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July - Five Months after the London Marathon

“Is that the last one?” Charlie asked as he slid his arms around Nick’s waist from behind.  He rested his cheek against Nick’s broad shoulder, closing his eyes and breathing Nick in, a contented sigh escaping from them both. 

“Yeah, I think so.”  Nick continued breaking down the small, heavy-duty box that had held their wine glasses and champagne flutes. “At least now we can make food while we work on the rest.”  Nick twisted his head, looking back at the mop of dark curls splayed across his shoulder and gesturing towards the boxes stacked neatly against the walls of the living room. 

Charlie lifted his head from Nick’s shoulder and scrunched up his face.  “But… we’re not cooking tonight, right?”

“No!”  Nick shook his head vehemently.  “Let’s just get something delivered.”  

“Well… the TV’s hooked up now.  We can stream the video now from my phone.  If you want to, love?” Charlie purred. 

Nick turned around in Charlie’s arms, taking Charlie’s face in his hands and kissing him softly before resting their foreheads together.  “Yes, let’s do it.”  He dropped his lips to Charlie’s again before trailing kisses across one cheek and speaking quietly into Charlie’s ear.  “I can’t believe this is my life now.”  He pulled back to gaze into Charlie’s eyes.  “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” Charlie said, squeezing Nick tighter and staring back into his warm brown eyes before dropping his head onto Nick’s shoulder with his forehead pressed into Nick’s neck.  

They stood there, in their new kitchen, swaying together for an indeterminate amount of time until Nick’s tummy grumbled.  Charlie pulled back giggling.  “Should we order food before you waste away?”

“You little…” Nick said sternly, but he couldn’t keep up the ruse and broke into a smile as he tried to tickle Charlie.

Charlie broke away in earnest and moved out of Nick’s reach as Nick tried to grab him.  He chased Charlie over to the blue sofa, catching him as Charlie collapsed on it and Nick fell over him, kissing Charlie again and again, before they both got serious and sat up to look at online menus together. 

After their Afghan take away was delivered and devoured and fresh cups of tea were procured, they sat on the sofa to watch the show – a gift from Tao.

February - One Week after the London Marathon

“Ahhh…” Nick sighed, as he leaned back against the door he’d just shut after Sahar and Christian departed.  Nick grabbed Charlie’s wrist to pull him into his embrace.  “I thought they’d never leave.” 

Charlie threw his arms across Nick’s shoulders, sliding his fingers into the soft hair on the back of Nick’s head, while Nick caressed Charlie’s face with one hand, lifting Charlie’s chin to bring their lips together in a kiss.  Nick’s other hand encircled Charlie’s waist to draw him in until their chests were pressed together. 

“Hi, fiance,” Charlie said softly when they pulled back from the kiss.  His gaze drifted upwards from Nick’s glistening lips, dewy and pink from the long kiss, to his eyes, shining with adoration directly into Charlie’s. 

Nick's mouth curved up on one side and a mischievous expression swept over his features.  He stooped and picked Charlie up bridal style without warning. 

“What are you doing?” Charlie yelped.

“I’m taking my fiance to bed.”  Nick waggled his eyebrows causing Charlie to giggle and shyly hide his face into Nick’s neck where it curved into his shoulder.

His voice slightly muffled, Charlie said, “I love you, Nick.” 

Nick closed his eyes and dipped his head into the top of Charlie’s curls, relishing the feel of them on his cheek before planting a kiss on his crown.  “I love you too, Char.  So much,” he said as he twisted his body to fit Charlie's long legs through the doorway to the bedroom. 

The Next Morning 

Nick’s fingertips traced the lines of Charlie’s body – his jawline, down his elegant neck, across his collarbone – before flattening his palm against his sternum and then moving it over to Charlie’s shoulder and then his bicep.  He squeezed Charlie’s upper arm as he nuzzled his cheek against Charlie’s chest.  Under the bedding, their legs tangled together.  

“Char?” Nick asked, and Charlie made an interrogative sound.  “How long until we tell people, do you think?” 

Charlie dropped his arm that had been laying with the top of his forearm across his forehead, down to stroke Nick’s hair with that hand.  “I think as soon as we tell our families.  I just didn’t want to tell our friends last night before I let Tori know.”  Charlie opened his eyes and looked down towards Nick.  “You’re okay with that, right?” he questioned.  

“Yes.  Absolutely,” he confirmed.  “I definitely want to tell my mum first.”  Nick paused, and then answered Charlie’s concerned ‘what’ with, “I’m just thinking if we wait until our parents come next weekend, or if we tell them before.  Like, do you want to make a big announcement at lunch next Saturday or something?”  

“Hmm…”  Charlie stared up at the ceiling, thinking, while he continued to mindlessly stroke Nick’s blonde locks.  After a couple of minutes, Charlie said, “Well, I’d like to tell Tori as soon as possible.  Like, maybe call her today.  If you’re okay with that?”  He didn’t wait for Nick to answer.  “And I think it would be better to tell my mum ahead of time… before Saturday, I mean.”

Charlie brought his hand down to Nick’s cheek to gently coax him to shift his head on Charlie’s chest so Charlie could see his face.  “If we surprise her with the news next Saturday, I don’t think we’ll get a good reaction.  But if I tell Tori first and tell my mum so she has some time to process it before we see her, I think… I hope… her response will be okay.” 

Nick’s face flashed with worry as he looked up into Charlie’s eyes.  “Will it matter?” Nick said, with an almost indiscernible tremor in his voice. 

“If Jane doesn’t approve, you mean?”  Charlie smiled down at Nick and then kissed his forehead.  “No! Not at all.”  Charlie kissed Nick’s head again, closing his eyes and letting his lips linger against Nick’s warm skin, while he stroked Nick’s bare shoulders.  “I love you.  And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  And I won’t let anyone stop that from happening.”  Charlie looked down at Nick, who was looking back up at him.  “Only you could stop that from happening now.” 

Nick lunged upwards with Charlie’s words, surprising his boyfriend.  He rolled over, pinning Charlie to the bed, caging him in with his arms and legs on either side of his slender body, while he peppered kisses over Charlie’s face, speaking between each one. “Well, I’m – kiss – not – kiss – stopping it – kiss – so I – kiss – guess – kiss – that means – kiss – you’re stuck – kiss – with me – kiss – forever – kiss – and ever – kiss – and ever.” 

Charlie giggled and wiggled at the tickles from Nick’s kisses as he trailed them down from Charlie’s face and onto his neck, wispy, warm breaths floating against his skin.  Finally, Nick stopped and, propping himself up over his fiance, stared down into Charlie’s deep blue eyes.  He lifted one hand to push dark curls back from Charlie’s face.  “I love you, Charlie.”       

Charlie gazed back up at Nick and sighed deeply.  A beaming smile burst forth at the same time a tear slid down his temple from the corner of his glistening eyes.  “How soon is too soon to marry you?”  

Nick brushed away the tear with his thumb, fighting back his own, and said, “I’d marry you tomorrow… or today, actually, if we could.”  Nick bit his bottom lip to keep it from quivering.  “Or whenever you feel ready.  Even if that’s a year or two years or three years…”  He caressed Charlie’s cheek.  “I’m just happy you said yes,” he whispered against Charlie’s lips as he leaned down for a kiss. 

“I don’t want to wait that long,” Charlie said, when Nick pulled back.  He pushed Nick’s fringe that was flopping forward to the side.  

They held each other’s gaze for another minute before Nick spoke.  “Okay, my future husband.  Very important question.”  Nick’s mouth lifted into a lop-sided smile.  “What do you want for breakfast?” 

“Hi Tori, thanks for calling,” Charlie said, trying to tamp down his excitement, although he was afraid it was written on his face. 

“Hi.  Let me guess.”  Tori raised an eyebrow.  “It’s something to do with Jane and Julio visiting next weekend.”

“Sort of.  Yeah.”  Charlie grimaced.  “That’s going to be part of it.  But it’s not the main thing.” 

Tori stared directly at Charlie through the phone screen.  “I’m listening.” 

“Okay. I’m just going to say it.”  Charlie sucked in a deep breath and then blurted out, “Nick and I are engaged.” 

“Called it!”  She smirked.

“You can’t tell anyone yet.  Nick hasn’t even told his mum.  He’s calling her in a few minutes.”

“Is he there with you?” 

“Yeah,” Charlie said and then shifted his phone so that Nick was also on the screen. 

“Hi, Tori,” Nick said sheepishly, moving closer to Charlie.

“I’m happy for you two.”  She gave them a kind smile before returning her face to its normal impassivity.  “So when did it happen and have you planned anything yet?”

 “Yesterday.  You’re the first person we’ve told.  We’re going to call Sarah together next,”  Charlie listed his answers. 

“What about Jane and Julio?” Tori questioned. 

“Yeah, about that.”  Charlie shrugged.  “I think I should tell her before she visits next Saturday.” 

“I think that’s a good decision.  Tell her today.  Don’t surprise her with it next weekend.  She’ll need some time, I reckon.”  Tori could see worry cloud Charlie’s face, and added, “But Charlie, she really does see how happy Nick makes you.  She’ll come around, even if she doesn’t react well at first.  Just stay calm.  And remember that in the long run, it doesn’t matter.  It’s your life.”

“Yeah.  Thanks Tori,” he said, and looked over at Nick with a tender smile before turning back to Tori.  “Umm… Tori?  You can tell Michael, but wait a couple of hours.  You know… just in case he gets too excited and accidentally says something before we’ve told them.” 

“No problem.”  She smirked.

“Okay, bye, Tori.”  Charlie waved.

“Bye, Tori!” Nick said, smiling with a little head tilt.

After speaking with Tori, Nick rang Sarah and both he and Charlie smiled at her over FaceTime in a way that made her suspicious.  Needless to say, she was overjoyed for them.  Sarah already adored Charlie for his gentle spirit and how happy he made her son, even though she’d only known him a short time.  She was sure she could love him and was well on her way with this news. 

The only dampening moment with Sarah was when she asked, “When will you tell your dad?” and “Are you going to tell your brother?”

Nick explained that he’d already told Stephane about Charlie when they spoke at Christmas, but he’d wait until another day to tell him and David.  He wasn’t going to ruin the joy he was feeling by speaking to either of them that day.  They’d have to wait to hear Nick’s news. 

Nick stayed off camera while Charlie broke the news to his parents and Olly.  Olly was thrilled and immediately gushed about having Nick as a second older brother.  His excitement was palpable through the screen.  After a minute of Olly exclaiming over the ‘great news,’ Jane asked Olly to give them a few minutes with Charlie alone.

