Ok, before I start, thank you so so so so so sosososososo so much for the 2.30k reads! I can't - oh boy. I love you guys so much!
Ahem, that being said this will be a bit emotional of a chapter but I feel like you guys deserve another chapter for all the love and support and the patience.
I love you all very much, stay safe, I'll give you a few notes at the end too? Maybe? I guess you'll see.

"Did you hear?"
"Evo and Hermit?
"Yeah, I heard!"
"Isn't this exciting?!"
"I wonder who they'll invite?"

The words were preposterous! What were they even saying?! Then. Then he saw them.

They were happy. Walking down the street together bickering and laughing. Unacceptable!

His son and a Hermit? No. His son and a male Hermit?! Absolutely not!

He grabbed him and began to drag the child back home.
"Wha?! D-dad?!" The young blond stuttered.
"We're going home, young man. No buts ands or ors." The man growled holding far too tightly.

-----

I thought today was going to be a pretty good day. We had made the wedding invitations, with a bit o' help from Zee and Martyn, and had just sent them off to be sent out. Mini and Pearl had tailor-made Mumbo's suit and he just got it back. He wouldn't let me see it though.
And by now it was dinner time. So we were out walking, scarily close to where my parents live, to find a place to eat.

We were just joking about. Blah blah blah, this. Parents are the worst, that. Should I do a backflip and see where I land so next time you can catch me, that. Ya know, just normal things!

Then, a familiar hand grabbed my arm far too tight. It felt as if it were to snap, and began dragging me away from my fiance. I looked up to see my father, cold angry eyes, skin pale and reddened with rage, blond hair spiked messily, bags under eyes. He. . . Looked like the devil reincarnated. Or maybe he was worse.

"Wha?! D-dad?!" I squeaked trying to tug away but the fear of my arm snapping in two with his so tight of a grip scared me more than going home with him. Although, I don't know why...

"We're going home, young man. No buts ands or ors." He declared his grip getting even tighter.
If we stay like this I might lose my blood circulation.

"Let me go!" I cried hitting his arm.
"Please daddy let me go!" I attempted, trying to sweeten the already soured candy.
He yanked and I fell forward. I began sobbing as I would before. I hadn't done this in so long. My knees were scraped, my arm was most certainly bruised, my face was soaked with tears and I swore I didn't see Mumbo following us.

Then Mumbo grabbed his arm.
"Mumbi, no don-!" I began but it was too late.
My father used his free hand to hit Mumbo so hard it sent him flying a foot and a half or so.
He curled up on himself now he too was bruised, his side and his stomach.
"Don't follow Hermit. You will never have my son. Not until we die." He growled.

"Mumbo!" I cried trying to get to him but he still had his grip on me.
I managed to get to at least his foot before he yanked me up and down the street.
Who would people call in this situation? Child services, yeah well I'm in my 20s soo... The cops? Ha! He is the head of the police we can't do that! Fire? What would a fireman do in this situation? Ambulance? Well, they can't exactly stop him.

"I'm sorry baby!" I cried trying to reach out to him once more. Then I was shoved into the dreaded van.
It was basically what we called the "picker" van. It was large, it was dark, it had tinted windows and could probably pass off as a kidnapper or serial killer's van. Aka, it wasn't a good van.

"Get buckled." He ordered.
"Eat a d*!" I retorted crying.
I curled up on the seat and stared out the window, I hadn't gotten buckled.
He grumbled and looked back at me.

"Grian, he was just using you. Did you not see him? Don't worry baby, he won't hurt you anymore." He declared.
I curled up tighter and faced away from him. He sighed and started the car, and soon we were back at that dreaded house.

My head was pounding, my stomach was doing flips, my arm was bruised back and blue, and my knees were now bleeding. You know thinking about it, the tactic of "reassuring father" never worked on any of his children did it?

