Chapter 64

________

WARD

WARD WAS nervous.

The past few weeks had been an absolute whirlwind. With the help of their friends, the initial move had taken no time at all. Ward's entire apartment had been emptied out over Thanksgiving weekend. He'd thought he'd get stuck paying for another thirty days, thanks to the management's one-month notice policy, but it turned out they had a waiting list for an available unit, so he was off the hook for that.

Still, he would have happily paid it. Anything to make sure his boys were in a place where they felt comfortable. But the savings appeased Skylar, which was more important than the money itself. Plus, it allowed Ward to take that money he would have spent on additional rent, and set it aside in a secret fund instead. Charlie had told him that he wanted to buy a piano for Skylar someday, and Ward was bound and determined to help him make that happen.

The weekend after the move, he'd taken Charlie back to his parents' house to pack up his things. The only furniture that they brought was Charlie's desk, while the bed and dresser remained behind so the Pratts could turn the space into a guest bedroom. But all of Charlie's clothes and other belongings got packed into boxes. The books seemed to take forever. The boy had so many! But Ward hadn't been about to complain. He happily carried every one of those boxes out to his truck, knowing it meant Charlie was coming home with him.

Skylar stayed behind. He didn't want to go anywhere near the city ever again, and Ward couldn't blame him. But Skylar hadn't been idle in their absence. He'd started putting up Christmas decorations to surprise them. They already had a tree, so all Skylar had to do was string lights around it and hang some ornaments. Charlie had insisted they get a tree the day they moved in, wanting to be able to enjoy it right away. It had meant yet another trip to town, but it had been so worth it.

Ward grinned. Charlie had been so excited when they got the tree set up. Even more so when they came home to find it decorated. The boy spent long moments every day, just staring at the lights with a huge smile on his face. It was so breathtakingly beautiful.

There was still a lot to be done with the house, though. They needed more furnishings to make the place really feel full and homey, but they were happy. They had their quiet retreat away from the world, where the boys felt safe. A place to call home. Nothing else mattered.

As for the wedding, that had been taken almost entirely out of their hands. When their friends found out they wanted to get married on Christmas Eve, Beau had stated that they'd host the wedding there at Living in Zin so there would be space for all their friends to attend. And their friends had managed nearly everything. They made the house extra festive for Christmas, then also arranged for a cake and a catered dinner, keeping Charlie's dietary rules in mind.

The sitting room had been rearranged, tables removed and chairs added, all turned to face the front window. It looked so cozy and casual. Not big and ostentatious like Ward's first wedding had been.

And with the colors, scents, and sounds of Christmas all around them? It was perfect.

Even with all the help, there had still been a lot to get done. Deciding on music. Making a list of guests they specifically wanted to invite. Picking out rings. Ward laughed at that particular memory. He'd fully expected Charlie to struggle with the idea of wearing a ring, worried that it might be a sensory issue for the boy. Yet Charlie had cheerfully stood at the jewelry store counter, trying on rings until they all agreed on what they wanted.

That decision had been simple enough. Skylar just wanted a ring. Any ring. He didn't care what it looked like, so long as he could wear a symbol of their union. And when it came right down to it, Ward felt the same. Once Charlie was satisfied, Ward and Skylar happily seconded his choice.

And it was perfect. Simple. Matching. Made to last. Just as the three of them intended to be.

But Ward was still nervous. He stared at his reflection as he stood there in one of the guest rooms at Living in Zin. Beau had put each of them in a separate room to get ready. Ward could practically feel his boys on the other side of those walls.

He wondered if they were as nervous as he was.

Ward blew out a heavy breath and fussed with his shirt. They weren't doing suits and bowties, though they had discussed it until Skylar started kicking himself for leaving his suits behind when he fled the city. Besides, Charlie hated being all stuffed up inside a jacket. And he didn't like dress shirts, saying they were too stiff and scratchy.

So they decided to be completely comfortable, getting married in flannel.

Ward chuckled. It was so non-traditional, but he loved it. It felt cozy and fitting, considering the season. Skylar was going to wear blue, because Charlie said it would bring out his eyes. Charlie himself would be in red, because it was a happy, Christmas color. And Ward was wearing green, another Christmas color and—according to Charlie—because it was like the earth. Solid. Steady. Full of life and growth. A safe foundation. Ward couldn't help smiling at that.

Ward fastened his shirt all the way up to the collar, then yanked the top button back open. He took a slow, deep breath, reminding himself that everything was going to be okay. This was his forever. His Happily Ever After.

This was meant to be.

He tucked in the shirt, fastened his jeans, put on a belt, then checked his reflection once more. His back straightened, and a smile took over his face.

In a few minutes, Ward would be marrying his boys. Geez . He couldn't wait.

Of course, it wouldn't be legal. It lent a bittersweet air to the whole thing, but there was no getting around it. Until they lived in a better world—a freer world—they had to work with what they had. The very idea of marriage being a legal institution rubbed him the wrong way, but Ward was also practical. His boys needed to be protected.

After a long talk about their options, Ward had gone online and applied to be ordained to perform a wedding ceremony. They'd gotten a marriage license for Skylar and Charlie, so at least those two would be legally wed. It left Ward with no rights whatsoever, but that wasn't as important as making sure his boys were taken care of. They would have legal rights and protections, and that was enough for him.

Besides, with him ministering their union, at least he could say he'd married them.

But the real ceremony—the one that truly mattered to all three of them—would come after. They'd get the legal one out of the way first, and then their real wedding would begin.

Ward pulled on his boots, took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked out the door.

He went downstairs, following the sound of voices to the sitting room. All their friends were there, giving up Christmas Eve to celebrate with them. Ward saw his parents, along with Vaughn and his husband. Charlie's parents were there, as was Charlie's middle brother, Quinn. All the other daddies and boys had come, too.

Their family. All the people who mattered.

Vaughn came up to him and gave him a big, tight hug. “You ready?”

“Yeah.”

“I am so happy for you.” Vaughn pulled back and looked Ward in the eyes. “It's gonna be perfect.”

“I hope so.” Ward blew out a breath. “I'm nervous.”

“Don't be. This won't be like last time.”

“No. I know that,” Ward replied, and he meant it. He wasn't nervous for himself. Somehow, he was no longer afraid of being rejected. Abandoned. He, Skylar, and Charlie were in this for good. Ward felt that all the way down to his soul.

But he was nervous for them. He wanted this to be perfect for his boys. To be enough.

Vaughn gasped. “Oh. Look.”

Ward slowly turned, then froze. Charlie stepped carefully down off the last riser and paused there, rolling his head as he glanced all around, taking in the crowd. The boy winced, then straightened up and walked forward anyway.

He looked so brave and beautiful, Ward thought his heart might burst.

“Hey, sweet boy,” Ward murmured. “How are you feeling?”

Charlie scanned the room. Loud , he signed. Before Ward could reply, the boy went on. I deal .

“You sure? You can wait upstairs until we're ready to start.”

Charlie shook his head. Important!

“Okay.” Ward bent down. “We'll have some good quiet time later, okay? I promise.”

Charlie's eyebrows went up a little. Sex first?

Ward laughed. “Sure, little mouse. Whatever you want.”

Charlie scrunched up his face in a grin.

“There's your other one,” Vaughn murmured.

Ward and Charlie looked up, watching Skylar approach them. The boy looked so vibrant. So much better than when Ward had found him back in San Francisco. Skylar had been so pale and drawn that night. So worn down. But now he looked happy right down to his soul.

It was breathtaking.

Skylar joined them and looked all around. “Holy moon pies, this is really happening. I'm getting married!”

Ward grinned. “Yeah, you are.”

“Are we ready?” Beau asked, joining them.

Ward glanced at Skylar and Charlie. The boys looked nervous but eager, and they all nodded.

“ Magnifique! ” Beau exclaimed. He clapped his hands together and turned to face the crowd. “Everyone, please take your seats. We are about to begin.”

People rushed about, squeezing into the chairs and sofas all over the sitting room. Beau directed Ward to the front bay window. Ward took up his position, hands clasped in front of him to keep them from shaking.

Beau led the boys over, positioning them between Ward and the crowd, then quickly took his seat next to Dakota, up near the front.

A hush fell over the room, making Ward's own heartbeat seem extra loud in his ears.

“Thank you all for coming today,” he began, looking from face to face. “We're going to do the legal ceremony first, but the real one—the one that matters to us—will come after. We'll make our vows then, so this part will be short,” he promised. Ward cleared his throat. “Charles Emmanuel Pratt, do you take Skylar Evans to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Charlie rolled his head towards the crowd and raised his eyebrows in question. Dakota gave him a quick, tight shake of his head and mouthed, “Not yet.”

Ward frowned. What was that about?

Charlie turned back to him and nodded. “ Hhnn .”

Ward shook his head. Maybe Charlie just needed some cues to remind him how this was supposed to go. Ward turned to Skylar. “Skylar Evans, do you take Charles Emmanuel Pratt to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Skylar swallowed hard. “I do.”

“By the power vested in me,” Ward began, then spoke the words necessary to pronounce them legally married. They brought out the marriage license, which Ward had already validated, and they all signed it, with Dakota serving as witness. There was no cheering, no applause, all by request.

