“You look beautiful, Daddy,” Vicky announced sweetly as she looked at her father who was standing in front of her in his black tuxedo. He was wearing a white dress shirt, a black tie and black Prada boots to finish the look.

“Thanks, princess. So do you,” Brian gave right back as he looked at his daughter, who was proudly wearing her new pink dress, her hair up in a nice hairdo that Daphne had spent hours getting ready. She was smiling her best sunshine smile, her blue eyes shining with excitement. It was obvious how much she was looking forward to the events of the day and how much she couldn’t wait to play her part of flower girl at her fathers’ wedding.

When she had been told that her fathers wanted her to be a part of the ceremony and wanted her to be their flower girl, she had been ecstatic and in recent days she had practised very diligently with Emmett and Grandma Jen to make sure that she would be perfect on this special day. Not that her fathers had had any doubt to the contrary. They knew that she would be. Just by having her, Gus and Luke present on this special day it would be perfect.

“Thanks, Daddy! Papa looks beautiful as well,” she announced then which made Brian smile. He had no doubt that Justin would look beautiful. He remembered when they had gone and looked for suits for their first attempt at a wedding years ago. Justin had looked breathtakingly beautiful then and ever since, he had only gotten more beautiful to Brian. So no, he had no doubt at all that Justin would take his breath away as he always did when Brian saw him.

“You saw him?” Brian couldn’t help but ask, hoping that asking wouldn’t go against any of the rules that he apparently just had to follow as he was preparing to get married.

Being the hopeless romantic that he was, Justin had insisted that they did everything right and didn’t see each other for the last 24 hours before they got married. Brian had last seen him when they had been out for a nice late lunch with their family and friends the day before. They had done without a big rehearsal dinner, seeing how the last one had ended. And really, what was there to rehearse? It wasn’t like neither of them or their guests knew what to do and what was expected of them. He knew that he had to show up and had to say “I do” at the right moment and that was it. Easy enough. No need to rehearse for that. Instead they had decided to have a nice lunch with everyone and to just spend some time together.

Now that Gus was 20 and was about to start his second year at university, they didn’t see each other all that much anymore. Gus had moved to New York the previous year to attend Columbia to get his Master of Fine Arts degree. He had been one of the lucky students that had been chosen to attend. It was rumoured that Columbia only accepted 2% of applicants for their fine arts programme and when Gus had been accepted, everyone had been very proud of him. Justin had probably been even prouder than Brian had been.

Gus was incredibly talented and his art was impressive for someone so young and Justin had always supported Gus and his art. Both Brian and Justin had been incredibly proud when their son had been accepted to Columbia, even though both of them, especially Brian, had been slightly nervous about letting him move to New York on his own at only 18 years old.

Thankfully, Gus had always been a good boy. Of course he had misbehaved, had gotten drunk with his friends and stuff that all teenagers did, but at the end of the day, he was a good boy and both Brian and Justin knew that they could trust Gus and that he would come to them if he needed their help.

Gus moving away hadn’t only been hard for Brian and Justin, it had also been hard for Luke and Victoria. Now that Luke was 14 and a teenager, he would never openly admit to missing his brother and had even claimed that he was glad that Gus had moved away, so he would be the oldest in the house, but deep down everyone knew that Luke missed his brother just as much as everyone else did.

Victoria had been more open in her display of emotions and there had been many tears when Gus had moved away. She had cried a lot during the first weeks that he had been away, missing her brother terribly. She had only been four years old, too young to really understand about universities and why Gus couldn’t stay home with her forever. Gus had always been her hero, they had always been very close and Gus had been a great big brother to her, just like he had been to Luke, and Victoria had loved her brother dearly.

After Gus had moved away, she had spent a lot more time with Luke, following him everywhere he went as if she was afraid that he would leave her as well and it had taken Brian and Justin quite a few conversations with her to make her understand what was happening and that even though Gus had moved away to another city, he was still her big brother and still loved her like he always had.

Thankfully, New York wasn’t all that far away from Pittsburgh, so that Gus came home quite regularly and the family had been to New York to visit him as well. Victoria still saw Gus regularly, but it wasn’t the same as having him live in the same house.

Brian and Justin had made sure to spend a lot of time with her, to give her the attention that she needed and once the planning for the wedding had started, she had been beyond excited to get involved. And she had been even more excited when she had learned that Gus would come home for the wedding and would stay for the following week when her fathers went on their honeymoon and Auntie Em and Drew were staying at Britin with her and Luke.

The fact that Gus had moved away, that they didn’t see each other as much anymore as they used to had also been a reason why Brian and Justin had decided to have a nice lunch with everyone before their wedding. There just weren’t that many chances anymore to get together like that unless it was for Christmas or Thanksgiving, so whenever they had the chance, they had to make the most of it.

Brian was pulled back to the here and now by Vicky’s excited voice. “Yes, Auntie Daph took me to him, so he could see my hair. Doesn’t it look nice?”

“It does,” Brian agreed, leaning down in front of his daughter and opening his arms for a hug. “Come here, princess. Give your old man a hug before he starts crying,” he said emotionally, happy when his daughter immediately went into his arms and held him close.

“Don’t cry, Daddy. I thought you were happy,” she frowned, her voice sounding concerned.

“I am. Very happy. You have no idea. They would be happy tears,” Brian promised, leaning back to smile at his daughter and then leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. “And I just can’t believe how beautiful you look.”

“Auntie Em says I look like a real princess,” she smiled brightly, looking up and down her dress in amazement.

“You do,” Brian agreed, before he gave her one last hug.

Looking at her, looking at his sweet, five and a half year old girl now, he couldn’t believe what a rough start into life she had had. How they had been so scared that she might die because she had been born so prematurely. Thankfully, by the time she had been two, she had mostly caught up to other children her age and by now nothing spoke of the rough start into life she had had. She had grown up to be a healthy and beautiful girl and she, much like Luke, looked so much like her Papa that it took Brian’s breath away at times. She had clear blue eyes, blond, angelic locks and a smile that could make all the troubles in the world disappear. Brian loved her so much, there were no words for it. She was his little angel. His and Justin’s. Being the baby of the family, she had been spoilt by everyone and she had loved the attention she had received, being the only girl in the family. She loved how her fathers and brothers doted on her, how they took care of her and spent time with her and Brian knew that she was a very happy girl.

His whole family was. Happy that was. After he had recovered from his lung cancer and life had returned more and more back to normal, things had finally settled down for the Kinney-Taylor family.

Justin had adopted Gus when the boy had been 15, Gus had taken Kinney-Taylor as his legal last name and today he and Justin would finally become Kinney-Taylors as well. Who would have thought?

Certainly not Brian if someone had asked him ten years ago. He never would have thought that one day Justin would forgive him, even less marry him, but today that was happening. Justin was marrying him. They had made it.

Together they had found their way back and had made it. They had gotten the family Brian had never known he had wanted to begin with, but now loved more than anything. He didn’t know what he would do without Justin and his kids. He loved them all so much and knowing that they loved him, knowing that he and Justin had managed to raise decent, smart kids, that he hadn’t fucked up like his parents had with him, that he had been better than them, amazed him at times.

He could still remember the times when he had accused Justin and his friends of turning into Stepford Fags years ago. When he had been the Stud of Liberty Avenue and his whole life had revolved around fucking as many men as he could and getting his dick sucked by as many men as possible. And now, looking at himself, he knew that he had turned into the biggest Stepford Fag of them all.

He and Justin had been monogamous for more than nine years now, they were about to get married and if he had the choice between spending time with his partner and children or going out and getting drunk and getting his dick sucked, he would always choose his family.

They were the ones that made him happy. They made him smile, at times they made him cry, but whatever they did, they were together and loved him. And he loved them. More than anything. He would give the world to make them happy just like they made him happy.

“Are you crying already?”

Brian heard the teasing voice of his oldest son and smiled when he saw Gus enter the room. He wasn’t surprised when Vicky ran into her brother’s arms with an excited squeal as if she hadn’t just seen him half an hour ago. He watched as his children came over to his side, looking him up and down.

“Nice,” Gus nodded with approval. “Papa will love it.”

“He better. Cost me an arm and a leg,” Brian muttered, once more pulling on his tie, making sure it looked perfect.

“He’d marry you in a potato sack, you know that.”

“Yeah, he never had much taste,” Brian winked, then smiled when Gus leaned in and put his arm around his shoulders, giving them a squeeze.

“He chose you, so he must have some taste,” Gus said seriously, before he let Vicky down and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, her head bobbing up and down eagerly, before she waved at Brian and left the room with a quick “Bye, Daddy”.

“What’s that all about?” Brian raised an eyebrow, looking at Gus.

“I asked her to check on Luke and Papa and to make sure that they would look perfect as well and more importantly, to get them in there on time,” he winked, before his face turned more serious.

“And what’s that about?” Brian frowned, now looking into his son’s serious face.

“I know it’s not really my place to say this, but… I want you to know how proud I am of you,” Gus said quietly, his hazel eyes meeting similar hazel eyes when they looked back at him.

Not quite sure what to make of Gus’ statement, Brian stayed quiet and bit his lower lip.

