As Long as You're With Me

Well. This was it. The big day.

Paper was beyond nervous.

When he and OJ talked about their wedding all those months ago... when they'd finally settled down to establish an attendee list, the date, the venue...

Back then... everything seemed... so far away. Like they had all the time in the world to dream of a day that they'd remember as the best day of both of their entire lives, for as long as they lived. All the time in the world to forget about responsibilities, to love one another as their love slowly builds up and up like a never-ending crescendo...

But now?

Now that day was here, and reality was hitting him like a tonne of bricks.

There was no way to avoid it any longer.

He was getting married.

To OJ. The love and light of his life. The object who'd been by his side since the minute they met, and the guy who'd completely altered his entire world with nothing more than a smile and a "Y'know what? Yeah, we're an alliance now".

He'd spent the last few minutes silently going over everything in his head, making sure everything had been sorted out perfectly for the billionth time. Of course it had, there was no way OJ would've allowed it to get to this point if that wasn't the case. But he needed something to distract himself from his nerves, and counting chairs in his head seemed like his best bet right now.

Soap and Pepper were just making last-minute adjustments and adding finishing touches to his wedding dress. He trusted the girls wholeheartedly with this sort of thing, remaining as still as a statue as they continued to work their magic.

There was no point in trying to hire anyone from the... 'outside world' to help them with their special day. They could've, and it would've definitely been more professional that way... but a few conversations over a cup of hot chocolate or two was enough for them to realise that wasn't what either of them wanted. It would've felt too... too impersonal to them. Plus, when everyone at the hotel started volunteering for jobs that fit their talents, who were they to say no? It seemed like everyone else was just as excited as they were.

Plus... it was a lot cheaper this way. Which meant they wouldn't need to spend every second of their lives leading up to it drowning in work and stress.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by an awestruck gasp from Soap, who was grinning at Paper like a kid in a candy store.

"Oh. My. God. Sweetie, you look GORGEOUS!"

Pepper was nodding along behind her, looking just as giddy as she was. He motioned to the mirror behind him, a silent request to have a look for himself, and when both girls nodded he spun around.

And- woah.

Forget magic - these girls could perform miracles.

Not even his ass, which was absolutely crippling with self-worth issues, could deny that Soap was 100% spot on. He looked like a porcelain doll, an exclusive one that only ever saw life on the most dedicated collectors' shelves. The smooth silk was woven so delicately, somehow fitting around his already thin frame to the point where it seemed like even the slightest breeze would be enough to sweep him off his feet.

He turned back to Soap and Pepper, his own expression brightening to match theirs, unable to find his words for a few seconds.

"Oh... this is just... I don't know what to say...! I can't thank you both enough..."

He practically tackled them both, with no regard to his gown whatsoever. They hugged him right back, being more careful to make sure they didn't accidentally crease him and ruin what they'd spent days trying to perfect.

"Hey, it was nothing. You're the one who like, gave us such a good canvas to work with."

"So... are we ready to go?"

Paper nodded, taking a deep breath as they made their way outside.

The day they'd chosen to have their wedding was practically perfect. It was a sunny autumn morning, leaves on every tree turning a mesmerising golden-brown colour and dropping off, gliding onto the floor as if time itself would slow for them.

Even his own steps were slow and steady, like he was already making his way down the aisle. Maybe he was practicing? Not even he could tell.

It was a good thing that the venue wasn't all that far from the hotel...

"Hey, everything okay?"

Paper's attention flickered over to Soap when he heard her voice cut through his thoughts. He looked over at her, shrugging.

"Well... I was thinking... does it... really still count as getting 'married' if none of us really know what we're doing? I mean... nobody here is qualified for this sort of thing, and I just... I don't know, it sounds silly, but-"

Of course, Soap replied with a teasing smirk and a playful shove.

"Hey, hey... where'd this attitude come from? Weren't you all 'nothing matters, let's just have fun with it' just a few days ago?"

Paper rolled his eyes, about to plead his case, but she kept going, her tone more warm and caring now.

"I know what you mean, though. Now that the day's here, it's all a lot scarier, isn't it?"

It was like she was taking the words right out of his mouth.