Before Jane could say anything, Julio led with, “Charlie, we’re really happy for you.”  He smiled into the screen and then looked sideways at his wife. 

Jane swallowed. “We are, Charlie.  I’m happy for you.  He… Nick seems to make you happy.”  She glanced at Julio. 

“Thanks,” Charlie said with reservation in his voice.

“Is Nick there?” Julio asked.  “So we can congratulate him too?”

Charlie’s eyes widened.  “Oh… umm… yeah.  One second.  I’ll get him.”

When Nick appeared, smiling nervously, on the screen beside Charlie, Julio set his mind to rest.  “Hi Nick, Charlie just told us the good news.  We’re very happy to have you as part of the family.”  Nick smiled, and Julio looked over at Jane.

“That’s right.  We know you make Charlie very happy.”  Jane cut her eyes towards Julio then continued haltingly, “Are you… have you… have the two of you decided on a date yet?”

Nick and Charlie looked at each other before Charlie answered his mum.  “No, umm… not yet… we just got engaged yesterday.  It hasn’t even been 24 hours yet.”

“Oh.  Okay.  We can talk more about it when we see you Saturday,” Jane said.

“Umm… yeah,” Charlie answered, surprised by how well his mum was taking the news.  “We’ll see you next weekend.” 

“Bye, and congratulations again!” Julio said cheerfully.

“Bye, Dad.”  Charlie nodded towards his dad and then his mum.  “Bye, Mum.”  Nick held up his hand in a goodbye wave and Charlie disconnected the call.  

“She reacted better than I expected,” Charlie said to Nick, who pulled him into a side hug and kissed his temple.  Nick held his lips against Charlie’s skin an extra few seconds before loosening the hug.  “Should we tell our friends now?” 

“Yeah, I think so.  I need to tell Sahar at least.”  Nick raised an eyebrow in question, and Charlie explained that Sahar knew he was planning to play a song for Nick the night before and dedicate it to him even though she didn’t know it was a proposal.  But then, when they were playing at the party, Charlie had left that song off.  “She’s probably confused.  She may think we had a fight.”  Charlie laughed. 

N & C Besties GC

[Charlie] hi everyone!  thanks for coming to ours last night! 😊

[Elle] thanks for having us nick and charlie! love how you’ve made the space work for you both! 🏠💚

[Darcy] yeah! good times, babes 🥂

[Charlie] thanks sahar for the music! 🎸🥁

[Sahar] my pleasure always! 🥰🤘🏼

[Sai] thanks - like the ‘new’ place 😊

[Nick] also, charlie and i have something to tell you 🥹

[Otis] 👀

[Tao] 👀👀

[Tara] 👀👀👀

[Isaac] hmmm… wonder what it could be 😏

[Sahar] 🤭

[Charlie] we’re engaged 🍾🤵🏼🤵🏽

[Nick] we’re getting married 👨🏻❤️👨🏼🥂

[Tara] i knew it!!!!!

[Christian] yeah, they are not subtle 😉

[Nick] omg! 😳

[Sahar] we assumed it was something like that or you had had some mind blowing sex before we came over last night 💯😏

[Charlie] @sahar shut up! 🙄

[Tao] sahar, please 🤐 NO! 🤨

[Isaac] long lingering looks 🤭

[Tara] goofy grins on their faces 🤤

[Otis] all that pda - not that it’s new 🫣

[Christian] but it was EXTRA last night 💯

[Nick] 😳😳😳

[Sai] no blushing, mate - happy for you two!

[Darcy] run on thursday? pub after to celebrate? 

[Isaac] pub yes, run no (you weirdos /aff) 😂

[Tao] ☝🏽💯

[Sai] yes, i’m in 😅

[Otis] me too and congrats! 💜

[Elle] yes! yay charlie and nick! 💗💗💗

[Sahar] YES!!! 🎉

[Christian] we’ll be there! 

[Charlie] thanks everyone! ☺️ meet at st. james at 6pm

[Nick] thanks all! 🥹

February – Two Weeks after the London Marathon

Around mid-morning on Saturday, Charlie waltzed into the kitchen wearing only a pair of soft black joggers and a towel wrapped around his neck.  He was squeezing the excess water from his curls with a corner of the towel, and was about to speak when Nick firmly said, “No!”  He was looking directly at Charlie and shaking his head. 

Charlie scrunched his face up in question, but one corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk.  “What?” 

Nick put down the towel he’d been drying his hands on and moved nearer to Charlie.  “You know what.”

Charlie fluttered his eyelashes at Nick, looking up innocently.  He raised his arms up to stretch his body and then let the fingers of one hand fall to trace over the skin at the edge of his joggers. 

Nick looped his index fingers over the band of Charlie’s joggers and pulled him in closer, then leaned down to whisper into his ear.  “Our parents will be here soon and I still have a lot to do in the kitchen.”  He let his lips graze down Charlie’s neck and behind his ear, making Charlie shiver and raise his shoulders at the sensation.  

Nick could play this game too, but he was serious.  He pulled back and smiled at Charlie, but with his kind teacher look, that said, ‘I know exactly what you’re up to.’ 

“Fine.”  Charlie pouted, but he knew Nick was right. 

“Did you make the bed?” Nick asked, moving back over to check the oven.  Charlie said he did.  “Did you tidy your desk?” Charlie hummed affirmatively.  “Did you… wipe the sink in the bathroom after you shaved?”

Charlie moved closer to Nick and ran his hands over Nick’s shoulders and then slid his arms around his waist from behind.  “Yes, Daddy,” he said, and gently captured Nick’s earlobe between his teeth, while his hands moved up under Nick’s t-shirt in the front. 

Nick turned in Charlie’s arms.  “No, Charles!” Nick groaned, scolding in the mildest way possible.  “We don’t have time.  Everything’s got to be perfect for your mother.”

Charlie rolled his eyes.  “Okay, fine,” he agreed, but looked up at Nick through his lashes.  “Later?”

“Ahh… yeah !”  He turned Charlie around and smacked his bum playfully.  “Go get dressed and then you can set the table.” 

The scent of lemon and toasted filo wafted through the air as Charlie uncorked and decanted the Malagousia to let it breathe.  Just as he set the crystal decanter in the middle of the table, he heard a knock on the door.  Nick, who’d just pulled the rectangular dish of layered spanakopita from the oven, jogged over to join Charlie in the hall.

Having arrived at the same time, Jane, Julio, and Sarah all stood on their doorstep, when Charlie pulled the door open.  Behind them, bright blue skies dappled with cottony clouds stretched across the city in contrast to the previous few February days.  Nick decided to be positive and take it as a sign that everything would go well at this lunch.

Sarah stepped across the threshold first and pulled Charlie into a tight hug.  She kissed his cheek and squeezed his hands as she pulled back, giving him a glowing smile before moving over to embrace Nick.  She whispered, “Baby, I’m so happy for you.”

While Sarah was hugging Nick, Julio pulled Charlie into a quick hug, saying, “I’m really happy for you, son.”  He then moved towards Nick in a warm but awkward dance that evolved from handshake to hug.  Julio was smiling the whole time. 

Jane gave Charlie a quick squeeze and a pat on his arm.  When it looked like Nick was extending his arms to her, she quickly took his hands in hers and gave them a warm, tight squeeze before saying, “I’m happy for you and Charlie.”

So far, so good.  As good as could be expected was the look Charlie gave Nick as they took their parents’ coats and hung them up.  

Nick offered to show his mum around, since she was the only one who’d never seen the place, and Julio followed to see the changes.  Jane admitted that the hall did make a good office since it was so large, but wondered aloud if they’d want to find a bigger place.  Charlie said they’d talked about finding a two bedroom to rent, and then led her into the living room.  Before Jane could get more questions out, Charlie excused himself to the kitchen.

Only a few minutes later, Nick, Sarah, and Julio joined them in the open-plan space and Nick announced that the food was ready, so they could wash their hands and take a seat around the table.  Charlie brought the salad over while everyone was getting settled and Nick followed with the lemon soup in their new silver tureen.  Charlie poured wine, while Nick sliced the spanakopita into squares and then brought the serving dish to the table. 

When Nick was ladling the soup, the silver around his finger caught Sarah’s attention.  “Oh, that’s new,” she said, smiling between Nick and Charlie.

Charlie held up his hand and grinned a dimple-deepening grin back at Sarah.  “We’re going to pick out proper wedding bands, but we got these at the Silver Vaults earlier this week.”

Jane asked to see, so Charlie offered his hand to her and she took it to look at the reticulated texture of the silver with its mix of blue and yellow flush set sapphires ranging in size on either side of two millimetres in a random pattern around the band.

Nick showed his matching ring to Sarah and Julio and explained that they’d each proposed without rings because they’d had conversations in the past about wanting matching rings and they both always knew they’d want to pick them out together.

Charlie added, “We’re going to take more time to find exactly what we both want before we actually get married, but we decided we wanted something for the engagement too.”  Charlie looked at Nick, smiling shyly and blushing as he said, “I wanted to make sure people know Nick’s taken.” 

A deep blush spread across Nick’s cheeks as he smiled back at Charlie.  “We can always wear our engagement rings on one hand and our wedding rings on the other,” Nick said, glancing towards the others.  “I like them even if they are not terribly expensive.”

“They’re lovely,” Sarah patted Nick’s hand and smiled at Charlie. 

After a few minutes of trying the dishes and wine and praising them, Jane cleared her throat and asked in as relaxed a manner as she could muster, “So… what kind of plans have you made so far?  Do you know what kind of wedding you want?”  She kept looking at her plate and manoeuvring a bite onto her fork.  “Do you have a date in mind?” 

Charlie chewed on the inside of his cheek and glanced up at Nick.  Here it comes , he thought.  The questions .  

Nick answered politely, “We’ve bounced some ideas around, but we haven’t settled on anything yet.  It’s only been a few days.”  He smiled at Charlie.

Jane and Sarah both started to speak at the same time and, although Sarah offered to yield to Jane, Jane insisted that Sarah speak first.

Sarah nodded courteously to Jane.  “I was just going to ask if you two have any more running plans?” she asked to change the subject, not wanting the boys to feel pressured.

Charlie looked at Nick and let him answer.  “Oh, yeah… actually, we already signed up to run the Brighton Marathon in a few months,” Nick said, before taking a bite of food.

Jane turned to Charlie, not taking Sarah’s lead on turning the topic.  “I hope you’re planning a long engagement.”

