World Tour

Brett's uncle's house II

Eddy held onto Brett's hand as if it were his lifeline as they stood in the entrance to the kitchen, staring out at the lawn. All the chairs were filled now with their nearest and dearest and he had to admit it all looked fantastic. The work that they had put into it had definitely paid off, but at the moment all he wanted to do was run to the pool house, jump into the bed and pull the covers over his head in some sort of pathetic game of hide and seek. 
He breathed in and out calmly, trying to settle both his nerves and his stomach. Man. He'd never been this nervous, ever. 
Their friend Elina started playing the first movement of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto, just like the music at their 'real' wedding, but much, much better for being live. 
¨I have to walk, my love.¨ Brett said, softly. ¨Are you going to be okay? Or do you want me to walk with you?¨
He shook his head. No, of course Brett had to go. 
¨Go. I'll see you there.¨ he said, and kissed him quickly. 
Brett's dad smiled broadly at them both and took Brett's arm. Eddy's mum took Eddy's hand and squeezed it. 
¨That I would live to see this day...¨ she whispered, and he looked at her with a little surprise. 
How wonderful it was now, to have his mum be part of it. How different did it feel now from their real wedding in Vegas, where he hadn't been sure if his mum would ever come around. 
The love that spread around his chest quelled his nerves more than anything else could.
¨I'm so grateful you're here, next to me, mum.¨ he whispered back, his voice thick. 
She nodded as they looked at the backs of Brett and his dad, moving slowly up the aisle in time to the music. 
¨And now you're giving me grandchildren too.¨
Eddy didn't say anything, because he didn't want to start with the waterworks already. He didn't trust his tears to stay down one bit anyway, once he would be up there, but he squeezed her hand tight. 
Then she took his arm and they started walking too. Slowly, deliberately they made their way up the aisle, and Eddy felt his throat swell with all the emotions. Love blossomed everywhere, like the flowers that were flanking the sides of the chairs, and happy faces turned to him as he walked.
He didn't stop the tear now that rolled down his cheek, because his eyes were focused at the end of that aisle, where Brett was stood, waiting, his own eyes watery.  
His mum squeezed his hand once more and he bent forward so she could kiss his cheek.
¨I'm so proud of you, my son.¨ she whispered, the emotion clear on her face. 
¨Thank you, mum.¨ he whispered back, and with that she let go of his hand so he could face his husband. 
They joined hands, staring in each other's eyes, waiting for Ibo to speak as the last of the nerves left Eddy's chest. Now that he was here, all was well in his world. 
¨Dearly beloved.¨ Ibo started. ¨Well, Brett and Eddy's dearly beloved, I don't know half of you.¨
The laughter roared over the field and Eddy grinned widely at his husband. 
¨I knew asking Ibo was a bad idea!¨ Brett whispered, his eyebrows waggling up and down, grinning from ear to ear. 
¨In all seriousness, though.¨ Ibo continued. ¨We are gathered here today to cement the union of the two best mates anyone's ever had. I love you both. Now, of course as you all know they went and eloped anyway, so technically this is just a do over, but they wanted to share their original vows with each other and you all.¨

Eddy breathed deeply once and then he said the words he would never forget. 
¨Brett, my love, love of my life. You were my best friend for so many years, and now you're that and much more. I promise to love you every day of my life. I promise to be honest to you, to stand by you and support you in everything you choose to do. I promise to be there through the good and the bad, as long as I live.¨
A tear rolled over Brett's cheek as he gazed at Eddy with so much love it took his breath away. Eddy reached forward and wiped it away tenderly. 
¨My Eddy¨, Brett said then, his eyes as jubulant as they had been on that day in Vegas, ¨I've loved you forever, and now it turns out you love me back, and that makes me the happiest man in the world. I promise to be your support, your protection, the one to stand by you through life's ups and downs. I will never leave you or let you down. You're my world, and I'll spend my life showing that to you. I'll love you more every day of my life.¨
Eddy smiled at him, and he hoped the smile would show Brett just how much this meant to him. He squeezed his hands even tighter and mouthed: ¨I love you.¨
¨Well,¨ Ibo said, and his voice was suspiciously croaky, ¨In that case, by the power invested in me by absolutely no one at all...¨ he paused to let the laughter die down again, ¨I now pronounce you two husbands again!¨
They were still smiling as they bent forward and let their lips touch softly, the applause from their crowd suddenly deafening. 
Eddy let go of Brett's hands then and turned around to Elina, who gave him her violin quickly. 
He put it on his shoulder and began to play that little bit of the Sibelius concerto he knew Brett particularly loved. Brett's eyes widened in surprise, his tears welling up once more as he listen to him play.