Viva Las Vengeance

Vegas Lights

** Carlyn's POV **

I can't believe what Brendon has just managed to pull off. I never saw this coming. Giving him one last kiss and the audience a quick wave, I make my way off stage.

Everyone is looking at me with huge smiles on their faces.
"Did you all know about that?" I ask in disbelief. Everyone is laughing and nodding their heads.
"We were all sworn to secrecy." Pete shouts.
"Why do you think he was so jittery today?" Patrick asks.
"I just thought it was his ADHD playing up. He kept telling me he was fine...."

The rest of the show continues, and before we know it, the show is coming to an end. As the final chords of High Hopes fade, it's time to make our way back to the dressing rooms.

As the guys begin to enter, they each give me a big hug laughing.
"Your face was a picture, Carlyn." shouts Mike.
"I think it's the first time I've ever seen you lost for words." Dan chimes in.
"I thought it was beautiful," sighs Nicole.
"We all had a tear in our eye, even the boys."

Brendon comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Right guys, quick showers and change of clothes. We all have somewhere to be.." he shouts, checking his watch "in 40 minutes. So let's move."
"Bren? What do you mean we have somewhere to be?"
"You'll find out soon, babe." He tells me, kissing my head as he makes his way towards the shower.

--------------------------------------------------

40 minutes later, we are all in a mini van, making our way towards the strip.
"Brendon, wher on earth are we going?"
"For food," he replies nonchalantly.
"For food? We have food on the bus..." he cuts me off before I can finish.
"Carly, we have tomorrow off. So tonight we are staying in a hotel. We are all going out to let our hair down. Have some food, some drinks and enjoy some time with our family and friends."
"What about the girls? They are exhausted and need to go to bed..."
"Don't worry, I have sorted that out as well. I have a sitter arranged, and we will be in the hotel with them at all times."
I can't help laughing to myself. "You have been busy. How long have you been planning all of this?"
"About 6 weeks." he smirks at me.
"You really are a crafty sod Mr Urie," I tell him, placing my lips against his.
Pulling onto the strip, I can't help taking a small trip down memory lane. I used to be mesmerised by all these lights on the strip.

Growing up in Vegas, I used to spend many nights wandering up and down the strip amongst all the tourists. It was my second home. In all honesty, a better one than my actual home. The strip was my sanctuary, my safe place. Even though I was amongst strangers, I felt happier here. My home life wasn't the best. My parents were so hypocritical. They liked to portray themselves as a good god faring Christian family when, in reality, they fought constantly. My step-dad worked all the time and drank a lot. Mom lived on Valium. cigarettes and bible verses, and they both never failed to constantly remind me of how big a disappointment I was to them and how much of an embarrassment I was. They didn't like the music I listened to, the clothes that I wore, or the company that I kept. On the strip, I was free. I was so lost in my memories that I hadn't even realised that we had stopped moving.
"Babe, we're here. Are you ok?"
"Yes, just lost in my own head.." I smile back at him.
"We're staying here? At the Bellagio?"
"Yes, we have the penthouse suite. Actually, we have the whole floor booked out. C'mon, we have a party to go to?" He states as he lifts Ava out of the mini van onto his hip whilst Dan takes Ava.
Right now, the thought of a party does not fill me with joy. In fact, the thought of falling into a nice hotel bed excites me more. However, I do not have the heart to burst his bubble.
"Lead the way, Bren."
Once we get to our suite, which is stunning, we get the girls settled for the night and leave them in the safe hands of the sitter service. Luckily, we are only going to be in the suite next door. Entering the room, I see that all our friends that were at the show are here, along with everyone else.
"Babe, I have one more surprise for you...."
"Brendon, any more surprises, and the chances are I'll surprise us all and go into labour.." I joke. Suddenly, a voice shouting from behind us catches my attention.
"Seriously!! You agreed to marry this idiot .....Again!! Once wasn't enough for you...."
"JISH!!" I squeal, turning round in excitement to see him Tyler Debby and Jenna all standing there.
"You asshole," I yell, punching him lightly on the arm. "You told me you couldn't make it when I asked you. Said you had other commitments."
"We did. This!! Brendon had already arranged all of this with us. He wanted to surprise you with a party to celebrate you both renewing your vows...."
"Oh yes?" I say, turning to Brendon. "What if I'd said No?"
"I knew you wouldn't. I mean, how could you resist my charm, wit, and handsome body?"
"You're so bloody full of yourself, Urie." I laugh. Just like you always were in high school.
"And you couldn't resist me then, either. She used to follow me around and try to get me to ask her out...."
I almost choke on my drink. "Is that really the version of events you want to roll with?" I ask, smirking at him. " Yes, It's the one I prefer."
"It's alright, Carlyn," shouts Spencer. "we all know the real story. Some of us lived through it. I remember Brendon mooning over you, desperately trying to get your attention. It was so funny watching you reject him. He couldn't understand why his usual techniques didn't work on you."
"OK, OK, we don't need to go into that Spence..."
"I'd like to hear more," shouts Dan
"Yeah, me too." Agrees, Mike.
"Oh fuck off you two," jokes Brendon "You already know tbe story. You just like seeing me squirm.."
"Hell yeah we do, it's hilarious..."
"ANYWAY" Shouts Brendon. "I actually wanted to spend some quality time with all our friends, that we class as family, not only to celebrate another successful tour, Carlyn agreeing to marry me, again!! and the upcoming birth of our son but to thank you all for your love and support that you have shown to us all, especially during Carlyn's cancer journey. We appreciate everything that you have all done, are currently doing and no doubt will continue to do for us. Lastly I want to celebrate my beautiful wife. Carly, who continues to amaze me every day. Even when you're feeling shit because of the chemo, you still show up for me and the girls. You always put others before yourself and you are the most selfless person I have ever met, I love you more than anything in this world."
My eyes are now brimming with tears. "I love you too, babe.." It's all I can manage before my voice starts to break as
Brendon raises his glass "To Carlyn, and her Fuck Off to cancer. Keep kickin' it's ass"

"To Carlyn!" Everyone shouts, and in this moment, looking around the room. I am grateful to all our friends who are here with us. When my eyes land on Brendon, I can't help but swallow back the tears that are threatening to fall. He has so much love in his heart to give. We've been through so much, but here we are still together. The high school sweethearts that were told would never last. This, this right here, is what family looks like. Long gone is the lost girl who wandered along the strip with her family of strangers, looking for a place to belong.