Charlie took a deep breath.  There it is – Mum’s agenda .  He knew his mum meant well and he’d been pleasantly surprised at how calm she’d seemed about him and Nick getting engaged, but he had also been waiting.  For something.  And now Jane had delivered.  

“Umm… we really haven’t decided yet.  We’re just now talking about the possibilities.”  Charlie worked to keep his voice even and steady.  He looked at Nick who was looking at him as he reached for his glass of wine.

Julio furrowed his brows at his wife, but she either didn’t notice or refused to be deterred now that she had started.  

“It’s just… it will give you a little more time… you know… to get to know each other better.”  She laughed nervously.  “You’ve only known each other for a few months.  It’s all a little sudden.”  Her voice trailed off towards the end. 

Nick was looking down at his plate, but darted his eyes sideways towards Charlie.  Charlie was gathering himself to speak, but Julio beat him to it. 

“Sometimes you just know though.  Right boys?” Julio said, smiling at each of them and giving Jane a look that she did seem to take on this time. 

Sarah tried to break the tension.  “We’ll give you some time to sort it out.  We’re all happy for you.”  She looked pleasantly at all the faces around the table, and Jane nodded, as though she recognised she’d probably overstepped and did actually want them to be happy. 

Nick and Charlie looked at each other again, and Charlie gave Nick a slight shrug with one shoulder and a minute eye roll when no one else was looking.  A minute or two of the music of dining followed – cutlery clanging against plates, water and wine glasses tapping the table as they were set back down – without a word being uttered. 

Julio punctured the silence by asking Nick about his work and all the Nick-related topics Olly had regaled them with after his visit in January.  Sarah followed by asking Charlie about the classes he was teaching in the new term.  And Jane listened, although Charlie suspected her mind was probably racing with her own anxieties.

The rest of the meal went along without circling back to the wedding until tea and dessert was served.  Charlie started the kettle for tea and got the cups and pot arranged on the serving tray, while Nick set the footed serving platter with a pyramid of kourabiethes piled in the centre, and honey and rosewater baklava arranged around the edges on the table.  Nick had garnished the platter of desserts with blue and yellow violas.  As he helped everyone to the treats, Charlie made his way over with the tray, which was filled with the steaming pot of steeping loose Darjeeling tea, cups, sugar, honey, and milk.

“You made these?” Julio questioned Nick after taking bites of each dessert.  A chorus of ‘mmmms’ resonated around the table.

Charlie, who was pouring the last cup of tea, answered for Nick, who had just taken a bite of the sticky baklava.  “Yes.  He did.”  Charlie beamed at Nick proudly.  “He made everything.” 

Julio, Sarah, and Jane gushed over Nick’s talents and Julio joked that he wouldn’t be surprised to see him on Bake Off someday.  Sarah asked if they were caught up yet on all the seasons.  She knew Nick had seen them all but Charlie said he was behind because he’d been too busy the last few years to keep up with it.  

The conversation then turned to Charlie’s book with the allusion to his schedule the last few years.  He started explaining where he was in the process to Sarah, muddling his way through the changes suggested by the reviewers, who sometimes contradicted each other.  He had to decide what to take and what to leave and how to justify his decisions to the publisher. 

Jane interjected, “I suppose we don’t need to worry about you two rushing the wedding then if Charlie’s so busy.” 

Charlie winced like someone had poked a bruise.  He felt his next words bubbling up from his depths, but before he could stop them they erupted out of his mouth.  “Mum.  I love Nick and I’m not going to change my mind about marrying him.  It doesn’t matter if we wait a year or we get married tomorrow.”  

“Charlie, I didn’t mean…”  She looked nervously from Charlie to Nick.  “Nick, it’s not that I don’t think you’re great.”  Jane turned to Sarah, “He is great and we know he makes Charlie happy.”  She looked back at Charlie.  “What can it hurt to take your time though?  If you’re sure then nothing will change if you wait.  You should at least wait until you’ve finished the book?” 

Jane opened her mouth like she was going to continue, but Julio interrupted before she could say anything else.  “Let’s give them some time to think about what they want.”  He gave her an exasperated smile.  “It’s their decision.”

Finally, the subject was dropped and they talked about mundane things for the rest of the visit.  Sarah admired Charlie’s framed photos of California and raved about the blue velvet sofa and how the chair in the bedroom matched it, which made Nick look sheepishly at Charlie, who gave him a covert grin.  Julio asked about Charlie’s band and if they'd played much lately.  And Jane asked Nick about his school holidays and how rugby was going. 

When it was time to go, Nick and Charlie saw their parents to the hall and helped with their coats and handed both Sarah and Jane a little container of the desserts to take home.  The parents all hugged Nick and Charlie goodbye as they thanked them for coming up from Kent. 

On the way out the door, Jane turned and grasped Charlie’s forearm, saying to both him and Nick, who was standing right beside Charlie, “I’m going to say one last thing and then I won’t bring it up again.”  Nick’s eyes widened and Charlie started to utter resistance, but Jane cut him off.  “A year is not an unusual length of time for an engagement.  It will give you time to plan.  Just think about it.”  Jane squeezed Charlie’s arm and smiled at Nick before turning to join her husband on the front step.  

Sarah, who was still inside the hall wrapping her scarf around her neck, said quietly to them so no one else could hear, “Make your own decision boys.  Don’t worry about anyone else.”

“Nick, I’m so sorry.  About my mum.”  Charlie sank into the soft velvet fabric of the sofa beside Nick.  “I wish she could be more like your mum,” Charlie said aloud, probably for the first time, though he’d thought it before.  

Nick turned, tucking one leg under the other to sit facing Charlie.  “It’s okay, darling.  I know she means well.” 

“Yeah, but still.”  Charlie hung his head, not meeting Nick’s eyes.  “I don’t want you to think she doesn’t like you.”  He looked up at Nick briefly before looking away into the distance.  “If anything, she probably thinks you’ll find out that I’m too much trouble, or something.” 

Nick picked up Charlie’s hand in one of his and used the other to turn Charlie’s face towards his.  “Hey, you don’t believe that?  Right?”

“No.  I mean, I hope not.”  Charlie smiled sadly at Nick.  “She’s gotten better over the years, but there’s still a part of her that sees me as the struggling teen that used to live with her.” 

“Well, I’m sure I would have loved him too if I’d known you back then.”  Nick stroked Charlie’s cheek.   

Charlie closed his eyes, falling into Nick’s touch before opening them again to say, “I guess she has a point about the time it takes to plan a wedding though.”  

“Yeah, maybe.”  Nick shrugged.  “You are still working on your book.” 

“Yes, but that’s just part of my job.”  Charlie laughed.  “Most people don’t quit doing their jobs when they are planning their weddings.”

Nick smiled broadly.  “Yeah, that’s true.” 

“We don’t have to listen to her,” Charlie said, but then added, hesitatingly, “Unless… unless you want to wait that long?”

“No!  No, Char.”  Nick pulled him into a fierce hug and onto his lap with Charlie facing him.  “I would literally marry you tomorrow if you wanted to.”  He loosened his grip so that Charlie could pull back enough to look down at him as he sat astride Nick’s thighs.

“Okay.”  Charlie held himself over Nick, supporting himself with his hands on Nick’s chest.   “Same.”  He brushed his lips over Nick’s and dropped kisses along his jaw and down his neck before stopping to say, “I guess we need to do some thinking and actually figure out exactly what we want.”     

February – Three Weeks after the London Marathon

The next Saturday dawned bright and warmer than usual.  Nick and Charlie made their way down to Vauxhall after they woke, dressed, and fueled up for their run.  They were back in training since they’d decided to do the Brighton race in late spring.  Charlie told Nick that ideally they’d run only two marathons per year, spaced farther apart, but Nick really wanted to do another one while he had the break from work and Charlie wanted to avoid doing one later in summer because the heat would make it less enjoyable. Charlie didn’t want to push Nick, but the race corresponded to one of Nick’s school holidays and it was Nick’s idea.  Nick was excited to do another race and didn’t want to lose the fitness he’d built up.  Charlie insisted that they be casual about it though as they shouldn’t be pushing their bodies too hard.  They needed to take it easy after the London race.  

Charlie made a plan for them that dropped them back down to shorter runs in February, although he planned for them to start at eight miles for their long runs rather than five.  Charlie reckoned they really should be getting a little bit more recovery time between races, but he also didn’t want to disappoint Nick and knew he could make it work safely.  They’d build up again to the needed training mileage, but it would take fewer weeks.  They had fifteen weeks before race day. 

After they got home from their run and showered, they went out for lunch because they’d decided to make Saturday afternoon their supermarket day and had to go out anyway to do the shopping.  When they returned, Nick busied himself in the kitchen putting away food and doing some food prep for the week, while Charlie worked on the laundry, starting with a load of running clothes.

Charlie was just taking the first load out of the washing machine to hang dry on the airer when his phone buzzed on the counter with a text notification.    

Charlie & Jane DMs

[Jane] Hi Charlie

[Charlie] hi mum

[Jane] Thanks for having us last Saturday.

[Jane] You and Nick have made a lovely home.

[Charlie] thanks! ☺️

[Jane] I just wanted to tell you that if you and Nick decide to buy something, we may be able to help you with the deposit. 

[Charlie] thanks mum, but you don’t have to. we both have good jobs and some savings.

[Jane] We know, but we’re willing to help.

[Jane] We can also help with wedding expenses.

[Jane] If you wait a bit.

[Charlie] thanks for the offers.  we’ll let you know what we decide. 🙂

Nick continued washing fruit and veg and chopping some items into portions for his and Charlie’s lunches for the next week, while he watched Charlie scowl at his phone with his fingers flying over the keyboard.  Nick didn’t interrupt, waiting for Charlie to pause.  

When Charlie put his phone back on the counter, screen down, Nick asked, “What was that about?”  He set the knife down on the cutting board and came around to the bar stool where Charlie was sitting.  

Charlie turned to face Nick and fell against his chest, resting his forehead between his pecs and sighing deeply.  Nick put one hand on Charlie’s back and used the other one to pet his curls. 

“What’s wrong, baby?” Nick asked sweetly. 

“Ugh! Jane!” Charlie groaned, and Nick involuntarily stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.  “She’s being both nice and manipulative at the same time.”  Charlie took another deep breath and blew it out slowly.  “The thing is, I know it comes from a good place… but, like, FUCK!  I’m almost 30 years old.  I can make my own decisions.  I’m not a child and I know what I’m doing.” 

“What did she say?”