“I am proud of you for the man you have turned into,” Gus continued, still holding Brian’s gaze. “And I am proud to have you as my father.”

“Gus,” Brian started, still trying to find the right reply to what Gus had said.

“I know you’ve had different ideas for your life when I was born. I know that things between you and Papa were rough for a long time and I just want you to know that I am proud of the man you’ve become. I am proud that you’re my dad and that you always put my well-being first. I am proud of the life you and later you and Papa have given us. I love you both, Dad, but… I want you to know that I love you and I am so happy for you and Papa today,” he finished, clearly emotional as he looked at his father from loving eyes.

“Come here,” Brian whispered, pulling Gus closer, hugging his son tight. “I love you.”

“I know,” Gus replied and Brian was glad to know that there hadn’t been any hesitation when Gus had said it. Gus knew indeed and never had to doubt Brian’s love for him. “I love you, too.”

When they broke the embrace, Gus smirked at his father. “Though I really shouldn’t. I should be angry with you.”

“Angry?” Brian frowned, not sure what Gus was talking about.

“You made me wait 14 years for this day,” Gus smirked in a fashion that reminded Brian much of his younger self. It was amazing how much Gus looked like him when he had been younger. It was like looking into a mirror that showed you your younger self.

“You and me both, sonny boy,” Brian sighed, knowing that Gus was referring to the wedding that never had been.

“I am glad you figured it out in the end,” Gus said more seriously. “And I am glad that Luke and Vicky get to be a part of this as well.”

Brian smiled, looking at his son from loving eyes. “So am I. It just feels right this way, you know?”

Gus nodded, knowing what his father was saying. He then leaned in for a hug and held his father close. “I am happy for you and Papa, Dad. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“So do you,” Brian said, knowing that Gus deserved happiness more than any of his children. He had been through so much as a young child and still had turned out to be such a great, responsible, smart man. Brian couldn’t be prouder of him.

“We better get ready before this turns even more emotional,” Gus winked, running his hands over his father’s suit one last time, then leading him towards the door, ready to leave the room. “Let's get this show started.”

Brian felt his heart flutter, but it was all happiness and a nervous energy of excitement and love. So much love. He followed Gus out of the room, ready to take this next step in their relationship.

MEANWHILE IN ANOTHER ROOM CLOSE BY

“Hi Princess, I didn’t expect to see you back this quickly,” Justin chuckled when he saw Vicky bounce into the room happily.

“Gus said that I should check on you and make sure that you would be ready in time,” she nodded, looking very serious.

“Did he now?” Justin couldn’t help but smile, realising that Gus had probably just wanted to get Vicky out of the room, so he could have a few quiet moments with his father. He had been by to see Justin not too long ago and had seemed quite emotional. They had had a short conversation in which Gus had wished him and Brian all the best for their future and had expressed how happy he was for his fathers. He had also thanked Justin for giving his father another chance so many years ago and had praised Justin for seeing the man his father really was.

Justin had been quite surprised by some of the statements and hadn’t really known how to react, in the end he had just hugged his son, had held him close and had told him the truth: He loved Brian. He always had and he always would. Life just wasn’t the same without Brian by his side and today was just proof of that. Their past and everything they had been through had brought them to this day, their wedding day.

He was convinced that their marriage wouldn’t have worked if they had gotten married so many years ago when Brian had first proposed. Neither of them had been ready and he was convinced that their marriage would have failed, but now, after everything they had been through, all the pain, all the heartache, all the happiness and all the joy of their years together, he had no doubt that they were meant to be. They had both changed so much over the years. Neither of them was the same man they had been when they had first met. Both had grown up and developed into more mature men and Justin knew that now they were endgame. They would always be together, no matter what. Getting married now was just the next natural step in their journey together as a couple.

They had been apart and they had been together. They had done this again and again and in the end Justin knew that being together with Brian had always made him happier than when they had been apart. And after they had worked through the trauma of what had happened when Luke had been born, after they had taken the help of a therapist and had made it through that, he knew that nothing would ever break them apart again. They would always be together. They just loved each other and their family too much not to be.

Many, many years ago, when Justin had been Gus’ age, he had dreamt and wished for this day to happen one day and he hadn’t seriously thought there would ever be a day when he would marry Brian Kinney, but today it was happening. That day was finally here. And the most amazing thing of it all: Brian wanted them to get married even more than Justin did. Not that Justin didn’t want them to get married, he was really excited about getting married, but in recent years it had become more and more obvious that Brian felt more strongly about this marriage than Justin did. Justin had been secure in the knowledge that they would always be together, no matter what. They were meant for each other and they had often joked that no one else would be patient enough to deal with either one of them. It was good that they had found each other or they would have been doomed to very lonely lives.

Brian wanting this marriage so much only showed how much he had changed over the years. By now the Stud of Liberty Avenue was only a myth. A legend almost. It had been a long time since Brian had been that man. Thanks to therapy and long conversations with Justin and their family, Brian had been able to admit that the Stud of Liberty Avenue had only been an image that he had created to make sure that no one would get too close to his heart. That no one would be able to get close enough to hurt him. Hurt him like his parents had hurt him all his younger life.

Most of Brian’s issues had stemmed from his childhood and youth with Jack and Joan Kinney and knowing what he knew about how Brian had grown up, Justin couldn’t blame him. He was just glad that Brian had found the strength to move on from that part of his life and to admit to himself what he wanted in life. And, what in Justin’s opinion, he also deserved in life. As far as Justin was concerned, no one deserved to be loved more than Brian. Brian who had never known real love until he had been a teenager and even then the love he had received from Debbie, Michael and Lindsay had been very conditional. Brian always claimed that the first time someone had really loved him unconditionally had been when Justin had loved him. And later his children.

The thought humbled Justin and also made him aware of the huge responsibility he had. He held Brian’s heart in his hands, he had the power to destroy the man, but he knew he would never do that. He loved him more than anything. After everything they had been through, Justin knew that he would never be able to hate Brian. No matter what. If he hadn’t been able to hate him after what had happened with Luke, he knew there was nothing that would make him hate Brian. He loved him and cherished him and he felt just as loved by the man as he loved him.

He loved Brian with all his heart and more than anything he knew that Brian loved him just like that. Brian would move the heavens and the earth to make him happy and had done so many times in the past. As far as Justin was concerned, he was the luckiest man on the planet, being loved by Brian like that. He knew that Brian would argue that he was the luckiest man because Justin still loved him after everything they had been through. Maybe they were both lucky. Lucky to have found each other and to have worked through whatever life had thrown their way.

“Are you gonna cry as well, Papa?” Vicky asked as she looked at him with a frown on her face.

“Cry?” Justin asked, feeling slightly confused.

She shrugged. “You looked like you might cry. Daddy said he might cry as well. But happy tears.”

Justin smiled as he leaned down in front of his daughter. “They would only be happy tears for me as well, honey. I am very, very happy today.”

“That’s good. So is Daddy.”

“Are you ready for your big moment?” Justin asked, running a hand over his daughter’s cheek gently.

Vicky nodded eagerly, bobbing her little head up and down happily. “Grandma Jen and Auntie Em practised a lot with me. They said I was the best flower girl they have ever seen.”

“I bet you are. You will be amazing,” Justin smiled, before he turned towards the door when it opened again and revealed Luke and Daphne.

“Are you ready, Papa?” Luke asked, smiling his own version of Justin’s famous sunshine smile. It was amazing how much Luke looked like him. Just like Gus looked like a mini-version of Brian. There really was no doubt about their children’s parentage. Same for Vicky who looked like himself in female form.

“More than ready,” Justin smiled, as Luke came over.

“Gus and Dad are ready as well. They said they were only waiting for you,” Luke pointed out, before he stood next to his father and compared their outfits in the mirror. They were both wearing dark suits with light shirts that brought out their eyes and hair and with Justin’s youthful looks that he had always kept, they almost could be brothers instead of father and son.

“You look beautiful,” Justin said, his voice quite emotional as he looked at their reflection in the mirror.

“We all look beautiful,” Vicky piped up in that moment, appearing by Justin’s side and smiling at their reflection as well.

“We do. We absolutely do,” Justin smiled, before moving around and smiling at Daphne, who was still standing by the door and watching him and his kids with a gentle smile.

Justin nodded to Luke and Vicky. “Go and tell your Dad and Gus that we’ll be there in a minute.”

Both children nodded and then left the room, leaving Justin with Daphne.

“You look happy,” she said, running a hand through Justin’s hair, before she pulled him into a crushing hug, the kind of hug they used to give each other all the time, but didn’t get to enjoy as much anymore now that they were both busy with their own careers, families and lives.

“I am,” he smiled widely, his eyes shining with his happiness.

“Is this what you really want though?” Daphne asked, leaning her head to the side and studying Justin’s eyes.

“Daph,” Justin sighed, once again cursing himself for having made the mistake of telling her a year or two ago that Brian wanted this marriage a lot more than he did. Even though things between Brian and Daphne had normalised after Brian and Justin had reconciled, Justin knew that Daphne was just waiting for the moment when Brian would break his heart again and she could kick his ass. Having made the mistake of telling her that by now Brian was the driving force behind them getting married when years ago it had been him, had been reason enough for her to doubt his intentions and to think that Brian had pressured him into a marriage he didn’t want. “Stop it! Not today!”

