Who: Jared, Ty, various NPCs When: early evening, Friday, June 8th Where: Texas! Part 1!
It had been a whirlwind of a week, but time passed as it always did, and the day of their wedding arrived right on schedule. Ty didn’t think they could have pulled it off without the help of Jared’s mom and his cousins. He’d lost track of how many times he’d thanked them, because even a small wedding was hard work. When he’d walked up to the area of the park where the ceremony was going to happen after they’d arrived that afternoon, he’d cried a little -- not for the first time that day, and probably not the last. It all looked so beautiful, with an archway for them to stand in front of, lined with pretty gauze and tiny fairy lights that branched out through the tree branches and over the few rows of white chairs where their guests would be. Nearby was the covered pavilion where the food was already being set up, more fairy lights in the trees around it. It was going to be even more beautiful once the sun started going down, and Ty had gotten an overwhelming sense of surreality, like he was dreaming all of this. If that was true, he didn’t want to wake up, ever.
There was a small little community center in the middle of the park where the town had events sometimes, and that was where they started getting ready. Ty hadn’t seen Jared since around midday when he’d left in the rental car to pick up his aunt Detta -- his only guest -- from her hotel. He and Jared weren’t supposed to see each other until it was time to walk down the aisle -- something they were going to tweak a bit from tradition, planning to both walk and meet in the middle after Jared had escorted his mom to her seat. It was just one of many tweaks, but Ty thought it would end up beautiful no matter what.
Detta hung out with him for a while in the small conference room he’d been directed to get changed in, until she’d given him a kiss and told him she would see him on the other side. As the hour drew closer, he did some last minute primping in the full-length mirror someone had helpfully brought along and set up for him, not quite satisfied with his hair. He was nervous, more about being in front of a group of people than marrying Jared, and he jumped a little when the door opened.
Caroline smiled brightly at him as she slipped inside and approached, a small velvet box in her hand. She wiggled it at him. “Can’t forget this,” she said, stepping up behind Ty to look at him in the mirror too.
Ty huffed a little laugh and took the ring box from her. “Right, thanks,” he murmured, opening it to slip the ring into his suit pocket. It was hard to believe that it was going on Jared’s finger in the very near future. Less than an hour now. His palms were sweaty and everything felt full of butterflies. He smiled crookedly as Caroline reached up to straighten his lapels a bit.
“You look so handsome,” she told him with a fond smile and a pat on the chest. “I’m very happy for both of you, I truly am.”
Ty swallowed around that lump in his throat that was starting to feel permanent. He turned to hug her. “Thanks, Mama,” he murmured. “I’m glad you’re here.” He couldn’t even think about his own mother too much, or he would start to cry and get all puffy, but at least he was gaining a mother who supported them.
Caroline patted his back and then let him go. “I did what you asked, she’s right up front,” she told him, and Ty nodded with even more gratitude. “I’m going to check on Jared, it’s almost time!” She beamed, able to see the nerves on Ty’s face. That was normal, and Caroline thought they would all just melt away once the ceremony was underway. “Somebody will come get you soon dear. But I’ve got my phone, so give a call if you need anything, okay?”
“I will, thanks,” Ty told her, then gave a sheepish smile. He kept saying thanks to everybody, it was starting to lose all meaning to his ears.
Caroline looked him over one more time, handsome and sharp in his charcoal gray suit with a dark blue tie. She headed to the door and blew Ty a kiss on her way out. “See you soon,” she said.
Once she had closed the door behind herself, she hurried off down the hall to the room Jared had been sequestered into, eager to see her son looking equally handsome and dapper. Caroline gave a light knock at the door before she tried the knob. “It’s me, darling,” she called through the door.
Jared was still a little stunned - in a good way - at how quickly everything had come together. His cousins had been a Godsend and even his uncle Ryan seemed to have gotten over some of his apprehension about the whole thing. His younger cousins had all asked him a lot of questions that he really had no answers to since he hadn't exactly done the whole 'gay wedding thing' before either but they were all winging it as best they could and it was coming together beautifully. He'd stressed over writing his vows but at the same time he knew he could stand up there and wing that too. He really could talk forever about how much he loved Ty, that would come easy, the real problem was not taking all damn night to do just that.
He was happy today to the point where it felt almost overwhelming but also a little tinged with fear that it wouldn't be perfect. He needed it to be perfect, for everything to go smoothly and for Ty to be the happiest he could be. It wouldn't erase the last few months of torture and misery, but it felt vital to start showering him with good memories to replace the old. He was at least relieved they were doing this in Texas, that Point Pleasant wasn't able to throw anything strange at them on this most joyous occasion.
Ethan was being a big bro to him, something that came as a bit of a surprise to Jared but maybe his family was nowhere near as homophobic as he'd feared. His brother had flown in from New York a day before the ceremony and had spent the day with Jared, teasing him a bit to try to lighten his mood. "He's in here," he hollered when Caroline called out, then patted Jared's shoulder as he passed him and placed a little kiss on the top of their mother's head. "You're gonna have to work some magic on that scarecrow," he added with a little wink at Jared. "I've done what I can." He then left the two of them alone to talk though Jared knew he'd probably be back within minutes.
When Ethan had left, Jared turned, spreading his arms a little to show off his suit. "How do I look? Please be gentle," he murmured playfully but his voice wavered a bit and he couldn't quite keep the nervous tension out of his smile.
Caroline gave a dismissive little huff at her eldest son’s words, patting him on the way out and closing the door behind him before she turned to Jared. She’d been there for his first wedding too, of course, and while this one was different, she felt just as happy. She clasped her hands together to her chest and beamed at him. “You look wonderful,” Caroline stepped forward and reached up to give Jared’s tie some tiny adjustments. Largely unnecessary, but it made her feel helpful. “Handsome as the dickens. I would marry you myself if you weren’t my son.” She chuckled and smoothed her hands over the lapels of his jacket. “How are you feeling, love?”
