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If you asked Buck, he’d say that they did an excellent job of keeping it a secret.
When the invites for the engagement party went out, no one said anything that made him or Tommy feel like their secret wasn’t a secret.
Smart casual, they’d said. Cocktail dresses if the ladies wanted to be a bit fancier. Yes, Jee could wear that pretty purple princess dress her Uncles Buck and Tommy got her for Christmas, and yes, Mara could wear her sparkly orange sneakers she loved so much instead of something a little more formal. No, Chris couldn’t wear a band shirt, but that was Eddie’s decision, not Buck’s.
Buck didn’t care; he just wanted his loved ones there.
No one was shocked when Phillip and Margaret had turned down the invitation, claiming that they hadn’t flown over for Maddie and Chim’s engagement party so it wouldn’t be fair if they made it for Buck and Tommy’s.
Honestly, Buck thought it was more like they still weren’t on board with him being with Tommy. They were the kind of people who didn’t have anything against queer people until it’s their own son. There’d been comments about how they’d been looking forward to one day having a daughter-in-law. Buck bit his tongue every time it was mentioned because they couldn’t even enjoy having a daughter.
Whatever.
Their absence at the greatest party they’d ever been invited to was their loss, not the host’s.
Buck arrived at the venue first. It wasn’t anything too fancy, just an event space in a hotel with catering and an open bar.
He put up the decorations – no balloons, they’re bad for the environment! – and felt his heart flutter when he settled the sign that read future Mr. & Mr. Kinard on the easel before he hid all the extra bits and pieces that would come out after the surprise was revealed.
Tommy showed up not long after Buck finished making sure all the flowers on the tables were perfect (but not so perfect that people would think that they looked a little too much like... Not so perfect they’d give away the secret). He looked incredible in his soft linen suit. Dark charcoal grey, cream shirt. The opposite to Buck’s cream suit and dark shirt combination. Not too formal, not too telling.
Buck just had to kiss him when he saw him, and he knew from the way that Tommy kissed him back that they were doing the right thing. They loved each other so very much.
“Okay, lemme see it,” Buck demanded the moment they broke apart. Tommy chuckled, pressed another quick kiss to his lips, and stepped aside to let Buck check the cake he’d placed on a table before he’d swept Buck up into his arms.
Afterwards, Buck would like it to be known that he hadn’t been a Groomzilla, but he definitely had fallen into his clipboard!Buck persona at certain points.
It didn’t matter – Tommy loved him even after seeing him at what some people (Chim) considered his worst.
“It looks so good!”
The cake was perfect.
“She did an amazing job,” Tommy agreed, and it was nothing too fancy, just like the rest of the party, just a two-tiered white cake with piped white roses that had green leaves. The cake topper – Mr. & Mr. Kinard again – was in the box, too. Simple, understated, and perfect.
And needed to be hid away because a wedding cake wasn’t normal for an engagement party.
“I’ll take it to catering?”
“Yes please.”
Buck had started putting out the coasters they’d had made with QR codes that led to a Google Drive for their guests to upload any photos they took when the Wilsons arrived.
The party was going exactly how Buck expected it to.
He and Tommy greeted them with wide grins and open arms. Hen was stunning in a baby pink suit, and Karen was gorgeous in a brown and blue floral dress. Denny looked every bit the little man he was in slacks and a button-down shirt, and the orange sparkly shoes were an excellent match to Mara’s mint green dress. No one dressed better than the Wilsons, as far as Buck was concerned, and they thanked him when he told them as much.
“There is a bit of a secret game being played tonight,” Tommy said, and Buck dashed away for a moment to grab what they needed for Hen.
“We can’t tell you why, but this is yours to hold on to until we ask you to bring it to us,” Buck kind-of explained as he handed over a white paper bag that was sealed with a sticker with her name on it. His Dymo label maker got a bit of a workout the weekend before. “You’re not allowed to look into it, and please don’t squeeze it to try to figure out what’s inside it.”
