Description (May contain spoilers)
It’s time for the speeches.
Charlie
Charlie shouldn’t feel nervous, but as his Dad stood and started clinking his glass with a knife, he wished he was anywhere but here. He and Nick went back and forth over whether to still have Julio give a speech, after the way he and his mother snubbed Olly’s wedding. But in the end, after also speaking with Olly and David, they decided to stick with their original plan.
Now the time had come, it’s not that he didn’t want his dad to speak, but having no idea what he was going to say was making him have second thoughts. He was glad though that he hadn’t even given the speeches a second thought when he was having his earlier panic before the ceremony. That would have pushed him over the edge, he was sure.
Julio started to speak, “Ladies and Gentlemen. First, on behalf of my wife and I, I would like to thank so many of you for coming and celebrating the marriage of my oldest son and his childhood sweetheart, Nick. Their road to get here hasn’t always been smooth, and I was definitely against them getting up to any Hanky-Panky when they were still young.”
“Stop saying Hanky-Panky,” Tori called across the room, causing a ripple of giggles to erupt around the room, while Nick blushed next to him.
“But Nick has proven time and again that he will stand by my boy, no matter what. They have always been there for each other through both the good times and the bad, and it didn’t surprise me when the boys told us they were engaged to be married – I’ve figured for a while now it would only be a matter of time. So, I hope you will all join me in raising a glass, to the Happy Couple.”
“The Happy Couple!” chorused around the room.
As Julio sat down, Christian stood up from the other side of Nick.
Nick
Just as Nick had struggled to pick just one best man, he couldn’t decide which of the three of them would make the speeches. So, he let his friends pick for him, but now that Christian was standing up, Nick wasn’t so sure he’d made the right call.
“Hello everyone,” Christian started. “I met Sai, Otis and Nick at Truham when we were sat together in form in Year 7. When we all found out that’s how he also met Charlie, we figured that must be Nick’s way of collecting new people in his life.” Charlie giggled at that; Nick would never get sick of the sound.
“When Nick eventually came out to us as Bi, it came as no surprise to any of us after seeing him flirting with Charlie all the time when he thought no one was looking for months before then. All three of us are proud to be your friends Nick, and we’re so pleased for both of you today. Charlie, we know you’ll take good care of our boy, and we’re honoured to help you both celebrate your big day. So, everyone please your raise your glasses, to Nick & Charlie.”
“Nick and Charlie,” chimed around the room as the guests’ glasses clinked from each of the tables again.
“You were supposed to toast the bridesmaids’ man,” Otis nudged Christian as he sat back down.
“Should I stand back up,” Christian asked, poised to return to his feet. Before he had the chance, Nick had stood and wrapped all three of his friends in a hug.
“Thank you, guys,” Nick said in appreciation.
That’s when Nick heard another glass chime from behind him, they’d only planned for the two speeches, so he was especially surprised when he turned to find Charlie standing up from his seat.
Charlie
Nick was looking at him, surprise clear on his face. Charlie reached out with his free hand to take hold of Nick’s. He held it tightly as he started to speak to the room while looking at Nick, “Nick, I know we said we wouldn’t make a speech, but I couldn’t let today go past without telling you how much I love you.
You’ve been there for me when I was at my absolute worst and you could have run away, you could have ditched me and picked anyone else, I mean look at you, you’re gorgeous. But you didn’t, you stayed, and I will never not be grateful for that.”
Charlie turned then to all their friends and family, “Everyone please, raise your glasses to my kind, loving and wonderful husband. To Nick.”
“To Nick,” cheered everyone around the room as Nick pulled Charlie in for a passionate kiss.
“I love you Charlie, it’s always been you,” Nick spoke softly when they pulled apart.
“I’m so lucky you’re my husband,” Charlie cooed quietly enough that only Nick could hear him.
“I’m the lucky one, Char.”
🥂 🥂 🥂
After the speeches there were a few more photos out on the lawn before the sun went down. Then it was back inside where a dancefloor had been revealed and Paul the pianist had been replaced by another Paul, the DJ. Nick & Charlie shared their first dance to All of Me by John Legend and after a few verses, were joined by the other couples on the dance floor. After the song ended it was time to cut the cake while everyone was still gathered around in one place.
Neither of the boys had seen what David had prepared for them yet, David had insisted that as it was his gift to them that he kept it a surprise. As two of the hotel staff wheeled the cake out into the middle of the dancefloor, there were gasps from the guests as it passed between them. As it came into view for Nick & Charlie, they both gasped too.
“David, its- it’s beautiful,” Nick spoke softly to his brother.
“It’s even better than what I’d pictured,” Charlie’s voice breaking with the emotions welling up inside him. This day had already stirred a lot of emotions inside him, but seeing what David had produced for them brought him to tears.
“Oh baby,” Nick cooed, seeing the tears start to trail down his husband’s cheek. He pulled him in for a hug and kissed his forehead. Charlie reached out for David’s hand and pulled him in for a hug too.
Charlie whispered into David’s ear, “Thank you so much, brother.”
“Shut-up you,” David teased, brushing a teardrop from beneath his own lashes.
When Charlie had first come up with the design for their cake, he knew it was ambitious. So, when David had offered to take up the challenge, he had been preparing himself for it to not be anything like he had imagined in his mind. But David had taken their design and enhanced it.
They had the 3-tiers of chocolate cake that they’d asked for, with a river of bubble-gum blue icing looking like it was bubbling over the sides of the cake. Then leaning up along either side of the cake was a lattice structure of tempered chocolate that no one could dispute was a perfect replica of the Eiffel tower. But then Charlie spotted something else.
“Wait, is that” he pointed to two figures atop the cake, “is that us?”
Olly came strolling up alongside his older brother, “Yep. You won’t believe how much time David spent trying to find them.”
The two figures weren’t just ordinary grooms atop the cake, but they were mini versions of them. Nick with his dark blonde hair, brown eyes and broad rugby shoulders and Charlie with his dark curls, crystal blue eyes and lithe build. Charlie couldn’t believe how perfect they were. He pulled David in for a hug again and tried not to let his tears of joy completely soak David’s suit.
The happy couple cut the cake to cheers and applause from all their guests around the room. Once it had been wheeled back into the kitchen to be cut into pieces for their guests, the DJ started the music again for everyone to dance into the night.
As the last guests were slow dancing together at midnight, Charlie turned to Nick and asked, “Are you ready to go up to our suite love?”.
“I will go anywhere with you my darling,” Nick whispered close to Charlie’s ear. Charlie held out his hand and let Nick up the grand hotel staircase to their honeymoon suite.
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