This oneshot is inspired by Two Doors Down by Dooly Parton (Specifically the apisode paired with it for her show, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings on Netflix)

I picture Liam as Dylan O'Brien. 

The sweet scent of Virginia pines filled the car, the windows rolled down to appreciate the beauty of his hometown as, for the first time in several months, he had driven back home to stay for a while. 

With his sister's wedding only days away, he had to come into town in time. Approaching the hotel that the wedding was being held, he glanced down at the jacket on his console, looking at the box in the pocket of it. 

As he heard his phone ringing, he connected it to the bluetooth of his truck before answering, "Hey Mom, how's the last fifteen minutes been treating you?"

"Now, now, don't be a smart-aleck, I need you to send me the band's playlist for the reception, but only when you've stopped driving!" His mother's Carolina accent rang through his truck. 

"Mom, Carter put me in charge of the music and I promise, y'all are gonna be blown away, you trust me right, sis?" he asked, knowing his mom would have her phone on speaker-mode. 

When she didn't answer, he asked again,"Sis?" 

"A thousand percent, Li, but only with the music," she says, sighing. He could hear in his older sister's voice just hw stressed out she was from the weekend. 

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked. "Figure it out, little bro," she simply replied. 

"Oh, don't pay your sister any mind, for a girl about to have the happiest day of her life, she doesn't seem to appreciate that some of us would've given our eye teeth for a big 'ole wedding like this one," his mother seemed to passively aggressively scold his big sister. 

"Hey Liam, did you know since your Dannie's best man you and I get to walk down the aisle together, arm in arm!" his siter's best friend and maid of honor sing-songs into the phone, clearly she'd had a few. 

"Let's lay off the bubbly, Elli," his mother said as he heard shuffling through the phone. He chuckled, amused. 

"Why are we stopping?" could be heard from his mother through the phone. 

"Oh, sweetheart," his mother said. He could hear Elli gasp, "Carter! Look, they're shooting a movie!" 

"No use looking back, sweet pea, told me you gave that foolishness up," his mother said. He sighed, shaking his head slightly. 

"I sure did," was his siter's quiet reply. "That's a good thing, cause play-acting for money, well that's just this side of street walking," his mother continued. 

Liam cleared his throat. "Uh, hey y'all, I'm still here, just in case this is a private conversation," he spoke up. 

"Oh, don't be silly son, no secrets in this family," his mother replied. He shook his head, staring out at the road. "And I cannot wait to see you, I wish you'd make a new year's resolution to come home more, Chesapeake isn't that far," she continued. 

"You know how crazy my job is," he came back, setting his sight on the entry gate to the hotel the wedding was at, Christmas wreaths still hanging against the cream bricks, given it was still just the day before New Year's Eve. 

"Are you getting close to the hotel?" she asked him. "Yes, I'm pulling in right now," he replied, "See you in a sec."

He pulled up the the valet spaces, where they were all meeting before heading inside. He could see the limo his father had employed for the arrival and the leaving later in the weekend, of which his sister, mother, and the maid of honor could be seen filing out of. 

Parking, he xited before walking over to his mother. "Hey mom," he greted, pulling her into a hug, "Hey Li."

"Oh, sweetie, I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays," she said, hugging him tightly. He pulled back with a smile, "It's been two Sundays, Mom."

"That's about the same, isn't it?" she said as she placed her phone into her purse. 

"Hey Liam," Elli said, stumbling out of the car. "God," his mother muttered. "Hey Elli," he replied, amused towards her state. The girl was a lightweight, through and through. 

"Will somebody please get her a coffee or a 7-Up or something," his mother said quietly as Elli fell onto the luggage cart one of the bellhop's had. 

"Carty," the man said, walking over to his older sister, "What's wrong? You mad at me or soemthing?" 

"More like dissapointed," she said quietly. He widened his eyes, wondering what that meant. 

"You totally undersold this limo," a british accent sounded from their right as a man in a henley sweater and skinny jeans strutted towards them. 

A man by the name of Niklaus Mikealson, Carter's best friend and wedding planner, and a man of british origin who moved to Virginia when he was sixteen, his older siblings 18 and 20, holding cutody over he and his two younger siblings after their abusive parents had been taken into custody, was the owner of the voice. 

"Dad rented it, isn't it a hoot?" his sister asked, her smile returnign as she hugged her friend. "Yeah, well I say elegant, and their father hears hoot," his mother expresses her disbelief as she helps organize the bags. 

"Hey, man, how's it going?" Nik greeted Liam, shaking his hand. The two shared a look. "Hey, long time," Liam greeted him back. 

"Oh, Nik, did the cake arrive?" Molly asked, turning to the wedding planner. "Just signed for it, and the bottles of Rombauer Chardonnay are in all of your foundation people's rooms, guaranteed to impress," the british man nods, a bright smile spread across his features. 

His mother made a noise of happiness before kissing the man on the cheek, "Always making me look good!" 

"I try," he replied with as his smile somehow brightened. It was infectious and made Liam smile slightly. 

"Here's your keys, and Miss Sadie Carter," he turned to her after passing out the room keys. His siter, held up her finger and ponted at him, "Don't."

"Just wait 'till you see the bridal suite," he tells her. The two laugh as he leads her off to her room. 

"Can somebody help me up?" Elli asks, finally coming to the realization that she is on the ground. 

"I'd be happy to roll you in miss," The bellman holding the cart flirts, and she giggles. "I'mma be instagramming the shit out of this weekend," she laughs as she takes pictures while the bellman rolls the cart into the hotel lobby. 

"There's no wonder she's single with that mouth," his mother condescendingly speaks staring after the retreating figure of the young woman before turning to her son, "While you are guarenteed a lot of attention from the ladies, being brother of the bride and all," she tells him. 

Liam opens his mouth a little, before closing it, deciding now isn't the time. 

"I have given my gay, Nik your Christmas sizes, asked him to do a little shopping for you," she says. "You did what?" Liam very quietly but clearly asks. 

"It's that one thing the gays are good for, fashion," his mother speaks with a wink. He nods, pursing his lips, knowing better than to start an argument. "Thanks, Mom."

Just then, a loud whirring noise is heard, like a very old car. And sure enough, when he turns around, his father drives up in a very old nd very dirty Chevrolet Blazer. "Oh heaven's strike me dead! I told him to bring the Land Rover," Molly very dramatically speaks. 

"The man loves that old Blazer, Mom," Liam says with a smile. 

