Oct. 1, 2016

There was a knock at the door. John hurried out of the kitchen, where he, Jude and Jesus were setting out all of the side dishes for John's bachelor party. He opened the door and Mike and AJ walked in, carrying several packs of hamburger meat.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming," John said, motioning for them to come into the house. "Moms and the girls have already headed off to the spa for their appointment, so it's just us and grandpa here for now. Everyone else should be here soon."

"Good to see you, John, is the grill ready for us?" Mike asked as he walked toward the back door.

"Yeah, go ahead," John replied as he walked into the kitchen to help Jude and Jesus prepared the vegetables. After several moments, AJ came back in to properly greet John.

"What's happening, John?" AJ asked as he pulled John into a one armed hug.

"Well, I'm getting married in a week, so my brain is a little occupied at all times," John replied, causing everyone to chuckle. "But I'll survive. Besides, I've got a whole week off from school. Thank bloody god they give us a week off for fall break."

"So you don't get a honeymoon?" said AJ, exasperated.

John laughed. "Not yet, anyway. We're taking a trip over Christmas break to the Bahamas. Thanks to Mom and Dad's money, we can afford to take an expensive trip just for us."

"That's awesome, man, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, and I'm happy for you, getting adopted finally! Congratulations!"

"Yes, that's definitely a reason to celebrate!" called Stewart's voice. They all turned around and saw him walking into the kitchen. "It's great to officially call you a member of our extended family, AJ! Though now I think about it, I'll have to actually start writing down a list of people we need to buy presents for at Christmas!"

Everyone laughed as more knocking came from the front door. John hurried out of the kitchen and answered the door, where Brandon was standing in the doorway, carrying a gift.

"Hey, Brother!" Brandon yelled as he hurried into the house and pulled John into a hug.

"Hey, Brandon, good drive home?"

"Long as always, but for a week's vacation, totally worth it!"

"How's the soundtrack career treating you?" John asked as they walked into the kitchen and Brandon greeted the others with hugs and handshakes.

"Oh, it's great, I've got a couple of scoring events lined up when I get back to work."

"Anything I know?" said John playfully.

Brandon grinned. "Now, where's the fun in me telling which films I'm scoring? You'll have to guess when you go see the movies."

"All right," John said, resigned, as he rolled his eyes, smiling. "Hey, listen, I'm gonna go talk to your Dad for a minute, I'll be right back."

"Cool, see you in a minute," Brandon said, turning to Jude and walking over to him.

John walked through the backdoor and into the yard, where Mike was grilling the meat. A cloud of smoke hung around the grill and the smell of hamburger meat polluted the area around it.

"Smells great out here," John said when he reached Mike.

"They'll taste even better," Mike replied, grinning at John.

"Thanks for cooking for us tonight, Mike. It means a lot."

"Of course, John. I just wish I could be cooking with your Dad. That guy sure knew how to keep me entertained when we were grilling together."

John smiled. "Yeah I wish he and Mom were here with us to celebrate," he said sadly. "But, I suppose if they were, I might not be marrying Noah, it could've been someone totally different, so I guess it all worked out."

"Yeah, it did," said Mike.

"Anyway, can I ask your advice on something?"

"Of course, what's up?"

"Well, it's about the wedding, of all things," said John, glancing over his shoulder to make sure nobody inside had come out. "I'm having trouble picking who my best man should be."

"Oh," said Mike. "Yeah, that is a tough one."

"No kidding. I've got four brothers to choose from and I can't decide who I should pick. I know the role is pretty much a formality and all he'll really do is hand me a ring, but I don't want to feel like anyone is alienated."

"I don't think anyone will be alienated, John," Mike said, trying to sound comforting. "All of your brothers are happy for you and all of them are happy to stand up there with you when you get married. Any one of them will be delighted to be your best man and I know your brothers, John: none of them will be mad at you for not picking them to be your best man."

John breathed a sigh of relief.

"So what do you think I should do?" John asked.

"Be honest will all of them, above all. I would talk to each of them individually about your dilemma and gauge their responses. I have a feeling I'll be right about none of them being offended at not being your best man, but find that out for yourself and make your decision from there. In the end, it is your wedding, John, so you have to do what's right for you."

"Thanks, Mike," he said. "That definitely helps."

