WHO Bitty & Jack WHERE The Haus - their room WHEN Late tonight, Sept 6 WHAT Talk of the wedding and rambling nerves and fluff. STATUS Complete! WARNINGS None, this is tooth rotting fluff.
It was a quiet night at the Haus, not a single baked good in the oven and a documentary quiet on the tv in their bedroom. Everyone had gone their separate ways, easier now that they’d had a few days with more people here and the Haus had been moved into. Redecorating would have to wait until they were a little more flush in the pockets, so it was almost like being transported to college again. But it had been a home for all of them some way or another, and that helped.
At some point the documentary ended and was replaced by Say Yes to the Dress, but Bitty had his nose in his phone and Jack had his own in a book, settled close to each other. When he glanced up, he made a little noise at the atrocious wedding dress currently being chosen.
But it reminded him of their own inability to bring up their future. A month hadn’t even passed yet since Jack’s arrival, but given it had been the main thing on their minds for a little while before arriving here, it was a more abrupt change to shift into not bringing it up at all.
Jack was historically terrible at sitting on things as far as Bitty was concerned. He’d spent most of his life doing that very thing, and Bitty had been the person he could talk about anything with for the last several years. But he was also bad at actually approaching a topic with anything less than supreme awkwardness.
“Hard to believe that some people have been here for over a year, eh?” Smooth, Zimmermann.
Bitty was very aware that Say Yes to the Dress was on. Not because he was uninterested in the documentary that had been on previously, but the change in color contrast and upbeat voices from the television was enough to purposely keep his head down and his nose plugged into social media. All he wanted to do was talk about weddings, and now—now—the show was mocking him. He wanted the documentary back. He wanted to slouch further and further into the bed where Jack couldn't see his nose wrinkling with determination and stubbornness.
He did not miss the noise Jack made about the wedding dress, which meant Jack was watching, which meant that he might, probably, definitely was thinking the same thing Bitty was (and desperately trying not to): what about their wedding?
And further down into the bed Bitty went, he was nearly horizontal now, his face somewhere around Jack's elbow. So when Jack said something, Bitty had to turn his face up, way way up.
"I can't even imagine what that would be like! Did you know the DOA wasn't even created when some of the first people showed up? They had to do it all on their own. Goodness, they've come such a long way," Bitty said, turning on his side, pressing his cheek to Jack's forearm. "I don't know what we'd do if we were all here that long. It's an awfully long time to put your life on pause."
It took Jack far too long to notice Bitty melting into the bed even further, and by the time he did, Bitty was speaking and Jack was looking down instead of over.
Which wasn’t unusual, given their height difference, but it felt unusual right now. He squinted at his fiance in a comical sort of way, as if Jack was trying to figure him out. Also not unusual, since Jack usually was trying to figure Bitty out. It wasn’t always as easy as he thought it would be, no matter the face journey the blonde was on or not.
“It’s crazy, but how people adapt, right? Adjust your life to meet new needs.” Get married in a new place. He didn’t say that part, letting the thought just hang in the air as he set his book aside. “What’re you doing all the way down there, bud? It’s not even eleven yet.”
Bitty was putting on a good face, the one that was all smiles and pretending nothing was wrong. It was sort of the same look he gave Jack before his dad came to watch his Samwell game—when Jack told him he couldn't ignore the conversation he needed to have with his parents about them. Bringing up marriage should have been far more easier; loving Jack was easy, and being married to him was a no-brainer. But, oh goodness, there was a but.
"I'm getting comfortable! And I wanted to just—" Bitty slung an arm around Jack's waist and snuck a leg over Jack's. As if clinging explained why he was down here. He was stalling, just like his senior thesis, he was procrastinating.
His attention slid to the television, then back. Rip it off Bittle, just rip it off! "Is a wedding a need?" Bitty asked, although it sounded all wrong. The position he had just slid into was a waste because Bitty was extracting himself and sitting all the way up, he needed his hands free to speak. "It's a want, it definitely a want, but I don't know if it's a want you want here or if we're going to wait until we're back home, but if we're never back home are we going to wait? Then does it become a need that we have to adjust to? And—"
He cut himself off, because he'd never stop at this rate and he needed Jack to say something.