"Jittery," Jared admitted with a little laugh and the adjustment did feel necessary to him, like she'd just made sure he wasn't about to go to his own wedding with a crooked tie or anything else that might need fixing. "You'd think it was easier when you've done it once before but I think it might be harder." His first wedding had been absolutely perfect even if the memories of it were now tinged with grief that had largely overtaken the hurt of Sadie leaving him. He wished he was still just getting over that hurt and bitterness but before she died they had gotten to a place where he wouldn't have been surprised if she would have come to his wedding. He recognized some of the reasons why this was more difficult though and tried to remind himself not to compare the two ceremonies, he just didn't want to give Ty anything lesser. "Have you talked to Ty?" he asked and tried to smother that very unreasonable fear that Ty would get cold feet and back out.
She knew him well enough to know he wasn’t one of those men who were bored with all of this ritual, ready to get it done and over with so they could get drunk or get to the honeymoon festivities. No, her Jared was a sentimental giant, and she adored that about him. This was going to be an emotional ceremony, Caroline felt sure, and it was normal to have the jitters before getting emotional in front of a bunch of people, even if they were family. “I have, I just came from checking on him,” Caroline told him with a warm smile. “Don’t fret, he’s still here, he’s ready, and looks almost as handsome as you do.” With a chuckle, she reached for a nearby lint roller and started to circle Jared, running it over him here and there. “Everything’s set up and ready, everything will go smooth, just take a few deep breaths and you’ll be fine. You’ve got his ring in your pocket?”
"Yes ma'am," Jared said and squared his shoulders as she started grooming him, trying to get himself mentally prepared. "Got the ring, got the vows, now I just need to lock in my courage." He was a bit amused that it was almost like she read his mind but he supposed it wasn't an uncommon fear and she herself had gotten married once. He couldn't help but wonder again if her relationship to his dad had been as solid as it was after marriage, or if she'd had her own worried jitters about him going missing. The fact she said Ty was almost as handsome as him made him smile too, that just meant he was even more handsome, Jared knew that for sure. "It feels right though, I know it seems rushed but it ain't." It wasn't the first time he told her that. Her approval was always important to him even if his life choices didn't hinge on it and maybe on some level he wanted to make sure she felt it too - just how right this really was.
“If it feels right, then it is right,” Caroline said with confidence. She still wondered and fretted sometimes about what might have caused that months-long break they’d just had, but that was her duty as a mother. Jared wasn’t some crazy twenty year old making an impulsive decision, he was a mature man who knew his own mind and didn’t leap before he looked. She came around to stand in front of him and patted his arms. She knew he wanted her blessing, and even though she’d already given it a few times over didn’t mean she minded giving it again. “I trust your judgement, Jared. He seems like a lovely person, I like him, and I can see that he makes you happy, and that’s really all I care about. I just want all the love and happiness in the world for you.” Caroline squeezed his arms and gave a smile that was getting a little watery.
"Thanks, mama," Jared said quietly and leaned down to kiss her forehead. It was exactly what he needed to hear and he hoped one day Caroline could say she loved Ty. He supposed they should spend more time with her for that, come visit more often. Especially if they adopted like they wanted to. He straightened up again and let out a shaky little laugh. "Don't make me start crying before we're even there." There were a lot of issues his family dealt with but he was immeasurably thankful for the lack of that toxic idea that men couldn't cry. His father had cried openly, his brother even occasionally did. Maybe it was the fact they were all big men with guns who didn't feel like their masculinity could be questioned but for as long as he could remember they hadn't had the emotionally stunted attitude so many of his friends' fathers did. That was especially welcome today because he knew he was going to cry a lot before the day was out, weddings were emotional enough as a guest and making this commitment with Ty was going to be intense.
Caroline laughed softly herself and swiped at her eyes. “Be thankful you don’t have to wear mascara, you’d end up looking like a dang raccoon for your pictures,” she said, smiling up at him. Her own makeup was going to need a quick touch up before she went out there, she had a feeling. She patted him some more, then stepped bank and smoothed her hands down over the front of her dress. “I’m going to go check in with the officiant, make sure we’re all set ... do you need anything? Some water or a snack or something? Gotta keep your energy up.” She’d counseled him to eat earlier in the day, but she wasn’t sure he’d actually done it.
Jared hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and now that she mentioned it he didn't exactly feel hungry but he did become aware that he was a big guy and not eating before his wedding would just serve to make him lightheaded and cranky. Still, the thought of eating at all wasn't all that appealing and he could just imagine wrecking his suit by spilling something on it. That's what napkins are for, he told himself and funnily enough it sounded like his mother's voice in his head. "I should probably eat something," he admitted but he didn't really have the state of mind to think of what he wanted and what might be available to him at the moment. "I think they have some ice tea, I'd love some ice tea."
Even though he hadn’t named any food, Caroline was definitely going to bring him something light to snack on along with his tea. It was going to be a long evening and night, in a good way, and Caroline knew from experience that you didn’t always get to eat your own wedding food. There were too many people to chat with, too much dancing and celebrating to do. “Okay hon,” she told him with a warm smile. “I’ll send Ethan to fetch some, ‘bout time he did something useful. I’ll see you soon. Love you.” She blew him a kiss on her way to the door, slipping right back into bustling planning mode.
It was a little surreal how time both went too fast and not fast enough on days like these and Jared felt both impatient and rushed during that last hour before the ceremony began. Ty's mother wasn't there to be walked to her seat so Ty had sort of taken on the role of the bride without intending to, arriving after Jared did. It felt right somehow, though he wouldn't be walking down the aisle dramatically or anything, they were meeting in the middle and Jared really thought that should be how all weddings should be conducted from now on. Women were their own people and did not need to be given away, but tradition was a strange and stubborn beast.
For some reason, despite having been involved with the preparations and the invitations, he'd constantly pictured the ceremony as a lot smaller than it really was and he felt a little overwhelmed as he looked over all the guests already sitting down. Nearly all of them were his people but there were some people he didn't really know, friends of his mother he supposed, dates of his cousins. A couple of old friends from way back when and their wives and it made him feel a little choked up that they'd actually showed up and then he very nearly had heart palpitations when he spotted Ty's mother standing there, talking with Caroline. It wasn't easy to mistake someone else for her, this wedding was overwhelmingly white and a small black lady stood out. And Ty was not there to show her to her seat so that would come down to Jared. He headed over to the old ladies, unable to keep from beaming at Cindy. She'd come, unless she was there to speak up against the union of course but he really didn't think so. She looked all dressed up and lovely and she wasn't shooting daggers his way at all. "Mrs Solomon," he said warmly and whether she liked it or not, she was getting a tearful hug. "I'm so glad you came."
