Taemin stared at himself in the mirror.

                The big day was finally here.

                Unbelievable.

                “Ruki… I look like a mess… I couldn’t sleep at all last night and now look at me… it’s unrepairable. How can I get married looking like this?”

                “You look fine, Tae-chan! Don’t worry about it! Let Ruki fix you up. Sit down, sit down!”

                The hallways were full of footsteps.

                He wondered who they belonged to.

                “How do you want your hair done?”

                “Middle part… yeah, um, just a middle part, bangs down but the rest brushed back…”

                “Alright. You’re going to be so handsome.”

                “I hope Minho thinks so too. I haven’t seen him since this morning…”

                “The groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before the wedding.” The older boy smiled.

                “I want to see him…”

                “You’ll see him soon enough, cutie.”

                Hearing a knock on the door and a soft voice asking ‘can I come in’, they both shouted back a ‘yes’.

                Seconds later, Taemin’s mother had walked through the door.

                “Hello, sweetheart. Sorry to have gotten here so late. Since Jongin’s parents stayed at our house last night, we ended up staying later than we should’ve.”

                “Mom…” The blonde whimpered, “Mom, I’m so nervous…”

                “Don’t worry honey. Trust me when I say everyone who ever got married was nervous beyond belief!” She tried to assure him, making eye contact through the reflection in the mirror. “You look so handsome. I didn’t think I’d see my son’s wedding at such a young age.”

                “Mom, I want to see Minho…”

                “You can’t see each other before the wedding.”

                “I told you!” Ruki interrupted from across the room, causing Taemin’s mother to laugh as he brought the suit over.

                “Oh my, I haven’t seen your suit yet.”

                “I cried, Mrs. Lee. He looks so good in it. I think the suit was specifically made for him.”

                “Now I’m even more excited! Put it on honey. We don’t have much time anyways.”

                “Okay… you guys don’t have to leave the room. I don’t mind.”

                Taking a deep breath, he pulled each piece out of the bag with care.

                It took him a few seconds, but he found the power to continue, stripping to his briefs and slipping into his wedding attire.

                Shirt, vest, shoes, everything.

                Biting the inside of his cheek, he turned around, trying to find his mom’s eyes.

                “What do you think?”

                Before she could even take a good look, her face dropped into her palms.

                “You’re right Ruki, he looks amazing.” A sniffle later, she looked up, being handed a tissue. “Wow… I’m speechless. Minho will definitely be moved. Do a little spin for me.”

                Smiling, heart beating, he turned around in a complete circle. “You know, this isn’t a dress, mom. It’s not going to float.”

                “That’s fine… ah, I can’t stop crying…” She managed, choking up.

                “M-mom… don’t cry… I’ll start crying too and I already h-had my makeup…” Taemin tried, stuttering as he walked forward, hugging his mother tightly against his chest. Was she always this small?

                “I had my makeup done too…” She laughed.

                “B-both of you stop crying! My makeup is on too!” Ruki raised his voice.

                When the pair looked towards him, they were surprised to see him with watery eyes as well. Before they knew it, Ruki had joined their hug.

                This hug lasted a few minutes.

                Once they pulled away, using dozens of tissues to wipe their faces, his mother was the first to speak. “Where’s Jongin? He’s your best man, right?”

                “He went out to get us some snacks. He should be back soon.”

                As if that was the command for his return, Jongin walked through the door.

                “Sorry I took so long.”

                “Jongin-ah!” Taemin’s mother smiled, hugging him.

                “Aunty, are you crying?!”

                “Yes, yes, yes. We all just had a moment. I think I just got a little overwhelmed by how important this day is for me, and Taemin, and really everyone involved.”

                “R-right! Well I brought some snacks, so please help yourself.”

                “Thank you, Jongin.”

                While Jongin sat on a nearby couch with Taemin’s mother, eating some snacks and staying out of the way, Ruki danced around the blonde, making sure that every detail was on point.

                Yet another knock came.

                “It’s the photographer! Maybe I come in?”

                “Yes, please do!” Taemin shouted.

                A man walked in, closing the door behind him.

                Everyone exchanged a bow with him.

                “I just finished with the other groom. I’ll get some ‘getting ready’ shots first, and then if you want anything else before the ceremony, we can do that too.”

                “Alright.”

                Now Taemin felt self-conscious. Now he didn’t know what face to make or how to sit. Maybe he was supposed to stand and look at the camera, but maybe he was supposed to sit and look away.

                “Relax.” Ruki instinctively whispered into his ear, “Just pretend he’s not here.”

                Trying to obey those simple rules, Taemin stayed as natural as he could.

                Within half an hour, the man left.

                “Taemin, I’m going to go now. The ceremony is supposed to start in twenty minutes so I’ll go get myself a spot. Jongin, will you come with me?”

                “Yes, aunty!”

                “Okay then, we’ll be in the first row. See you two soon. Your father will be by the door. He’ll walk you down.”

                “Alright mom. See you in a bit.”

                How stressful.

                The door closed and he let out a long sigh.

                “I want to see Minho!” The boy whined.

                “You can’t!” The elder whined back.

