An Epilogue Before We're Done |Virgato|

Chapter 1

"I don't think I can do this, Joel."

Joel had been preparing himself for those eight words the entire morning, and it had honestly taken him by surprise that Erick had taken so long to utter them. He knows Erick doesn't mean them, of course, a simple case of the nerves getting to him last minute. Joel is pretty sure that Erick Colon is the most confident person he has ever met, knows that something as simple as this cannot shake that.

"I think you can," Joel says reassuringly, brushing off the shoulders of Erick's tux. His hair is a little out of place, his charcoal colored hair sticking out at odd angles from pulling at it because of the nerves. Joel takes the comb off of the vanity in Erick's little dressing room to tame it. "Once you leave this room and head towards the altar, I can promise you that all of your fears are going to vanish."

Erick shakes his head, his normally sparkling emerald eyes now filled with seemingly unshakeable nerves. "There is a pretty good chance I am going to vomit all over the floor the minute those doors open, Joel." He sighs, rubbing his hands together. "Yup, I can feel it rising already."

The words make Joel chuckle, knowing his best friend was being incredibly ridiculous. "I can promise you right now that emptying your stomach outside of the doors will not happen. Need I remind you this is not the first time I've had to calm the nerves of an eager groom. I've heard all the stories, you are going to be your charming and confident self." He taps Erick's arms, smiling at his best friend. "Besides, even if you did end up puking all over the place, Richard would still think the sun shone out of your ass."

It would have taken a miracle for Erick not to smile at the mention of his fiancé, and  the minute his lips quirk up in the corners Joel knows he has won. "I love him so much Joel, I just want everything to go perfectly, just for him."

Joel scoffs, holding a hand to his chest in mock offense. "Pardon you, but I'll have you know that all of my weddings go off without a hitch, thank you very much." It seems to break the remaining tension in Erick's body, the man looking more relaxed now than he has the entire morning. "Now, we need to get out there before I have Zabdiel calling me, threatening my life."

Erick nods, letting out a gust of breath before closing his eyes and clenching his fists. "Fuck, what if Richard isn't there when we get there? Maybe he's already off with some guy he saw outside because he was more attractive. Knowing my luck, the guy is probably blowing Richard in his car-"

Okay, so Joel is more than tempted to slap Erick at the moment. Of course he won't do that, Erick was his best friend and did not need a red hand print on the side of his face during his wedding. Yet, the man was being incredibly ridiculous regarding his fiancé, and Joel was about to lose it. "Erick, you need to listen to me, okay? I have worked with over, what, a hundred couples? Now, working with that many couples, I have picked up on quite a few things. With some of the couples, it's more than obvious that they will not be working out a year from now, and then some are soulmates. You and Richard? I've known the two of you since we were in diapers. You two were made for each other."

Erick smiles, a bit of a blush on his cheeks. "He is my other half, isn't he?"

"Always has been," Joel says. As the words leave his mouth, he can hear the sound of the organ beginning the wedding march. "Looks like that's our cue. Think you can walk without passing out from the nerves?" It's meant to be a joke, but he hopes Erick doesn't take him seriously on that. The last thing Joel needs is an unconscious groom.

Erick nods, and the two of them finally leave the dressing room, heading down the hall. They can see the entire wedding party, aside from Richard's groomsmen, awaiting their arrival, and Joel swears he can see Zabdiel whispering, "Fucking finally," under his breath. Joel silently agrees with him as he takes his spot in line with the others, taking a deep breath before the doors open.

With a quick adjustment to the light blue tie around his neck, Joel can't help but think that this wedding was going to be absolutely perfect.

His weddings always were.

_

I have nothing else to do lately but write, so here's a new adaptation for you guys! I hope you enjoy ☺