The rest of the guests were heading to a small marque set up in a field out of town while Darren, Miley, Missy, Casey, Chuck, and their parents were all still at the church, having their photos taken.
Darren was sitting in a chair watching his brother posing with his wife and child, that made him think about the time when Darren was seven:
'Mum, have you seen Chuck?' little Darren asked his mother.
Cerina Criss was sitting in the living room going over the papers for her work.
'Hmm, what did you say?' she said absently as she sucked on the tip of a pen.
'Have you seen Chuck, I want to show him something' Darren grinned sheepishly.
Cerina didn't even look up from her work.
'He's outside darling, could you please make sure that he's not climbing the tree.'
'Sure thing, mum' and with that Darren skipped happily into the back yard.
There he was a young Chuck Criss was swinging on a tree branch high above the ground.
'Mum said you shouldn't do that' Darren called up to Chuck.
Chuck grinned down at him and yelled 'what mum doesn't know can't hurt her.'
Darren puzzled over those words but smiled back at Chuck.
'Do you mind if I come up?'
'Sure, if you can' Chuck laughed at the look of determination that spread over Darren's little face.
'I will beat you to the top' Darren called out. He made his way quickly over to the tree, dropping the little lady bug that he had been so desperate to show Chuck minutes before.
Chuck laughed again and swung himself up another branch, accidentally sending a shower of pine needles down upon Darren.
'Hey, stop that!' Darren shouted up.
'Hey Dare, before you even get up here, I bet you I can jump down onto the trampoline' Chuck called.
'I bet you I can do it first' Darren yelled back as he climbed the first branch.
'Well I'll see you at the bottom' Chuck laughed.
Darren looked up and watched in slow motion as Chuck launched himself out of the tree. He fell, tumbling down to the earth.
For a second both Darren and Chris thought that he would make it to the tramp, but he had overshot by inches and slammed his left arm against the metal of the tramp, nearly breaking his spine as he tumbled to the ground.
'CHUCK!' Darren screamed. He lowered himself down from the tree and raced over to where Chuck was sprawled, howling in pain, clutching his clearly broken arm.
'MUM, MUM!' Darren screamed towards the house.
'Oh god that was awesome, but it hurts' Chuck sobbed as he cradled his broken arm to his chest.
'CHARLES CRISS, WHAT DID I TELL YOU?' Cerina shouted as she ran towards the pair.
Chuck looked up at Darren and whispered through his tears 'I bet you can't do that.'
Darren glanced up at the tree and said 'I bet you are right.'
'Hey buddy, watcher thinking about?' a breathless Chuck asked as he slid into the seat next to Darren.
'Remember that time when you broke your arm?'
'Oh dud, I was an idiot. All I can say about that day was that it scared you from that tree' Chuck laughed at the look on Darren's face.
'Well I did convince mum and dad to cut it down.'
'I bet my fall helped with that decision' Chuck laughed.
'Well anyway, I can't help but think that idiot is married with a kid and the other idiot is going to propose to the love of his life.'
Chuck stared at Darren with a small smile on his face.
'Yeah we were idiots, still are, but we are idiots in love.'
Darren watched as Casey posed with Missy and Miley. The smile on her face was huge and very real.
Darren smiled at them and turned back to his brother.
'You are alright with me proposing at your wedding, right?' he asked for the umpteenth time that day.
'Dude, of course it is. I am so damn happy right now and I want you to be as happy' Chuck smiled at his little brother.
'And you don't mind that I want to…sing to him, right.'
'Yeah, Dare, stop worrying about it' Chuck smiled encouragingly at Darren.
'Right, the best man, groom and child of the groom, your time' the fussy little photographer called out. Darren got to his feet and stretched.
Ten minutes later, Darren was sitting in a limo with Missy, his parents and Miley.
Darren was texting Chris who was already at the reception.
Hey sexy, what you up to?-D
Sitting here, waiting for you to get your perfect ass here ;)-C
It's on its way, don't you worry about a thin-D
That's good, because I have a surprise for you-C
Ooh, what's the surprise?-D
Nope, not telling you, you have to wait to see ;)-C
Oh man, come on Chrisssss, please-D
No, just wait till tonight, you will not regret it ;)-C
Well FYI, I have a pretty big surprise for you, too-D
Ooh, now I'm interested-C
Well I'm not going to tell you, but rest assured it will blow your socks off :)-D
Will it now? Hmm, I wonder what it is *cough* song *cough*-C
Well you can see right through me…even in text ;)-D
Hmm, so there's something else….-C
Yep, and I'm not telling you. See you in five-D
Yeah, see you, love ya so much-C
'Love you too, so very damn much-D
Darren switched off his phone and listened into his parent's conversation.
'-Lovely girl, Chuck couldn't have gotten better' Charles was saying as he bounced a laughing Missy on his knee.
'Yeah, she is, very beautiful today as well. But I still can't believe that my little boy is married. And you, Dare, you are in a serious relationship…again' Cerina said to Darren.
Darren smiled in agreement but didn't say anything. With every minute that passed, he felt so much more anxious; this was going to be one of the most important days in his young life.
The limo pulled outside the reception and stopped. Darren opened the door and took his little niece from his father.
'Wow, you're getting heavy there, little one' he smiled and kissed her gently on the head.
She let of a high shriek of laughter and closed her eyes at the touch. Missy looked a lot like Casey, except she had curly blonde hair, the only instant that the Criss family blood ran through her veins.
'Well do you want to come and see your uncle Chris?' Darren asked as he made his way slowly towards the marquee, searching through the crowds of people for Chris.
Missy nodded harshly and smiled hugely at Darren. Darren chuckled lightly and moved under cover of the giant marquee.
