Part 94

When the bride and groom left the church, after signing all papers with Joseph and Mitch as witnesses, they got showered with rose petals in various colors. Justine was smiling so much she nearly glowed. Austin did too. They hurried down the steps towards their ride to the reception. Justine smirked when she saw the bike Austin had gotten from Adam and his wife. Justine unhooked her long skirt and handed it to Mitch. Mitch grinned, he was the only one that knew the skirt could do that. Austin laughed when Justine sat in front and patted the area behind her. He grinned and got onto the back of the bike. Both of them took their helmets and were off. Wes grinned. Joseph looked a little shocked. Wes patted his arm.

"Come on best man", he said. "Let's go to the reception." Joseph nodded and followed Wes to the car that would take them there.

The dining room looked amazing. All the flowers were there, the table cloths, the chandeliers, the soft music, the food, the drinks and everyone that the newlyweds loved and cared about. When Austin and Justine Diaz entered the room they smiled widely at their friends and family. Adam pulled Austin close, hugging him tightly as did Justine's parents to her. Joseph and Mitch were going to be toast masters of the evening so they called everyone to the tables so that they could start eating. Soon it was time for the first speeches. First Mr. Gideon talked about his lovely daughter and son. Since the priest wasn't there no one gave a damn about pretending Justine was just a girl anymore. She smiled widely at her father and soon cried touched tears when he spoke of his love for her and for Austin. Adam also held a speech, about his brother's greatness and how he was a better man now that he and Austin were looking eye to eye. He talked about how lovely Justine and Justin was to be around and much more. Then it was Joseph's turn to hold a speech.

"Austin", Joseph said and smiled. "We've been best friends forever… well not forever 'cause we didn't know each other before Dalton. But since the first day there. I don't think anyone knows how we met do they?"

Austin laughed and blushed a little.

"You see Austin has this reputation about him at Dalton, being a bit of Mr. Perfect", Joseph continued. "Oh and at campus in UK too. Everyone calls him Mr. Perfect because he's so perfect."

"I am not!" Austin objected.

"Don't I know it", Joseph said and everyone laughed. "You're a lazy ass when it comes to chores."

"I'm not lazy!"

"Oh please, your room at our apartment doesn't have a floor!"

"It does too."

"Sure it does you just need scuba diving gear to find it." Everyone laughed again. "You're not that good at cleaning in the kitchen either. How many times did we have to buy new dishes because they got stuck together from mold etcetera?"

"That was not my fault I just-"

"Got lost in your writing I know I know. God you're so annoying." But he said it with a loving grin. "We first met at Dalton because you were late and jumped out of the window at the dorms… you landed on me you big goof!"

"Well how was I supposed to know you were asleep in the bushes?"

"You could've watched where you were jumping!"

Austin just shrugged at that as everyone else laughed. Joseph smiled fondly.

"Sure Austin is a slob but Justine, he's your slob now. For all his slobbiness, I just made up that word so shut up Austin", everyone laughed again. "Austin has far greater sides. I mean… Austin always look after others." The speech was far more serious now and everyone noticed the change in tone in Joseph's voice. "Didn't matter who it was, if someone needed help or comfort around the Tiger or Dalton. Austin was always there to lend a helping hand. I mean… I was failing my classes in junior year… some of them anyway and instead of getting the sleep he needed, Austin would sit up with me to help me study. I had a girlfriend that year too and she broke up with me because I wanted to spend time with the boys in the Warblers on one date night. I couldn't stop crying. Austin just got up from his bed and held me close for hours and did everything he could to cheer me up. Even though he had lots of troubles on his own that he bottled up inside so that I wouldn't be bothered with them. I got mad at him for that a million times and you still do it you idiot.

You still always put everyone else's need before your own. Your family, who except for one is a big pile of jerks. Me, Justine, Mitch, the boys in the Tiger, the underclassmen at Dalton… even though you were struggling with emotional troubles at the time. You didn't care about that, everyone else just came first. You even told me I didn't have to go to the UK with you but I put my foot down there. You are never gonna leave this country to live somewhere else without me! Well now we have Justine also but I'm sure we can work her into our relationship", Joseph winked and Justine smiled warmly at him.