Cindy Solomon had been on the very edge of not attending her son’s wedding for quite a while. Since getting him back from wherever he’d been, she’d been trying not to dwell on his relationship with another man -- something she still felt was sinful, but her views on it were softening. Losing Ty for months on end had sent her into a depressive spiral that she hadn’t been sure she could see her way out of until he’d returned. He was alive and whole and God had given him back to her, and deep down Cindy thought she was meant to be humbled by it. Still, she’d struggled with the news he and Jared were getting married, and she hadn’t been sure she was going to attend until very near the last minute, after a few long heart-to-heart talks with her sister and some other ladies at church. But now here she was, in Texas of all places, fresh off a plane that morning, in her Sunday best.
She was chatting easily enough with Caroline Gaines -- a lovely lady who had been warm and gracious to her so far -- when Jared arrived, her very-soon-to-be son-in-law. Something Cindy never anticipated having, since she hadn’t had any daughters. Life was funny. The hug surprised her a little but she returned it, patting Jared’s back lightly. “Hello,” she said as she gave him a little squeeze. “You look handsome. Is Ty still getting ready?”
That was a good question and one Jared didn't really have an answer for since he hadn't seen him at all since that morning. Did he even know his mother had shown up? Was Jared the only one in the dark? He gave Cindy a smile that said as much, then laughed a little. "I guess he- We're meeting in the middle, untraditional wedding and all. Does he know you're here?" He thought he already knew the answer to that, if Ty knew Cindy had come, he'd be here to walk her to her seat so no, he was probably going to start crying before they even started. Jared couldn't blame him if he did, he felt much the same way, overwhelmed, overjoyed, nervous and elated. Maybe the nervousness was good, it kept him grounded and kept him from floating away in a haze of happiness.
Cindy’s lips quirked at the phrase ‘untraditional wedding,’ but she didn’t say anything about it. She shook her head but shot a questioning glance toward her sister. Detta had taken a seat already in the front row, but she was turned around and chatting with some of Jared’s family behind her. “I don’t believe so,” Cindy said, focusing on Jared again. Detta hadn’t mentioned informing Ty, leaving the two of them to figure it out between them. Cindy supposed that was just as well. Maybe it would have even more of an impact as a surprise.
“Well, he’ll find out in a minute!” Caroline chimed in with a bright smile. She glanced around at a few people herself, then touched her son’s arm. “I think we’re ready to start, darlin’, if you are. I just gotta cue Bobby on the music.” The sunset was looking lovely, someone was fetching Ty from the community center, everyone else was seated, it looked like Time, to her.
"He's gonna be so happy you're here," Jared said again but he didn't really think he could say it too often. He himself was amazed that she had shown up, and without Ty knowing, at that. "Well, allow me the honor of walking you to your seat then," he added and offered Mrs. Solomon his arm with a warm smile and maybe in a way it felt right, walking his mother and mother-in-law to be up the aisle, it certainly made him feel rich in ways that had nothing to do with materialistic matters. He still didn't know if Cindy would fully accept this union but she had made some strides since Ty's return so here was to hoping Ty could repair his relationship with her before it was too late.
When both of the ladies had been seated, Jared headed to 'his mark' and teared up as he passed the front row. He didn't know who had arranged it but there on one of the front seats was a framed photograph of Sadie. He had a lot of terrible memories related to her but on a day like this all he could remember was the good things and seeing her face was a reminder that if she had lived, she likely would have attended this wedding and she most definitely would have given it her blessing. Misty eyed again, Jared glanced at his mother before getting ready to start the ceremony. He checked for his ring again, for the umpteenth time then squared his shoulders to instill some confidence in himself.
The walk from the community center to the pavilion and the fairy lights wasn’t a long one, but it seemed to take forever to Ty. He touched the ring in his pocket at least a dozen times, while a few completely irrational ‘you could run’ thoughts flashed through his mind in between all the nervous static. He didn’t want to run, that was insane, he was thrilled to be marrying Jared, but he was still scared. Mostly because of all the people, the spectacle of it all. All of that melted away when he saw Jared though, standing at the front with the officiant. Ty’s heart felt like it skipped a beat and he smiled reflexively. Jared looked gorgeous, of course, and suddenly he was the only one who mattered in the whole fucking park. Just seeing him soothed all of his jitters for the moment. Ty stepped up to where he was supposed to be at the end of the aisle, grinning straight at Jared as he waited for the music change like they’d roughly rehearsed in Caroline’s back yard the day before. Then it was time, it was really really time, and Ty started walking down the aisle toward his man.
Jared likewise felt some of his tension melt away when Ty finally showed up and that smile of his could light up the darkest places so seeing it now washed whatever nervousness Jared had been feeling. This felt right and everything felt perfect in the moment in a way he wanted to capture and hold onto for eternity. He couldn't stop his own smile, even if he felt like he should perhaps not be grinning ear to ear as he walked to meet Ty in the middle, his muscles just had their own ideas right now and that smile was there to stay for the duration of that short walk. Hi he mouthed when they got close and he suddenly felt like giggling like a kid, hugging Ty or bouncing on his feet. At least with that he managed to compose himself, eyes crinkling as he grinned at Ty, his heart beating hard and fast with joy and excitement.
Ty felt bubbly all of the sudden, like the nervous energy he’d been feeling morphed into carbonation in his body or something. He had the similar urge to grab Jared and hug and laugh that they were really doing this. Jared’s smile looked like it was about to split his face in two, which was exactly how Ty’s felt, so he was sure they looked like a couple of loons. He was hardly aware of all the eyes on them at the moment, which was probably a blessing. Ty took Jared’s hand, whispering a little “hi” back as they walked back toward the archway and the officiant waiting for them. Ty’s knees felt a bit rubbery, but he made it to the front without losing his footing, and turned to finally glance out at the guests. There were a lot of smiling faces, but one of them in particular stuck out, and Ty’s grip tightened on Jared’s hand as his heart dropped. He covered his mouth with his free hand, too many emotions to name flooding through him, and Ty couldn’t help but take a moment to break from the plan and step up to the front row to hug his mother. She stood up to meet him and Ty thought he might outright bawl in front of all those people.
