Work Text:
I close my eyes and I can see
A world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home
Home. A word that Daniel Howell had a hard time finding. It wasn't the material type home that he shared with his fiance, but a home where peace reigned amongst the chaos of his mind. A peace that was soothed by a calm voice telling him that at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered was each other. And their love.
And that was why he was sat in a chair, his curls being styled and fluffed, going over some last minute notes on his phone. He'd memorized it weeks ago, obviously, but he was a perfectionist, and needed it to be ready.
"Dan, this place is absolutely stunning."
Cori Cates said, as she did the finishing touches on his hair. Dan smiled at his notes app, and then looked up to his friend, and smiled.
"It was the most obvious place when we were deciding. I know how important and how special our vacation to Japan was, and it was only fair we came back here to solidify it. I'm just glad you could be here, Cor."
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, Dan. You've been so supportive of Riley and I through this transition, and I would've moved heaven and earth to be here. Are you ready to go marry your soulmate?"
Dan hugged Cori tightly, standing up and nodding. Today was the day he was going to be the happiest he'd ever been.
He was marrying his soulmate, Phil Lester today. And he was so ready for that.
They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care if they call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design
To say Phil Lester had a bad case of nerves was an understatement. He was so worried that something was going to happen. But of course he wouldn't tell Dan that. He was soaking it all in, his navy jacket with navy vest and a navy dress shirt all ready to go. He was in his suit pants and was getting ready to put the shirt on, when a knock came and a head poked in.
"Hey. You ready?"
Phil turned, buttoning the shirt as their friend Riley Sloane came in. Dan had met Riley gaming, but Riley and his partner Cori has become important to them. Phil nodded and buttoned his sleeve buttons.
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life. Is everything set? I know Dan went over it earlier, but he's a perfectionist, and everything has to be perfect."
Riley chuckled, helping Phil with his suit jacket and tie, making sure everything was perfectly straight.
"He went kicking and screaming into the other suite where Cori and AJ have kept him occupied. You ready?"
"Absolutely."
Riley opened the door and escorted Phil out, as he clipped on a pink rose to his suit jacket. It was the only pop of color that Dan had approved for their intimate ceremony. Phil made his way to the small archway that a local artist in London had hand painted and stood under it. As the officiant, their other friend Ian, who'd gotten ordained the second they'd asked, stood there smiling, as Ian's girlfriend AJ, a world renowned cellist had started to play.
'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make
Cori grabbed Dan's arm and escorted him to the top of the aisle. Dan stood there staring down at Phil and it was like his whole world shifted. Who was he kidding, it absolutely had, sixteen years previously. He never imagined they'd make it here, what with his commitment issues. Cori nudged Dan out of his thoughts as they made their way down the aisle. Dan's eyes locked with Phil's and never left.
"I love you."
Dan mouthed to Phil as he made his way down with Cori. Phil said it back, as they reached the end where Phil was standing. Cori hugged Dan, and stood next to him, as Phil had Riley on his other side. AJ finished playing, and sat watching in pride. Ian smiled and started speaking.
"What a gorgeous day we have in front of us today, as Daniel and Philip have decided to take their vows. Per their requests, I am here to simply observe, and direct. Daniel, Philip, I understand you've written your own vows. Daniel, if you would."
There's a house we can build
Every room inside is filled with things from far away
Special things I compile
Each one there to make you smile on a rainy day
They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say we've lost our minds
See, I don't care, I don't care if they call us crazy
Run away to a world that we design
Dan smiled at Ian, and then smiled at Phil. He took a deep breath and smiled lovingly, the tears in his eyes making them shine brightly. He could only hope Phil could see the love reflected in them.
"Philip Michael, I wrote this while you were laying next to me in bed, dead asleep. Watching you sleep is one of my all time favorite things to do, as creepy as that sounds. But it's when you're at your most beautiful. When the world has fallen away, and there are no pretenses. It's just you. When I came up with this idea to marry you a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted forever with you. We have the house, we have a business, I wanted the forever. I have loved you since I was eighteen years old. Through all of the good, and the not so good, it's been you. You are my comfort, my light, my strength, my safe space and my home. I am no longer afraid with you by my side. As my husband. You are my best friend, my eternal companion, and my forever. I love you, Bub. Until the end."
Dan wiped away a tear, and brought Phil's hands up to his mouth to kiss them lightly. Phil's blue eyes reflected all of the love that Dan's did, and it was his turn to speak.
"Daniel James, my best friend. My soulmate. My everything. Today, I get to call you my husband. I never thought that I would get to do this. Through all of our good days and bad, and on the darkest of them all, we weathered them together. I am prepared to continue to be your biggest fan, your light, your tree in the forest, and whatever other cliche I can come up with. At the end of the day, our love is the most important thing, and I cannot wait to start our forever. Not just as your partner, but as your husband. I love you, Sweet, just like I did sixteen years ago. Just like I do now. Until the end."
This time, it was Phil's turn to wipe a tear from his eye. He couldn't help but to stare back at Dan, knowing what was next.
However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me
We may be right, we may be wrong
But I wanna bring you along to the world I see
To the world we close our eyes to see
We close our eyes to see
Every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make
"Do you have the rings?"
Ian asked as Riley and Cori took them out and handed them off to their respective people. Dan grabbed his from Cori, Phil from Riley. Dan grabbed Phil's hand, and slid the ring onto Phil's finger.
"Forever, bub."
Phil grabbed Dan's hand, his shaking a bit as he slid the ring onto Dan's finger, kissing it softly.
"Forever, Sweet."
"Now, by the power vested in me by the online course I took, and the beautiful beach of Yakishima Island in Japan, I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss."
Dan pulled Phil in and kissed him, to solidify their forever bond. After a few minutes, he pulled back and rested his forehead against Phil's.
"Thank you for waiting. I love you, husband."
"I would've waited forever for you, husband. And I'm so glad I did."
Phil said, before kissing him one last time and leading them up the aisle, to start their forever...and to call their families to break the news...