A Collection of Heartstopper Oneshots

Sometimes I think what I need is a you intervention, yeah - ChronoBio

Summary:

"Mum! I'm so sorry, but we had to take this opportunity when we had it. You were here for the commitment ceremony," Nick said into his T-mobile Sidekick Slide. "We were still in Orlando when Gavin Newsom first announced they would be hosting marriage ceremonies. I didn't even have my green card then."

It's 2008. The US is getting with HOPE from a young senator from Illinois and the California Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional to forbid same-sex couples from marrying. With danger of a potential initiative that will enshrine marriage discrimination in the California Constitution, Nick and Charlie take the plunge. Nick's been managing his positive status well and they've made tons of friends in San Francisco. Why not?
Notes:

I started this series with a mildly saucy Chili's fic as a recognition of the history of HIV on members of our community. We're lucky that in many areas of the world there are effective prevention methods and treatments for HIV. The other installments have continued the focus on the joy of queer love and queer spaces that have existed in the real world.

This series continues because we have to actively seek out queer history. It's not passed down by parents who often can't or won't see the queer magic within. The push back against sharing our history has moved into countries like mine that had been making gains for diversity, equality, and inclusion (chosen deliberately). Can children in Orlando learn about the Pulse tragedy? Can students in Arkansas read books by Toni Morrison? They can if we stand up and make sure they can.

(What about the story, Chrono?) It's a chance to hang out with our young men as they step take part in an institution that provides many protections, which people with health conditions often use. Enjoy.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:
"Mum! I'm so sorry, but we had to take this opportunity when we had it. You were here for the commitment ceremony," Nick said into his T-mobile Sidekick Slide. "We were still in Orlando when Gavin Newsom first announced they would be hosting marriage ceremonies. I didn't even have my green card then."

And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart

Charlie's eyebrows showed some worry, but he couldn't get rid of his grin between Gaga and their eventful afternoon. They had just left SF City Hall and were taking a cab back to their flat where some of their friends would meet them shortly. He had heard about the Ballot Initiative Proposition 8 that could make marriage equality unconstitutional in California just as the California Supreme Court decided that marriage was the law of the land.

Nick & Charlie believed in taking every opportunity, especially after Nick's diagnosis several years before. From Gay Days at Disney World to civil unions to now a legally certified marriage.

Sarah was taking the news very well, but Nick's people pleasing nature made him feel guilty for not waiting for Sarah to come and visit in December and involving her in the wedding. Charlie pointed out that if Prop 8 passed, then they would not be able to get married. While California's Civil Unions said that partners had to be treated by hospitals and other institutions as spouses, that wasn't quite being husbands. Charlie's anxiety and pragmatism won Nick over and they took the streetcar up Market to City Hall.

"Charlie loves you, too, Mum. Bye!" After hanging up, Nick snuggled into Charlie's curls, squeezed his forearm and gruffly whispered: "I'm your husband. You're my husband. We're husbands."

"Do you think there's enough time to stop by a Chili's before we get home, Nick?" Charlie asked, leaning into his boyfriend. Luckily, most of the cabbies were used to San Francisco's queer residents showing some level of affection. The Castro neighborhood had been around for nearly 50 years and has seen a gamut of events, from police taking revenge on the residents for rioting after Dan White got a slap on the wrist for murdering Mayor Moscone & Supervisor Milk to Pride parades festooned in rainbow corporate logos.

"Sorry, Charlie. Lois from the SF LGBT Center is already on her way with snacks and bubbles."

"Wonderful! Are they bringing Azur with them? I told them to get themselves married while they can."

"I have hope, Char. I don't think enough people will vote to take away our marriage."

"That's my golden retriever of a bo- husband. You're my husband!" The cab pulled up in front of the Victorian home where they resided on the upper floor. "Thank you for the ride!"

"Congratulations! Enjoy the rest of your day," said the cabbie.

Lois and Azur gave them each one armed hugs, while they heard Daisy barking from behind the door. Charlie was about to unlock the door, when Nick scooped him up in a bridal carry. "You really can't get enough of doing that, honey."

"No, I can't. Now let us in!" he implored as Charlie giggled and unlocked the door. Nick kicked it open and they went up the steps to their floor, Daisy leading the way.

After Charlie was released he saw a text on his iPhone 3G. Rod and Brett from the Gay Men's Chorus were almost there. Brett also helped Nick run one of the support groups at the SF AIDS foundation. Between that and Nick joining the storied Fog Rugby Club, Nick and Charlie settled into San Francisco rather quickly. Charlie was especially happy with the new supply of rugby hoodies as he got new novels from City Light Books and Fabulosa Books.

"Nick and I got a room for a couple nights this weekend at the R3 Hotel in Guerneville for a honeymoon. We fell in love with Guerneville when we went up for their local Pride last year. We're going to do an official honeymoon next year in Mykonos with a long layover in Kent and Provence," Charlie told Azur as the flat filled up with the friends they've made the past couple of years.

"Char! Come here! I want you to meet Martina," Nick called over. Charlie wouldn't have imagined marrying this hunk of man when he was literally bowled over on that one Southern night at Southern Nights. Charlie excused himself as Katy Perry's anthem to Sapphic smooches played through the speaker attached to his phone.

Charlie snuggled under his husband's arm and rested his head on Nick's shoulder, after greeting Martina. Thinking about all that he and Nick accomplished so far, he began to hope that maybe love could save the world, even if it takes more than four minutes. He and Nick had all the time in the world.

Notes:

This one has the least focus on Nick's status. While it is an important aspect of who he is, he also has so much experience with managing it. Sometimes he may become nervous during regularly scheduled medical appointments, Charlie is there to assure him and to help process any updates from his team of doctors.

Voter Proposition 8 (aka Prop H8) did pass on the same night that Barack Obama was elected, preventing California from issuing new marriages to same sex couples and calling into question the legality of the marriages previously sanctioned. The California Supreme Court declared marriages like Nick and Charlie's still valid in 2009. A few years later the US District and Appeals Court determined that the Proposition violated the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the US Constitution and the Supreme Court said that the party supporting the law did not have standing to represent that side in court.