Author's Note:
As you know, I managed to cut the last edition down in order to get it posted. No such luck with this one I'm afraid - cutting it down, not posting it. Since I'm sorry to say this installment of the saga is coming to a close, I don't think you'll mind reading it all together. As promised this chapter contains the wedding, so put on your Sunday best or just your most comfy sweats, and join us for the ceremony. I hope you all have a blast!
Enough from me ... on with the show!
Don't know anything, don't know anyone, and certainly don't own anything. (I wish though!) Please feel free to review with constructive criticism, etc.
25 - Open My Eyes
The auspicious day had arrived: August 8, 2011. Dan couldn't help but roll his eyes at Derrick's explanation of the date being something about numerology, but Bryce had pulled him aside and filled him in.
"Look, our birthdays are both on the eighth," Bryce said, "his in April and mine in March, and August makes it 8-8-11. He even pointed out that for eleven months out of the year we're the same age. Plus, it doesn't hurt that an eight turned on the side means infinity either, which is just about as long as I hope this lasts. One infinity, not two since I don't think there is such a thing."
Dan couldn't help but laugh. Bryce just seemed like the other half of the prefect pair for Derrick. He knew is brother was brilliant in his own way, but Bryce just seemed the fill in all the gaps and make them the perfect couple.
He noticed it in Blaine and Kurt as well. It could seem like they were the "Odd Couple" at first glance, but this was nowhere near the case. Yes, Blaine seemed a bit more masculine in his actions most times, and Kurt was a touch more effeminate in the way he spoke, but they were both boys through and through, just as he knew his brother to be. They both liked music, and in glee, it leaned a bit toward musical theatre, but he knew that he heard plenty of other genres coming from Blaine's room or their ear plugs as he asked them to turn them down as not to hurt their hearing. A teacher/parent hang-up there. The more he thought of all those whom he knew who "played for the other team", the more he knew that certain other attitudes about them were wrong. Completely.
Now wasn't the time to worry about that though. His brother was currently trying to wear a hole in the carpet of his guest room. Derrick had stayed with him so as not to tempt the old wives tale about seeing the bride before the wedding.
"You know technically, neither of you are brides, so that really can't do any harm," Blaine pointed out.
"We're not taking any chances," Derrick said shaking his head. "Either we're both grooms or we're both brides, whichever way you want to look at it ... and we're not taking any chances in either case.
Dan and Blaine had both laughed, especially when Derrick spent most of the night talking to Bryce on his cell phone anyway.
"Would you calm down," Dan said catching Derrick on his next circuit.
"I am calm, what would make you think otherwise?" Derrick said looking at him wide eyed.
Dan sighed and tipped his head before shaking it resignedly. "Okay, you're dressed, I'm dressed and Blaine's dressed so we can go if you're ready."
"Blaine's coming with us?" Derrick said.
"We discussed this last night," Dan said. "He's our ... we'll my designated driver. You guys are leaving in a limo, right?"
"Oh, yeah," Derrick said.
Dan shook his head and led Derrick out of the room. "Blaine, you ready?"
"Okay, they're ready," Blaine, said into his cell. "I'll see you guys when you get there. ... Yep, me too. Love you, babe." He clicked the phone off and put it in his pocket. "Yep, all ready."
Dan smiled at him. "Okay, let's head out."
"You've got GPS to get us home right?" Blaine said.
"I've got an app on my phone," Dan said. "It even gives you turn by turn directions. I'll show you how to use it when we get in the car. I don't need it on the way, but I want to make sure you know how to use it just in case I end up plastered again."
Blaine grinned at the thought of the night he helped Dan to bed.
"Okay, let's go and don't forget to lock the door," Dan said and they all piled out the door and into the car.
Dan drove them to the vineyard they had chosen for the wedding. It was about halfway between Lima and Delaware, but slightly closer to Delaware, which is where they had put up all the guests. The vineyard had a beautiful garden with a gazebo, which was just perfect for the ceremony, and a large hall more than adequate for the reception. They also had a second venue inside for the ceremony, just in case it rained.