Charlie raised his head, picked up his phone and unlocked it, and handed it to Nick.  “Here.  Read it for yourself.” 

Nick looked down at Charlie’s phone, scrunching his face as he read.  He looked up at Charlie when he finished with his eyebrows drawn together, biting at the corner of his mouth.  “Do you think she’s right?” 

Charlie looked at Nick confused and a bit incredulous.  “You mean, should we give in to her demands about waiting to get married, so she’ll give us money?” 

“No, that’s not what I mean,” Nick corrected.  “What I mean is… should we be looking for a place to buy?” 

“Oh! Umm… well, we can do that if you want or we could stay living here.  What do you think?”

“I guess I hadn’t let myself think about that just yet.”  Nick smiled shyly at Charlie.  “I’ve mostly been thinking about wedding ideas.”

Charlie took Nick’s hand in his and wrapped his legs loosely around Nick’s, hooking his ankles together behind Nick’s knees.  He looked up into Nick’s eyes.  “I think it’s not a bad idea.  Even if Jane did prompt it.”  He grinned at Nick.  “It would be kind of funny if we did… and got married sooner rather than later.  That would teach her to passive-aggressively meddle.”  

They launched into a conversation about what kind of place they’d want and how they’d finance it.  Charlie explained that his Spanish grandparents gifted him a sizable chunk of money to put with his other savings when he’d earned his doctorate and that he’d added to it since he’d been working at KCL.  Nick told Charlie about money he had from his father, which was part of his parents' settlement when they divorced.  Sarah had insisted on it for both children – something that Stephane paid into annually until they were both out of uni.  Nick knew that most of it was still intact even taking out some for uni expenses.  

Charlie hopped off the bar stool to grab his laptop and Nick popped back into the kitchen to put the food he was prepping away.  They started to do some research and dream about what kind of place they’d like to buy. 

“If we’re buying our own flat and you’re finishing your book, should we maybe wait for the wedding?” Nick asked tentatively. 

Charlie rested his chin on his hand.  “Maybe?  It would make her happy.  But it’d also be giving in to her.”  He pursed his lips and stared into space without speaking for a couple minutes.  “But… maybe?”        

Two topics consumed their conversation for the remaining hours of Saturday and most of the day on Sunday –  what their requirements would be for a flat of their own and what type of wedding they’d like to have and when.  They did have to stop talking about flats and weddings for part of the day on Sunday in order to focus on getting work done for the upcoming week.  Nick had essays to mark and Charlie had to scan-read the works he’d assigned to his seminar students.

During their breaks though, discussions about having at least two bedrooms and whether or not a winter wedding would be desirable filled the time.  Charlie mentioned that he’d loved to have an outdoor space for some plants even if it was a small balcony and Nick asked if waiting over a year to have a spring wedding would be preferred by Charlie.  They agreed on basically everything they wanted from a flat and started their hunt on Rightmove. Nick and Charlie planned to ask Tara and Darcy to talk them through their buying experience so they would know what to expect.  That plan was in motion.  The wedding, however, was a stickier subject.  They both just wanted to be married and the possibilities seemed endless, so forming any type of coherent plan eluded them.  After dinner, Charlie announced that he was going to soak in the bath to relax because thinking about how to satisfy both his and Nick’s desires and placate Jane was stressing him out.  Nick asked to join him.

Although the temperature was not very cold on Monday morning, the wind gusts made Charlie shiver until he’d run about a mile and started to sweat under his layers.  He’d gotten up to make Nick breakfast before work and decided to stay up to get a run in that morning.  He needed to think, to sort out what he wanted, and Charlie’s best bet for clarity was during a run, when he could loosen his thoughts, letting it all float around in his mind, until it all clicked into place and he found an answer.  So he ran.  And he thought.  He thought about Nick.  He thought about the future and what he wanted it to look like.  He thought about the night before and how Nick had taken him apart and then cared for him so tenderly.  He thought about how he wanted to be with Nick today, tomorrow, and for the rest of his life.  And how there was nothing to figure out.  He’d always had the answer. 

Nick & Charlie DMs

[Charlie] i want to marry you NOW 😘😘😘

[Charlie] like, rn, today! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[Nick] same! 🥰🥰🥰

[Nick] but what about your mum? 🫤

[Charlie] it is not her call 🤨

[Charlie] she gets NO SAY in what we do!

[Charlie] i know she means well, but i am not going to put my life on hold to placate her anxiety

[Nick] char, i would literally marry you today if we could

[Nick] but i think we have to declare our intent and wait like a month 

[Charlie] then lets do it! lets declare it! 🙏🏽

[Charlie] i charles spring declare i want to marry nicholas nelson ☺️

[Charlie] gorgeous beautiful man that i love and live with and who made all the bones in my body dissolve last night 🤤

[Nick] 😳😏💗

[Nick] umm… you’re the gorgeous beautiful one 🥹😘

[Charlie] 🥹🫣🥰

[Nick] okay… i just scheduled an appt online for Friday at 4pm 💅🏽

[Nick] you don’t have a meeting that day?

[Charlie] 🥹 no! i’m free! 

[Charlie] do i meet you there or will you come home first?

[Nick] i think meet you there - i’ll be cutting it close with leaving work to get there 😬

[Nick] but that was the only appt available this week i could possibly do so…

[Charlie] i love you! 🥹😍😘

[Nick] i love you too! ❤️❤️❤️

[Charlie] we’re doing this?! 🥹❤️

[Nick] we are! 🥹❤️ and i thought of a plan for our wedding but i have to go back to work rn 😊

[Charlie]  👀😘 

April – Two Months after the London Marathon

Nick hugged Charlie close to his body while they waited on the bench outside the red brick register office.  Charlie nervously picked at the peeling paint on the seat as he burrowed into Nick’s side.  It might have been April but it felt like February that morning.  

“We can wait inside for them, Char,” Nick said, rubbing his hands up and down Charlie’s arms to create some warming friction.

“I thought I’d be warm enough in a jumper and joggers.  I should have worn a coat.”  Charlie snuggled even closer, wrapping both arms around Nick’s waist. 

A moment later, they saw Sahar and Christian walking towards them and stood up.  As she and Christian got closer, Sahar’s mouth dropped open.  She was in a dark green velvet maxi dress and black Doc’s with a black quilted jacket on top, and Christian had on chinos and a blue heather jumper.  

They took turns, each hugging Nick and Charlie, before Sahar said, “What are you wearing?” 

“We don’t want to make a big deal out of today.  It’s just the legal bit, so we can carry out our plan,” Nick explained. 

Charlie added, “Yeah, so no celebrating, please.” 

“But we are planning to take you to lunch at the Eritrean place down the road as a thank you,” Nick said, bouncing on his heels. 

“Let’s go in,” Charlie said, shaking to show his discomfort outside.  “Oh!”  He stopped and turned to Sahar and Christian, who were following.  “Please don’t mention this to anyone.  We want the ceremony with everyone present to be the day people think of as our wedding day.”

“Gotcha!” Christian said, pointing finger guns at Nick and Charlie, making Charlie giggle and Nick give him a lopsided smile.

Charlie called his mum’s phone but she didn’t pick up and Charlie hung up when it went to voicemail.  She’d see he called and he couldn’t give her the news on a voice message.  About two minutes later, his own phone buzzed with an incoming call.  

“Hi.  Charlie?” Jane questioned, though she knew she’d hit the ‘return call’ icon.  “I couldn’t get to the phone in time,” she said, not waiting for a reply. 

“Oh, hi.  That’s okay.  Is Dad around?  Can he join you?” Charlie asked timidly.

“Yes.  Hold on.”  

Charlie heard his mum call his dad’s name and then heard her explaining to Julio that it was Charlie on the phone before his dad said his name as a question the way his mum had done when he picked up her call.  

“Hi, Nick is with me.”  Charlie spoke louder this time, over his parents.  “We have something to tell you.”

“Is it about the flat?” Julio asked.

“No, we’re going back for another viewing later this week.  We might put an offer in, but that’s not what we called about.”

“The wedding then?” Jane interjected, and then stated, “You’ve decided on a date.”

“Umm, yeah.  Actually… We got legally married this morning… at the register office.”  Charlie blurted out the last bit and then waited.  “Mum?  Dad?”

“Congratulations, boys!” Julio spoke up first. 

“Thanks, Dad,”  Charlie said with an apprehensive smile in his voice, and Nick also thanked Julio.  Charlie then paused for a second.  “Mum?  Are you going to say anything?”

“I… I am happy for you,” Jane said, sounding disconcerted.  “Both of you,” she added after a few seconds.  “I’m just… I’m surprised.” 

“We decided we didn’t want to wait,” Charlie clambered to say, before taking a deep breath to get some composure.  “But also… remember when I told you to keep the first weekend in June clear.”

“Yes,” Jane said haltingly. 

“Well… we’re going to have an actual wedding ceremony and reception that weekend.  In Brighton.”  

Nick bravely announced, “It’s all planned.”

“And we’ve put deposits down on everything,” Charlie added.

“Oh.  Okay.”  Jane gathered herself and quickly offered, “We will help pay for it.  You should save your money for the flat.”

“That’s great, Charlie!” Julio said, and then remembering, added, “And Nick!”

“You’ll come, right?” Charlie asked nervously.  Julio knew he was speaking to Jane.

“Of course we’ll be there,” Jane said with a shaky voice.  “You’re my son.”  She sniffled and then corrected herself to include Nick, “Sons.”

When the call ended, Nick pulled Charlie into his chest with one arm and wiped away the silent tears that had fallen on Charlie’s cheeks.

“Are you okay darling?”

Charlie laugh-sniffled and buried his head against Nick’s jumper.  “Yeah.  I’m fine.”  He pulled back to look at his husband.  “I was happy to defy her because she was being overbearing and manipulative, but I’m also overjoyed she took it so well.”  

Fresh tears spilled down Charlie’s cheeks and Nick wiped them with his sleeve and stroked up and down Charlie’s back to soothe him. 

“I guess it’s always just going to be complicated with her,” Charlie said, shaking it off.  “But today’s a happy day.  Even if we can’t celebrate,” he says with a laugh. 

“I actually have an idea about how we can ‘not celebrate’ – something completely mundane that we might be doing anyway.”  Nick waggled his eyebrows at Charlie, making him raise his. 

“Umm… it’s a good suggestion.”  Charlie lifted his face up to find Nick’s lips before grabbing his hand to lead him to the bedroom. 