Jack was glad he’d already set his book aside, because he might’ve accidentally dropped it on Bitty’s head for that abrupt question. It was better than procrastinating the issue, since Jack had instantly recognized that look in Bitty’s eyes, the fear on his face, and the need to talk about something while being worried about exactly where it was going to go.
The first question hadn’t been the expected route, though, and Jack immediately looked concerned. He didn’t shy away as Bitty sat up, but he did let his eyebrows furrow into worried points. “Bits-” He needed a second to register all of that, and closed his eyes to take a breath. “I’d marry you tomorrow if you wanted to. I know without our parents or the rest of our friends here, it’s not the same, but--” But nothing, as that was really the only thing stopping Jack from just dragging him to a courthouse.
Well, that and he knew that Bitty had a lot of plans for a wedding, and Jack wanted to fulfill each and every one as much as he could. “But I don’t want this to be something you stress out over.” Jack hated having something hanging over in a what-if sort of way, but he hated Bitty being under duress even more.
Could a person melt? Was it physically possible for Bitty to? I'd marry you tomorrow caused all of Bitty's insides to go soft and his heart to warm and his chest to feel tight with happiness. He took the moment in between one sentence and the other to kiss Jack, because his fiance was truly the most amazing human being he knew, and now that Bitty knew there were other worlds, this was the greatest compliment anyone could receive.
Bitty took a deep breath, the kind that was grounding and centering, the same type he took before he stepped out onto the ice before a game. "I'm trying to think positively and be optimistic about all of this! When I thought about our wedding, I never imagined it without my mama there. Or how sad it would be not to see your parents dance with you. Or goodness, seeing all the Waffles dressed to the nines—"
He was tearing up, and it felt so silly, so Bitty waved away the emotion. "But I know we don't need all that. Getting married doesn't need to be about all the flowers and ceremony and having an audience. It's just you and me, you know?" Bitty said, sitting back on his heels. "I don't want to put my life on pause here, with you, sweetheart."
And in a quieter voice, Bitty added, "We'll just have to plan a second ceremony when we go back."
Okay. That was better, even if it involved Bitty tearing up, and causing Jack to reach up and brush away any wetness that might fall. He leaned in for another kiss, a sweet and light one that he savored, much like their first. After, he let his forehead rest against Bitty’s. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, big wedding or not. I also want you to be happy with the choice we make.”
Jack had appreciated how supportive all of their parents had become, especially over the last year. With Coach and Suzanne finding out, and leaning into treating him like a son, not just a famous Hockey Player, and his parents that had been a solid wall behind the choices he made - he wanted them there, but was solid in knowing their approval now, and that they would have all been happy, regardless.
Well, Suzanne might question an alternate-world-quickie-wedding, but at least it wasn’t just to sleep in the same room at their house, which had been an early suggestion of Jack’s. He finally laughed a little, at the thought process and absurdity of it. “We’re pretty broke, though. So it’s okay if we wait a little while, see if other people show up, maybe soft plan something for early next year?”
Bitty was also grateful that Jack put his book down because he was climbing into his lap, wrapping himself around him for much needed closeness. Even though it was a small question about marriage—here or home?—it had caused a large amount of grief for Bitty, and by Jack's reaction to the conversation? Probably him too. He pushed his hair out of his face, not because it was in the way but because it was a comforting gesture to do.
"Sweetheart, I'm happy. Being married to you is the most important thing."
Everything else was frills. Details. And it's not like they couldn't do it again for everyone else. But they could do it here with who was. And when they went back, they would have this special secret that they were already married. Less nerves the second time around. Especially because Bitty knew his mama would be a ball of stress and it would have been a mirror facing a mirror, reflecting all of it back and forth. Oh, Jack would be miserable with that many Bittles circling.
He bumped his nose against Jack's, that soft laugh of his making Bitty smile so wide. "Somehow we've managed to have a spring wedding now since we’re waiting a little. You know that is going to change the color scheme of everything we've already planned?" Bitty said, looking up and away in a playful, nonchalant way. "Blue might be nice."