“You were the one that said that Brian wanted this marriage a lot more than you did.”

“Which doesn’t mean that I don’t want it. I want this, Daph. I am happy. This is what I want. I want to marry Brian.”

Daphne’s gaze met his and he could see that she still seemed to doubt him.

“I really wish I hadn’t mentioned it at all,” he said, frustration clear to hear in his voice.

“But you did. And I am your best friend, so it’s my task to make sure this is what you want.”

“It is. I don’t know what else to tell you. I want to marry Brian. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I love him, I love the partner he is to me, I love the father he is to our children, I love him. It’s as easy as that, Daph.”

“I am just worried that he’s taking advantage of you,” his best friend said quietly, their gazes meeting.

“Brian would be the last person to take advantage of me, you know that.”

When Daphne just raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘Really?’, Justin sighed again. “God, Daph. Not that again. That was years ago. We worked through what happened back then and we are happy.”

“Then why does he want this more than you do? Getting married to him was always your biggest dream. God, I remember so many classes where you would doodle various versions of your name and Brian’s name.”

Justin actually snorted when she reminded him of some of his less adult behaviour back in the days. “And I still want it and I am still happier than I ever thought I could be. It’s just not my biggest dream anymore.” Before Daphne could respond to that, Justin went on. “And before you say anything: That has nothing to do with Brian. I just know that we will be together for the rest of our lives, no matter what. After everything we’ve been through, after everything we survived together, I have no doubt about that, Daph. I love him, he loves me and we both love our children. We will always be together, no matter what. Back when it was me that wanted to get married, I wanted to get married for different reasons. I felt like being married to Brian would secure my place in his life and by his side. I felt like a fucking piece of paper would give me the security Brian wasn’t ready to give me. Now things have changed though. I know my place in his life. I know what the children and I mean to him and I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me.”

“And he does?”

“No, he doesn’t.”

Daphne looked at him and Justin knew immediately that she didn’t believe him.

“He doesn’t need us to get married, Daph. He wants us to. That’s a big difference.” Justin watched her, then continued speaking. “And it’s the same for me. Back when he first proposed, I was so focused on getting married. I needed us to get married, I needed to become his husband to be secure of my place at his side. I don’t need that anymore. I want to become his husband now. I want to be his husband, I want to have the same last name that my kids do. It’s not a question of needing to be reassured by him any longer, it’s a question of wanting it. Just like for him it’s not a question of needing to do what makes me happy, but what makes him happy and what he wants. We are finally doing what we want, not what we need to be secure of our place in each other’s life.”

Justin smiled at his best friend, his whole face shining with happiness. “We’re finally getting married for the right reasons. And that’s how I know that it’ll work out. We’re doing it for the right reasons now.”

Daphne shook her head slowly, then smiled as well, feeling reassured by Justin’s smile and what he had said. “Ignore me. I guess I am worrying too much.”

“You’re worrying about me, so I forgive you,” he said as he leaned in and pulled her close into a tight hug.

Now it was Daphne’s turn to sigh. “I shouldn’t though. You’ve got it all under control.”

Justin chuckled at that. “I wish.”

They ended their hug and pulled apart. “I think we have to go now or otherwise your future hubby might kill me for keeping you here.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” Justin snorted, as they left the room together, heading to his wedding.

Chapter 2

“Ma, stop it,” Brian admonished good-naturedly, as Debbie once again ran her hands over his shoulders as if to wipe off some dust that only she could see, then threw a pleading look in Ted’s direction, who was watching everything in amusement.

“Deb, I think Brian’s suit is clean. Or can you see him wearing a dirty Armani?”

Debbie nodded as if to herself, then looked at Brian, her gaze meeting his. “I am sorry. I’m just so emotional right now.”

“I thought you would be happy that I am finally making an honest man out of Sunshine.”

“I am,” she agreed, nodding her head up and down. “I am. I am happy for both of you.”

“But?” Brian frowned, not quite sure what had Debbie this emotional.

“No but. I am just happy. That’s it. Happy and relieved and so fucking proud. I never thought I would ever see the day that you would get married. And out of your own free will to boot.”

“Deb, I stopped being that man a long time ago,” Brian said quietly.

“I know, I know. And I am so proud of you. You have no idea. So proud of the man you have become. Of the father that you are. The business man you are. I am just proud of you. So fucking let me be proud and take it like a man.”

Ted snorted, then quickly hid the snort and faked a cough when Brian threw him a glare. “I am still your boss, Theodore.”

“Partner,” Ted immediately shot back, over the years having gotten a lot braver when it came to contradicting Brian than he had been at the beginning of their friendship.

“I am still the majority shareholder though,” Brian smirked, reminding Ted of who had the majority share in Kinnetik.

In recent months, since Vicky had started school, Brian had started to work some more while she was in school. Before, he had enjoyed being at home, spending time with her and Justin and his sons, but now that Gus was out of the house, Luke and Vicky were in school for most of the day and Justin was as busy as ever creating his beautiful art, Brian had felt himself getting bored with nothing much to do and had started taking more of an interest in his company again.

It had felt nice to work again, to have something to do that challenged him creatively and he had enjoyed coming back to Kinnetik more than he had thought he would. Apparently he had been the only one surprised by that as Justin, Ted and pretty much everyone else had been less than surprised when Brian had voiced how much he loved being back. Maybe it was true and they all knew him better than he thought.

“True, but we both know that you wouldn’t fire me,” Ted smiled sweetly, then turned around when he heard Emmett call his name.

“Everyone ready here? Oh my gosh, Brian! You look glorious,” he exclaimed, throwing up his arms in delight. “That suit looks like it was made just for you.”

“It was,” Brian muttered, making the people around him laugh. As if Brian Kinney would wear an off the rack suit to his own wedding. Ridiculous!

“Both you and Baby look absolutely fabulous,” Emmett just went on as if he hadn’t heard Brian’s reply. “How about we get this show started before anyone starts to change their mind?”

“No one is changing their mind if I have anything to say about it,” Debbie announced, looking at Brian sternly.

“What are you looking at me for? I am the one that asked him to marry me.”

“Just making sure we’re not encountering any last minute nerves,” she said, still eying him.

“Not from me,” Brian said seriously and smiled when he was saved by Daphne’s and Justin’s arrival. His whole face lit up when he saw Justin, who looked absolutely beautiful in his suit. Justin was giving him his best sunshine smile as he walked closer.

“Hey,” the younger man said, still smiling.

“Hey,” Brian replied, immediately pulling the younger man close for a kiss. After all he hadn’t seen Justin in a whole day which in his opinion was way too long.

“I thought the whole ‘You can now kiss the groom' thing only came later in the ceremony,” Emmett stage whispered, pretending to fan himself at the sight in front of him.

“I missed you,” Brian said quietly, still holding Justin tight.

“Missed you, too,” Justin gave back, allowing Brian to take hold of his hand before he pulled back a bit and turned to face their family.

“You guys know that you’ll still have the rest of your days for that, don’t you?” Debbie cackled, then made her way over to them, taking Brian’s arm. “This one’s mine for the next couple of minutes, Sunshine.”

Brian and Justin smiled at each other, then pulled apart. Brian went over to Debbie’s side while Justin waited for his mother to come over, who had been in a last minute conversation with her granddaughter.

“You ready, honey?” she asked, a gentle smile on her face as she took Justin’s arm and stood close by his side.

“More than ready,” he announced, his voice sounding absolutely sure and excited.

“I am so happy for you. For both of you,” she said sincerely before she leaned over and placed a kiss on Justin’s blond head. “Who would have thought, huh?”

Justin couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment. “Yeah, who would have thought? If only there was a time machine and I could go back to my 17-year old self and tell myself and you that one day I would marry Brian and that you would actually be happy about it.”

“I wouldn’t have believed you,” Jennifer admitted honestly, squeezing her son’s arm. “I guess I wasn’t ready to see my baby grow up and go out into the world.”

“And with Brian of all people,” Justin chuckled, knowing very well that he hadn’t really made it easy for his mother back then. Now that his own sons were both close to that age, he had a much easier time understanding his mother’s reluctance to accept Brian as the man in his life. He honestly didn’t know how he would react if Gus would bring home someone 12 years his senior. Even though it would make him a hypocrite, he was pretty sure that he would have his doubts as well. He would be worried about his son’s welfare as well.

“Yeah,” Jennifer nodded, then looked over to Brian and Debbie, who were also talking. “But I am glad that it worked out this way. I know that he makes you happy.”

“He does,” Justin smiled his best sunshine smile, before he turned to his mom and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. For always supporting me even though it wasn’t easy at times.”

“Honey,” Jennifer started, sounding emotional now. “I just wish I could have supported you more when it mattered.”

Justin knew that she was referring to the time when he had first come out and to the time when Brian had been pregnant with Luke. Those two times had been hard on their relationship and at times Justin hadn’t really known if there was even a relationship between them, but at the end of the day, he knew that Jennifer loved him and he knew that she had tried her best as his mother. Everyone failed, nobody was perfect and he was just glad that each time they had been able to save their relationship and fix it before it had broken completely.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, honey. Now let’s get you married. I think someone is more than ready to get her big moment,” she said, nodding towards where a very excited Vicky was standing, eager to get started so she could impress everyone as the flower girl.

