Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One Year Later

Roman came waltzing out onto the balcony of their beautiful hotel suite overlooking the Aegean Sea. He had two shots of Ouzo in his hands and paused to take in the breathtaking beauty of this island that he loved so much. There was the slightest breeze coming up from the water and when you closed your eyes and opened your mouth, you were able to taste the salt of the sea below.

Gerri was sitting in her bathing suit and cute little coverup with her legs up on the ledge, holding on to her hat to keep it from flying off her head.

“Did you know that the Aegean Sea is one of the saltiest seas on the globe?” He asked as he sat down beside her and handed her a drink.

“I did not know that.”

“Yup, at least that’s what Alex just told me.” He raised his glass to his private bartender inside then looked back at his wife, “Opa!” After swallowing the Ouzo, he threw the glass on the floor and watched as it just rolled around. “It kind of loses its effect when it’s just plastic.”

“Well, that’s what happens when you keep breaking glasses.”

“It’s a Greek tradition! You’re supposed to do it!”

“Plates, not glasses.”

“Close enough.”

“And only once, not every single time you come across one.”

“You are no fun, Mrs. Roy.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss, then he grabbed her newly ringed finger and kissed that as well.

After Roman proposed on the balcony during Connor’s wedding, their relationship soon blew up. He forgot that the press were there and because of that, a picture of the two of them laying on the floor while Roman held up Gerri’s finger with the ring on it was plastered across every newspaper and magazine throughout the country. Suddenly they became the talk of the town. Everyone was lining up and begging for an interview of the odd couple. That’s what the press were calling them, among other things.

The two took the headlines with a grain of salt, but after much cajoling, decided to give one interview to PGM as a ‘fuck you’ to Tom and Mattson who offered them a whole lot of money for the exclusive.

Their interview raked up the highest ratings for the dying network in a decade which further enraged the good people at ATN, but more importantly, it made people rethink how they felt about Roman and the Roy family in general.

With the two of them holding hands for the entire hour, Roman recounted the story of his kidnapping, not leaving anything out. Even starting with the fact that he and Gerri had been secretly dating for months beforehand. With his girlfriend at his side, he was relaxed and spoke with candor and great vulnerability. Showing the world the Roman that Gerri always knew existed. This was the man she fell in love with and as she sat and listened to him speak, watched him wipe away a stray tear when he talked about his frayed relationship with his father and remorse for how he acted to try to win his approval and affection, she felt such an overwhelming sense of not only love, but pride.

His grip on her hand grew tighter while the other clutched on to the cane he still had to use. He talked about his brain injury and how hard the recovery was for him. Then she watched his eyes light up when he talked about his siblings and how with their support, he was able to get better.

The last part of the interview was all about the two of them. He smiled so wide as he went on and on about all the ways he loved Gerri. How she was the most beautiful, strong, and smart person he had ever met. When it was finally her turn to gush, she did so with as much reverence as he did. It was clear to anyone who watched that interview that the two of them were very much in love. This wasn’t just a ploy to get his money or some kind of publicity stunt to promote Roman’s new company ‘The Hundred’ with his siblings. This was the real deal.

She knew after the interview that their lives were going to change.

She was right.

Thousands of letters came pouring in for her and Roman, congratulating them on the engagement. People sent flowers. Some sent her sexy lingerie. They all wished the two of them the best. All the morning talk shows gossiped about the happy couple and that, just maybe, people could change in the best possible way. Maybe love has the ability to do that.

The nighttime talk show hosts who used to spend their monologues tearing the Roy family apart, now found themselves in a race to be the first to book the happy couple on their shows.

The couple obliged and decided to do the ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ since he was the one who tended to make fun of his family the most. Roman’s natural charm and charisma shined through as the audience actually laughed at his tacky jokes and awed every time he grabbed his fiancé’s hand.

The headlines rapidly changed.

Next came the offers.

Everyone approached Roman with book deals. “This story couldn’t be better if Stephen King wrote it!” One of the many publishing companies told him.

“We can have someone write it for you. It happens all the time. A ghost writer. No one will even know.” Another one offered.

He turned them all down. “The last thing I want to do is find myself reading my stupid fucking book in some tiny little bookstore in the middle of buttfuck Kentucky to a bunch of weird, middle-aged men who want to chain me in their basement.”

Gerri gave him a look, “Is that what you picture when you think of people who actual read books?”

“Definitely.”

“Good to know...” She had said amused as she walked away from that conversation.

Meanwhile, Gerri was asked to be on the next edition of “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

“But we aren’t even married yet. We haven’t even set a date!” She had said to her agent. Yes, it got to the point that they needed to hire an agent.

“That doesn’t matter. The people won’t care.”

“I care.” And with that being said, she turned them down.

ATN offered the two of them their own reality show which would follow the happy couple as they planned their wedding with the grand finale airing live so everyone could be a part of the ceremony.

Again, they were both more than happy to tell Tom and his reality show to stuff it up his butt! Using more colorful language of course.

Roman placed his hands over his eyes to shield them from the sun as he looked down at the water, “There…over there. Do you see it?”

“What am I looking for?” Gerri asked as she leaned over to glance at where Roman was pointing.

