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TK stares at the engagement ring on his finger, focusing on the gleam of the metal and thinking of Carlos, his fiancé, the love of his life. He remembers the day they got engaged, and he knows he must have his mushy Carlos smile on his lips by the way that Marjan, Nancy and Judd gag opposite him. It had been an absolutely perfect day, made even more wonderful by the man who had proposed to him in quite possibly the most romantic way TK had ever imagined. He’d been given clues, to all of their friends and family, all of whom had photos of their relationship to give to him with the next clue. He’d thought he was having a relaxing day off, and he’d been pissed off right at the start, particularly as Carlos had been nowhere to be found. But as he’d collected photo after photo, of them being happy together, of them staring at each other at dates and across rooms, of the silly and funny times they’d spent together, he’d become confused. He’d had no idea of what was going on. Until he got to their home and found a photo album with labelled pages, one for each of the photos he’d collected. He’d put them in, smiling with fondness at all the memories of their relationship.
And then, on the back page, a title with no photo. Our engagement. He’d looked up, startled, to find Carlos, nervously standing on the stairs wearing his nicest clothes and with a ring box in his hand.
Getting engaged had been the start of the madness, everyone so pleased for them and wanting to help. They’d decided on a short engagement, only five months to plan everything, and so everyone had become involved in making the wedding happen. They’d both had ideas of what they wanted, where to get married, what to wear, how many best people and who was going to walk who down the dual aisle. They’d spent a very happy afternoon with Mateo and Michelle trying so many different varieties of cake, and then an equally happy one with Owen, Gabriel and Andrea choosing wine and non alcoholic alternatives. But the one thing Carlos had wanted, that TK couldn’t refuse him, was the chance to do something so personal and intimate.
“You’re not seriously writing your own vows, are you?” Paul had asked when TK had told them all what Carlos’ one wish was. The fire crew had laughed so loud and long, to TK’s annoyance. “Come on, TK, Carlos is so much better with words than you are. You’re more of an action man. How are you going to manage to stand up and tell everyone at your wedding just how much you love this man?”
And so that is how TK finds himself on this day, in the fire station, opposite three of his closest friends whilst he tries to at least sketch out his wedding vows. He’s sure Carlos has done his already, his smug smile testament to his relaxed attitude. He hid something in his patrol car the other day and at this moment in time, TK does not think he’s beyond stealing a police car to look for the vows.
Because Carlos means everything to him but he cannot find the words to tell him, not the sort of words that express everything he feels about the man he’s going to spend the rest of his life with. So he’s bribed the fire family to help him, to give him some ideas. Paul laughed at him and refused to help, Mateo made sure he was off on the day he was asked, and so he’s left with Marjan, Nancy and Judd, all of whom have been giggling at him ever since they sat down at the table with notebooks spread over the surface. TK’s not sure if he should be thanking them for helping him, or crying because they’re helping him.
“Ok I’ve got something,” Marjan says, and she clears her throat and strikes a pose. “Darling, I will be loving you until we’re seventy, and baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23… oh hang on, more like 30, I guess…”
TK blinks a little at the interjection but Marjan is coughing to grab his attention back, this time standing up. “I’m thinking about how people fall in love in mysterious ways, maybe just the touch of a hand. I fall in love with you every single day and I just want to tell you I am…”
“Hang on,” TK interrupts because he’s getting the horrid feeling he’s heard this before. “Are you seriously using Ed Sheeran lyrics as a suggestion for my wedding vows?”
There’s a pause, before Nancy starts laughing, so loud she gains the attention of everyone else in the station within hearing range and Marjan shrugs as she sits down. “What’s wrong with that?”
TK gasps. “Everything, they’re supposed to be about Carlos and my love for him, not Ed Sheeran’s feelings. I can’t use song lyrics, Marj, I can’t use someone else’s words.”
“No one would know who this Ned Sheeghan bloke is, I've not heard of him or his songs,” Judd says and that makes Nancy laugh even harder.
“You’re too old,” is her judgement that makes Judd scowl even more.
“You try then,” he suggests instead, leaning back in his chair and fixing her with a fierce look. Nancy just grins, and high fives Marjan and TK groans internally because he’s sure nothing good is going to come of this.
“Sure thing, cowboy, just listen to this” she says, before sitting up straight, a hand on her heart and gazing into the middle distance, like she’s staring at a lover. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty until tonight.”
“That’s Romeo and Juliet, isn’t it,” TK drops his head into his hands. “Nancy, please…”
“Ok, ok, maybe one of the most famous plays in the world wasn’t the best idea, but listen to this. He is more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same… my great thought in living is himself…”. Nancy manages to get this far through her speech before catching the eye of Marjan and she dissolves into giggles, unable to speak any more.
TK’s speechless. “Is that another play?”
“Book,” Marjan scoffs. “Your boy would know it I bet, I’m sure it’s been part of the book club readings, hasn’t it, Nance?”
Nancy finally sits up, wiping her eyes, a broad smile on her face. “I just imagined what Carlos would think if TK stood up and read this,” she admits. “And it’s beautiful and he’d like it, so why not.”
“If you guys aren’t taking this seriously, I’ll leave, shall I?” TK goes to stand up but Judd reaches out for him.
“Hey, let me try? I’m here for you, brother, always, you know that right?” And as TK sits back down, he closes his eyes, starting to speak. “Carlos. You’re the first mate to my ship captain, the Smee to my Captain Hook. I want us to grow old together, to shake our fists at teenagers and to talk about the old days when things were better and cheaper and firemen were still hot. I love you more than I love Nutella or tacos, and more than that, you are always my favourite deputy, I love you to infinity and beyond and I will always choo-choo-choose you. As the wise Salt n Pepa said, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man. So today, we join our two hearts into one being, and not in a Time Lord way. The only thing I can say is do you take me to be your hunka-hunka burning love?”
TK’s silent, he can’t find words to even stop Judd mid flow. Nancy and Marjan are trying not to laugh. And then, as Judd dramatically stops, the voice of his fiancée floats through the air. “Really?” Carlos says, stepping forward and smiling, beautiful and lovely. “Nutella? Not Captain Strand’s smoothies? Judd, you missed a trick.”
There’s laughter and clapping on backs but TK’s not really aware of anything until Carlos is sitting next to him, kissing him softly hello, a hand stroking his thigh as he smiles at him.
“Are you ok?” he asks, quiet so only TK can hear.
“Yeah, just… I wanted some help with my words and I don’t know if that helped at all.”
Carlos leans in and nuzzles his nose against TK’s, eyelashes fluttering against his skin. “You don’t have to write your own vows, Ty. I just want you to be happy. I know I am, I’m marrying my best friend and it doesn’t matter to me what you say or don’t say. The fact you’re there is enough for me.”
TK gulps and kisses Carlos. “God, I love you so much,” he whispers into Carlos’ smiling mouth.
“Good, I love you too,” Carlos says, “but, if you do use Judd’s speech, not even my love for you will be able to stop me laughing all the way through the ceremony.”