies too."

Weiss rolled her eyes fondly. 

* * *

After that, a few months passed.

The ladies adjusted to their new state.

Royal completed his training, just in time for Raven to put more responsibility on him. Of course, he wasn't high ranking enough to take on hers, but he could free up officers like Marrow by taking on some lower level things. He took to it naturally.

Emerald and Mercury were planning their wedding. They were keeping it simple but still wanted to include all their friends in it.

They were both so happy, it cheered everyone else just to be around them.

Thanks to the Winter keeping everyone in town, Cinder had a lot more business at the Lesspay. Enough to start setting some money aside.

Esmeralda grew better at making the items, and could handle more complicated orders.

In this time, Elle became better friends with Cinder, though at first Cinder didn't call it that. She also liked Esmeralda, and the three of them often went out for coffee or dinner after closing hours.

This did give Cinder something to do while Royal was working more hours and Emerald was busy.

When spring arrived and the weather turned warmer, they had the wedding on a grassy hill outside the city.

The whole thing went off swimmingly, except for one moment right when the ceremony was starting.

Mercury was waiting, looking pretty nervous, when Yang came hurrying up the aisle.

"Hey, Merc," she said in a low voice. "We've got a problem."

"What? What happened?" Mercury tensed.

Yang looked sad. "Emerald said she got cold feet. She changed her mind. She's going back to the city."

"Are you serious?" Mercury said, looking crushed. "After all that?"

"Yeah," Yang said. "Sorry..." Suddenly she looked up and grinned. "Psych."

Her image shifted and it was Emerald.

Mercury looked both relieved and pissed. "What the h--- was that?" he said.

"That was payback for that stunt you pulled when you proposed," Emerald said. "Sorry, also Prank Queen." She grinned.

Mercury glanced at the audience. They were smirking or hiding laughs. Some of them just looked disapproving.

"All of you b-----ds knew?" he accused.

"She made us swear not to say a thing," Ruby called. "Sorry."

"I thought it was a good joke," the real Yang said.

"Sorry, man," Sun called.

"Kids. They're so dramatic," Raven said, dryly.

"I see I'm gonna have to watch you close," Mercury said to Emerald.

"Once we make it legal, I think you're obligated," Emerald said.

The justice of the peace looked like they were questioning this couple's taste in humor, but they cleared their throat.

The rest of the ceremony went off normally. At least the prank did kind of help Mercury get over his nerves.