Justin chuckled when he saw how excited his daughter looked and then nodded at his mother.

He turned to Brian once more and just asked him a simple word. “Ready?”

“Ready,” Brian nodded, holding Justin’s gaze and smiling gently at him.

“Oooh, I am so excited,” Emmett announced, before he bounced off and went into the room, sitting down at Drew’s side, but not before stopping at his goddaughter’s side and whispering some encouraging words to her.

“Ready, sweetheart?” Justin asked, turning towards Vicky who nodded eagerly.

“Okay, you can go then, princess,” Brian said next, nodding at his daughter and then watching with loving eyes as she walked into the room, gracefully throwing the flowers from the basket she was holding and covering the whole carpet with them.

Ted and Daphne as best man and best woman followed after her and went to the end of the room, where they joined the registrar who was standing on a small stage that had been beautifully decorated with white roses and other flower arrangements.

Next it was Justin’s turn to walk down the aisle at his mother’s side, closely followed by Brian who was walking down the aisle at Debbie’s side.

Both men had agreed that they didn’t want a religious ceremony, neither of them being very religious and both of them, especially Brian, having made rather bad experiences with religion in the past. They had also agreed that they both wanted to walk down the aisle with their mothers, or in Brian’s case the mother of his heart. Brian’s father had passed a long time ago and Justin hadn’t spoken to his father in more than 15 years, instead they had decided that they wanted to honour the women in their lives that had loved them, raised them and had been there for them and their family when they had needed them.

It had always been clear that theirs would not be a traditional wedding in the sense of what people expected of weddings, so who cared? It was what they wanted and what made them happy and so they just did it and went with it.

When they reached the small stage, both Jennifer and Debbie kissed their sons, wishing them all the best, before they sat down in the first row to watch the ceremony.

Justin leaned down and kissed his daughter’s forehead. “You were perfect. You looked absolutely beautiful and did great!”

Brian agreed and knelt down for a quick kiss to her cheek as well. “That was perfect! You did really well.”

Vicky’s whole face lit up in happiness, happy that she had done well and made her fathers proud and she was still smiling as she went off the stage and sat down with her brothers and grandparents in the first row to watch the ceremony as well.

Brian and Justin were standing in front of the registrar, who was going to marry them soon. They were holding hands and smiling at each other like lunatics.

“You look beautiful!” Brian said, his voice hardly above a whisper.

“So do you,” Justin couldn’t stop smiling. He didn’t think he had ever been happier. Today he was going to marry Brian. Life couldn’t get any better than that!

The registrar started speaking and Brian and Justin both turned around to look at him.

“Today we have gathered here to be witnesses when Brian and Justin become one officially, when they become a married couple. We are here to be witnesses when they take their love to the ultimate level.

Brian and Justin have been together for a long time and have a beautiful family with their three children. They might already feel like a married couple and still, taking this step is something special. Making something you’ve felt and known for a long time already official is a big step. A step Brian and Justin are taking together today and they want to share this with you, their family and friends!

Brian and Justin wanted this ceremony to be as personal as it could be, so they decided to have their own vows.”

The registrar looked at Justin “Justin, you may begin.”

Justin cleared his throat and turned to look at Brian. He couldn’t believe how nervous he was, he hadn’t been all day, but now, now that he was about to tell Brian what he really meant to him, the nervousness appeared.

He cleared his throat again and took Brian’s hand in his and then began to speak.

“Brian…you are the light of my life. You are the love of my life, you are the reason I get up in the mornings and the reason why I make it through the day. You are always there for me and our children, always taking care of us first before thinking about yourself. And even though you would never see it that way, you are the most selfless person I’ve ever met.

I love the way you love me and can make me laugh so hard at times that I have to cry, which is something many people don’t know about you, but you have such an amazing personality, I was drawn to you immediately – and your body of course, no surprise there - and wasn’t able since then to let you go again. Which you had to learn the hard way, I guess,” Justin chuckled self-deprecatingly, making the audience laugh as well as he was obviously referring to their early days when he had turned into a stalker and stalked Brian.

“Even when we weren’t together, I was thinking about you all the time, remembering the way you loved me, took care of me, made me laugh, made me cry, the way you would hold me and the way I would get to see a side of you that not many people had seen at that time.

I guess, what I am trying to say is…” and here Justin’s voice began to break, “…what I want to say is…I…I love you! I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my life, more than I ever thought would be possible. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be and I want to thank you for it! I also want to give you a promise…” tears started running down Justin’s face and Brian gently wiped them away, his own eyes very glassy as well.

“I want to promise you, Brian, that I’ll always love you. That I’ll always be there for you, will be a faithful, loving husband to you and a loving father to our children and will always be by your side, through better or worse and…through everything, really! I mean, we’ve pretty much covered all there is to cover where the worse part is concerned, so I am hoping that from now on we’ll only have to deal with the better part. I am so happy to be here with you today and to make you officially my husband…I love you, Brian!”

Brian gave Justin’s hand a comforting squeeze and smiled gently at him, being really moved by Justin’s declaration of love.

The registrar turned to look at Brian and quietly told him that it was his turn now.

Brian took a deep breath, trying to get his emotions under control, but he knew that he was failing miserably. He was so touched by Justin’s words that he knew he wouldn’t be able to trust his voice. So in a broken voice, he started with his vows.

”Justin, I love you! I…I just wanted to let you know the most important thing first, I guess,” Brian could hear a slight chuckle behind him, coming from their friends and family.

“Every morning when I wake up and realise that you are lying next to me, I thank God for having you in my life. I…I know what my life would be like without you and I don’t ever want to experience that again. I can’t and I don’t want to imagine a life without you. You have been a part of my life for so long, the most important part, I don’t ever want to be without you again. I want to be with you 24/7, for the rest of my life.

Looking at our future together makes me smile, because I know that no matter what we’ll have to face, you’ll be by my side, that we’ll face it together and I know that we’ll be able to face anything that’ll be thrown our way, just as we have done so far! If we have proven one thing, it’s that we can face anything as long as we face it together.

I want to thank you for being there for me in every way. For being by my side whenever I need you. It means more than I can say…I want you to know that I’ll be there for you the same way you have always been there for me for the rest of your life. I’ll never leave you, Sunshine. You are stuck with me now…”

Again a chuckle went through the rows of guests and Justin was laughing as well through his tears.

“In the end it all just comes down to what I already said in the beginning. I love you! I love you and our family so much and today is the happiest day of my life and this ceremony makes me the happiest man on the planet. I honestly never expected that one day I could be as happy as I am now. ”

This time it was Justin who squeezed Brian’s hand reassuringly. “Love you, too.”

He knew how much Brian hated talking about his feelings and how much he hated talking about them in front of other people and it amazed Justin that Brian had actually said all this in front of all their families and friends without hesitation.

It had been Justin’s idea to speak their own vows and while Brian had agreed and not seemed to care all that much, Justin had known that speaking these vows would be way easier for him than for Brian. That was why he was even more impressed by all that Brian had said.

The registrar started speaking again and they both turned back around to be able to look at him.

“Now we’ll come to the official part of the ceremony. Justin, you go first:

Justin, will you solemnly promise that you will always protect Brian with your utmost care, that you will honour and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, and that in all things you will be to him a faithful and loving partner?

Respond: ‘I will’“

Justin looked at Brian and responded in a clear voice “I will”. He felt Brian squeezing his hand even tighter.

“Now you, Brian:

Will you solemnly promise that you will always protect Justin with your utmost care, that you will honour and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, and that in all things you will be to him a faithful and loving partner?

Respond: ‘I will’“

Brian took a deep breath and responded. “I will”.

Justin smiled through his tears at Brian. Even more tears were streaming down his face now. He didn’t think he would be able to ever stop crying again. He was that touched, moved, happy, relieved -he couldn’t even exactly say what he was feeling right now.

“I now ask you, Brian and Justin as well as your best man and best woman, to come over and sign the official wedding papers. This will only take a minute”

Brian and Justin both signed their names on the required lines and watched as Ted and Daphne did the same, acting as official witnesses.

After the papers were signed, they all went back to their places. The registrar gave Ted a sign, who gave a sign to Gus in the first row, beckoning him to come over.

Brian and Justin both watched their son come up to them, carrying a cushion with two rings on it - their wedding rings! They couldn’t help but laugh when Gus smirked at them as he walked up with the rings.

Gus stopped in front of Brian and Justin and held the rings up to them. “You made me wait long enough for this day,” he just said, smiling at his fathers, everyone thinking back to the wedding that had never happened so many years ago when Gus had been supposed to be their ring bearer.

Brian and Justin hadn’t known that Gus would be their ring bearer for this wedding, they had thought Ted would just carry the rings and both men laughed at this surprise. Finally Gus had gotten his big moment as well. It had taken them almost 15 years, but finally the day had arrived.

Brian took the smaller of the rings, slipping it on Justin’s ring finger while saying,

”I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and of our wedding today.”