Nick followed, but then wrapped himself around Charlie from behind as they reached the hall.  Having his large husband attached to him halted Charlie’s progress, but his whine changed to a whimper as Nick ran his hands up under Charlie’s jumper while he kissed the back of his neck, making Charlie shiver.

“Nick,” Charlie said in a barely audible soft exhale. 

Nick didn’t let go and didn’t speak.  He kept dropping kisses around Charlie’s neck and exploring beneath Charlie's jumper with his hands, but began marching them towards the bedroom in a slow, lumbering motion.

Charlie moaned as they made their way into their bedroom.  “Mmm… that feels so good, husband.”   

They stood a short distance from the bed and Nick smiled against Charlie’s skin at the new moniker.  He stopped his explorations and squeezed Charlie tightly.  “I love you, husband.” 

Charlie closed his eyes and leaned his head back.  Nick dropped his head down beside Charlie’s and kissed his cheek as Charlie lifted his hand to run his fingers through Nick’s hair.  “So…” Charlie purred into Nick’s ear.  “Are you planning to fuck me, Mr. Nelson-Spring?”  

Nick rubbed his cock, already straining against his joggers, against Charlie’s arse and asked, “Is that what you want, Dr. Nelson-Spring?”  He pulled Charlie’s hips back against his hard length, making a throaty noise at the sensation before asking as he pushed against Charlie’s arse again, “You want this inside you?”

Charlie’s dick twitched at the feel of Nick’s cock and his sounds, and again at Nick’s words.  He answered in a low growl, “Yes.”  He pushed his arse back harder against Nick, arching his back.  “I might have already prepared.  Just in case.” 

Nick began tugging Charlie’s jumper up as he spoke, saying, “Oh, did you?  I did too.” Charlie could hear the smile in Nick’s voice and turned in his arms as the jumper swept over his head and Nick tossed it.  Nick added, with a playful smirk, “Just in case.”

Charlie looked up at him with big innocent eyes, biting his lower lip, and said, “We could make a day of it, husband.”  He pulled at Nick’s t-shirt and Nick raised his arms to assist.  “We are married now.”   

Once they’d stripped each other of their joggers and pants, they stood there looking at each other, taking each other in, like it was the first time.  Charlie took a few steps closer, placing his hands on Nick’s shoulders, moving them down slowly, appraisingly, until they rested on Nick’s biceps.  Simultaneously, Nick brought his hands up to rest on Charlie’s hips, stroking over Charlie’s hip bones and the defined lines of his obliques with his thumbs.

“I can’t believe you’re mine officially,” Charlie said, dipping his head to kiss along Nick’s collarbone before pulling back.  “All the beautiful parts of you too.”  Charlie let his fingers gingerly trail from biceps to wrists, bringing them back to Nick’s chest. His hands moved slowly down to Nick’s abs and lower until he was cupping Nick’s balls and wrapping his hand around Nick’s dick, making the larger man gasp.  Nick closed his eyes and breathed in a deep, shaky breath at Charlie’s touch. 

Nick’s abs tightened and his cock leaked onto Charlie’s hand.  “God, Char.”  He didn’t know if he’d last long enough to fuck his husband if he kept touching and talking to him in this way – reverently, like Nick was the most beautiful man Charlie had ever seen.

Charlie did believe that about Nick, wholeheartedly, and his own cock throbbed in anticipation when Nick wrapped his hands around Charlie’s wrists to still them.  Nick, who was between Charlie and the bed, stepped to the side, saying, “Please, darling, I don’t want to come standing here.”     

Charlie crawled onto the bed and Nick followed, his knees indenting the fluffy duvet as he crawled between Charlie’s legs that were spread for Nick with his feet flat on the bed and knees in the air.  Charlie’s curls fanned out across the pillow, falling over the inside of his wrists with his hands tucked behind his head.  He was on display for Nick and a surge of desire flowed through him watching the hunger in Nick as his eyes feasted on Charlie’s form.  

They held each other’s gaze as Nick knelt at the altar of Charlie and began to worship his husband’s body.  Nick's fingertips drew gentle lines around Charlie’s ankles and up his calves.  Then he lifted one of Charlie’s legs, resting the slim ankle on his shoulder as he dipped his head to kiss the inside of Charlie’s knee while keeping his eyes locked with Charlie’s.  Charlie’s cock twitched as Nick’s tongue moved up the inside of his thigh and one hand moved softly down the back of that thigh and over his arse until his fingers lightly grazed Charlie’s hole, making him shudder.  Charlie closed his eyes and moaned.  The sensations Nick elicited were almost too intense.  Nick kept up his explorations with his mouth and his hands, everywhere except Charlie’s cock.  Charlie whined when Nick bypassed it to lick up his stomach, while his thumbs grazed over Charlie’s hardened nipples. 

After a few more minutes of teasing and tasting and breathing in the smell of Charlie, Nick sat back and adjusted the towel under Charlie’s hips and grabbed the bottle of lube.  “Are you ready for my fingers, Dr. Nelson-Spring?”

“Please, husband,” Charlie whimpered as Nick’s large slick finger finally pressed in.  Charlie had prepared himself earlier and it only took a short time before he begged Nick for more.  “Please.  I need more, my love.”  Charlie moaned and babbled as he rocked his hips down on Nick’s fingers. 

Suddenly, Charlie bit the back of his hand and let out a guttural sound, making Nick coo at him as he stroked the outside of Charlie’s thigh.  “Does my husband like that?”

“Stop,” Charlie panted.  “Or I’m going to come already.”  

Charlie, who had transformed to a liquid state with Nick’s ministrations, whined limply when Nick pulled his fingers out; his hard cock being the only evidence of his once solid form.  “More, baby.” Charlie grasped himself and stroked to ease his need.  “Fuck me now.” 

“I’m working on it, darling,” Nick said, biting his lip as he watched Charlie writhing while he slathered lube on himself and then more on Charlie’s entrance. 

Nick spread Charlie’s knees apart and lined himself up, brushing the dripping head of his cock repeatedly over Charlie’s hole, teasing.  “Nick.  Please.”  Charlie vacillated between begging and demanding.  “Now.  Fuck.  Me.  Now.”

“Bossy,” Nick said playfully, pushing in and closing his eyes, relishing the feeling of Charlie’s tightness encircling him.  He groaned, holding Charlie’s legs as he slowly pressed in further.

After a few minutes Nick had bottomed out and begun to find a rhythm with Charlie coaxing him for more with his words and sounds.  Nick fell over Charlie, finding his mouth in sloppy kisses that contrasted to the precise snaps of his hips pounding into his husband. 

“Fuck, Nick,” Charlie uttered when Nick’s mouth slid off his to move to his neck.  “You’re fucking me so good.”

Nick lifted up to look down into Charlie’s eyes, and spoke between thrusts.  “You feel so good.  You’re taking my cock so well.  I’m going to fuck you like this forever, my Char.” 

Charlie’s eyelids fluttered and a small sigh escaped his mouth at Nick’s promise.  Then Nick kissed him one more time before sitting back and throwing Charlie’s legs over his shoulders to change the angle.  Moments later Charlie was crying out as Nick found the right spot, hitting it over and over as he slid in and out of his husband. Charlie’s hands twisted into the duvet and he barely got out a warning to Nick before cum shot out over his chest and stomach. 

Nick thrust wildly, feeling himself on the edge with the pulsating sensations of Charlie squeezing his cock as he came.  Charlie felt the warm blasts of Nick filling him as he was coming down from his own orgasm.  Nick fell forward, supporting himself with his hands on either side of Charlie, letting the waves ripple through him.  Charlie brought a hand up to rest on Nick’s arm while the other pushed Nick’s sweaty fringe back from his face. 

“Feel good?” Charlie asked, smiling.

“Yeah,” Nick said when he could speak again.  

Still inside his husband, Nick leaned down to tenderly kiss Charlie.  “I love you, Charlie Nelson-Spring.”

Charlie’s heart swelled as he returned the sentiment.  “I love you too, Nick Nelson-Spring.”

They both giggled and then Nick pulled out to flop down beside Charlie on the bed.  Charlie mewled at the emptiness with only the feel of Nick's cum running out of him as consolation.  

“Let’s get cleaned up and rest for round two,” Charlie said, turning to look at Nick with a grin.

“Give me a minute… but yeah.”  Nick turned his head to look at Charlie.  “My turn next.”     

July – Five Months after the London Marathon

There are some time jumps in this section.  The emojis below denote:

📽️🍿📽️ - watching the video in July in London

🥂🌈🥂 - the video - filmed in May/June

📽️🍿📽️

Charlie opened his arms, offering Nick his shoulder to cuddle against before pressing play on the video.  Nick snuggled in against Charlie’s chest, but pulled Charlie’s legs across his own with Charlie’s socked feet propped on the other side of him on the sofa.  The two men were a tangle of limbs like a human pretzel. 

🥂🌈🥂

The first scene of the video Tao had gifted them opened on a row of brightly coloured beach huts, zooming in on a group of three huts with doors painted with yellow and blue stripes.  The sounds of waves and ocean birds could be heard in the background and the shot then panned out and rotated around, capturing the bright blue sky, the beach, and the sea beyond before finding its way back to the beach huts.  The doors to the huts swung open and many of their closest friends and family spilled out with Tori and Olly holding a printed banner that read ‘Nick & Charlie’ with the June date below their names. Everyone was waving and garlands of flowers hung down inside the centre hut. 

📽️🍿📽️

“Oh look,” Charlie said, pointing to the screen, “it’s my mum looking happy standing beside your mum.”

They both laughed and Nick said, “Well, she came around to it.  Just like you said she would once it was too late.” 

“Yeah,”  Charlie smiled down at Nick and kissed his forehead.  “And there we are!”

🥂🌈🥂

The scene shifted to Nick and Charlie running hand-in-hand, crossing the starting line of the marathon. They could tell that this shot was filmed before the intro scene due to the sun angle and they appreciated Tao being there early to capture the moment.  In Charlie’s free hand though was a little video camera with a holder, so they could document their experience running the Brighton Marathon together – side by side – on their wedding day! 

Charlie had on his usual black running shorts but with an ombre singlet in the gay/MLM Pride flag colours.  Nick had on black shorts too but longer to protect his thighs and a running vest like Charlie’s but ombre in the bi flag colours.  On their race bibs, where their names would normally be printed, they’d each had GROOM printed on them instead.  

Tao’s shot had zoomed in on them crossing the start and then followed them into the distance of the first mile before the scene changed again.  

