actions speak louder than words {karlnap}

~i do~

Canon to the storyline.

(No One's POV)

Nick zips up the back of his mother's dress before stepping to the side to look into the mirror. Betty soothes the wrinkles in her bodice down and sighs shakily. 

"It looks okay, right?" she asks, twisting to look up at her son.

"You look amazing, Mom," Nick says, setting his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry." He tucks a stray curl back into place, her hair neatly styled with flowers and pearls. 

She sighs again and nods. She turns back to the mirrors, forcing Nick's hands to fall, and nods at her reflection. "It's fine." 

Nick smiles and wraps his arms loosley around her neck from behind her, careful to not step on her dress. "Cherry loves you, Mom," he says quietly. "They wouldn't care if you showed up in a paper bag."

Betty chuckles. "Yeah," she murmurs. "Thanks, hon." She pats his forearm, smiling. 

Someone knocks on the door, and Nick presses a quick kiss to her cheek before going to peek out. Karl waves as he opens the door. 

"Hey," Nick whispers, stepping into the hall. 

"Hi," Karl says. "I missed you so I wanted to see you."

Nick grins and lean forward to kiss him. "Well, I'm here," he says, lips brushing Karl's. 

Karl smiles. "How's Betty?"

"Nervous," Nick says, leaning against the nearest wall. "Understandably, though. What about Cherry?"

"Stoked, as usual," Karl says, giggling. "They're so excited. They love your mom."

Karl walks over to Nick, his feet slotting into place next to Nick's. His hands move to cup Nick's jaw as he leans against him, smiling. Nick's hands grip Karl's waist, the material of his suit unfamiliar compared to his usual soft sweatshirts. 

"We all do," Nick replies. "We all want this day to go well."

"It will," Karl assures him. "It has to."

Nick hums. Karl kisses him, his fingers brushing through his hair. They kiss slowly for a few minutes before Nick says he should go back to his mom, and Karl scurries back to Cherry.

As he closes the door behind him, he sees his mom in the corner, arms crossed and smirking at him. "You have your Karl smile," she says, motioning at him with a pamphlet he didn't know was in here. "Stop sneaking off to be with your boyfriend, today is about me."

"Karl smile?" Nick echoes. 

Betty chuckles, walking a bit closer. "Y'know, that dumb smile you get whenever you're around him," she says. "The stereotypical 'idiot in love one'?" She gives her son an exhasperated look when he doesn't seem to understand. "It's the same look Dream always has for George."

"Oh," he says. "I do that?"

"All the fucking time, kid."

Nick narrows his eyes. "It's allowed. I'm in love."

Betty smiles and reaches up to cup his cheek. "Look at us," she whispers. "Growing up and falling in love."

"And getting married," Nick says. 

"Yes, well," Betty says, looking down at her dress. Cherry refuse to wear one, instead choosing a tuxedo. Betty went for the classic white lace dress, and she pulls it off well. Nick is so happy for her. "I'm an adult, it's allowed."

"So I'm allowed too?" Sapnap asks teasingly.

Betty pulls her hand back to hit him in the chest. "Absolutely not," she says. "I love Karl, but you're too young."