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It was a sprightful evening and Colin looked across the room spotting a drunk happy Jan wrapped up in yet another hug. It was Jan’s retirement party, an evening full of old and new friends from both Colin and Jan’s long careers. Colin had retired the year prior, having found his way back to Cardiff for the final two years of his career, before a back injury took him out. Jan had made his way to Birmingham City a year before Colin had left Richmond for Cardiff.
Colin moved around the edges of the room until he found himself by Jan’s side. Jan embraced Colin, his arms wrapped around Colin’s shoulders as Colin’s arms snaked around Jan’s waist. They swayed slightly in their embrace as Jan pressed his lips to Colin’s forehead. When they pulled apart, Jan lifted Colin’s chin with his hands and pressed a firm kiss to Colin’s lips.
They smiled at each other as Jan pulled back. “I’m always glad we can do that so openly now,” Jan said as he leaned forward again to kiss Colin again. Colin wrapped his arms tighter around Jan as they kissed. The two of them had officially announced their relationship at Colin’s retirement press conference the year prior, but their relationship was generally an open secret by that point anyways.
Colin felt a hand clasp his back causing him to pull back from Jan. Isaac was beaming at the two of them, a hand on both their backs. “Well, well, well if it isn’t my favorite couple in the world.” Isaac pulled Jan and Colin into a group hug, forcing their foreheads together. “One more week, bruvs. One more fucking week! I’ve been waiting for this day for a fucking decade.”
Jan laughed at Isaac, pulling Isaac into an individual embrace. “So have I, Isaac.” Jan pulled back and beamed at Colin, placing a quick kiss on his forehead. “I cannot believe it’s been 11 years together.” Jan rubbed his thumb across Colin’s cheekbone. “11 years and we finally get married next week.”
Colin chuckled, “and to think it would have never happened if it weren’t for the fact that Isaac abandoned me in my fucking time of need.”
Isaac playfully punched Colin in the shoulder. “I wouldn’t have had to abandon either of you, if the two you both weren’t so obnoxious about communicating your stupid feelings.” Colin rolled his eyes, his smile reaching ear to ear. Isaac turned to Jan, “which was uncharacteristically weird for you, you Dutch bastard.”
Jan let out a bellowing laugh. “You know this story. Poor little oblivious Colin couldn’t pick up on my clues all those times!”
Colin gasped and playfully clutched his chest. “I picked up on it eventually .” Colin smiled as he cautiously rubbed his thumb against Jan’s bearded chin. “One more week annwyl .”
~~~
It was a busy week of final preparations for Colin and Jan as they readied for their wedding day. Not much had to be done, but between moving the last of their things into their new home in Cardiff and picking up friends and family from train stations and airports, Jan and Colin barely had a moment together. The night before their big day, Colin and Jan found themselves cuddled together on their couch, listening to music. Their families settled into the spare rooms in their new home.
Jan was splayed out on his back with his head resting on the armrest of the couch, belly to belly with Colin who had his head buried into Jan’s chest. Jan rested his chin on Colin’s head, his hands rubbing up and down Colin’s spine. Colin hummed as Jan rubbed a thumb along Colin’s hairline on the nape of his neck. “Our last night boyo. Our last one before we’re together forever, annwyl .”
Jan ran a hand down to Colin’s bum and gave it a squeeze while kissing the top of Colin’s head. “I would not want it any other way, schatje .” The two of them stayed on the coach a short while longer, before a call from Isaac came through on Colin’s phone.
“Oi, bruvs, stop canoodling and go to your hotel rooms already,” Isaac commanded through the speakerphone.
“How the hell --,” Colin started.
“Don’t even mate, I know the two of you like the back of my hands at this point. No seeing the groom the night before, that’s the rules or something.” Colin rolled his eyes as he lifted himself off Jan. “Now if the two of you aren’t separated within the next half hour, I’m refusing to officiate.”
Jan snorted, “sure Isaac. Like you would miss the wedding you practically planned yourself.” Colin chuckled at Jan’s remark. “We will drive over to the hotel now though and get rest for our day tomorrow.”
“You better. I want no eye bags on either of my grooms tomorrow,” Isaac barked before hanging up on them.
Colin chuckled and pulled Jan in for a kiss. “I guess that’s it, love. Our last night no longer married.”
Jan smiled and pushed the hair off of Colin’s forehead. “I’ve dreamt of this day since I first met you.” Jan placed a kiss on the center of Colin’s forehead. “It’s felt so real ever since we danced at your brother’s wedding, remember that?”
Colin smiled and looped his fingers through Jan’s. “Yeah that was,” Colin laughed and drifted off in the memory of his brother’s wedding. He pressed his lips to Jan’s knuckles, joy overcoming him. “I knew then, that night, that I was ready for our night. Just us, you and me.
Jan smiled and kissed Colin. “Let’s go schatje . After tomorrow, we are officially one.”
~~~
Colin smiled as he drove them to the hotel where they were having their wedding the next day. They kissed before heading up to their separate rooms with their suits and other belongings for their big day. Colin collapsed onto his hotel bed for the night, blissfully at ease. Colin drifted to sleep with a cheek breaking grin, recounting the events of 11 years before. Colin was grateful for all the times that, when his best friend wasn’t able to be there for him, Jan was. Colin really needed to thank his niece for having a birthday he needed to buy a present for.
The day of their wedding felt like a rush. Colin blanked through most of it, ready to finally make his way to the altar. Jamie and Sam had fluttered over Colin most of the morning, with Isaac, his parents, and his siblings wandering in and out throughout the morning. According to the reports from Isaac, Dani, Moe, and Jan’s parents were fluttering over Jan just as much. It relieved Colin to know that everyone was just as excited for this day as the two of them were.
The ceremony was beautiful, and Colin made it approximately three minutes before he started tearing up. Isaac’s officiating was the perfect balance of humorous and sentimental. Colin loved how he and Jan couldn’t stop giggling at the processional march of “Call Me Maybe.” An offbeat wedding song sure, but a comical reflection of how their relationship first started.
The reception was what Colin was most looking forward to, ever since dancing with Jan at his brother’s wedding. Colin and Jan made sure to keep the buffet selection varied and the bar tab open. Isaac made sure that the dance playlist wasn’t exclusively Drake and Carly Rae Jepsen, which was probably for the better. Colin felt on fire, all of his and Jan’s loved ones together, celebrating a day that was over a decade in the making.
The outdoor venue at their hotel was beautiful, thousands of fairy lights lighting up the entire space. Colin and Jan swayed in the center of the dance floor to a tune by The National, nuzzling their noses against each other. It was the most perfect evening, being together, sweaty, tearful, and oh so happy. No matter how often they got pulled apart in embraces and dances with friends and family, they still managed to find pockets of moments, just the two of them.
As the evening began to draw closer to an end, Colin and Jan found themselves huddled in the corner in a tight embrace. “My darling, darling husband,” Jan whispered into Colin’s hairline. “This is everything I have ever wanted. The best day of my life.”
Colin peered up at Jan, tears escaping from his eyes. “Me too. My husband.” Colin sighed, a breath he’d been holding for the better part of a decade finally relieved. “I’ve been so desperate to say that for years.” Colin pulled Jan into a firm kiss. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to finally say it now.”
Jan and Colin got one quick kiss before being shoveled off by family members yet again. Neither of them minded, it was an evening full of laughter and joy. Colin had a chance to pull his niece aside and give her a quick hug. At 15, she was as feisty as Colin had been at that age. Colin pulled her into a quick embrace and resisted the peck on her forehead he wanted to give her, remembering how embarrassed he would have been at 15.
“Uncle Col, I’m so glad you’re finally fucking married.”
“Oi, just because I’m your cool uncle doesn’t mean you can fucking curse at me.” Colin rolled his eyes with great sarcasm, too happy and playful to actually care. “I’m glad for it too, Gwen. 11 years was a bit of a wait wasn’t it?”
Gwen shrugged. “Maybe it was. You’ve been together for the majority of my life at this point, anyways. He’s always been Uncle Jan to me.”
Colin smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead anyways, one Gwen playfully tried to push off. “Did I ever tell you the story of how we first fell in love anyways?” Gwen shook her head. “It all started way back when, when my oldest and most beloved niece was turning 4 and I was freaking out about what to get her as a present.”
Gwen blushed and pointed to herself. Colin nodded and continued, “Isaac refused to help me get a gift for you, fucking bastard, and Jan offered to help me shop for a gift for you.” Gwen blushed and looked down at her shoes. “Righteously glad I am, because look at where we are all these years later.”
Gwen smiled and wrapped her arms around Colin’s torso. “I still have the telescope you know. It kinda sucks but I still love to use it to look out my window at night to watch the stars.” Gwen pulled back and patted Colin’s head. “Still have the voodoo doll Isaac gave me that year too.” Colin gasped, his mouth hanging open. “Love you Uncle Col, happy wedding,” Gwen blurted out before dashing off to the dance floor.
Colin smiled, watching her run off into the crowd. The night was turning out to be more grand than Colin could have ever imagined. He scanned the room, watching with delight as he observed all his collective loved ones gather in celebration. Colin’s eyes landed on Jan across the room, amidst a lively conversation with his own nephew.
Colin walked through the center of the room towards Jan, wrapping his hand in Jan’s and pulling him towards the dance floor, saving Jan and his nephew from each other. Colin pulled Jan in for a lingering kiss, smiles tugging on their faces. They nuzzled up against each other for several dances, simply holding each other and pressing sloppy kisses onto each other’s faces.
After all these years, Colin was so exceptionally grateful for his time spent in London, at Richmond. His time with Richmond, Ted, Isaac, and all the others had shaped him in many ways. The optimism and belief he experienced there had seeped into every aspect of his life since then. Not only that, it was the place he had met Jan, and the place where their love had grown.
Intertwined in Jan’s embrace, Colin swept his eyes around the outdoor space they were in. The venue was filled to the brim with everyone Colin had ever loved. He looked back up at the man holding on to him, beaming with pride and devotion. Colin pulled Jan back in for another kiss, desperate for the man he could now forever call his own.