Justin then took the bigger ring and slipped it on Brian’s finger, reciting the same vow.

Gus took a step back and quietly left the stage again.

The Registrar spoke up again. “As a token of the contract into which you have entered, these rings are given and received. You are now officially joined as partners and you may kiss the groom!”

Justin and Brian turned to each other again, smiling happily at each other, slowly leaning in until their lips met. Everyone started cheering, but neither Brian nor Justin noticed, being so lost in their first kiss as a married couple…

Chapter 3

After the wedding ceremony, everyone had moved to the banquet hall for a delicious five course wedding dinner. Emmett had outdone himself and everyone had praised him for the great food.

Justin and Brian had been like teenagers all throughout dinner, hardly eating anything, being too busy to kiss and kiss some more.

“Jeez, it’s not like you two don’t know what that feels like,” Debbie said jokingly at one point when they kissed again.

They separated for a second, coming up for air, before Brian turned to Debbie with a smirk. “It feels very different now. It’s a completely new experience. Much to experience in fact.”

“But Daddy, you have to eat,” Vicky pointed out, looking at the still filled plates in front of her fathers.

“They are eating each other,” Luke joked, before he pretended to cough and hid his face behind a napkin after he had earned himself an angry look from his grandmother in response.

“That’s not food,” Vicky pointed out seriously.

“She’s right, Dad. That’s not food. You need to eat some food,” Gus winked, earning himself a glare from his father in response.

“Traitor,” Brian muttered in the direction of his son, before turning to his plate and picking up his fork. He made a show of picking up some of the broccoli lying on the plate and put it into his mouth. Once he had chewed and swallowed, he turned to his daughter.

“I am eating, see?”

“Good,” Vicky nodded, before turning to her Papa as well. “You need to eat, too, Papa.”

Justin started eating as well. “I am actually quite famished.”

Everyone laughed and Vicky just looked around in confusion, not quite sure why that had made everyone laugh. To her being famished sounded very serious.

“Tell us something we don’t know,” Blake joked, still laughing.

“And he can’t even say that he’s a growing boy any longer,” Jennifer threw in, making Debbie nod, reminding her of the amounts of food Justin could pack away as a teenager.

“Well, I am pretty sure I felt something grow just a minute ago,” Brian piped up, earning himself an outraged ‘Brian!’ from his husband by his side.

“I can only repeat myself, tell us something we don’t know already,” Blake replied dryly.

Vicky once again felt confused and left out of a joke when everyone at their table once again laughed. “Why would Papa still be growing? I don’t understand it. Only children grow and Papa is not a child.”

“This is on you,” Justin said in Brian’s direction, smirking when he saw Brian’s panicked eyes meeting his.

“Uhm, I meant your Papa’s stomach. It’s growing because he always eats so much, you know?”

“Did he just say Justin is getting fat?” Ted stage-whispered to Emmett at his side which earned him another glare from Brian and a disbelieving look from Justin.

“And on his wedding day. You’d think he’d be smarter than that, thinking of the wedding night and all, you know?” Emmett replied, laughing heartily when he saw Brian turning to Justin immediately, almost snapping his neck with how fast he had turned.

“That’s not what I was saying,” Brian defended himself, meeting Justin’s gaze. “You’re not getting fat. And even if you were, I wouldn’t care.”

“Right answer,” Justin just winked, nearly doubling over with laughter when he saw the relief on Brian’s face when Brian realised that he wasn’t angry at him for what he had said. Justin leaned in, whispering into Brian’s ear. “That teaches you to watch your mouth in front of the children.”

Brian just sighed, leaning closer to his husband’s face, before he whispered back. “If I obviously haven’t learned by now, do you really think I will before she gets old enough to understand these things?”

“For your sake, I hope so.”

Justin then turned back to his plate and his food and continued eating, smiling to himself as he felt more than saw Brian watch him from still slightly scared eyes. Taking pity on his husband, not wanting to make Brian suffer more than was necessary on this day, Justin turned back to him and smiled at him with his best sunshine smile. “I love you,” he said seriously, hoping that Brian would understand that they were okay and he was joking and not angry. With the family they had, this wasn’t the first time one of their children had been exposed to inappropriate comments and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.

He saw that Brian had understood the meaning of his declaration of love and smiled even brighter when he saw him relax and turn to his own plate again.

Just as Brian was about to take another bite of his vegetables, he put his fork down instead, turned to Justin and pulled him closer for another kiss.

“I thought he was supposed to eat his own food, not Justin’s,” Ted mused, making everyone laugh once again at the antics of the couple in front of them.

***

After dinner it was time for the best man/best woman speeches. When Ted stood up, his eyes met with Brian’s and he enjoyed seeing the slightly scared at first and then threatening look he saw in his friend’s and boss’ eyes. It was clear that Brian was scared of him saying anything too outrageous or embarrassing and he just smirked back at him, enjoying this position of power that he had.

“First of all, let us raise our glasses in a toast to Brian and Justin. Congratulations!” Ted started and everyone joined him in raising their glasses in a toast to the happy couple.

“I know that nobody really wants to listen to endless, boring speeches and as an accountant and finance person I feel way more comfortable with numbers than speeches, so I promise that this one will be short and sweet.”

He smiled when he saw something akin to relief on Brian’s face.

“I can honestly say that twenty years ago, I would have bet all my money on this day never happening. I have known Brian for many, many, way too many years by now and 20 years ago marriage was the last thing on his mind. I will even go as far as saying he detested marriage and everything connected to it. Back then I would have even bet all my money on never seeing Brian in a serious relationship. Well, I guess it’s good that I am not a betting man and that betting was never one of my vices. I would have lost a considerable amount of money otherwise.

I still remember the night Justin appeared on Liberty Avenue and even though Brian would have never admitted it to himself or us, it was clear that he was immediately attracted to him. I think in all the years I’ve known Brian, Justin was the first man he broke his “Once only” policy for.”

When Ted took a breath, Vicky’s voice piped up. “What’s a ‘Once only’ policy?” she asked to the people at the table, looking confused.

Brian and Justin just looked at each other and then at Ted. “This one is on you,” they said together, making the whole table laugh.

Vicky turned to Ted with big eyes and looked at him, clearly expecting an answer.

Ted blushed and was getting nervous when he was saved by Emmett, who leaned over to his goddaughter. “It means that your Dad was very selective and only talked once to a man. He didn’t waste time talking to them again if he didn’t like them. Your Papa was the first man he talked to more than once.”

Vicky nodded as if trying to understand the information she had been given, then turned to her fathers. “That’s not very nice, Daddy. Maybe the other men would have been nice as well.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Brian agreed, pulling Justin closer. “Thankfully I learned to be nicer when your Papa showed up.”

“Yes, thankfully,” Vicky agreed, nodding happily.

Being engrossed in her conversation with her fathers, Vicky missed Blake leaning over to Ted’s side and whispering that he should keep it PG rated from now on.

Ted’s eyes widened and everyone around the table laughed when he just sputtered “But… it’s Brian and Justin… there is nothing PG rated about them.”

“Then you were right, it will really be a short speech,” Carl threw in, earning himself a nod from most people around the table.

Ted took another deep breath, before he continued. “Anyway, where was I… right, Justin showing up on Liberty Avenue. Well, uhm…,” it was obvious that Ted was trying to find the right way to give his speech and keep it PG rated for the children at the table. “It was obvious that Brian cared a lot about Justin and Justin proved that he cared quite a bit about Brian as well. Stalkers all over the world would be envious of his talent. For various reasons, it took them some time though to figure out what they really wanted, which was each other. Thankfully, they figured it out and I can only say that I am honoured to be here on this day when they are making their love for each other official and to be here as Brian’s best man. Over the years, Brian and Justin have started a family, have raised three beautiful children and have become something I never would have thought was possible 20 years ago: A committed, happy couple that loves each other through whatever life throws at them, that loves their children, their family and friends and I am sure I am not only speaking for myself when I say that I wish you all the best for your future.

We all know of the struggles that you have already mastered. Today and from hereon out, I wish you nothing but happiness for yourselves and your family.

You deserve it more than anyone I know,” Ted finished, raising his glass once more in a toast. “To Brian and Justin. May you be forever as happy as you are today.”

“To Brian and Justin,” everyone chorussed and toasted them.

Ted sat down and it was clear that he was slightly embarrassed. Blake immediately rubbed Ted’s thigh in a soothing manner and smiled gently at his partner.

“Thanks, Ted. That was a really nice speech,” Justin said, coming over and giving their friend a hug. He was joined seconds later by Brian, who also gave Ted a hug.

“You messed up less than I expected. I am impressed,” Brian announced tongue in cheek, earning himself a wide-eyed look from Ted. “I mean it. I am impressed. Thanks, Theodore!”

After hugging him once more, Brian and Justin moved back to their seats, getting ready for Daphne’s speech.

Only seconds later Daphne got up and raised her glass as well.

“Well, I guess it’s my turn now to embarrass Brian and Justin on their wedding day. Congratulations!”

Everyone raised their glasses once more, before Daphne began her speech.