The guys arrived and Dan and Blaine led Derrick to the area where the rest of the Deen family was located, both being extra careful that there would be no meeting of the grooms.
"Are you doing okay?" Dan asked as they entered the room and closed the door.
"Yeah fine," Derrick answered a bit too quickly for Dan's liking.
"Are you sure?" Dan said.
Derrick developed a look of extreme apprehension. "The ring ... where's the ring?"
"I've got it," Dan said reaching in his pocket and producing the small velvet covered box. "And the..."
"The box! The other box, the one for Bryce?" Derrick said quickly.
"I was about to say it's right here," Dan said pulling the beautifully wrapped rectangular box from the other pocket.
"I need to give that to Bryce," Derrick said.
"What about not seeing the groom before the wedding?" Blaine asked.
"I meant to give it to him before he left," Derrick said, "but I forgot."
"We can get you over there," Dan said, "but what are you going to do, close your eyes the whole way?"
"I've got an idea," Blaine said. He reached into the interior pocket of his blazer and produced his red and blue Warbler tie.
"Ah, the lucky tie!" Dan said laughing.
"Never a performance without it!" Blaine said grinning from ear to ear.
Dan tied the tie around Derrick's head, careful to obscure his vision. "Oh, hey, Dad," he said gaining his father's attention. "We're taking the groom to talk to the other groom."
"But what about the..." Dan stepped aside and pointed to the tie. "Ah, I see ... and he doesn't."
"Shut up!" Derrick said as they all laughed and he groped around.
Dan and Blaine carefully led Bryce over to the Forbes encampment. Dan smiled as he saw all the tartan. Bryce had told him that only men could wear a kilt, but anyone could wear the family tartan. He marveled at the way all of the ladies had woven it into their outfits. Some of them wore it draped over a shoulder, pinned in place with a brooch, or wrapped around themselves as a sash. Others, he noticed, had chosen wear it as a plain straight skirt or to have it intricately added as pleats in their solidly colored dresses to spectacular effect. A splash of vivid color caught the eye each time they took a step.
"You're no' s'posed to be haur, mate," Jamie said as came over to them.
"We know, that's the reason for the blindfold," Blaine said smiling. "He insisted though."
"Is there anywhere they could talk without seeing each other?" Dan asked.
"Sure, I think somethin' can be arranged," Jamie said with a grin.
Jamie led them over to the room where Bryce was. He knocked on the door and told them to make sure that Bryce was behind the door and facing away so they couldn't see one another. He then led Derrick over to the door.
"Um, wasn't it your idea that we shouldn't see one another before the ceremony?" Bryce asked from his side of the door.
"Yes," Derrick said. "You know me though; I got this for you, but I forgot to give it to you before you left." He offered the wrapped box around the doorway.
"Oh wait," someone yelled, from the other side of the room. Tyler trotted over with his camera. "There's no way we can miss this one."
"Tyler?" Derrick said.
"Of course," Tyler said. "You know that Chelle and I wouldn't miss this chance. We almost came to blows until Bryce's mom offered us a coin. I got Bryce and Chelle got you."
They all laughed, and then Tyler moved the door over more to better align the shots, making sure that they still couldn't see one another. Tyler shot a couple of pictures of the overall situation and the manner in which Derrick had been brought over, and then had Derrick remove the tie so he could get both of their faces.
After Tyler got a few "wedding photo" shots of them reaching around the door and just touching hands, he got several more of Derrick handing the gift around the door.
"Did you want me to open it now?" Bryce asked.
"Of course, that's why we did all of this," Derrick said with a chuckle.
Bryce untied the bow and then peeled back the paper. Opening the box he said, "Oh my God, it's beautiful."
"Something old and something new?" Derrick said. "And I do know what an eight on its side means."
Bryce smiled broadly, as he took out the silver kilt pin. A gleaming arc looped around three times forming two overlapping interlocking figure eights. In this case, however, they were both on their sides - infinity, doubled.
"As long as we want it to last?" Bryce said as tears fell from his eyes.
"At least," Derrick said as he too began to tear up. "I love you; I'll see you out there in a few."
"Love you too, Ricky," Bryce said.