His father gets out of the car, in hunting camo and all. "Why that man has to act like he doesn't have two nickles to rub together, it's pure enigma."

"Looky there!" his father calls out, "It's good to lay eyes on you son," his father greets with a small side hug. 

"You too Dad," Liam replies. "You look great," Matthew compliments. "Thank you," Liam nods in appreciation. 

"Hey hey, look who's not late," his father says, looking for any praise from his wife. "Oh, we noticed Matt, and you might be invisible to the deer in that camo but not to me, or anybody else around here," she says. You can tell from her tone that her husband will be in the dog house tonight. 

"Duly noted, dear, " his father replies, before looking to him. The two share a chuckle, "To know her is to love her," his father says as they both nod and laugh. 

His father tosses his keys to the valet-men, "They can valet the old truck there, but don't wash it."

After handing off his own keys, Liam makes his way into the hotel. He finds his room and enters and sure enough, he finds what he expected to. 

"What are you doing in here, Nik?" he asks, worried. "Relax Li, your mum has me queer-eyeing you, remember?" the man points out, "Besides, I made sure to put your family two doors down and around the corner, so that I can sneak in here at night."

Liam puts his free hand on one of Nik's shoulders, as Nik grips Liam's jacket, and the two lock lips. The soft skin melds and the two smile into it, never getting tired of the feeling the other man gave him. 

Liam pulls back, "But you have to be a ninja." 

"Fine," Nik sighs, "But I've got to tell you, after last weekend, getting to show you off to my siblings, it's dreadful going back to all of this sneaking around."

"And you know my parents aren't exactly accepting," Liam points out as he sets hos bag onto the bed, "Okay, your sister got us matching pajamas for Christmas, my parents will probably get us gift cards to a conversion clinic."

Nik scoffs, "Your mum might surprise you, she's worships me, and why wouldn't she?" he chuckles with a smile. 

"Yeah, until your not around, and then she calls you 'My gay, Nik'," Liam informs the man. "She does?" the blonde man inquires, offended. 

"Yeah, she does, when marriage equality happened she told me it was the end of the world, so yeah, " Liam fills in. 

"I'm gonna come out, but it's gonna be dicey," Liam affirms while putting his button-up on over his shirt. "And it always will be, Li, between your mum's ordeal, your dad's manly manness, and Carter's big fat hetero wedding, it's easy to make excuses, " Niklaus says, "But there's no excuse when it comes to Carter, you know she'll be totally fine with it."

"She's been giving me grief today for some reason, you two are close, do you have any clue whats going on with her?" Liam asks as he looks in the miror, tying his tie. 

"No, but uh, if I were to guess, she might be wondering what's up with you, so you kno, if you were to tell her what's really going on in your life, well it just might be the best wedding gift ever," Nik chuckled, though Liam could read the nervousness in his tone. 

Liam turned, looking at him. "Oh no, you didn't," He denied. Nik gave him a guilty look. 

"I did but only after she found out," Nik confessed. "Woah, hold on, found out?" Liam questioned. 

"She ambushed me at my apartment last night to give me my christmas gift and when I went to get us some drinks, my... my screensaver kicked in with all of our.... our pictures," Nik quietly confessed. "Our pictures?!" Liam exclaimed. 

"On my IMac at my apartment, not my work laptop or even my phone!" Nik defends himself. 

"No, no, no, no, no, no," Liam muttered, sitting on the edge of the bed as Nik leaned on the desk chair. "Not the ones when I dragged you camping at Sweetwater?" He asked. Nik looked away, the look on his face indicating worse. 

"Virginia State Pride?" Liam asked. Nik gritted his teeth as he cringed with another hum stating otherwise. 

"Skinny dipping at South Hoiston Lake?" Liam inquired with a look on his face indicating distress. Nik dropped his hand to hang, facing the floor. 

"Nik, you should've told me," Liam said as his features displayed panic. "Well, I'm telling you now, besides she made me swear on Louve's life not to tell you, she says you owe it to her to tell her yourself, and you do Li," Nik stated, coming to sit on the bed beside his lover. 

"Darling, she loves you, and she wants you to trust her," Nik said, putting his hand on Liam's knee. 

"I know, I love her too," Liam said. Nik smiled, putting an arm around Liam's shoulders, fiddling with his tie. "And thanks to me you now have the perfect coming outfit," Nik joked. The men chuckled as Liam laid his head on Nik's shoulder. 

Liam sighed, flopping back on the bed, "Fine, I'll do it, I'll tell her." 

"Good," Nik said, flopping down next to his boyfriend. "But remember, do not tell her I told you I told her, because she told me not to tell you," Nik reminds his lover, facing him. 

"Got it," Liam squinted," sort of."

A loud knocking rang through the room, clearly sounding from the door to the room. The boys bolted up, whipping their heads to look at one another in panic. "Li, son, it's your mama!" 

They looked between each other and the door before Liam stood from the bed, handing Nik the clipboard he has with him for the planning of the weekend and ushering him into the closet, before shutting the door behind him. 

Liam rushed to the door, opening it. "Hey Mom," he greeted. Molly smiled, "Oh look how spiffy you look, Nik must've gotten to you."

"Did he ever," Liam said breathily, trying to calm down. His mother was good at reading himself and his sister, so if even the slightest indication of panic was visible, she'd know something was off. 

"Uh, listen I was just about to go see Carter, so..." Liam trailed. His mother entered the room, "What's your hurry? I've got a little present for you."

She walked over to sit on the edge of the bed, digging through her purse. "Present?" Liam questions. She hummed in confirmation before handing him a velvet box, "Merry Christmas."

Liam grabbed it gingerly,opening it to find a gold music-note tie clip. "Wow, Mama, this is beautiful," he says, staring at the simple accessory, awestruck. "That was your Granddaddy Maybelle's," his mother tells him. 

"I always believed you got your love of music from him, I mean he was the church choir director and probably would've hated most of what you listen to, but.." his mother triails with a small chuckle. 

"i've got pretty eclectic taste, Mom, you might be surprised by some of what I'm into," Liam says. "Oh, I'm teasing," Molly dismisses. 

"My daddy wore that when he married my mama, said it was his good luck charm, and since I gave Carter Mama's dress, the same one I wore when I married your daddy at that old courthouse in Charlottesville, I figured you should have an heirloom for when you get married as well," She tells her son. 

Liam nods, biting his cheek with a hum. "I, uh, admit that my ordeal last year reduced me to a, uh, sentimental puddle, but it sure would do my poor cold heart good to see both of my kids married and happy, with grandbabies," she stands and speaks. 

