The New World: Afterlife

Chapter 28

A year had passed since Jim married Turg on the ruins of his former seaside home with Grim and Janice as the witnesses. It was supposed to be more special, but unforeseen circumstances happened. The three now lived in the countryside further north that was near the mountains, not too far from the nearest city but it was still an hour long drive. To them it wasn't far but others may consider it to be far. Grim had bought them that countryside home, which seemed to be perfect for them. Was big enough for the three, had a basement for Jim and had a lot of farming stuff as it used to be a farmer's home. The only animal, besides their cats, they had though were a bunch of chickens that Turg kept letting inside the house. Jim gave up on trying to keep them outside, he was mostly glad that the cats didn't pick fights them. The cats enjoyed the place too, they had plenty of room to run around and would disappear for hours only to return whenever it was feeding time.
The former compound was demolished and the land sold to someone else as Jim had no plans for it. The portal was moved to their new home, it was easy to transport it as it would come apart, along with everything else important from the compound. Everyone else from his household had moved on and was living elsewhere, Jim still had contact with them. Fang and his partner went into computer science. Emilee, Default and the kids started up their knitting business again. Last but not least, Janice returned to her former home in the magic realm and continued pursuing magic. 
Jim was enjoying his new life living in the prairies, he was the most relaxed he had ever been in years. Though that day wouldn't be as relaxing as it was now the day of their ceremony. Jim and Grim had been planning it for a while. They wanted it to mostly celebrate Turg as he deserved it. Turg saved several lives, including Jim's several times, was always helping others without being motivated by getting something in return and was the person who brought Jim and Grim back together. Overall, Turg was just a very kind person who kept getting screwed over by others, yet despite that he remained a very positive person. To that day Jim still wondered what he did to deserve Turg. It was not a waste of ambrosia after all. 
"That's why you wanted a white dress? So you could splash a bunch of colours on it?" Grim asked Jim upon seeing what Jim was going to wear for their ceremony. He figured that he would wear a dress that time, one he put his own personal touch on. It used to be white, but now it was very colourful with splashes of blue, purple and pink all over it. Jim loved it. The two were in the basement of their home getting ready. 
"Yeah, I don't know why but these colours just spoke to me." Jim answered Grim's question as they asked again "The colours of the bisexual pride flag?"
"Oh, that's where I know it from." Jim replied again, he forgot about it up until then. Grim was wearing a suit as they always did. Theirs was a dark blue-grey colour with a white shirt underneath and a black bowtie. It only fit them when in human form, they don't make ones that fit someone who's a floating skeleton without a head or legs. Jim was a very odd person for finding that to be just as attractive. Grim was also wearing a flower crown that Turg made for them the previous day, it was made of mostly white flowers with some yellow. 
"Have you seen what Turg is wearing yet?" Grim asked Jim again, to which he did not. 
"No, I'd rather wait until the ceremony, though I have a feeling he's going to be in a dress too." Jim answered Grim's question again as he picked up the flower crown Turg made the previous day. It matched his dress. With it was the ring Jim was going to give to Grim from both him and Turg. It was like their rings except it would automagically adjust to the size of the wearer's finger so it wouldn't fall off whenever Grim swapped forms. He quickly grabbed it and hid it in a pocket on his dress so Grim wouldn't see it. Jim then put the flower crown on his head and said "When me and Turg started our relationship I remember him making me one of these out of dandelions."
"Made me one too back in the day. Normally someone's first instinct after meeting a Reaper isn't to give them a dandelion crown but y'know that's just how he is." Grim responded as Jim told them "He sees you as a friend, not a foe. Well, maybe more than a friend at this point." 
After Jim spoke, a timer went off on Grim's phone as they stood back up and said "Well, it's time to go join everyone outside." 
