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Carlos is at the breakfast buffet, trying to work out if he should pick his normal oatmeal with raisins or because today is such a special day, whether he should splash out for eggs and bacon with a side of waffles. He knows what TK would tell him to do, and he’s at least thankful that he left his husband up in their room, promising him he’d save him a seat and get him some coffee in whilst he pulled himself together.
He’s just about decided, when he feels a presence at his shoulder and he turns to see their youngest son, William, hovering next to him. He’s got a wide smile on his face as he watches Carlos’ dilemma. “Get the waffles, Papa,” he advises, “they’re pretty incredible, better than Abuela’s, but don’t tell her that please.”
William’s grown into an amazing young man, he’s eighteen now, almost as tall as Carlos, but he’s still in awe of Carlos’ mother and doesn’t want to upset her in any way, shape or form. Carlos smile grows as he stares at one of his boys, so proud of him in his smart suit.
“You look great,” he tells him and William glances down at himself and then back up, his eyes sparkling.
“You do too, Papa. Where’s Dad?”
“Coming down in a bit.”
“Once he’s stopped crying, you mean?” William grins and Carlos laughs, because their kid knows TK so well.
“Well, it’s not every day one of our fabulous kids gets married, is it?” Carlos says in reply and William nods.
“True,” he agrees. “Avery wants to see you both, she sent me out for you. Do you think I can hurry Dad up if I text him?”
Carlos’ attention is caught by movement at the door however, and he realises William doesn’t need to do anything. TK has just turned up at the restaurant, in his matching suit to Carlos’, dark blue with a maroon tie, the mirror image of what Carlos is wearing. Even after all these years, he looks beautiful and Carlos can’t help the smile that steals over his face as he looks on the person who means the most to him in the entire world. The look TK sends him back warms him from the very tips of his toes.
William shakes his head at his side as he grabs some plates full of food. “Oh my god, you two are going to be at it all day, aren’t you,” he mock grumbles and he steers Carlos towards the door and his husband. “I am so going to need to find you a room somewhere later on.”
TK brushes a kiss to William’s cheek and leans up to kiss Carlos, slow and gentle. “It’s two of my favourite boys,” he grins as he brushes a piece of invisible lint off William’s shoulder. “Where are we going?”
William leads them to the room that the bridal party have commandeered, closing the door behind them as they enter and there’s a second where Carlos thinks he can’t breathe. Because the rest of their family are gathered in here, waiting for them, and they’re so perfect.
TK, grey hairs showing at his temples, paramedic captain, love of his life, clinging to his hand currently and trying to hold back even more tears.
William, in his grey suit, looking so proud as he gazes over at the rest of his siblings.
Kennedy, their youngest, in her bridesmaid dress, pale yellow, her hair in braids around her head like an angel.
Gaige, tall and proud as he looks at them both, his curls tamed for the special occasion, in his suit, ready to walk his sister down the aisle.
And Avery, in the most beautiful dress Carlos thinks he’s ever seen, ivory lace and pearls, her face so happy and content.
They’re all perfect, his family, his life, the people he would do anything for, all grown up and he couldn’t be prouder of any of them if he tried. They’re the greatest thing he’s ever done in his life, he and TK together.
TK sniffles by his side and he squeezes his hand tighter because TK is and has always been the emotional one in their relationship and he’s been crying since they turned up at the hotel last night, happy tears but still tears and Carlos can feel how much it’s taking for him to hold onto his self control. He slides his arm around his waist and cuddles him close, relishing in the joy they both share.
Avery tuts at them both. “Don’t make me start, please, Dad,” she begs, as she waves them to sit down and William slides their breakfasts in front of them. “Auntie Marjan has just been in to do my makeup and if I ruin it then she’ll be angry!”
“We wanted to spend our last morning together as a family, before Avery gets married,” Gaige says, “then at least Chris has to deal with her morning grumps not us.”
“I still don’t know why you’re not keeping our name, Reyes-Strand is so cool,” Kennedy complains, snagging a piece of bacon from Carlos’ plate and eating it carefully so she doesn’t drop it down her dress.