"But we're always gonna be here to remind you... so what if the wedding isn't perfect? Who's gonna care? Nobody 'qualified' or 'cultured' is even gonna know about any of this. It's just our little community. The community that you and OJ were the glue to bringing together, all coming together to help make the day as memorable and special as we possibly can. And this whole wedding ceremony? It's nothing but a means to make that glue stronger, Paper."

Paper had once again been rendered absolutely speechless, and Pepper took that as an opportunity to throw in her own two cents.

"It's true... without you two, none of us would like, be here right now. We'd all probably be doing our own thing and it'd be super boring. Yeah, the hotel isn't perfect, but... you and OJ? You two made it home. This is the least we can do."

Paper could've sworn he would've burst into tears right then and there if not for the fact that he could see the venue just a few steps ahead.

It was originally just a plain blue flower field, but it'd been re-fashioned into something so much more. All the flowers were now neatly arranged into a gentle, almost pastel rainbow pattern. They stretched up onto and around the altar, wrapping around the arch in an explosion of colour.

...Wow, Suitcase had really outdone herself when she said she 'knew a place they could fix up'... the grass was perfectly trimmed, and- was that a FOUNTAIN?! That had to be Test Tube's doing, where did she find the time to build a whole ass fountain just- casually hanging out on the side?- Was that in any way necessary???-

"PPAAAAAAPERRRR!"

Lightbulb was the first to greet him, skidding to a halt just inches in front of his face, looking so excited she was literally glowing.

"Ah! Good to see you, Lightbulb..."

Walking behind her were, of course, Test Tube, Fan and Paintbrush.

"Wow, it's finally here huh? Felt like it would never arrive."

"You're telling me, Testy... the wait was killing me! I still think we should've gone with my-"

A nudge from Test Tube was more than enough to make him shut up about that. Paper couldn't help but laugh at the gesture. He never really got to talk too much to the season 2 contestants that got eliminated later on in the season, but Test Tube seemed like she'd be a pretty great gal to be friends with.

He was about to go greet someone else, noticing more and more guests start to arrive, when someone in particular caught his eye.

His son... Cherries, looking as adorable as ever in his little suits... oh, his heart completely melted, and he couldn't resist the urge to run up to them and scoop the twins up in his arms, a muffled yelp escaping them in response.

"Wha-"

"Papa!-"

They started giggling alongside Paper once they'd realised who they were being picked up by. He gently spun them around midair before setting the boys back on the ground.

"You two look amazing! Oh, you really went all out for us, didn't you..."

Both cherries nodded in unison as right cherry began to speak.

"Of course! This is really big!"

"You guys are getting married! It'll be so official and cool, we wanted to look good..."

Paper leaned down a little to grab one of each cherry's cheeks, giving them each a firm pinch.

"Oh my boys look so... so sophisticated! I couldn't find better flower boys, not if I searched for centuries... oh, you really mean the world to me - can you believe I'm gonna marry your dad?-"

Cherries shrugged, attempting to appear unbothered and more nonchalant, but it seemed that not even they could fight the elated smiles that wanted to creep onto their faces.

"Well, you're already our papa anyway!"

"This is just sealing the deal..."

Paper's eyes flickered between both halves of his son, giving them the most loving smiles he could possibly muster and kissing them on their foreheads.

"I love you... don't forget that, ever..."

"AWWWH!"

The scream was... low, distinct, and a little raspy. It was a voice Paper recognised instantly.

Right cherry chuckled a little when they were met with a slightly flustered Yin-Yang, as Yang tried to hide his embarrassment after yelling that out loud.

"I-I mean... good for you guys, dumb losers-"

"-Yang means to say that we're both really happy for you guys! We've been waiting for you and OJ to finally get married for a while!"

Yang grumbled a little, before caving in and nodding, a massive smile on his face, his voice wavering a little with emotion.

"OKAY... FINE... YOU'RE JUST... SO CUTE AND ADORABLE TOGETHER! I COULDN'T HELP IT!"

As Yin-Yang started bawling their heart out, someone he wasn't really expecting to hear from called him over...

"Yo, Paper. C'mere, I want you in this shot."

...Trophy? Paper thought he stayed at the hotel...

"Huh... what're you doing here, Trophy? You were never all that close to me or OJ, and I didn't expect you to be the wedding type..."

Trophy looked... a bit... surprised by the question? Was that a blush on his face, or was he seeing things?