Jim tried to invite as many people as he could and most of them turned up. His former household, Maxwell and Carmen, Janice, Turg's family and friends of Jim that he still had contact with mainly. Jim was both anxious and excited as he held onto Grim's hand while they went back upstairs to join everyone gathered outside. Jim and Turg's father, Jasper, worked hard to decorate the outside while Turg watched them the previous day and Jim was glad it was all still standing. It was mostly made of live flowers as that was Turg liked and every colour of the rainbow was present. Jim was secure enough in his masculinity to admit that he loved the decor too, he was a big fan of the rainbow aesthetic going on. While still holding their hand, Jim and Grim joined everyone socializing outside, only to get nearly scared to death by Turg suddenly running up to Jim and jumping on him, causing Jim to fall over. 
"Holy shit Turg, do you want me to die during the ceremony or something?" Jim jokingly asked as everyone stopped what they were doing to look at them. Turg then got off of Jim and lifted him back up off the ground, he was somehow fine after that and able to get a good look at Turg. Turg was also wearing a dress, a very vibrant red one with gold accents with his gold amulet that matched, had his makeup on again and was wearing a flower crown with red-ish pink, yellow and blue-ish purple flowers. Jim thought he looked absolutely beautiful. Turg apologized "Turg sorry. Turg excited."
"Ah you're fine, I should've known you were going to do that. We've known each other for like ten years." Jim told Turg in response. Turg took Jim by the hand and started quickly leading him through the crowd to the makeshift altar of sorts with Jim taking Grim with them. It was very obvious that Turg was excited about the ceremony, which was good because Jim worried that the gathering would give Turg sensory overload. It was a perfect day for it too, it was sunny, warm, only a few clouds in the sky but there was a chance of a thunderstorm later in the evening, though most storms bypassed them. Jasper joined them at the altar, he was wearing his best formal wear, which seemed to be a mix of a tuxedo and a dress. It was also red in colour with gold accents, Jim assumed it was a family thing. 
"Hey you three, are you ready?" Jasper asked them, he was the one officiating their ceremony this time. Jim was ready along with Turg and Grim. The three had renewed their vows to each other and Jim gave Grim the ring, which they were actually able to wear. When it was time to give speeches Grim had asked Jim if he had one prepared, but he didn't, he figured he could just wing it. Since Turg preferred text-form communication, Jasper read Turg's for him. 
"This was written by Turg, not me, I'm just speaking on behalf of him." Jasper announced before he began reading Turg's speech;
"Growing up I was told that I would never be capable of loving someone and that nobody would truly love me. They were wrong about that because I would soon meet the love of my life, or one of them, in an underground vault during the apocalypse. His first instinct wasn't to insult me or try to get away from me, rather he decided to help me and gave my life back. He made my new life a lot more interesting because next thing I knew I was fighting demons alongside him. We've been through so much together, can't believe it's been ten years since we met, doesn't feel like it's been that long. Just a year ago we were working together to get his life back from his evil uncle. The man who gave me my second chance at life is Jim and his other partner, Grim, gave me my third. I've learned a lot from them and I'm glad that we get to spend every day together. Even if we aren't up to much, I still enjoy being around them. Jim and Grim, I love you and also thank you so much. Thank you for giving me more chances at life, for letting me express myself without judgement, for not giving up on me whenever I struggle with something and for just being there for me. I can't wait to see what our next big adventure will be."
Jim didn't know what to say or how to react to that, he was still processing it while Turg was wrapping his arms around Jim. Jasper then added his own part "Now from me, I never would've expected that my youngest child would end up getting with Jim Pickens of all people and a Grim Reaper. I am honoured to call you two my in-laws though, welcome to our family."
"That feeling is mutual, trust me. But we love him regardless." Was Jim's response to Jasper's part of the speech. Everyone then clapped as Jasper went to go sit back down, it was now Jim's turn to speak. Turg let go of Jim so he could go stand on the altar and talk about Turg. His anxiety shot up as he tried to remember the bullet-points he intended to go off of. 
"Gonna be honest, I didn't prepare a speech. I am just winging this." Jim announced to everyone as Grim encouraged him with "You got this! I believe in you!"
