Chapter 32

“What is he doing here?”

Justin looked up and sighed when he saw his mother walking over to where he and Brian were standing. Brian looked up as well and Justin immediately noticed how his shoulders tensed up and he stood up that much straighter, looking at his mother defiantly.

“Mother,” Justin just said, then turned back to the cufflinks he had been fidgeting with.

Brian took his arm and quietly said. “Let me.”

Justin just nodded, then allowed Brian to get them in place, so they would look alright.

“I asked you a question, Justinus,” his mother repeated, staying at the door and looking inside the room where Justin was getting ready for Molly's wedding.

Brian had come by a minute or two ago for a quick kiss and some last encouraging words and had been about to leave to find his place in the church, but Justin knew that there was no way he would leave now. Brian had never met his mother and Justin knew that this was long overdue, but he wished it wouldn't have happened just minutes before Molly's wedding.

He and Brian had arrived in Darumor two days ago with Daphne and Lizzie and had stayed in a hotel. Molly had urged them to stay at the palace, but Justin had refused.

This trip back to his former life was already stressing him enough, he knew how displeased his mother was about his presence and he just wanted to get it over and done with, so he could return back to Pittsburgh quickly, back to the people he loved and that loved him and that he considered family now.

He had hoped against hope that maybe his mother was as disinclined to see him as he was to see her, but apparently he had been wrong.

“If you are referring to Brian, he is here to attend Molly's wedding to which he was invited by Molly,” Justin just replied, then leaned in and gave Brian a quick kiss to thank him for helping him with his cufflinks, but mostly for being there and silently supporting him.

He didn't care if his mother could see them or if she would have an aneurysm because of their kiss, he just needed to feel that Brian was there by his side.

“I will not allow this,” the queen announced, looking at both men sternly. “I will not allow you to once again pull this family into the headlines with your immoral behavior. It's bad enough that Molly insisted that you be here on this day... when the whole world is watching, but I expect you not to make a spectacle of yourself.”

“You will not allow it?” Justin raised his eyes and glared at his mother. “My partner and I have been invited to my sister's wedding because she wants us here. I doubt very much that it matters what you want.”

“I am still the queen and I will not allow this... this man to ruin our good name.”

“If that's your last word, then you can explain to Molly why she will have to find a new flower girl and someone to walk her down the aisle ten minutes before her wedding is supposed to start,” Justin just retorted, then took Brian's hand. “Let's go. I've had enough of this.”

“Sunshine,” Brian said quietly, looking at Justin with concerned eyes. He could feel how tense Justin was, but he also knew that Justin was deadly serious. And as much as he admired Justin for standing up to his mother on his behalf, this was Molly's wedding, her big day and Brian didn't want it to get ruined because of him. “Think about this.”

Justin turned to Brian and looked at him intently. “I have. I have thought about nothing else for weeks. I knew this would happen. I have told you, Daph and Molly from the very beginning. I will not allow her to treat me like a lesser human being just because she's a bigot. I will not allow her to treat you like that when you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I will explain it to Molly afterwards, but I will not let her treat us like this. Not any longer.”

He then turned back to his mother and threw her an icy glare. “We are leaving.”

“Justinus,” his mother said, her voice icy cold. “If you go ahead and ruin this day like you have ruined our family's reputation, you will pay for it.”

“Oh really? What will you do? Kick me out of the family? Cut me off and stop me from receiving any money? Break off all contact with me and your own granddaughter? Tell me, what do you want to do to me that you haven't already done before?” Justin spat, his glare as icy as his mother's.

Brian watched Justin and laid a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down somehow. “Sunshine...”

“Remember where you are and who you're talking to, Justinus! I will not stand for disrespect like that.”

“Respect needs to be earned. You have done nothing to earn my respect,” Justin gave back coldly.

“I am the queen! I am your queen! And you will respect me in my own palace,” his mother said darkly.

Justin just snorted, then frowned when Brian pulled him around and pulled him close, moving their foreheads together. His voice was very quiet when he spoke.

“Don't do this to Molly. I know you're angry... I know you have every right to be... but think about Molly. Your sister is getting married today. This is her big day. She loves you. She wants you here. She wants you to walk her down the aisle, no matter what that old crow over there says or does. Think about that! Think about how much you would hurt her if you left now. I know you don't want to hurt her... You love her and that is why you will make her happy on this day. Just think about Molly and tomorrow we'll be out of here and will return to our life in Pittsburgh.”

Justin was quiet for the longest time and both he and Brian ignored his mother's anger over Brian calling her an old crow. Justin raised his gaze and met Brian's. In the end he nodded slowly.

“For Molly,” he whispered.

“For Molly,” Brian agreed, pulling Justin close and hugging him. “Just think about how happy she will be when you walk her down the aisle. That's all that matters.”

Justin nodded once more, then turned back to his mother. “My sister is waiting for me. I have an important job to do for her,” he announced, then took Brian's hand and led him out of the room, not giving his mother another glance or anything else in reply.