The interior of Rainbow Running appeared on the screen next.  Tara, Darcy, and Elle sat on a couple of the acrylic cubes near the wall of shoes.  Tao’s disembodied voice spoke from behind the camera: “Tell us about the first time Nick and Charlie met.”

Tara looked from Darcy to Elle and they were all grinning.  “Should I start?” 

“Go ahead, babe,” Darcy said, bumping her shoulder gently into Tara’s, while Elle nodded.

“Well… I’m not sure any of us were actually paying attention when they first talked,” Tara began.

“Yeah, it was busy in here because all the pace groups were assembled for the first run,” Darcy explained and then gestured for Tara to continue. 

“Right.  But we can tell you what happened when Nick first saw Charlie.”  Tara looked around at the others with a huge smile on her face and a glint in her eyes.

📽️🍿📽️

Nick buried his face in his hands and peeked through his fingers at the screen, whispering, “Oh god.” 

“Nick Nelson-Spring!”  Charlie paused the video and tried to pry Nick’s hands from his face.  “Are you blushing?”

“Shut up!” Nick laughed.  “There better be something embarrassing on here about you too.”

“Probably not.  I’m too cool to ever do anything embarrassing.”  Charlie smirked.  “Your crush on me was super embarrassing though,” he said, trying to keep his expression serious, but was unable to suppress a grin as he pressed play.  “Let’s watch more!” 

🥂🌈🥂

The video picked up again with Tara speaking, “Nick walked into the shop and spoke to me for like 10 seconds and then he saw Charlie and I had to literally snap my fingers in front of his face to get his attention again.  It’s true, right?”  She turned to the others who were agreeing and laughing. 

“And then later he tried to slyly ask about Charlie by pretending to be interested in the marathon training programme.”  Darcy covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, and Elle and Tara joined in the laughter. 

“Yes, he was very smooth!” Tara said once their merriment died down.  “And then he actually joined the marathon training – that he’d not even contemplated before when he first walked into the shop – just to meet Charlie!” 

“But Elle thought he was straight!”  Darcy pointed at Elle accusingly. 

Elle dropped her head into her hands.  “Oh my god, stop! I already paid – literally – for my mistake.”  Elle looked up and directly into the camera.  “I apologise, Nick, for judging you by the way you looked.  I learned my lesson!  And now I know that even giant rugby lads can be SUPER queer!” 

Tao spoke again: “And what about Charlie? Any first impressions he had about Nick?”

“Well… you know him.  The first thing he did was gay panic!” Elle said and Tara and Darcy laughed and nodded, adding ‘she’s right!’

“He came stomping into the pub after the first run, yelling at us for not warning him that the, and I quote, ‘hottest guy on the planet is in my pace group!’”

“Oh, but…”  Elle interrupted.  “He thought Nick was homophobic because he just stared at Charlie and wouldn’t speak to him.”

📽️🍿📽️

Charlie paused the video, shaking his head but laughing.  “Oh my god! Do you think the whole thing is going to be them just taking the piss?” 

“I mean… yeah, probably?”  Nick lifted his head up to look at Charlie, scrunching up his face, smiling and shrugging.  “But I guess some of it will be the wedding too?” Nick’s voice raised in pitch like he hoped they’d been relatively non-ridiculous at their ceremony and reception.

🥂🌈🥂

As Elle, Tara, and Darcy laughed on the screen, the scene transitioned into another running segment.  First, it showed Nick and Charlie running by the Royal Pavilion early in the Brighton race around mile five.  Next, they were running in a quiet area along the coast, east of the marina.  Nick was holding the camera and held it on Charlie, who was smiling, before panning out to the blue-green sea, which looked a deeper colour because it was, thankfully, still cloudy, which was keeping the air temperature cooler.  The last shot was filmed around mile sixteen as they ran by the Palace Pier.  Charlie was holding the camera and they slowed their pace a bit to pan around them at the view.  Nick reached over to wipe some sweat from Charlie’s forehead that was on a path towards his bright blue eyes. 

Charlie had both of them in the frame and, beaming at Nick, said, “We’re getting close!”  

“I know!” Nick said and picked up Charlie’s free hand in his and brought it to his lips. 

📽️🍿📽️

Charlie and Nick had changed positions on the sofa with Nick leaning back against the arm and Charlie leaning back against Nick’s chest nestled between Nick’s legs.  Charlie tilted his head to the side to look back towards Nick with the hand kiss on the video and Nick wrapped his arms even tighter around Charlie’s torso and kissed his curls. 

When Sai, Christian, and Otis appeared on their TV screen, Charlie felt Nick’s body tense and then relax into a laugh-groan, dreading the embarrassment from what might be said next.  Charlie snuggled back against Nick’s chest and pulled Nick’s arms tighter around him.  He gently stroked the back of Nick’s hands with his fingers, and said with humour in his voice, “There, there.  It’ll be okay.”  Nick sighed resignedly, steeling himself for his mates to bring up his instantaneous crush on Charlie.  

🥂🌈🥂

The lads sat at one of the picnic tables in the garden at the pub, but they weren’t dressed in their running gear.  Nick surmised that Tao had gotten them there on a day off when none of the running crowd would be around.  Each man had a full pint in front of him and they were sitting side-by-side on one side of a blue table. 

Tao asked from off screen: “So… I’ve heard from others that Charlie thought Nick was homophobic when he first met him because he just stared at him and wouldn’t speak.”  

Before Tao could finish with “What are your thoughts on that?” Nick’s friends nearly doubled over with laughter.  With tears in his eyes, Sai asked, “Really?  Is that what Charlie thought?”  Sai turned his head to look over at Otis and Christian, and the three of them broke out into fresh peals when their eyes met.  

When Otis finally caught his breath, he said, “Nelson… man… what a fucking disaster!”

“Yeah, mate,” Sai chuckled, “clearly not homophobic!”

“Nah!  Just a bisexual disaster overwhelmed by a pretty boy,” Christian added, still chuckling.

Otis grinned.  “The way he gasped – audibly gasped – when he saw Charlie stretching before our first run.”  He looked at the other two and they all tittered.

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“You liked watching me stretch?”  Charlie twisted in Nick’s arms to look at him. 

“Shut up!  You knew what you were doing to me – especially that time in those sheer tights !”  Nick tried to look stern, but couldn’t hold out.  He smiled at his husband and said, “Still do.”

🥂🌈🥂

Tao asked off-screen: “I also heard that Nick joined the marathon training programme on the spur of the moment.  Is that true?”

“Oh!  Yeah mate.”  Otis grinned.  “Apparently, Nick saw Charlie at the shop for like, what?”  He looked at Christian and Sai for confirmation. “Ten seconds?  And then signed himself – and one of us – up for it!” 

Tao asked: “Without asking you first?”

“Yes! He assumed he could talk at least one of us into it.”  Sai laughed.  “And I guess he was right because we all ended up doing it.” 

Christian nodded, taking a sip of his ale.  All three pints on the table were almost empty at this point.  “We did it with him because we love him.  But still… it was the most disaster thing he’s ever done.”  

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Nick paused the video.  “Good thing I already told you about that.”  He smiled at Charlie and wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. 

Charlie giggled.  “Yeah, but it sounds way worse when your friends tell it.”

“Hey!”  Nick pretended to be offended.  “Do you want something to drink?  I feel like we should be having champagne, since we’re watching ourselves getting married.” 

“I agree!”  Charlie shifted off Nick, so they could get up from the sofa.  “There’s the unopened bottle of Cava in the fridge that Isaac brought when he came over to see the new place before we moved in.”  

“Perfect!” 

They snuggled together under a throw when Nick returned with full flutes.  When Nick started the video up again, Charlie let out a squeak. 

“This is it!  There we are!”

🥂🌈🥂

As soon as the screen faded from Nick’s mates, the next scene opened with more footage by Charlie and Nick with their race camera.  They were commenting that it was feeling warmer because the cloud cover had dissipated and it had turned into a beautiful sunny day.  A perfect beach day if you were lounging on the beach, and still not too hot even though it was the first weekend in June. 

The point of view then shifted from their race camera to a distance shot of them running towards the huts, and suddenly an explosion of cheers from all their friends and family that were gathered there to take part in what was happening next.  Surprise showed on their faces when they saw the ‘aisle’ that Tara, Darcy, Elle, and Sahar had created with a strip of artificial grass lined with real ropes of green vines and a rainbow assortment of flowers.  It led to a larger square carpet of artificial grass laid over the promenade where their friends and family were waiting for them.   

Cheers greeted them as they ran up to the spot where the aisle started and various people handed them things.  Tara and Darcy handed them each a towel that had been dipped in ice water and squeezed out to wipe their faces and wrap around their necks to cool down.  Otis and Sai each had a bottle of ice cold sports drink that they passed off to the grooms.  Once they’d wiped off and had a drink, Nick and Charlie turned to look at each other and Charlie asked Nick if he was ready.  Nick took Charlie’s hand and answered ‘yes’ and they began walking up the aisle together.    

Several nearby onlookers had gathered to check out the commotion and were now filming the event with their phones.  Sarah and the Springs waited near the hut, and Tori gave Charlie a tearful smile before shaking it off to resume her public stoicism.  Isaac stood in the centre of the hut's entrance and beamed at them.  Sahar and Christian waited for them on either side of Isaac inside the beach hut.

When they got to the end of the aisle and stepped just inside the hut, they turned to face each other and clasped their hands together, looking into each other's eyes with occasional glances towards Isaac and everyone gathered around them. 

After a few seconds, Isaac began, using his best KCL Lecturer voice to project over the gathered crowd.  “We are here to celebrate the marriage of Charlie and Nick!”  He paused while their friends cheered and clapped.  “We’ll keep it brief because they do have a marathon to finish.”  Everyone laughed.   “Nick and Charlie, do you promise to always respect each other, to listen, speak, and act with kindness and compassion towards each other, and to communicate with honesty and love, today and always?”

“We do.” Nick and Charlie spoke together.  

They stood there for a few seconds, beaming at each other and squeezing their linked hands until Isaac cleared his throat. 

“Oh, right!”  Nick turned to Christian who handed him the ring.  He turned back to Charlie, taking his left hand.  They were both wearing their engagement rings on their right hands.  Nick pushed the brushed platinum circlet partway up Charlie’s finger as he spoke.   