"Yeah, Mom, about that-" Liam goes to speak. "Oh now, don't be jealous cause you're daddy and I are helping Carter and Danny get started, we'd do the same for you except you don't need it," She tells Liam. 

Liam chuckles lightly. "We're so proud of you," Molly says, staring at her son affectionately. 

"And I am so proud of you," Liam says prompting a laugh from his mother," but I should really finish getting ready, go see Carter and I'll uh, I'll meet you downstairs, sound good?" Liam proposed. His mother nodded before he opened the door. Outside stood a stumbling redhead by the name of Elli, still clearly a little wired from the booze. 

"Oh, uh, Hey Li," she greeted, leaning on the doorway, "I was just coming to say-" his mother stopped her. She ushered her out of the door, "Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, no, no."

"Okay, bye y'all!" Liam said, shutting the door. He leaned on it sighing as Nik lightly kicked the closet doors open. 

The door to Carter's room opens, showing Liam, "Hey."

She sighs, walking away from the door. He can read from her demenor that his big sister is a bit overwhelmed and stressed out. 

He steps into the room, looking around, "Whoa, did Pinterest throw up in here?" He shut the door behind him, and she looks to him with an aggravated expression on her face. 

"Okay, look, um, there's something I've been dying to tell you, something that's uh, taken a little while to figure out, for myself," Liam says. She gives him an incredulous look. "But uh, seeing you and Danny together as happy as you are has made me realize that I'm..." he trails, looking up from the floor to his sister's honey-brown irises just like his own, " gay."

His sister lets out a small squeal, running over to him and hugging him. 

"Oh my God, Li, I'm so proud of you," she tells him, pulling away from the hug, "Thank you for telling me."

"Let's celebrate!" she exclaims before walking over to the ice bucket. "Please," Liam agreed. 

Carter grabbed the champagne bottle from the bucket before pulling the paper over the cork off, "What took you so long?"

"Well, part of it is you still living at home with Mom and Dad, till I was ready to come out to them, it didn't feel right asking you to-" His siter cut him off from explaining. 

"I'm sorry, did you just say that you're ready to come out to Mom and Dad?" she asked, turning to him with her mouth agape and shock swirling in her eyes. 

"Not right now, obviously, it's your weekend, but soon, I was kinda hoping you could help me figure out how?" he asked his older sister, "I'm thinking if I start with Mom-"

"No!" His sister protested, " Uh-Uh, start with Dad, I mean, he won't be happy, but at least he won't stick his head in the oven." She finally finished with the paper, which she threw away before attmepting to pull the cork from the bottle. 

"I kinda owe it to Mom to tell her first cause... well cause, there's a teeny complication," Liam explained. "Oh yeah, I know, and props to you little bro, you must be some hot stuff to drag Niklaus Mikealson into your closet," she said with a small smirk. She continued to struggle with the cork. 

"I have no idea-" he went to act nonchalant about it but she stopped him. "Oh come on Li, I know you're only here because he told you that I got an eyeful of y'all's photos," she said, giving him a look as she kept trying to open the bottle," Something I'll never unsee, by the way."

"Yeah, sorry," Liam apologized, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, this thing," Carter sighed in frustration as she contnued to try to open the bottle. "Here, let me try," Liam said and she handed him the bottle. He started trying, wiggling the cork which loosened it but not enough to uncork the bottle. 

"So how does it work for you and Nik, y'know, you being in Chesapeake and him being in Richmond?" Carter asked as she moved to sort the bridal party's embroidered robes. 

"Well, we grab what time we can, plus a lot of driving," Liam answered as he felt the cork getting looser and looser. 

"Well, whatever you decide with Mom and Dad, just... know that I've got your back, okay?" she said, reaching her pinky out. He reached his hand up with a small smile, linking his pinky with hers. 

"I also have something I haven't told Mom and Dad about, um," his sister began. "Whoa, what is it? Is everything okay?" Liam asked, worried about his big sister. 

"Yeah, yeah, no everything's fine, it'sjust um, you know how Mom hasn't exactly been supportive of my acting, I wanna be free to pursue it without any of her negativity," Liam hummed as his sister explained. 

"So, when Danny and I get back from Maui, we are... moving to LA!" his sister exclaimed, laughing with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, wow Carter, that's great!" Liam said, happy for his sister even though his expression and tone displayed nervousness. 

"I thought you'd be happy for me," his sister said, getting a little upset. "And I am! Believe me, I am, it's just, oh Mom's gonna kill me for telling you this, as a wedding gift to you and Danny, they bought y'all a house," Liam confessed, "In Ocean Oasis." 

"Oh my god," his siter muttered to herself, wide-eyed and clearly anxious. Of course, right then the cork popped. And the bright pink champagne sprayed all over Carter's wedding dress. 

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" his sister exclaimed, walking over to the dress. She was now panicking. "Uh, okay, stay calm, um, club soda!" Liam exclaimed. 

"It's ruined, no! How do we fix this?" his sister continued to freak out as Liam rushed over to the mini fridge. 

"Club soda, club soda, and uh," Liam said as he grabbe dthe small bottles of the liquid, handing them to his panicking sister, "Towels! We need some towels!"

He hurried to the bathroom, grabbing a couple of hand towels. "Oh my god, it's ruined, what are we gonna do, Mom is gonna lose her..." his sister trailed as she panicked, he stopped her. "No, no, no, not is she doesn't see," he tells her, "Hey! We got this!" 

"We got this, okay reach up under the skirt and we will soak it up from the inside," Liam said as he opened the bottle with a fizz, pouring it on the towel and handing it to her. "Okay, okay, okay," she repeated it like a mantra. 

"See? Look," Liam tried to affirm her. "No, no, it's not getting better," she started to panic again. "Carter? Danny?" could be heard outside the door as his mother knocked. 

"Oh, my God, no!" Carter exclaimed. "God, she is everywhere!" Liam exclaimed. "I'm coming in, hon!" Molly exclaimed, opening the door, which caused Carter to panic and move her hand frantically, without notcing her bracelet had caught the fabric, which then ripped the lace patterning from the mesh lining. 

She yelps as she realizes what happened and her mother enters the room. "Oh my Lord in Heaven," Molly gaped as she stared at what was once her mother's and her own wedding dress. 

"What on God's green Earth have y'all done to my poor dead Mama's dress?" she walked closer as she stared at the ruined dress. Carter started sobbing, panic filling her being as she buckled back onto the arm of the sofa. Molly sees her daughter panicking and moves to try to calm her as she stammers, stutters, gasps, and sobs. 

