'A Second Chance' Chapter 20 The Wedding
Disclaimer: If you've made it this far, I would assume that you know this part, but I will repeat it anyway. This is fiction. None of this is based on reality in any way. It's just a figment of my imagination.
Well, here we go. The last chapter. I hope you like it! Take care J -------------------------------------------------
"This is to tight!"
"No, it's just fine."
"I can't wear this, it's way too tight."
"Nick, it's not too tight."
"Alexander James McLean, I am the one wearing this bow-tie, therefore I get to decide whether or not it is too tight."
Nick was pacing back and forth in front of the mirror, fidgeting with his bow tie while AJ was sitting on a chair, watching his friend and trying not to laugh.
"Kaos, chill man. You'll live." He tried to calm him.
"No I won't. This thing" Nick indicated the bow tie, which was crooked by now, "will suffocate me."
AJ threw his hands up in the air in mock desperation and got up to fix the bow tie.
"Nick, seriously, don't be this nervous. Everything will be fine."
"Easy for you to say. You're not about to get married." Nick sank down on the chair AJ had vacated and took a few deep breaths.
The room was silent for a while. Then Nick said
"Alex, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything."
"Remember on the tour, when you told me that you were in love with me, are you still...I mean, do still love me?" Nick grinned sheepishly. It was something he had been thinking about for a long time, but all of a sudden he didn't feel like he wanted to know the answer anymore.
"Nick, when I told you, I was already beginning to get over it. Don't get me wrong, I still think you're damn hot, and Justin is one heck of a lucky guy to have you. But I realized how pointless the situation was, and then there was JC. He was just there when I hit rock bottom and things started looking up from then on. The only reason why I even told you guys was because I felt the need to somehow excuse my behavior. I know now that it wasn't a good idea and that I have to be grateful that you handled it the way you did."
"There was no other way to handle it. Even though I felt terrible to be the cause for the kind of pain you went through, you were still one of my best friends and nothing can ever change that." Nick explained.
"And what's it with you and JC anyway?" he asked after a pause. AJ shrugged his shoulders.
"It's mostly that he can't accept himself. He doesn't want to be gay. He loves me, and he knows it, but as long as doesn't admit to himself who he is we won't be going anywhere. " AJ sighed. He was obviously more affected by this than he let on.
"AJ, I know that you don't want to leave JC, but you can't wait for him forever. You should talk to him, see what he wants."
Same time, different dressing room
"No Justin, you can not wear your sneakers. I know that this is not a conventional wedding, but sneakers are out of the question."
"But Josh, the shoes are too small. They hurt my feet."
"You bought those shoes three weeks ago, and they fit then. Why should it be any different now?"
"Ya know, you're all calm and collected now, but I bet you'll be even worse at your own wedding." Justin said, buttoning up his shirt in front of the mirror.
"I probably will be nervous." JC agreed. Silence.
"You know, you should marry AJ." JC froze in his tracks and turned to look at Justin.
"Curly, drop it. I don't wanna discuss my non-existent relationship with Alex anymore. This is your day, we should be talking about you and Nick." But Justin ignored his friend and went on.
"What are you afraid of Josh? You love him as much as he loves you. And you know what? I think I know what your problem is. You resent being gay." JC winced as he heard the last sentence. Justin paused for a while, then continued.
"You stay away from him, because being with him reminds you that you're not 'normal'. I know that being gay is a hard concept to accept, but you can't run away from it. Sooner or later it will catch up with you. It's impossible to hide from yourself, Josh." Justin reached for the jacket and pulled it on over his white dress shirt.
"How do I look?"
"You look wonderful. Justin, I think you're right. I should talk to Alex." Justin drew his friend into a tight hug.
"Everything will work out, Josh. But now I've gotta get married." Together they left the room.
The wedding ceremony and reception would be held in the ballroom of the same New York hotel that Nick and Justin had had their fist time at. However, except for them and the other members of the two bands, no one knew the significance of this place.
It was a small wedding with only the immediate family of all band members, some close friends, and a few people from management in attendance. The two grooms would meet at the altar, Justin led by JC and Nick led by Brian. They had both written their own vows, which they would say instead of the traditional ones.
The guests were already seated in the chairs that had been neatly arranged in several rows. The preacher, a slender man in his early thirties, was standing in the front of the room where a table served as a sort of altar. Everyone was talking and occasionally glancing at the door through which the grooms were supposed to enter.
Then, a hush fell over the crowd as the door opened. Justin walked in followed by JC. He walked up to the front of the room. When he was halfway there, the door opened again and Nick entered with Brian. A few minutes later they were all standing by the 'altar' and the preacher began to speak.
"A good morning to everyone. We are gathered here to today to join two people in holy matrimony. Due to the fact that this is not a traditional wedding, I have been asked to let the grooms speak their own vows. Mr. Timberlake, you may start."
Justin smiled at the guests, then turned to Nick and started speaking,
"Before I met you, I knew that something in my life was missing. Through you I found out, what it was. It was me. I hadn't found my true self until I met you at the MTV studio that day. I feel in love with you then and my love has grown since and will continue to grow with each day. I truly believe that we are meant to be and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Nick swallowed hard. Justin's speech had brought tears of joy to his eyes. The preacher smiled at him, motioning him to speak.
"Justin, meeting you and getting to know you was a dream come true for me. We've been through some stuff, and the fact that we got this far together must mean something. I love you with all of my heart, and even though it won't always be easy, I promise you that I will always be there."
The preacher took the rings from JC and Brian and handed them to Nick and Justin.
"Justin Randall Timberlake, do you take Nicholas Gene Carter as your husband?"
"I do." Justin whispered and slipped the ring on Nick's finger. The preacher repeated the question for Nick.
"I do." Nick replied, reaching for Justin's hand and putting the ring on his finger.
"You may now kiss the br..." the preacher stopped, realizing his mistake. There was an awkward silence. AJ laughed out loud, and one by one the others fell in. As the laugher died down, Justin leaned forward and kissed Nick.
It was much later, after all most of the guests had left, that Nick and Justin sat down with their friends, enjoying the last glass of wine of the night.
"You never did tell me what name you agreed on." Britney stated.
"Well, after much deliberation Justin gave in. I am now Mr. Nick Timberlake." Nick proudly announced. Britney laughed.
They were sitting on the patio outside the ballroom, the stars faintly glimmering in the sky. It was cold outside, but that was welcomed after spending the entire day in the stuffy ballroom. Nick was snuggling close to his husband.
'My husband.' He thought. It was a strangely comforting thought. He sighed contended. He couldn't think of a time where he had been more at peace with himself and the world than he was now, standing outside in the crisp night air surrounded by friends he deeply cared for and the one man he loved with all his heart.
"I love you Curly." He whispered, just loud enough for Justin to hear. Justin lowered his lips to Nicks and they shared a deep, passionate kiss.
"I love you too, Nick." -----------------------------------------
Aww...wasn't that sweet. Well, I'm done with the story now. That was the last chapter. I miss them already! By the way, I know that I didn't say what happened to AJ and JC. I thought I'd leave that to your imagination. But if you really wanna know what happens let me know and I'll write you a nice little epilogue. For those of you who (hah!) can't get enough of my writing, I'll let you know that I'm not gonna be gone from this board for long. I'm already working on a new story. So be on the lookout for 'No Way Out'. Until then, Take care j