Springtime
"Sonny is definitely drunk."
Liam smiles over at his son, laughing at the wrinkled nose he sends Sonny's way. It's true. Sonny is drunk, as he's never heard him laugh as much, or as loud.
It's settling into twilight, after they've already eaten their food and their cake. Now everyone's clustered into groups, not even trying to hide the fact that they're openly staring at the Hortrakises, who have never partaken in so many PDA's all in one day, Liam is positive. But that's just fine. If anyone deserves it, it's them. Earlier today, Will and Sonny declared themselves husbands for life. Right there, in the gazebo, in the heart of town. This is the type of love all those fairytales are talking about, Liam thinks.
"Don't you go getting any crazy ideas." Viv had whispered to him, squeezing his hand so he knew she was joking, as they watched Will and Sonny say "I do.", both looking like they were seconds away from crying, blown away by all the love. Come on, how could he not cry? He's not heartless, and besides, it's not like everyone else wasn't crying too. Which included the grooms themselves.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
Will and Sonny both had worn tuxedos Liam's never seen before, and they'd never looked as happy as they had then.
Liam sighs as he holds a hand to his heart.
My god, how much can change in just a few months.
First off, Will and Sonny finally did tell everyone the truth. The real, ugly truth. Which, they explained, they couldn't tell anyone for fear of being arrested. Or worse. But instead of turning away from them, the entire town of Melas embraced them with open arms, and said under no circumstances were they to ever doubt they all had their back.
Something they were more than happy to keep in mind, especially when several official looking guys showed up in town with the most beautiful little girl with Will's blue eyes and hair. A beautiful little girl that had wasted no time capturing every single person's heart, especially their daddies, who couldn't stop themselves from crying the second they saw her.
Which is also when they were given the next piece of big news. Sonny's ex, the one who had driven them into hiding in the first place, had been forced to drop the charges against both Sonny and Will, when some damning evidence against himself had resurfaced. Not only that, Sonny had been given divirce papers, which Sonny was more than happy to sign, with Will as his witness.
They were free, and there was officially nothing stopping them from being together, or going back.
But that's where things really got interesting. All their time away from Salem Illinois, just being together, where they didn't have to worry about anything but just being happy together, and now having their daughter with them, made them realize they're giving it up, not for anything.
And so, after getting the news that Sonny's marriage was officially annulled, and drawing up some paperwork for their daughter, Ariana Grace officially became a Hortrakis, and a proud member of Melas, Connecticut.
Now they walk around the reception holding hands, and Will keeps looking over at Ari, who's over at the dessert table, and if Liam thought he'd seen Will smile before, that was nothing compared to when he smiles at their beautiful daughter, then back at Sonny, like every time he remembers she's here with them, it lifts his heart just a little more.
Liam watches as Will looks back at Sonny again, laughing when the townsfolk, clink their spoons to their glasses, demanding they kiss.
They smile during it, mouths unable to stretch any further as they laugh. It's like they're lost in the moment, until someone interrupts with a loud whistle, prompting catcalls.
The smiles don't slip even an inch as they part, and Sonny kisses Will one more time before finally backing away, and Will laughs, ducking away to hide the blush, as Liam's quickly learned.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
"Ari, be careful!" WIll calls out, grabbing for Ari, now trying to climb the dessert table to grab another cupcake.
"She's independent." Sonny says, reaching for her as well. "Daddy's the one who had to leave the cupcakes right by the edge where she can almost reach them, isn't he?"
"Oh come on." Will smiles, moving the plate away from Ari's grabby hands. "Ari, please tell Papa Sonny he can't have anymore happy juice."
"It's an open bar!" Sonny protests as Will holds Ari in one arm, finishing Sonny's champagne with the other.
"Not if we're the ones paying for it!" Will remids Sonny.
The reception is in Will and Sonny's backyard, by the river. Picnic tables with pretty flowers Ari helped pick out are set up everywhere, and the whole town it seated, talking and eating and laughing. This is definitely one for the Melas history books, because they're all feeding off the energy from the grooms. Even as they squabble, they're still smiling, holding hands at their table, always in the corner of each other's eyes.
Then the music starts, and suddenly everyone's jumping up to grab a dance partner.
Eli grabs the hand of his new boyfriend, Chandler, who's skinny and lanky, with blond hair and a soft smile. Liam takes pride in the fact that he's yet to point out the likeness between him and someone who just got married, but he couldn't be more thrilled Eli's finally found someone who he can actually have. Someone who, as far as Liam's concerned, deserves to have him.
"May I have this dance?"
Liam looks up, surprised. Sonny takes a bow, hand reaching, stumbling before regaining his balance. He shoots Will an amused look, smiling and shrugging as he holds their daughter, watching Sonny's every move with such open-hearted love, it makes Liam want to cry again.
"Ari's insisting on dancing with her daddy." Sonny explains, pulling Liam's attention back. "She says she wants to make up for all the stuff he missed while we were gone."
Liam laughs, taking Sonny's warm hands in his, "He's right about that." he says as he stands up, smoothing out his sky blue shirt. Sonny tucks his hand into his elbow as they walk to the dance floor, still a little tipsy, but still steady and comfortable. "Are you happy, Sonny?"
Sonny's eyes cut to his, blinking, "I am, I really am. He's in my heart, in my bones. He's the love of my life, for all the days of my life. But, uh-- don't tell him I said that, okay? I can't say no to him enough as it is."
Liam smiles, patting his arm, "Believe me, he already knows."
Once, Sonny's answer would've hurt him, made him ache for a man that would never return his affections. But when he catches Viv's eye, and she's smiling at him, he thinks about how good love--real love--really is. How it helps you let go of the past, gives you something to get out of bed for every day. A reason to smile when all you want to do is cry. How it always holds you close, but you're holding on just as tight. How broken you are without it.
"You're a very lucky man, Sonny." He tells Sonny as he pulls away, and watches as Sonny goes to wrap an arm around his husband, whispering something in Will's ear, making his smile even bigger, if that's even possible.
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
