Part 93

Wes smiled as he watched Justine fuss about flowers and decorations. She wasn't panicking… really. She was just very upset that the flowers they had ordered didn't have the same color like they did in the store. It turned out this was a different kind of flower and now she was trying to find a way to make them match everything else. Mitch had managed to stop her, with a lot of help from Austin, to stop her from bringing a spray painting gun. Austin was talking soothingly to her. Comforting her in ways and words that only he knew how to use properly. Wes was smiling because he knew things were gonna change any minute. As soon as Joseph and Ethan Hughes had heard that the flowers were the wrong kind they'd left. Wes wondered where they were gonna find 500 hollyhocks before the wedding tomorrow but Joseph said he knew a guy. Wes knew Joseph wouldn't rest until he made the day perfect for his best friend, he was the best-man after all and he took his job really seriously. He'd even gone so far as to help Austin practicing how to waltz and help him with his speech. Mitch wasn't slacking either since he was the "maid of honor". He was making sure everything else was running smoothly. He even went to Kleinfeld to shop for a dress for Justine. Justine refused to let Austin or Joseph come along. She knew Joseph would take a picture and send to Austin. So she brought Mitch, her parents and to everyone's surprise she brought Bastian Nolan. Wes had seen the dress and knew that it was beautiful and very much Justine. Mitch was also helping with the catering, decorations and lots of other things.

Wes looked up when he felt someone sit beside him. It was Jerry. The Warblers had been rehearsing in secret, they had a song to perform for the wedding couple after all. Wes smiled at Jerry. Jerry was one of the Warblers that were gonna sing lead for the wedding. Joseph had declined since he had something else planned to sing for Austin. Mitch was gonna sing lead with Jerry, as was Philip Peters and Collin. Jerry smiled at Wes and hugged him close. Wes snuggled closer. This was the first wedding he was ever going to and he loved that all of his older brothers would be there.

The day of the wedding was very exciting. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was just warm enough. Not too hot or too cold. The Hughes brothers had gotten all the flowers Justine needed and when she had found out she got so happy she'd kissed them both on the mouth. Ethan had blushed bright red, not used to her kissing him. When he'd thought about it… Justine had never kissed him before. Not even in games or in plays or anything. He'd gone tomato red and had nearly fainted. Joseph had taken care of him. He'd been used to her random kisses for years now. Anyway. The church they were in were rather small but very pretty. Justine's family took up the whole left side of the church while Austin's side was… rather empty. The Warblers had decided to help out so they all, except Joseph and Mitch, sat on Austin's side.

Austin's oldest brother Adam was the only one there from his biological family. Ever since that family night at Dalton in Austin's junior year his relationship with his father and brother of Arthur had crashed and burnt. His relationship with his mom was strained because she never defended him openly against Arthur or his father. She just sent him little letters or cards telling him how proud she was. But she never showed it in the open. When he came out to them his father disowned him, Arthur was disgusted by him and his mother didn't do anything about it. But Adam, Adam defended him and took care of him afterwards. When Austin wasn't in UK or wasn't at Justine's place he stayed with Adam and his wife. She couldn't come because of stomach flu. Adam was looking at Austin with a proud look on his face. There were also some friends of Austin's from the UK or other countries sitting on that side as well as some of Justine's friends from Parsons was on her side.

The church was neatly decorated and Wes sat in the front with the other "shorties". Wes, Juan, Matt, Isaac, Malcolm, Brad R, Brad S and Oliver were at the front bench along with Adam. But Bastian was also at the front in his wheelchair. He was looking so happy. Isaac was annoyed that he couldn't sit with Vlad. Vlad was amused, which annoyed Isaac even more. But they were not gonna show that to Austin or Justine.

As closer and closer they got for the ceremony to start, the more nervous Austin got. He started pacing at the front to the amusement of the priest. Joseph was grinning too and trying to calm him. Wes had to admit that they were all looking really good in their suits. Joseph and Austin more so than anyone else in their tuxedo. Wes was sure Joseph could've been a photo model at a shoot. Joseph knew so too and flirted with a few of Justine's friends, before Austin got nervous that is. Right now Joseph was busy with keeping his best friend calm.

"Don't worry", Bastian said to the boys closest to him, Wes and Brad S. They both looked at him. "Justine love him too much to leave him at the altar. And besides… we know both of them. They would never abandon each other."

Wes smiled at that and looked around.

"Mitch is gone so I guess the bridal party has arrived", he said. Mitch was gonna be the best-maid while there were some other bride's maids there as well. Some girls Justine knew from school and her stepmom got to be one as well. When she had objected Justine had shot that down. She wanted her there. She'd helped her through so much. Wes was about to answer Bastian when the church bells started ringing and then the organ started playing. Everyone that could rose and looked at the doors. Mark looked between the door and Austin. He had a small smirk on his lip. He had seen the wedding dress after all.