“It’s for you and only you,” Tommy continued, “so if you lose it…”
“I won’t,” Hen promised. “I am far too curious now.”
“Excellent.”
Bobby and Athena arrived next. That was when Buck nearly lost it. He knew he was going to cry – Buckleys were the biggest saps on the planet – but seeing the man he wished was his father while his actual, biological parents wouldn’t be there for him hit him harder than Buck expected it to.
Honestly, Buck wasn’t sure if they would’ve shown up if they’d known the truth.
Both Buck and Tommy acknowledged that they owed much of their lives to Bobby – that they wouldn’t have met if Bobby hadn’t taken Athena on that doomed cruise – and they were just about to say as much when Jee crashed into Buck’s leg.
Bobby, whose eyes were a little misty as if he knew what they were thinking, smiled fondly and assured Buck that they’d talk later when he was done greeting his guests, then followed Athena to the bar with a hand on the small of her back. Buck had made sure the bar was stocked with his favourite non-alcoholic beverages, along with plenty of Athena’s favourite alcoholic ones.
“I wanna be just like them when we grow up,” Buck sighed dreamily.
Tommy nudged him. “I am grown up,” he said.
“And you’re still madly in love with me? Like them?”
“Wildly.” Tommy confirmed it with a kiss, one that would’ve swept Buck off his feet if they’d been at home.
As it was, they weren’t, and they had an audience.
“You two are disgusting,” Chim groaned, making them behave.
“You’re disgusting,” Buck countered because Chim was his brother-in-law, then greeted his sister and niece. “But you three are beautiful.” Maddie’d picked a lavender dress that matched Jee’s, and Joy, on Chim’s hip, was in baby pink.
She gave him the biggest hug yet while Tommy disappeared to the table with the paper bags.
“I’m so happy for you,” Maddie said when Buck let her go. “This place is gorgeous. Are you considering it for the actual wedding?”
Had Buck been a weaker man, he might’ve let the secret spill.
Thankfully, he was determined to not do that, and Chim didn’t give him a chance to anyway.
“Hey, aren’t you gonna go with that winery? The owners were very happy with us after we got that drunk out of the barrel.”
“They actually offered it for free,” Tommy said as he returned with a bag and an envelope. “But they don’t have any availabilities for another two years. We’re ready for something sooner.”
Buck was so very determined…
“These are for you,” he said instead, grabbing the envelope from Tommy. “There’s a secret game – I guess like a bit of a scavenger hunt. Do not open them until you’re told to, and don’t try to figure out what’s in them.”
The envelope went to Maddie and the bag to Chim. Jee pouted at not getting to play along, but they’d figured giving the kids something would be too obvious.
The pout was turned into a beaming smile when Buck grabbed Jee a strawberry off a charcuterie board they’d placed on every table. She munched on it with a hasty ‘thanks!’ before running off to find Mara.
“I sometimes forget how easy you make it look,” Maddie huffed. Her eyed flicked up to Tommy. “He’s going to make an incredible dad one day.”
“I know. We’re going to look into adoption agencies right after the wedding,” Tommy said, rubbing his hand up and down Buck’s back. “I can’t wait to make him a dad.”
“Husband first,” Buck said, but Christ he was ready to start a family with Tommy.
It was a fucking good thing that…
Eddie walked in with his abuela on one arm and Tommy’s nonna on the other.
“Nonna,” Tommy beamed and went to her with outstretched arms.
“You look like the luckiest man in the city,” Buck teased Eddie and gave Abuela a hug before Tommy let go of Nonna and gave Buck the space to get in there for a hug of his own.
“Really?” Eddie asked, “Because I think Tommy’s the luckiest since he nabbed you.”
“That might just be the nicest thing you’ve ever said.”
Abuela smiled. “He can be sweet when he wants to be.”
“Very rarely,” Chris added and squeezed in for incredibly brief hugs to both Buck and Tommy’s waists. “Congrats, you two.”
