Life After College
folder
Drama › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
4,051
Reviews:
86
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Drama › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
4,051
Reviews:
86
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 26
I\'m sorry. I couldn\'t wait for you guys to read this chapter on the wedding. I didn\'t know it was that hard to find info on gay weddings! Wow!
Disclaimer: The story, as you know, is mine. BUT, there are some things in this chapter that do not belong to me, so here I go.......
-pretty much everything the preacher said came from gaylib.com
-the vows (except the betrothal vows- that was mine) may sound familiar if you watch Beverly Hills 90210. It was David Green and Donna Martin\'s wedding vows. They came from ultimateweddings.com
-the poem came from blissweddings.com
-Bernie\'s toast came from momentsofpride.com
There is one more I need to site, but if I tell you now, it will spoil the surprise. I\'ll put it at the end.
Enjoy,
Scribbles05
Chapter 26
Andrew’s POV....
I met Dicky at the entranceway to the sanctuary. The music was playing and the people were told to stand to their feet. Sofia and Damon walked down together first.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” Dicky said to me, before he leaned in for a kiss. I covered his lips with my hand.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You know the rules.”
Instead, he smiled and kissed my palm. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When it was my turn to go, I walked down the aisle. I looked to the left and saw Francis quickly wipe the tears from his eyes, while his lover, Bernie, held a tissue over his mouth and let his tears roll freely from his red eyes. When I passed him, I heard him choke back a sob. I talked with Bernie a few hours before at my house, and he told me they were in the midst of adopting a child of their own. We were both a bunch of crying, blubbering, queens.
To my right, I saw the people I wanted to see at my first wedding 15 years ago; my parents. They looked genuinely happy for me. My mother was crying, my father was rubbing her back and with a smile, waved to me with his free hand. Smiling, I waved back.
Officer Jones even came in his suit, along with Dicky’s sisters, Diana and Christina. Changes had been made to their families as well. Diana and Paul had two children over the years, Greg, now 14 and Violet, 12. Christina married a guy named Jay Hunt eight years ago and now had a seven year old daughter, Brittany, who was being held up so she could see by her brother Nathan, now 21. They all had big smiles on their faces.
When I reached the alter where the kids were standing on opposite ends, I watched Damon and Sofia exchange facial expressions to each other. I rolled my eyes as I went up the three steps and stood next to Sofia. Dicky followed up shortly after. He was beautiful. And I’m not saying he was beautiful at that moment -though he WAS- I’m talking about Dicky, the person. He has been my rock for 15 years -19 if you count during school- sitting with me and letting me cry on his shoulder, listening to me whine about this and that, surprising me with gifts when I felt down, even staying with my sorry ass when I cheated on him. You can’t find many guys that will stay with you and love you through all that. Gay or straight. I love him SO much and I just pray that I will make myself worthy of him in the next years to come.
The ceremony finally started and after a few minutes, it came time for the vows. We had both written our own, so Dicky pulled his folded piece of paper out his jacket pocket. When he looked up at me, his eyes were quivering with unshed tears and I knew he was fighting to keep them back. “When was it that I fell in love with you, when we were juniors and I had actually professed my love, or maybe it was when we were freshman and I had first laid eyes on you and your beautiful presence for the first time? I don\'t know \'cause the truth is I can\'t picture a time that I wasn\'t in love with you.” Dicky choked back a sob. I looked at his hands and the paper was shaking. When I looked towards his face again, the tears he had tried to hold back were falling freely. Unable to control myself, I reached for his face and wiped his cheek with a tissue I had saved in my pocket for myself. “I always knew you were the one that could look into my eyes and see my soul.” He sniffled. “I don\'t question your commitment to us and I know there\'s nothing we can\'t work through. And I accept you as my partner and as my best friend above all others. It\'s a miracle to find the kind of peace and happiness that you\'ve given me through all these years, and in honor of that miracle, I pledge before our family and friends to continue to love and cherish you forever.”
