AN: Another chapter! Yay! Hope you enjoy :)


Alastair was right about Kenton being peeved that he wasn't the first to know. In fact, he actually ended up being the last.

It wasn't like Alastair did it on purpose. It just so happened that he was the last one they were able to get in contact with. Lily was the first to know seeing as she ended up coming over for the dinner the night it had occurred.

Alastair had called up Roxy the next day, knowing that she would certainly want to hear the news. She was overjoyed with it but also ended up having the most rational response to it. She told him that she didn't care when or where or even how they got married. If gay marriage was legalized the next day and they just went to the court house and got a certificate, she didn't care. Roxy simply wanted to be told the moment after it happened if she wasn't there so she could congratulate them.

Next had been his father who was equally pleased. He hadn't had to much to say on the subject but he had been extremely happy that Alastair was finally taking that step.

The next person to find out had been Harry though that had technically been by accident.

Though he shouldn't say that as he wasn't exactly trying to hide it from the man. Nevertheless, he also wasn't trying to broadcast it to the world. Either way, Harry had found out simply by proper observation, and Alastair couldn't get angry at him for that.

They'd been discussing the events of an ongoing mission, for once Harry had mostly remained factual and business like. Alastair was about to go off on his own which could have been connected to the ongoing one, hence the talk, and thus, had slipped off the engagement ring and placed it in his desk.

He'd gotten into the habit of doing this (James usually took his off at home before he went into work) and he always placed it back on after a mission was finished. It almost became a reminder of what he had to live for and how far he'd come from a simple man who'd just been focused on a job.

But back to when Harry saw, any formality broke away as his mouth broke out into a large grin.

Alastair didn't notice right away, his eyes trained somewhere else and his mind focused on the mission. He looked up eventually though, frowning at the sight.

"What?"

Harry simply chuckled as if Alastair had said an inside joke instead of appearing confused.

"Don't just laugh! Tell me what you're smiling at," demanded Alastair.

"Oh, I'm just surprised it happened this quickly. I expected another five, maybe even ten, years to go by before one of you stepped up to the task."

Alastair continued to give Harry a clueless look until Harry glanced down. Alastair followed his line of sight to see that he was staring at the desk. It took him several embarrassingly long moments before it clicked in his head that the man was referring to the drawer he'd just opened and closed.

"Oh that," Alastair murmured thoughtfully. His head snapped back up though as he swiftly added, "What do you mean five or ten more years? We weren't that bad."

"The first time it was brought about was practically a decade ago. Anyone would be amazed that it finally happen."

"Oh do shut up. We have a mission to perform."

"Which there is still twenty-four hours before you leave. Come now, I have to know who purposed. Or did you both do it at the same time? That would have been quite amusing."

"Hey, mission first and then maybe—just maybe—I'll tell you," responded Alastair.

"Deal."

And that was how Harry found out and, subsequently, Merlin as well. Though it was of course more likely that he'd heard from Harry or James, Merlin could have just figured it out some way like Harry had. Nevertheless, he didn't reveal how he'd found out and the only inkling that Alastair had been given was a brief 'congratulations' as they passed in the hallway.

At least it was simple and straight to the point.

After them, Alastair had gotten in contact with Nnenna who later passed the information on to Kenton. Of course, as if to make him feel even worse about being the last to know, James got around to telling Christina and Vincent before it all too (Alastair was also fairly certain Lily had told Susan as well).

Then to put insult to injury, Alastair hadn't been able to answer the first time his brother tried to phone him due to a mission. He finally got him several days later.

"You are evil," were the first words spoken through the phone.

"Glad to know the idea of brotherly love still stands," Alastair said sarcastically.

"Oh don't give me any crap about brotherly love. You didn't tell me! I mean, I'm your own brother and—"

"Kenton."

"You didn't tell me first, you didn't even tell me second—"

"Kenton," Alastair repeated.

"Actually, you didn't tell me at all! My wife had to go and—"

"Kenton!"

"Yes?"

Alastair let out a groan as his brother's voice immediately switched from irritated to concerned with the simple word. "You were in the Middle East you idiot. The likelihood of me getting in contact you was practically zero."

"A message would have been nice," he replied sulkily.

"Yeah well knowing you, you'd forget all protocol and practically run here just to attack me for the details."

"That would be a lot of running."

"Oh shut up you ass," muttered Alastair with a certain fondness despite his annoyed tone. "Listen, it's not like you found out after the wedding. That would be absolute hell on Earth if you did. And besides, we're talking now, alright? Just be happy about that."

"Yeah yeah whatever. So what do you have planned so far? I already have the perfect choice of flowers and it has got to be outside because inside is just to boring and—"

"Kenton, we don't have anything planned!" interrupted Alastair with a sigh. "We don't even have a date."

"What do you mean you don't have-oh."

"Yeah, oh," Alastair replied with a roll of his eyes. He could practically see the cogs in his brother's head click into place. "You're such an idiot."

"And you're an ass."

"I already insulted you with that. Think of something else."

"Fine, you're a bastard."

"Ooh, a step higher. I never thought your process of thought could beat mine."

"Hey! No witty retorts! You're better at those."

"Glad to know you've finally admitted who's the better one."

Kenton let out his own groan from the other end as Alastair allowed himself a small smile of victory. "Whatever," Kenton replied. "You still can start planning things out."

"Well whatever we plan, it sure as hell isn't going to be as massive as you're probably making it out to be."

"But then it's no fun," whined Kenton.

"Maybe to you but it's certainly not what I want," Alastair said with a roll of his eyes. "I mean, if James wanted something big and flashy then fine, I'd do it for him. But more than likely it's going to be a rather simple affair."

"You're no fun. Just promise me that you'll do it when I'm able to come up."

"I think I'll make a time when I know you can't come up."

"Don't be so mean," muttered Kenton. "I invited you to my wedding."

Deciding that it was probably time to stop messing with his brother, Alastair replied, "That is a good point. How about this, if anyone is there besides us and the required two witnesses, it will be you. Alright?"

"Oh no, you have to promise that I will be one of those witnesses! You are not eloping without me being there!"

"If I say yes will we finally be able to change the topic?"

"Yes!"

"Then fine, yes. Whenever we are able to get married I will make sure that you're there, rain or shine, extravagant or not, okay?"

"Hmm, I do believe that is adequate."

"Oh stop sounding so posh. Now how are you?"

"OMG my brother is being polite! I think I may just die here and now!"

"Whatever, just remind me to never be polite to you again."

And with that, everyone knew. It was a bit annoying as some parties were way to excited at first, especially in Alastair's opinion, but the news eventually died down. Nothing particularly changed with the act of being engaged, for Alastair, it was just another reason to be thankful his own cold manner hadn't pushed James away.


AN: So big wedding or small wedding?