Light Me Up [HS AU]

53

Niall cleared his throat and looked at Alli and me. He then gazed around the room at all the guests and seemed to steady his own nerves for a moment. 

"Dear Morgan," he started, his lovely Irish accent filling the tent with smiles and admiring sighs. "I was a young fella when I first met you. We were in the same boarding school in Scotland. Morgan was in the girls' section and we'd see her for events, dances and such. Harry wasn't saying it at first, but eventually I found out he was her twin. I thought 'what the hell was put in their genepool to make them look like that', comparing them to my awkward, leprechaun features. Luckily I outgrew that," he flashed a smile and people laughed warmly. 

"I had a wee crush on Morgan to begin with. She was pretty, funny, and she acted like one of the boys. She would beat us up if we were annoying and she always spoke honestly and truthfully. Including the time I told her I had a crush on her. She laughed so hard her eyes teared up and then she told me I was daft." He paused for laughs and I nodded in agreement with him. 

"We were in our late teens when Morgan told us she liked girls the same as us. I remember I wasn't surprised as such. Just a little annoyed I wasn't a girl," he chuckled warmly, making all of us chuckle with him. "But Morgan, you and I, we were never meant for each other in that sense. We were destined to be soulmates in another way. You and I, we've been through so many things together and you have always had my back, just like I will always have yours." He paused for a moment, looking me in the eyes and holding up his glass to me. A tear rolled down my cheek and Alli gently wiped it away with a tissue. 

"When you met Alli, I was ecstatic for you. You found your match; a woman who would keep you on your toes, challenge you to always do better and love you boundless. That was all I needed to know, all we needed to know," he gestured around their table and they all nodded. "Alli, you're part of our little family, the one we chose ourselves. You're a perfect match for us, and we're grateful you didn't run away screaming." He winked at Alli and she laughed heartily, wiping her eyes. 

"So, I hope everyone here will raise their glasses and help me toast my all-time favourite girl, and her beautiful wife." He held his glass up and everyone else got up and mirrored his action. 

"Slainté!" He said loudly, and winked at me. I blew him a kiss and wiped my eyes, thinking I was done crying for now. It only lasted a very short while before there was a new ding on a glass, and I looked up to see Harry standing up. 

He hadn't even said a word, and I was already crying. Alli squeezed my hand tightly and smiled at Harry encouraging him to go on. 

"Morgan, I'd like to say a few words too. I know Niall is a tough one to follow, but I'll do my best." He looked down at Niall and they had a moment's banter to everyone's amusement. 

"There's a saying: Twins share a bond from the very beginning, cradled in the same womb, two souls intertwined before they even take their first breath. We have shared everything from our creation, to toys, clothes and friends. Granted, that also meant girls sometimes, and I am terribly sorry about that," he covered his eyes with embarrassment as people laughed. I chuckled and nodded, very well-aware that he had snatched a lot of the girls, I had fancied growing up. I shrugged at Peyton and she shrugged back with a laugh.