He was off looking for Denny before either could thank him.
Buck leant into Tommy’s body. “You shoulda seen him when he was seven. He was adorable.”
“I’ll bet.” Tommy pressed a kiss to Buck’s birthmark before heading off to grab Eddie’s white bag.
“You boys look so handsome,” Nonna sighed, and Buck couldn’t have asked for a better grandmother-in-law. She was much younger than he’d expected her to be – she’d had Tommy’s mother at seventeen, and Tommy’s mother had him at sixteen, so she was still in her seventies. Both had had abusive husbands who’d abused their children, which is why Tommy showed up on her door when he was a pre-teen. His father always clawed him back, no matter how many times Tommy ran away, but his nonna was always there for him.
Tommy handed Eddie his white paper bag. “No peeking. Just hold onto it. Of all the bags, this is probably the most important to the game.” Buck smiled as Eddie stopped squeezing the bag – they’d put the secret items in a longer box than what they came in because they knew he’d try to figure it out – and looked around to see who else had packages.
“Is this like a guessing game? Me, Hen, Chim and Maddie have to guess what’s in here?”
“Nah, so don’t even try it.”
“Nothing for Bobby?”
“He’ll have a different part to play.”
The thought of Bobby’s part had brought Buck to tears multiple times since they started planning the party. Tommy must’ve sensed it was about to happen again, because he wrapped an arm around him and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“Do you want to check on Lisa?” he whispered and Buck nodded his head. He could do that, he could distract himself with the next stage of his plan.
God, he was fucking lucky that he got to marry someone who knew and loved him so well.
The photographer appeared just as Buck realised he hadn’t arrived on time. Again, a photographer wasn’t normally included in engagement parties but he laughed it off whenever someone made comments about it – said he was a friend of Tommy’s who volunteered because he wanted to build up his portfolio (that wasn’t true, he was very expensive, very qualified, and got Buck and Tommy mixed up every now and then). The explanation worked a treat, though. No one thought it was odd after hearing it and posed for photos when approached.
Lisa snuck in at some point, explained that she was hotel staff when someone asked her how she knew the future grooms, and then it was five-thirty – the show was ready. It was go time. Tommy whisked Nonna away to one corner and Buck went straight to Bobby.
“Hey, can I grab you for a quick chat?”
Buck steered Bobby towards one of the spare tables and stood with a smile he couldn’t erase.
So close.
He caught Tommy’s eye and gave him a nod of his head because he was ready, he was so ready. It was going to happen.
“What did you want to talk about?”
“Oh, uh. I just needed to move you over here. For reasons.”
“The surprise game?”
Of course Bobby would’ve heard about it.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.”
The room fell quiet as they all gave their attention to Lisa.
“My name is Lisa Marchant, and it is my honour and my privilege to be here tonight to officiate the wedding between Thomas Kinard and Evan Buckley.”
There were gasps and excited chatter. Buck knew to not look at Maddie because if he saw her cry, he’d cry.
Bobby’s hand wrapped around Buck’s forearm, grabbing his attention. “Is this a surprise wedding?”
Buck nodded his head. “Would you do me the honour of walking me to my future husband when the celebrant gets to that part?”
Tears sprung to his eyes when Bobby answered that with a bone-crushing hug. When they parted, Bobby’s eyes were misty again. “Of course, kid.”
“So yes, to confirm, we have gathered here today for a wedding, not an engagement party,” Lisa continued. “When they approached me with the idea of a secret wedding and told me that their friends and family wouldn’t know, I asked how they intended to keep it a secret from their loved ones. The answer was apparently very simple: Buck has a clipboard.”
It got the groans they predicted. Some laughed.
“And when I asked them why they wanted a wedding like this, without groomsmen, that was apparently simple, too: they both wanted Eddie to be their best man, and neither wanted Chim to give a speech.”
That received louder laughs, and Buck could only shrug at the mock-offended look Chim gave him.