Jim took a deep breath and began with "As stated before, I met Turg as a ghost in an underground vault during the apocalypse that I started. He had gotten lost and I found him making a mess in the kitchen. I decided to bring him back to life just so I wouldn't be alone in the wasteland." 
Jim paused for a moment to breath and think about what to say next.
"I will admit I wasn't the nicest to him during the first few months, but I still cared about him enough to keep him around. I eventually started getting feelings for him and when he confessed his feelings to me I decided to enter a romantic relationship with him, since I wanted to know how long one between us would last. Well, it has so far lasted ten years and we're married now." Jim continued before pausing for a moment again. 
"There have been times where I thought it would be over, but we've been able to move past those. There have also been times where I thought I would lose him, like with that man who tried to turn him against me. It's going to be hard to forget what happened to that guy. The fact we are still together after all the shit we've been through is all the evidence one would need to prove that we were meant for each other, I guess." Jim finished explaining his side of the story. Jim took a few seconds to just breathe before he looked over at Turg and Grim. 
"Same goes for you, Grim. We've been together for centuries at this point, which makes the one with Turg seem less impressive." Jim told Grim from the altar, he figured he should mention Grim as well. 
"As for Turg, you deserved so much better. You are much more kind and compassionate than I have ever been. You didn't have to give your life to save people who never appreciated you, but you did. You changed my life for the better, inspired me to become a better person. I've learned a lot from you. Despite my many flaws and failures, you still stuck with me and I'll forever appreciate you." Jim then focused his improved speech back onto Turg. Jim didn't know what else to say, so instead he ended his speech with "And that's all I have to say I guess, uh, thank you for listening." 
As everyone started clapping for Jim, Turg went to join Jim on the altar and gave Jim a hug. Jim embraced it, before he met Turg he was never one for hugs but that has since changed since he met Turg. 
Later in the evening when everyone was enjoying the party, Turg and Jim were taking a break from socializing with everyone by climbing onto the roof of the barn and watching the stars become visible. Turg was outlining the stars with his finger while Jim was just listening to what Turg thought each constellation was. A shooting star then appeared briefly and Turg became very excited upon seeing it. 
"Did Jim see?" Turg asked as Jim replied "Yes, I did see it. Should make a wish." 
Turg thought about it for a moment before saying "Turg don't have wish. Turg's wish already granted." 
"Oh? What might that be?" Jim asked as Turg smiled and answered with "Today."
"I can say the same, today has been amazing." Jim then said before adding "And we only cried once." 
"Turg was too happy." Was Turg's excuse for that. Jim replied "Yeah, so was I." 
Jim then told Turg "I'm glad you enjoyed today, since we did all this for you because you deserve to know how much of an impact you've made in all of our lives, especially mine."
Turg didn't say anything, instead he started shyly looking away from Jim. He knew that Turg was definitely blushing again.
"Seeing as we're alone, I do want to tell you something." Jim mentioned as Turg looked back at Jim, waiting for him to continue. 
"Just kinda wanted to admit that even if I could only live once, I'd still choose to spend my life with you." Jim admitted to Turg, who responded with "But Jim live forever."
"I'm just saying that even if I couldn't seemingly live forever I would still choose to spend the rest of my days with you. You're the first person I've told this to." Jim elaborated on what he said previously. 
"Turg would too." Turg responded again. Jim then started holding onto Turg's hand as their rings started to glow again along with Turg's amulet. Jim then told Turg again "Not even death can do us part, but when the time comes I wouldn't mind spending the afterlife with you."
"Turg spend it with Jim too." Turg told Jim in response. Jim didn't mean to make the topic related to death, though they were married to them. 
"Yes, but for now let's just enjoy our lives. Who knows what it has in store for us next, but whatever it may be we will experience it together." Jim said to Turg as they went back to watching the stars. They were ready to start their new lives together as the Turgson family. 

The end.