There was a huge golden dance floor positioned right in front of a raised platform where a white-cladded band was playing an up-beat song.
There were many people huddled on the floor, moving in sync with the music.
Darren saw Chris, sitting at a small circular table with a centre piece of brilliant red flowers, he had a glass of juice in front of him and he was talking to Casey's uncle.
Darren wound his way, still holding Missy, through the crowds of people and finally came to a stop right behind Chris.
'Hey babe' Darren said and kissed Chris gently on the head.
'Hey' Chris said brightly and turned around 'Oh, hey Missy' he said with a higher voice.
Missy smiled and hugged closer to Darren's chest.
'I was just talking to Casey's uncle Bryan' Chris gestured to the slightly startled man wearing a very obvious toupee that was drooping slightly towards his lined face.
'Oh he, Darren Criss, Chuck's little brother' Darren said cheerfully and stretched out his free hand for the man to shake.
'Bryce Larkin, Casey's uncle' he said stiffly as he shook Darren's hand.
'Nice to meet you too, This is missy, their daughter, my niece' Darren indicated Missy who buried her face into Darren's shoulder.
Bryce's face relaxed when he saw his great niece.
'Hi there, sweetie' he cooed lightly to her. Missy turned to face him and smiled a little at him.
Darren turned back to Chris.
'So how did you find the ceremony?'
'It was beautiful, Casey looked stunning' Chris said happily as he took a sip of juice.
'She did, and they both looked so damn happy.'
Darren sat in an empty seat and placed Missy on his lap.
'So where are the newlyweds?' Bryce asked cheerfully as he also took a seat next to Darren.
'They should be here soon, the band will let us know' Darren said absently.
Just then the lead singer of the band took the microphone and said 'Ladies and Gentlemen, let me be the first to introduce Mr and Mrs Charles Criss.'
There came a cheer from the audience as Chuck and Casey walked into the marquee. People started to throw some rose petals at them as they passed; they both had enormous grins plastered on their faces.
They passed a cheering Darren and Chris and walked onto the dance floor which was now empty.
The band struck up a slow beautiful tune and Chuck and Casey began to move together.
Cerina and Charles made their way behind Darren and Chris.
'Hey, mum, dad' Darren said happily, tearing his gaze away from Chuck and Casey as the waltzed happily past them.
'Hey darling, hey Missy' Cerina cooed when she saw her granddaughter.
'Are you two going to join them?' Chris indicated with his head to the other couples who were joining Casey and Chuck.
'Oh, maybe later, we're not as young as we once were, anyway you two need to dance, how about we take Missy and you join them' Charles said.
Darren looked at Chris and nodded.
They walked over to the dance floor and started to dance together.
'I love you' Chris whispered as they danced across the dance floor.
'You too, babe' Darren said. He looked up into Chris's eyes and smiled.
'So are you going to tell me your surprise soon?' Chris laughed.
'Soon, babe, soon' Darren pressed himself closer to Chris and held onto him tightly 'for the time being I just want to stay here with you' he mumbled happily.
Chris smiled and wrapped his arms firmly around Darren. They stayed there until the song ended when they broke apart with a kiss.
'Well I think it's time for your surprise' Darren mumbled.
'Is it now?' Chris asked slyly.
'Yep, go over there and sit, please' Darren said happily. Chris narrowed his eyes but moved away from Darren.
Darren took a deep breath and walked over to the stage.
'Hey guys, I'm Darren, Chuck said-'
'Oh hey, do you want to do it now?' the lead singer asked casually.
'Yeah, if that's alright with you.'
They all nodded and Darren was ushered onto the stage.
He walked over to the microphone and looked over at the crowd.
'Hey guys, I'm Darren, Chuck's brother and the best man. I'm up here, however to ask my beautiful boyfriend, Chris an important question.'
Darren took a deep breath and looked at Chris who was smiling slightly.
'But first I would like to sing him a song.'
There was a general murmur amongst the crowd as the band started to play the tune of Come What May.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Chris's eyes widened at the song and his moth fell open, he hadn't heard this song in over a year, since he and Darren broke up. It was still their song, though and it meant a lot to Chris.
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Darren walked off of the stage and onto the dance floor. Chris was watching happily as he made his way over to him.
Darren held out the microphone to Chris and smiled at him.
Chris took a deep breath and began to sing the next verse.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
Darren kissed Chris gently on the forehead and joined him in the next part, smiling softly, it seemed as if the entire crowd had vanished and it was only he and Chris in the whole universe.
And there's no mountain too high no river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
But I love you until the end of time
Darren pulled Chris out of his char and led him onto the dance floor, however they did not dance, and they stood in the middle of the floor, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. Darren could tell Chris knew what was coming, but he kept it hidden, that act alone made Darren fall more in love with Chris.
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Oh come what may, come what may
I will love you
Darren put his hand on Chris waist and drew him in closer. He leant his forehead against Chris's
Chris whispered into the Microphone: Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place...
Darren stared into Chris's brilliant blue eyes and smiled. He kissed him chastely and continued on with the ending of the song, allowing himself to be soaked up into Chris's eyes.
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
The song finished and Darren dropped to one knee.
They were both oblivious to the crowd of gasping people, they were soaking up one and other, enjoying one of the most memorable moments in their lives.
'Christopher Paul Colfer, words cannot describe how I feel about you. I love you more and more each day. I am positive that you are the one for me. So would you do me the great honour of becoming my husband?' Darren pulled out the ring box and opened it for Chris.
Chris had tears of happiness welling up in his eyes, he was smiling like a madman but he nodded in answer.
Darren smiled happily and launched himself into Chris's arms and pulled him into a deep kiss.
They were both unaware of the applause ringing out from the crowd.