Zee still dated his boyfriend that got him kicked out of his house 2 days after his 17th birthday, and who later dumped him for a girl he met on tinder who turned out to be fake. Martyn still dated his first girlfriend for a year before they split. B still dated his now girlfriend of 7 years.
Mini still dated his boyfriend for 3 years before dumping him because he was a tw*t and getting with his current girlfriend. Tom never dated in his house. He didn't know about Netty. I don't think Pearl had the chance. Salem still dated her 2-year girlfriend before she left us so I don't know for sure if they're still together. I should have asked. And Solidarity I believe is still dating his girlfriend of 6 years. Though I'm not certain.

The door opened and dad waited outside of it.
I faced the other way and he sighed.
He wrapped an arm around my mid-section and tugged me out. I hit him away earning me a glare.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped glaring at him.
He sighed and slid a hand behind my back, barely touching my back and slightly pushing me to the front door.

He closed the door behind us and lead me to the front door. He opened it, hand still on my back. I squirmed away and he glared.
"I said don't touch me!" I snapped and he sighed.
"Come on baby, he can't hurt you anymore," he hummed opening the door for me.

I stepped in and the house immediately smelled like I remembered it. The house wasn't a beacon of hope or happiness but I always liked the smell it naturally gave off. Not to mention the stained smell of B's baking forever in the kitchen.

"Oh, my baby!" Watcher cried hurrying over and hugged me.
The hug felt weird, soft, motherly even. I didn't hug back though. I was angry at them. I was furious.

"We should lock him away for kidnapping our baby!" Dad declared.
Fear ran through my body and I pushed her away.
"No! You already hurt him, just leave it at that!" I yelled tears overflowing my tear ducts.
I wiped them away but they still fell. Traitors.

"Oh baby, he was manipulating you!" Watcher smothered wrapping her arms around me again.
I pushed her away and stomped to the entrance of the hallway going to their room.

"You can't arrest him if you have no proof." I said grayly.
"We have you," my father retorted.
"Yeah well, I'm not going to testify against my fiance dad," I growled and went through the kitchen over to the stairs to the basement.
"Grian!" Dad yelled.
I could just walk out here. Hmm, tempting but no, too close.

"I'm going to my room! Do not enter!" I growled before scurrying down the stairs and into the familiar basement with odd short purple and tan carpet and blue walls.
A small family room type thing going on to my left and to my right was our stuff.

The large windows almost reaching the floor with a blue door that leads to the lower deck, each covered in fake flowers and vines. Other than that a rather empty room, then to the right was an open kitchen type thing. Black and white tiled floor, white cabinets with rather ugly deep blue, almost indigo, countertops, with a steel fridge and a white and black old stove/oven.

This kitchen didn't have the imprint of B in it. No, just the memories of Taurtis and I playing with the unplugged stove and oven with unused Tupperware in the storage place under the stairs, and making snowcones from children's themed ice machines.

To the left was the bathroom, yellow walls tiled floor, small, standing shower, and toilet and sink. It's what we'd call a 3/4 loo. Or bathroom I suppose.

I entered my old room. A stark contrast from my current one.
The only things left were my mattress, the wall mural of the silhouette of 2 people sitting on a swing by a few trees, and watching the (actually colored) sunset, it was one of the things I'm most proud of. I took a quick picture of it and smiled softly at the memory of Taurtis and I doing it without our parent's permission and being yelled at because of it. The only reason they found out was because T had paint all over his face.

Wittle bean of jokes tried to start a paint war. He lost. I was always victorious!
The last thing in the room other than the closet was an array of red flowers. Some real, some fake, some in bouquets some lonely, all on my floor in a neatly piled square under a picture of Taurtis.

It was what I called the Taurtis shrine.
There was a good, 6 years of flowers here. Each day I would place a flower below the picture and wait till I saw him again. All the real flowers were dead but the fake ones stood tall. For obvious reasons.

There was a knock on the door and I shot back, "What?"
There was a pause and my mom sighed, "why not come get some dinner darling?"
"I'm not hungry." I declared placing a red flower from my pocket with the others.

There was silence, then she sighed and walked away.
Around 10 PM I came out. I was terribly hungry but I could go without dinner for the day. I tried the door, locked, bolted, and alarmed. Windows also locked bolted and alarmed. Great. They upped their security.

