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***Dek's POV***

Out of nowhere, life throws you a wrench. I should know this. I do actually. I know it, all too well.

I shouldn't be surprised.

But, that doesn't change the fact that I am.

I'm supposed to be enjoying a relaxing night at Uncle Ian's.

Tomorrow's the big day.

My mind is a thousand strands of thread thrown at the bottom of a drawer. I can't even begin to unravel what is eating at my soul.

I just know, right now, I am feeling less than whole.

Uncle Ian is acting out a scene from a movie. Which one? No clue. I am honestly not participating.

My heart hurts. There is a death grip on my lungs that won't help me gasp for breath.

My eyes burn. I swear I can feel the sting of leaking tears.

I scan the room. The people around me are laughing and joking. Aunt Molly is in hysterics. I want to feel what they are feeling.

I just can't.

I quietly stand from my seat. I make my way towards the door. I need air. I need big, huge gulps of fresh air.

My heart can't take the weight of whatever is sitting on my chest. It might explode. At this rate, it might as well.

"Dek." I hear Uncle Ian. He wraps his arms around me and I don't hesitate to fall into his comforting embrace.

"What's wrong, slugger?" Uncle Ian lays his head gently on my head. His hand makes its way to the back of my neck and he clasps my head firmly to his chest.

"Something. I don't know. I feel lost. Suddenly, I feel so fucking broken." My tears slowly stroll down my cheeks.

"Come on." Uncle Ian wraps his arm around my shoulders and I lean against him as we walk.

"We will be back." Uncle Ian puts his hand up to halt Aunt Molly's intrusion.

"Okay. Call me if you need me." Aunt Molly pats my arm as we walk past her.

"Where are we going?" I ask while getting into the passenger seat of his truck.

"Somewhere, you can find yourself." Uncle Ian softly tells me. I nod in acceptance.

I let my head fall against the window and Uncle Ian plays Revelation softly in the background.

"That's a masterpiece." I whisper in a statement.

"Yeah, Buddy. Troye knows where it's at." Uncle Ian turns the truck off and I realize we have made it to our destination.

I slowly get out of the truck. I know this place. I'm not sure I want to be here. Or anywhere.

We walk in silence as we approach the spot. Uncle Ian kisses my forehead and quietly walks away.

I rub my arms. I feel cold abruptly. I sit down with a thump. I pull my knees to my chest and lower my head in between them. Cold swirls around me.

This hurts.

"I don't come here often. I'm sorry." I admit to the granite platforms in front of me.

"I'm not sure why. I just don't." I feel ashamed.

***Elik's POV***

"Elik." I answer Uncle Ian's call.

"You busy buddy?" He asks softly. I can tell I won't be busy for long. His voice is haunted.

"Not busy enough to turn down whatever you need." I confess.

"I'm at the cemetery with Dek. I think he needs you." Uncle Ian advises me.

"Be there in five." I quickly hang up with a hasty bye.

My car gets me to my destination quickly. I step out and Uncle Ian hugs me before pointing in the right direction.

I stuff my hands in my pockets and walk quietly. My heart picks up its beats. I haven't seen Dek all day.

Stupid traditions.

Everything slows down and my feet stand still.

I can't move. I don't want to breathe.

He sounds tortured.

"This sucks. You know? I want you here. I need you here." Sobs ripple from Dek's throat and I can hear him draw in a watery breath.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way. I'm supposed to watch you grow old. I'm supposed to hold you while you don't have the strength to stand by yourself. I would have been okay letting you two go. I promise, one day I would have been okay. Today? I'm not fucking okay. I'm angry. This is the biggest day of my life. I'm marrying my best friend. You would have loved him." His voice tapers off and I bite my fist as tears well up in my own eyes.

"Why? Someone explain it to me. Please." Dek yells out his angsty rhetorical request.

"Dad, you were going to walk me down the aisle. Mom you were supposed to cry. Now, I don't have that. I don't get to look into the proud eyes of my parents and watch you, Dad. I don't get to see you give me to a man worthy of your son. Some fucked up driver threw a wrench my way. It landed. Now I'm stuck. Here. Without you two. Tell me how am I supposed to do this. TELL ME." Dek screams the last two words.

His whole body shakes and everything inside of me wants to wrap my arms around him. I want to cover him. Shelter him.

But, this has been a long time coming. He needs this.

I stand by and plead with my heart to comply.

"Everything I knew was ripped from my life. The two most important people in my world lay below the Earth. I would do anything to have you back. Anything." Dek whispers the last word.

My heart pierces.

Dek sobs deeply. The sound echoes from the pit of his stomach and bellows out to reach the night sky.

"I hate this. I hate it so damn much. I know I'm being selfish. But, I don't fucking care. I want you guys. I need you guys. Please." Dek's sorrowful pleads fall on deaf ears.

