A/N: Now, I'm getting to my requests from AO3! Thank you for being so patient when it got to your turn. Now, this prompt was given to me a while back before the RCIJ stories were posted. I read suchadearie's Any Just Cause or Impediment and it is BRILLIANT! So while the theme might be the same, the circumstances are going to be totally different.

The Best Man?

Oncer4Life69Dearie prompted: Alistair Gold is the best man to his best friend Jefferson Hatter. The only problem is that he's in love with the bride, Belle French. (Rated T)

It all started like most things tend to do with a couple of uni-aged pre-law students. Instead of studying for that big exam the following day, Alistair Gold and his roomie and best mate Jefferson Hatter were at the pub. It was better drinking away the stress and getting so rightfully pissed than to worry about some exam that they were going to ace anyways. It helps to be at the top of the class.

After kicking back another shot, Jefferson clapped Alistair on the back. "I got to take a leak man. Be back."

Alistair nodded as his friend stumbled to the back of the bar where the restrooms were. Shaking his head to himself, he couldn't help but smirk at how often Jefferson had to use the toilet when they drank. The guy practically had no tolerance or his liver was rejecting it in hopes he would get the message. Either way, Alistair could hold his own (being a pure Scotsman sure helped a lot) and he reached over and stole Jefferson's shot.

As he set the glass down, he couldn't help but notice the lovely woman at the other side. She was alone from the looks of it with long brown curls and vibrant azure eyes that lit up as she smiled at the bartender. His eyes roamed over and saw that she was wearing a charcoal gray skirt with fishnet stockings and a white blouse. Her shoes were conservative, a pair of black heels that were about a half an inch, and a pair of black-rimmed glasses were nestled on top of her hair.

She looked very much like a librarian. A sexy librarian, his mind supplied.

He didn't recall ever seeing her in here before, but then again, he would remember a woman like her if he had. She was so breathtakingly beautiful with that alabaster complexion and pink lips that time seemed to stop altogether.

He was staring. Quite blatantly too but no one paid him any attention as he watched the angel lift up her glass of wine in a toast before resting the rim against her lips.

Every nerve in his body was telling him to get up and approach her. She could be a fellow student or maybe she was a librarian, and if so, then he seriously should start hanging out there more often to get to know her.

However, he remained rooted in his seat.

The truth was… Alistair wasn't good with women. His last relationship with Milah didn't work out and that was because she had been cheating on him. She told him straight that he was too boring and the only time he was fun to be around was when he was drinking. Well, Alistair couldn't go through life drunk all the time so the relationship came to an abrupt end.

And, well, he didn't know how to really talk to women. The fact that he even had Milah as a girlfriend as short-lived as it was astounding. Then again, she was the one who initiated everything from their first conversation, to their first date, to making love, etc.

Honestly, Alistair wasn't comfortable around women, period. Jefferson was the smooth talker and he knew how to charm the ladies.

But this one was different. This one Alistair wanted to be brave and go up to her and find out her name, her hopes and dreams, everything!

Licking his lips, he was determined to do this. He was going to talk to her.

For another bit of courage, Alistair swallowed another shot before getting to his feet. With his eyes set on the pretty lady, he took a step forward and then another. Before he knew it he was about halfway to her and his brain was going a mile a minute trying to figure out what to say first.

But at that last second, he turned on his heel and retreated back to his barstool just as Jefferson was sauntering back from the loo.

"Hey mate," Jefferson said, frowning. "Why the face?"

"It's nothing. I thought… I thought I saw Milah," Alistair quickly lied. While Alistair wasn't torn up over his break-up, his best friend thought otherwise. He never told Jefferson that Milah cheated or it was mutual (he might have been boring to her but she wasn't exactly all that exciting either), but his friend believed that he was madly in love with her. He just didn't have the heart to admit what really happened since Jefferson was the one who introduced them.

"Ah. I'm sorry. You… okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Uh-huh." Then Jefferson looked past him and his eyes widened. "Whoa. Wait a sec. Do you mind if I—?"

Alistair waved his hand nonchalantly. "Go ahead Jefferson."

He was gone before Alistair could finish his sentence. No doubt there was some voluptuous blonde that captured his attention. Alistair cackled before he ordered another drink.

When his drink was in his hand, he happened to turn his head to admire his angel when the glass slipped through his fingers.

xxXXxx

Two years later…

"Oh God. Oh God." Jefferson was adjusting his tie for the umpteenth time as sweat broke across his brow.

"Stop it. You're gonna make it crooked again," Alistair scolded, swatting his best friend's hand away so he could fix it. "There. Better."

"Good, good," Jefferson said. "I don't know how calm you can be. Usually I'm the calm one."

"Aye, well, you are getting married."

"That I am." Jefferson grinned crookedly. "Can you believe it? I never thought I would ever settle down and then Belle entered my life and…" He took a deep breath. "I'm going to marry Belle. I'm going to marry Belle."

"You keep saying that."

"I know! All right. I can do this. She is the woman I love. I love her."

"Good. Now, let's get you married."

Alistair was doing everything he could not to grab his best friend by the shoulder and tell him that this was a mistake. One. BIG. Mistake. Not that Belle was going to make him a terrible wife. Or that she was a horrible person who enjoyed mocking others. Or she was a secret alcoholic. Or she was in a mountain of debt. No… Belle was none of those things because she was the kindest, gentlest, smartest, and frankly, the most honest person Alistair has ever met. She was beauty personified and had a soul that was pure honey and gold.

Oh, and Alistair was in love with her.

That fateful night… Jefferson saw her and talked to her and he asked her out before Alistair realized what was happening. By then, the damage was already done. Jefferson and Belle were together and he was the boyfriend's best friend.

Now, he was the groom's best man and the woman of his dreams was marrying someone that was not him.

He wanted nothing more to break it up, but he would be hurting the two people he loved the most. They were the perfect couple. Always happy, always loving and it sickened Alistair that he wasn't the one to enjoy her kisses and smiles. Sure, Belle smiled at him a lot and he treasured each and every single one. In fact, he kept every conversation he had with her cherished in his heart. He knew all her quirks, her likes, her dislikes, and he used that to help Jefferson whenever he was at a loss on what to buy her for a gift or just because.

And it didn't help that after their first year together, they decided to move in. Then, Alistair had to deal with seeing Belle every waking moment and right before she went to bed with his friend. He wanted to move out but he couldn't think of a convincing lie other than I can't live with you because I love Belle. Eventually, the couple decided to move into a bigger place and they were engaged soon after.

All the while, he was the best friend who was happy for his best friend and became best friends with the woman that should have been his girlfriend the moment he laid eyes on her.

But he was a coward who couldn't even talk to her and now it was too late.

She was marrying Jefferson.

Alistair kept his expression neutral as the organ began to play and Belle was suddenly walking down the aisle. He knew if he looked in her eyes he would break. He would literally collapse and his emotions will come flooding out and he would demand her to marry him and not Jefferson because he didn't deserve her.

His hands clenched as he visibly shook but his betraying eyes looked up and his breath caught at the vision the bride presented.

She was so beautiful. Even in white, she was a sight to behold in all that silk and lace.

It wasn't fair.

It should have been him. And now…

"If any of you has reasons why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Alistair took a deep breath…