Memories

XCIV

OPEN UP

Hey darling if the lights went low
Could you stay wrapped up with me before the night gets cold
For a second I was thinking you might not stay
But I know, but I know, but I know you're not that kind

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The wedding was small, just like they'd wanted. Only the Original Foxes and Robin were in attendance, as well as Jean, Jeremy, Laila and Alvarez from the Trojans.

Kevin had asked both Neil and Andrew to be his best men, and while Neil had been excited and happy to agree, Andrew had made it look like he couldn't care less. Thalia knew otherwise, though. He had agreed, even though he looked unhappy. 

Thalia hadn't known who to choose to be her maid of honour, so she simply didn't have one. Dan, Allison, Renee, Robin and Gracie were her bridesmaids, and she loved the fact that they were there all equally. 

One of the only jobs Thalia had left solely to Kevin was finding an officiator. She'd assumed he'd pick some priest or experienced person to do it, but when she walked down the aisle the day of her wedding and saw Wymack standing at the alter next to his son, Thalia's heart did a flip. He'd become an officiator just so that he could be the one to marry his son off. She smiled wider and met Kevin at the end.

After the ceremony - which had been held outside in the garden of a home Kevin and Thalia had rented for the day - everyone headed inside; it had begun to rain. 'I told you we should have rented a marquee,' Thalia said as she hurried inside, her hand clutched in Kevin's and bouquet held over her head, though it made little difference. Kevin was laughing, and it made Thalia smile.

Thalia's dress was wet, which was a shame, because she really liked it and didn't want to have to take it to the drycleaners. There was clearly no other choice now, though, but she tried not to think about it. This was her big day. She wasn't going to think about such things as drycleaning.

'Uh, hey everyone,' Neil said when everyone had been seated and dinner had been served. He stood, a glass of champagne in his hand - he'd gotten better about drinking over the last few years, but still hesitated at times - and looked nervous. 'I'm better and mouthing off reporters than giving speeches like this,' he said, and everyone laughed, knowing it was the truth. 'But Thalia is my sister, and I've always considered Kevin a brother. So I tried my best. Andrew even helped me write it down so I didn't mess up on the day.' Thalia smiled as her brother fumbled around in his suit pocket for a piece of paper.

'Thalia,' Neil began. He looked at Thalia and Kevin on his side, turning away from everyone else. 'I have always admired you - in our childhood, in our teenage years when life was difficult, and even now - because you've never been afraid to do what you want. To say what you feel. I may be a year older than you, but sometimes I think you're the one that's older.' Thalia smiled and gripped Kevin's hand on top of the table. 'Kevin,' Neil said. Kevin's hand began shaking. He was nervous, but Thalia rubbed her thumb over the top of his hand to show she was there. 'I've always known you love my sister. Ever since we picked her up from Evermore - all she would talk about for the first few days were questions of if you were going to be alright.' Neil smiled. 'You treated her good then, and you still do now.'

When the first dances were over and the cake had been cut, Thalia stood, talking with Katelyn and Aaron - their twins had a babysitter for the night, as did Dan and Matt's daughter and Dean and Dan's son - and Aaron said something that genuinely made Thalia laugh.

'Right out of college,' Thalia spat out her drink onto the floor and covered her mouth with a hand. Aaron was smiling when she looked up at him, but Thalia narrowed her eyes and shook her head. 'I'll go get napkins.'

'Fuck you, Aaron,' Thalia mumbled as he walked away, though she was smiling.

'What did my brother do this time?' Andrew said as he and Neil approached. Thalia checked that she hadn't got any of her water on her dress and when she was satisfied that she hadn't, looked at her brother and his boyfriend.

'Just an inside joke,' Thalia said. 'So, how are you boys enjoying the party?' she asked. Neil smiled. 

'It's wonderful, Anne,' Neil said. Thalia nodded. The two often used their middle names when referring to each other. They were things that had remained constant from the day they were born to the present day, and it was something they were both holding onto.

'I didn't think Kevin was capable of such an elegant thing,' Andrew said, looking around. It had stopped raining outside, but the ground had formed mud and no one wanted to be out there. 'But here we are,' he looked at Thalia then, a smile behind his mask. Thalia smiled at him, and felt arms snake around her waist. She looked back at Kevin who was watching from behind her. 

'I've been to more banquets than you, Andrew,' Kevin said. 'I know elegant.' He moved so that he was standing beside Thalia and holding her hand in his. 

'Not in your everyday life,' Andrew said. 'I've seen your wardrobe; it's horrific. Almost as bad as Neil's was when he turned up at Palmetto.' Neil hit him lightly on the arm, and Andrew didn't even flinch. Less than a year ago he would have pulled a knife on anyone who dared do that, but considering it was Neil, and considering he'd gotten better, Thalia was happy that he felt comfortable with the contact.

Aaron returned shortly after and cleaned up the mess at Thalia's feet before he and Katelyn both headed off to talk with other guests.

A few more hours passed, and by midnight, everyone was either drunk or exhausted from dancing - or both - and the sober members - Neil, Renee, and Jean - drove everyone back to their hotels, while Thalia and Kevin headed back to their apartment. 

As Kevin unlocked the door, he moved quickly and picked up Thalia in his arms, emitting a small squeal and a laugh from her. She smiled down at Kevin as he smiled up at her, and Kevin walked into their home. He kicked the door shut behind them and placed Thalia down carefully. Thalia looked around. Nothing was different, they were just married now. She still had her dress on, and Kevin had his suit, but other thank their fancy dress, they were still the same people.

'I love you, my wife,' Kevin whispered in Thalia's ear, sending shivers down her spine. The rest of the apartment was silent, and everyone else in the building was probably asleep. She turned and faced Kevin with a smile and wound her arms around his neck.

'And I love you, my husband.'