I went to the fridge. Inside was barely anything but there was some ice cream and frozen bread. So I grabbed those and went back to my room. Taurtis and I used to do that all the time. It was our thing when it was too late to grab anything without alarming Watcher or Chief.

I ate the ice cream and waited for the bread to defrost.
It eventually did but I had fallen asleep by that point. No blanket, in a cold slightly damp basement. In a room, I never wanted to be in again.

I woke up to yelling and stomping above me. I jolted up quickly grabbed a flower from the closet and placed it with the others and shoved bread into my mouth, just because. Then I moved to the door and peered out. There was no one in the basement yet. I was scared they had gotten into a fight. But then, Taurtis ran down the stairs ducking a plate from upstairs and looked around frantically.
"T! Come ere!" I hissed waving him in and he ran to me.

I pulled him in and held him close.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I think they found out I snuck out!" He chuckled.
I looked back into the room. It was fully furnished and the flowers were gone.
"You idiot! Now they're gonna bolt the doors and windows down here!" I whined locking the door as the footsteps pounded down the stairs.

"Get in bed you goof."
He chuckled and climbed into his bed snuggling up and falling "asleep" easily.
Dad's fist hit the door and suddenly I was in armor.
"Go away!" I snapped holding the door closed.
"Get out here!" He yelled.

"Go away, dad!" I yelled back through the door.
"Grian, let me in." He growled yelling like the dragon he was.
Then, the King spoke, angry and loud.
"Dad! Leave them alone!" Martyn snapped and there was a thud.

Then I was at the base of the stairs watching as Martyn, Zee and Cheif fought at my bedroom door.
"B, grab the little ones and lock yourself in our room, capiche?" Zee ordered trying to drag the much larger Cheif away from our door. And kind of succeeding.

"Yeah." I nodded and scurried up 2 flights of stairs.
I woke Salem, Tom, Solidarity, Mini, and Netty and Scooped up baby Pearl and we scurried into B's room.

I locked the door and moved a chair under the doorknob, just in case.
I glanced at all of them, quaking in their boots. Carefully, I tapped my collarbone twice.
It was our way of silently asking "do you feel safe?"
If you didn't respond back no questions were asked and they'd try to make you calm down.
Make you feel safe.

Pearl has slightly opened her eyes but was too drowsy. Mini crossed his arms tightly over his chest. Solidarity tapped his collar bone twice. So did Tom and Salem. Netty began to cry.
"Shh, hey it's ok," I assured her pulling her in and running a hand through her hair.

"Maybe far away, or maybe real nearby."

Mini's posture softened.

"He maybe pouring her coffee, she maybe straightening his tie."

Then the carpet morphed into soft green grass and Solidarity leaned lovingly into Mini.

"Maybe in a house, all hidden by a hill. She sitting playing piano~ he sitting paying a bill."

The walls crumbled and were replaced with a soft blue with fluffy white clouds.

"Betcha they're young," Mini joined softly.

"Betcha they're smart." Tom joined.

"Bet they collect things like ashtrays and art!" Solidarity joined in.

Flowers sprouted and the furniture was replaced with benches and bushes and trees.

"Betcha they're good, why shouldn't they be?" Salem hummed, joining in.

"They're one mistake, was giving up me."

"So maybe now it's time," Netty.

"An maybe wen I wake." Pearl.

"They'll be there calling me "baby"."

"Maybe," all.

....

"Betch he reads."

"Betcha she sews!" Mini.

"Maybe she's made me a closet of clothes," Salem.

"Maybe they're strict, as straight as a line."

"Don't really care, as long as their mine!" All.

"So maybe now this prayer, the last one of it's kind."

"Won't you please come get your "baby"?"

"Won't you please come get your "baby"?" All.

"May~be?" all.

We were all smiling now but that was quickly interrupted.
There was a loud pounding on the door and the scenery jolted back to the room.
"Closet! Go, go!" I ushered and they scurried to the closet as I hurried to the door.

"Dad! They didn't do anything, leave them alone!" Zee yelled before there was a thud and a grunt.
"Zee! You broke his arm!" Martyn yelled accusingly.
"No! Stop it! Go away or I'm calling the cops!" Martyn threatened.
"I am the cops boy."