Jared knew what was up without even looking and the only thing that managed to threaten his smile was the wobble of his chin when Ty ran to hug his mother - but then even that wouldn't do the trick because the tears in his eyes were of happiness and now sorrow so they could very much co-exist with his smile, as they did. He knew none of the guests would know the weight of Cindy's presence - just how huge it was that she had actually come - but everyone still looked touched by what was obviously a surprise guest. When Ty returned to his side, Jared cupped his face with one hand and tried to communicate all of those feelings inside of him without words and at the moment he just hoped he'd find his voice to speak his vows.
Even if nobody but Jared and him understood, Ty was deeply moved that his mother had come to witness their wedding. Detta had told him she wasn’t going to, and so had Cindy, pretty early on in the planning, so he’d assumed her mind wouldn’t change. His aunt was beaming at the both of them, obviously in on the surprise, and Ty just wanted to lie down and cry for a while. He was getting married though, so that could come later. This wedding was already hugely emotional, and they were just getting started. He gave Jared a watery smile back once they were facing each other again, imagining he could physically feel all of the love radiating off of him. Ty sniffled and tried to focus on listening as the music quieted down and the officiant welcomed everyone and thanked them for being there. He launched into a little speech about love and its healing power, about how noble commitment was and how much human beings needed each other. They were lovely words that held zero religious references, just like they’d asked. Ty felt even more choked up as he gazed into Jared’s warm brown eyes and let the beautiful reality of the moment sink in.
Every word rang so true to Jared and he was nothing if not a man who needed love and companionship like air. Losing Ty had made him wonder how he was supposed to move on from that, knowing he'd need to love again or his life would effectively be over and feeling completely incapable of it. The grief had been too massive, and so soon after Sadie's passing, he was sure he'd never heal. And then Ty had returned against all odds and they could heal together. He knew nobody really knew the depth of that either but him and Ty and that was enough for him. He was absolutely not getting through this ceremony without weeping several times and staring into Ty's eyes was soothing but intense at the same time, both keeping him grounded and sending him floating.
There were definitely a lot of layers between them that nobody else could come close to understanding. They’d been through so much together, both good and bad. Ty knew that from the outside this wedding might seem rushed and not very well thought out, but the two of them knew it was perfect, and that was all that mattered. Ty was staring with rapt attention at every tiny twitch and microexpression that crossed his beloved’s face, wanting to memorize all of it. So much so that he almost missed the officiant changing gears and informing their guests that the happy couple had written their own vows. During their loose rehearsal, they’d decided that Ty would go first with said vows, and for a second he felt frozen in place, nerves spiking up inside him again.
Luckily the paralysis only lasted a moment. Ty gave a little huff and dipped his hand into his jacket pocket to pull out the notes he’d jotted down. The officiant pointed the microphone toward him and Ty cleared his throat. His hands were shaking a bit as he unfolded his papers. “I’m uh ... not really a writer,” he said, glancing out at the audience with a wry grin. Ty refocused on Jared, trying to tell his racing heart that all he was doing was talking to his man. Jared was the only one who mattered here. “Jared. I can’t believe we’re really here,” Ty started, looking down at his notes. A lump appeared like magic in his throat and Ty blinked away tears. “If I, uh ... if I went back a couple of years and tried to tell myself that I would be marrying Jared Gaines someday, I would’ve laughed in my own face. Little did I know that my soulmate was right under my nose. That my partner on the job would become my partner for life.” Ty glanced up at him and gave a tiny watery smile. “You were always a good friend to me, and you’ve become ... my whole world. You coaxed me out of the closet with more patience than I even knew people could have ... because you know the joy in living authentically, and you wanted that for me. You saved my life from both inside and outside forces, a few times over. You showed me what real love could be. You have a big, beautiful heart. You inspire me with your kindness, patience, bravery, generosity, and love for everyone you know. So I vow to spend the rest of my life working to be the best partner to the best man I know, because that is exactly what you deserve.” Ty looked up and let out a bashful chuckle as he swiped at his eyes.
The only problem with ceremonies was the structure and Jared found it hard to adhere to the plan with everything Ty said. He wanted to kiss him and hug him already, every word making the tears harder to hold back and his smile felt like it was attempting to split his face in two. His eyes felt tiny at the moment, like they were just getting lost in the crinkles and he knew he was likely going to feel exhausted by the day's end from emotion alone. He wiped at his own eyes with a little chuckle of his own as the microphone got adjusted again and he reached for his notes.
"I'm starting to understand why prominent people have script writers," he started out by admitting, more to their guests than to Ty but then he focused on his husband to be again, his expression softening. "Ty, I thought I could wax poetic for hours about my love for you, that as soon as I sat down to compose something it would magically appear on the page because that's how everything feels with you - easy and effortless, right. But it's too big for words. ...though you seemed to manage it perfectly." He chuckled again and cleared his throat, feeling a little flushed suddenly and at the moment he almost wished they'd gotten married in the blazing sun so he could blame the heat for that. "I'm no writer either but I will still try because I will always try with you, no matter how scary it gets. Long before I knew just how deeply I could love you, I knew how deeply I could trust you and even in navigating the kinds of feelings that have left me hurting before, that trust never wavered and you helped me heal parts of me I didn't even know needed tending. When I look at you, I see the future I want and your presence alone puts all my troubled thoughts to rest. I vow to be for you what you have always been for me, to be worthy of your love and trust, to heal you when you need healing and to always be willing to try when you need me to try even when it's scary. I will be the best that I can be for you because you deserve the best." He cleared his throat again and slipped his notes back in his pockets, barely looked at. "I could probably go on for a while."
