One day, on a particularly chilly day in the mountains, Arthur gets an idea while chopping wood.

It’s a kernel of an idea. Something that starts from a small ember but builds to an explosion in his chest.

He drops his axe, running off to find Charles.

Charles, on the other hand, was taking a snooze. They built a makeshift hammock between the two trees nearest to the cabin. The ropes squeaked and swayed in the chilly air. It wasn’t enough for him to want to go inside.

He only started to stir when he heard Arthur’s footsteps.

“Charles, you awake?”

“I am now.” Charles said, eyes still closed.

“You wanna get married?”

Now he was awake. He opened his eyes and looked quizzically at Arthur. Where to even begin with this? “....what?”

“Do you want to get married?”

Ah. So he had heard him right.

“I didn’t think you were the marrying type.” Charles sat up, planting his feet on the ground.

“Neither did I.” Arthur rubbed the back of his neck. “Things changed.”

Stretching his hands over his head, Charles groaned as he worked the sleep out of his body. “Changed quickly?”

“Nah I’ve been—been thinkin’ about it for a while now.” Arthur folded his arms. “Just somethin’ that’s been kicking around in the back of my mind.”

“Arthur, you know we can’t—“ Charles laughed a little awkwardly. “We can’t legally—“

“When has legality ever bothered ya before?”

Charles smirked. “You got me there.”

“What do ya say?”

“I’m not gonna say ‘no,’ if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“....Maybe I was, just a little bit.”

“What, do you want there to be a ceremony?”

“....I certainly ain’t thought of that....no siree. No way.” Arthur looked away from Charles.

“That sort of makes it sound like you *have*—“

“You think John and his family would wanna visit for it? Maybe check and see if Sadie is around?”

“Do we even know where sadie is living right now?”

Arthur stroked his chin. “Not sure. I’ll ask Abigail if she knows.”

“So...what, we’re going to do this? Let everyone know we’re not just two certified bachelors?”

“I think—heh, I think they already know.”

Charles laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s been quite a number of years.”

Arthur placed a kiss on Charles’ temple. “I’m gonna break out the stationary.”

There was a pause. “Do we even *have* stationary? Also, don’t we need rings and a certificate for this?”

“Uh—no, yes, and yes.” Arthur patted Charles on the shoulder and walked to the cabin. “I just need to think about who would be willin’ to oversee all this—“

Charles followed him inside. “What about the reverend?”

“Ah, Swanson wouldn’t—well then again...I did save his life...”