29 Noise Decibles

“What did mum want to talk to you about?” I ask him as we walk down the upstairs hallway.

He shrugs nonchalantly, “She wanted to thank me for the security system. She said it gives her a real peace of mind.”

“Is that it?” I stop at the top of the stairs.

Arching an eyebrow, that smirk appears again, “You’re nosy.”

“You had a while to talk to her,” I point out.

“Topher!” I hear my sister’s whisper/yell as she leans out of her doorway. She motions with her hand for him to come to her. “Can you help us?”

Topher and I walk toward her to see her fully dressed and made-up. Tom stands behind her, his clothes rumpled and standing awkwardly.

“What do you need help with?” He asks as we stop in front of her.

She wipes she palms down her sun dress, “If you guys distract everyone. We can sneak down the steps behind you and I can take him out the back garden.”

I sigh and cross my arms, “And why should we?”

“Just this once, I promise,” she holds out her hand to shake.

Shaking it once, I roll my eyes, “Once we get down there, I’ll call everyone into the sitting room. Give me a few minutes to start talking then you can sneak him out behind them.”

“Thank you,” Angela uses my shoulder to pull herself up and kiss my cheek. She does the same to Topher before motioning us to leave.

-----

It isn’t hard to get everyone to gather in the sitting room. All I have to do is tell mum and she gathers everyone rather quickly.

Now, I realize I’m an actor. I realize that I stand in front of people and talk all the time. I realize that when I was on the West End, I would stand in front of a whole bunch of people. I realize I’ve done interviews and signed autographs. I know that in the entertainment industry, being shy is out of the question. But that being said, given the choice of speaking in front of thousands of strangers or twenty of my closest family and friends; I would pick the strangers every time.

Taking a deep breath, I stand from the sofa I was sitting next to my husband on. Letting that air out, I begin my speech, “I’m so glad everyone came this afternoon. I know mum said that it was just a small gathering to see me while I was in town, but that’s not the entire truth. Whereas I am very happy to see you all for the limited amount of time I have being back, I also have some news. Some of you may have seen it on the internet or in those horrid tabloid magazines, but in case you haven’t… Well… here we go.”

I take another big breath and let it out, looking down to find Topher’s hand. Extending my own, I speak to him, “You can stay seated, but may I have your hand?” He offers it without question and stands up so his shoulder bumps against mine lightly. When I look up into his blue eyes, they shine as bright as his smile. It gives me the confidence I need to continue, “If you don’t know. This is Topher Ashton. We met on the set of a movie I did. He was my co-star. Well,” I let out a humorless chuckle, “he was the star. I was just acting with him. I was his roommate in the movie and-” I’m interrupted by Chris squeezing my hand gently.

Looking up at him again, he smirks and nods, silently telling me everything alright. I nod back before turning my gaze back to my family and friend. “He’s my best mate. But, he’s more than that. He’s my husband.”

There’s a beat of silence where I look out to a bunch of confused faces; all except mum, Angie, Marcy, and Uncle Charlie. I knew Uncle Charlie would understand. And of course Gran is just staring dully at her hands. It’s been years since she’s said a single word.

It’s the longest few second of my life before Granddad speaks up. His brow is furrowed and scoots to the edge of the couch, “What do you mean husband?”

Looking up at my best friend, I smile, “I mean that Christopher and I got married three weeks ago.”

“That’s not legal here, Damian,” my eyes shoot back to my grandfather as he speaks.

Nodding, I agree, “You’re right, Granddad. We got married in America.”

“Oh, come off it, dad,” Uncle Charlie speaks up as he walks over toward my husband and me. Passing by Toph he pats him on the shoulder, “Welcome to the family, bub.” When he gets to my side, he wraps an arm around my shoulder, “Here’s what I have to say about it. You’re still the same Damian that would tear off his nappy and run around the house stark.”

“What’s a nappy?” I hear Topher’s voice quietly in my ear.

Chuckling I turn toward him and whisper, “Diaper.”

He laughs before nodding and becoming quite again.

“Furthermore,” my uncle continues, “if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”

“That’s right,” my mother pipes in from the back of the crowd. “This is my home and I only welcome love. If you choose otherwise, please leave.”

