Will fastened the bow tie of his tuxedo, slipped on his vest and jacket, carefully sizing up the man he saw in the mirror. He was a few years older, a few pounds heavier, with a little less hair and more lines around his eyes. Still, he wore the grin of a much-younger man, and that was because he was just about as happy as a man could be. "What are you up to today, fella?" he said aloud to himself, mainly because there was no one there to hear him. "Who's the lucky girl?" He felt almost like he did when he was high, except no illicit substances were necessary today. He was flying, just from excitement.
Mackenzie had insisted on sleeping at Sloan's the night before. "You mustn't see the bride before she comes down the aisle, Billy" she'd sing-songed as she'd packed an overnight bag to take with her. Her dress and veil and shoes were already at Sloan's- in fact, they'd never even entered the apartment. She didn't trust herself not to show them to him- oh, the shoes. "You're going to just love them, Billy" she'd said with the expression of a woman who knew things, and he'd bemusedly said, "I'm sure you're right, hon" and chuckled quietly to himself. Mackenzie loved her shoes. Will was more than a little curious as to what his bride would look like as she walked down the aisle, but he resigned himself to waiting until the moment the music started and everyone turned their heads and looked up the aisle to get a glimpse of the bride.
Will walked back into the living room. They'd been living together a year- a year since Election Night, a year since the lawsuit was filed, a year since their lives had changed drastically, and in many ways, for the better. Once Will knew he had to tell Mackenzie how he felt, things had moved very quickly. He proposed, she accepted, she moved in to the apartment the next week, and they'd been together, essentially 24/7, ever since. There had been no looking back. Everything- the stress of work, the difficulties that stemmed from the lawsuit- seemed much easier to handle when they were doing it together.
The intercom buzzed. It was Dave, the daytime building manager. "Mr. McAvoy- Mr. Skinner is here. Are you ready, or should I send him up?"
Will pushed the intercom button. "Dave, tell Mr. Skinner I'll be right down. I just need a minute." Will walked over to the mirror in the entryway, straightened his bowtie, and smiled. "Go get that girl, Mr. McAvoy" he said to his reflection. He grabbed his overnight bag and headed to the door. Then he hit the elevator button and headed down to meet Charlie and his wife, who were picking him up in a limo.
Once outside, Will saw Charlie waiting on the sidewalk. He raised his hand in greeting and smiled. "Feel any better?" he asked Will.
Will smiled. "Yeah. Now I'm just excited. I can't wait to get this done!"
Charlie opened the limo door and Will slid inside. He greeted Charlie's wife, Nancy, who leaned over and patted him on the leg. "Nervous?" she asked. "Charlie was a WRECK before our wedding." She smiled at him, looking beautiful in an emerald green dress and matching wrap.
Will grinned. "I was a lot more nervous earlier. I feel a ton better now. Mostly I'm just excited."
Charlie got into the limo and gave the driver the address of the church. "1 West 53rd Street, please. Park in the back, by the chapel entrance." The driver nodded in agreement and pulled away from the building.