"Then you should know the law and that they won't take your Bullsh*! Now go you dipsh*!" Martyn snapped.
There was a slap of flesh hitting flesh and a hiss from Martyn before stomping away.

Then, soft hitched crying and I moved the chair away and unlocked the door. I slipped out, ordering Mini to stay by the door just in case he needed to lock it again.
"Zee, you ok?" I asked slowly lifting him up.
"I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!" Zee cried holding onto his arm.

"I wanna get out of here B, I can't take it anymore!" He cried.
"He's a homophobic, abusive, manipulative piece of sh* who beats his children for accidentally dropping a piece of trash and I hate him!" Zee cried into my shoulder.

"I know Zee, I hate him too," I whispered and lead them into the room.
Sometimes, it sucks to be the older brother...

I was woken up by the door slamming open. I yelped and jolted up. Much to my surprise a bruised, bloodied, and exhausted Mumbo stood at the door, the early morning sun rays illuminating him like an angel.
"Baby!" He cried rushing to me and holding me tightly.

"Shh, it's ok, you're going to be ok!" He assured me holding my head to his chest.
I gripped him. Clawed and begged for this not to be another chunk of the dream.

"We gotta get you out of here ok?" He pulled away nodding.
I nodded and he picked me up carefully and carried me up out of the basement and through the kitchen and living room out to the front where cop cars were lined and Dad and mom were being placed into cop cars.

Like a fantasy and once more I hoped it wasn't a dream. He settled me in the car's back seat and I looked out the window to see Taurtis, Solidarity, Mini, Zee, and Martyn. Martyn was giving instructions to the officers while glaring at dad.

"Can T come?" I asked carefully and Mumbo pressed a button on his side that rolled down the passenger window.
"Hey Taurtis, why don't you join us?" Mumbo offered, in his usual awkward I don't know how to talk properly kind of way.

Taurtis looked over and nodded. Soon he too was in the car letting me curl up into his side as I sobbed.
It was real. Oh, this was definitely real.

Zee walked up and he and Mumbo began talking.
Then he said something about filing a restraining order and getting Mumbo's arm and nose checked out. Mumbo thanked him and confirmed that he would do so.
Zee commented on there being an ambulance for a reason and Mumbo retorted with, "I just want us to be at home together right now."

"That's fair. Hey G?" Zee hummed looking back at me.
"You ok buddy?" He asked.
I sobbed but absently tapped my collarbone twice.
Taurtis followed suit and Zee shortly after.
"That's good buddy. I'm gonna set up a few of my friends around your area until you get a restraining order against him, k?" Zee hummed.
I nodded.

"Ok, I'll see you real soon buddy, try to rest," he assured me, tapped the hood of the car, and pulled away joining Martyn's side.

Admittedly it took longer than expected for everything to cool down. Biffa, Zee, Martyn, and a new guy named Scar came by often. Though Scar a lot less than the others, considering he lived in a deserted neighborhood just barely outside of town, a little while away. I think he called it... Area 77, if I'm not wrong?

Apparently, it was this huge conjoined house lot of about 100 houses that were all sold to him for surprisingly cheap for 100 houses. He put up the offer for us to stay in one of his many houses for free at any time if we wanted.
We always declined the offer though.

Eventually, we did get the restraining order and continued with our wedding plans, a little nudged back than what we were going to do before.

And then, it finally happened. . .
And I couldn't've been more excited.

It was only the night before but I was already freaking out.
I knew the venue was set up, everyone was already invited, my dress was set up, I had already asked if I could dance with my sisters. Which they gladly agreed to. B made the cake, Mini and Pearl made Mumbo's suit, Netty and Taurtis helped with everything.

I had nothing to worry about. Well actually maybe I had everything to worry about.

What if my parents show up? What if his family doesn't like me anymore? What if I mess up? What if I do something stupid? What if I-

Then Mumbo's hands snaked around my waist.
"Mmm? Whatchu doing up so early Gri?" He whispered softly, chin on the top of my head.
"Hi Mumbi," I responded and he moved his head down to my neck.