"We wererubbing Lambrusco in and then club soda, and then my bracelet and, "His siter gasped and stuttered over her words, trying to calm down as her mother stroked her head. 

"So it was an accident?" his mother asked, looking to Liam. He nodded, "Yeah."

"I can- I can't breathe," Carter said as she tried to gasp fro breath. "All right, all right, just breathe, I'm breathing," Molly said. "We're all breathing," Liam said as he tried to encourage his sister and his mother to calm down. 

"Okay, okay, okay," Carter repeated as she slowly regained her bearings. "It's just an old dress, an heirloom some might say but," Liam gave his mother a look," It's not the end of the world, we've survived worse."

"Now, Mama's gonna tak care of this," Molly assured her daughter, "Liam, you go down and tell everybody that we're pushing back the rehearsal an hour," Molly pulled her phone from her purse, " oh best make it an hour and a half!" 

"What about the dress?" Liam asked quietly. "No, don't worry, if anybody can handle a couture crisis, it's my gay, Nik," she spoke, raising her phone as the britishman answered, "We have a situation."

Collecting a small plate of orderves, Liam looked up, seeing girls at the bar staring at him. He felt a familiar presence at his side, and turning he saw Nik in a tux. "Oh, hey man," He said casually. Nik nodded back, though a small smirk could be seen on his face. Hard to recognize and it could pass as a smile, but Liam knew better. 

"This outfit's working a little too well, these girls are all over me," Liam said quietly to his broyfriend. "Yes, well they aren't the only ones who want to jump you," Nik replied slyly, the smirk remainng on his face. Liam smiled as a slight tint of redness raised to his cheeks. 

"Thank you for telling Carter, it feels to great to finally be out to her, but what else did you say to her?" Nik asked, but before Liam could respond, a clearly stressed Carter moved to order from the bar. 

"I need a drink, Champagne please," she requested with a sigh, overwhelmed. Liam turned around, spotting his cousin hugging their mother. "Oh looky, Cousin Wren has landed," he pointed them out to his sister and Nik. 

"Good for them and all, but that is not going to help sway our parents to our side of the rainbow," Liam commented. "Oh really, Margeret? At least Wren's living their life loud and proud," Nik commented. 

"I just meant-" Liam went to reply. "Guys-" Carter tried to stop them. "I"m pretty sure you meant what you said," Nik responded. 

"Hey Liam," a woman could be heard saying in a flirty voice from where he had seen them previously. "Oh, but hey, your beards beckon," Nik said, passive aggressively. Liam sighed, knowing it would be suspicious to his father if he didn't go over and make some sort of conversation. 

Within the next ten minutes, his mother called for the rehearsal to begin. Everyone walked as they would and it finally came down to Carter and Matt walking down together as the photographer worked. 

The two quietly spoke with one another as they walked before Matt handed his daughter off to Danny. Everyone sat down before the officiant began speaking, "I'll make my opening remarks, blah blah blah, then I'll ask who gives this woman-" Carter stopped the man. 

"No, um... sorry, didn't you get my email?" she asked, "We- we changed that part."

"We're asking both sets of parents for their blessings," Danny elaborated. "Email? I didn't get an email," Molly spoke. "I-It's nothing, it's just a few changes," Carter said with her nerves clear in her tone. 

"Changes? Don't mind me, I'm just the mother of the bride," Molly laughed nervously, "Why don't y'all just skip to the vows then."

"Alright, uh, Danny repeat after me, I, Danny, take thee-" Carter once again stopped the minister. "No, no, no, um, we wrote our own," she reminded the man, who nodded. "Since when?" their mother asked. 

"Since we did, Mom," Carter answered, clearly beginning to grow extremely overwhelmed. 

"Well, then let's hear them," Molly prompted. "You'll hear them tomorrow!" Carter exclaimed before her breathing patterns grew shallow. "Sweetie?" Danny asked, worried about his fiancé as her eyes darted around and she panicked. Everyone began to grow worried. 

"Sweetheart?" Matt asked, standing. "Carter?" Liam asked, stepping from the line up where he stood as best man. 

"You okay?" Matt asked her as he slowly approached his panicking daughter. 

"You don't look so good," Wren said, worry gorwin on their features as they placed a hand on their cousin's shoulder. 

"Why do you have to be so secretive?" Molly pressed. "I'm not th eonly one with secrets!" Carter exclaimed, "I mean, did y'all know Liam's gay?" 

Liam gaped, as everyone looked at him. He took a deep breath, as he stared at his sister, upset clear in his eyes. Being outed wasn't a light thing. Especially not where they stood at that moment. 

"Oh my god, Li, I'm-I'm so sorry," Carter apologized as she realized the weight of what she just did. She then ran off, disappearing from everyone's sights quickly. Danny ran after her. 

Liam turned, giving a glance to the room of people before him who stared at him, some in shock, others in digust. Nik gave him a sympathetic look as Molly tried to gain her bearings from what had just been dropped on her. 

"Uh well," She nervously chuckled, " I guess the stress of this old wedding's been a little much for our Carly, so uh, why don't you all go into the honeysuckle room for dinner, and we will join you shortly," Molly announced. All of the guests stood and exited, going for Dinner. Matt stared at his son, being able to read him like a book and seeing on his face that he wasn't the happiest at the moment. 

"Where did she go? Did you see where she went?" Molly questioned as she was about to walk away to look for her daughter. "Leave her be, Molly," Matt stopped his wife. 

"Maybe we should call Dr. Tuckerman, I saw this thing on The Today Show about panic attacks, and that sure looked like one," Molly said, worrying over her daughter," Uh, they said they can make people talk real crazy too, that's all that was, you know that Li, Carly didn't mean that."

Liam pursed his lips as his eyes met the floor. Matt stepped forward, looking at his son. "Is there something you wanna say to us, son?" he asked. 

Liam's eyes raised from the floor as he stared into his mother and father's eyes. "Carter wasn't talking crazy, she was telling the truth," he shrugged with one shoulder, "I'm gay."

"Maybe.... Dr. Tuckerman could, uh, prescribe something to help calm Carter's nerves," Molly said, clearly acting as though she hadn't heard what Liam had said. "Mom, listen," Liam spoke firmly but his mother stopped him. 

"No, son, you listen," Molly stepped closer to him, "You are not that way, and your sister's wedding is no time for such nonsense."