Granddad goes to stand, but Gran holds out her hand, “Sit down, Gerard. He’s not hurting anyone; he’s in love.”

Everyone becomes completely silent. No one has heard her talk in years. She used to be the head of the house. Whatever Gran said is what went, but when she started to get senile she would speak less and less. That was until one day she stopped speaking all together. The doctors say it’s a defense mechanism.

“Jeanie?” My Grandfather falls back by her side looking up with shining eyes. “Do you know what’s happened?”

“While I’m still here, before another episode, I want to say that you need to show love for our grandson,” she looks up at me as if trying to recognize me. “What’s your name, son?”

“I’m Damian, Gran,” I walk over with my husband in tow. Kneeling down next to her, I point to Chris, “And this is Topher, my husband.”

“Yes, yes,” she smiles and puts her hand to my face. “You’ve always been a good boy. I’m glad you’ve found your other half.”

“You really think he’s my other half, Gran?” I ask as I feel my eyes start to water.

She nods with that smile only a grandparent can give, “It’s all in your smile, Ducky. His too. He makes you happy, that’s all that matter. I can tell you’re going to be happy for a very long time.”

I have to clench my jaw to stop myself from crying. I feel Christopher’s hands on my shoulders and I know they’re there for emotional support rather than physical.

“Thank you, Gran,” I say as she pats my face a few times.

She lets her hand drop as she turn back to Granddad, “I’ve only ever loved you, Gerard. And if you can’t see it, Christopher looks at Damian the way you look at me. Even after all these years, I’d know that look anywhere. Love, Gerard. That’s what’s good in this world. Love.”

I could see a tear run down my grandfather’s face, “I love you, my darling.”

“I’ll always know that,” she assures him smiling.

No one says anything for a minute and I stand from my spot. With my back against Chris’ chest, you can almost see the moment that Gran loses reality again. It’s almost like she become a different person. Her smile fades and she lets go of Granddad’s hands. She looks almost scared for a moment before she just shakes her head and looks down at her hands.

My grandfather nods somberly and sits back on the couch.

After a few minutes of silent tears running down his wrinkled skin, he looks up at me, “The doctors don’t know what brings her back sometimes. They can’t explain it. But every once and again, she’ll look up at me with that smile that says she loves me. It never lasts too long and she never says anything, but at those moments; I know she’s Jeanie.”

“I’m sorry, Granddad,” I tell him honestly.

He shakes his head and sighs, “No son, I’m sorry. She’s right; she always was,” he looks up at me with a watery smile. “She always said ‘people are scared of what they don’t know’ and I believe her. I always have. I’m not oblivious to the way you look at each other. I’ll try to be more understanding.”

“Thank you, Granddad,” I pull Topher’s arms around me tighter.

“Now,” Mum interrupts clapping before brushing a tear from her face, “we want to hear all about the wedding and everything leading up. Then you can give your speeches before we cut the cake.”

“You got a cake?” I question, but I don’t need to; the smile on my mother’s face says it all.

It takes a while for us to explain everything. I tell the story of how we met on set and instantly clicked. I tell them how we were (and still are) inseparable unless absolutely necessary. Marcy throws in her story about when she was in New York. I let Topher take over for the wedding. He leaves out the alcohol and the part where it’s only the wee hours in the morning. He just tells them about the actual ceremony.

The way he describes it makes me a little sad. Not for the fact that it happened or how it happened, but for the fact that I missed it. I hate to admit that he’s right, but maybe we should have had the small ceremony.

Mum insists that we make speeches and since I wasn’t prepared at all for that, I wing it.

“I guess I’ll go first,” I volunteer standing up. “Firstly, I want to say thank you all for coming here today. Even if you didn’t know it was a wedding party, you still showed up and that’s enough for me.

“Thank you mum, for planning everything, tricking everyone to coming out, cooking, cleaning, and being all around lovely about the entire idea. I couldn’t have a better mum and I don’t deserve you.

“And lastly, since we don’t have a wedding party, thank you to Christopher. I can’t tell you guys how much I love this man. They say that a good marriage starts with a good friendship. And, as you’ve heard, we aren’t lacking in that department. Chris has been my best friend for over a year now.”

“Oi!” Marcy interrupts raising her hand.

Laughing, I wave her off, “Sorry Mars, it’s true.”

