Sorry for the delay in updating. I'm trying to get better.

Straight Tale

Chapter Twelve

Wedding Bell Blues

The doors opened at the back of the church.

Dylan's breath caught in his throat. As he turned to stare at the doors, he caught Marco's eye.

Marco didn't smile nor did he turn away from such a telling blue gaze. The gaze seemed to say, 'How did I get here?'

Marco turned when Paige grabbed his arm to draw his attention down the aisle.

In walked Natalie, glowing in a halter dress in a light cream color. The color showed off her flawless olive skin perfectly. Her hair was expertly arranged with baby's breath surrounding the tiny tea length veil she had chosen.

Marco even had to admit to himself that she was a beautiful bride, just too bad it is all a sham.

The priest residing over the ceremony started the usual fare after Natalie took her appointed position at the alter.

The priest asked if anyone had objections to the marriage, definitely not expecting an answer.

Two people in the audience stood up at the same time.

Dylan whipped around and saw his sister and Marco were standing up to object.

Marco turned and stared at Paige, who in turn turned to look at him.

Paige gestured to Marco to say his peace before her.

"This wedding shouldn't be happening. He's only marrying her out of a sense of misplaced duty. He doesn't love her."

Paige interjected then, "No, he doesn't love her because he loves him." She pointed at Marco.

Dylan's jaw hit the ground. He couldn't believe his sister had not only objected to the wedding but outed him as well.

Natalie had a frozen smile on her face, waiting for the laughter to begin. When the laughing didn't come, she broke into tears and then ran down the aisle and out the doors.

Dylan couldn't run after her. He just stood there, looking down the aisle at the doors.

Marco and Paige shared a look. Paige saw Natalie's cousins running after her and decided she'd better get Dylan out of the chapel.

Paige steered Dylan out the side door to her rental car.

"How could you do that to me Paige? I love you so much and yet you insist on ruining my life. Why?" Dylan demanded when he realized he still had vocal chords.

Paige looked at him, "I did it because I love you. I wasn't ruining your life, that was all you. You deserve true happiness. You won't find that with Natalie and you know it."

Dylan knew she was right in a way but she had no right to meddle.

Dylan turned when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He looked down into deep brown eyes and smiled sadly. "I guess we need to talk."

"That would be a good idea."

Dylan guided Natalie to the bench across the parking lot. "I'm gay, Natalie."

Natalie nodded, "And you love Marco."

Dylan nodded, "I have since I was 17. I made a stupid mistake and then never found the time to correct it. I'm sorry."

"What about the baby?" Natalie inquired, looking scared.

"I'd still love the chance to help you raise it. I'll be a great dad." Dylan said with a shrug.

"I need some time to think, Dylan. This is all sudden for me. First my wedding is objected to and then I find out my fiancé is gay. This is a little much for me to take in right now. I hope you understand." Natalie told him.

Dylan just nodded, "You know how to find me. I just want a chance."

Natalie walked away to her waiting cousins. She never looked back as she got in the car. Her fairy tale had ended and the only thing she had to show for it was the dress.

Dylan looked up as Marco approached, "So, what happens now?"

"I go back to California and pack my stuff. I'm still moving home. As for Natalie, I don't know."

"What are you doing about the baby?"

"I'd like to help raise it. She said she has to think it over."

Marco just nodded. "I can understand that. How would you feel if you were in her shoes?"

Dylan gave a slight smile, "How do I get into these things?"

Marco walked away at that point. He was afraid of giving Dylan an honest answer to an obviously rhetorical question.

Two hours later, Marco was staring at the strip from a club chair in his room. He held a glass of whiskey in one hand, while drumming the fingers of his other hand against the chair arm. His mind was a whirlwind. Dylan, Natalie, Toronto, the bar, Erik, Ellie, a baby, and back again. He needed to call and check on the bar anyway. He set down his glass on the table next to the chair and picked up his cell phone. He punched in a familiar number and waited for an answer.

"Hey, Mike. How are things holding up?"

"Hey boss. The bar is still standing. Erik's been filling in and so has Ellie. She's a real gem." Mike answered laughing.

"She's a piece of work but I love her."

"How'd the wedding go?"

"It didn't go."

"What?"

"Paige told everyone that Dylan was gay."

"And what did you do?"

"I merely suggested he was only doing the honorable thing and didn't love her."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. I wasn't thinking. So the bar is good?"

"Yes. We're doing great business. Everything is fine."

"Good. I'll be home tomorrow night. I'll probably stop by before I head for the house."

"Okay, time to open the doors. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night Mike." Marco said as he clicked his phone closed.

Dylan paced up and down the hall in front of Marco's room. He wanted to knock. He wanted to run and hide. He wanted to know everything was going to be okay. Hell, he wanted his life back.

Marco opened the door and saw Dylan standing on the other side. "Was this good timing or were you afraid to knock?"

"The latter. I wasn't sure you'd want to see me."

"Come in, I think we need to talk."

Dylan entered the room and sat on the couch.

Neither said anything for a while. Finally Marco couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"What's going on here? Are you moving back to Toronto because of prior arrangements or because you want to be there?"

Dylan mulled over it for a moment, "Both. I've got a spot on the Maple Leafs and I'd like to be home. I want to be near you again. I miss you."

"I hope you'll settle for a friendship because I'm with Erik now. I can't be sure that you won't pull some stupid stunt again anyway." Marco said hastily.

"I guess it will have to be enough. Just keep me in mind if things go bad with Erik." Dylan conceded.

"Are you going to announce your alternate lifestyle to the press?" inquired Marco.

"Not yet. I think I'll just let them speculate about the wedding and everything for a while. Natalie's moving to Toronto. She wants me to be a part of the baby's life." Dylan looked relieved at this news.

"That's good. I know you will be a great father." Marco said with all confidence.

The silence descended upon the pair again.

"I'm going to go pack. My flight is early in the morning. So we are taking this one day at a time then?" Marco said.

"Yeah, I guess. One day at a time. I'll see you when I get back to Toronto then." Dylan admitted reluctantly.

Marco walked Dylan to the door. He closed the door with some force. He needed the separation. He needed to get Dylan out of system. He was dating Erik and the slips he had here in Vegas needed to stay in Vegas. He didn't love Dylan. He couldn't love Dylan. Dylan killed him before. He couldn't risk loving Dylan again. 'Okay, Del Rossi. If that's what you need to hear to keep yourself going. You know you love him. You know Erik is just a pawn in this sick game you're playing with yourself.'

Marco shook his head. He really hated that voice some days. He gulped down the rest of the whiskey in his glass to try and drown the voice. Or at least to make his heart and head so numb it wouldn't matter.

Dylan leaned against the wall once he got to his hotel room. He couldn't believe he'd been dismissed so easily. He was sure that Marco still loved him. Marco dismissed the idea of them so quickly.

Dylan slid down to sit on the floor. 'Oh well, I'll just have to work twice as hard to get him to look at me. He'll know we were meant for each other again. I'll make sure of it.'

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