It was an easy, normal thing to settle his hand on Bitty’s waist as suddenly he had a lapful, and Jack laughed quietly. “Two weddings, okay.” He really was good with it, looking at his fiance with a lot of affection in his gaze, even as the little shit was talking about the color scheme, Jack was clearly enamored.
Playfully annoyed as well, but enamored. He reached up to tickle Bittle’s sides lightly, laughing now. “Oh, now you say blue might be nice for a color scheme. Why don’t we just go the full way and have the wedding on the ice?” That suggestion was definitely a joke, after Tater had been pushing them to get married on the spot when they won the cup next year. Jack had laughed it off, since that sort of hope was just asking to get bad luck all around and the superstitions would always win out.
But he could definitely torment Bitty about it. That was fun.
Bitty was weak. The first press of Jack's fingers to his side and he was twisting up, trying to save himself from the inevitable laughing fit—being ticklish was an understatement for Bitty, and Jack absolutely knew it.
"It's a different time of year, honey!" Bitty tried to explain, his hands going for Jack's sides in retaliation, and failing miserably. He was going to lose this match, but it was one he was fully willing to admit defeat to. "Blue in the fall is just obscene! And I'm trying to be more accommodating to your wants for this, but I was definitely right with sticking to the Samwell red."
He was so caught up in being right about his previous wedding planning decisions that Bitty nearly missed the second part of what Jack said. Bitty's whole face scrunched up—he was horrible about hiding his emotions when it came to things he felt very strongly about. Getting married on the ice was one of those opinions.
"Jack Zimmermann!" Bitty sounded thoroughly put out, but it only took a moment to realize that Jack was messing with him. Bitty's eyes narrowed, a challenge. "Why don't we just wear our jerseys and full gear too? No need to see y'all in tuxedos when we have perfectly fine away uniforms."
Jack was laughing now, a full thing, even if Bitty wasn’t able to tickle him back, it was infectious and joyful for both of them. Okay, maybe it was more joyful for Jack, who got to watch Bittle’s face scrunch up adorably as he got upset over the suggestions put forward. He didn’t want to get married on the ice - he knew that Bitty didn’t want to get married on the ice.
But now it was out there, and now he’d have to play Wedding Chicken in order to see this through.
“We’d have to mix and match uniforms,” Jack mused, grinning a fool’s grin at the idea. Blue and red. “My Falcon’s gear, the stuff that’s stored at Faber… I’ll tell Shitty he can save money on a rental.”
Putting them in this kind of position, with Bitty on his lap and hands holding him steady while also tickling, Jack was able to quickly flip them on the small bed, giving him leverage to hover over the blonde as Bitty was dropped down to the bed. Jack was still grinning, “Maybe not, eh? I already go a little crazy seeing you in my jersey.”
"You absolutely will not tell Shitty he can—" Bitty was interrupted, despite his hand raised with a single index finger about to lay down the law. Jack was flipping their positions, and while it didn't knock the wind out of him, it was a quick way to quiet Bitty. His eyes were wide, searching over Jack's face. He liked this carefree version of his fiance, who was laughing and joking, and being very forthcoming about what he liked.
Bitty rolled his lower lip through his teeth, before coming to a decision, and he looked up and away. Again, with his false demure expression. "Maybe I want to wear your jersey, now. You've put the idea in my head, honey, and I just don't know why we haven't thought about it before." Oh no, he couldn't keep it a straight face, and Bitty turned his cheek into the pillow trying to hide the smile.
He was very bad at this game. And there, there—an idea hit him. Always inconveniently with Jack hovering over top of him.
"What if we planned it together? Not just you and me, but everyone that's here. Shitty, and Lardo, and Nursey. They're our family here, and if it's for us..." Bitty was willing to let go of some control over the wedding if it meant everyone got a say. Like a team. He might have to fight people about wearing jerseys but they would get there when they got there.
“You’re a menace,” Jack growled in return, his accent morphing just a little more french, the Québecois threatening to make it’s way out. Jack himself was bad at this game, easily distracted by everything Bitty did and positive he didn’t want any of these hockey things for part of his wedding. Except maybe the custom cake topper they had planned, that was still a must.
