"Dean..." Matias started and gave out a bashful laugh, "you must be the first person who utterly understood me. I've had people in my life who were there for me. I've had friends and lovers and family. But nobody... nobody ever got me as you do. Nobody has ever been there for me like you are. I've known you for about one-third of my lifetime, but with each day that passes, it feels as if I've always known you. You've given me more than I'll ever be capable to give back, but I promise to always do my best with you. Like you have done with me."

Mark looked at Matias as he spoke, an endearing smile on his face. Both he and Dean had off white three-piece suits, similar to the ones the best men and woman wore. Matias had done an incredible job with his makeup for the wedding as he has insisted on doing it himself. His eyes shimmered rose and maroon and his lips were painted in soft pink. Keeping to the wedding theme, his nails were dyed off white with small cherry blossoms on them.

Feeling eyes on him, he turned his head and caught Thomas's gaze. The dusty rose suit contrasted nicely with his skin and Mark found himself lost in Thomas's eyes. After Dean's vows, Mark's snapped out of his haze and turned to give them their rings. Everyone watched quietly as they exchanged the rings and then turned to look at the official.

"Tonight is all about love. It has been my honor to officiate your ceremony this evening. And now I get to say something you've been looking forward to hearing for a long time. By the powers vested in me by the State of Oregon, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss your husband."

Dean smiled and pulled Matias in for a kiss. Everyone cheered and watched as they embraced happily. Mark looked around and spotted Dean's family standing by the front row. His father, his stepmother, his grandma, and his aunt all looked so happy. For a second, Mark wondered whether Dean felt weird for not having his mother with him.

He was pleasantly surprised when he saw Matias's family had shown up. Mark knew that Fernando was coming, so that didn't catch him off guard, but Matias's parents and grandparents, that was a whole different story. Things were definitely a lot better now than they were back when Matias had come out to them as trans. At least now -ten years later- they tried not to misgender him. Matias always said that with his family it was a constant uphill battle. From the surprise on his face when they had shown up, though, Mark could tell that he wasn't aware they would be coming either.

And despite the fact that they didn't stay for the wedding reception, even showing up at the ceremony had been enough for Matias. The reception and the ceremony had taken place in the same venue, an open space filled with blooming cherry trees and light pink roses. Mark knew that the decoration had mostly been done by Matias, but even if he hadn't known he could tell. While Dean was more than just good with mentally designing things, when it came to actually decorating, he was a mess. That was another reason as to why they were so good together.

"About four years ago, Dean came to me and asked me how acquainted I was with the writers that my parents published because he had read this amazing book that they had published -Matias's first. As luck would have it, I was friends with Matias, so I took it upon myself to introduce them to each other. Granted it took some time," Mark paused to raise his glass and smile at both of his newly-wed friends, "but I'm so glad that Dean came to me that day. Because, the relationship that they formed, the bond that Dean and Matias have... it's literally extraordinary. I've seen love and I've felt love, but I do believe that what they share is one of a kind. To Dean and Matias," he finished, and everyone cheered and drank to that.

"How come you're not drinking champagne?" Bryan asked Thomas, leaning closer to him and finishing the alcohol in his glass.

"I'm cutting back on my alcohol intake," Thomas replied and watched as his friends looked at him curiously. He shrugged. "I'm an athlete, I need to take care of myself."

"I'll drink to that," Blake chimed in, making all his friends laugh and Thomas roll his eyes.

Even though the distance between them was huge, he was still part of this group and nothing would have made him miss Dean's wedding. Blake had flown back the previous day and would be staying in their old hometown for the next week, before going back to New York, where he permanently lived.

Mark took the glass of champagne that sat before Thomas and started drinking it, seeing as Thomas wouldn't be drinking that night. Dean and Matias started going around the tables, thanking and talking to everyone, while at the same time the music started to get louder. Seeing as Bryan and Blake were deep into a conversation Rachel turned to Thomas.

"Wanna dance?" she asked him and placed a hand on his forearm. Thomas mulled it over for a few moments and then stood up and took Rachel's hand in his.

They walked to the dancefloor and Thomas spun her around and pulled her in his arms, as the song had a slow rhythm. As they started dancing, Thomas couldn't help but notice the breathtaking sapphire necklace that rested on Rachel's neck. It was the five-year anniversary gift that Bryan had given her, and the gemstones shared the same color as her eyes.

"You know, I'm never going to stop being proud of you. For coming out," she told him, looking deep into his eyes. Thomas smiled.

"You've already told me that ten times since last week when it happened..." he muttered.

"Yeah, well, I want to make it crystal clear. What you did took guts, it was truly inspiring," she went on. Thomas looked away and pulled her a bit closer, placing his head on top of hers.

"I wouldn't say that. Kissing Mark in front of everyone was the easiest thing I've done in the past seven years. Actually, wait... no. Kissing Mark -being with Mark-... it has been the easiest thing I've ever done in my life," he replied and closed his eyes.

A few minutes later, after the song changed, Rachel felt someone tap on her shoulder and she pulled back. Both she and Thomas turned and looked at Mark who stood by them with a huge bright smile.

"May I?" he asked looking at Thomas.

"Yeah, definitely. I'll go drag Bryan out here," Rachel replied and let go of Thomas.

"Thank you, Rach," Mark said and sweetly kissed her cheek as she walked past him.

Smoothly, Mark took ahold of Thomas and they started moving alongside the song. His eyes couldn't help but wander past Thomas to where Dean and Matias were dancing in a similar embrace.

"When..." Thomas started but paused so that Mark would turn to look at him again. Mark nodded for him to go on, just as Rachel and Bryan joined them on the dancefloor. "When the guys were telling their vows to each other, I was mentally saying my vows to you."

"Can I hear them?" Mark asked gently. Thomas took his eyes away momentarily and then he looked back up at Mark, the emotion in his eyes so raw it almost brought Mark to tears.

"Before I met you, I knew very little about myself. I- I didn't think there was anything else to know. But when you entered my life, Mark, you opened my eyes to something I didn't think I needed. You opened my eyes to love. You showed me a kind of love that I hadn't felt before. Without you, I wouldn't have become the person that I am today. I wouldn't have been proud to be myself. I wouldn't have survived. It took us some time to get to where we are now... it took us a long time to get to where we are now," he paused to laugh at that, eliciting a small smile from Mark, "but even if I could, I wouldn't change one single thing about how we ended up here. Because here with you is where I want to be for the rest of my life". Mark came to a halt as Thomas finished speaking and he let out a low breath, unable to utter words. As Thomas noticed the tears in Mark's eyes he chuckled and looked around nervously, to see if anyone else was watching them. "Or... something like that," he muttered as to snap Mark out of it.

But Mark wasn't about to let that slide. He laughed and shook his head, leaning forward to place his forehead against Thomas's. For a second, he closed his eyes and savored the moment.

"Absolute trash," he finally said under his breath and then let out a sigh. Thomas pulled back and looked up at Mark. He laughed and then bit his lip. Mark placed a soft kiss on Thomas's lips and then sighed again in content. "Thomas Heissmann... in the end, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me."