“When I first saw you, Charlie, I was struck by your beauty.”  Nick tilted his head slightly, looking into Charlie’s eyes.  Nick gave him a huge smile.  “And maybe … I did something foolish just to meet you.”  Most of the people gathered chuckled at that, including Sarah but not Jane, who hadn’t been told their true origin story.  Charlie giggled softly, and Nick paused to enjoy the sound before continuing.  “But it was the best decision I ever made.  I hadn’t known you very long before I realised just how beautiful you are inside as well – funny and warm and brilliant and kind.  I promise to hold all the beauty of you in my heart.  Always.”  He pushed the ring the rest of the way up Charlie’s finger.  They stood there, looking at each other for a long moment, capturing the memory in their minds. 

Sahar handed Charlie the ring matching the one Nick just gave him.  He rubbed his thumb over the inlaid diagonal line of blue opal encircling the band as he placed it on Nick’s left ring finger, and said, “Nick, umm… same.  Except the part about doing something foolish to meet you.”  Their friends, Sarah, Tori, and Michael laughed.  Charlie winked at Nick who was grinning but also blushing.  “Unless, of course, you consider training people to run marathons foolish.”  Isaac raised his hand tentatively at that to comic effect, making everyone snigger.  “Seriously, though.  Nick.  I was dazzled by you too.  My beautiful sunshine of a man.”  Charlie paused just to take in the sight of Nick and think about his next words.  “But it was your depth – the intricacies that make you who you are – that captured me.  I know for some it may seem like our love story has been a sprint.”  The crowd tittered and jokingly groaned, while Nick playfully rolled his eyes.  Charlie stopped to address everyone gathered.  “What? Did you think I could do this without at least one running metaphor?”  Everyone laughed, and he continued.  “But, I promise to be there, by your side, going the distance.”  He grinned at Nick who was silently laughing, before looking at him earnestly.  “You are my future.  Forever.”  He pushed the ring up Nick’s finger.

Isaac stepped forward and said, “Okay, kiss already!  You need to get going – it’s not official until you cross the finish line,” he joked.

They linked hands again, and touched their lips together softly before deepening the kiss for a few seconds.

“Are you ready to finish strong, husband?” Charlie asked, beaming at Nick.

“Yes, husband.  Let’s go!” Nick answered with happy tears in his eyes.

Sahar started the music - ‘ Love You Forever ’ by THICK – as they jogged back down the aisle and took off towards the finish line.  

I love you tomorrow

And I love you on Monday

And I love you forever

And ever, and ever, and ever

Empty bottles, tangled limbs

Making out to starlight

Snuggled into one another

Never saying, "Good night"

I'll give anything for you

I'd give everything for you

I love you on Friday

And I love you when we're old

And I love you forever

And ever, and ever, and ever

I love you tomorrow

And I love you everyday

And I love you forever

And ever, and ever, and ever

After Nick and Charlie dashed off back to the course, the camera followed them for a few minutes before the video transitioned to a rectangle with Sarah sitting on her sofa in Kent holding Henry on her lap.  She was looking directly into the webcam and smiling.

They heard Tao ask: “I heard from one of Nick’s friends that you called Nick’s decision to join the marathon training programme to meet Charlie, ‘romantic.’  Could you elaborate on what you were thinking when Nick first told you about his plan?”

Sarah laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, my Nicky!”  She stroked Henry, who was curled up sleeping.  “I worried a little because, obviously, I didn’t know anything about Charlie at that point and Nick acted like it might be a longshot that he’d be interested in him.”  Sarah looked up towards the ceiling, gathering her thoughts before continuing.  “But… and I know I’m biassed… but I thought, ‘well, if this Charlie gets to know my Nicky, how can he not like him.’”  She smiled into the webcam again. 

Tao asked: “And once they started dating, how long was it before you realised how serious things were between them?  Did Nick tell you?”     

Sarah put a hand over her mouth to cover her enormous grin.  “I could tell how Nick felt long before he told me anything.  We’d FaceTime on weekends and every conversation was filled with Charlie – Charlie this and Charlie that.  And, there was just this look that Nick had when he spoke about Charlie.”  Sarah’s face took on a serious expression.  “I’d never seen him look like that before.  I’d never heard him speak about someone in that way before.  I just knew.  Or, I thought I did… but then when I met Charlie for the first time and could see something in his face that matched Nicky’s – then I knew.  I knew this would be the outcome.”  Sarah beamed again, looking directly into the webcam.

📽️🍿📽️

Charlie set his glass of Cava on the coffee table.  “Are you okay?” he asked softly, wiping a tear from Nick’s cheek.

“Yeah, sorry,” Nick said, smiling and trying to shake it off.  “It’s just… hearing her say it like that.  Like, it’s just another confirmation of everything I felt… I feel.  Everything I know about us, Char.” 

Charlie caressed Nick’s cheek and turned his face to brush his lips over Nick’s.  “Should we keep going?”

“Yeah,” Nick said and wrapped his arms around Charlie and kissed his cheek. 

🥂🌈🥂

Charlie and Nick finished the race on screen a few seconds after the video transitioned from Sarah.  Tao, Darcy, Sahar, and Christian had had an Uber waiting for them as soon as the ceremony was over to zip down beyond the finish line to get the newlyweds on camera crossing the finish line.  Nick and Charlie stopped moving to kiss just on the other side of the line, it was quick but still deep and passionate.  When they broke apart, they grinned at each other and then walked hand-in-hand towards the volunteers handing out the finisher medals.  They each took one from a volunteer and moved a little further through the funnel before stopping.  Charlie turned to Nick and spread the ribbon of the medal he was holding, motioning for Nick to duck his head lower, so Charlie could loop the medal around his neck.  Nick then did the same before they kissed again and linked their hands to continue walking through the finish line melee.  They each took a water bottle being offered by another volunteer. 

They’d almost gotten to the end of the funnel – Tao following their progress from the sideline – when a local BBC reporter and camera person rushed up to them.

“Hi, are you the couple that just got married right before the finish?”

They looked at each other and smiled and then Charlie spoke up and said, “Yes.”

“Would you mind if we interview you?”

They looked at each other once again, both raising their shoulders in a shrug to indicate ‘why not?’ before Nick responded, “Sure.” 

The reporter went on to ask them about themselves and their ceremony, and the logistics and significance of getting married at the marathon.   

They were able to work in that they were raising money for two charities with their race – one that helped trans kids and another that helped LGBTQIA refugees.  They also plugged Rainbow Running since that helped to answer the question of how they met.    

Elle sat on her sofa smiling into the camera for a few seconds before Tao came into the shot and sat beside her.  She kept smiling and tried to quietly, inconspicuously mouth ‘Is it ready?’ to her husband.  

He smiled at her and said, “Tell me, Elle, about the bet you and Darcy had about Nick.”

Elle made a shocked, scowling face at Tao and shoved him.  “I am not talking about that again!  I told you.  Ask me something else.”  She adjusted her skirt, straightening the fabric over her thighs, recomposing herself.

“Okay, tell us about the first time you saw them together together .”

Elle nodded at the appropriate question.  “Well.  It was here in our flat.  Charlie called me up begging me to get permission from you to bring Nick to our film night.”

“Yes, I remember you insisting that we allow it.”  Tao smiled at his wife.  “And did he tell you it was a date?”

“No.  He said that Nick was…”  Elle made air quotes with her fingers. “‘Becoming a really good friend.’”

“And did you believe him?”

“No!”  Elle smirked.  “Especially when I saw the way Nick was watching Charlie eat the food he’d made – to see if Charlie approved or something, but like in a ‘desperate for his approval’ way.  And… they were totally snuggling on the sofa during the film.  Proper cuddling.  Like, yeah, there were four people on the sofa, but there was a huge gap between Charlie and Darcy.”  Elle looked directly into the camera.  “Charlie, honey, you’re not that sly.  Just sayin’!”  

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“Yep!” Charlie popped the ‘p’ and looked at Nick.  “Except for your mum, it’s just going to be them doing this.”  He gestured towards the screen as the next segment of the video began. 

🥂🌈🥂

A rainbow of blurred orbs against a white background appeared next on their screen.  Slowly, as the camera focused, the balls of colour transformed into a spectrum of origami kites falling from violet to red in what seemed like thousands of strands hanging from the white plank ceiling of the reception hall.  

The camera slowly panned down from the ceiling to take in the setting.  A rectangular table sat at the end of the room opposite the wall of glass windows and doors that opened onto a terrace overlooking the jade green and turquoise ocean.  Two longer rectangular tables flanked the centre one on either side to form a u-shaped configuration.  The blonde wood of the tables and chairs contrasted only slightly with the white walls and ceiling but stood out against the dark, nearly black, wood floors.  Greenery formed a runner down each of the longer tables and across the front of the head table with monochromatic centrepieces – from red to violet – flowing around the tables in rainbow order, each containing a mix of flowers in the same hue but different shades and tones for that particular point on the spectrum – the blues of eryngiums, hydrangeas, and forget-me-nots spilling over the seagrass container, the greens of hellebores, cymbidium orchids, and celosia as well, and so on.

The tall, three-tier wedding cake sat on a circular table in the centre of the u-configuration near the head table.  Flowers cascaded down the side of the white tower, spiralling onto the table in rainbow order but with the violet and purple ones adorning the top.  A chandelier of the rainbow origami kites fell from the ceiling above the cake table, pulling the eye towards it.  

After scanning the table set up, the camera moved to the other part of the reception space where Nick and Charlie’s guests were gathered around the bar and the high tables for the cocktail hour while they waited for the husbands, who were taking photos by the sea in the late afternoon light.  People smiled and waved at the camera when they noticed it until everyone turned to the entrance and Nick and Charlie appeared smiling and holding hands. 

Charlie’s fitted, pastel cornflower-blue linen shirt had the first few buttons from the band collar downward undone and it was untucked over his white, skinny chinos.  He had on new off-white Converse, clean and unscuffed unlike his everyday pair.  Nick wore cream-coloured suede Vans and light tan chinos with a pastel pink linen shirt with an eyelet collar, also fitted and casually unbuttoned.  

As they stood just inside the doorway with everyone cheering their arrival, Nick suddenly took Charlie in his arms and dipped him while planting a kiss.  Charlie held on but laughed a few seconds into the kiss at the surprise and the whoops and shouts from their friends.        

The camera pulled back from Nick’s impromptu dip/kiss at the reception to capture the crowd of friends and family looking on, cheering, and commenting to each other before the scene faded into Isaac sitting on what appeared to be Tao and Elle’s sofa in their flat. 

Tao asked: “So… at first, Charlie was hiding his feelings for Nick?” 

Isaac grinned and snorted and then covered his mouth with his hand, laughing.

The shot faded back into reception footage.  