Blaine looked at Derrick with awe, another gay man, who was happily and wholly, head over heels in love with his partner, and was about to make him his husband ... for life. He smiled as he led Derrick back through the Forbes camp.
Dan leaned in the doorway. "I'm not under the same restriction am I?" he asked.
"Of course not," Bryce said smiling and wiping at his eyes.
Dan entered shaking his hand. "I just wanted to see the payload," Dan said grinning. Bryce held it up for him and he shook his head. "He never ceases to amaze me."
"Me either," Bryce said. "I think that's why we're becoming brothers now."
Dan smiled then leaned over and hugged him. "We'll see you in a few."
"You too," Bryce said as Dan left.
On their way out Derrick and Blaine were stopped by Bryce's mother. The darts of their green and blue family tartan furled out from the bottom of her cream-colored dress as she walked toward them. Blaine noted the splashes of the tartan around the cuffs and inside of her short jacket as well.
"Hello, Mum," Derrick said. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but..."
"Tis okay," she said. "Saves me the trouble of findin' you. I have somethin' for you."
"Oh you didn't need to do that," Derrick said.
"No, I did," she told him. "You know the tradition: 'Ave somethin' old, an' somethin' new, wit' somethin' borrowed, an' somethin' blue, an' nae forgit the sixpence in 'er shoe." Derrick and Blaine both smiled at the poem.
"Now I know that neither of you are the bride, but this six pence 'as been passed down in my family from mother to daughter t'ru out th' years. Now, we only have Bryce and no daughters, and his Grand-Da 'as given 'im 'is old dress sporran to wear, so he 'as the auld part covered. We gave 'im a brand new one for 'is shoe, so I'd like you to have this one. It's something very old and I want you both to have it, to pass on to your daughter some day."
Derrick smiled broadly and hugged her. "Thanks mum," he said in her ear before kissing her cheek.
"Aren't you supposed to save that for the groom?" Dan said as he approached the three.
"Shut it you!" she said to him. "I can hug my son anytime I want to."
"Of course you can," Dan said, "but we do need to get him back to the other side of the building so we can get the deed done."
"True that, so off wit' ye," she said as she waved.
Once they'd reached the other camp, they found Chelle snapping away at the other members of the wedding party.
"There you are," she said. "We need pictures with the groom."
"I hear mum saved you from killing Tyler," Derrick told her.
"Yep, those six pence really are lucky," she told him smiling. Derrick produced it and rubbed it between his finger and thumb. "Oh my, we have got to get a shot of that going in your shoe!"
The moment had arrived. All of the guests were escorted out to their seats. Most of the New Directions were there and took up an entire row by themselves. Kurt looked superb in his new kilt and received nods and compliments from all, even several of the visitors from Scotland herself. Blaine hugged him and kissed him, telling him how proud he was of him.
"Lookout Braveheart, Kurt's on the way!" Puck said.
"Told ya didn't I?" Finn said.
"Damn boy, you better watch out," Lauren said. "I may be trading up!"
"Gotta fight me first," Blaine, said grinning.
The Hudson-Hummel's, Evans' and Karofsky's took up another row, with Mrs. Anderson, Will, Emma, Shannon and several more of McKinley's teachers filling the rest of the row.
Both grooms were escorted separately to gardens on opposite sides of the central gazebo, and then when the time came, a piper played a Scots wedding tune as they both walked out.
From one side walked Derrick, Dan, his best man, following him a pace or two behind. Both of them wore cutaways in shades of black and grey with green bow ties, which matched the green of the Forbes tartans. They were trailed by junior members of the extended Deen family, all wearing dresses and tuxes with similar colors.
From the other side came Bryce and his best man Nevin, a childhood best friend who became a pen pal when he moved, a confidant later and all around best mate throughout the years. Bryce wore a regulation doublet and waistcoat similar to the Prince Charlie Kurt had worn to Prom, but his was a bit smarter with a fancier tie and a fly plaid of his family tartan draped over his shoulder and pinned to his jacket with a silver brooch. The tartan itself was a more modern of the family's, with brighter blues and greens. They too were followed by junior members of the clan with dresses and kilts in the family plaids.