“We have a quick bit of housekeeping before we get our grooms to the front of the room: there is a photographer, I’m sure you’ve seen the talented François floating around with his camera. He will take plenty of photos of Tommy and Buck so there’s no need to fill up your own camera roll during the ceremony. I’d also like to point out that now is the best time to switch your phones to silent.” She paused for a moment so everyone could do just that, and then it was time.
Buck was about to become a married man. A husband. He was minutes away from marrying Tommy.
His cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
“With that said and done, I would like to welcome to the stage Tommy Kinard, escorted by his nonna, Giulia, and Evan Buckley, escorted by his other father, Bobby.”
Bobby hugged him again – Buck suspected it was to hide his tears – before his hand returned to Buck’s arm to escort him to the stage.
Even if Buck hadn’t decided against looking out at the crowd so that he wouldn’t burst out into tears at the sight of his family witnessing his wedding, once his eyes landed on Tommy, he couldn’t look away.
He looked happy. He looked so completely and unbelievably happy to be walking to Buck with Nonna on his arm.
When they reached the stage, Bobby let go of Buck to pull Tommy into a crushing hug, then embraced Buck again.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said into Buck’s ear. “Thank you for this honour.”
And, yeah, Buck wept.
He ducked low for a warm hug from Nonna, then stepped into Tommy’s arms to give him a kiss so full of love and joy because they were getting married. Them. They were doing it.
“Not yet, fellas. Ugh, I knew you two would be that couple.” It was said affectionately and got the appropriate laughs.
Buck couldn’t stand the thought of being too far away from Tommy so he pressed his forehead to his and didn’t step out of his arms. They’d been told to stand holding hands, but Tommy’s hands settled on the small of his back, warm and strong, just as determined to keep Buck close as Buck was.
“That’ll do,” Lisa sighed, then, “Can Hen and Chim please step up with the first of our secret parcels?”
And, damnit, that meant that they’d have to separate, but Buck would allow it as long as he’d be back within Tommy’s arms again shortly.
Inside the bags were boxes and inside those boxes were two white roses and one pen each. They stepped back for just a moment so Hen and Chim could pin the roses to their lapels and watched as they did the same to Bobby and Giulia.
“The pens are for Chim and Eddie,” Lisa explained when both Hen and Chim held them up questioningly. “Our grooms have requested that the two people who saved their lives be their witnesses – it was Chim who carried Tommy out of a building before it exploded, and it was Eddie who got Buck’s heart beating again after he, and excuse me if I find this a bit dramatic, was struck by lightning.” She leveled Buck and Tommy with a look. “The two of you have convinced me to never date a firefighter, what even are your lives?”
More laughter; Buck was so glad they chose her.
“Alright, you can go back to canoodling for this part.”
Didn’t have to tell them twice.
She continued speaking, going on about how they met (what kind of maniac flies a helicopter into a hurricane?), what trials their relationship has seen (the queerest ally in all of LGBTQ+ history, that Break Up after their first six-month anniversary), but Buck didn’t listen. He’d heard it over a Zoom call the day before in preparation, he could only focus on the warm strength that was his very-soon-to-be husband, who was looking at him so lovingly.
“I love you,” Buck whispered and Tommy squeezed him a little tighter.
“I love you,” he whispered back.
They kissed again.
“My kingdom for a spray bottle,” Lisa sighed, making them laugh into their kiss. “I guess I’ll just have to hurry it up. Maddie, if you could please bring your secret parcel.”
Maddie didn’t hand it over easily. She first squeezed Tommy around his ribs, then smacked Buck on the arm before dragging him into a hug. Her face was tear-streaked and Buck wasn’t gonna apologise.
“You’re an ass,” she accused but gave him the envelope.
“You raised me,” Buck pointed out with a kiss to her forehead. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
She smacked him again. “Stop trying to make me cry.”
Tommy huffed out a laugh. “Does anyone really have to try to make a Buckley, or…?”