“Yea, yea,” she condemns pretending to be angry.

Everyone laughs as I continue, “It scared me at first that I was falling in love with a man. I wanted to reject it because it was unfamiliar.” I look to Granddad and shrug, “But then, I couldn’t help but to start picking out the little things like the difference between his famous smirk and his actual smile. Or how he always scratches the back of his neck when he’s nervous. And I realized who was I to deny what was right?

“I don’t know how, but this man has changed my life completely. First we were coworkers and then best mates, instantly. Then when I finally accepted my feelings, I knew what I was always afraid to admit. We belong in each other’s world.” Picking up my drink, I raise it in the air, “To my best friend. To my soul mate. To my husband. To Christopher.”

He stands up next to me after taking a sip of his own drink. His lips plant on mine lightly before smiling and thanking me. When he turns to the rest of the room, I take my seat.

“This is going to be short and sweet because I feel like I’ve been professing my love for Damian in ridiculous amounts lately. Which isn’t a bad thing, I’m just running out of new ways to say it,” he turns to give me his little smirk that I love. Not the one he uses for the camera; the one he uses for me.

He moves his attention back to the room and his smile is huge. “First, I want to thank you all for not just coming today, but for staying to support this wonderful man. I don’t know most of you as much as I wish to, but your support is enough to know that you’re good people. I hope to get to know you all over the lifetime that we have together.”

“To my newest family members, Mom and Angela, you’ve been so amazingly welcoming. I cannot tell you how much that actually means to me,” his smile turns a little sad and I know he’s thinking of his own family. “If my dad were around, I would hope that he was half as welcoming to Damian as you’ve been to me. I can’t thank you enough for your support right from the beginning.”

“And of course Damian, the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he looks over to me again. “My dad was one of those guys that would have a quote for everything. And one of my favorites was from ‘The Alchemist’ which was ‘So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.’ And I feel like that’s true between us.” He smiles his goofy smile, “I guess that’s true for everyone, but even more for us. A whole bunch of things had to happen exactly right for us to meet and for you to fall in love with me.”

He lets out a small chuckle and turns back to our family and friends to raise his glass, “To Damian. My husband, my best friend, my whole world, I love you.”

When he sits back down, we kiss briefly, but mostly we smile. I feel like we smile so much that we look a bit silly, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’m so utterly happy that nothing can bring me down.

In the middle of listening to one of Uncle Charlie’s outlandish stories, the house phone rings from the small table next to me. I look to mum and raise a brow, but she just shakes her head discreetly. The second time it rings, I decide to pick it up anyway.

“Moore-Hill residence, Damian Ashton speaking,” I say into the mouthpiece with a little pep in my voice.

The answer is not quite so friendly, “Your name isn’t Ashton.”

“Hello there,” I keep my voice upbeat so no one knows I’m not particularly happy about this caller. “It’s been a while, how’ve you been?”

“We need to meet, son,” his voice is determined and serious.

I let out a boisterous chuckle, “No, I don’t think so. I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“This is the last time I’m asking, Damian. We will see each other again.”

“You’re too much,” I tell him not dropping the façade. “It was great talking to you, really. But I must go; I’m in the middle of a wedding party for my husband and me.”

“Do not hang up this phone, Damian. I’m not kidding. You will regret this,” he warns, his voice rising in decibels with each word.

“Thanks for phoning. It was a lovely chat,” I tell him before putting the phone back on its receiver and turning back to my guest.

The arm that’s been around my shoulder the entire time pulls me in a bit tighter and then there are lips on my ear, “I’m pretty sure I know who that was, but we’ll talk about it later.” He backs up and uses his opposite hand to guide my face to look at him. My husband smiles at me sweetly and ducks in to steal a kiss, “I love you.”

I’m not sure how he knows, but I know that he does. And I know that he’ll make me explain later. But right now, in this moment, I couldn’t be happier.

My father isn’t a part of our life and I’m fine with that. I have my family. I have my friends. And above all else, I have my husband. There’s nothing else in this world that I need.

~A/N~

Is anyone else getting sick of the lovey dovey? I feel like that's all this story is. LOL Don't worry, this story is more than fluff. I promise.

Is it too fluffy?

See you next week!

Uncle Charlie on the side cause why not?!