Brian noticed that the queen looked at them open-mouthed and he couldn't help but smirk at her as they left her alone in the room. He doubted that she had ever been treated like that.

Once they walked down the hallway, Justin turned to Brian with a wide grin on his face. “Did you really call her an old crow?”

Brian couldn't help but smile sheepishly. “I think I did, yeah...”

Justin stopped, then leaned in to kiss Brian deeply. When the kiss broke, he looked at his man with shining eyes. “I love you! You have no idea how much...”

“Hmmm, I think I have an idea,” Brian smirked, then ran a hand through Justin's hair. “So... that's your mother, huh? Can't say I am impressed.”

Justin actually had to laugh at that and once he had calmed down, they made their way to the chapel where the wedding would take place.

When they arrived, Daphne and Lizzie were already there, both dressed in beautiful dresses that made them look like real princesses.

“Wow... you look beautiful,” Justin said as he looked at his daughter and leaned down to give her a hug. “And your hair. Did Mommy do that?”

Lizzie nodded happily, her eyes shining with happiness and excitement.

She had been excited ever since she had been told that Molly wanted her to be the flower girl at her wedding and when she had seen some of the dresses that Molly and Daphne had thought of for her to wear, she had squealed in delight. “I am gonna look like a real Disney princess!”

They had practiced at home and she had done really well during the two rehearsals the day before and she was more than excited to do her part at her aunt's wedding.

She happily took Brian's compliments on her dress and hair as well and was smiling widely when Molly arrived.

Her dress was magnificent and opulent, there were no other words for it. She looked like a real princess and this dress was worthy of a future queen's wedding.

“Wow,” Justin whispered as he saw his sister in her dress for the first time. Before he had seen images of the dress, but now seeing her wear it, she looked absolutely stunning. “You look breathtaking, Molly!”

Molly smiled excitedly. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah, I do,” Justin agreed, then pulled his sister close for a hug. His voice was serious when he spoke next. “I just want you to know how proud I am of you. I know... I know that things aren't easy for you because of me and... my choices and... I just want you to know that I love you and am so proud of you, okay?”

“Jus? Is everything okay?” Molly asked, looking at her brother with concerned eyes. Something in his voice had sounded off.

“Yeah, yeah, everything is fine,” he said, now smiling widely at her as well. “I guess... seeing you like this... it just made me a bit sentimental. You're my baby sister and now... look at you. All grown up and getting ready to marry.”

Molly smiled in return, holding her brother close. “I am so happy you're here. It wouldn't be the same without you. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Justin said, giving her one more hug, then stepping back so that Brian and Daphne could hug her as well.

After everyone had said their piece about how great Molly looked, Brian and Daphne left the group and went to take their places inside the chapel.

They would be sitting with Li Wei's family on one side of the chapel, not with Molly's family, the royal family on the other side of the chapel.

As Justin was no longer considered part of the royal family, neither were Brian nor Daphne. Not that either of them really cared. They had gotten to know Li Wei's family quite a bit in recent weeks and as far as Brian was concerned, he liked sitting with the riff-raff a lot better than sitting on the other side.

When they entered the chapel, all eyes turned to them and Brian couldn't help but notice the glare the queen threw his way from her seat in the first row. Daphne noticed and quietly asked him what that was about.

“She's not happy that I am here,” was all he said and Daphne just nodded, knowing that for the moment she wouldn't get more information. The wedding was about to start any minute now and this was neither the time nor the place for details. She was sure to find out more later.

“Well, too bad for her that she's not the one calling the shots today,” was all Daphne muttered as they made their way to the row where Li Wei's family sat and sat down next to them, greeting all of them with friendly handshakes.

They had just sat down when the orchestra started playing the wedding march, announcing that the ceremony was about to start.

The muttering in the chapel quieted down and Li Wei got up from his place by his family's side and walked up to the front of the chapel.

Brian gave him an encouraging smile, knowing that the young man would need it. He had a feeling that the queen hadn't been much more welcoming to Li Wei than she had been to him. He felt a bit sorry for him, as he was a great guy and really loved Molly.

Li Wei smiled back, grateful for the silent gesture of support, then looked down the aisle where Lizzie had started walking down, doing her job as flower girl.

She looked absolutely beautiful and when she made it to the end of the aisle, Li Wei leaned down and gave her a hug, thanking her for the great job she had done.

Lizzie smiled from ear to ear as she sat down between Brian and Daphne, listening as both of them praised her as well for how well she had done.

They then turned quiet once more and looked back down the aisle where Justin was now leading Molly down to where her future husband was waiting for her.

They looked breathtaking. Both pale, blond, with stunning blue eyes and similar happy smiles on their faces. Molly in her magnificent wedding dress and Justin in a breathtaking tuxedo.

Brother and sister looked absolutely stunning as they went down the aisle, everyone's eyes on them.