“I’d have a quad barrelled surname in that case,” Avery points out, “and I love Chris and he loves me, but can you imagine if we had to write that every single time we had to fill in a form? He’d be divorcing me before we have our first year anniversary!”
“I know where he lives,” TK grumbles, “and I’d chase him down if he ever did that.”
Carlos just smiles again, leaning into TK’s warmth as they bicker gently around him. He wouldn’t change this for the world, knowing that even though they’re growing up and moving on, their children are still theirs and they’ll always be a family, extended and growing, but still theirs.
“Can you believe it,” he whispers into TK’s ear. “Are all these kids really ours? They’re amazing.”
TKs eyes fill with tears again. “They are amazing, babe, we did a pretty good job, I think.”
William snorts. “More than that, you two did an incredible job.”
When Carlos looks up this time, he’s fixed with the sight of their four children, all watching the pair of them and he suddenly understands why they’re here, in this room, away from everyone else. Avery has a look on her face, one he recognises from when she was little and had them both wrapped around her little finger right from the very start. Luckily, she waits until TK has swallowed whatever he was eating before she leans forward and starts to speak, something she’s obviously planned out, but Carlos can tell it’s from all of their hearts.
“Dad, Papa, I - we - just wanted to get you here to say something, something so important I can’t believe we’ve never really said it to you before.” Avery takes a deep breath, it catching in her throat and Carlos just knows that none of them are leaving this room without crying. “You took me in when no one else wanted me. I still remember the first day I met you, when you told me then that I was yours forever if I wanted it. I didn’t know love until that day, no one had ever wanted me before. But you welcomed me with open arms and you showed me what it means to be part of a family.”
“And then you did the same for me,” Gaige adds. “You gave me a home, parents and a sister that I loved so much I could hardly breathe. There’s no one in this world I looked up to as much as you. Not because you’re a cop and a paramedic, but because you’re you and you’re my parents. And I loved you from that very first meeting.”
“And even though you kiss so much it’s gross, I love how much you love all of us and each other,” Kennedy adds and Carlos can tell through his tears that she wasn’t supposed to say that.
William hits her lightly. “What Ken means is that your love for each other inspires us everyday. We know you’re it for each other and you always have been and I only want that sort of love in my life too.”
“I’ve been lucky to find it,” Avery says and her voice is wobbling too now. “But I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for you and your support in everything I do. Our family may be changing, Dad’s, but I love you so much and I always will. And we just wanted to tell you that and say…”
“Thank you,” the four kids all say together and Carlos can’t speak for the tears running down his face. He steals a glance at TK who is even worse than him. Their eyes meet, with so much love and understanding it still makes Carlos' heart beat faster.
“Urgh,” Kennedy says, “this is what I meant! Gross!”
Carlos shares a look, with his startled husband, with the other exasperated kids. And then he laughs, holding his arms out.
“Gross or not, it’s a good job we love you all so much.”
“We’re so proud of you. All of you. And this, this is our greatest achievement. Raising four beautiful, incredible and wonderful young people. We love you.” TK adds and there’s a moment when there’s a Reyes-Strand cuddle pile in the middle of the room. It takes a while for them to sort themselves out and when they do, it’s Gaige who typically takes the lead.
“Right! Come on, let’s get Avery married then! Dad and Papa, you’d better get to your seats. We’ll see you later, ok?”
Four kisses later and one last lingering hug with the bride sees Carlos pulling TK out of the room, towards where the wedding has been set up. His hand is snug in the crook of TK’s elbow and he looks at his husband with so much pride and love that he’s sure he has heart eyes all over his face. “We did good, right?” he asks and TK looks uo at him and beams, proud and happy.
“So good, babe,” he says. “And I love you so much, now and every day. And just so you know, when we get grandbabies, I am going to be the cool one, ok?”
Carlos laughs and kisses him slow. He doesn’t mind. Even now, he still wants to give TK everything in the world and he knows he will do so for the rest of his life.