He nestled sweetly into the crook of my neck and whispered, tickling my neck, "everything'll be fine darling~ just trust me on this one."
I squeaked and squirmed and he smiled pulling away.
"Let's go back to bed darling~," he hummed.

He took my hand and carefully lead me back to our room. He climbed into bed and pulled me in. He was quick to wrap his arms around me once I joined him.
I chuckled and hummed a soft," least I don't have to worry about the cold anymore."
He placed a kiss on the top of my head and chuckled.

---

The actual wedding was probably scarier.
"Holy moly! I see why you were freaking out now!" I gasped grabbing my chest desperate for some sort of air.
"Shh, you'll be ok!" Netty assured me.
The bridesmaids consisted of Netty, Cloe, False, Aphmau who was an old friend who was very taken aback when I had offered, Pearl and Salem.

Unsurprisingly Aphmau and Netty were the only bridesmaids who had been married in my entourage. And even less surprisingly Aphmau seemed to know everything there was to know about them. And she was very good at calming people down.

I learned that after a small anxiety attack that went away a whole lot faster after she began talking to me.

They did makeup, including a bit of mine which consisted of just blush and red eyeshadow, simple but sweet. Then hair in which mine was left alone. And then, dresses. In which we did them about the same time.

And it felt like a necessity to have us all the colors of the Rainbow! I was the red, Netty would be the closest to me so she was orange. And she looked pretty good in orange much to my surprise. Pearl was yellow, Salem was green. Cleo was light blue, False was a dark blue or indigo, and Aphmau was bright Purple. Aph was super excited about that one.

"Oh! Look at you!" False squealed her hands jolting out as if to hug me but zipping right back in.
Imma be honest though, the look on Pearl's face screamed that she had no idea what was happening. And as much as I was ecstatic, my heart dropped at that and I weaved to my little sister.

"So, honest one, does it look bad?" I joked.
Her eyes widened when realizing I was talking to her and looked me over.
"You look like you took the tent costume and made it into a dress, maybe cut some things and dyed some things with it." She said quietly as if scared I would be offended and I laughed.

"Well that's good, considering I'm pretty sure that's where T got the idea from!" I laughed and she looked up, a pass of recognition ran across her eyes and she smiled, tears slowly forming.
"You're beautiful, I'm sure he'll love it," Pearl complimented.

I took a second to ponder it and then fidgeted.
"I hope so," I whispered and Salem pulled me into a hug.
"Oh heck yeah he will! Come on, he's a spoon!" Cleo scoffed.
"Ok, ok, ok, wait! Did you get the term from me or did I get the term from you?" I asked quickly and Cleo paused.

She stared at me for a moment, then her entire body relaxed, then her eyes widened and she shot her attention to False who was going through her memories to see if she could find out. Then, defeated, she looked up at Cleo then me and they shrugged causing me to go into a fit of laughter.

Netty pulled me away and fixed a vale onto my head, the base that was at my head had flowers and covered my eyes and nose only in the front but the back went down a bit past my shoulders.

"Come on, or you're gonna be late for your own wedding!" Netty laughed and I squeaked and we headed out.

When getting to the venue I was reintroduced to a serious anxiety that overtook my mind. And as much as I probably shouldn't, I wanted to see him before everything went down.
I know, I know, it would ruin the point of the surprise! But this anxiety was a bit too heavy and overwhelming and I reeeeeaaaaaalllly wanted to see him~!

Like during the first Halloween festival he came to! When we went to him before the show and talked then left and he still seemed so proud and amazed by me. Something I had really needed. And probably something he needed too.

So right before the ceremony, as everyone arrived we were allowed to see each other.

Pictures were taken of it as we went to each other. Mumbo almost immediately began crying and pulled me into a huge hug with his big goofy grin.

He wore a dark red suit, 2 sharptails trailing behind him, black pants and he was nicely groomed with a pocket square neatly tucked onto his breast pocket.
"You- are- you- gah!" He gawked pulling away.