"Out of the two of us I've always been the one that thinks of my image and appearance. You were always content with letting me be the 'good looking one' and you always let me shine instead of you. We took part in a talent show in the UK and Austin got me to sing lead and him just a little backup. The judges said I was great and that I would go far, but that Austin should focus on something else. Now all you Warblers here knows that Austin's got a remarkable voice. He just wanted me to be the one to shine instead of him. He always does that. He always finds ways to make other shine like the sun, no matter of what it is. I just… I have so much to say to you but I can't… so I'll just sing it instead." Joseph turn to the band and nodded. They started playing and Joseph started singing:

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

When Joseph finished the song everyone cheered loudly. Austin and Joseph were both crying. Austin got up and hurried onto the stage and hugged Joseph tightly. Joseph hugged him back just as tight. The Warblers cheered and Justine got up as well so she could hug her husband and his best friend. Austin pulled away enough to look Joseph in the eyes. He gave him a soft smile. For once in his life, Austin didn't have the words to describe what he was thinking or feeling. But that didn't really matter since Austin and Joseph had long since learnt how to read each other's "thoughts". Which was why Joseph grinned, tears still slowly going down his cheeks.

"You're welcome" he whispered. Joseph then turned to Justine and kissed her cheek."You look after this goof now right? I can't be his bodyguard 24/7 you know."

Justine smiled warmly and nodded with a small giggle.

"Of course", she said. "Though, I doubt there's ever going to be a time when you're not there. it's like you said: we can always work you into the relationship. You'll always be a part of our lives."

"I swear that if Justine and I don't get kids of our own we'll adopt you", Austin said with a grin.

"Oh yes!" Justine squealed. "Joseph can be our baby!"

"Oi", Ethan Hughes objected. "You two keep your greedy paws off of MY baby brother!"

Joseph looked between Austin and Justine and all three nodded before sticking their tongues out at him. Everyone laughed and Ethan was about to say something more, when Mitch started knocking a spoon on his glass. It was time to get on with the reception.

"Now it's my turn to speak", Mitch said and everyone sat down, including the bride, groom and best-man. "But how I'm about to follow that Mr. Hughes is a riddle. Thank you very much for that."

The last was said dryly and Joseph saluted Mitch with his glass. Mitch just shook his head. He looked at Justine and smiled.

"I have a song for you and believe me it was hard to find the right one… I hope I did it", he said and then started singing:

In our times of trouble
We only had ourselves
Nobody else
No one there to save us
We had to save ourselves

And when the storms came through
They found me and you
Back to back together
And when the sun would shine
It was yours and mine
Yours and mine forever

Oh how the years go by
Oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by

There were times we stumbled
They thought they had us down
But we came around – Mitch grinned as Justine did backup, slowly getting up.

How we rolled and rambled
We got lost and we got found
Now we're back on solid ground, yeah

Justine had walked up to him so that they could sing together instead:

We took everything
All our times would bring
In this world of dangers
'Cause when your heart is strong
You know you're not alone
In this world of strangers

Oh how the years go by
Oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by

Joseph and Austin grinned at each other singing with the bride and her "maid of honor".

And if we lose our way
Any night or day
Well we'll always be
Where we should be
I'm there for you
And I know you're there for me

All the Warblers joined in at the end of the verse.

Oh how the years go by
Oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by

When the song finished everyone cheered and Justine and Mitch hugged. Austin and Joseph made a fist bump. They knew that Justine and Mitch had the same kind of relationship the two of them did.

"I guess Mitch will be my little brother then?" Joseph called to Justine and she giggled. Mitch stuck his tongue out at Joseph.

"Mommy loves me most", he said and cuddled closer to Justine. She laughed, as did Austin. Joseph just grinned. Wes chuckled at their antics. Things were never going to change in the Warlbers.

TBC I'll have to split it into two... too many songs and things going on for just one chapter. Thanks again to hallescomet97 for helping me.