Nick and Charlie watched and laughed from their sofa as Sahar and Christian toasted them on the screen before video Charlie stood to say a few words, stopping to kiss Nick’s cheek before standing.

Charlie cleared his throat.  “Last year at this time, if someone told me I’d be where I am now, here…”  He gestured to the room around them with his hands.  “Celebrating my marriage to the best person in the world…”  He looked down at Nick and laid his hand atop Nick’s shoulder.  “I would have definitely thought they’d been going hard at the edibles.” Everyone smiled and several people laughed.  “I know I’m the luckiest person on earth right now.”  Nick shook his head and pointed at himself, mouthing ‘No, me!’  “We…”  Charlie paused to take Nick’s hand.  “Just want to thank you all for being here with us today, and for supporting us along the way.  Even when we’re annoyingly sappy… at film nights, or before runs, or during runs, or after runs, or on FaceTime, or at work, or during holidays.”  Their guests laughed and murmured their agreement with that to their neighbours at the table.  “Special thanks to all our friends, but especially to Nick’s rugby mates – and Sahar, in my case – for wing-peopling the whole situation.  I heard that Nick especially needed help.”  Nick scoffed and Charlie smirked as Sai, Christian and Otis interjected with ‘yeahs’ and ‘that’s rights.’  Charlie waited a moment, and then began again.  “And thanks to Tori for… well, she knows what she did for me.”  Charlie winked at her.  “Also, we’d like to specially thank our parents – Sarah, Jane, and Julio – for helping us with the wedding, so we could focus our efforts on buying our flat, which we exchanged contracts for.”  Charlie paused again while everyone applauded.  “We should be moving in July and you are all welcome… although, not at the same time.  It’s not that big.”  Everyone laughed.  “Anyway, thank you again for celebrating with us!”  He raised his glass.  “Cheers!”  Charlie drank and then bent to kiss Nick’s lips before sitting down.

Barely audible music played behind the murmuring of the still seated guests as Nick and Charlie stood by the towering confection.  Charlie picked up the cake knife and Nick wrapped his hands around Charlie’s as they lined up the knife to slice into the bottom tier.  They did it slowly, so the photographer and Tao could get good shots.  Once the slice was plated, they each took a tiny piece in their hands and fed each other the bite.  They both tried being cheeky with the cake to smear the icing, but Nick was the winner, getting a splotch of icing on Charlie’s nose.  As soon as they dropped their arms though, he wiped the frosting off the tip of Charlie’s nose with his thumb and then sucked it off his thumb before going for a second swipe to get the rest.  Nick then leaned in to kiss Charlie’s lips briefly, rubbing noses and pressing their foreheads together before moving back, so the cake could be served to the guests.   

Sahar and Christian sat at a pub picnic table when the video transitioned away again from the reception. Christian was wearing the same shirt as the previous interview with Otis and Sai, so Nick and Charlie supposed Tao filmed them both on the same day. 

Tao spoke off camera: “Even after they started dating, Charlie and Nick kept their relationship a secret from their friends?”

“Well…” Sahar started to say as she and Christian turned to look at each other and then started laughing. 

“Those two!”  Christian shook his head in disbelief.  “So ridiculous!” 

“Yeah!  Like we didn’t all know.”  Sahar turned to face Christian, grinning.  “Duh! Right?!” 

Christian nodded and then added, in a falsetto that was supposedly Charlie, “Like… oh, hey mate, pal, bro, mind if I sit on your lap at the pub and cuddle you after our speed workout?  You know, like totally platonic friends do.  Good mates!”

Sahar guffawed and hit Christian’s arm playfully with the back of her hand.  “Or, how about… ‘Oi, Charlie, I’ve got a cramp during this long run.  I need you to wait with me because of my… cramp, yeah… and definitely not because I want to make out with you.  I would never try to do that with my mate when I’m supposed to be doing a training run.”

Tao interrupted: “Wait.  Nick actually faked an injury during a run to make out with Charlie?”

Sahar and Christian both sniggered.  “Umm… well… we didn’t actually see them making out,” Christian admitted. 

“Yeah.  But we knew!” Sahar grinned at Tao. 

📽️🍿📽️

Nick leaned over, burying his head in his hands again , and shaking it, while Charlie looked on and giggled as he set his now empty flute on the coffee table. 

🥂🌈🥂

Wispy cirrus clouds streaked the sky over the ocean and the waning sunlight reflected off the clouds painting the blue sky behind them with yellow, orange, and pink to the west, while indigo-coloured clouds floated in the east.  The part of the sky visible from the reception hall's wall of windows out to the deck bathed the scene in sunset colours as Nick and Charlie held each other and swayed gently with the occasional twirl to ‘ you. ’ by Oscar Lang.  

Years spent alone

I thought that I was happy on my own

Then you came along

Made me realize that I was wrong

It's you

It's you

It's you

It's you

Nick held Charlie’s waist and Charlie held onto Nick’s shoulders as they looked into each other's eyes, smiling, and saying ‘I love yous’ that couldn’t be heard over the music but the words were clear to anyone looking on.  Then Nick pulled Charlie closer and he laid his head on Nick’s shoulder, both men closing their eyes, and Nick planting a kiss into Charlie’s curls. 

As their first dance ended and everyone clapped, the video transitioned to more dancefloor scenes throughout the evening, including most of the guests, even their parents.   

The rectangular frame glowed although the subject within glowered per usual into the webcam.  Before Tao spoke, Tori dropped her head to sip her drink.

Tao asked: “When did you first hear about Nick?”

“When I was in Canada.” She stared directly out into the room from the centre of the screen.

Tao asked: “Okay.  Did Charlie tell you?  How did you find out they were dating?”

“Yes.  Charlie told me.” 

Tao: “Can you elaborate?  How was Charlie feeling?”

“I’m not Charlie.  Why don’t you ask him?”

Tao, with exasperation dripping from his voice, begged: “Tori!  This is supposed to be a gift for Nick and Charlie celebrating their love.  Can you please be a little more forthcoming?” 

“Fine.  What do you want me to say?”

Tao: “Just… What was it like for Charlie when he started dating Nick?  From your perspective.”

“Charlie was being an idiot.” 

Tao: “And… ?” 

“He was overthinking.  As usual.  And trying to keep Nick a secret for some bizarre reason.”  Tori’s face then softened, just a bit.  “But I could tell there was something different than usual, even though I hadn’t met Nick.  I could see it in Charlie’s face.  Hear it in his voice.”  She paused, considering her words.  “In the past, Charlie might be worrying about what someone thought of him.  But with Nick, he was worrying about how much he felt.  Because it was overwhelming him.  I’m sure he’d never felt that much for someone else before and he was panicking inside because he was absolutely out of control with his feelings and… well, you know what he’s like… he likes to be in control.  I get it because… same.  But when he let go… that’s why we're here, right?”  She took another sip of her drink.  “So I knew Nick was special, from the beginning.  And I knew that Charlie deserved someone that made him feel out of control.”  

📽️🍿📽️

Hearing Tori talk about him in relation to Charlie like that sent Nick over the edge and he dropped his head onto Charlie’s shoulder and buried his face in Charlie’s neck.  When he lifted his head again, his cheeks were wet and he said, “I’m so lucky you took a chance on me.”

Charlie’s long arms encircled Nick’s broad shoulders and he cooed into Nick’s ear, “No.  I’m definitely the one that got lucky.”  

They stayed like that for several minutes before resuming the video.

🥂🌈🥂

Around 11pm, Nick got the attention of the room to let everyone know that he and Charlie were leaving.  “We want to thank you all for being here to help us celebrate our wedding,” he started.  “We’ve had the best day ever and…”  He was interrupted by what sounded like Otis’ fondly heckling voice saying ‘And now you’re about to have the best night!’

Everyone laughed and Nick waggled his eyebrows at the crowd.  Charlie giggled.  Nick continued when the laughter died down, “Okay, well, thank you all!  And I guess we’re out of here!  We got the hall here for a few more hours though.  The bar is open and the music will continue, so everyone enjoy!”

Nick then picked up Charlie bridal-style, making Charlie squeak and giggle again, and gave a little bow of his head.  Christian yelled towards them as Nick was manoeuvring towards the exit carrying Charlie, “Remember, if either one or both of you can’t walk tomorrow, just blame it on the race!”  

“But no one will believe you!” Sahar shouted over the music with her hands cupped around her mouth before returning to dancing, laughing with others around her. 

After Nick and Charlie left the reception, the filming continued with Tao getting practically everyone on camera sending their love and best wishes to the happy couple: Charlie’s parents, siblings, and extended family minus his grandparents, Nick’s mum and Aunt Di and her family,  David and his wife (Nick was shocked they’d showed up and David was civil, even as he was disappointed again that his dad had not been there for a major life event), Chetna and some other work colleagues of Charlie’s from KCL, Nick’s friends from work and a couple other guys from his rugby team, and all their closest friends of course. 

From the heated dance floor of the reception venue, the video cut to a shot of the sun overhead and then shining streaks of sunlight on the ocean surface before finding Nick and Charlie walking through the crowds beyond the finish line funnel towards the race results booth.  There was a line at each of the tablets on both tables, so Charlie took out his phone and scanned the poster-sized QR code mounted on the side of the booth.  Tao had the camera zoomed in on them as they stared at Charlie’s phone screen, Nick shading it with his hand against the sun, so they could see.  

“What’s our time?” Nick asked Charlie, who was clicking the drop-downs on the results webpage to find their category. 

Charlie squinted and pinched the screen to zoom in.  “Looks like four hours, eleven minutes, and thirty-six seconds.  Not bad, considering we were not running full out and we stopped to get married.”  He grinned up at Nick. 

Nick kissed Charlie’s sweaty forehead.  “But I slowed you down a lot.”

“Nick…” Charlie said softly as he turned to face Nick and caressed his cheek as he stared into his eyes.  “The only time that matters to me is the rest of my life with you.”  Charlie raised up on his toes to kiss Nick’s lips.  “I love you, Nick Nelson-Spring.”

Nick took a deep breath and let it out slowly before taking Charlie’s face in both his large hands.  “And I love you too, Charlie Nelson-Spring.”  

Nick pressed his lips against Charlie’s.  The kiss deepened before they pulled back and Nick dropped his arms to encircle Charlie’s waist.  Charlie brought his hands up to rest them on Nick’s chest.

“Always,” Nick said, looking into Charlie’s eyes.

“Forever!”  Charlie smiled up at his husband.  

Epilogue Playlist some songs they danced to at the reception. 

🥂🌈🥂