Work Text:
You are cordially invited....
"Thanks for making sure everyone can get to the wedding," Jordan said. "I know it's hard to manage the schedule to give everyone that wants to go a chance to at least drop by."
John grinned. "As if I would have any of you miss this. It's a great thing and one I thought might never happen. So I want to make sure everyone can take part."
"Just thought he'd never get married like this," Jordan replied. "A big wedding, and all. And I think the entire town is invited."
"You know perfectly well Lydia would never skimp on the festivities for one of her best friends," John replied. "You have a good wife and she's been a good friend to the family."
"I'll let her know you said that," Jordan promised.
"I suspect she doesn't hear it enough," John nodded.
John was making his finishing touches putting on his tux for his role as the parent of the groom. It was a task he was proud to take on for his family.
"Daddio! You ready?" Stiles stood in the doorway. "Time to go."
"What are you doing here?" John asked with a frown. "Thought you'd be getting ready with the others?" Although John could see that Stiles was in his own tux and someone had fixed his hair so that it looked only slightly tousled. It was a good look on his kid.
"There are enough people there to drive a man to distraction," Stiles shrugged. "Thought I'd come and check on you. Figured you could use a ride."
"Is everything ready?" John asked as they left the house together.
"It dare not be ready," Stiles laughed. "Or everyone will think something is wrong with Lydia."
"Too true," John agreed.
Stiles dropped John off at the front of the church. None of them were religious but Lydia had chosen the venue and the pastor was glad for the 'donation' to the church coffers for use of the site. And, with Lydia involved, he could trust that everything would be taken care of properly.
"You look very handsome today, Eli," John said to the ten-year-old who was obviously fretting.
Eli scowled for a moment, then sighed. He sidled closer to John. "You think so, grandpa?"
"Sure," John assured him, smiling when the kid blushed slightly. "How is everything going?"
"Dad's a wreck, Uncle Peter is trying to calm him down, and everyone else is jumping when Aunt Lydia barks at them," Eli giggled.
"About normal, then," John nodded.
"Yup."
"How about you show me to my seat, so the others can flail about without me?" John asked.
Eli nodded. "Sure. Follow me."
Eli guided John to a seat at the front of the church. "This one is yours. I'll be with you once the ceremony starts."
"Good enough."
John sat in the pew, looking over the beautiful decorations. He'd have to remember to mention that to Lydia later.
The entire town had more-or-less been invited, so the church was filling up rapidly. The reception would be in the town park, to accommodate the crowd. But the couple was popular in town and they deserved to have everyone celebrate with them.
Lydia slid into the pew John was in from the other end.
"Everything ready?" John asked quietly.
"As ready as it's going to be," Lydia nodded. She signaled the organist and the music started. The men filed in from the vestry and stood at the front of the church. Everyone stood.
At the back of the church, John thought Braeden looked beautiful. She had only wanted a quick city hall wedding but somehow Derek had talked her into the full church wedding with a huge, formal reception party.
Peter escorted Braeden up the aisle and gently handed her over to Derek. He winked at Stiles, who stood as Derek's best man. Eli had the wedding rings in his jacket pocket and handed the small box over to Stiles for the ceremony. He hugged Derek and and then Braeden before joining John in the pew.
"Phew. That's done," Eli grinned as he snuggled next to John.
"Good job," John said, wrapping an arm around the young man.
John never thought Derek would come around to marrying anyone, especially with his past experience with women. Stiles had dropped the occasional comment about Derek going to therapy, as well as how patient and cautious Braeden had been all along.
John caught up with Stiles at the reception, the photographer insisting on some group photos before everyone started to go off in different directions.
"Wish you had done this?" John asked, nodding at the chaos surrounding them. "Derek and Braeden look like they're having fun."
"Fuck, no," Stiles said firmly as Peter came up behind him. "I was glad you and Derek were there when we got married in Vegas. But all this hoopla? Never!"
"I am also grateful we had a simple wedding," Peter agreed, leaning in for a kiss. "We still have to pose for some pictures that Lydia insist be taken."
"Okay, the only thing I'll agree about is the cake," Stiles said as Peter dragged him away. "I can't wait for cake."
"I had Lydia get us a smaller cake," Peter said in a half-whisper. More so John wouldn't go looking for them later. "That's at the house."
Stiles grabbed Peter and kissed him. "Why didn't you say so?" He started shouting. "Let's get these pictures done people! There's a party to get to."
John could only shake his head and laugh.