Charlie and Nick Fanfic - PG13 Version

Ceremony

A half an hour later, the pair stepped out of their room in their suits, ready for the ceremony. As they walked the halls of the inn and descended the side staircase, Nick lovingly rested his arm around Charlie. He always loved him, but tonight was amplifying that feeling to the point where Nick felt he would burst with tears of joy and gratitude that he had Charlie in his life.

This obviously wasn't the first wedding Nick had attended. David's wedding was the most recent of plenty of weddings for various family members. This wedding was different. This wedding was not only the first he had attended with Charlie, it was also the first wedding of a couple of friends. Tonight seemed more personal to him, not like he was only attending because he was expected to. Nick actually cared about being there for Darcy and Tara during this milestone.

Then there was Charlie, who made Nick so happy it was hard to imagine ever feeling the contrary. In a year and a bit, Nick and Charlie would be sharing a similar day.

They entered a large, open room of white and gray marble. Inside were rows and rows of seats mostly filled with people Nick didn't know, all facing a beautiful open archway that led to a balcony overlooking the small waterfall and the woods on the horizon. Nick followed Charlie's lead, trailing behind as his fiancé led him to the seats their friends had saved for them. Their seats were in the middle of the row, so Nick had to squeeze past the already seated guests. His face burned in humiliation, sure that everyone was staring at the big blonde guy trying to awkwardly find his chair.

Charlie turned back to him for a moment, a smile already fixed on his face, and any anxiety Nick felt melted away and seemed silly. Nick wondered what was wrong with himself tonight. He never felt self-conscious like this. Perhaps weddings made him more emotional than he originally thought.

Charlie took Nick's hand, guiding him the rest of the way to sit next to Elle and Tao. Nick sat on the opposite side of Charlie, still holding his hand.

"You're late," Tao stated.

"What did we miss?" Charlie wondered.

"Nothing," Elle assured him. "It hasn't started yet."

Nick looked around at the guests, noting that Darcy's parents were not in attendance. He hadn't met anyone else in her family, but he guessed that not many of them were there either.

Poor Darcy, Nick thought. He knew he would he heartbroken if his parents not only missed his wedding, but objected to it. Then, a thought occurred. What if dad doesn't come my wedding?

He knew it wouldn't be out of intolerance or objection, Nick was just unsure his father would have the time. Or if he would remember. They didn't talk much anymore. Now that Nick was grown, his dad wasn't the only one too busy to maintain their father-son relationship. It was sad but Nick accepted that neither he or his father really cared anymore. Though, this whole line of thinking was evident of the contrary. He hoped his father would show up for him, but if he didn't, Nick would still be having the best day of his life.

.........

Elle kissed Tao and stood up. "It's starting soon." She strode up to the arch to stand with the wedding officiant and Sahar from school. Both women were maids of honor or "best women" to Darcy and Tara respectively. Sahar and Elle waved to each other.

Soon, romantic music faded in before the first bride started her way down the isle. Darcy was beautiful. Her jumpsuit was white, solid where her pants would be and growing sheerer as it extended into a lace bodice. To top the outfit off, she wore a white suit jacket over top. Her dyed blonde hair was twisted into waves that framed her face as she beamed with joy.

When Darcy reached the arch, she linked hands with Elle and Sahar as a sign of thanks before she turned to face the crowd and await her bride.

Tara was glowing as she walked down the isle, dressed in more traditional garb in a sleek white gown and her hair pinned up stylishly. She carried a bouquet of pink and white roses which matched the pink embellishments that sparkled down her veil and gown.

At the alter, Darcy's eyes filled with tears of joy as she watched Tara come walk towards her. It made Nick feel a little teary eyed as well.

As the ceremony commenced, Nick tried to appreciate each moment. Tara and Darcy's wedding was a milestone for him and Charlie as well. It felt like they were truly stepping into adulthood. He never really thought he would be the guy to cry at weddings, but he couldn't help it. Emotion was filling the room to the brim.

The brides said their vows and sealed their marriage with a kiss and everyone stood and clapped. Darcy held Tara's hand in the air triumphantly, proud to declare to the world, "this is my wife!"

They were both beaming with joy, walking back up the isle to take their wedding photos while their guests attended a cocktail hour.

They hung out with Tao, sipping champagne as they chatted about how lovely the wedding was, the location, and the food they would soon have access to. Elle was off with the wedding party taking photographs in the next room.

"Why is everyone getting married all of a sudden?" Tao wondered, speaking to no one in particular.

"I don't think it's all of a sudden," Nick said.

"Since when are two couples everyone?" Charlie posed to Tao before he set his empty champagne flute down on a nearby cocktail table.

"Well, it's most of our friend group," Tao told Charlie before he addressed Nick. "I know, it just feels like it's all at once. It's like once you age past 25, the years get shorter. It feels like your wedding is next week or something."

"Hm," Charlie thought aloud with a displeased expression on his face. "It feels like it's ten years away to me."

They both waited for Nick's input on the strange ways of time perception. "It feels like it's a year and a half away...because it is."

"Interesting," Tao observed. "You're the oldest, yet your perception of time is more on point than ours." He turned to Charlie. "Maybe there's a temporal adjustment period."

Charlie began to laugh and Tao soon joined him. "What on Earth are you talking about?"

Tao shook his head as he chuckled. "I don't even know anymore."

Nick glanced from Tao to Charlie and playfully tsked. "You're both already drunk."

"Just a little," Charlie replied, trying to stifle his laughter as Tao held up his fingers, positioning them only a centimeter apart to emphasize Charlie's statement.

It felt as though barely any time passed before they opened the dining hall for the reception. After they found their seats at table for Darcy's family.

The day had already felt sped up, but after he and Charlie sat down, the rest of the night flew by.