“Let’s save the jersey for the honeymoon,” the suggestion was casual and light, but even as Jack hovered, it was anything but in his brain, the rawness threatening to choke him if he let it take hold.
He did one pushup down, just to kiss Bitty, before settling off to his side and wedged against the wall. He knew they would end up upgrading as soon as they could, but Jack had always liked this bed, the close proximity and excuse it gave him to snuggle Bitty even closer at night. Now was no exception. “Yeah? It’s got potential for disaster, but could be fun. We’ll have to make a list of wedding bylaws.”
Bitty chased after the kiss, his eyes closed and his head lifting off the pillow. He mourned the loss of Jack above him. But lying next to him was an appropriate replacement. The moment Jack was on his side, Bitty was inching into his space to meet him. Magnetized, unable to more than three feet apart. In bed, no more than three inches, it seemed. Bitty tucked himself against Jack, as if this was always where he fit.
This close, it took no effort for Bitty to press his lips sweetly over Jack's heart. Bitty was a hopeful romantic when it came to his fiancé, and in the privacy of their bedroom, moreso. Being supportive of Bitty's late-night, half-formed ideas was just one of the many ways Jack Zimmermann was perfect. He loved this man so much.
"No carnations," Bitty said, into Jack's chest. "Beyoncé must be played. The custom cake topper is non-negotiable. Color coordination is non-negotiable, but color scheme is. I'm making our cake. Do you think that's a good start, sweetheart? If we're making bylaws I want everyone to know we mean business."
His legs tangled back up with Jack's, becoming less like two separate people and more like one entity. "Do you want to keep watching Say Yes to the Dress?"
It was easy to wrap an arm around Bitty, to pull him in even closer as his fiance slotted against him as if they were just meant to be like this. It was the perfect formation for a head to be tucked under his chin and Jack’s hand hitting just that perfect spot to stroke down Bitty’s back. Moments like this were some of his favorites with Bitty, where the quiet settled and everything just felt right.
“Hmm,” He laughed at the carnations rule, not having got that until Shitty had previously told him they belonged only at funerals. It’d been one of his early wedding panic texted, not much different than the one just recently, here. “I can agree to all of that, I think. We can get together a little wedding planning board for the Haus.”
He didn’t want to keep watching Say Yes to the Dress, not now that he had Bitty in his arms and his hand was getting to wander in more interesting areas, he had better ideas. Jack hummed, “Not really. Do you?”
"We can get a board, which I know Lardo is just gonna love, organization is key, but I can just make our Pinterest board shareable with everyone," Bitty said, then went a little pink in the cheeks. Okay, so he maybe had been secretly compiling new and old wedding ideas while he was arguably not talking about the wedding with Jack.
But now that it was more or less decided—here in Vallo, something small, something for them, to make everything official and tie them over until they could go home and celebrate with family—Bitty could admit what he'd been up to.
Bitty kissed his jaw, content and happy, and unfairly letting his mind wander to Jack's roaming hands and their impossible proximity. He shook his head, and placed another kiss against Jack's throat, more purposeful. "Good Lord, no. Heather should have picked the empire waist gown, but her sister pushed for the mermaid one and it was too much for her wedding. And I obviously can't tell her because it's a show, and already recorded, and—" Bitty scooted up so that he was face to face with Jack.
"I have more interesting things that have my attention, Mr. Zimmermann."
Jack was distracted now, but still half hanging onto everything Bitty said. Or, at least, trying. He didn’t get Pinterest, but made an agreeable noise as he leaned into Bitty’s neck, nuzzling it. “Organization, pinzest, empire waists, mmhmm.” If quizzed, he might’ve failed horribly, but Jack had it where it counted, and that was a hand pulling Bitty a little closer.
“I’d ask if you’re sure, but I’m too distracted right now,” he joked, a half-cocked grin blossomed as Bitty used his last name. It was one of those dopey lovesick grins that he got only around Bitty, and had crept onto his face more often than not these days.
“That’s going to be Mr. Bittle-Zimmermann to you.” There was a lot he missed and felt empty without, but when he had the love of his life so close, he could stick to dopey grins and lovesick looks, and cheesy pickups right before diving in for a kiss.