Once they met one another before the gazebo, the ceremony began, officiated by both the Deen family's minister and the Chieftain of the Forbes family. After all the ceremony was less a proper wedding than a joining of families.
All of the family and guests looked on as the two exchanged vows that they had written themselves. Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged even by the onlookers. A beautiful moment shared even by those who looked on from behind the bushes.
As the ceremony concluded, the minister intentionally skipped the part about pronouncing them man and wife, as no one had yet to decide exactly how to address that particular phrase, he did however say, "I now present the happy couple," which no one could have trouble with. The Chieftain stepped forward, welcoming Derrick to the clan, and told him from this day on he would be a Forbes and would have, "All the clan to guard your person."
The two stepped forward to share a kiss and amongst all the claps as Derrick stepped back Bryce had slipped his hands beneath his tux-coat and was sliding it off.
"Not right here!" Derrick said his eyes wide. Then, however, he noticed that his brother's hands were at his shoulders guiding the coat off. He looked at Bryce with question and then to Nevin behind him.
Once Dan had the coat Bryce reached down to pull the sgian dubh from beside his right knee. Derrick's eyes widened as he saw the gleaming blade. "You'll not need this one any longer," Bryce said as he sliced the buttons of the waistcoat away.
Derrick stood shocked as Dan yanked the grey vest off him from behind. Nevin produced a new waistcoat, handed to him from behind the gazebo flowers by the Chieftain. This one was grey at the back but the front was made of the Forbes family tartan.
"I thought I had to ask Grand-Da,?" Derrick said with a laugh.
"Grand-Da, what sa'es ye?" Bryce yelled over to him.
"Aye, son, put 'er on!" Grand-Da yelled back.
Everyone laughed and clapped as Bryce helped him to button the new waistcoat and Dan helped him to put his coat back on. The two then walked down the aisle arm and arm.
"We woods be honored if ye woods aw join us to th' stoatin close fur tatties an' neebs!" the Chieftain announced as the two made their way down the aisle.
"Dude, what'd he say?" Finn asked the others.
"Not a clue," Mike said.
"Hell if I know," Puck said.
"He said come join 'em for vittles in the dining room," Beiste said.
"You speak Scots coach?" Blaine asked.
"I speak vittles," Beiste said with a smile.
The adults laughed as the kids nodded.
The wedding party and all their guests gathered in the hall for the reception. Once they all were seated, Bryce's father tapped his champagne flute with his wedding ring to get everyone's attention.
"Now ordinarily this honor falls to the Chieftain or one o' the Elders of the clan," he said, "but as half of us are no' native to the lowlands, it falls to me so that you can understand at least half of what's to be said." He gained a chuckle from the room.
"It is an old Scots tradition to invite our other fair Chieftain to any grand gatherin' such as this, so I call your attention to yond door for the grand parade," he said pointing to the doors to his left.
Bryce smiled broadly from his seat at the center of the head table as Derrick shook his head. Blaine wasn't sure, but he thought he registered a roll of the eyes as well.
The double doors opened and three men marched in, the first, a Scots piper in full regalia entered, his pipes wailing a smart tune. He was followed by a second gentleman bearing a silver platter with a rather large odd-looking sausage like item atop it surrounded by sprigs of greenery, while the last bore an ornate Scots dirk in his outstretched hands. The three paraded the platter around the room and halted before the head table. Once the music ceased, the second gentleman presented the silver tray to those at the table and bowed courteously. He stepped back and the third of the men stepped forward and offered the dirk. The Chieftain of the Forbes Clan stepped forward to receive the dirk and nodded to Mr. Forbes to continue.
Mr. Forbes picked up a book, flipped it open to a book-marked page, and began to read:
Fair full your honest, jolly face,
Great Chieftain of the puddin-race!
Above them all ye take yer place,
stomach, tripe, or intestine:
well are you worthy of a grace
as lang as me arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
yer buttocks like a distant hill,
your pin would help to mend a mill
in time of need,
while thru your pores the dews distill
like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
and cut you up wit' ready slight,
trenching your gushing entrails bright,
like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
warm steaming, rich!