“Well, what can I say? I have known Justin since we were pre-school kids playing in the sandbox. He has always been very determined and went after what he wanted in life and that showed very early in our first meeting. He stole my toy shovel that I was playing with in the sandbox, you know?”

Everyone chuckled, imagining pre-school Justin and Daphne in the sandbox and Justin taking her shovel.

“This first meeting should have prepared me for what was to come later, but I guess I was too young to realise, but well, hindsight and all that. There were a lot of tears, lots of drama, then big forgiveness, a sunshine smile, some more forgiveness and then we were best friends after that. Which pretty much sums up my whole life with Justin, I guess.”

Some more chuckling at the table, before Daphne went on.

“I remember the day Justin went to Liberty Avenue. I was the one that took him there and gave him a ride.” She then turned to Jennifer, smiling at her apologetically. “Sorry, Jennifer, but you know how he is when he looks at you with his pleading, big eyes.”

Jennifer and several other people around the table nodded, knowing that pleading look all too well.

“Anyway, what I remember even more is the next day in school when I met Justin again, asking him about his night out.”

A loud groan could be heard from Justin who hid his face in his hands. “God, please don’t…,” he just muttered, but of course that didn’t stop Daphne.

“He was euphoric like I had never seen him before. I think we all know why,” she winked, before looking at Vicky and smiling at her. “He was very happy to have met your Daddy,” she said and could see the small girl nodding, before she continued. “And he couldn’t stop telling me about this man he had met. The face of God, he had called him. The most beautiful man he had ever seen, he had said.”

Justin hid his face some more, now hiding it in Brian’s shoulder. “Make her stop,” he whispered jokingly, which only made Brian laugh.

“I like what I am hearing. Go on,” he said to Daphne, who did as she was told.

“And that was how Justin’s obsession with one Brian Kinney was born. For the next couple of years it was Brian this, Brian that… I think if he could have, Justin would have already married Brian the day after they met, but maybe it was for the best that Brian wasn’t interested in that.

To be fair, I didn’t quite know what to make of Brian back then. He was obviously handsome, Justin was right about that, but other than that I just thought that he was very, very old.”

“Okay, stop, Daphne,” Brian said now, clearly joking.

Justin turned to him, looking at him in mock horror. “Now you want her to stop?!?”

“As in every relationship there were good times and bad times and there were ups and downs. The one thing that has been obvious through all the ups and downs however is how much these two love each other. They might not always have been able to say it, they might not always have been able to show it properly, but looking back, I think it’s obvious that these two are made for each other. No other person would be willing to put up with either of them. And I would know. I shared an apartment with Justin and it’s not nice living with him. He’s messy, his art supplies are everywhere, not the best of roommates, I have to say.”

While Brian nodded, only being too familiar with Justin’s messy ways, Justin looked horrified. “You are supposed to be my friend.”

“And I am. Your best friend. Which is why I get to give this speech,” Daphne smiled sweetly at Justin, before continuing as if there had been no interruption. “Anyway, what I am trying to say is that I am very, very happy that you two have made it work and that after all this time you finally took this step.

I wish you all the happiness you can get for the future, hoping that you will be as happy together for the rest of your lives as you have been in the last few years. I love you and your wonderful family and we all wish you the same happiness you feel today for the rest of your lives.”

The whole group once again raised their glasses and toasted the happy couple.

Daphne sat down and both Brian and Justin felt quite happy that the part for speeches was over. Not that they didn’t like the speeches, but there was only so much walking down memory lane either of them wanted to do on this special day.

Everyone had a couple more drinks, before Emmett announced that it was time for the first dance. Brian groaned and Justin just took his hand, squeezing it in comfort. “You’ll survive,” he whispered, as he got up and pulled Brian with him.

They had danced before, many times, but mostly in a club setting and not in a formal setting like this and Justin knew why Brian wasn’t necessarily looking forward to this dance. Well, he might be looking forward to this dance, but not the memories it brought with it. The one time they had danced in a formal setting like this, dressed to their nines in lovely suits it had all ended so wrong.

Justin still had no memory of most of that night, but he knew that Brian remembered every second of it and he knew that Brian would definitely be taken back to that night, no matter what.

It had been Brian’s only request for their wedding, for everything else he had given Justin free reign and had been happy enough to go along with whatever Justin had wanted and asked for, but he had requested that ‘Save the last dance’ would not be played at their wedding under any circumstances.

Knowing how much what had happened at the Prom still bothered Brian, Justin had agreed immediately. Their wedding was supposed to be a happy occasion for both of them and if that was what was needed to keep Brian happy, Justin was only too happy to go along with it. Not that it mattered much to him. He had always thought that that song was corny anyway.

They made their way to the middle of the makeshift dance floor and Justin smiled his best sunshine smile when Brian took his hand and started leading him all over the dance floor when the music started.

It felt as if they were floating, them using the whole dance floor as they danced their first dance as a married couple. Both Brian and Justin had learned classical dances, Justin growing up in the country club set that his parents had been part of and Brian when he had pretended to be Lindsay’s boyfriend and had accompanied her to meetings in the same set.

Even though they hadn’t often danced like this before, it felt natural and their movements were absolutely in sync. Without having to look at the people watching them from around the dance floor, Justin knew that they looked magnificent.

Them both in their suits, dancing as if they had never done anything else, clear passion and emotion only too obvious between them for everyone to see. They truly were a sight to behold.

When the music ended, Justin could see that Brian’s eyes were glassy and he knew only too well what was going on in the older man’s head. He leaned in for a gentle kiss and kissed Brian for what felt like forever. When they pulled apart, he looked at the older man from shining eyes, his voice full of emotion.

“I won’t forget this one. Ever.”

Brian just nodded, not able to reply anything, pulling Justin closer and holding him tight. They stayed in that hug for what felt like it was minutes but probably only was seconds, before the next song started.

“You okay?” Justin asked quietly, running his hand through Brian’s hair as he looked at his husband in concern.

Brian nodded, before he spoke quietly. “I love you. So much. You have no idea.”

“I know,” Justin whispered, before resting his head on Brian’s shoulder, starting to gently sway to the music. He was glad when he started to feel Brian sway with him.

He felt secure in Brian’s arms and knew he always would be. Brian would always protect him and their children, no matter what.

“Was it like this?” Justin asked quietly after a minute of just swaying to the music, pulling back to meet Brian’s gaze. He knew that Brian knew what he was referring to and he knew that he didn’t have to explain that he was talking about the dance they had shared at his Prom.

“Yeah,” Brian said quietly after the longest silence, his gaze always staying on Justin. “But this one will always be more special.”

“Hmmm,” Justin sighed happily, before resting his head on Brian’s shoulder once more. “And this one will always stay with us, no matter what.”

“No matter what.”

They gently swayed to the music for two more songs, before they were interrupted by Jennifer.

“You promised me that I would get the first dance after you had danced with Brian,” she said, smiling gently and Justin nodded.

He gave Brian a kiss, before he turned to his mother and started dancing and talking with her. He smiled when he saw that Brian wasn’t alone for long, as only seconds later Vicky turned up at his side and asked for a dance with her Daddy.

Justin smiled as he saw Brian and his daughter dance together, his heart ready to burst with the love he felt for them.

“I am so happy for you, honey,” Jennifer whispered, looking at her son as they slid over the dance floor.

“Thanks, Mom. I am happy. ”

“You and Brian looked beautiful dancing like that. I… I will never understand how somebody can take offense from something as beautiful as that,” she said sadly.

“Some people are assholes and always will be,” Justin stated, knowing that it was a fact of life.

“I am sorry that you met so many in your life,” she whispered, running her hand through his blond locks, stopping where she could feel the scar that would always be a reminder of the worst night of her life. The night when she had thought her son would die because a bigot had hated him so much he had felt that it was his right to take his life for the only reason that Justin had wanted to be treated the same as everyone else.

“Mom,” Justin started, but was interrupted by Jennifer.

“Your father doesn’t know what he’s missing. What a wonderful man you’ve turned out to be and what a wonderful family you have. I… I know I haven’t always told you, but I love you, Justin and I am so proud of you. You have no idea.”

“Mom,” Justin said once more, now stopping to dance and just holding her close. “I love you, too.”

They stood like that for a few seconds before they broke apart and Justin smiled at his mother. “I think your grandson wants to dance with you.” He nodded towards Luke, who was coming over their way and smiled when Jennifer started dancing with her grandson.

He went back to where Brian and Vicky were still dancing and cut in, taking over from Brian, dancing with his daughter while Brian danced a dance with Debbie.

They continued dancing for hours, before the party broke off and everyone went home.

Chapter 4

“Finally,” Brian sighed as he closed the door behind himself. “I thought we’d never get out of there.”

Justin smiled patiently as he made his way into the room and looked around. “It was fun and I know that despite your constant moaning and groaning you had a good time as well.”

“I wasn’t moaning and groaning.”

“No? It sounded suspiciously like moaning and groaning to me,” Justin winked, before doing his best imitation of Brian’s voice. “Will they fuck off soon? How much more can they drink and dance? Isn’t a wedding supposed to be about the wedding night?”

“I was just asking legitimate questions,” Brian replied seriously, slowly walking over to his husband’s side - oh, how much he loved calling Justin that - and running his hands through his blond hair.

