Work Text:
June 26, 2016
Brian despised weddings on principle.
They were showy, they were dramatic, and they almost always ended in the betrothed resenting one another. Brian could always find a grievance for these sorts of “special occasions”, as well as a reason not to “save the date.”
Today was an exception to the rule.
“Come on, we’re gonna be late.”
Brian turned to see Michael’s head in the doorframe. The latter’s eyes were bright and more excited than Brian had ever seen them.
“Is there a particular reason why you’re so anxious to get there?” drawled Brian. “You do have an assigned position, after all.”
“And part of it includes making sure the biggest flight risk doesn’t disappear before the ceremony begins,” said Michael pointedly.
Brian briefly hesitated.
“I wouldn’t,” said Brian finally. “Not for this one.”
Michael beamed from ear-to-ear. Not for the first time, Brian wondered why Michael was still willing to be his friend after all these years.
“I know,” said Michael. “Now, come on!”
***
“Dearly beloved …”
The ceremony was as stereotypical as Brian had imagined. He briefly recalled the group’s trek to Canada and that production. The world was incredibly different then. Yet, in so many ways, the world had also remained utterly the same.
The couple at the front only had eyes for one another, but Brian supposed that was to be expected. For a while, no one was sure whether this day would come.
It had come down to one crucial vote.
“How can I get married when my own son can’t? And the goddamn president wants to change the Constitution to prevent Michael and Ben and all the other beautiful gay men and women from having the same rights that you and I do? It just doesn’t seem right.”
“That’s very noble, sweetheart, but you’re just one person.”
“Well, sometimes that’s all it takes. Look at Gandhi.”
“Until my son can walk down the aisle in this country, then neither will I.”
A year later, it was finally happening.
“Do you, Deborah Jane Novotny, take Carl Alan Horvath to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” said Debbie, a brilliant smile spread wide across her face.
Brian looked to his right and made direct eye contact with Justin. The latter had flown in late last night from New York. Now, the blond man offered Brian a slight smirk. Brian rolled his lips. They were both clearly having a similar thought.
If Debbie wasn’t before a priest, she would have likely responded, “Fuck yeah!”
“And do you, Carl Alan Horvath, take Deborah Jane Novotny to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“If he knows what’s good for him,” muttered Debbie, pulling scattered laughter from the guests.
That was more like it.
“I do,” said Carl through his own laughter.
“Then by the power invested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may –”
The couple didn’t wait for the ending. Debbie immediately pulled Carl down for a kiss, which led to a deafening round of applause and cheers from both sides of the crowd.
Despite his decades of insistence that marriage was a ridiculous institution, Brian found himself clapping along and looking at the other smiling guests. He looked at Justin and Jennifer, both of whom were wearing identical smiles. Directly behind them were Lindsay and Melanie, who were in from Canada for the week with Gus and Jenny Rebecca. At ages 15 and 12, they had more personality than ever. Brian still tried his best not to think about the fact that his son would be turning 16 at the end of the year.
In the same row as Lindsay and Melanie stood Ted and Blake and Emmett and Drew. Brian knew he would be avoiding Emmett during the reception at all costs. Not only had Emmett become Debbie and Carl’s out-of-control wedding planner, but he told anyone who listened about his amazing reunion with his oh-so-handsome “21-year-old boyfriend.”
Then there was Michael, who was standing up there beside his mother. Debbie had insisted he be her man-of-honor, and who was Michael to refuse? Next to Brian in the front row were Ben and Hunter, the latter of which at age 30 had achieved a fair amount of success as a musician.
As Debbie and Carl made their way down the aisle, Brian’s eyes drifted back to Justin. Brian would never admit it, but Michael was right all those years ago.
They would all survive.