Then spoon for spoon, they stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
are bent like drums;
Then old Master of the house, most like to burst,
'The Grace!' hums.
Is there that over his French ragout,
or olio that would sicken a sow,
or fricassee would make her spew
with perfect disgust,
looks down with sneering, scornful view
on such a dinner?
Poor devil! See him over his trash,
as feeble as a withered rush,
his thin legs a good whip-lash,
his fist a nit;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
the trembling earth resounds his tread,
clap in his ample fist a blade,
He'll make it whistle;
and legs, and arms, and heads will crop
like tops of thistle.
You powers, who make mankind your care,
and dish them out their bill of fare,
Auld Scotland want no watery ware,
that splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if ye wish her grateful prayer,
Give her a Haggis!
The majority of the Scots contingent joined him in the last line, as the Americans simply looked around surprised.
The Chieftain stepped forward and pulling the dirk from its scabbard, he stabbed the item on the platter and it all but exploded. The smooth lightly browned skin surrounding it ripped as a popped balloon and the stuffing fell out all about it.
Cheers, whoops and hollers abounded from the Scots in the room and several "ayes" could be heard as well. Many of the Americans in the room merely smiled and joined the clapping not truly sure of what had just transpired.
"Dudes, what just happened?" Finn leaned over and asked Blaine and Kurt.
"Hey, I live with Dan, not them," Blaine said.
"I'm not sure, but I believe we just witnessed the 'Parade of the Haggis'," Kurt said.
"I believe he's right," Rachel said.
"What's a ... Haggis?" Finn asked.
"I'm not quite sure," Rachel said. "But as I understand it, it's best not to ask."
Food and drink went round the hall. Scots were nothing if not party people and they certainly knew how to do so. The New Direction members were seated at tables near the front of the room close the head table, only a few tables from it in fact. Rachel pointed out that usually the closer you sat to the head table the more importance you held.
Blaine looked around and sure enough only Deen family relatives and a few others sat between them and the big table. Their table consisted of him and Kurt, Finn and Rachel, the boys' parents and his mom. The other New Directions, their parents and the teachers were seated a table or so back from them. The one Dave and Sam and their parents sat at was roughly as close as theirs was; but the tables where the rest were seated were still not as close as theirs were. He smiled to himself as he remembered Dan calling him "Bro" the night after the picnic; maybe he meant it.
The kids hadn't realized it at first, but they had all been seated so that they were all within sight of an adult, either a parent or a teacher.
"You guys did this on purpose, didn't you," Puckerman said as the waiters went round with bottles of champagne and brought others drinks from the bar.
"Of course they did," Santana said. "Parents and teachers are devious like that." She was met by smiles and nods from each of them.
"We all decided though that you guys could have one glass of champagne to toast the couple," Burt said as he waved the waiter over.
"Will it be okay to drive later?" Blaine asked as he held his hand over his glass. "I am the designated driver."
"Sure son, as long as you just have the one," Burt said smiling at him. Blaine looked at his mother and she nodded as well so he removed his hand and allowed the waiter to fill his glass.
All of their flutes were filled and Dan dipped his head quizzically in their direction. When the fathers nodded back, he stood and tapped his flute with his class ring to gain everyone's attention as Mr. Forbes had done.
"Traditionally it's up to the groom's best man to offer a toast to the happy couple," Dan said. "Well, since there are two grooms, they endeavored to make the choice a wee bit easier. They considered age, and since I'm about five years older than Nevin, the deed fell to me." Nevin held his glass up to him. "Needless to say since I speak in front of crowds almost every day for a living, I wasn't very pleased. So after that they decided to think of all of you, and since Nevin is native to merry old Scotland and his accent's a might thick for about half of you to follow, the deed again fell to me." Nevin again raised his glass to Dan and smiled. "So dear old mum had an idea," Dan raised and tipped his glass to Mrs. Forbes. "We took a sixpence from a shoe - not sure which - and flipped it." He took a deep breath and let it out in something similar to a sigh. "So, in the name of sanity and to prevent international incident, I gave up."
Everyone laughed.