It took everything in my being to not burst into tears.
"Stoooop, your gonna make me cry!" I whined hiding my head into his chest.
"Babu waba- gah!" Mumbo babbled shoving his face into my hair.

We took an official picture, but much to the photographer's dismay there was absolutely no calmness radiating from us. Either anxiety, joy, love, JoY, LoVe, and even more joy! Did I already mention love? Well, there was a lot of that too.

And then we got into place.
I was terrified but also absolutely overjoyed.
We went by color, opposite the rainbow style.

Aphmau and Scar as purple went first.
It was slow-paced and wonderful but anxiety-inducing. Zee rubbed my back lovingly and whispered assuringly to me. The twins were going to walk me down the aisle. Uh, Zee, and Martyn, not Mini and Solidarity! They were already taken. Mini with green and Soli with blue.

Speaking of blue, dark blue went next.
False and Xisuma left, walking down the aisle.
Then light blue with Solidarity and Cleo with a final wave.

Then green with Salem and Mini, and right before they went through the door Mini gave me a thumbs up and winked.

Soon after was yellow and Pearl and Taurtis went agonizingly slow down the isle. Then, my bridesmaid and his best man went after, just moments before my best man and his bridesmaid made it to the altar. Netty patted my arm, and orange left down the aisle too, leaving me with my older brothers who I clung to desperately.

Now- hold up! Before anything else is brought up while the flower girl and page boys go down the aisle! I wanted my oldest brothers to walk me down the aisle for 3 reasons! 1, the accident a few months back. Or at the beginning of this chapter as Zee mentioned but whatever on that one.
2, they're the oldests and even though Mini would've worked perfectly I felt it was necessary for them to be the ones in the part.
And 3, even though I know my grandfathers and I did invite them I didn't know if they'd actually come, nor did I feel comfortable with them walking me down the aisle considering their ahem, beliefs.

So then, it was our turn and it took everything in me not to run down the aisle and/or cling far too tightly to my older brothers.
Luckily I only half broke my sibling's arms and didn't rush down the aisle! Accomplishment!

In the crowd I noticed Sam, Yuki and Chan, Gizzy and Jordan[have not seen those 2 in a while!], Grandpa Glitch from my mom's side and his new wife Alphie, Grandma Elife from my mom's side and her new boyfriend still don't know his name, Mimi Roberta from my dad's side and a doll and flowers beside her in place of Papa Lee who passed away 2 years ago.

The remaining siblings of us took up most of the rest of the venue but there was a good chunk of people I didn't recognize. Like a woman crying in the back, I think a few of Mumbo's coworkers. A few old couples and finally as I stepped up onto the isle I noticed my very very very soon to be mother and father in law.

The priest did his priestly things, we did our vows in which I almost completely forgot how to talk as a jumbled through a chunk of it and almost broke down in tears for another chunk it. The action did warrant a few chuckles though.

Mumbo wasn't any better though! Speaking really fast, calling himself a spoon in which I had quickly added, "a gay spoon" in which he gladly accepted the role and confirmed it by correcting himself with, "oh, sorry you're right! A really gay spoon!" Which warranted more laughter.
He mentioned the party in which he had danced me into a kiss, which caused a few snickers from the ones there, he mentioned the Halloween festival adding a joking," even though I was supposed to technically be grounded. You can't ground me now mother!"
The rest was a giggling mess of an attempt to quickly explain the way he proposed which I had just mumbled through.

He did it perfectly though. And then, we sealed the deal and gladly kissed. Him adding in a little flare, spinning me around and pulling me in for a kiss. Just like he had done the very first time. And just like that very first time the kiss was magical and daring, daring me for a moment to look into his eyes as everyone cheered.
Yeah, ok. This is the bomb!

But unlike the first time, he didn't run away and I didn't dazily forget everything. Instead, we ran out together with our bridesmaids and groomsmen and hopped into our car to the reception.

And you know what, just like the first time it was only the beginning.~

Again thank you so much for love.
I'm sorry if this at all feels rushed I tried for it not to. It's almost 4 am don't blame me.
So sorry for the cursing. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with this one and I'm so glad you guys exist.

Love you guys soooo much, ~GFrisk ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡~