When they got back to the party, not many noticed that they had been gone. Those that did? The smirks that were shot their way made Maxwell’s ears turn pink. Amir’s grandmother even smacked Andrew’s shoulder, but then pulled the two of them in for a hug. His smirk was telling, and he even tsked his tongue. That was the biggest reaction though.
The party continued until Andrew started to get antsy about how late it was getting. Did Andrew think he was going to get any sleep? Absolutely not. He was going to toss and turn all night. But, he wanted to do that on his own terms, knowing that everyone else was also safe and tucked into bed.
Finally, everyone else got the hint and Andrew’s anxiety for one thing went down, and went up for another. Andrew and Maxwell were separated and taken away from each other a few minutes apart so that they couldn’t know what part of the house that they went to. Ford and Thomas took Andrew away and Luis and May took Maxwell away.
Maxwell gave Andrew a wave and an air kiss before he was taken away by their respective mothers and Andrew could feel how his heart was racing in his chest. He was pretty happy that he had been able to convince Maxwell to let him have...a little bit of fun. Watching him walk away was rending Andrew’s heart in two. The mory and taste of what he’d done was going to get him through the night.
~
Andrew lay in bed, sheets askew, staring up at the ceiling as his pulse raced, his limbs twitched, and heat radiated from his body. He was so anxious about what was going to happen tomorrow that his stomach was in knots.
He kept trying to go to sleep, kept trying to convince himself that sleeping was the best option, but he couldn’t keep his eyes closed for too long. He kept his glasses off so that he couldn’t see the ti clearly on his phone.
It felt like if he couldn’t see it in detail, it wouldn’t be real. Ti wasn’t passing if it was blurry.
It was a hard night, and when the gentle knock sounded at the door, drawing his attention, Andrew wondered how much he’d actually slept. It had to have been only a few hours, but sohow he still felt rested. Nervous, but sowhat rested. He guessed part of it was the adrenaline in his body keeping him afloat.
He wondered how long that would last?
~
"Hey Andy, good morning. Are you ready?" It was Jenny, all soft smiles and joy radiating from every fiber of her being. Andrew smiled at her, adjusting the glasses he had grabbed hastily as he realised he was bare chested in front of her. His pajamas felt a little ridiculous in this place. She was in her own pajamas, but she held a cup in her hand. It stead, and Andrew could tell it was so kind of fragrant black tea. She smiled, pushing the cup towards him.
"A good way to start the day. Not too much caffeine, but enough to jump start everything. The boys are downstairs, getting breakfast ready. This will be the last ti that you will see Maxy before you’ll see him at the altar, so take full advantage of it." She told him. Andrew nodded, accepting the cup from her easily. As soon as the steam hit his nose, Andrew felt his shoulders relax.
It slled...a bit like Maxwell’s pheromones, but not quite. It had to be chai then, and Andrew knew of only one person who would provide him sothing like this.
"Amir’s grandmother?" Andrew asked Jenny as he took a gentle sip. It wasn’t too hot, nor too cold. Just the right temperature for him to sip. The warm liquid was like a balm to his nerves. Jenny nodded subtly, carefully maneuvering her way into the room so that she could grab Andrew a shirt to throw up instead of going down to breakfast bare-chested.
"Of course. He suggested that you just call him grandmother at this point, since you were adopted by him and his husband." Jenny told Andrew matter-of-factly and Andrew gave a hearty chuckle. That was so very much like him. "He also said that it would be a great way to start the morning. Sothing old, and sothing new." She said. Andrew’s chest ward.
"How thoughtful of him." Andrew murmured and Jenny sighed.
"I know, right? It makes feel a little inferior. I’ll have to step up in my aunt duties." She sounded upset, but Andrew could tell she was just acting. Her eyes sparkled too much for her words to an much.
"What are you saying? Both you and Kim are wonderful Aunts to ." Andrew told her, trying to sound sincere. Jenny smiled at him.
"You would say that. I appreciate you being so sweet, Andy." She rustled through his bag, grabbing a plain shirt and tossing it to him. Andrew caught it, putting the mug of chai down for a second to pull it on. When he was free, and his glasses hadn’t fallen off, and looked over at her and found Jenny overco with emotion.
Worried for a mont, he went to go approach her but Jenny held up her hand, a smile on her face.
"It’s nothing, Andy. I’m just...this is a very proud mont for . I’m so glad that I was able to be apart of your life again, and to be the one who was able to wake you up on your wedding day? There won’t be another greater honour until I do the sa for my own kids. I just...there’s a hole where soone else should be here with us." Her voice trailed off, emotion choking her and Andrew couldn’t find words to speak. He couldn’t argue with her.
He’d felt it the whole ti. The mont he had landed on the island, it had been a beating pulse beneath his skin. A constant reminder.
She wiped at her eyes, noticing how still Andrew had gotten at her words before she plastered on a smile. Surprisingly, it wasn’t fake, and Andrew was even more at a loss for words.
"However, she of all people, would never want us to be sad on a day like this. No way, no how. She was too much the life of a party, much like you are, and I will be damned if I make your wedding day sad. Kim’s already been inford that we aren’t allowed to cry any sad tears today." Jenny told him firmly, moving towards him to grab his upper arm and give it a squeeze. "I’ll allow you one round of sad tears, and that’s it. Otherwise, I will be disgracing your Mother’s mory." She warned.
Andrew couldn’t help the snort that left his lips, before both Jenny and Andrew were laughing, hugging each other. Neither was quite crying, but their eyes were wet.
"Only once, huh?" Andrew asked and Jenny smiled.
"Happy tears are allowed. I don’t know what deal you’ve struck with Maxy on that, but our limit is four. Given it’s your wedding day, I’d say six is a reasonable amount for you." Jenny told him rather seriously, before she chuckled. Andrew grinned.
"Max likes it when I cry." Andrew told her and her expression soured imdiately.
"I do not need to know that. On that awful note, let’s get moving. Co on, grab your chai. I’m sure Maxy is already there and waiting for you." Jenny said, tugging on Andrew to get him moving. They left the room, chatting to each other as they moved through the halls. It was a good thing that Jenny knew where she was going since Andrew had no clue. Even though they had been here for two days, Andrew was still able to get lost here.
~
The room was bustling, but the excitent was muted. Andrew figured it was because so of the normally joyous mbers of the group were hungover. There was also the fact that everyone had to get up early for make up, hair, whatever they needed to do.
The won, at the very least, and so of the ogas. That list definitely included Maxwell, and sowhat included Andrew. They both wanted to look their best for each other, but Maxwell was more of a fashionista in that regard.
When Andrew arrived to the room, Maxwell was already talking to the wedding planner and a few other people. They looked like the won in charge of hair and makeup. He only guessed since he didn’t know them before this mont and they had kits with them.
Andrew watched as Maxwell’s nostrils flared and then he turned, his gaze locking on Andrew’s. Andrew’s breath paused as Maxwell’s gaze narrowed and he waved his hand.
"Andy, co here Baby." Maxwell called. It was a siren’s song. There was no way Andrew would have been able to resist him, even if he wanted to. Jenny left his side, a knowing smirk on her face as she patted him on the shoulder and left. Andrew moved towards Maxwell, unable to resist bending and pressing a kiss to his lips.
Maxwell, bless him, angled his body so that he was more readily able to receive the kiss.
"Good morning, my fiancé." Andrew greeted and Maxwell’s pleased smile made Andrew’s heart race.
"Only for a few more hours." He countered. Andrew scanned his face, wondering if Maxwell had gotten a decent sleep. From the looks of it, no. It was a little an of Andrew to be excited about that. To know that while they were apart, neither had rested well. "Andrew, these are the lovely ladies who will be helping us today." Maxwell turned Andrew’s attention towards the won he had been speaking to. Andrew grinned, offering his free hand to each of them.
"Hello." He greeted warmly, and both won seed to relax.
"Hello. Congratulations, you two." One of them greeted and Andrew’s grin widened.
"I know. I’ve got myself quite the catch, haven’t I?" Andrew said, turning a happy grin towards Maxwell. Maxwell’s ears were pink at the easy way Andrew complinted him.
"Oh hush. Others are going to say I’ve ensnared you into marrying ." Maxwell muttered, but there was no way that was true. Even the wedding planner grinned while Andrew leaned in, pressing a kiss against Maxwell’s cheek.
"You have well and truly ensnared ." Andrew told him, and that only seed to make the other man even more flustered. He cleared his throat, trying to gain control of the situation.
"Either way, they’ll be working with the ladies first since they’ll take longer. They aren’t alone. Both ladies have a team. Mom and May are already getting worked on as we speak." Maxwell told him. Andrew nodded, glad that he easily explained why he couldn’t see Luis and May.
"Perfect. Anything else I need to know?" Andrew asked. When everyone shook their heads, Andrew smiled and leaned in, kissing Maxwell again. "Perfect. I’m going to go greet my grandmother then, and thank him for the tea." Andrew said, holding up the chai. Maxwell’s face was confused before he realised who Andrew was referring to. His smile was warm.
"You go do that. I’ll go join you in a few minutes." Maxwell said. However, Maxwell never joined Andrew after that. They both got too busy, their wedding preparations slightly different from each other’s enough that Maxwell had to go for his makeup shortly after. Andrew was only able to steal another kiss because he chased Maxwell down the hall and then they were officially separate until the altar.
It was a strange mixture of emotions that filled Andrew’s gut. Excitent, fear, worry. But it was mostly positive. It was a big day, and from the smiles of everyone around him, they were just as excited as he was. Everything was going to go smoothly.
There was no other option.
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