“That yacht. Way over there. It looks like a little red dot.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s where we’re going to be tonight. I arranged a private dinner for the two of us out in the middle of the sea. There’s going to be fireworks and we’ll be right in the middle of it.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Honey, my middle name is danger.”

She let out a small laugh, “Is that so?”

Just then a lovely woman, came out onto the balcony with two menus. “The cook asked me to give these to you. You can pick anything you want for lunch, and he will fire it up.”

Roman looked up, “Rosmary, correct?”

“Yes sir.”

“Tell the cook to surprise us. We like to live on the edge, is that okay darling?”

Gerri nodded, “Fine by me.”

“Very well.” Rosemary said as she took the menus and left them alone.

“All these servants weren’t necessary, Rome. Don’t you think it’s all a bit extravagant?”

“We are on our honeymoon and besides, now that I’m an everyday Joe Shmoo, I’ll take it where I can get it.”

Gerri told Roman that as long as they lived under the same roof, there would be no servants of any kind in their home. If he wanted clean clothes, or food or anything else, he would have to get it just like all those annoying poor people. “Dave can stay though.” She had told him to which Roman laughed.

“Oh sure, the driver gets to stay because you hate driving in the city and taking public transportation.” He had joked.

She smiled and shrugged in reply.

“I’m surprised none of your siblings have checked in on you yet.” Gerri said as she adjusted her hat and laid back on her lounge chair.

“Yeah, me too. They hated the fact that we were coming here.” He then mimicked Kendall, “It’s too close to Turkey, Roman. What if Zeynal’s people are still following you?”

“He does have a point.” Gerri said honestly.

Zeynal’s fate was in limbo for quite a while after Logan’s death. Of course he had the best lawyers and an entire country on his side so the only punishment he received after everything he had done was a permanent deportation back to his home country. If he ever set foot in the United States he would immediately be taken into custody. The same rule applied if he ever tried to make contact with anyone in the Roy family.

“I’m not going to live my life in fear of what may or may not happen. This is my happy place. I’m not going to let that man take my happy place away from me.”

“Our happy place.” Gerri corrected.

“You love it. I KNEW it! I told you; you would love it here.” He winked at her and then joined her on her lounge chair, lying beside her, “Scoot over!” He said as she laughed.

Now that the whole world knew about their relationship and engagement, they were constantly being pressed for details about the wedding. Where would it take place? Who was going to design Gerri’s Wedding Gown? What famous people would be on the guest list. Where would the reception be held.

Roman was not a big planner and all these questions just stressed him out. Gerri, for her part, had already had an extravagant wedding when she married the first time. Well, maybe not over the top, but simply perfect in every way. She wasn’t very keen on having a huge spectacle. Since this was Roman’s very first and hopefully last wedding, the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint him, so she sucked it up and hired the very best wedding planner in all of New York City.

His name was Reginald and the very first time the couple met him he was appalled that they didn’t call him by his full name, which was Reginald the Third, clearly written on his business cards and name tag. He made sure to point to himself as he said it.

Right then and there, Roman wanted to turn around and walk out the door, but Gerri tightened her grip on his arm and let the planner go on and on, bragging about himself. When Reginald (the Third) was finally done, she just told him he could do whatever he’d like. All she asked is that he run it by the both of them before he made any final decisions. This pleased the wedding planner greatly, but Roman even more, because he didn’t really want to deal with Reginald (the Third). Turns out, he wasn’t a huge fan of that guy.

The next point of stress for poor Roman was who to pick to be his Best Man. He was the Best Man for both of his brothers. In Ken’s case, it was only because Stewy backed out at the last minute. “Too much responsibility. I just want to get shit faced drunk like all the other guests and not worry about it!” Stewy had said not even the week before the ceremony. Leaving his older brother no choice but to give that job to Roman with the threat of, “If you fuck this up for me, I will kill You!”

Hell, even Tom had him as his Best Man and Roman was pretty sure that Tom didn’t even like him.

Within a week of the engagement, both of the brothers had come to Roman and said they’d be more than happy for the job. All he had to do was ask. “Sure man.” He had said to them both. “As soon as I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know.”

Greg even put his hat in the ring, “You know Rome, it might make the most sense to ask me so this way you don’t have to pick between the two of them. I know how competitive you all are.”

Roman just rolled his eyes and walked away.

But in a very roundabout way, he did take his cousin’s advice and a few days after that little conversation he approached his sister during breakfast, “Hey tubby, you want to be my Best Man?”

She gave him a sideways glance. “What?”

He leaned against the counter, “Well, I don’t want to ask Ken because it will offend Connor, and I don’t want to ask Connor because it will offend Ken.”

“So, you’re asking me to offend both of them?”

He shrugged at her. “Why not.”

“Gerri already asked me to be her Matron of Honor.”

“Fuck me! I thought she was going to ask one of her daughters.”

Shiv let out a little laugh, “She gave me the same exact reason you just did.”

“Gerri, you sly minx!” He said as he shook his head.

“There’s always Greg.”

“Right, there’s also Frank. I’d ask him before I’d ask Greg.” He had let out a little sigh then, “I wish I had made more friends.”