I had to smile a bit to keep my tears back. Sofia tapped me on my shoulder and handed me a tissue. I smiled and thanked her, then cleared my throat as I prepared to say the vows I had practiced over and over in my head. “I look at you and I see my best friend, your energy and your passion inspire me in ways I never thought possible. Your inner beauty, is so strong, that I know longer fear being who I am. I know longer FEAR at all.” Tears started to fall from my eyes. “I never thought I could find someone, that I could love, that would love me back unconditionally. You are my soulmate. You give me purpose when I feel I have none. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete.” My voice became shaky. “I thank god everyday that you were brought into my life, and I thank you for loving me.” There were a few sobs and sniffles heard from the audience as they watched and listened.
Next came the betrothal vows. The preacher spoke. “Richard Douglas Taylor, do take Andrew again to be your mate, to love and honor and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?”
Dicky looked at me and smiled. “I do.”
“Andrew Alonso Payne, do you take Richard again to be your mate, to love and honor and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Could I have the rings please?” Dicky and I both gave him the rings. The man placed them in the palm of his hand. “These rings are the symbol of the vows taken, a circle of wholeness; the perfect form. These rings mark the continuum of a long journey together filled with wonder, surprises, tears, laughter, celebrations, grief and joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and the life which flow through the wearers today.” He gave Dicky my ring, and after reciting, “I give you this ring as I give you my love and faithfulness.”, he slipped the gold diamond encrusted band over my finger. When it was my turn, I gave him a gold ring with two rows of diamonds going around the edges. I didn’t quite like what I saw at the jewelry stores and had his made instead. “Now, for the part you two have been waiting for.” We laughed. “By the power invested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you life partners, again. You may now seal your union.”
He didn’t have to tell us twice. Pulling Dicky close to me by the back of his neck, I planted one on him. He caught me off-guard, because he slipped his tongue in my mouth before I knew it. I wrapped my arms around him as the kiss lingered and Dicky wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off my feet. I could hear clapping and laughter as the music started to play again.
When we finally split apart, Sofia and Damon walked back out together and Dicky and I followed behind. We all only spent a few minutes talking before the four of us got in our black Cadillac stretch limo and drove to our reception.
The reception was held at a fancy hotel’s party room in Long Beach. The large room was colored a cream color with white trim, white marble columns, and floor- to -ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful beach outside. In the center of the ceiling, was a hand-painted domed ceiling of angels, white clouds, and baby blue sky for the background. Circular tables were placed on one end of the room. Each was decorated with cream tablecloths with a printed gold one underneath, beautiful plates, saucers, and water and wine glasses were placed on top with a slender crystal glass vase in the center with yellow roses in them. Beside the vase, would be a small disposable camera with a poem attached to it:
A camera placed upon each table,
So every guest will be able,
To take pictures so we can see,
All our friends and family.
Now pick it up and snap away,
To celebrate this special day.
And when you’re through, all photos shot,
Just leave it here, and THANKS A LOT!
In front of all the tables, sat the head table. It was rectangular and was decorated in much the same way as the others. That’s where Dicky, Damon, Sofia, and myself were seated.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.....” The guests kept saying while clinging their silverware against their glasses, while Dicky and I kissed.
“Hey, hey, hey.” I heard Bernie stand up and say. He had his glass in his hands. “I’d like to propose a toast. Please raise your glasses in honor of Andrew and Richard. For those of you not wearing deodorant, and you know who you are.....and so do we,” People laughed. “.....please only raise them to shoulder height. How do we honor two extraordinary people who have been married 15 years? Granted, God has blessed them with an amazing, brilliant and devastatingly handsome best friend like me...” More laughter. “But he has blessed them with an undying love that will never dwindle away. So, with that said, congratulations my friends and we love you. Salute.” Everyone raised their glasses. We were all served champagne in our glasses, but I -along with the children- settled with white grape juice. Ever since the incident in New York, I had given up drinking. I mean, cold turkey.
“Dad, Daddy,” Damon said to us nervously. He stood next to us with some young fellow with spiked blonde hair and black suit. “This is Angel Michaels........my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” I asked, shocked.
“Yeah.” I started to smile.
Dicky stood up and hugged Damon. “Welcome to the club, son.” Damon laughed.
“You’re, you’re not mad?”
“Mad?” I said. “Why would we be mad, Damon? Have you seen our relationship lately? We’re not very conventional either.” I stood up and hugged him. “Don’t be afraid to come to us about anything, okay?”
