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Andy had never thought much about what he wanted his wedding to be like. It wasn't exactly the sort of thing little boys thought about growing up and by the time he was old enough to consider giving it any thought, he was also old enough to know that it wasn't even an option for him. Guys didn't marry other guys. They weren't even supposed to like other guys, not like he did. He did like them though and while he'd eventually managed to accept that as an okay part of himself, he knew other people wouldn't be able to. Not in most places and certainly not in Sanford Gloucestershire.
They'd talked about it a few times, him and Andy. About how it would be nice. Because it would be. Andy had been his best friend ever since they were kids and had continued being his best friend even as their relationship had changed. He knew Andy in a way that no one else did. Cared about him in a way no one else could. Loved him, even if he hadn't wanted to admit it at first. Andy had seen people get married for far less than that, and it had been nice to imagine every once in a while what it might be like to get to call his best friend his husband.
He hadn't thought too hard though. Never much point. Andy had been called cynical plenty of times but he preferred to call himself realistic; things changed slowly in the world, if they changed at all, and they changed even slower here in Sanford. Especially about things like that.
Things had changed though. Not quickly- Andy had been right about that- but they did change, bit by bit as the years passed. Sanford changed after Frank and the others were gone. Andy had lived with it for so many years that he'd never even stopped to consider how tightly controlled and carefully presented everything had been until suddenly that pressure was…not gone but lessened, at least a little. In the background, the country's views shifted as the years passed and Sanford's views slowly shifted with it, always a little behind but still moving. Andy supposed whatever Danny and Nicholas had going on had helped too; they'd gone from a rumor to an open secret to just…open. It hadn't been entirely smooth but it had certainly gone better than all of the catastrophized scenarios Andy had run through in his mind over the years. It wasn't perfect and it never would be- Andy was a realist after all, and maybe even a cynic- but it was something. Enough to start quiet conversations at least, whispered talks with Andy late at night about what their future could look like. Maybe. Possibly. Hopefully.
And that was how he had ended up standing here in the backyard of Andy's dad's farmhouse, wearing a suit that was nicer and more uncomfortable than any other clothes he'd ever owned and waiting for his best friend and partner- Christ, his fiance, he still wasn't used to that word- to join him outside.
"You look nice."
Andy blinked, drawn out of his thoughts. Nicholas' voice was softer than it usually was, with none of the normal crisp, business-like quality that Andy usually rolled his eyes at. Just a soft kindness that made Andy look back down and fiddle with his sleeve because what the fuck was he supposed to do with that? He gestured vaguely at Nicholas' suit; he even managed to wear that like a fucking uniform. "And you look like a fucking ponce."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "You always this lovely when you're nervous?"
"I'm not nervous."
Nicholas' eyebrow stayed raised, but amusement crept in his expression. "You're about to get married, Andy. Of course you're nervous."
Andy frowned off at nothing in particular. He was nervous, but he wasn't about to admit that to Nicholas fucking Angel. "I'm fine. And don't get used to this." He gestured at his tie. "I'm not wearing one of these to work. Ever."
Nicholas laughed as he walked off. "Wasn't even going to try. I might be a stickler for rules, but I'm not an idiot. I know a lost battle when I see it."
Andy hummed and shoved his hands in his pockets. It was harder to ignore his nervousness now that Nicholas had called attention to it- fuckin' arse- so Andy looked around instead, trying to find something else to focus on. There wasn't much, really. It was a small ceremony, to the point of barely being a ceremony at all. Neither of them had wanted anything big, and they also hadn't had much inclination to get married in the church. Weddings there were always a village affair whether you wanted it or not, and that…hadn't been something either of them were keen on. Small changes happening slowly and all.
Andy had been the one to suggest his dad's farm. In the spring, he'd said, because the apple orchard would be blooming then. It had been a disgustingly romantic suggestion and Andy had agreed immediately because goddammit if he wasn't soft for the way his partner's face had lit up at the thought. Just a small gathering of the precinct and the one living parent he and Andy had between them, out by the apple trees. The new vicar too- she'd given Andy a warm and understanding smile when he'd approached her, agreeing to the mumbled request he'd managed to get out without fuss.
Doris' laugh drifted through the air and Andy looked over. No Walker or Saxon- it had been several years since they'd had to bury the both of them- but Doris, Tony, Danny, and Nicholas were all here. Even the Turner twins had come. It felt…nice, seeing them all here like this. Felt right. Like the small, weird little family Andy supposed they'd become over the years. They were an odd bunch, but they were the ones Andy- both of them- had wanted to share this day with.
The sound of the backdoor on the farmhouse closing immediately grabbed Andy's attention and he felt the nervousness solidify in his gut. Andy was walking down the hill towards the orchard, laughing at something his dad had said, and suddenly all of this felt so real. He was about to get married and Andy wasn't just going to be his best friend and partner anymore, he was going to be his husband.
The thought was as wonderful as it was terrifying.
"Are you ready, Mr. Wainwright?" Andy looked over as the vicar rested a hand on his arm. "It looks like we're probably good to get started as long as you're set."
Andy nodded, hoping his voice didn't sound too nervous. "Yeah, I'm ready."