"Please don't call it nonsense, and uh, Carter didn't exactly give me a choice," Liam spoke as his tone grew impatient and bitter, his eyes swirling from how offended his mother had made him. 

"Choice? What about the choice to let your daddy and I go to our graves without ever hearing this?" Molly said. Liam's eyes began to swell with tears ashis eyes met the floor, nodding ever so slightly as he once more pursed his lips. 

"Molly, knock it off," Matt tried to stop his wife seeing that she was hurting their son. "Don't tell me to knock it off, Matt, this whole entire family has got to get its shit together," Molly spoke through gritted teeth at her husband. She turned back to her son, who now stared at the floor as a tear fell down his cheek. 

"You heard me, shit, shit, shit!" She exclaimed before walking away. 

"Shit,"  Matt laightly chuckled looking back to his son who chuckled as well. "Let's go somewhere we can talk," Matt suggested. Liam agreed. 

A gunshot rang through the woods as a bottle shattered. "You always were a show-off," Matt said, ooking at his son who held the rifle. "You taught me," Liam retorted, recocking the gun.

"Be gentle now, that triggers loose, you so much look at it wrong and it's liable to go off," Matt warned his son, who nodded. "Kinda like Mom," Liam responded, and Matt chuckled as his son handed him the gun. He shot another of the bottles they had lined up on some rocks bfore looking back to his son. 

"You remember your first gun?" his dad asked him as he passed him the rifle. "Uh, Buck model 105 air rifle, I was nine," Liam answered, turning to face his father. 

"You were a good shot right out of the gate too, and uh, one day you come running to the house, crying so hard I could hardly understand a word you were saying... cause you'd shot a blue jay," Matthew recalls, "I knew right then that you weren't gonna be much of a hunting partner... but I also knew you had a good heart." 

Liam's eyes welled with tears as he began to grow emotional. His family had always been so tight knit, and he loved his father dearly. Hearing this after all they'd dealt with tonight, after his mother's reaction and not knowing his father's thought process on the matter, it was nerve-wracking and it was beating him up. He was terrified, though he didn't wanna show it. 

"And uh... watching you grow up, I guess I... I'll admit, I had a sense about you, son, and... can't say I was looking forward to this day, sorry to say, but I promised myself that when and if it ever came, I'd look you in the eyes, and tell you that I love you," Matt spoke sincerely, staring at his emotional son.

"And I do, ther's no doubt about that," Matt concluded, his love for his son showing in his expresssion. Liam blinked back tears and he pulled his father into a strong and tight hug, only allowing a couple to slip. 

He regained control over his emotions, taking a deep breath as the two finally released the hug, looking at his father with a smile. "Just one question, are you happy?" His father asked him. 

Liam chuckled sadly, "I'd be a lot happier if Mom wasn't so upset." 

"Just give her time, love's not a light switch," Matt reassured his son, "Now go on, it's your shot."

Liam turned back ot the row of bottles and cans, all but one had fallen or shattered before he lowered the gun, turning back to his father. 

"Say, earlier when Mom said this whole family needed to get our-" Liam's father finished for him, "Shit together?"

"Yeah," Liam confirmed. Matt sighed, "She meant that you're not the only one who's been hiding a secret."

"Oh, she's not sick again, is she?" Liam asked as his concern for his mother swelled. "Our health's are good, praise the Lord, but uh... your mom and I are going through a rough patch," Matt explained. 

"How long have you two...?" Liam trailed. "Ever since we moved to Ocean Oasis and she started running around with those, uh, society people, and don't get me wrong, I admire her charity work and all, and I'm more than happy to share our blessings but... it, it changed her, son," Matt exlpains, "And you know what really chaps my butt? I may not wanna go to those black tie things and whatnot, but she's never even once asked me to... like she's ashamed of me."

Liam stared at his father with empathy as he bit the side of his cheek. "And... then her ordeal came along... and, man-oh-man, did that send her into overdrive?" Matthew asked rhetorically, staring off at the trees in the darkness of the woods. "Let me see that gun," Matt requested. His son handed it to him and he raised it to aim at the rocks. 

"It's good to get things off your chest," Matt spoke to his son before he pulled the trigger, shooting the last can. The gunshot rang loud as the bullet pierced the aluminum with a 'ping.'

"It's not fun keeping things from your loved ones," his father spoke as he lowered the rifle, turning to look at Liam. "Look who you're talking to," Liam said. The two exchanged looks of understanding before they both started to laugh. 

"Let's line 'em up, I'm not quite ready to go home yet," Matt proposed. Liam agreed, before walking to line the cans back up on the rock. 

"You know, you're granny used to call your kind crazy old bachelors, and said, uh, that every family needed one, she was- she was a mess," Matt said, chuckling as he fiddled with the mechanism. It seemed to be jammed. 

Liam moved to pick up a can and set it back on the rock but before he knew it, a gunshot rang and he reached up to hold his arm. "Oh sh-... son!" 

Back at the hotel, Nik stands in Carter's bridal suite, steaming her gown as a knock sounds at the door. "Carly? Sweet Pea?" Margerett's voice rings through. 

Nik opens the door before walking back to attend to the wedding gown, "Where is she?"

"She's not here," he answers as he unplugs the steamer. "What do you mean Carter's not here?" she asks. 

"Danny took her somewhere, not sure where, she'll be fine," he reassures the worried mother, "How are you holding up?"

"Honestly, I feel like I'm waltzing through a minefield," the woman answers before sitting down on the arm of one of the sofas with a sigh. Her mind's been racing since the rehearsal dinner, between both of her children and her husband disappearing and everything that ad been thrown at her at once, she was overwhelmed, worried, and confused. 

"Nik, how does a person know they're gay?" she asks the man. He turns to her with a small smile, "Just like how you know you're not, we're all just... who we are," he asnwers simply. 

"You know we think of you as family, " she says, standing and moving ot the other sofa, which is closer to where Nik stands as he moves the now wrinkle-free gown to it's correct spot on the rack. He shoots the woman a smile as he turns back to her. 

"I will admit, when Carter first brought you around, I didn't know what to make of you, but I'm glad she talked me into hiring you, and now that I've gotten to know you I realize you're mostly like normal people," Molly said, "Except more colorful."

"Do you also realize what a mostly offensive and backhanded compliment that is?" Nik asks her. Molly realeases a small and nervous laugh, "You know what I mean, you're the real deal, like you just said, you are who you are and who you are is as gay as the night is long." 

