Chapter Text
“I can't go out there,” Boyd whispered, somehow able to face down all the horrors of being a werewolf with stoic grace, but completely undone by thirty people waiting to watch him get married. “I can’t. We should have eloped. These vows are stupid. I’m gonna throw up on her dress. What was I thinking?” Boyd asked no one, especially not Stiles. He was definitely talking to himself, but Stiles was the one who had to respond.
“I’ll make this easy on you Boyd. If you don't pull your shit together in the next five seconds, I’m gonna go tell Laura,” Stiles threatened.
“You wouldn’t,” Boyd asked, suddenly wide eyed and paying very close attention to Stiles for the first time since he came into the room to let Boyd know it was almost time to go.
“Oh, I would, and I’d help her track your ass down. I’m a hardcore feminist now as a simple matter of survival, but it would be a shame to watch you get your ass handed to you by a woman you could use as an armrest.”
“You’re an asshole,” Boyd said because he could tell how serious Stiles was.
“Sometimes you have to count on family to make the hard choices for you big guy,” Stiles said as he smoothed Boyd’s tuxedo lapels and pulled up his collar where he kept stretching it out. “Also, I know for a fact the second you see Erica you won't give a fuck about anything else. It’ll be all about her and you’ll actually enjoy yourself,” he promised.
“You think so?” Boyd asked hopefully.
“I know so. I am wise beyond my years.”
“Sometimes," Boyd admitted, somewhat skeptically.”
Stiles didn't expect the compliment. Before he could say thank you Boyd slipped out the door. Stiles almost panicked, but he realized the music had started. Boyd was queuing up to walk to the altar, so he followed. Stiles lined up to walk with Derek down the aisle behind Scott and Allison. Laura and Jackson followed behind them. It was impossible to split them up by loyalties. Stiles suspected he ended up Boyd’s best man by a coin flip or maybe an aggressive game of rock paper scissors. Laura tugged on his shoulder and he turned to hug her, telling her how beautiful she was. She pointed to a tall blonde guy and smiled. Stiles sized up the deputy, surprised he'd never noticed Parrish before, but pleased by how fixated he seemed to be on Laura.
It surprised him when she said she was coming to the wedding with a date. Stiles didn't think Laura actually dated, or dated guys for that matter, but she seemed to actually like Deputy Parrish, and he certainly liked her. It disturbed him that his dad had set them up, but he decided to meddling in their relationship. They both tended to piss him off when they started talking to each other. They had wild ideas about authority Stiles figured it was best to stay far away from because he was never going to really understand where either of them were coming from.
As he lined up behind Boyd, Scott punched his arm playfully, then high fived Laura as she took her place next to Stiles. She whispered to Scott, telling him to calm down while they were in front of the crowd, but Scott snorted in response and Laura laughed, ruining any authority she imagined she had over him. By contrast, Allison, Derek, and Jackson stood quietly on the other side of the altar, waiting for Erica patiently. One of the wolves howled, a long low mournful sound when the wedding march started. Stiles cringed at the irony, but Erica smiled as she came around the corner with Chris. Grinning like she was delighted at the recognition. It was more likely the wolves didn't like the amplified bass from the speakers, or they liked it too much. When the second and third wolf chimed in, he recalled saying it was a bad idea to use the field next to the sanctuary for the party, but Erica had insisted it was all she wanted in the whole world.
“Quiet!” Laura hissed loudly, startling a few of the guests.
The wolves stopped immediately. Laura turned to Stiles and smiled sweetly, trying to play off the interaction like it was a joke. The only person laughing was Allison, then Scott, but only because Allison was trying to stifle her laugh and Scott thought it was cute. Thankfully, Allison stopped when Erica started walking down the aisle. Stiles imagined it was a little more personal for Allison, seeing Chris walk with Erica. She stopped at the end and gave Allison a hug, letting her fuss over her hair and flowers a little before she turned to the altar. Chris wasn't giving her away, Erica was clear about that when she proposed the idea. She said he was her insurance against changing her mind at the last minute and running off. It made Chris laugh, but he wasn't laughing now. Chris kissed her cheek and sat down next to Victoria, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. The whole thing was sickeningly sweet, enough to make Allison sob outright, but Derek was quick to hand her his handkerchief.
The last minute changes almost ruined Erica, but after the patronizing, grizzly old man that called himself the Justice of the Peace showed up to their meeting drunk, Jackson volunteered Lydia’s mom as officiate. As Natalie Martin spoke clear, beautiful, encouraging words, specifically tailored for Erica and Boyd, Stiles smiled, thankful Erica had agreed. Natalie gave Boyd the floor first to recite his vows. All his nervousness was gone like Stiles promised. Erica couldn't wait for Natalie to give her the go ahead. She made everyone laugh as she apologized to Natalie for interrupting her. Stiles noticed Erica’s hands shaking as she slipped the ring on Boyd’s finger, but forgot about it as soon as Derek caught his eye.
He stood behind Allison, tall and perfect, with his shiny hair and expertly trimmed stubble. He was always handsome, but at that moment he was devastating. Stiles tuned everyone else out, watching Derek as he listened to Erica speak. Derek was so transfixed by the words and the ceremony he didn't notice he was being watched, but that was fine, it was perfect. Stiles rarely had a chance to see Derek when he wasn't aware of being observed. His eyes went glassy, filling with tears as he reacted with raw, unfiltered emotion. Stiles tuned in to the words, listening to what moved Derek so profoundly. Erica talked about new hope, family, and future. Things that were incredibly important to both Boyd and Erica.
If Erica had her way there would be babies soon, lots of them. The reality of it hit Stiles like a sledge hammer. Tiny, screaming, stinky, adorable babies. It was almost enough to drag his attention away from the long shiny trails scorching their way down Derek’s cheeks. Stiles had a lot to live up to, maybe a big future Derek hadn't even started talking about. He was thankful he would get a front row view from Boyd and Erica first. It wasn't long ago neither he or Derek felt like they even had a future. They didn't want one, but now the possibilities were endless, and a little too real sometimes. It helped remembering the stories his mom told him about how much she wanted him. How she thought they had to work to hard and wait too long to conceive him, if anyone could call that hard work. Stiles was planned and wanted by his mom when she was the same age as he was. She married a man years older than her because that was the kind of life they both wanted. Although it took his dad until he was almost thirty to figure that out.
A quiet, domestic life wasn't exactly what Stiles wanted, not yet, but he could feel it coming. He wanted art and freedom for a while longer, but all of it loomed in his future like a promise he couldn't wait to reach out and grab once he was more sure of himself. Watching Derek wipe his face, unashamed of how moved he was, made Stiles proud. He waited impatiently as Natalie finished, smiling over at Derek as Boyd led Erica away, allowing him to finally get his hands on Derek. He stopped the procession to kiss him, quickly but passionately.
“Go!” Laura whispered, pushing at his shoulder. Stiles turned and glared at her, then Derek kissed him again. It was almost an act of defiance, if it wasn't so sweet. "I swear to god Derek, everyone is watching you and--"
"And you love us?" Stiles asked. Jackson choked out a laugh, his eyebrows raised like he was surprised Stiles was breaking the rules. He shoved Derek at the same time Laura pushed his shoulder again, forcing him to take a step forward. "They love us," Stiles stated resolutely.
"With all my heart," Laura said sarcastically, but she wasn't lying.