Ty was more than a little impressed and utterly moved by Jared’s eloquence. He barely glanced at his notes too, and Ty had had to read his pretty thoroughly to keep going without stumbling over every other word. Without the pressure to talk, he was able to fully absorb his almost-husband’s words, and the tightness in Ty’s throat got harder to swallow down. He was weeping by the end of it, covering his mouth to muffle a sound once or twice and continually wiping at his eyes. How did brides ever keep their makeup intact? Why hadn’t he thought to tuck a hanky in his pocket? When Jared was done he put his hand over his heart and whispered a hoarse, “I love you,” that was probably easier lip-read than heard. The officiant beamed at both of them as he took his mic back, and said a few more words before he told them to join hands. Ty stepped in closer and took both of Jared’s hands, squeezing tight as he smiled. When the man asked if he accepted Jared as his husband, his “I do” felt like the most honest thing he’d ever said. The officiant told him to put the ring on Jared’s finger, and Ty got another spike of anxiety as he slipped his hand into his pocket, but Jared’s ring was there, thick and comforting with its weight. “I, Tyrone Solomon,” he said, repeating after the man. “Take you, Jared Gaines, to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part.” Ty pushed the ring home with those final words and felt another couple of tears slip free.
How could something feel so real and so dreamlike all at once? The physical contact and the feel of a ring on his finger felt oh so right and helped ground Jared some and he wiped at his cheeks with his free hand. This was real, this was happening and there was a warm rush of possessiveness and love inside of him at the thought that Ty was really his in the eyes of the law - and god, if there was one. He had so many words welling up inside him, eager to be spoken and he felt like he was beaming them at Ty in a telepathic blast, certain he could at least read the emotion of them in his eyes. He took a shaky breath and looked to their officiant before pulling out Ty's ring and taking his hand.
"I, Jared Gaines, take you, Tyrone Solomon, to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part." He didn't need to hear the words to say them but he followed along dutifully even if he was barely listening to the man. All he really saw and heard was Ty and his own words and for a well rehearsed line that was spoken by couples all over the world all the time, they felt like they came straight from his heart.
Ty could feel all that emotion, could read it all over Jared’s face, could feel it in every fiber of his being, really. Part of him had thought that marrying Jared would just feel like a largely useless but enjoyable ceremony that wouldn’t actually change much between them. After all, they already loved each other like they were married, right? But now that he was in the moment and he felt the light hug of the ring slide up his finger, it felt so huge. Jared was his husband now, and Ty felt like he might just collapse under the weight of all of his happiness. The officiant went on to proclaim them officially married, by the power invested in him, blah blah. All Ty heard were the words “you may now kiss,” and he stepped in to do just that, one hand coming up to cup the back of Jared’s neck. He suppressed a little sob when their lips met, keeping it as just a jerk in his chest, and put all of his focus into kissing his man. His husband. He barely heard their family and friends clapping for them, a little too engrossed in the moment to remember that people were watching them.
The applause slowly broke through the haze of Jared's mind but it was Ty's lips that made it all feel real and he was sure his heart was going to burst, incapable of holding this much joy all at once. He smiled into the kiss, rubbing at Ty's cheeks with his thumbs as he pulled back. "We made it," he murmured and while he wasn't so sure Ty even heard him, the message still felt like it got across. The words didn't matter as such, they'd made it through the ceremony, they'd made it through the darkness and the solitude and now they were here and they were actually married. I love you he mouthed before his smile overtook his face again, tears welling up in his eyes yet again. He kind of wished they were alone for a moment, that he could pull them into a little bubble where he could hold Ty close to his body for far longer than their guests would be comfortable with but there would be time for that later. Instead he turned and smiled at them, reaching for Ty's hands to grasp them tightly.
Ty heard him and felt him and felt like one with him more than he ever had before. That was probably silly, the psychological magic of weddings, but the feeling sure as hell felt real in the moment. “I love you too,” Ty murmured with a similar face-splitting smile. He had the same impulse to suddenly teleport away someplace they could be completely alone for a few hours, but that was unrealistic at the moment. There would be time. He squeezed Jared’s hand back as they turned to look out at the assembled guests -- his family now, he supposed. He was going to have to get used to thinking of them all that way. And he needed to get all their names straight, probably.
The officiant went on to introduce them to the crowd for the first time as a married couple, even though the wording was a little weird since they were both keeping their own last names. They’d discussed it, and it was important to Ty to remain a Solomon, as the last male in his family, and they’d both established careers under their names, etc etc. It was a joining of two families, even if his was woefully underrepresented at the moment, but Ty could see the joy on his mother’s face as she clapped, and he knew it was important to her too that he remained Ty Solomon. As the guests applauded, the music went up again, and he and Jared started back down the aisle, holding hands and getting pats on the shoulders from a few people on the edge seats. Now they got to retreat with the photographer Caroline had hired for a little bit, while the guests got settled in the pavilion and the reception got started.
Jared knew they'd switch up their names affectionately a lot in the future, or at least he hoped so because even if he wasn't willing to make it his legal name for a variety of reasons, he did like it when Ty jokingly called him Mr. Solomon. His brother had teased him with Mrs. Solomon earlier that morning and even that had been kind of sweet. Annoying, coming from Ethan, but sweet anyway as it gave him a little thrill to belong to Ty and even more so to think of how Ty belonged to him. It was official now and his chest felt like it might burst as they walked hand in hand to where their photographer with his sharp eye wanted them to be. It took some time and they got a few photos in with their mothers at first before letting them leave to sit their tired old bodies down. Jared couldn't help but be a bit grateful that there wasn't a huge wedding party involved this time, no difficult herd of groomsmen and bridesmaid to line up and try to get in order. As Caroline and Cindy walked away and the photographer found a new place for them to stand, Jared pulled Ty close for a moment and pressed a kiss on his temple. "Mr. Gaines," he murmured and let out a little laugh, the purest kind where joy just bubbled up too far to be contained. "How are you holding up, husband?"
