Over eighteen months as a W.A.S.P officer has left Gordon with the inability to sleep late, and his body clock has him wide awake by five-thirty on the morning of the wedding. For a few moments he has no idea why he feels so nervous then he remembers:
Today is the day he gets married!
So much preparation has gone into making this day the most perfect day of both of their lives, this isn't just about him, and he hopes that they can keep their big secret precisely that: A secret.
Whistling happily, he jumps in the shower and starts to shampoo his hair. Usually he just squirts shower gel into it before rubbing it dry with a towel, but today he is going to make an effort! Once showered, he wraps his robe around his body before wandering down the hallway to get some breakfast. It does not matter how important today is, he is never to nervous for food!
He isn't surprised to find Scott already up, blindly shoving slices of bread into the toaster with one hand and trying to figure out how to get the lift off Gordons coffee maker with the other.
"Scott, no! Don't force it, there is a catch underneath. Here" Gordon shows him kindly.
"Thanks" Scott replies dopily. "I would have never of figured that out!"
"It's fine, I had the same problem with it when we first got it. Had to look for the solution via a YouTube video tutorial!" Gordon confesses brightly.
"You make the coffee, I am going for a shower." Scott commands.
"Sure thing Scotty, I know you need something to wake you up!" Gordon tells him with a grin.
By the time Gordon has made the coffee, he has been joined by Paul, Virgil, John and Grandma. Only Alan is still asleep, and Scott is still in the shower.
"Are you ready for your big day Gordon dear?" Grandma asks.
"Yeah I am Grandma. I can't believe that this day has finally arrived" He tells her happily. Now he is awake and has his brothers, Grandmother and best friend alongside him he is no longer nervous, and an excitement is building inside him.
Scott joins them a few minutes later, just as John downs the last of the coffee. "Seriously?! You didn't save me even half a mug?" he tells them trying to sound angry, but he misses fighting over food and coffee with his brothers when they aren't around.
"Sit down, I will make some more" Gordon tells him getting up.
"Make enough for me" Alan asks walking into the kitchen, still in his pyjamas with his hair sticking up. There are dark circles under his eyes which are still crusty with sleep.
"What's the magic word?" Gordon asks.
Alan just glares sleepily at him and sinks into a free seat.
Gordon pours a mug for Scott while deliberately ignoring Alans puppy dog pleas until he asks nicely.
"For pity sake Alan, just say please!" Virgil tells him laughing. "Then go and get showered because we aren't waiting for you!"
"Okay fine. Please may I have some coffee Gordon?" Alan asks.
"Better" Gordon replies smiling and pouring him a mug. "How would you like it?"
"As dark as my soul" Alan replies.
"So extra sugar, extra cream?" Gordon asks.
"Yes please" Alan tells him.
Despite the early start, it is still nearly five hours before they are all dressed and ready to leave. Outside there are two stretched chauffeured limousines waiting for them. Gordon climbs into the first one with Scott, Virgil and Paul while Grandma, John and Alan climb into the second one, and they start their journey to the church.
They arrive three hours early to help set up. Gordon has hired the building for the whole day, Alan refused to be his flower girl so one of Atlanta's friends' daughters is going to do it instead! Alan and Scott are both taking their jobs as ushers very seriously and are studying the guest list to ensure that they are familiar with everyone invited. John is the obvious choice for the ring bearer, as he is reliable and unlikely to lose the rings before the ceremony.
The nerves Gordon felt dying away are now back in full force and there are butterflies tapdancing in his stomach. The worst-case scenarios are bouncing around his brain like beachballs. One of them accidentally revealing their big secret, Atlanta changing her mind at the last minute and leaving him alone and broken hearted, even if she does show up, he might throw up on her he is that nervous or pass out.
"You okay?" Grandma asks him. They are both sitting in the lounge of the church just off the main chapel.
"Sure" Gordon replies, not as confident as he was just a few hours ago.
"You haven't told them have you?" She asks.
"Told them? Of course I haven't. How do you even know?" Gordon asks incredulous that she has already figured out their secret.
"A grandma always knows" She tells him kindly.
"We decided to leave it until after, so it doesn't overshadow our wedding" Gordon tells her. "And Atlanta has said that once her girdle is in place you can't even tell. We don't want anyone to think that it was the only reason we got married, but I swear we agreed to get married before we found out"
"No one would think that, you announced you were getting engaged a year ago Gordy. And I may be old, but I know how human biology works!" Grandma reassures him.
Gordon manages a smile, "I can't believe I am getting sex ed from my own grandmother, and it's not awkward!"
"Hush you and go and see if there is anything you can help your brothers with." Grandma tells him.
"Fine, is there anything I can get you?" he asks, smiling. She is going to be the best Great-Grandmother.
"A glass of water would be lovely Gordon" She replies smiling.
*TB*
Five minutes before the ceremony is to officially start the church is crowded with the friends of both the bride and the groom, the only thing missing is the bride. But Gordon isn't worried, it is tradition for the bride to be late! He is standing up at the altar with Virgil and Paul who are both laughing and joking together.
"Relax Gords. She will be here, there are still five minutes to go" Virgil reassures him.
"Four and one quarter minutes Virgil and I am NOT nervous!" He fires back determined to keep a level head.
"Your palms are all sweaty, look" Virgil replies.
"Yeah and your mascara is running!" Paul tells him.
"I am not wearing mascara!" Gordon replies indignantly.
"At least he put his underpants on under his trousers" Virgil tells him.
"If he remembered to put them on at all!" Paul carries on.
"GUYS!" Gordon cries in horror.
They are stopped from teasing him by Scott who pop up from behind the curtain hiding the secret door. "They're here" he announces.
"They can't be, they aren't due for another two minutes, Scott tell them to go away again!" Gordon tells him desperately.