"Derrick, I was there when you were born. I suffered at least a little through the years of crying when you were little ... and the years of whining when you were a teenager." Everyone chuckled. "I was there with you when you agonized about your first dates, and then your first boyfriends. I can say that I'm glad that stage is over. Not for the reasons you might imagine, though, not because I no longer want to hear about it, but because you've finally found happiness. I remember your expression the first time I saw you two together." The New Directions kids all laughed, gaining a glare from Derrick and smirks from both Dan and Bryce. "Believe me, I read more there than most could. I am so glad that you found a man who fills your heart and makes you whole." Derrick grinned from ear to ear as he took Bryce's hand and squeezed it.
"Bryce, I haven't known you as long as most here. I haven't even known you as long as Derrick. The man I've come to know in the short time I have known you however is a man I feel most grateful to count as a brother. I've seen you with Derrick and I see how the both of you light up. How you each make the other whole, and I'm so very glad that God, or whatever force it is that guides this universe, saw fit for the two of you to find one another." Bryce smiled at him as he surreptitiously wiped a tear from his eye.
Dan raised his flute and let the others join him. "May both happiness and love be a discovery in all your endeavors, wealth and good fortunes arise in your every enterprise, and shall you triumph above all challengers. Bryce and Derrick, may you both live a long and prosperous life ... together."
"Here, here," everyone said and each took a sip.
Bryce and Derrick both stood up and hugged him. "Love you both," Dan said. "And you're both welcome to come and stay anytime you get time off. I won't even double sheet the bed." They both smiled and laughed.
"As if that would stop us," Derrick said.
"Yeah, I know, Bryce has been the only one trying to keep you quiet," Dan, said rolling his eyes.
"I did try, honestly," Bryce, said smiling again.
"I know," Dan, said nodding.
The rest of the night was filled with dancing and carousing. There were pipers and other bands, some of which even tried playing American pop tunes with their pipes and drums, which had the kids howling.
Into the evening Finn and Rachel approached the bandleader and told him that they would like to present a number for the lucky couple. At the end of the next set, he motioned for them and the kids stood up and gathered near the stage. The bandleader handed the microphone to Finn.
"Hi ... my name is Finn," he said. "We're all ... uh ... students of ... the brother of the groom ... well one of them. We wanted to contribute in at least some small way to the festivities. And, well, we don't really know any Scottish ... I mean Scots songs, and none of us can play the bagpipes so we had to go with something that didn't really need any instruments, so Puckerman found us this one, and ... well here goes."
Dan squinted a questioning look at Will, who was sitting between Emma and Shannon. Will merely looked back at him with a shrug.
The kids all hummed a chord to ready themselves and then began:
Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Will had an almost mortified look on his face even though he had nothing what so ever to do with the song. Everyone, however, began to clap and stomp their feet in time to the rhythm of the song.
About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See young sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
Everyone, especially the Scots in the room joined in the chorus.
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to view, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lift his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
Everyone joined in for the last few lines.
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first priiiiiiiize
The applause was uproarious as the group sat down.
A little while later Bryce and Derrick were walking around thanking everyone for coming. When they got to the kids and their families, they crouched down between them.
"Thanks guys, that was great," Derrick said.
"You don't think it was too much, do you?" Rachel asked. "The parents seemed to think it might be."
"Rachel, there is nothing more that will rouse a Scot as much as a good drinking song," Bryce said laughing. "It was perfect!" She smiled as Finn reached over and hugged her. "And I must say you look spectacular in your kilt my young gent," Bryce told Kurt.
"What can I say, I have a good tailor," Kurt said smiling from ear to ear.
"That he does," Blaine said.
"I must say I love the tartan over the shoulder, and that is a spectacular brooch," Kurt said of the silver swirls holding the plaid to his jacket.
"It's called a fly plaid," Bryce said smiling. "I'll have to make sure to find you one before your next Prom." He winked and Kurt grinned back at him.
The boys all went round introducing their parents to the couple.
"We've heard a lot about you," Trish said. "It's nice to meet you finally."
"You all have some special boys there," Derrick said. "Very well mannered, intelligent and compassionate."