Ty had insisted on hiring a real photographer, because the pictures were the part of a wedding that lasted the longest, besides the marriage itself -- hopefully, at least. He knew they were going to look amazing, and he wanted some real pro pictures of them, since all they really had were joint selfies. But now that they were spending the time being directed and posed, Ty was getting a little impatient with it, in a way that was weirdly happy. He just wanted to be alone with Jared for a half hour to catch their breath and make out, not necessarily in that order. But he was also starving and ready to drink and dance, the music coming from the pavilion was tempting, and he was having difficulty keeping still for the poses. He grinned and slipped his arms around Jared when they had a moment to themselves, turning his head to nuzzle in Jared’s beard a bit. “I am ... I don’t even know,” Ty answered with a soft laugh of his own. He squeezed his man with a little groan. “It’s too much for words. But so fuckin’ happy. Mr. Solomon.” He grinned and moved in for a kiss.
There it was, it was such a strange thing to feel giddy about but the name made Jared feel a little melty inside and his smile felt dorkier to match that feeling. Then Ty was kissing him and he happily returned it, cupping his face with one hand. The ring was so noticeable to him, he hadn't gotten used to it yet and in a way he didn't want to because it reminded him that they were married now. He had always understood that fight for equality and he'd supported it, but he had never imagined it would make him personally so happy one day to be able to marry a man. His man. "I kinda wish we could elope right now," he murmured. This was amazing, but he was so much more than ready to take off this suit and lounge somewhere with Ty without other people around. At the same time he was so happy they were all there. It was just a bundle of mixed feelings. He had the feeling the photographer was just giving them time now and he pulled back to glance over, catching him idly fidgeting with his camera so yes, definitely being polite. "Want to get this over with?" he asked Ty. "We can walk back extra slowly when we're done."
Ty chuckled deep in his throat and patted Jared a little. “The light’s just getting worse, let’s do it,” he said, loud enough for the photographer to hear. It wasn’t too much longer before they’d taken all the pictures they could, and it was time to rejoin their guests. It was too late to elope, they’d already done the thing and signed the papers, but Ty knew what Jared meant. He kind of wished they could just slip away and let everybody enjoy themselves ... but this was supposed to be the fun part, and he wanted to see Jared surrounded by boisterous, celebrating family. The two of them deserved to be celebrated. Ty slipped his hand into Jared’s as they moseyed back toward the pavilion, the grass soft under their shoes, everything getting softer and dimmer as twilight really set in. “Did you know my mom was coming?” he asked abruptly as it came to him, his smile flashing in the dark.
"Hell no," Jared blurted out, just short of a giggle. It had been such a wonderful surprise and he hadn't thought anything could surprise him to that degree but seeing Cindy Solomon chatting with his mother like she belonged there, that had managed to completely throw him off balance - in a good way, of course. "The only reason I knew you didn't know neither was you weren't there to walk her to her seat. Man, what is it the kids say? I was shook? I even hugged her before I could think about it too hard so uh, your mom and I are on hugging terms now I guess." God he wanted to stop walking and just squeeze Ty every few steps and talking about his mother showing up as a surprise only made that urge stronger for the moment. "I'm so glad she came," he said instead, smiling at Ty. "I wish you had more people here but my family is your family now."
Hearing Jared use the word ‘shook’ made Ty bark out a laugh, even though most of the joy came from the fact that his mother had shown up to surprise all of them. He was sure it had been a struggle for her, but it had meant so much to him, and he intended to make sure she knew that. Having some time with her at his wedding was enough of a solid reason for him not to even suggest they sneak out early. Plus, he wanted to see Jared and Cindy hug again before they left, experience that with his own eyes. Jared being so happy about it only made Ty even more happy, and he did stop and turned in toward his man -- his husband -- to embrace him rightly. “We’re married, ohmygod,” he murmured with a little titter. It was still fairly surreal, and he was hyper-aware of the weight of a ring on his finger, but it meant so much. “We’re a family now too, just the two of us.” When most people heard ‘family,’ they thought of a couple with kids, but Ty knew those would come with time. For now he was content just to officially belong to Jared and vice versa. He pulled back enough to kiss him, one hand moving to cup the back of his neck, just needing that connection before they rejoined their reception.
Jared loved hearing him laugh, especially after all the trauma he knew he'd been through and he clung to that happy sound, grinning widely when Ty squeezed him. "I'm yours and you, you are all mine," he murmured quietly before Ty's lips found his and god he loved the feel of him in his arms, the nice fabric of his suit against his fingers and those perfect lips against his own. He had the same thoughts as Ty did, they both wanted kids, he knew that, it might be hard to get there for two men, he wasn't very sure just how much of a hassle it was to adopt but he knew he was willing to do it. All he knew was that he wanted Ty to be his family and for now that was enough. "I love you so much," he whispered when the kiss ended and he gently pressed his forehead against Ty's, allowing himself that moment. The guests had been patient while the pictures were being taken, they could be patient a little bit longer.
That low, possessive rumble did fun things to Ty’s stomach, even when it was already filled with happiness. The anxiety seemed to have completely melted away, now that they were through the ‘performance’ part of the whole process. Nothing was left but elation to be there and be freshly married to the man who was everything to him. “I love you too,” he whispered back. Ty held onto him for that quiet moment, eyes closed, just letting them breathe together and bask in all of this. Not even a month ago, he’d been locked in some interdimensional hell, sure he would die horribly there and never see Jared again, and now they were married and so stupidly happy. A deep part of him did worry a little that none of it was real, but he knew how irrational that was, so Ty didn’t let it surface. He just wanted to enjoy this. When it felt like time, Ty kissed Jared softly again and released his body to take his hand. “Come on, let’s get a drink and a dance,” he murmured, still smiling.
Jared was glad for those minutes they'd allowed themselves to linger because as it turned out, as soon as they returned to their guests, everyone wanted to talk to them. It made him happy of course, this day was about them and it filled him with both relief and happiness how much love his family was showing Ty. It could have gone so wrong, he wasn't just a man, he was a black man and while Jared didn't think of his family as racist, he knew that a lot of people were okay with black people only as long as they didn't get too close. That didn't seem to be the case here, unless everyone was just intensely good at faking it to avoid pissing him off. Ty got as many hugs as he did and even Ethan stepped up and gave him a squeeze and called him his brother in law. It made Jared's eyes get all misty again and he gave a little watery laugh when Ethan hugged him too, thinking he really should rehydrate soon at this rate.