"No, Gordon calm down. We know you are nervous, but everything is under control. Trust big brother Scott." Scott tells him in his calm, big brother knows best voice.
"Okay, I am calm. Thinking of the magical place in ten minutes time when all of this is over, and we are at the reception and I am getting drunk! Oh I knew we should have eloped on a beach in Mexico. What was I thinking?!" Gordon replies.
Virgil wishes he had chosen to play the wedding march, not that he doesn't love standing here giving away his brother but being able to hide away behind a large musical instrument sounds like heaven right now. and looking over at Gordon he realises that is exactly what he wants, his Squid brother didn't look this nervous before his Olympic gold medal winning race.
"You okay?" He whispers into his ear.
"Yeah, I really want to get married Virg, just not in front of thousands of people" Gordon whispers back.
"You'll be fine, just imagine them all naked and you won't feel any embarrassment" Virgil tells him.
"Ugh Virg!" Gordon giggles.
"See, better already!" Virgil replies smiling.
The main doors swing open to reveal the bride, and suddenly it doesn't matter how many people are in the room, Gordon only has eyes for one. They are on their beach in Mexico, just the two of them like he always wanted. Looking into her deep brown eyes, he can sense the same nervous fear in her heart that is in his. Getting married in from of a room full of people isn't her idea of a good time either!
The dress she is wearing belonged to her mother, who died several years before. It is a simple white gown, with iridescent beading along the bodice, and a veil trailing back down the aisle, and she has never looked more perfect.
Paul takes them through their vows, both agreeing to stick to the traditional vows rather than writing their own. The ceremony is all over before they even realise, and Gordon cannot believe he ever felt that nervous, as he kisses his new bride, Mrs Gordon Tracy, and together they walk out of the church arm in arm, both happier than they have ever been before.
Gordon may have agreed to have the wedding in church, but the reception is on the beach and a barbecue Is in full swing when they arrive. California is Gordons favourite place in the world. He knows back home in Kansas there is no way an outdoor party would be possible in December, and he wouldn't swap life in this climate for anything!
The section of the beach has been closed of especially for their reception, and no one who is not on the guest list has a hope of getting in. Approaching security, Gordon finds out that this means him and Atlanta too. When Virgil was organising the party, he figured that the bride and groom would automatically be allowed in!
Rolling his eyes Gordon calls his brother.
"Hey Gords! Where are you?" Virgil asks upon answering.
"Outside, you forgot to add Atlanta and I to the guest list!"
"Oops! Stay there and I will come and get you" Virgil replies laughing and hanging up the phone.
Gordon isn't angry, he is in far too good a mood to get angry.
"Stanley my main man, can I call you Stanley?" Virgil asks the security guard once he has arrived.
"No you may not" He replies sternly.
"Why not?" Virgil replies.
"Because my name is Shaun!"
"Oh, that makes sense, be a good dear and let the bride and groom into their own party, I didn't think I needed to add them to the list when I organised it!" Virgil tells him.
"If you are sure they are meant to be here." Shaun asks, clearly sceptical.
"Of course they are meant to be here, what do you think they did steal a wedding gown and show up pretending that they are the bride and groom?" Virgil asks.
"No, of course not. In you go guys and I am sorry for the confusion" Shaun says turning his attention to Gordon and Atlanta.
"Don't worry about it Sebastian" Gordon calls back over his shoulder grinning.
"IT'S SHAUN!"
Despite his vow to get really drunk, Gordon realises that he doesn't need too, the atmosphere at the party is enough to give him the same buzz a litre of vodka would, and he finds himself sticking to just a couple of beers before joining Atlanta in virgin cocktails.
They are snuggled on a rock together, looking out over the sea as the sun dips beneath the shore, a blanket draped across their legs. Atlanta has her head rested on his shoulder, and neither of them need to speak as they sit together and watch the sunset. The sky a brilliant shade of scarlet slowly fading into a clear blanket of stars.
The party is starting to move indoors now as it is starting to get chilly. This is the most perfect ending to the most perfect day, and the best way to start the rest of their lives.
*TB*
Twenty four hours later, In a log cabin on the other side of the world, Jefferson Tracy is reading the story of his son's wedding with a tear glistening in his eye. He knows he made a mess of raising his boys and more than ever he wishes that he could go back in time and fix everything.
"Are you okay Mr Tracy?" Tintin asks bringing him a fresh pot of coffee. The months he has lived with them have seen a softening of the rude and arrogant tyrant who crash landed in their jungle. He is no longer the terrifying dominatrix of before.
"I am fine Tintin, thanks for asking" He replies politely, her father Kyrano has made it perfectly clear that he won't accept rudeness from his guest, and Jeff likes not being in charge all of the time.
"I will be outside if you need anything further Mr Tracy" she tells him backing out of the room. She noticed the difference in him when they bought him news that Scott has taken over his company and he is no longer acting CEO of his own company. She knows that reading his own obituary could not have been an easy task, and now one of his children has gotten married without him there. Tintin loves her father more than anything in the world and couldn't imagine ever getting married without him with her every step of the way.
Jeff clips the article from the paper and adds it to his ever-growing collection of photos and articles he has been able to gather. The photo of Gordon with Scott, Virgil, John and Alan makes him cry harder. Despite everything he put those boys through they have survived it all.
He has photos from events attended by Scott, races won by Alan, and the wedding. Until now he has not been able to get anything from Virgil or John but he greedily pursues the article and discovers that John is following in his footsteps and going into space and his heart bursts with a mix of pride and regret at missing out on all of this.
But he knows he made his choice, and he knows that he cannot go back. He pours himself another mug of coffee, and relaxes back into his chair, allowing the tears to flow freely down his face as it sinks in just what he has lost.