"And that's fine, for you," she adds, " But Liam... I just can't picture him choosing that lifestyle."

"Maybe..." she says, standing, " You could talk some sense into him, with you being a real gay man and all."

"Um, you want me to try to convince your son that he only thinks that he's gay?" Nik asks, offended, "Because why? Because that's the worse thing that can happen to a person?"

"I'm in uncharted waters, Nik," Molly replies, "I am trying to understand."

"Well, then, understand that being gay isn't choosing a lifestyle, and that it can be both colorful and normal, and yes, Li can be like that without having to act like he's trying to win Rupaul's Drag Race," Nik explains to the woman. 

"That's my son we're talking about, Nik, my baby boy," Molly says. "Well then, accepting him should be the easiest thing in the world, and honestly, it looks ot me like he wasn't even planning on coming out to you at all, Margeret, probably because he knows how you think," Nik retorts. 

"I guess I knew too, but... hearing it all out loud like this... well, it's toxic, and you know, I don't want to be around that anymore," Nik says, turning back ot the dress. 

"What? What are you talking about?" Molly squeaks out quietly. " I'm saying that I'll help you and Carter get through this wedding and this weekend... but after that, I'm making some serious changes in the new year," Nik replies before walking to grab a bridesmaid's dress to steam as well. 

Molly's phone rings, so she takes it from her purse and answers, "Matt, where in the sam-" she stops speaking abrubtly, prompting to Nik to turn to her. He looks on in worry as he features contort in horror and concern, her eyes wide with fear, "Oh my lord."

"Matt shot Liam," she says to Nik. His eyes go wide before he grabs his coat and the two hurry to the car. 

In the hospital, Liam sits with a sling holding his bandaged arm up, catting with his remorseful father hwen the door swings open and Nik and his mother rush in. "Nik, what are you doing here?" he asks, laughing. 

"Please tell me you're okay, Li," Nik says, grabbing Liam's good hand as he seats himself on the edge of the bed, his eyes flooded with worry. Before Liam can answer, his boyfriend pulls him in for a kiss. 

Liam smiles into the aafectionate action before pulling away, "Dad only grazed me, just be glad he's not as good of a shot as I am," the injured man jokes. 

"That old gun just went off on it's own, Lord, God, I wasn't trying to hit you son," Matt apologizs for the umpteenth time. "Sorry, Dad, I'm joking, too soon?" Liam asks with a chuckle. 

Matt nods, "A little bit." Next to the sink in the hospital room stands Molly, who is now looking between Nik and her son. "Hey Nik," Matt greets with a smile, an amused look in his eyes. 

"Hey," Nik sighs out, holding his boyfriend's hand tightly still, before dropping his forehead to Liam's collorbone gently. 

"It certainly is raining surprises tonight," Molly speaks, her voice had dropped an octave. Just then, in rush Carter and Danny, both extremely worried. "Oh my god, this is all my fault," carter panics as she moves to stand next to her little brother. 

"No, its not, I'm absolutely one hundred percent okay," Liam reassures his older sister, holding his pinky out. She links her own through his as they smile softly at one another. 

"I'm so sorry," she apologizes once again, "I mean, it was just everybody was staring at me, and I just... I wanted it to stop, and I freaked out." Liam nods at his sister in understanding. 

Liam glances behind his sister, and something catches his eye. "Woah," he speaks, as he stares at it a little longer. "You all right, son? What have they got you drugged up on?" Molly asks, worried. 

"Uh, something trippy, is it just me or does that vampire look like...?" he trails and everyone turns to the TV. On the screen stands a vampire who looks exactly like Carter, save for thehair color and the fangs, plus her scleras are red, and there are veins crawling down her face. 

Matthew unmutes the TV, allowing the dialogue to be heard. "Come on, wanna-be Buffy, that improvises cross thing is such as cheesy trope," Carter's character speaks to a girl who holds two burning candle as a cross. 

"Okay, let's work on your tan," The girl says smuggly before opening a wide curtain. She then holds up a blue and silver ring, and the vampire moves to stand in the light. 

"Finally, I was too weak to do it on my own but now... you've assisted in my suicide, my first sunrise in two hundred years and now my last and it's... divine," the vampire speaks before collapsing to her knees with a groan. Then the title screen flashes, saying 'The Vampire Diaries.'

The Tv is turned off as Liam shoots his nervous sister a proud smile. Molly turns back to her family, "Why do I get the feeling that I'm the last one to know about this?" 

"You told me you gave up that acting nonsense," she speaks to her daughter. "Only so you would stop nagging me about it," Carter retorts. "Nagging?" Molly questions. 

"Yes! And I was gonna show you this at New Year's brunch, to prove to you that I'm not- I'm not wasting my time, and I'm- and I'm not a streetwalker," Carter exclaims. Molly gasps and Carter looks between Liam, Matt, and her mother. 

"I know y'all bought us a house and all, but... Dan and I are moving to Los Angeles," Carter tells her mother. 

"Matt," Molly speaks, "Will you go get that old rifle and just shoot me dead?"

"Come on, come one now," Matt says, trying to reason with his wide. "Margeret," Nik says as well. 

"Well, you had your target practice with Li, so just go on and take me right on out," she says. Liam sighs, looking down, as Danny puts an arm around his fiancé in support. 

"Thanks for the support, Mom... You're 0 for 2 tonight, come on, Dan," Carter says with tears in her eyes before she and Danny exit the room. 

"Sweet Pea, just..." Molly trails as the couple exits the room. Liam looks between his mother and his father, squeezing his lover's hand tightly. 

When they get back to the hotel, Nik helps Liam out of the car after his father took his mother to talk. Liam's just gotten out of the car and gotten his jacket over his shoulders when the Chevy Blazer rolls to a stop with squeaking brakes. 

Molly looks at her son as she stands, having just exited the truck. The two stand staring at one another for a moment before Nik and Matt urge to the two to talk. 

They walk off towards the garden in silence, but after a moment, Liam speaks up. "Do you remember when I was thirteen and you showed me Steel Magnolias? Do you remeber the scene where Olympia Dukakis says, ' All gay men have track lighting'?" Liam asks his mother. 

"Not as vividly as you apparently," she replies. "I turned to you and I said, 'I'm pretty sure I like track lighting,' that was my only time testing the waters with you, and you laughed, and said I had a weird sense of humor, and thank the good Lord that you hadn't named me Mark, Rick, or Steve," Liam continues. 

"That was enough to lock me in the closet for years," he concludes. "Liam, you were too young to even know what track lighting was," Molly says with furrowed eyebrows. 

"I'm trying to be honest with you," Liam turns to her and says, stopping walking. "All right, then let's be honest," Molly said, "I am sorry for what I said earlier, but between you and your sister, I was a little out of sorts." Liam nods appreciatively at his mother for the apology. It still hurt, that fact didn't change. But remorse helped. 

"But as far as this thing with Nik is concerned," Molly starts," I know his spirit can be infectious, and if we was coming after you," she continues. "Mom, what-" Liam goes to say, but sh ignores him. "Flattering you, making you laugh, I can understand how that might be... confusing," she says. 

Liam laughs, knowing the full story, "Except it was the other way around."

"I went after Nik, and you gotta know, he resisted, he said it was a bad idea getting involved with his best friend's brother, and his boss's son, especially with me not being out," Liam explained as he mother turned her head to face away from him in denial, "Then we fell in love."

"Oh, Li, I saw a program about this therapist who works with confused young people-" Liam tries to stop her. "Mom, this is so-" 

"I would be happy to pay for it, please," his mother says, tears in her eyes. Liam's expression goes monotone, as does his voice. 

"Okay, you know what? Mom... I got shot tonight, but this hurts more," he says, staring into his mother's eyes with his own tear-filled ones. 

He walks away from his mother, who gazes after him, frantic, confused, and worried as he walks away from her. 

The next morning, everyone is gathered for the wedding. The photographer is orking her magic as Liam and Nik sit together, chatting and laughing. 

"Elli, where in the world is Carter?" Liam hears his mother ask the maid of honor. "I don't know, she texted me and said she was spending the morning with you," Elli replies. 

"Well, she texted me that she was with you, and after last night, I wasn't about to..." his mother trails off. "Oh Lord, we got a runaway bride!" Molly exclaims, "Nik!" 

"Molly," Matt says, turnign the woman to face the aisle, where Carter stood. "I'm right here, Mom, " she says. 

Carter stands in a short, simple white dress with silver heels and a rhinestone belt. Her hair is straightened and her akeup is minimalistic. Behind her stands Danny in his suit. 

"where's your new dress?" Molly gapes at her. "Uh, do y'all mind giving us a minute?" Carter requests of the guests and the bridal parties. 

Elli, Liam, and Nik go to walk away, but Carter stops Liam and Nik. "Whatever this is, sweet pea, can't it wait 'till after the ceremony?" Molly asks. 

"We just had it, Mom," Carter replies. "Had it?" Molly asks, confused. "At the courthouse, in Charlottesville, like you and Dad, and we even used Grandmama Maybelle's ring, like you wanted," Carter displays her hand after she explains. 

Molly gasps, nodding. "Oh, come on, Mom, I mean... after everything that's happened, with my dress, and my panic attack, and what I did to Li, Li getting shot, and then the whole 'Vampire Diaries' thing, it just... felt like the universe was screaming at us," Carter explained. 

"I'm sorry, I know that you always wished that you and Dad could've had this big wedding but... every time you told me about the courthouse, that sounded like the most romantic thing in the world, just two people, together, speaking the truth from their hearts, and it worked out for you two, I mean, y'all are a perfect couple," Carter continues. 

"And, um, my agent called me today, and hashtag-suicidal-vampire is trending, and the producers want to resurrect her, and give her a name and her own storyline, so, yay! We're not moving to LA after all!" Carter exclaimed. 

"That's wonderful!" Matt smiled, happy for his daughter. "And if the house is still a thing, we would love to live there, but only if you let us pay rent," Carter requested. "Absolutely, sweet pea," Molly said quietly. 

"Matt, would you announce that the wedding's off? I don't think I could get through it," Molly says. "Mom, come on, I mean, we still got married, and we can still have that big reception we planned, we have so much to celebrate," Carter persuades. 

"Well, y'all go on, I just don't feel like it," Molly sighs before marching off, handing her bouquet off to Nik as she passed him. Liam and Nik look to each other with pursed lips as Carter and Matt calls after their mother. 

Danny's father then approaches his son, hugging him quickly. "Ah, we made it just in time, Your mom, listen, she'll be right..." the man trails off as he notices the tense atmosphere surrounding the family, "What?"

"Welcome, open bar," Matt says ironically before walking away, likely to grab a drink. 

"Oooh, ow," Liam winced as he pulled the harness off. "Careful," Nik said, worried that he would strain himself as helped him. 

When he finally got it off, he nodded at Nik, who held his Suit Jacket up, "Alright, before I feel anything."

Liam slipped the arm of the jacket up over his injured shoulder, before pulling it completely on, wiht the help of Nik, "Okay?" 

"Okay," Liam confirmed. Th two turned back to the dresser, where they each had a flute of champagne. They each picked up their glasses before turning back to each other. Each of them had a dopey grin on their face, the simple presence of their signifigant other bringing an indescribable amount of joy to them. 

"To new beginnings," Liam raised his glass up, and Nik nodded before blinking the china, and they both took a sip, then set their glasses down. 

"Why don't you spend tomorrow in Chesapeake with me? I make pretty decent steak and mashed potatos," Liam suggested. 

"And I make killer sweet rolls straight from the bag," Nik said with a small chuckle and a smile before taking another sip from his glass. 

Liam slyly slipped his hand into hs pocket, "You know we have never cooked a real meal together?" 

"We are in a geographically undesirable relationship, Li," Nik spoke. 

Liam smiled, lifting his hand from his pocket. In it, he held a small box. Nik's eyes dart between it and Liam, "Woah, are... are you proposing?" 

"I'm... proposing something," Liam replied. Nik gently took the box from his lovers hand before openeing it, and pulling out a key. 

He held it up, clearly confused. He looked to Liam, who grinned, "Move in with me."

"Dude, you live in Chesapeake," Nik spoke in a questioning manner. 

"I just closed on that loft yesterday, we could make it ours instead of just mine," Liam answered, "Come on! The timing is perfect, it's a new year, we're both finally out, and I'm way out in Chesapeake."

The two men chuckled before Nik grabbed hold of both of Liam's hands, "This is a big step, huge, um... you know I love you?... but I need to think about this."

Liam nodded, pursing his lips. He was crestfallen, but he understood. He smiled again as Nik kissed his hands, "Sorry."

Right as Liam went to reply, his phone went off. "Ha, I almost forgot, my surprise for the reception's here."

He looked back to NIk as he put his phone back in his pocket, "I think this might be just what we all need."