"I-It's just that nobody's ever been to a wedding before. I didn't wanna miss out on any potential action, literally everyone is going. And you guys would probably need a more competent photographer than... whatever Pickle or Fan could've hoped to achieve. Plus... staying at the hotel with nobody but Salt of all people would have driven me insane."

...In all honesty, Paper was pretty glad that Trophy had decided to show up. Neither him nor OJ thought he'd be interested, but it was true that he had the most experience with photography out of any object at the hotel.

"Ah, well, that makes sense. Thanks for coming... I appreciate it."

"Mhm. Now come on, get in the frame."

Trophy held up the camera strung around his neck again, and Paper gladly posed for the picture. He walked over, checking on it, pretty glad to see that it had come out well.

"Alright, cya..."

Even as Trophy was walking away, Paper caught the subtle smile on his face.

...Maybe Trophy really was capable of feeling emotions that weren't irritation or boredom...

Once that had been taken care of, Paper decided to just... look around. At the community Soap had mentioned earlier. All the people that had come together to celebrate his and OJ's love... the people who worked so hard to make everything perfect for them...

The flowers from Suitcase... the cake that Paintbrush and Lightbulb stepped in with... Trophy, helping out with photography... Taco and Microphone on the music, Pickle, Fan, Baseball and Cheesy helping out with food and entertainment...

Everyone at the hotel really given this their all. He felt it. He hadn't even caught a glimpse of his soon-to-be husband, and this day already felt exactly as he dreamed it would...

"Hey... should we be starting the ceremony soon? It seems like everyone's arrived and I'm getting kinda tired of waiting up here."

Paper's attention wandered up to the altar when he heard Balloon speak. Everyone seemed to agree, and that was when he knew it was time to give the people what they wanted. What they'd waited so long to see.

He found Soap soon enough, taking a quiet, yet deep breath as the last bit of shuffling and assuming positions took place.

The entire venue was now dead silent, save for Taco and Mic, their beautiful duet on the violin and piano doing wonders to soothe his ears. It reminded him of all the times he and OJ'd play together...

And... speaking of OJ...

He was... right there.

Just a few feet away from him and Soap at the altar was the most striking, captivating, handsome man he'd ever seen in his entire life. In the most dazzling, sleek orange suit he couldn't have even imagined in his dreams. The man his soul had been, quite literally, made to love.

Oh, there were no words out there to describe how blissful Paper was feeling...

Soap walked him down, as Cherries enthusiastically scattered flowers and petals of all kinds in front of him, paving the way to the moment his entire life had been leading up to.

And all of a sudden, he was standing opposite the man he was destined to love for the rest of his existence... for the rest of time itself, for all he cared...

"You look... incredible..."

OJ's face was stretched out into the dopiest grin he'd ever seen. It was the type of grin he wore when there were absolutely no thoughts in his head - just drowning in his adoration and fascination for his lover.

It was a look he was quite used to seeing, but it looked especially adorable on him now... like all his worries and doubts about their marriage had completely faded, just at the sight of Paper in that dress...

"...You do too... I still can't believe this is really happening."

"Me either. But I feel like the luckiest man alive..."

It felt as if it took eons for Balloon to begin the ceremony... but Paper didn't mind, he could wait as long as the world needed him to for OJ...

"Ladies, gentlemen, gentlepeople and everyone near and far in-between, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage taking place between Paper and Orange Juice-"

There was a high-pitched shriek in the audience, and everyone's eyes were on Nickel. Balloon even laughed a little. Nickel was relatively unfazed by the attention, though.

"...What? I'm a big payjay fan, is that a problem?"

"What's a payjay?"

Marshmallow gently pat her confused friend's head, a nervous smile on her face.

"...Don't worry about it, Apple..."

Balloon waited a few more seconds for any more interruptions before continuing.

"Normally, the officiant would give a really long speech here, but when have we ever been a normal bunch? None of us are gathered here to listen to me recite a 5-year long speech that I pulled in two clicks from the internet. So instead we're going to skip right to what everyone actually showed up for... hearing and watching these two dumbasses express their love for one another."

For what felt like the first time in their lives, Paper and OJ's eyes met. It was like staring into an endless galaxy lightyears away... filled with all sorts of shimmering stars and untold stories.

And Paper knew it was his time to speak.

"Orange Juice..."

