Rows of people were seated in front of the gazebo. Olivier’s regulars from the shop waved; even their neighbors were there. Kate the alpha grinned when Ollie met her eyes. Mrs. Antoinette gave him a thumbs-up.
Olivier didn’t recognize most of Eric’s friends and coworkers from Total Sounds, but a couple of them seemed especially excited when they approached.
“That’s Julia,” Eric said, waving back at a brunette beta. He shook hands with an omega with a bouncy toddler. “And this is Bick.”
Wyatt and Raph waved from across the aisle, toddlers seated in their laps. Ollie was thrilled that they’d showed up—because of course they would; none of them knew any other stepsiblings who had gotten married.
Brad and Ian were there, too, close to the front row. Brad mouthed Get him at Ollie, and Ollie blushed.
“Eric,” Cole said behind them, mildly annoyed when Eric turned. “Thanks for the late notice that you were gonna be even later.”
Eric shrugged helplessly. “Taylor pooped all over Ollie. Can’t expect Ollie to show up with poop, can you?”
“I guess not.” Cole winced when Eric thrust Taylor at him; he looked immediately at Taylor’s bottom. “You’re sure he’s cleaned up now.”
“Yes, he is.” Olivier grinned, hugging Cole when Cole took Taylor into his arms. “Thanks for helping out, Cole.”
“Only for you,” Cole said. “Not for Eric.”
“Bastard,” Eric muttered, but he was smiling, too.
Levi had vanished when Ollie looked again. Aaron came up, slinging his arm across Olivier’s shoulders. “Trust you guys to arrive fashionably late.”
Olivier glanced at the minister with a wince. But the minister waved and gave a jolly smile, and the anxiety building in Olivier’s chest eased a little.
The people they loved were with them. Things would work out fine.
Eric slipped the ring off Ollie’s hand, tucking it into a tiny black box. “Ready to bear some rings, Jenn?”
Jenn looked up with a big smile, but Olivier knew she found the whole ceremony confusing. “Fly?” she asked.
Eric laughed. Then he paused, rummaging through the diaper bag. “Actually, wait. I’ve got an idea.”
Ollie was about to ask what, when Dad stepped up to them. “Olivier.”
Olivier’s stomach dropped. “Yes?”
They had been hoping for Dad to attend the wedding. Olivier hadn’t invited Wendy, and Eric had been fine with it. But they thought Dad might’ve been offended, because he hadn’t replied to the wedding invite at all.
So for Dad to show up, dressed all nicely... Was this forgiveness?
“Do you want me to walk you down the aisle?” Dad met Ollie’s eyes. For a long moment, Olivier couldn’t breathe.
He hadn’t planned for it. Didn’t know if Dad would want to see him and Eric tying the knot. But for Dad to volunteer, for him to show his face in front of everyone, marrying one son to the other...
“You don’t mind?” Olivier choked, grasping Eric’s hand.
Dad looked at him, then at Eric, and Taylor in Eric’s arms. “I know I haven’t been the most supportive,” Dad said. “But I’ve watched you and Eric struggle to be together. You’ve found happiness. That’s more than I can ask for.”
Ollie blinked back his tears. “Thank you.”
Dad pulled them both into a hug.
The ceremony began with a recorded violin rendition of Stories With Us. Eric’s voice rumbled from the speakers—they’d recorded this together last week.
Jenn raced down the aisle, two rings taped onto her airplane.
“Fly!” she yelled. Ollie almost ran after her, just in case she fell.
But she made it to Eric, who scooped her up into his arms, a wide grin on his face. And then Eric’s gaze locked with Olivier’s, warm and excited. Ollie’s throat grew tight.
When the crowd turned to look at Ollie, Dad murmured, “Are you ready?”
Olivier nodded. And he walked with his father down the aisle, Dad’s hand steady around his like how it used to be, so long ago.
Walking with Dad, Ollie remembered the first time he’d met Eric, when he was seven, and Eric, five. Eric had watched Ollie, and Ollie had stuck his tongue out.
He remembered Eric showing him his birthday cake in the fridge when he was eight, remembered stuffing those cherries in his own mouth, and Dad beating Eric for it.
He remembered Eric sniffing his wrist when he presented as omega, and later that night, Eric climbing into Ollie’s bed. I want to smell you again.
He remembered Eric holding his hand in music class, Eric looking into his eyes. I’ll be here, Eric had said. You don’t have to be scared.
When Ollie was eighteen, Eric had said, I love you, and there had been pain.
Now, at thirty, Ollie was walking down the aisle with their father, Eric waiting at the end of it.
There had been joy, and there had been tears. There had been suffering, and they had forged their bonds like tempered steel.
Today, Eric would become his.
His heart thumping, Ollie came to stand next to his alpha, Dad slipping away to where Cole held Taylor and Jenn.
Eric took Olivier’s hand. Met his eyes. His heavy gaze burned down Ollie’s skin like his first day back in Meadowfall, and Ollie sucked in a sharp breath. Couldn’t look away from Eric at all.
The minister spoke. Eric brushed his thumb over Olivier’s hand, and he was all Ollie could think about.
“Do you, Olivier Lancaster, take this alpha to be your husband? Do you swear to remain at his side in sickness and in health?”
“I do,” Ollie croaked.
“Do you, Eric Lancaster, take this omega to be your husband? Do you swear to remain at his side through thick and thin?”
“I do,” Eric rumbled. There was so much love in his eyes, so much trust and joy and hope.
“You may exchange your rings,” the minister said.
Eric took the airplane from Cole, who smirked. A few guests chuckled. Ollie didn’t mind at all. Not when Eric unstuck the tape from the cardboard, and the gleaming rings clinked into his palm.
“You gonna go first?” Eric