"I'll meet you downstairs, okay?" Liam asked as he put his hands on his lovers jaw. Nik nodded, so Liam smiled and exited the room. 

Liam knocked on his mother's door twice before she opened it. Her makeup was a mess, cake crumbs coating her face and hands. The top tier of the wedding cake could be seen destroyed on the ottoman. 

"Take a good look, Li, this is what your mama's love really looks like," she said, sounding defeated and miserable. 

"That is a whole mess of love, Mom," Liam retorted. She held her finger up, pointing at him, "Don't you try and charm me, not when my whole life is ruined."

Liam stepped into the room as she shuffled over to sit down, shutting the door behind him. 

"Okay, the only thing in ruins is your makeup, now you had two goals this weekend, to get Carter married, and to find me someone who'll make me happy, mission accomplished!" he exclaimed. 

"Maybe not exactly the way you pictured it, but still," he added. She chuckled. "How does that ruin your life, Mom?"

"Do I look like I'm in the mood to b reasonable?" she asked. "okay, fine then, listen, you hear that?" he asked. Two Doors Down by Dolly Parton could be heard playing through the halls all the way from the ballroom. 

"What?" she asked. "It's Dolly Parton," Liam answered, "Now y'all raised us on her music and movies, and you always said that even her sad songs could lift your spirits."

"Oh, what did you do? Get some drag queen to mouth along to Dolly Parton songs?" Molly asked, wiping her hands free of cake and frosting with a tissue. 

"No, Mom, I got Dolly Parton, I met her through work, we hit it off, I aske,d she said yes, so you can sit up here and cry your heart out, and feel sorry for yourself, or you can come join the party," Liam explained, "Your family needs you, Mom, wants you, too."

She sighed as she looked at her son, who grasped the doorknob, prepared to exit the room. However, he turned back around. "And that includes Dad, he told me what y'all have been going through," Liam explained when his mother turned to him in surprise. 

"Did you know that he called me almost every night when you were sick? He didn't want you to know he was falling apart, he wanted to be strong for you, so... he leaned on me," he adds. 

Molly brought her hand up to her mouth, clearly a little shell-shocked, she seemed almost guilty. "He loves you, Mom, we all do," Liam assures her, crossing the room in a few steps, to where she was seated on the ottoman. 

She stands, releasing a sob as he continues, " You are the heart and soul and... personality of this family, and the one thing that last year taught us is how precious every moment together is, " Liam says. She takes an audible breath, her throat thick from the tears she had shed. 

"So... fix your face, stop being a mopey old drama queen, and get your shit together," he says before turning back to the door. "Oh, get that-" he cuts her off. "Yeah, you heard me, shit, shit, shit," he says as she gives him a fond look in response to his teasing, "Your words, not mine."

He exits the room, heading back for the ballroom. Immediately after he reaches his family, Carter runs up to him. "Li, oh my god, how did you...?" she trails. 

"I-I-I can't believe it," she stammers. "Do you trust me now?" he teases. "Yes!" she exclaims. 

He walks with her up front where he spots Nik dancing with Elli. He walks up to them with a bright smile on his face, placing a hand on Nik's shoulder, "Hey handsome," he greets, "Can I cut in?" 

"I guess," Elli replies and the trio giggle as she moves so Liam can join Nik. The two smile brightly at one another, holding hands and dancing to the beat of '9 to 5.'

Their mother and father join them as the dance and the song wraps up, before 'Baby I'm Burnin' starts playing. Nik and Liam hold another close as they step to the beat of the upbeat music. 

It isn't but a few minutes before she begins 'Two Doors Down' once again, everyone jumping, cheering, singing along, and dancing as she does so. 

Nik twirls Liam, and the two forget about his shoulder, causing him to cringe in pain as he moves back into Nik's embrace. Nik catches the hiss he makes, prompting him to worry. "I'm sorry," he apologizes, only for Liam to smile and peck his cheek, "It's alright."

The song concludes as everyone claps and cheers, "Oh, thank you, thank you, hey Li, hey why don't you bring your family up here on stage? Let me see 'em in the spotlight, I want to see that beautiful bride and groom," Dolly speaks. 

Liam laughs, smiling as he, Carter, Danny, Nik, Molly, and Matt all move up onto the stage. After some kind words on stage, the family find themselves nearing midnight with flutes of champagne in hand. 

"Well, if y'all have resolutions, nows the time to make 'em," Liam states after checking his watch, seeing it only minutes from the new year. 

"I'll start," Molly says," I, uh, well, y'all already know that I love you, and since everybody's coming out, I might as well too, this is who I am, I'm a loud, proud, cake-drunk wife and mother who loves her family so much, drives her to the nuthouse sometimes, but I wanna resolve, right here and now, to be the best mama, and brag all over town about my baby girl, the actress," she speaks, directing her words towards Carter first. 

"Oh, sweet pea, you know I love you, and I hope you can forgive me," she apologizes to her daughter. "For what? Being you? I love you, Mama," Carter replies, hugging her mother. 

"Oh, and Liam, I'll come around, I promise, I just ask you to be patient, because you will always be my baby boy, and I will always be, whether you like it or not, your drama queen mama," she says and the two laugh. 

"I like it just fine," Liam answers. "And Nik... I will be a more open-minded employer, and I beg you, please, please keep your job, " Molly speaks to Nik. 

"I'm sorry Margeret, but, uh, it'd be too long of a commute," Nik replies with a sly grin. Liam turns back to him, excitement in his eyes. "My resolution is to start a whole new life, in Chesapeake," he says, turning to Liam with love in his eyes. "Really?" Liam asks, shocked. 

"Really," Nik confirms. "Thank you," Liam whispers to him as he leans into his lover's hold. 

Liam and Nik fall into a loving embrace, the world around them tuning out as Nik nuzzles his nose into Liam's hair, Liam burying his head into Nik's neck lovingly, ech of them with joyful smiles and and endless amount of love flowing between them and around them. 

The MC for the night comes back, announcing the countdown. Everyone raises their glasses high as they all shout, counting back from ten. 

When they reach 1, and the words 'Happy New Year!' sound through the ballroom, balloons, confetti, and steamers fall all over the room in the colors of the wedding arrangment. Nik and Liam clink glasses before their lips meld together, fitting like a key and a lock, lik they were made to fit together perfectly. 

The two smile into the kiss as they know that they can finally be happy. 

This oneshot is 10,000 words long. It took me several months to write this, so I hope you enjoyed it.