She walked over and gave him a hug, but by then she was so big, she could hardly get her arms around him.

“Maybe I can ask Roman Jr.” He said as he placed his hand on his sister’s bulging belly.

“Not going to be his name.”

“Romina?”

“Yeah, not happening buddy.”

“Oh, why am I even talking to you. Absolutely useless!” He said as he hobbled away.

Reginald (the third) kept pressing them to set an official date. They needed to start thinking about venues and the best ones all were booked really quickly. He was sure that with their names and status, they would get preferential treatment, but even still, the faster the better.

That led to the next point of stress for Roman. He was still using a cane. He wanted more than anything to just be able to walk completely unassisted on the day of his own wedding. At the same time, he felt that the longer he put it off the better the chance that Gerri might change her mind which terrified him.

“I’m in no rush, love.” Gerri had reassured him shortly after their meeting with the planner.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m yours. It doesn’t matter when that happens.”

“I just want to be able to stand up straight and strong when I say my vows.”

She walked close to him and lovingly kissed him, “Honey, I don’t care when we do it or where we do it.”

“But according to Reginald.”

“The third, don’t forget the third.” Gerri teased, mimicking the overly extravagant and entitled wedding planner.

“Right…. the third.” He smiled, “If we don’t book soon, none of these posh venues will be available. We might have to book a McDonalds.”

“I had a few very successful Birthday parties there when the girls were little.”

“Now you’re just mocking me.”

She placed her hand on his face, “Maybe just a little.”

“I just want the day to be perfect for you.”

“Roman, I don’t care where we get married. We don’t need a huge wedding. I’d be happy if it was just a few close friends and the people we love.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. The only reason I agreed to this is because I want you to have the perfect wedding.”

“I don’t care about any of this stuff, Gerri. All I care about is you.”

It was then they both just started laughing. “So, who wants to fire Reginald, you or me?” She asked.

“Well, if you just call him Reginald without the third, he’ll probably just quit.”

They threw all the planning out the window and decided when the time was right, they’d just do it. No pressure.

“You smell amazing!” Roman said to his wife as he started sniffing at her neck.

Gerri started laughing, “You need to learn about personal space!” She adjusted herself on the lounge chair since her husband’s legs was on top of hers.

“Like coconuts and pineapple. You smell like a Pina Colada!”

“It’s the suntan lotion you maniac.”

“I think it’s just you.”

He made sure to throw his leg over her body again and scooted even closer, which made her laugh once more. “Roman…. You are worse than a puppy.”

Of course, he had no choice but to lick her face just then. “Gah!!” She said as she cracked up. “What have I gotten myself in to?”

“I told you no taksie backsies.”

“Yeah…yeah…”

Shiv had the baby. A little boy they called Thomas Logan. Tom decided to ask Gerri and Roman to be the Godparents. He felt like it was good publicity for him and his company. Shiv wanted the same thing and was shocked it was Tom who brought it up. The happy couple were more than happy to oblige.

Shortly after the Christening, Roman was finally walking unassisted. He wasn’t always the best with his balance, but that didn’t matter. He was finally back to himself.

As they approached the year anniversary of the kidnapping, while sitting around the kitchen table playing a round of Gin with his family, Roman said, “I think I’m ready to do this if you are, Gerri.”

“What do you mean?”

“Get hitched. What do you say?”

“How romantic.” Peti had said.

Two weeks later, without any bells and whistles, the Roy siblings, The Kellman daughters and a few of their closest friends met at Connor’s place and watched the two of them exchange vows. Gerri dressed in an extremely cute white dress that her daughters helped to pick out and Roman in a fancy Tuxedo he found in the back of his closet.

Stewy was the officiant. It was absolutely no surprise to anyone that he just happened to have an online license after doing it for someone else. Gerri was a little bit hesitant to allow him to do it after remembering how he backed out of Kendall’s wedding at the last minute, but he seemed oddly excited for some reason. Roman was very quick to point out that it was because Stewy liked him a lot more than his mopey brother.

The two held hands and did the traditional vows and just went with the I do’s instead of reciting their very own. Gerri was kind of surprised about that, but Roman said, he was afraid his nerves would make him fuck it up and the last thing he wanted to do was fuck up on his wedding day while pledging his love to the most important person in the entire world.

After the small ceremony, they all ate, drank, and enjoyed each other’s company and then the very next morning, the newlyweds flew out to Santorini, his favorite place in the world.

“Do you think word got out that we got married yet?” He asked his wife as he lay beside her gripping her hand in his.

“Probably not.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you know that?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s accurate.” She joked.

He didn’t laugh though. Instead, her turned to face her, “I mean it. I wish I could tell you how much you mean to me. I just don’t think there are enough words in the universe that would be able to express it.” I tear fell from his eye, that she wiped away.

“Well…” She started, consumed in all that love flowing from him right into her heart “Lucky for us we have a lifetime for you to come up with them.”

He smiled at her as they both just lay there staring into each other’s eyes as a warm breeze picked up and knocked her hat off her head. She didn’t even notice. All that mattered was Roman and she wouldn’t have it any other way.