“Were you?” Justin asked with a raised eyebrow, leaning into Brian’s touch, before he sighed happily. “I loved today,” he said sincerely, before he ran his own hands over Brian’s chest. “And I know that you did, too.”

“And why would you think that?” Now it was Brian’s turn to raise his eyebrow in question.

“I know you, Brian Kinney,” Justin started, but was interrupted by Brian right away.

“Kinney-Taylor,” the older man corrected gently.

“Right, Kinney-Taylor. God, it’s going to take me forever to get used to that,” Justin joked, before leaning in for a quick kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Brian replied into the kiss, before he sat down on the big king size bed in the suite that they had booked for their wedding night, pulling Justin down with him. “And you’re right, I enjoyed today. It was a lot less painful than I expected it to be.”

“Painful?” Justin frowned.

“You know, the speeches and all.”

“Remind me to kill Daphne when I next see her.”

“I liked her speech,” Brian smirked, earning himself a playful slap from Justin.

“She called you old.”

“Well, she was referring to her 17 year old self. I guess back then she must have thought me old.”

“I didn’t,” Justin said seriously, looking at Brian from sincere eyes.

“Because you knew that your emotional age far surpassed mine even back then,” Brian joked, before turning more serious. “And you were always too obsessed with me for your own good.”

“I wouldn’t call it obsessed. More like crazy, unequivocally in love,” Justin smiled, before he leaned in once again to claim Brian’s lips in another kiss.

“Lucky me,” Brian whispered into the kiss and smiled when Justin moved over and straddled his hips, deepening the kiss.

It didn’t take them long before they were lying on the bed, kissing passionately, hands roaming all over each other’s bodies. It was Justin who started removing Brian’s shirt, soon followed by Brian who removed Justin’s tie and shirt and then soon after his pants.

While they were still kissing and touching, they got rid of all their clothing and ended up naked on the big king size bed.

“Hmmmm, love you,” Justin moaned when he came up for breath.

“I think I got the message,” Brian chuckled, still trying to get his breathing back under control. He smiled at the man by his side and slowly started to run his index finger down Justin’s back side and over the round globes of his ass. After teasing the globes for a bit, Brian’s finger disappeared between them like a cruise missile in search of its target.

Justin gasped once when he felt Brian’s finger pressing against his hole and pressed back eagerly, urging the older man to push it inside.

Brian continued teasing his husband’s asshole for some minutes, eliciting the most desirable moans from the younger man.

When he felt Justin’s hands reach for his own cock, it was his turn to gasp. He didn’t think it would have been possible, but his penis got that much harder after Justin started touching it and Brian felt the excitement at the familiar touch rush all through his body.

Feeling that Justin was getting more impatient and pressing back more firmly against his exploring index finger, Brian finally pushed the tip of his finger inside his husband’s ass, once again marvelling at the tight heat that welcomed him. So tight. Even after all these years. Justin’s ass sure was a miracle.

“God, oh God… don’t stop,” Justin moaned, while he tried to keep up a rhythm as he was running his hand up and down Brian’s erection.

Soon after Brian entered a second finger and started scissoring movements to open up Justin’s ass for what was to come.

When he knew that Justin was ready to take more, he inserted a third finger and started pushing in and out again, finger fucking his more than willing husband.

“You like this?” Brian grinned, knowing full well how much Justin loved what he was doing. He could see it in the way he was gasping for breath, writhing on the bed, trying to press down against Brian’s fingers, urging him for more. When he removed his fingers from Justin’s ass, the younger man let out a moan of frustration at the loss of contact.

“Need you… need you, Brian…,” Justin got out, locking his eyes with Brian’s before he let go of Brian’s erection and slowly turned onto his back, opening his legs in invitation.

“And you will get me,” Brian whispered, quickly reaching for the night table, sighing in relief when he found what he was looking for. Looked like the best man and woman had prepared their suite well for their wedding night.

He grabbed the lube and then moved into position between Justin’s opened legs, his eyes meeting with the younger man’s.

Seeing the longing in Justin’s eyes, Brian handed him the lube, not surprised when Justin quickly squirted some on his fingers, before he started moving them up and down Brian’s erection once more.

“Jeez… you’re killing me here,” Brian moaned, loving the touch of Justin’s hands as they ran up and down his erection, before some more lube was squirted onto them and the younger man led them to his own asshole, carefully spreading the lube around it, before pushing in two lube-covered fingers. “God, you look so hot…”

“Not as hot as you, old man,” Justin teased breathlessly as he continued to spread the lube around his tight hole.

“I’ll show you who’s old,” Brian mock-threatened, before he leaned down and claimed Justin’s lips in another passion filled kiss.

The kiss quickly turned into more and both men were gasping for breath.

By now Justin had removed his fingers from his own backside and Brian had lined up his erection at his entrance.

Their gazes were locked and both men’s eyes were shining as Brian pushed in.

Loud moans filled the room as either man adjusted to the new sensations.

After a few seconds of just enjoying being connected like this, Brian started moving out and pushing back in again, setting up a frenzied rhythm that was met by Justin’s hips on each thrust.

It didn’t take either men long before they felt the telltale signs of their orgasms approaching.

Brian felt the typical clench of Justin’s tight ass muscles around his penis and he knew that the younger man was close. This only increased the tingling in his own stomach and he felt the familiar wave crush over him as it had so many times before.

Seconds later both men came with loud groans, each other’s names on their lips as they spilled their seeds, riding the waves of their first orgasms as married husbands.

They collapsed in a tangled mess of limbs on the bed and gasped for breath.

“Wow…,” was all Justin could say as he tried to get as much air as possible into his lungs.

Brian only nodded, not quite able yet to form any words.

Hearing the ragged breathing of his husband, Justin turned to Brian with a look of concern. “You okay?”

Brian just nodded, trying to smile at Justin as well as he could under the circumstances. Ever since he had a part of his lung removed, Brian’s lung capacity had been lower than for average men and especially when he was exercising or having wild sex, he would be out of breath way earlier than before. This wasn’t the first time some wild sex had gotten him out of breath, but it still concerned Justin each and every time.

Justin cursed himself for having allowed their coupling to get that wild and frenzied when he knew very well that Brian needed to keep an eye on his breathing. He should have made sure his husband had slowed down, instead of going along with the frenzied fuck.

“I’m okay,” Brian said after a minute in which he had just looked at Justin from eyes that had tried to calm the young man down. “Really,” he emphasized after he saw the doubtful look on his younger husband's face.

“I am sorry… I shouldn’t have…,” Justin started, but Brian rested his index finger on Justin’s lips, effectively shutting him up.

“Yes, you should have. I’ll be damned if I can’t fuck my husband into the mattress on our wedding night,” Brian said, only half teasing.

Their sex life hadn’t quieted down by any means after Brian’s lung cancer, but it sure had changed. They still had wild, frenzied, animalistic sex, but not as often as they used to before. Part of it was because of Brian’s lung capacity and because it would impact his breathing in a bad way and part of it was because both men prefered more meaningful sex when they came together. Not that they would ever admit it, but there was something to making love to each other that a wild, frenzied fuck couldn’t give them. And yet, they still had those fucks occasionally.

Seeing that Brian’s breathing had returned to normal and he really seemed fine, Justin smiled at the older man. “Hmmmm, you sure did…”

Brian smiled back, before leaning down and claiming Justin’s lips with his own. “Love you,” he whispered into the kiss, feeling his heart beat just that much faster when the sentiment was returned by Justin seconds later. God, he really had turned into a lesbian and he didn’t care one bit. Not if it meant being married to this amazing man and having him and their children by his side through this rollercoaster ride called life.

Rolling onto his side and off Justin’s sticky chest, Brian flopped onto his back, his eyes twinkling as he looked at him.

“You okay? I don’t think we’ve fucked like that in a long time…”

“I am good,” Justin smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. “More than good. That was just…”

“Wow?” Brian supplied when Justin seemed to be lost for a suitable word.

The younger man laughed. “You sure have a way with words.”

“It’s why you married me,” Brian winked, his own eyes shining with happiness as he spoke.

“One of the many, many reasons, yes.”

Justin carefully moved over and rested his head on Brian’s shoulder, lazily running his fingers over the scar on his torso that would be a constant reminder of the older man’s fight against lung cancer. It had become a thing Justin did and while it had bothered Brian a bit in the beginning, having been very self-conscious about the scar, he now knew that it was just something Justin did, something that showed Justin that he was alright and still there. Just like Justin had loved to run his fingertips over the scar from his c-sections. The younger man just had a weird fascination with Brian’s scars.

When Brian had asked him once why he was always tracing the scars, Justin had just replied quietly that they reminded him of what they had already made it through and what they had already achieved together as a couple and that to him the scars weren’t something bad, but a reminder that they were still here and together.

In the end Brian had just accepted that and knew that it was something that Justin loved doing and probably needed to do. So who was he to stop him?

“It felt different, you know?” Justin said quietly, his fingers never leaving the scar on Brian’s chest.