“Okay.”
“All right.” I looked at Angel. Quite cute. I extended my hand. “Hello, Angel Michaels. I’m one of Damon’s fathers, Andrew. This is the other one, Richard.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you two.”
“Likewise.” Dicky said.
************
I looked to find out where Damon was and found him in the far corner of the room, with Angel. It unnerved me how this guy has distanced him away from mingling with his family, but I’m not going to say anything about it. Besides, I have something else I need to do.
I removed my jacket and stood from my chair. “Where are you going?” Dicky asked me. I just wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
“Pay attention, because I will only do this one last time.”
“DO what?”
I walked past all the tables to the other side of the room where the dance floor was and the live band was playing music on the little stage. The guys already knew what I was going to do, so the piano player got up from his seat. I sat down in front of the black baby grand piano and stared at it for a moment. *How long has it been since I touched one of these?* I thought. I never thought I would do this ever again after Asa died, but here I was, doing this solely for the man I love.
Tapping the keys a few times to find the right key for me, I finally set my fingers. I didn’t know the room got quiet until I gestured to the other band players to start playing. *Here goes nothing.*
Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn\'t stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can\'t get near you now
Oh, can\'t you see it baby
You\'ve got me goin\' crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I\'m with you
I\'ll take the chance
Oh, can\'t you see it baby
You\'ve got me goin\' crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you
I pulled my fingers back from the keys once everyone started clapping and cheering and whistling. My mother was in tears and my father was probably whistling the loudest of them all. I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought I’d never touch a microphone and piano again. “I love you, Dicky.” I said into the mic. I looked at him and saw him sitting there with his elbows on the table and his hands balled up in front of his mouth. His eyes were watery and few tears rolled down his face.
Dicky got up from his seat and met me in the middle of the dance floor. With a kiss, he hugged me close and whispered in my ear. “Gracias.”
“De nada.”
TBC.......
Did you like it?! I hope you did. R&R. By the way, for those of you who don\'t know what de nada is, it\'s spanish for \"you\'re welcome\".
Disclaimer:
Song from Richard Marx (\"Right here waiting\") --I\'m a fan of 80\'s music.
Disclaimer: The story, as you know, is mine. BUT, there are some things in this chapter that do not belong to me, so here I go.......
-pretty much everything the preacher said came from gaylib.com
-the vows (except the betrothal vows- that was mine) may sound familiar if you watch Beverly Hills 90210. It was David Green and Donna Martin\'s wedding vows. They came from ultimateweddings.com
-the poem came from blissweddings.com
-Bernie\'s toast came from momentsofpride.com
There is one more I need to site, but if I tell you now, it will spoil the surprise. I\'ll put it at the end.
Enjoy,
Scribbles05
Chapter 26
Andrew’s POV....
I met Dicky at the entranceway to the sanctuary. The music was playing and the people were told to stand to their feet. Sofia and Damon walked down together first.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” Dicky said to me, before he leaned in for a kiss. I covered his lips with my hand.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You know the rules.”
Instead, he smiled and kissed my palm. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When it was my turn to go, I walked down the aisle. I looked to the left and saw Francis quickly wipe the tears from his eyes, while his lover, Bernie, held a tissue over his mouth and let his tears roll freely from his red eyes. When I passed him, I heard him choke back a sob. I talked with Bernie a few hours before at my house, and he told me they were in the midst of adopting a child of their own. We were both a bunch of crying, blubbering, queens.
To my right, I saw the people I wanted to see at my first wedding 15 years ago; my parents. They looked genuinely happy for me. My mother was crying, my father was rubbing her back and with a smile, waved to me with his free hand. Smiling, I waved back.
Officer Jones even came in his suit, along with Dicky’s sisters, Diana and Christina. Changes had been made to their families as well. Diana and Paul had two children over the years, Greg, now 14 and Violet, 12. Christina married a guy named Jay Hunt eight years ago and now had a seven year old daughter, Brittany, who was being held up so she could see by her brother Nathan, now 21. They all had big smiles on their faces.
