Chapter Text
SPRING
The Spanish-style estate is breathtakingly beautiful; the surrounding view, even more so. The May weather is perfect for an outdoor party. There is chaos everywhere as five different people try to ask Shane about table placements and parking and some sort of cheese disaster going on in the kitchen. He answers the best he can as he keeps walking. He knows by now that stopping is a huge mistake. Never stop walking or else more people will yank you away.
Organizing this lavish party for their friends and family has been hard enough. Shane has no clue how people manage to plan full weddings without losing their minds.
Ryan has been out here all morning helping to set stuff up. When Shane woke up, Ryan was already gone, a note left on the fridge that said: Obi’s fed. Taking your mom with me. See you tonight! LOVE YOU!
Shane goes up the stairs and tries to remember which door he’s supposed to be looking for. Jake had texted him that Ryan is getting ready in one of these rooms. There's a sense of excitement in his stomach. It’s nearing five in the afternoon now, and he hasn’t seen Ryan all day. He misses him.
There are days when Shane can hardly wrap his head around how everything has turned out. The announcement that he and Ryan are together caused quite an online stir. He and Ryan moved back to L.A. and partnered up with Steven to start Watcher, which greatly benefited from the intrigue. Buzzfeed gave them the greenlight for the triumphant return of Buzzfeed Unsolved. Their days are constantly busy, trying to manage several spinning plates at once, but Shane isn’t complaining. Every night he goes to sleep with the love of his life next to him. Shane doesn’t know how he got so lucky. Ryan says it’s some cosmic reward for the trauma of almost getting murdered, and hell, maybe it is.
“Ryan! You in here?” Shane calls out as he starts to open the door.
There’s the sound of running and a sudden weight against the half-opened door that makes Shane pause. “You can’t come in!” Ryan’s voice says from behind the door. “It’s bad luck if we see each other!”
Shane laughs, leaning against the door as well. “Are you serious? Ryan, we’re already married.”
“We need all the good luck we can get. I don’t wanna take any chances.”
Shane rolls his eyes, but there’s a smile on his face as he thinks, I’m married to an insane person. He can picture Ryan pressed against the other side of the door, probably already in his tux. Shane has never been happier. “Fine,” he says. “Guess I can wait a few more hours. I’ll let you finish getting all dolled up.”
Ryan laughs, and Shane can’t wait to spend the rest of his life hearing that sound.
There’s excitement in the air as the music is turned on. More and more people begin to arrive. It feels special that so many are here to celebrate him and Ryan and the commitment that they’ve made to each other.
TJ films him as he heads downstairs towards the party. Shane smiles at the camera and says, “I think it’s time.”
He spots Ryan immediately as he steps out. Shane’s heart melts instantly as Ryan turns and sees him too, his eyes lighting up. Ryan looks great in his fancy suit. They walk towards each other, and Shane can’t help but steal a quick kiss. He doesn’t think at all about the crowd watching them until the loud eruption of cheers breaks out and makes them both laugh.
It feels incredible to be surrounded by so many people that he loves and who love him. His parents and his family. Old friends and Buzzfeed friends. The entire Watcher crew. Jennifer with Howie and Griffin in adorable little suits. Karen and Emily. Jim and Simon and Rose. All of them here to celebrate with them.
Allen swings by later that night, a gift in hand and a large grin on his face. “By far my favorites. Look at you two lovebirds! I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thank you, Allen,” they say in unison, which makes him laugh as he pulls them in for a hug.
As a compromise with their mothers, they agreed to do a lot of the traditional wedding things tonight. They have a first dance. They cut a cake together. A handful of people give toasts. They smile and wave at the cameras, and accept hugs of congratulations from everyone.
The party gets rowdy as Eugene and Zach start a dance off. Shane takes advantage of the distraction and grabs Ryan's hand. He leads him inside and finds an empty room, quickly closing the door behind them.
Ryan grins at him, face flushed from drinking, waggling his eyebrows in a comically suggestive manner. “Couldn’t wait til tonight?” he jokes.
“No,” Shane admits as he pulls Ryan in for a kiss. Just a moment for the two of them and no one else. He pulls back only a few inches to say, “And also I wanted to tell you my vows.”
“Vows?”
“Yeah. Not that the first ones weren't good, but I have a few of my own that I want to make."
"Okay." Ryan grins. "Let's hear them."
"I promise to take you to Disneyland at least once a month."
"That's a really good one."
"And to cheer for the Lakers even though I don't understand what's going on. I promise to not get jealous about the fact that Obi clearly loves you more than me. And to let you keep bottles of holy water around, even though it's insane."
"These are all winners."
"There's one more. Ryan Steven Bergara, I promise that you're always going to be my best friend."
Ryan's face melts into a soft, love-filled smile. "Shane Alexander Madej, I promise to never turn on the spirit box in the house while you’re in there.”
“Oh thank god.”
Ryan laughs. “And I promise to watch weird history documentaries with you, even the ones that are sorta boring. I promise to always go to the mall with you when you ask and always compliment you on your cooking. And I promise that you’re always going to be my best friend.”
“I’d say the future is looking bright for us.”
“Incredibly bright.”
Shane feels incredibly happy as he says, “I love you.”
“I love you. More than anything.”
Their kiss gets interrupted by loud pounding on the door, and Steven's voice yelling, “You two better be dressed in there! Ryan's dad is looking for you guys. He says it's time to play some sort of sea snake game? Something about holding hands in a chain — I don't know, just make yourselves decent and get out here!”
Ryan laughs and says, “Oh my god, that one's actually pretty fun. Let's go.”
They open the door and head back. Back to their party. Back to the wonderful life they get to create together.