“I know,” the older man agreed, knowing that Justin was referring to their first time having sex as a married couple. And even though it sounded absolutely ridiculous, it had felt different. As if they had been even more connected than they had been before. Brian hadn’t thought that possible, but that was how it had felt. As if being married had brought them even closer. And he hadn’t thought that possible, he had thought that they had already been as close as was possible. Now he knew better. “I feel even more connected to you than I ever did before.”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed, giving Brian his best sunshine smile.

“You look happy,” Brian stated, turning onto his side and watching the smile he loved more than anything else in the world. It was ridiculously romantic and lesbionic, but it was true, Justin was his sunshine. He brought light into his world at the darkest times and now he knew that the young man would always be by his side and would always continue to do so.

“I am. Ridiculously happy. Are you?”

Brian nodded, before leaning over and claiming Justin’s lips in a gentle kiss. “I never really knew what I was missing in life until I met you and… I know I’ve never made it easy for you and God knows you have shown more patience with me than any human would have deserved, but I just want to thank you for never giving up on me… even when I made it impossible to love me…”

“Brian,” Justin said quietly, noting how Brian’s tone of voice had gone from playful to serious.

“No,” Brian went on, his gaze never leaving Justin’s. “I know I don’t deserve you and I don’t deserve our family, not after what I have done to you, but… I am grateful every fucking day that you are by my side and find it in you to love me and our children, because… I don’t know what I would do without you or them. You gave me a second chance when I didn’t deserve one and… I just want you to know that I will never stop being grateful for the day you deemed me worthy of your love. I… know I don’t deserve you, but I sure as hell am fucking glad to have you by my side and I’ll never let you go. You’re stuck with me now, Sunshine,” Brian ended, a single tear running down his cheek.

Justin looked at his husband from warm eyes and gently wiped away his tear. “I don’t know how not to love you,” he whispered, his voice honest and sincere. “I tried not to, but… I don’t know how. I just love you. It’s as easy as that. And I know that you don’t see it that way, but I am the luckiest man alive to be loved by you. When you love someone, you give them your whole heart. You don’t just love someone a bit. When you love someone, you love them with all you have to give and I am so grateful that you love me and our children like that. I know that you tend to only see the bad sides of yourself and I hope that with time I can make you see what I see when I look at you: I see the most loving, most caring, most generous man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I see a man that would give anything for me and our children. I see a man that would give his own life if it meant making us happy, a man that is so selfless, he has always put our well-being before his own. No, I don’t see a perfect man, but I don’t need a perfect man. I need a man that loves me the way you do and only you can. I don’t need perfect, Brian. I need you. It’s as simple as that. I love you and I need you to love me back. And knowing that you do… knowing that you married me today in front of all our friends and families… you have no idea how happy that makes me. I feel like I could burst from the happiness I feel right now.”

“Don’t… I don’t want to know what they’ll charge us for cleaning up that mess,” Brian joked, though it was obvious how moved he was by Justin’s words.

Knowing that Brian was done talking about his feelings for the moment and knowing that this was his cue to change the topic, Justin decided to go along. He laughed at Brian’s statement and then slowly climbed over and straddled his husband’s hips.

“Yeah, better let them charge us for cleaning up other messes,” Justin agreed, before he leaned down for a gentle kiss, deciding to show Brian in other ways how worthy he was of Justin’s love and just how much Justin loved him.

“What other messes might those be?” Brian raised an eyebrow, smirking at his husband.

“Hmmmm, you’ll see,” Justin smirked back, before he slowly started to kiss down Brian’s neck, then down his chest along the scar from his lung surgery to his bellybutton, then following the treasure trail down to his rapidly hardening cock.

Justin kissed the now fully erect penis as well, before gently sliding it into his mouth and giving Brian a well deserved blow job. Instead of letting him come in his own mouth though, Justin had other ideas and let go off the erection when he felt Brian getting close to his orgasm. Instead he licked past Brian’s balls to his asshole, now having moved inbetween Brian’s legs and lifting them up over his shoulders.

When Justin had made it to his final destination, he pushed his tongue inside the tight hole, gently opening up the muscle.

Brian was writhing and gasping, clearly enjoying the rim job he received thanks to Justin and neither men could help thinking back to a rim job so many years ago when an experienced 29-year old stud had given a 17-year old virgin the first rim job of his life. Who would have thought that night that they would still be together 20 years later, would even be married? Clearly not them, that much was obvious to either of them.

Once again stopping before Brian was ready to ride the waves of his orgasm, Justin sat up and looked at his husband from loving eyes. “Don’t come yet. I want you to come with me buried deep inside you,” he whispered huskily and Brian could only nod, his eyes glazing over with lust.

God, he loved it when Justin made love to him and he knew that unlike their frenzied coupling earlier that night, this would be making love. Justin had always been incredibly careful and tender when fucking him and had always made sure that Brian would enjoy the experience as much as he did.

It was no secret that Brian didn’t enjoy bottoming as much as Justin did, but when he did, which was a lot more often than people would probably expect, Justin always made sure that it was a good experience for Brian as well. And hell, Brian loved it when he felt Justin’s thick cock slide into his tight tunnel and hit that sweet spot that made his feelings explode.

He felt his excitement and anticipation build when he saw Justin spread lube on his fingers once more and started to prepare him for what was to come.

Justin slowly and carefully continued where his tongue had left off and opened him up expertly, before reaching for the night table once more and reaching for a condom.

That was the only downside to Justin fucking him. The condoms to avoid getting pregnant. Since Justin couldn’t get pregnant, Brian could fuck him without a condom whenever he wanted, but the other way around, they always needed to be careful.

They had talked about it and after Vicky had been born and everything they had been through with the lung cancer and her being a premie, they had decided that they wouldn’t tempt fate again and would just be happy with the family they had. They loved their three children and were happier than either of them had ever thought they could be, so it had been a mutual decision to go back to condoms when Justin was fucking Brian.

This was probably the only time Brian was looking forward to getting older. Much like women went through their menopause, men went through their andropause which would mean that they couldn’t get pregnant any longer at the end of it. Unfortunately, Brian wasn’t quite there yet, but this was the one thing about getting older that he didn’t mind: Finally being able to have Justin fuck him without a condom again.

He watched as Justin slipped on the condom and then positioned himself at Brian’s entrance. Brian gasped at the intrusion when Justin entered him, but as usual, the slight pain passed quickly and then turned into pleasure right away.

Justin quickly set up a slow, meticulous rhythm and expertly made love to Brian in the way only he could. It didn’t take either men long to reach their climaxes again and Justin groaned deeply when he felt Brian’s muscles spasm around his erection, telling him that Brian was about to be hit by his waves of pleasure. Sure enough a second later the older man came all over his chest which only made Justin come faster and spill his seed inside the condom inside his husband’s body.

When they were both done riding their orgasms, Justin leaned down and claimed Brian’s lips in a soft kiss, not quite ready yet to pull out of the tight warmth that was his husband.

They stayed like that for what felt like forever, before Justin started moving again. He looked up at Brian with a proud grin, looking like the cat that had eaten the canary.

“Say it,” he urged Brian, grinning at him even wider.

“You already know it, Sunshine,” Brian teased, enjoying the pout on Justin’s face.

“Still, say it.”

Brian sighed dramatically, then pulled Justin closer and held him in a tight hug. “No one can fuck like you can. You are the one man I’d bottom for again and again.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Justin grinned, enjoying the praise, knowing that it was ridiculous that Brian’s praise of his sexual abilities made him feel so proud. Well, he was only human after all. And praise from the stud was true praise indeed.

“Never,” Brian smiled, kissing Justin once more.

After kissing lazily for a couple of minutes, they reluctantly pulled apart, knowing that they both needed a shower.

For once the shower stayed rather timid and after they came out of the bathroom, Brian opened the bottle of champagne they found in a cooler and started the jacuzzi in the next room of their suite. They settled in the jacuzzi with their glasses and sighed happily, clinking their glasses together.

“To you, Justin Kinney-Taylor,” Brian raised his glass, only to have it met by Justin’s.

“And to you, Brian Kinney-Taylor,” he smiled, before taking a sip. “God, this is the life,” he sighed happily, enjoying the champagne and the relaxing effects the jacuzzi had on his body.

They stayed in the jacuzzi for more than an hour, nearly drinking the whole bottle of champagne, while talking about this and that and inbetween kissing lazily.

Around 3am, they decided that it was probably time to head to bed, seeing how they had scheduled breakfast with their family for 10am, before they would be off on their honeymoon to Hawaii, where they had booked a week in a luxurious villa right by the ocean.

It would be the first time they would be travelling on a holiday on their own without their children and while both men were quite excited at the prospect of it only being the two of them and them being able to have sex whenever they wanted without having to be careful of what their children might hear or see, they also knew that they would miss their family like crazy.

They snuggled in each other’s arms as they got comfortable in the big bed.

“I love you, Brian. Thank you for today,” Justin whispered sleepily, feeling his tiredness finally catch up with him.

“No, thank you. You have no idea how much you and the kids mean to me,” Brian whispered, pulling Justin that much closer and smiling when he felt the small fingers of his husband settling on his chest once more to caress his scar as he always did before he fell asleep. “I love you, Sunshine.”

Soon after both men were asleep, enjoying their first night as husbands in each other’s arms.

The End