If the gentle smile the vicar gave him before turning was anything to go by, he hadn't done a very good job of hiding his nervousness, but Andy couldn't quite find it in him to care. He followed the vicar over to one of the trees on the edge of the orchard. Part of him wanted to watch Andy walk down the hill with his dad, wanted to take in every moment of it, but even just the thought made the anxiety in his stomach that much heavier. Instead he took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts on the fact that he'd be able to call Andy his husband in barely more than a few minutes. That didn't make him any less nervous, but it was a nice thought all the same.
"Eyyy, you look nice!"
Danny's voice drew Andy's attention over. The comment was met with a quiet shush from Nicholas but all Andy registered was the smile on his partner's face as he clapped Danny on the shoulder. "Thanks, mate."
Neither of them had ever been considered what most people would call well dressed- Nicholas had certainly given them enough shit about it over the years- but the Cartwright half of the Andes had always been the one slightly more likely to at least wear a tie to work. Enough to look mostly professional, even if it was somewhat begrudging. And even now the suit he was wearing wasn't anything particularly special- the sort of thing that the one tailor shop in town was willing to rent out because neither of them were dumb enough to think they'd get enough use out of it to warrant buying.
Andy looked beautiful though. Even in a rented suit he looked beautiful and Christ, Andy was about to marry him.
Andy's smile softened as he finally made it over to the vicar, looking down briefly before meeting Andy's eyes. "You ready for this?"
Andy could feel himself smiling in response, his nervousness starting to fall away. He reached out, taking Andy's hands lightly in his. "Yeah, I am."
The vicar started speaking beside him, launching into the ceremony, but all of Andy's attention stayed focused on the man across from him. This was actually happening. It was finally happening. Andy had been a fixture in his life ever since they were kids. His best friend. His work partner after they both finished their apprenticeship in the force, two dumbass 21 year olds ready to face the familiarly dull world of Sanford. His life partner once they both managed to work through some of their internalized shit a few years later. It hadn't always been great. It certainly hadn't been perfect. They'd argued and fought and gone to bed angry and some days Andy had wondered why he'd fallen in love with such a stubborn asshole. But he had. And twenty years later, he still did. The years were starting to show; he could see the silver starting to come in around Andy's temples and the occasional streak in his curls, lines in his face that hadn't been there a few years ago, and Andy knew he was starting to show his age too, his own hair starting to be more salt than pepper by now. The years weren't a bad thing though. Not when they spent them together. Andy was part of him, a permanent, immovable piece of his life, and even on their bad days there wasn't a single other person he'd want to spend his life with.
The vicar paused, coming to a break in whatever she'd been saying. Andy supposed he should probably be paying more attention- it was his fucking wedding after all, it would be fucking embarrassing if he missed his cue- but the words didn't ultimately matter. Not really. All that mattered was that they were here.
It wasn't until she turned slightly that Andy realized where exactly in the ceremony they were. "Andrew Cartwright, do you take this man, Andrew Wainwright, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish til death do you part?"
The gentle increase in pressure as Andy squeezed his hands, smiling at him, made Andy's heart skip a beat just like it had the first time Andy had slipped his hand into his all those years ago. "I do."
The vicar turned to face him now. "And do you, Andrew Wainwright, take this man, Andrew Cartwright, to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish til death do you part?"
It almost felt like a laughable question, like Andy could have ever had an answer besides yes. He squeezed Andy's hands back. "I do."
A moment of silence passed before the vicar cleared her throat, prompting a quiet oh! from Danny as he hurried over and pulled the rings from his pocket. The vicar accepted them and held them out between the two men. "Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be to Andrew and Andrew a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, to remind them of the vow and covenant they have made this day."
Andy took one of the rings, carefully slipping it onto Andy's finger. The weight of the gold band around his own finger as Andy did the same felt like something falling into place that he'd never even realized was missing.
"In the presence of God, and before this congregation, Andrew and Andrew have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings. I therefore proclaim that they are husband and husband. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." The vicar paused, looking between both of them with a warm smile. "Congratulations to you both. You may now kiss your husband."
Andy didn't even hesitate before moving in, closing the space between them and bringing his hand up to cup Andy's cheek as he kissed him. His husband- he could say that now, his husband- leaned into the contact, wrapping an arm around him. Twenty years was a long time and they'd shared more kisses than Andy could count over the years. Some had been quick, others had been passionate, but none had been like this. None had been with his husband.
A catcall- Doris, by the sound of it- was what finally pulled them apart, but just barely. Andy stayed close, his face just inches from his partner's. He could hear the sound of the others celebrating around them, but none of it was enough to really break through. Not right now. "I love you, Ands. More than anything."
It was a quiet confession, the sort of thing Andy had whispered and laughed and groaned thousands of times over the years. It was different now though. There was a weight behind it that hadn't been there before, even though he'd meant the words then just as much as he did now. He loved Andy and now he loved him publicly. He'd never thought that would be an option, not for men like them. And he wasn't stupid enough to think it would be perfect. That there wouldn't be a cost sometimes. But it was worth it. Andy was worth it. They'd deal with whatever shit came up together, like they always did.
Andy smiled at him, a movement he felt more than saw as Andy closed the space between them again with a soft kiss. "I love you too."
And that was all that mattered.