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October, 2014
The leaves had just begun to turn, painting the trees in hues of gold and crimson. It was a crisp autumn day in Peoria, and the air was alive with a sense of anticipation. Brady stood at the end of the aisle, his heart pounding in a way that was both familiar and entirely new. The venue was a small but elegant outdoor garden, filled with family and friends, every seat occupied by someone who had been a part of their journey.
David was there too, of course, waiting for him, looking impossibly handsome in his tailored suit. Brady thought back to how they got here, to this perfect moment, to the vows they were about to exchange.
It hadn't been easy. After that night at David's apartment, everything had changed. They both had to have long, painful conversations with their respective girlfriends, neither of whom knew that their boyfriend used to be in a relationship with another man. The breakups were awful, but they were necessary. For weeks, they had navigated the fallout, and for a time, they both questioned whether it was worth the hurt they'd caused. But in their hearts, they'd known the answer from the start. The only place they truly belonged was with each other.
And now, here they were.
Brady was pulled back to the present as the music changed, signaling David's entrance. His breath caught as he watched him walk down the aisle, flanked by his sister Maria, who beamed with pride. When David reached him, their eyes locked, and in that moment, everything else faded away.
The ceremony was simple but heartfelt. They had written their own vows, words that reflected the years they had shared--the highs and the lows, the joy and the heartbreak, the love that had endured through it all.
"I promise to stand by your side," Brady said, his voice steady but thick with emotion, "to laugh with you, to cry with you, and to build a life with you, no matter where it takes us. I've loved you since I first set eyes on you, and I'll love you until my very last breath."
David's voice trembled as he spoke his own vows. "You are my best friend, my partner, my everything. You make me braver, stronger, better. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, to share all the adventures we've yet to have, and to face anything that comes our way, together. Brady Gallagher, I want this... with you."
When they exchanged rings and said "I do," the crowd erupted into applause. Ellen wiped away tears, Megan clapped proudly, and even Joe looked emotional. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered joy, the kind that made every struggle, every heartache, worth it.
As they walked back down the aisle hand in hand, their smiles radiant, Brady felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. They had been through so much to get here--years of uncertainty, distance, and doubt. But it was all behind them now.
This was their beginning, the start of a lifetime filled with love, passion, and excitement. And as they looked at each other, eyes full of promise, they knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together.
David and Brady were two beautiful men, in love, with a bond that would never be broken.