                “Do you think he’s happy that he’s marrying me?”

                “Why would you doubt him?”

                “I’m not doubting him… I’m doubting myself… I don’t know if I can be a good husband. I’m still a kid… I’m still in school, I just started my post-secondary years as well. In a marriage, you’re supposed to rely on each other. He can’t rely on me… I don’t know if I can do everything he needs me too…”

                “Tae-chan, it’s not going to change at all from what you two have now. Marriage is just dating but with a ring to show it off. Speaking of ring, your mom’s right. We have to be in the garden in twenty minutes. Let’s finish up.”

                “Okay...”

                Twenty minutes later, he was steps from walking outside.

                He spotted his father nearby.

                Receiving a kiss on the cheek from Ruki, he was told ‘good luck’, watching him jog out.

                Walking up to the man, he whispered a, ‘Hey dad… Thanks for coming…”

                “Hey. How are you feeling?”

                “I’m sorry…”

                Slowly shaking his head, his dad replied with a “What?”

                “I know you probably imagined a bride being walked down towards me or something… Instead, you’re walking your son down to another man… I’m sorry that this is the way you’ll have to remember your only child’s wedding.”

                “Taemin, listen to me. I know I may have not said as much on this topic as your mother has, but you are still my son, and I love you. Of course I may not understand your choice, or the aspect of a man loving another man, but you’ve been with Minho for so long and have developed such a deep relationship at such a young age that I can no longer think of it as a phase or something that may end up short lived. You are nineteen I believe that you have enough knowledge of yourself and Minho to know what you want as a person and as a partner. If you didn’t love him, this would have ended a long time ago. I can only stand behind you now and watch you make your own decisions as an adult.”

                “You don’t hate it? You’re not upset? I feel like you’re lying.”

                “Why would I lie?”

                “Because what kind of father would be proud of someone like me?”

                “Any father. Now let’s go.”

                “Okay…”

                Locking arms, they went through the doors.

He was blinded by the sunlight as they walked out onto the grass. He could see the white benches, the white carpet, the white wedding arch. There were beautiful flowers and trees, it was so bright and beautiful and straight out of a fairy tale.

                Then, the moment they stepped into the scene, a loud piano played a familiar tune. A woman Taemin recognized as Minho’s classmate walked in front of him, throwing down flower petals. He still wondered how Minho convinced a twenty something year old woman to be a flower girl.

                It was then that everyone turned around, including the most attractive man in the world who stood by the priest in a black suit.

                When their eyes met, his whole body froze. Still, by the grace of his father, he was dragged forward.

                Each step seemed so monumental.

                Each step closer was a second closer to the biggest moment of his life.

                Everyone was looking and gasping and he wanted to look at all the face, all the people he knew here supporting him, but all he could see was Minho.

                All he wanted this whole time was to see Minho.

                Before he knew it, his vision became blurry, his knees were weak, and his lip quivered uncontrollably.

                There was also a threat of his heart beating so fast that it propelled itself out of his body.

                God.

                Someone had to save him before he fell apart.

                Music soon left his ears and, but really, all his senses escaped him.

                All he knew was Minho.

                All he loved was Minho.

                It wasn’t until they were inches apart and the elder accepted his husband-to-be from the boy’s father that Taemin noticed how uncollected Minho was.

                His hands were shaking, his palms were sweaty, his eyes were red and glazed over.

                This was definitely not the man he woke up to every morning, but nevertheless, he was just as madly in love.

                Reaching up, he dared to overcome his anxiety and breathlessness, wiping away a single tear that escaped his fiancé’s control.

                “I’ve been waiting to see you all day… I was so nervous… I just wanted you to be beside me but you weren’t and I was freaking out all by mys-self….” Taemin attempted to explain, catching himself in the same hopeless mess as Minho.

                “Kitten, I haven’t slept since two nights ago, I’ve been so stressed out making sure everything would be fine, today I couldn’t even see you because everyone kept saying I wasn’t allowed to see my bride… I had my whole mind in a mess b-but now you’re here and you’re so beautiful and you’re mine. We’re going to have a future, a-and a family, and I c-can’t get across how much I love you in words…”

               They earned an ‘aw’ from everyone attending as they both failed at fighting back tears, so overwhelmed, so in love.

                “Minho… I want to kiss you now…”

                “Just a little more baby… Just a little more, please hold on…”

                “Okay Minho… I love you…”

                “I love you too… so much…” Minho tried to speak, turning to the priest, “We’re ready.”

                With that, their ceremony began.

                The priest was talking, but all Taemin could see were Minho’s eyes.

                His eyes.

                His nose.

                His lips.

                His husband.

                Time had never gone by so slow.

                He just wanted the ring on his finger right now.

                As they locked eyes the whole time, Taemin wondered what the elder was thinking.

                With his teary eyes, red nose, and quivering, was he also this impatient?

                Did he also want to grab Taemin’s hand and run off?

                Taemin wanted to run off.

                He wanted them to be together.

                He wanted it right now and he couldn’t wait any longer but he had to.

                Was this how all couples were?

                Ignoring the whole ceremony, so in love that all they could focus on was the other person? So desperate for attention from the person they’d spend the rest of their lives with that they just wanted to escape to some tiny room where it was only them, no words, just love.

                Taemin wanted to tell Minho how much he loved him, how it was so intense and unbearable.

                He went on a whole rant and towards the end of it, Minho even nodded, as if he knew, as if he heard Taemin even when he wasn’t speaking.

                Then it seemed like they left their mouths behind, conveying their burning emotions through their eyes.

                Taemin wanted to say so much, show so much, tell Minho everything, he didn’t want to wait until it was time to give their speeches or after the kiss.

                Luckily for him, the frustration made the time go by without him noticing.

                Looking over to identify an approaching figure, he recognized Chansung’s dork grin, a pillow with two diamond rings in his hands.

                He remembered Minho telling him one night how Heechul and Chansung argued over who was going to be the ring boy when it all came down to a game of rock, paper, scissors that Chansung won.

                Minho’s hand suddenly invaded his field of view, taking one of the rings.

                This was it.

                This was the moment.

                Looking so deeply into each other’s eyes, the words he was waiting for finally came out.

                “I promise to encourage your compassion, because that is what makes you unique and wonderful. I promise to nurture your dreams, because through them your soul shines. I promise to help shoulder our challenges, for there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together. I promise to be your partner in all things, working with you as a part of the whole. Lastly, I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust, for one lifetime with you could never be enough. This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things.”

                With one shaking hand meeting another, Minho’s trembling index finger and thumb slid a beautiful diamond onto Taemin’s quivering ring finger.

                Taemin didn’t know if he could deliver his vow in once piece anymore. He was about to start sobbing.

                Taking the ring destined for Minho’s hand, he begged his voice to come out.

                “Y-you have been my… my best friend, mentor, playmate, confidant and my greatest challenge. But most importantly, you are the love of my life and you m-make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I ever thought possible... You have made me a better person, as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live my life. S-so I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today becomes our life t-together. Through every blessing and curse, I promise to be everything you need. I… I l-love you so m-much…”

                Focusing so hard on trying to get Minho’s ring on his finger, he didn’t realize that they had every guest in tears.

                The priest nodded and proclaimed the long awaited words, “You may now kiss the groom.”

                They didn’t waste a single second.

                Taemin threw his arms around his husband’s neck.

                Minho pulled his husband in by his waist.

                So caught in the moment, they rushed to each other’s lips, completely missing.

                Attempting once more, they finally sealed their lives together with the perfect kiss.

                Everyone cheered in their seats but Taemin was crying too much to hear anything.

                He knew that it was time to walk back down the aisle with his husband though, so he wiped away each salty droplet into his silky, white sleeves.

                Linking arms, Minho led.

                The white carpet on the ground wasn’t really just fabric to mark the center, it was now the path that indicated a new chapter in their lives as a married couple.

                They walked halfway before making eye contact, and when Taemin looked up, he was surprised to see Minho with a shocked expressing, following his line of sight and soon replicating the wide eyes.

                In the back row, furthest away from the arch, were two people who said they wouldn’t come if their lives depended on it.

                Minho’s parents.

                The pile of tissues in his mother’s lap also shocked them.

                Still, Minho broke his gaze with them, swallowing loudly and standing proudly as he walked Taemin away to their limousine.

                When they were finally at the car, Minho opened the door for his husband.

                “Are you happy they’re here?” Taemin suddenly asked. They’d only have a few minutes before all the groomsmen would arrive.

                “I… don’t know how to feel about them. I know I’m unbelievably happy right now, but I don’t know if them being here influences that at all. I just… can’t believe I can finally call you my husband.”

                “It’s so embarrassing… I couldn’t stop crying the whole time…” Taemin confessed, blushing.

                “I was crying too, Kitten.”

                “I love you.”

                “I love you too. Come here.” The elder said, pulling the blonde closer into an embrace. Their hands overlapped, showing off their gorgeous rings.

                Minho noticed a pout on Taemin’s lips moments before he nuzzled into the older boy’s neck, nuzzling and muttering something underneath his breath.

                “What’s wrong, Kitten?”

                “I want to go home…”

                Minho chuckled, “We still have a lot of hours ahead of us for the party. We’ll probably be home passed two.”

                “I want to do it…”

                “It?”

                “…”

                The elder blushed. “Right now?”

                “Yeah…”

                “W-we can’t… Well I mean… We… if we…” Minho blushed. If anyone could seduce him at the most inappropriate times, it would be Taemin.

                Leaning closer, the blonde’s tongue had no hesitation when it came to entering the elder’s mouth.

                They were interrupted moments later when a dozen men jumped into their car.

                “What a great wedding!” One of them yelled, “I haven’t cried in years!”

                “Wasn’t it great?”

                “Minho looked like such a man!”

                “Ah, but seeing Taemin in a suit made me want to be the one marrying him! I’m so envious!”

                Regaining their personal space, the couple moved aside for everyone else to fit.

                “Are you guys ready for cocktail hour?”

                “You know it!” They all replied.

                It wasn’t much later that they, and every other guest, drove off for the hall which would hold the rest of their evening.