When they made it to the front of the chapel, Justin leaned in and gave Molly a kiss, then gave Li Wei a hug as well, wishing them both all the best.

Both thanked him for what he had done and smiled as he sat down next to Brian and his family, immediately allowing Brian to take his hand and squeeze it.

Justin nodded almost imperceptibly to let Brian know that he was okay and so did Brian to let Justin know that he had understood the message.

If either of them noticed the queen scowling at them, neither acknowledged it.

***

“Daddy, will you dance with me?” Lizzie asked her dad, looking at him with wide, pleading eyes.

“Of course. I wouldn't miss the chance,” Justin announced happily, then followed his daughter to the dance floor.

Brian and Daphne smiled after them as they made their way to the other people that were dancing and watched them.

They had made it through a way too long wedding ceremony which had been beautiful and romantic, but had included way too many solos from singers, musicians, poets and god knows what.

Afterwards they had made it through an equally tedious five course meal and now they had finally arrived at the part of the night where things had gotten a bit more casual.

The queen had left the celebrations after the five course meal at which she had given a speech, telling everyone how happy she was that Molly had found Li Wei, as if anyone believed her. Most people, including Justin and his family, as well as Li Wei's family knew better than to believe those words and if anything, the scowl on her face as she had said those words had clearly contradicted the meaning behind them.

Not that anyone cared all too much about her. Molly and Li Wei were obviously happy and now that the official part of the wedding was over and they could finally enjoy the celebrations like any other newly-wed couple, they looked happier than Brian had ever seen them.

Justin also looked happy as he danced with his daughter, smiling widely as he twirled her all over the dance floor.

It was obvious that Lizzie was enjoying herself and so were Brian and Daphne when they joined Justin and Lizzie a minute later.

The family danced together, Brian dancing with Lizzie for a bit as well, before she danced with her mother so that her daddy and Brian could also dance together. Everyone was smiling and happy and having a good time.

“I will be so happy to get back home,” Justin said quietly as he rested his head on Brian's shoulder as a slow song started playing. “I hate this place...”

Brian nodded, pulling Justin that much closer. “You made Molly really happy today...”

Justin nodded. “Thanks for not letting me do anything stupid earlier.”

“It wouldn't have been stupid,” Brian said quietly. “She was treating you absolutely horribly.”

Justin sighed deeply. “Yeah, but you were right. Today was about Molly... this was her big day. I couldn't have lived with myself come tomorrow if I had ruined that for her...and for what? It's not like I didn't know what my mother thinks about me...about us...”

“It's her loss. She's missing out on so much,” Brian whispered as he nodded towards Lizzie who was happily waving her arms around and dancing with Daphne as if it was a disco beat they were dancing to and not a slow song. “She doesn't know how amazing her children are. How amazing her granddaughter is. And it's her fault she's missing out on being a part of that family.”

Justin leaned closer to Brian, his voice very quiet. “I just wish her behavior wouldn't affect me so much. I... just wish that I was stronger.”

Brian tightened his grip around Justin. “You are strong! The strongest person I know. All the shit she has put you through... I've only met her for two minutes, but I don't even want to imagine what growing up with her as a mother must have been like. And yet, here you are: My loving Sunshine. The man that loves me and my son with all his heart, enjoys life and is raising the most amazing daughter anyone could hope for.”

“When you put it like that, our life is pretty great, isn't it?” Justin said with a smile, pulling back and looking at Brian with happy eyes. “Pretty fucking amazing, really.”

“I'd say it is,” Brian agreed, leaning in and kissing his Sunshine. Who cared about the old crow that was his mother? She wasn't a part of their life and while Brian knew that it would always bother Justin to a certain extent that his mother was not like other loving mothers, he also knew that Justin would be fine. Once they were back in Pittsburgh, surrounded by their friends and family, his Sunshine would be fine. Sometimes it wasn't about your biological family, but the family you chose and if he said so himself, they had chosen a pretty fantastic family for themselves. “It will be good to go back home.”

“Mmmmmhhhhhmmmm,” Justin agreed happily. “I miss them. All of them.”

“Don't tell them or we will never hear the end of it,” Brian joked, happy when it had the effect he had hoped for and made Justin laugh.

“I know you love them, too,” Justin said, looking at Brian with amused eyes. “You might hide it well, Mr. Kinney, but we all know that you love them, too.”

“Who is spreading that nasty rumor?” Brian asked, wide-eyed. “I'll have to kick their asses.”

Justin shook his head in amusement, running a hand through Brian's hair. “You're not fooling me.”

“Well, you were always able to see right through me, Sunshine...,” Brian acknowledged, then led Justin back to their table where they enjoyed another glass of wine, watching as Daphne and Lizzie were still dancing.

All in all, it had been a good day after all, Brian thought as he watched the happy smiles of his Sunshine, Lizzie and Daphne.

Who would have thought earlier that morning?