The doors opened and in came the bride's maids and maid of honor… and then came Justine. Austin gasped and then grinned like a happy loon. Justine wore a slightly off-white lace dress. It reached the floor. It had a sweetheart neckline and just a slightly trailing train. It also had off the shoulder cap sleeves. It hugged her figure perfectly and the lace was full of little flowers on the torso and at the bottom of the dress. Justine had her hair in a beautiful bun and had a veil over her head. She was smiling widely. Her father held her arm, leading her down towards her awaiting groom. She wore no jewelry save a pair of earrings. Her wedding bouquet was lilac roses, white lily-of-the-valleys and light blue forget-me-nots. Austin started crying silently when he saw her. Joseph patted his back and held him steady. Justine was glowing while she slowly walked down the aisle with her father. Wes heard Kim grumble about that stupid selling-tradition. Wes had to smile. Kim was such a Swede.

When Justine reached her groom to be Austin was smiling so wide his face was aching, she was smiling as well but then looked down. She felt really shy for some reason. Austin just smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze.

"You look like my saving angel", he whispered and she smiled and looked up at him. Austin smiled to Mr. Gideon and to his surprise the man hugged him so tightly Austin nearly fell. Joseph and Mitch laughed at Austin's look. Justine looked annoyed, especially when her father kissed Austin on the lips.

"Oi!" Justine objected and pulled Austin from her father. "He's my hubby go find your own." Her father winked at her and went to take her seat. It was clear who she got the kissing thing from. Austin looked a little ruffled. Justine sighed.

"Oh really", she said and handed her flowers to her stepmom, who was giggling behind her own flowers. Then Justine started fixing Austin's tux and hair. "There all handsome again, now let's get back to what we are here for."

"Good idea", Austin said and took her hand, turning to the priest. Justine turned as well but not before doing the: 'I'm-watching-you-sign' to her dad. Mr. Gideon just looked smug. Austin's brother Adam was red in the face from trying to hide his mirth. Everyone else were also chuckling or giggling. The only ones laughing was Mark, Carmichael and Ma Trixie. Wes was trying hard not to laugh. The priest then cleared his voice in annoyance and everyone calmed down so that the ceremony could begin.

Wes thought the priest was being very boring. He nearly fell asleep a few times. He wondered how long it would take for Justine to snap, but she was only having eyes for Austin. She was smiling so wide and had little tears in her eyes. Austin looked at her in the same way. Wes smiled. True love. It had to be it. Austin and Justine was just meant to be. It was God's plan or whoever is out there's plan for them to end up together. Wes wasn't really into that soul-mate bullshit. Everyone has the right to show who they love, not the one some universal power thought you'd fit with. That was just stupid. Wes was so lost in thought he missed a bit and didn't "wake" until Bastian elbowed him in the ribs. Wes glared at him and then realized it was time for Austin and Justine to say their vows. They'd written their own. Austin was going to start.

"Fides, spes, caritas, maior autem horum est caritas", Austin said. "Faith, hope and love and biggest of them all is love. The three words that describes my feelings for you Just. Faith. I have faith in you. I've always had and always will have. I know you will do great things and I know you will be the brightest star in the fashion sky. But remember my Just that even if that star fades with time your star on my sky will always shine brighter than anyone else. Hope. You are my hope. Being with you gives me hope for a bright future. Hope of a better world and for a future that will be full of happiness, good times and love. Love, the greatest of them all is love and my love for you has no boundaries. I want to spend eternity loving you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you at Dalton. All sides of you. Without you in my life I would go crazy. With you I'm already crazy, crazy in love. And in your favorite childhood movie they said: You do crazy things when you're in love. And I will do all the craziest things because… I'm so in love with you and for you to want to be my wife…" Austin sniffled a little. "You couldn't give me a greater gift. Your love. That's all I desire. You are my faith, my hope and my love. Forever and for always."

Justine was crying happy tears, touched by his words and then Austin carefully slid the ring onto her finger. She was smiling so wide her face ached. She looked at Austin and took the ring from Joseph, the one she was supposed to put on Austin's fingers.

"You and your silver tongue", she whispered and Austin smiled. "How am I supposed to top that?" He smiled at her in that way she loved. She took a breath and then started talking:

"I don't know what to say", she said. "You're the author and writer and… well every word that is positive. You are so much to me. A best friend, a lover, a husband very soon… but most important of all you are my savior. Savior you ask. Yes I know you ask because I can read your face like an open book my love. You've always saved my. From small everyday crises and bigger things. You were there for the roughest parts of my life and some of the best as well. Well many of my best parts from high school onwards. You saved me from myself, my heart from loneliness and from breaking apart when my best friend was in the hospital. No one asked you to. You just did. That is why I love you, well one of the many reasons I love you and I want you to be mine forever and ever. I want you to be my husband and I want to live my life with you. You… you said I'm your star? Well baby you're my guardian angel. I will always turn to you for safety because that's one of the things you stand for. Ask anyone in the Warblers and they will tell you I'm right. I love you." She put the ring on his finger.

"I love you too", Austin whispered and the priest said those last words. But neither of them were listening to him anymore. They just had eyes for each other. And they didn't need a telling twice when the priest said:

"You may kiss the bride."

Austin and Justine kissed sweetly and Joseph cheered. As did everyone else. Mitch sniffled and took the handkerchief handed to him by Justine's stepmom.

"I always cry at weddings", he said and she hugged him.

TBC Thanks to hallescomet97 for helping me with some English terms and for "kicking my butt" into writing :D If you want a picture of the dress you can find it on my tumblr.