It was all so overwhelming in the best sort of way. Ty got weepy again pretty fast as Jared’s family descended on them to issue hugs and love and congratulations. He didn’t think he’d ever hugged this many white people at a time, he thought with some amusement. He wasn’t really thinking of them that way at the moment, they were just Jared’s extended family and old friends, but all of that warmth was incredible to feel. When he finally found his mother in the crowd of congratulators, Ty grabbed hold of her and clung for a while to cry a bit into her sweet-smelling shoulder and tell her how much it meant to him that she was there. She cried too, they patted each other and missed his father out loud for a few moments, and when they finally let go, Ty felt a thousand pounds lighter. Which was really saying something, since he’d been near-floating for a lot of the day. Someone put a plastic champagne glass in his hand, and Ty downed it probably too quickly. There wasn’t a lot of alcohol there, it was still a public park, but Ty still got a refill pretty fast. He also shed his jacket, hanging it on the back of one of the seats that had been reserved for them, that their asses hadn’t touched yet. He was going to need to eat at some point, but there were so many people to talk to.
Jared felt like he hadn't talked this much at once in months and he probably hadn't if he was being realistic but it all felt dreamlike and one moment Ty was there and the next Jared caught his gaze from a few feet away. It was delightful chaos but he was happy to find his way back to him by the time he was sure he'd probably spoken to every person there - or at least attempted to. "I barely know my own name right now," he tittered as he caught Ty's hand and he hadn't missed the heartfelt moment between mother and son earlier. He wanted to say something about it but at the same time it felt right not to. He just hoped Ty could feel all the love radiating off of him and knew just how happy he was for him. "I'm so hungry, are you hungry?" he added and sounded far more amused by it than anything. At least he'd had some wine by now but he hadn't had a chance to sit down, let alone eat something.
Ty had been on the receiving end of so many introductions -- very few of which he thought he’d retained -- so he felt much the same as Jared did once they found each other again. Like his head was spinning in a good way. Everybody really was being incredibly warm and welcoming, and he did feel like he was a part of the family now. Even if he couldn’t keep many of them straight yet. “Yes,” he said with a laugh, squeezing Jared’s hand. “I’m fucking starving, let’s get some of this food.” It wasn’t a full three course meal by any means, but more food had shown up to this potluck than Ty could have dreamed, and there was a lot to choose from.
It felt good to finally sit down, and he got a few moments to rest and eat with his man before Ethan stood up and banged his fork on his glass to get everyone’s attention. His speech was very brotherly -- teasing but sweet, picking on Jared just enough to make everyone laugh before he gave them some heartfelt congratulations. A few other people gave toasts as well, including one from Ty’s auntie Detta that was just her lifting a glass to him and saying it was about damn time. It seemed like only a few minutes later that one of Jared’s cousins was calling them up to the cake table to cut it. Ty stood up with a little groan. On their way to the cake, he murmured to Jared, “Remember, you promised.”
Jared made a soft noise in his throat to indicate he wasn't too sure but then he gave Ty a smile that said he was kidding. They'd promised they wouldn't smash cake in each others' faces and agreed that this trending wedding theme was a little weird. Being reminded did bring up a little devil inside Jared that said he should do it anyway but he would reserve that mischief for sexy times later instead. "Mouth only," he promised and he was still hungry so wasting cake was the last thing on his mind at the moment. They took their time with cutting the cake, posing for their photographer and making the most of it but the promise was kept and there was no cake smashing. Jared had a feeling this disappointed some of his younger cousins but he didn't care. He was surprised to find the cake actually tasted good, a lot of cakes this decorated were more for show than taste and he felt stupidly grateful to his mother for setting this up.
It was a silly tradition, and it meant more direct focused attention on them, but it was still kind of fun, and the cake did taste really good. Caroline’s friend had done a great job. Everybody had. All of this was fucking amazing and he felt himself getting emotional all over again even as he wiped icing off of his lips. They got to eat their cake -- along with some more buffet food and wine -- and mingle some more and enjoy themselves. There wasn’t much of a dance floor per se, but eventually Ty found himself pulling Jared over where some people had been dancing. There was a sappy song playing, and while they hadn’t really planned for official everybody-watching dances, he did want to get one in with his new husband. Ty pulled him in close and slipped his arm around Jared, letting him lead, gazing up at him with a dreamy little smile. “I never wanna leave,” he murmured. “But at the same time I’m so ready to be in our hotel right now.”
"Same," Jared said softly and he knew already that this night was a memory in the making, something he'd look back on fondly for years to come. He wanted to remember everything about it, the way Ty looked, the way he felt in his arms, the chatter all around them and the hot summer night air on his skin. It was a moment he wanted to be able to step into completely, like a virtual reality or a dream because he too was starting to get tired and eager to leave and yet he didn't want to leave all this behind. "You know, we could sprawl out on the grass right over there and nobody would mind," he said with a little grin, happy to lead their slow little dance. It wasn't anything fancy but it felt good to sway with Ty's body in his arms.
Ty gave a soft laugh and glanced toward where their guests were all still chatting and eating and drinking. The party would have to disperse eventually anyway, it was well past dusk now and the park had to close at some point, but Ty wanted them to be gone before that happened. “They would probably mind what I want to do to you as soon as we get horizontal somewhere,” he replied with his own grin, pressing into Jared a little closer. “A grass-sprawl would just be a tease.” He nuzzled his nose against the side of Jared’s jaw and gave his hand a squeeze. Ty didn’t want to rush anything, he knew he was probably more tired than Jared with all these people around -- they were Jared’s family, and Ty had been so horribly isolated for a long time, being in a crowd felt weird -- but it was probably best to start aiming to leave soon. Extracting one’s self from these kinds of events took some time, especially if you were the focus.