“As if you’re not a giant softie,” Buck teased hut hugged Maddie again so they could put her parcel to use.
It was their vows.
Lisa announced as much. “Buck, would you like to go first?”
Buck had to laugh again as he pulled his out of the envelope. Everything was blurry through his tears.
She held the microphone to his face. “Uh, I might have to wing this,” Buck confessed. “I’m crying too much to read them.” He turned a little to address their family. “We were actually gonna bet which one of us was gonna cry first, but we both said ourselves, which is cheating, and I think we were both right anyway.” He blinked down at the paper. “I hope I memorised this.”
Buck when he looked up and saw Tommy watching him with so much love, when he saw his entire future right there, everything he’d written disappeared from his brain.
“I love you. I love you so much. You changed my world for the better that night you kissed me.” He sniffled. “You’ve seen me – literally boils and all – and you still said ‘yes’. It’s probably the cheesiest thing, but I really believe that you complete me. You’re sure where I’m indecisive, you’re in the air while I’m grounded, you’re a sassy bitch where I’m kind-hearted – sorry, Nonna, Abuela…”
“He is a bitch,” Nonna agreed, making the crowd laugh.
“We are flawed and have had our problems but we have fought through them to come out the other side better and stronger for it and that’s all I’ve ever wanted. Someone to fight for me and to love me anyway and you do.” Buck took a deep breath, they weren’t the vows he’d written but it was close enough. “In just a few minutes, I will be able to say that I am your husband, and I will forever say it with pride and happiness.”
His husband. Buck had to cut it off there, too overwhelmed to continue. It didn’t help that Tommy had tears running down his cheeks, getting lost in his smile lines.
“And now, Tommy?” Lisa prompted and Tommy had to take a moment before he could start.
“Evan, you are my home, my family. You have taught me that the things that I am scared of are the things worth taking risks for. For all I have done to protect myself, you have shown me that it isn’t necessary with you. I have made some dumb decisions but that never stopped you from reaching out and holding on to me. I love you. I love your tenacity and your inability to do anything without putting your heart into it one-hundred percent. You are kind and sweet and adorable and so incredibly smart and brave. I…the thought of raising children with you, of watching you teach our babies all of your best qualities…fuck.”
He choked on his tears and Buck knew why – he knew that Tommy had grown up believing that he could never have a family with someone he loved, that he would end up marrying a woman society deemed right for him, which he’d nearly done, and that any children he had would be a constant reminder of how he’d created a life to hide himself.
Tommy collected himself and held Buck’s gaze again. “I want a forever with you and I am so blessed to be here, marrying you.”
God, Buck loved him. He loved him so much. He cupped Tommy’s face in his hands and wiped his tears away with this thumbs before leaning in for another kiss, because he had to.
“Alright, while they get that done,” Lisa sighed, “Eddie, please join us with your bag.”
Eddie smacked Buck on the shoulder, breaking their kiss. “You couldn’t make me your best man so you settled for the ring bearer?”
That didn’t stop him from hugging them both, though, before he opened the previous package for them when he realised Tommy shaking too hard to do it himself. Buck grabbed Tommy’s hands.
“Sorry, baby, I’m just…”
“Me too.”
Eddie opened the bag and laughed at the silly container they’d hidden the little velvet boxes in, then opened the boxes and showed them each so they could pick the other’s. He even took each ring out and placed them into the palms of their hands.
“I’m not putting them on you,” he said, then returned to the table where Chris and Abuela were sitting.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur. Buck had no idea how he managed to repeat what Lisa said to him, and he had absolutely no memory of signing the marriage certificate, but he would always remember when Lisa declared them Mr. and Mr. Kinard and the way Tommy kissed him, sealing their fates with a kiss all over again.
The way their family swarmed them afterwards with hugs and congratulatory words left him warm and fuzzy inside, but the way Tommy led him onto the dancefloor and just swayed with him melted him.
If you asked Buck, it was the perfect way to marry the love of his life.