When I reached the alter where the kids were standing on opposite ends, I watched Damon and Sofia exchange facial expressions to each other. I rolled my eyes as I went up the three steps and stood next to Sofia. Dicky followed up shortly after. He was beautiful. And I’m not saying he was beautiful at that moment -though he WAS- I’m talking about Dicky, the person. He has been my rock for 15 years -19 if you count during school- sitting with me and letting me cry on his shoulder, listening to me whine about this and that, surprising me with gifts when I felt down, even staying with my sorry ass when I cheated on him. You can’t find many guys that will stay with you and love you through all that. Gay or straight. I love him SO much and I just pray that I will make myself worthy of him in the next years to come.
The ceremony finally started and after a few minutes, it came time for the vows. We had both written our own, so Dicky pulled his folded piece of paper out his jacket pocket. When he looked up at me, his eyes were quivering with unshed tears and I knew he was fighting to keep them back. “When was it that I fell in love with you, when we were juniors and I had actually professed my love, or maybe it was when we were freshman and I had first laid eyes on you and your beautiful presence for the first time? I don\'t know \'cause the truth is I can\'t picture a time that I wasn\'t in love with you.” Dicky choked back a sob. I looked at his hands and the paper was shaking. When I looked towards his face again, the tears he had tried to hold back were falling freely. Unable to control myself, I reached for his face and wiped his cheek with a tissue I had saved in my pocket for myself. “I always knew you were the one that could look into my eyes and see my soul.” He sniffled. “I don\'t question your commitment to us and I know there\'s nothing we can\'t work through. And I accept you as my partner and as my best friend above all others. It\'s a miracle to find the kind of peace and happiness that you\'ve given me through all these years, and in honor of that miracle, I pledge before our family and friends to continue to love and cherish you forever.”
I had to smile a bit to keep my tears back. Sofia tapped me on my shoulder and handed me a tissue. I smiled and thanked her, then cleared my throat as I prepared to say the vows I had practiced over and over in my head. “I look at you and I see my best friend, your energy and your passion inspire me in ways I never thought possible. Your inner beauty, is so strong, that I know longer fear being who I am. I know longer FEAR at all.” Tears started to fall from my eyes. “I never thought I could find someone, that I could love, that would love me back unconditionally. You are my soulmate. You give me purpose when I feel I have none. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete.” My voice became shaky. “I thank god everyday that you were brought into my life, and I thank you for loving me.” There were a few sobs and sniffles heard from the audience as they watched and listened.
Next came the betrothal vows. The preacher spoke. “Richard Douglas Taylor, do take Andrew again to be your mate, to love and honor and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?”
Dicky looked at me and smiled. “I do.”
“Andrew Alonso Payne, do you take Richard again to be your mate, to love and honor and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Could I have the rings please?” Dicky and I both gave him the rings. The man placed them in the palm of his hand. “These rings are the symbol of the vows taken, a circle of wholeness; the perfect form. These rings mark the continuum of a long journey together filled with wonder, surprises, tears, laughter, celebrations, grief and joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and the life which flow through the wearers today.” He gave Dicky my ring, and after reciting, “I give you this ring as I give you my love and faithfulness.”, he slipped the gold diamond encrusted band over my finger. When it was my turn, I gave him a gold ring with two rows of diamonds going around the edges. I didn’t quite like what I saw at the jewelry stores and had his made instead. “Now, for the part you two have been waiting for.” We laughed. “By the power invested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you life partners, again. You may now seal your union.”
He didn’t have to tell us twice. Pulling Dicky close to me by the back of his neck, I planted one on him. He caught me off-guard, because he slipped his tongue in my mouth before I knew it. I wrapped my arms around him as the kiss lingered and Dicky wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off my feet. I could hear clapping and laughter as the music started to play again.
When we finally split apart, Sofia and Damon walked back out together and Dicky and I followed behind. We all only spent a few minutes talking before the four of us got in our black Cadillac stretch limo and drove to our reception.