"Anytime," Mike replied. "Now, I'd better get these burgers flipped or we'll be eating half raw meat!"

John laughed and mimicked vomiting as he walked away. Just then, everyone else was coming outside, with the additions of Connor, Aaron, Mat, John's twin Jack and Jack's dad David. John hurried up and greeted Aaron and Mat, who were carrying trays of food to the table, before he turned to Jack and David.

"Hey!" Jack said as he pulled John into a hug. "You're looking good, Mr. Groom-to-be!"

"Oh, if only I felt as good as that!" John replied.

"Trust me, when the wedding is all over, that stress will be worth it," said David.

"It had better be!"

John stood up once everyone had finished eating. He was holding his cup of tea in his right hand and gestured with it as he spoke.

"Well, everyone, I wanna thank all of you who came out tonight for my bachelor's party," he said. "I'm grateful to all of you, especially of those who had to make a drive to come here to celebrate. I can't believe I'm getting married in a week!" At this, everyone cheered loudly. "It's been a crazy year-and-a-half since I asked Noah to marry me, what with my internship in New York, starting college and trying to plan my wedding! But, it'll all come together next Saturday.

"I'm truly grateful to call you all my family. I know not all of us are officially family members, but I think of each and every one of you as family, so thank you for what you do for me and for what you're doing for Noah as we begin our life together."

Everyone cheered again as John sat down, smiling and wiping away some tears falling down his face. When the cheering had subsided, Brandon stood up with Mat.

"Well, John, I know you asked me to perform next week at the wedding, but did you think you could get away with me not performing at your bachelor's party?"

John chuckled. "I suppose not," he replied. "I take it you and Mat are gonna perform something for me?"

"But of course, Brother!"

With that, Brandon and Mat hurried into the house and grabbed their music equipment. In two minutes, they had set up everything they needed. Brandon stood at his keyboard with a microphone attached to it, while Mat sat on a barstool with an acoustic guitar.

"Well, John, my brother, this is for you," Brandon said as he started the song. It began with a synthesizing sound on Brandon's keyboard that continued for several moments before Mat started in on his guitar. When the introduction was finished, Brandon sang into his microphone.

"Do you still remember how we used to be? Feeling together, believe in whatever, my love have said to me. Both of us were dreamers, young love in the sun. Felt like my savior, my spirit I gave ya, we'd only just begun."

At this, Brandon and Mat sang together.

"Hasta mañana. Always be mine. Viva forever, I'll be waiting, everlasting like the sun. Live forever, for the moment, ever searching for the one."

Mat then sang the next verse himself.

"Yes I still remember every whispered word. The touch of your skin, giving life from within, like a love song never heard. Slipping through our fingers, like the sands of time. Promises made, every memory saved as reflections in my mind."

"Hasta mañana. Always be mine. Viva forever, I'll be waiting, everlasting like the sun. Live forever, for the moment, ever searching for the one."

For the next several moments, the music took over the song. Brandon and Mat looked at John, who was smiling up at them, beaming. Finally, the music quieted and Brandon broke in with the bridge.

"Back where I belong now, was it just a dream? Feelings unfold, they will never be sold and the secret's safe with me."

"Hasta mañana, always be mine."

Brandon then sang the main chorus while Mat echoed his lyrics.

"Viva forever, I'll be waiting, everlasting like the sun. Live forever, for the moment, ever searching, for the one.

"Viva forever, I'll be waiting, everlasting like the sun. Live forever, for the moment, ever searching for the one."

The music subsided and now it was just Brandon and Mat's vocals.

"Viva forever, I'll be waiting," Brandon sang in a low voice. "Everlasting, like the sun."

"Like the sun," Mat echoed, carrying the vocal as Brandon sang the next lyrics.

"Live forever,"

"Live forever,"

"For the moment. Ever searching…."

Brandon carried the last notes before he and Mat sang the final lyrics together.

"For the one."

With that, the lyrics faded into silence as everyone stood up, cheering for Brandon and Mat, who were both smiling. They stood up, grabbed each other around the waist and took a bow, waving at everyone. They got off their mini stage and both walked up to John, who pulled them into a hug.

"Thanks for that," John whispered into their ears. "Hell of a performance, as always."