"That they are," Max said as he cupped Sam on the shoulder.
"It's just nice to be able to see where they might end up one day," Julie said as she took Dave's hand. He smiled back at her.
"Hey guys, pose for a few pics?" Tyler said walking up to them.
"Hey Tyler!" Blaine said smiling at him.
"Hey, aren't you the one who 'kidnapped' my son and his friends in New York," Burt said.
Tyler's eyebrow went up. "Actually, that was Matt and Colton," Tyler said looking to Derrick and Bryce.
"It was your idea though, right?" Burt said.
"It made for some great shots though," Tyler said with a feeble laugh.
"With a gun..." Burt said as he squinted his eyes at him.
"I'm gonna leave these shots for Chelle!" Tyler said tipping his head to Derrick and Bryce and quickly heading the other direction.
The boys all laughed.
"You know he is a world famous photographer," Kurt said.
"With a gun," Burt said glaring at him.
"It was a fake," Blaine offered.
"You didn't know that kiddo," Burt said. Blaine tipped his head and raised his hands in submission.
"Tyler said I needed to come over here to snap a few shots," Chelle said confused.
They all shared a laugh again.
"Hey lady," Dave said.
"We'll if it isn't both my favorite couples and favorite models all in one place," Chelle said.
"Awe, shucks, you shouldn't say such things in front of the others," Derrick said as Dave and Sam got up and hugged her.
"I wasn't talking about you," she said as she patted Sam and Dave on the shoulders. They both smiled as Derrick's jaw dropped in mock surprise.
"So you're the one that made our boy look so good," Anne said.
"Oh I can't take any credit for that," Chelle said. "He looks great on his own; you just have to know how to get him out of the shell so you can see it." Sam blushed a deep crimson. "See what I mean, that color doesn't do so well in print."
They shared another laugh.
"Okay, lets snap a few pics of you guys with the grooms," Chelle said.
They each took turns posing. It was one thing to have pictures done with a wedding photographer, but with a world-renowned fashion photographer, it was something special indeed. Chelle knew exactly the looks she wanted and exactly the looks that would make the dress or suit they wore look its best.
In addition to standard wedding shots, Chelle got "family photos" of the kids and their families and teachers. The grooms wanted mementos of more than just their big day. As Bryce was famous for saying, it was less about them, and more about their families both their close, blood related ones, and their extended ones and the boys had definitely become that.
Outside on the patio a man stood watching the festivities. He especially watched the grooms' interactions with the kids and the boys' interaction with their parents. A waiter stopped as he headed back into the hall.
"Would you care for a drink, sir?" the waiter asked offering him one from the tray he carried.
"No thank you, I'm not staying," the man said adjusting his slightly disheveled suit coat.
As the waiter nodded and continued into the hall, the man took one last look and turned to leave.
End note:
First, let me say I am not a Scot, we'll entirely, I do have some family from there but nowhere near what Bryce has, so this is an approximation of what it might be like. Forgive me if you are a true Scot, I hope I dinnae cock it up too badly. Leave me a review and let me know how you think it went.
I also am married - sorry to disappoint some of you, and I'm straight - sorry to disappoint others of you, so I have been through it myself, but I have no idea how one would handle a 'gay' marriage. As I did say, it can't be done here in Ohio, but it can be done in New York, which is why the boys shared the real deal over that weekend with the justice of the peace and this ceremony was one for their families and friends. So, I hope you weren't disappointed. Leave me a review and let me know how you think it went.
I was also delighted to see that Loser Like Me is still getting beaucoup readers. I am glad and thankful for all of the new readers who have gotten a taste from Rise Above and liked it enough to go back and read the first one as well. You know, I used to try to space my posts out by the time it took to reach a hundred readers, which usually took around a week. The last chapter was posted on a Sunday and by Tuesday, we've have over a hundred readers. That's just three days! Hat's off to you guys for adoring the story that much, and hat's off to me for writing a story that you admire so much, but don't expect a post every two or three days. I'm not that good! Either way, leave me a review and let me know what you think.
The overall gist: Leave me a review and let me know how you like it!