The reception was held at a fancy hotel’s party room in Long Beach. The large room was colored a cream color with white trim, white marble columns, and floor- to -ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful beach outside. In the center of the ceiling, was a hand-painted domed ceiling of angels, white clouds, and baby blue sky for the background. Circular tables were placed on one end of the room. Each was decorated with cream tablecloths with a printed gold one underneath, beautiful plates, saucers, and water and wine glasses were placed on top with a slender crystal glass vase in the center with yellow roses in them. Beside the vase, would be a small disposable camera with a poem attached to it:
A camera placed upon each table,
So every guest will be able,
To take pictures so we can see,
All our friends and family.
Now pick it up and snap away,
To celebrate this special day.
And when you’re through, all photos shot,
Just leave it here, and THANKS A LOT!
In front of all the tables, sat the head table. It was rectangular and was decorated in much the same way as the others. That’s where Dicky, Damon, Sofia, and myself were seated.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.....” The guests kept saying while clinging their silverware against their glasses, while Dicky and I kissed.
“Hey, hey, hey.” I heard Bernie stand up and say. He had his glass in his hands. “I’d like to propose a toast. Please raise your glasses in honor of Andrew and Richard. For those of you not wearing deodorant, and you know who you are.....and so do we,” People laughed. “.....please only raise them to shoulder height. How do we honor two extraordinary people who have been married 15 years? Granted, God has blessed them with an amazing, brilliant and devastatingly handsome best friend like me...” More laughter. “But he has blessed them with an undying love that will never dwindle away. So, with that said, congratulations my friends and we love you. Salute.” Everyone raised their glasses. We were all served champagne in our glasses, but I -along with the children- settled with white grape juice. Ever since the incident in New York, I had given up drinking. I mean, cold turkey.
“Dad, Daddy,” Damon said to us nervously. He stood next to us with some young fellow with spiked blonde hair and black suit. “This is Angel Michaels........my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” I asked, shocked.
“Yeah.” I started to smile.
Dicky stood up and hugged Damon. “Welcome to the club, son.” Damon laughed.
“You’re, you’re not mad?”
“Mad?” I said. “Why would we be mad, Damon? Have you seen our relationship lately? We’re not very conventional either.” I stood up and hugged him. “Don’t be afraid to come to us about anything, okay?”
“Okay.”
“All right.” I looked at Angel. Quite cute. I extended my hand. “Hello, Angel Michaels. I’m one of Damon’s fathers, Andrew. This is the other one, Richard.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you two.”
“Likewise.” Dicky said.
************
I looked to find out where Damon was and found him in the far corner of the room, with Angel. It unnerved me how this guy has distanced him away from mingling with his family, but I’m not going to say anything about it. Besides, I have something else I need to do.
I removed my jacket and stood from my chair. “Where are you going?” Dicky asked me. I just wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
“Pay attention, because I will only do this one last time.”
“DO what?”
I walked past all the tables to the other side of the room where the dance floor was and the live band was playing music on the little stage. The guys already knew what I was going to do, so the piano player got up from his seat. I sat down in front of the black baby grand piano and stared at it for a moment. *How long has it been since I touched one of these?* I thought. I never thought I would do this ever again after Asa died, but here I was, doing this solely for the man I love.
Tapping the keys a few times to find the right key for me, I finally set my fingers. I didn’t know the room got quiet until I gestured to the other band players to start playing. *Here goes nothing.*
Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn\'t stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can\'t get near you now
Oh, can\'t you see it baby
You\'ve got me goin\' crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I\'m with you
I\'ll take the chance
Oh, can\'t you see it baby
You\'ve got me goin\' crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you
I pulled my fingers back from the keys once everyone started clapping and cheering and whistling. My mother was in tears and my father was probably whistling the loudest of them all. I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought I’d never touch a microphone and piano again. “I love you, Dicky.” I said into the mic. I looked at him and saw him sitting there with his elbows on the table and his hands balled up in front of his mouth. His eyes were watery and few tears rolled down his face.
Dicky got up from his seat and met me in the middle of the dance floor. With a kiss, he hugged me close and whispered in my ear. “Gracias.”
“De nada.”
TBC.......
Did you like it?! I hope you did. R&R. By the way, for those of you who don\'t know what de nada is, it\'s spanish for \"you\'re welcome\".
Disclaimer:
Song from Richard Marx (\"Right here waiting\") --I\'m a fan of 80\'s music.