Chapter Text
"Okay, so you didn't like that one," TK said with a small smile. "What about this one?"
He held up a tie, a simple light blue one. Carlos studied it, ran his fingers over it, and looked back up at him.
"Only if you wear the salmon one," Carlos responded, making TK laugh and bite his lip.
"Deal."
Carlos took a deep breath and watched him scribble something onto his notepad.
"Now we need to talk about food. Do we want to cater or have someone cook?" TK glanced up at him for a moment, an adorable blush spreading over his cheeks. "What?"
"Nothin'," Carlos grinned. "I just can't believe we’re really doing this."
"I know, but we've put off the planning for so long-"
"No," he laughed. "No, I mean... the wedding in general."
A look of panic crossed TK's features, despite how he tried to hide it. "You having second thoughts?"
"Absolutely not." Carlos pulled him into a kiss, TK breaking it a moment later with a wide grin. "God, I love you."
"I love you, too," TK mumbled. "And as much as I would absolutely love to sit here and make out with you..."
"We have to keep going?"
"Yeah..." he hummed reluctantly. The doorbell rang and he pressed a kiss to Carlos's forehead before standing. "That'll be the food. Will you, please, check the guest list? I want to make sure we have everyone."
"I got it, babe, don't worry," Carlos smiled. TK returned it and left to get the food. He picked up the paper and read through the list of names. About halfway down the list, his smile faded. "Uh, Ty, mi amor?"
"Yeah?" He asked, popping a french fry in his mouth as he put the food on the coffee table. He sat next to his boyfriend- fiancé- and leaned over to look at the paper. "Did I leave someone off?"
"Why are my parents on this?"
TK shifted. "I thought you'd want them there," he said hesitantly. "It's our wedding day, I thought-"
"You should have asked me."
"It's not like I've sent anything out yet," he said. "I thought you said you talked to them. Like, a while ago."
Carlos ran his hands over his face. He had talked to his parents. Or, rather, he had tried. For a few weeks, after he'd told them about TK, he had tried to get them to talk. After a few months of radio silence, he decided that if they didn't want to see him happy in the thriving relationship he was in, that wasn't on him. And he was done trying to prove himself to them.
It had been almost a year.
He shook his head. "I tried. They-They cut me off."
"They what?" TK scoffed. "When?"
He hesitated then mumbled out "last year." TK studied him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
There was a hint of hurt and sadness but mostly concern. No anger, though, which had Carlos releasing a breath of relief.
"I, um... I didn't want you to worry." He finally met TK's gaze.
"Babe, you're a cop," TK said with a teasing smile, grabbing his hand. "I always worry."
“I know, that’s what I mean.”
TK frowned. “I’m- What do you mean?”
“I was just... you had a lot on your plate anyway with your parents and becoming a paramedic- which, I’m really proud of you for, by the way.” TK laughed and shook his head. “I just didn’t want to add anything on top of that.”
“Carlos,” TK started, lacing their fingers together. “You are always the first thing on my priority list. You are always the first thing I think about- or worry about.”
Carlos smiled a little and looked at their hands. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I do know that, yes,” TK said smugly. Carlos laughed softly and pushed him away playfully.
“Prick.”
“You love me,” he teased.
“I do,” he sighed defeatedly, pulling TK in for a kiss.
Carlos sat back and watched as TK, Mateo, Marjan, Paul, and Judd yelled and argued and bickered. He loved when they were all together like this, they always laughed and genuinely enjoyed themselves.
They were currently playing another round of Mario Kart on the gaming system in the firehouse, the six of them spread hap-hazardously on the couches. Marjan bumped against Paul and TK on either side of her as she got way too invested; Mateo was reaching for Judd’s controller, complaining that he was cheating.
“I’m not cheatin’, you’re just not playin’ right.”
There was a cacophony of sounds as the game ended: cheers, whines, booing. TK smiled up at Carlos and offered his controller.
“You sure you don’t want to play?”
Carlos shook his head. “You guys are pretty entertaining to watch.”
“Suit yourself.”
“Who’s up for another?”
TK didn’t respond to that (although the average answer was “hell yeah” or “I’ll kick your ass this time”). Instead, he raised an eyebrow at his fiancé, an unsaid question.
Are you okay?
Carlos gave him a small nod and TK smiled at him. His eyes caught something behind him and the smile disappeared. Carlos followed his gaze.
“Nononono,” he muttered.
His head spun and his heart raced and he couldn’t move. He felt a hand on his arm, comforting and supportive.
TK.
He turned to face him, shaking his head. “I can’t...Ty, I-”
“Hey, it’s okay,” TK assured him; he moved in front of him and cupped Carlos’s face.“You don’t have to; no one’s going to make you.”
His breathing quickened and he shook his head again. “I can’t...they shouldn’t- god, why are they here?”
“Strand, what’s going on?” Judd said, glancing between them. “Who are they?”
“His parents,” he said, not looking away from Carlos. “Deep breaths, baby, it’s okay.” His voice was soft and comforting and strengthening.
“I’m gonna guess we don’t like them,” Marjan said.
“Not exactly,” he muttered.
“Is it because of what I think it’s about?” Paul asked, one eyebrow raised. TK gave him a look and he nodded. “I thought so.”
Carlos pressed his forehead against TK’s; his breathing started to even out and he brought his hands up to wrap around his wrists.
“You want me to tell ‘em to go?” Judd asked, leaning forward. “I can tell ‘em you’re not here.”
Carlos shook his head, pulling back from TK. “No, no. It’s fine, it's... I’ll deal with it.”
“Carlos.”
He dragged his hands over his face. “It’ll be fine.”
TK nodded but he was obviously unconvinced. Carlos stood and pushed the door open, barely aware that the other five were watching.
“What are you doing here?”
His parents turned to face him. His father’s face was cold and hard, but hers was soft and almost inviting.
“We needed to talk to you.”
“Why here?” He gestured vaguely at the rig. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“We went to the station, they told us you might be here.”
“Because of TK...” he mumbled.
Neither of them responded. Then his father lifted his hand, presenting a decorated card.
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