The moment he said those first two words, the rest flowed out of him with ease. It was like his nerves had completely vanished into thin air.

"...You have been there for me through thick and thin. Whether it was on the show, or running a hotel full of lunatics together, you have not once abandoned me or left my side. Before I met you... my world was so empty, so incomplete... and I didn't even realise it."

He took a deep breath, his lips curling up into a wide, genuine smile.

"But when my eyes laid on you for the first time since my rejoin... that was when I knew I finally had a reason to want to win that million. A reason to face whatever shit the world threw at me. A reason to power through whatever argument or hardships came our way. Because I knew... that if I fought to stay on II for just another day, I would get to spend time with the thoughtful, inspiring, wonderful glass of orange juice that stole my heart and has not once let it out of his sight. There is nothing on this planet I could possibly imagine that would be better than spending the rest of eternity with you."

Those eyes he had been gazing into for so long were now glistening with tears. Of course... despite the tough act the strong, stoic hotel manager put on for others, Paper knew he was always a crier...

After a quiet round of applause, it was OJ's turn to speak, and Paper began to engrave every last word into the depths of his memory.

"...Y'know, after hearing that, I feel kind of embarrassed that my big declaration of love originally started with me mentioning that the guy acting as our officiant was once just straight-up banned from our hotel..."

It was followed by a roar of laughter from the audience. Even Paper himself let out a quiet chuckle.

But once it had subsided, OJ continued.

"But... I'm not talking about Balloon today, am I? Paper... What is there to say about you that hasn't already been said, time and time again? Your beauty, tremendous strength and endless kindness that warms my heart every time you show me even a drop of it... there are no words worthy of describing how outstanding you are. All those times that I lost myself, drowning in hotel work, false perceptions of who I was - or even of who you were - you were always the one who helped me see the light, who helped me realise the truth and see just how blind I'd always been."

Paper could've sworn he saw him reach up a hand to dry a tear or two threatening to spill from his eye.

"And... after all this time we've spent together, joint at the hip... I cannot believe the day has finally come where I'll finally be able to spend the rest of my life with you, in complete assurance that our bond could never, and will never, be broken. No amount of yelling or strain could ever snap or shatter what we've built here, Paper. I love you more than even I will be able to comprehend, and as long as you're with me, right there by my side, I know we'll be able to face whatever the future decides to throw at us."

Paper took it as a blessing that no tears began to roll down his page. It'd be a nightmare trying to take photos with tear stains on his cheeks.

Soon, Bomb came strolling down the aisle, with the rings that the couple knew they were to bear on their fingers for as long as they'd live. Both delicately placed on a velvet pillow.

"And with that... Orange Juice..."

His head snapped up to Balloon, and he knew this was it. The moment they'd been waiting for.

"Do you take Paper to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward? For richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others to love and cherish until death do you part?"

"I do."

There was not a speck of hesitation in OJ's eyes as he slid the ring onto Paper's finger. There was nothing but endless joy and love. Pure, raw love...

"And do you, Paper, take Orange Juice to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward? For richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others to love and cherish until death do you part?"

"I do."

The smiles that spread across both of their faces as Paper slid the ring onto OJ's finger were wider than they'd ever been.

"And so, with the power vested in me... I am proud to pronounce you both... husbands. You may kiss the groom! Go! Go! Goooo!!!"

Time's endless march slowed into a crawl the moment OJ's hands found their way to Paper's hips. In those milliseconds where they exchanged sincere, loving glances, and no words needed to be uttered to understand what was being said. In those moments where the two had never felt so ecstatic, brimming with love and joy for one another...

Their faces were brought closer... closer... closer...

Until Paper felt the warmth of OJ's lips on his own. Until their pure, boundless love for each other could finally be expressed in ways words simply did not allow for. The cheers, gasps and applause faded right into the background as they lost themselves in the warmth they provided to each other.

All they had... all they'd need... was each other.

The only thing Paper desired, could think about, could imagine or want or touch...

Was OJ. His husband, OJ.

And now that they'd been officially brought together, two halves of a whole finally connected as one... nothing else mattered.

Nothing else mattered but them, them and the love they'd share until their hearts could beat no more.

And when they finally pulled away, with nothing else on their minds, nothing but overwhelming euphoria in their expressions...

They knew that there was nothing else that they could ever need but to bask in their love for one another.

Forever.