Jared was ever so pleased they'd gotten a hotel for the next few nights. It had been practical, a couple of his relatives wanted to stay at his mother's house and it meant they could start their honeymoon somewhere more private. But he almost felt bad when Ty said what he said, letting out an apologetic little laugh. "You know, if I get horizontal with you, I reckon I'll pass out." He'd had high hopes for his first wedding night and in hindsight it felt a bit naive. That wedding reception had been bigger than this one and a little more formal with a bachelor and bachelorette party beforehand - the whole shebang. Today hadn't been quite as taxing but Jared was already tired. "If you're feeling super energetic then feel free to go to town, I'll just let you do all the work." He murmured and pressed a kiss on Ty's cheek, laughing again though this time it was at how awfully unromantic that sentiment was.
“Noooo,” Ty faux-whined with a little laugh. “We’re getting coffee on the way to the hotel.” He was tired too, weary in body and mind, but it was a good sort of tired, and wasn’t ready enough for this day to be over to just go to the hotel to sleep. Unless it was just a power nap to give them a little energy for each other. He wasn’t thinking about performing any feats of sexy athleticism or anything, but he couldn’t imagine going to sleep tonight without celebrating being married in a more intimate way. Ty wanted to make his husband come for the first time. He felt a tiny bit pouty now, like they should have scooted out earlier. Ty rested his forehead on the top of Jared’s shoulder and murmured, “I can do the work, just don’t fall asleep on me.”
"I'll bet you a blowjob you'll fall asleep before I do," Jared told him and it was so immature that he couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't too worried about it, if he fell asleep he'd pick up where he left off the moment he woke up and the idea of that half asleep fumbling around was actually kind of sweet to him. Then again anything would have felt sweet to him in the moment with the way Ty leaned on him and how perfect he felt in his arms. There was nothing physically new there but the suit but it felt different anyway, their vows and the magic in the air making it all the more perfect than usual. Jared rested his chin on top of Ty's head and hugged on him more tightly, his emotions bubbling up yet again in an almost overwhelming way.
Ty chuckled softly too, but he didn’t think it would end up true. He was tired, but he felt like he could stay up for hours yet, especially if there was nothing to do but lie around and stare at Jared. His beautiful, wonderful man whom he was now married to. It was such a surreal fact, he thought it would take a while to really sink in. Where it was resting on Jared’s back, Ty’s left hand moved a bit, his thumb rubbing over the smooth hardness of the ring on his finger. The tighter hold felt good, even as they kept swaying to the music, and he closed his eyes and tried to just be present and absorb the moment instead of thinking about what they’d be doing in a couple of hours. The present was more important -- he now knew it was all anyone ever really had.
As much as Jared felt like they were alone in the world for the duration of this song, he knew they weren't and that they needed to go play hosts for a little bit before they headed back to the hotel. He clung to the moment as long as it lasted, wishing that song was at least three times as long so he could lose himself in the dance that wasn't really much of a dance anymore, just swaying while holding each other. He pulled back and cupped Ty's face as the next song started, pressing a chaste but gentle kiss on his lips. "Time to make the rounds," he murmured and as much as he wished that would be a quick affair, he knew it wouldn't be.
Everyone had something to say, congratulations and thanks for the invitation, good luck wishes and compliments on a beautiful ceremony. Every one of them was heartfelt and beautiful but also a bit repetitive after a while though Jared didn't let it show. Ethan cracked some joke about how hard it was going to be for Ty to carry this big lug of a man bridal style over the threshold and Jared thought about just how nice it might be to actually carry Ty like that but he didn't really want to make any assumptions about traditions that might not work with a same sex marriage.
Saying goodbye to everyone was as much of a process as greeting everyone had been, but Ty smiled through it all and shook hands and gave hugs and said all the right things. He was feeling more weary by the time they’d gotten around to close family, and he was reluctantly thinking Jared might be right that their wedding night was going to be a sleepy one. He laughed a bit at Ethan’s joke as his new brother-in-law shuffled off, already hoping Jared didn’t try to sweep him off his feet when they got to the hotel room. He hadn’t minded being the ‘bride’ in some senses, but that one he wasn’t comfortable with. Plus he didn’t want Jared to throw his back out -- Ty was short only in comparison to the giant he’d married. Detta and Cindy looked ready to leave themselves as they approached to say goodbye, purses in hand, but the smile on his mother’s face did Ty a lot of good. He gave Cindy a warm and gentle hug, clinging again for a moment while Detta went to hug Jared. “You drive safe, you hear?” Cindy murmured as she patted Ty’s back. “And I’ll see you tomorrow at the barbecue.”
Jared nearly felt weepy all over again because this was such a huge thing, Cindy's approval. He knew she was probably forcing at least half of it but even that was huge, she was making an effort. It made him want to grab Ty and bounce around with him like overly excited children if not for how tired they both were - plus decorum and all that. When Detta let go of him, Cindy hugged him too and he clung to her for a moment, so infinitely grateful that she had come and that she was accepting of him. Her disapproval hadn't hurt their relationship but it had hurt Ty and kept Jared on edge whenever she came up in conversation. He knew just how important parents' opinions were, even when they were wrong, and while he hadn't expected her disapproval to break them up, it sure did inflict some tension. That tension seemed to seep away today and Jared smiled warmly at the old lady as he let her go. "Thank you for coming," he said, not for the first time tonight but by far with the most feeling.
“Thank you for having me,” she replied, sounding truly sincere about it herself. “I was glad to be here.” Cindy patted her new son-in-law’s arms and gave him a little smile. It wasn’t a completely relaxed expression, she still had her religious reservations about the sanctity of this marriage, but it was impossible to miss how happy and in love Ty was, or how kind and gracious Jared and his family were. They seemed like a good match, if one ignored the obvious. If only Jared had been born a woman. But the Lord had reminded Cindy very poignantly in recent months how precious and short life was, and ever since she’d gotten Ty back, she’d been trying to understand him more. That included trying to understand his love life, and it settled her a little to see that there was really love involved.
Seeing Jared hug his mother got Ty feeling all sorts of emotions too, and he was a little grateful when Caroline appeared to give her own round of hugs. He gave her an enthusiastic hug as he thanked her, and even lifted her up off her feet a bit, getting a laugh out of her that was positively girlish. Ty realized that he had two moms now, and both of them had been there, and it was all going to make him cry again, so he had to let Caroline go and get distracted by something over to his right so he could sniffle and swipe at his eyes. All of this love was really something to process after his recent ordeal.