A high pitched cry pierces the night air. My body lurches and I hold back. Not yet.

"Whatever deity I pissed off to deserve this, I'm sorry. I wish I could take it back. I'm sorry. I would do whatever you wanted." Dek's voice grows hoarse.

"Just take care of them. They are so loved. They are precious. Mom, Dad, I hope you know how much I love you. Because, I fucking do." Dek cries into his hands. His shoulders slump over.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to stand in front of the family and friends that held me together while you two had to go. I'm going to pledge my life and love to Elik. God, I'm so fucking lucky. He's everything. Seriously. Fucking. Everything. I haven't seen him today. It's been really hard. Just as hard as everyday without you two. He's nothing short of amazing. You know, I met him the night you two got killed. He has been with me ever since. Right there, through everything. He didn't waiver. Well, okay." Dek makes a short burst of laughter that warms my soul.

"There was this one time. But, it was a misunderstanding. It was only a day. God, what a fucked up day. I thought I lost him. It was shit. But, he came back. That's what matters." My heart aches remembering that day in Hawaii. The drugs. The kiss. The night spent without my love. It was complete shit.

"Then he asked me to marry him. He took me back to the exact same spot that we had our first kiss. Perfection. The moment was more than I ever dreamed of. Thanks for teaching me what love looks like. Thank you for loving me. For accepting the person I am without waiver or question. I'm a lucky man. You two rocked at parenting. I hope to be half the parents you were." Dek lightly speaks to the people who raised him to be so wonderful.

"Guess I'm going to walk down the aisle alone. It's okay. You will be with me, where it matters. I hold you in my heart, like you held me in your hands. Tomorrow, just promise me that I will know you two are with me. If that's all I get. It will be enough. I love you. Mom, I love you and I miss you. Dad, I love you so damn much. I miss every smile, every hug and every goodnight kiss. Life will never be the same without you. I promise to come again. I promise." Dek kisses the headstones and turns around.

He is a gorgeous, devastating mess. Always beautiful, in my eyes.

I take the ten steps to him and he collapses in my arms.

"I missed you." Dek blubbers into my chest.

"I missed you baby. I'm right here." I promise. I hold on to the man I get to marry tomorrow.

"I'm sorry." Dek worries.

"For?" I ask incredulously.

"Ruining your night." Dek stupidly confesses.

"I have you in my arms. I'd say you made it perfect." I lift Dek's face and cradle his head with my hand. I descend on his trembling lips and capture his stunning pout with my own.

My world feels whole when these lips touch mine.

My tongue softly tastes his delicate flesh.

I pull away minimally and lay my head on his his forehead.

"Forever." I whisper.

"Always." Dek nods and my head moves along with his.

"You're my wrench." I admit.

"What's that?" Dek softly asks.

"Out of nowhere. You crashed through the doors to my heart and broke down all my walls. I have never been so satisfied to be disrupted. Deklyn Jackson you're my wrench." I kiss his nose.

"Then you are my Revelation." Dek pulls back and stares at me.

"Explain, please." I ask.

"You came from somewhere. A divine intervention in my darkest day. You have picked up my broken, ugly pieces and created a mosaic path to walk through this life on. Thank you." Dek divulges.

"There is nothing ugly about you Dek. You are and always will be the most beautiful thing in my eyes. Ever." I swear to the man who holds my world in the palm of his hand.

"I wanna go home." Dek whispers.

"I will take you." I agree.

"I don't want you to leave." Dek pleads.

"Fuck tradition. You are mine. We will walk this life together. I'm with you, Baby. Now and always." I don't give a damn about rules. My heart needs its keeper. I'm happy to fulfill my role.

I lead Dek out to the car. A note sits on the windshield. No sign of Uncle Ian.

Go home, together. You have been that way since you met. One day won't change a thing. I love you two Boys. Be safe. Text me when you get there.

Love,

Uncle Ian

I smile as I lead Dek to the passenger side.

I get in on my side and immediately grab his hand. I bring it to my heart and he splays his palm over the beating organ that exists just for him.

"Tomorrow, you become mine forever." I kiss his palm.

"I have been since the day you laid eyes on me." Dek whispers into the night air as we drive off.

Once we get home, I send a text to Uncle Ian.

I walk behind Dek to the room we share. It was once his parents. A room that was once filled with a very different couple sharing the same type of love.

Til' death.

Those words are my finish line. I will be beside this man until our souls leave our bodies and we meet once again in the kingdom of forever.

Then, I will smile as I finally meet the people who created this beautiful boy.

I lay Dek down softly and finally cover his body with my own. I form a blanket of love and a shelter of security over this man who is my world. I kiss his neck and sigh as I think of the best day of my life.

When he said yes.