That would come later.

With the legal part done and the marriage license safely tucked away, ready to be sent in, Ward stepped past the boys and turned around, facing the window. In his place, Dakota stepped up, serving as officiant for what they all considered their real wedding.

Dakota's eyes watered as he began. “We're gathered here today to witness the joining of our dear friends and loved ones, Charles Emmanuel Pratt, Skylar Evans, and Wulfric Ward Freeman. Their beginning may have come as a surprise, but to see them standing together now, it's clear that this union was fated. The love and connection they share is something we should all be so lucky as to experience.” Dakota paused, looking around. “And we are that lucky, aren't we? All of us. Everyone I see here has found their special someone or someones, joined together for life. And now we get to witness and celebrate that same joy for our friends. We've worked with you, lived with you, loved you. Even watched you grow up,” Dakota added, getting choked up as he looked at his baby brother. “To share this moment with you is an honor, and we couldn't be happier for you.”

Ward swallowed hard.

“This part will be a little backwards from tradition,” Dakota went on, “but I think it's a beautiful choice they've made. Each man will give his vows as he accepts his ring from the others. Charlie? Would you like to begin?”

Charlie took a deep breath, then held out his left hand. Dakota pulled out a ring, and both Ward and Skylar took it, holding it together as they slipped it halfway onto Charlie's finger. With his right hand, Charlie signed that he would love them, cherish them, respect them, defend them, and always take care of them until the end of their days. When Charlie was finished, Ward and Skylar pushed the ring the rest of the way onto his finger. Charlie stared down at it. For a moment, Ward worried that the boy might change his mind. That he wasn't going to like wearing it after all. But then Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and gave a long, drawn-out, happy squeak .

Ward grinned as his heart clenched with joy.

“Skylar?” Dakota asked.

Skylar blew out a breath and held up his left hand. He stared down at the ring that Ward and Charlie held halfway down his finger. Tears shone on his eyelashes, and he had to sniff and swallow hard before he could speak.

“Gosh, I don't deserve you,” he breathed. “Either of you. But I'm done running. I'm done hiding. I don't ever want to be apart from you ever again. You both are my light. My life. My everything. My reason for being. You saw value in me when I didn't see it in myself, and I swear to spend the rest of my life honoring that. I love you both so much–” He broke off and stifled a sob.

Ward gave his fingers an encouraging squeeze, then helped Charlie slide the ring into place on Skylar's hand.

The boy looked down at the ring as fresh tears streamed down his cheeks. He looked up, glancing from Ward to Charlie and back, his gaze so full of love and gratitude that Ward felt it right down to his core.

“And Ward,” Dakota prompted.

Ward's hand shook as he held it up, suddenly glad that his back was to the crowd. He could ignore them and just focus on his boys. They slid the ring halfway onto his finger, and Ward had to take a moment to gather himself.

He'd made it.

Ward took a deep breath. “I never expected any of this. You both caught me completely by surprise and turned my world upside-down, but I can't imagine my life without you. You've brought so much joy and innocence to my life. So much happiness that I never even thought it was possible to feel. Your strength and bravery inspire me. Your care and determination humble me. I can't believe it's my great honor to spend the rest of my life loving you, taking care of you, protecting you. You boys are my entire world, and I swear to spend every day telling you and showing you just how much I love you. I'll never stop fighting for us. Not as long as I'm alive. I promise to hold on tight. Every single moment.”

Skylar bit back another sob.

Ward had to do the same when the boys slid the ring into place on his finger. It felt so light and so heavy all at the same time.

He was theirs. And they were his.

“Ward,” Dakota said, “do you take these men to be your husbands? To have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you all shall live?”

“I do,” Ward said as a grin took over his face.

Dakota turned to Skylar next and repeated the questions.

“I do,” Skylar replied, looking from Ward to Charlie and back with a smile so full of joy, it took Ward's breath away.

“Charlie,” Dakota said, and there was something odd in his voice. It was emphasized, like he was signaling Charlie in some way. “Do you take these men to be your husbands? To have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you all shall live?” He finished with a significant look.

Charlie rolled his head, his eyebrows going up as though in question, and Dakota gave him a tiny nod.

Then Charlie opened his mouth.

“ Hhnnnnneeeeuuhhhhii… I …d-d-duh-doo… do . ”

Everyone gasped.

Ward stared at the boy. He felt a tear run down his cheek, seeing the pride on Charlie's face. The acknowledgment of just how important this moment truly was to him.

They were the only words Charlie ever spoke in his entire life. And they were enough.

They were everything.

* * *