(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 531: A fudging of the rules

Andrew barely remembered how he’d gotten down the aisle, Maxwell in tow and back down to the boat. He didn’t even remember Maxwell taking him down to the bottom level where Maxwell had waited. The only reason he knew was because Maxwell pushed him down onto a bench and stood over him, his eyes glittering as he gazed at his now husband.

"You look so handsome." Maxwell told him. Andrew nearly choked on the words.

"I look handsome? You look...You look otherworldly." Andrew breathed and Maxwell’s grin was infectious. He leaned in, pressing his lips against Andrew’s in a kiss full of laughter and love.

"Do I?" Maxwell murmured, his eyes bright as he slowly slid himself into Andrew’s lap. Andrew held him close to him, his hands twitching against the lacy fabric under his hands.

"Absolutely stunning. There is no way I could compete with someone so pretty and handsome." Andrew told him reverently. Maxwell laughed.

"Kiss me, you fool." Andrew wasn’t going to argue with the man.

~

They only separated when the Wedding Planner came knocking, her smile big as she caught the two of them cuddled up with each other.

"Congratulations, you two! Now it’s time to go greet everyone. The boat is going to drop you off with your family to go get changed while a second boat begins to pick up the guests from the ceremony. This will give you two some time to get changed." She told them and Andrew nodded. He was feeling a bit more like himself now that he had Maxwell in his arms.

"Shall we, Dr. Beckett?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew felt a little thrill go down his spine at his words. Dr. Beckett. That was his name now. He was no longer a Knox, and that didn’t terrify him.

He squeezed the man in his lap, smiling at him warmly.

"After you, Mr. Beckett." He told him and the responding grin he received from Maxwell was like balm on his heart. God, he had such a pretty husband.

~

The procedure after that felt very much like what Ben and Amir’s wedding had felt like. More like a professional party than a wedding. Being hustled from one location to the next, changing into outfits that Maxwell had designed with his Mother, and Andrew’s grandmother’s help it seemed. There were little sparkles everywhere, and Andrew had no doubt that the little sparkles cost enough for a down payment on a normal house.

There were small breaks in between each different type of party, and Andrew watched as the groups dwindled until it was only people that Andrew and Maxwell considered ’close’. No business ties if they hadn’t developed into a more personal relationship after that, nothing.

It was amazing to Andrew that weddings like this existed out there, but he enjoyed it. He enjoyed his moments with Maxwell in between the craziness of everything. He enjoyed looking at the happy expressions of those around him who were happy for him and Maxwell. He enjoyed everyone having a good time, and he enjoyed that he was still able to make connections with his Mom even now.

People were telling him how they had known his mom and how she would be proud to see him now. He took it at face value, because even if they were nice words meant to make him feel better, they did. Andrew was happy that she wasn’t spoken of in hushed tones. She was embraced.

In the arch, in his wedding suit, in the bouquets that Maxwell had made slyly, and in the lace he’d worn. She wasn’t hidden. She never would be.

Even their children would know about their grandmother, even if they never met her. They would know of her legacy, and that was enough for Andrew.

He raised Maxwell’s hand to his lips, pressing a kiss there as Maxwell spoke to one of their guests. Everyone was watching them of course, and let out laughter at Andrew’s gesture. Maxwell’s ears hadn’t stopped being pink the whole day so far and that only made Andrew feel warm and fuzzy inside.

He could show affection to the man he loved, the man he had married without any shame, and Maxwell wasn’t even able to complain about it on today of all days. Maxwell gave him a glare, but it had no weight to it. Andrew chuckled, pressing another kiss there before he sighed, lowering their hands and smiling.

So far they had breezed through the first and the second parties. They were moving into the later hours of the afternoon, leaning towards dinner. Unlike with Ben and Amir’s wedding, Andrew and Maxwell had opted for a seated dinner before the nightly activities began. They wanted to make sure that everyone was fed before they turned feral. It was also a good way to wind down any of the children around and potentially get them down for the night.

Andrew had been thinking about that, and Maxwell had readily agreed once Andrew had explained the logic. Plus, Andrew was thinking about Maxwell and how crazy he’d gotten last time. He didn’t want him to get sick, but he did want him to have a good time. Food was imperative for that.

This also gave an opportunity for the family to give some speeches. Andrew wanted to thank everyone for coming to their wedding, which Maxwell had pushed back against. The gifts that everyone was getting would be a thank you enough, he had argued, but Andrew was old fashioned. He wanted to verbally thank everyone. Maxwell had eventually relented, letting Andrew get his way.

They had already let the family know that they were creating this time for others to speak and had asked if anyone wanted to. Andrew had reached out to Thomas and Luis and May and Ford privately in a different message and had asked if they would want to speak as the parents of the grooms.

They could speak outside of those positions, he just wanted them to know that the offer was on the table.

Ford had gotten back before Luis or Thomas could and told Andrew that they were honoured for the offer. On top of walking him down the aisle, this was an incredible opportunity that they were giving him. He then said that it would be best if he spoke last, letting the others speak first.

Andrew had run that by Maxwell, since even after Andrew poked and prodded, Ford would not tell him why. Maxwell had shrugged at the time, not really caring who spoke first. So, they slid the parents to the end, which was strange in Andrew’s mind, and slid the others above that. Andrew and Maxwell would give their own personal thanks to everyone after Ford spoke, wrapping up the speeches.

The bell rang, signaling that it was time for everyone to trickle into the part of the house that was hosting the dinner. They had planned to do it inside so that the outside venue could take a break, clean up a bit, and get ready for the chaos that was going to be after dinner.

Maxwell’s eyes glittered at the thought and Andrew knew that everyone was going to be in danger. No one was going to be able to refuse the groom tonight.

It was in between the switch to the seated dinner that Andrew caught Amir and Ben fleeing down a hallway. Andrew hadn’t seen them move like that at all tonight, and concern filled him. Unable to keep his nose in his own business, even on his wedding, Andrew excused himself. He let Maxwell know what he was doing, and Maxwell grew concerned as well. However, he was going to continue on and let the wedding planner know that Ben, Amir and Andrew were indisposed for a moment.

Things wouldn’t start without them.

When Andrew followed the couple, he found that they had somehow found a private bathroom. It just proved to Andrew that Ben really did grow up around here. He was chuckling to himself at first, thinking that maybe the couple had just taken a moment to themselves until he heard a rather familiar sound.

Amir was throwing up.

Andrew’s heart jumped into his throat as he heard the sound and hastily, Andrew knocked.

"Ben? Amir? Is everything alright?" Andrew asked. Amir didn’t stop throwing up, but Andrew could tell that he was struggling suddenly. The door unlocked and Ben opened up, a look of shock and worry on his face.

"A-Andy! What a surprise! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Maxy?" Ben was acting nervous, and that only made Andrew more worried.

"Is everything alright? I saw you two duck out rather quickly and I worried something might be wrong." Andrew said, his eyes serious. Ben looked as pale as a sheet, which wasn’t helping the moment. He tried to give Andrew a reassuring smile, but Andrew didn’t buy it. "Amir? You okay, sweetheart?" Andrew asked. While Andrew couldn’t smell Amir, he could tell that the man was in distress.

Ben sighed, dropping his head and allowed Andrew in. He looked miserable.

"You had one rule for us." Ben muttered. "We honestly didn’t think..." He trailed off, his eyes watering as Andrew stepped in and found Amir bent over the toilet, looking pale and distraught but there was something else. Something...hopeful.

Andrew let out a sigh, placing his hands on his hips. He shook his head.

"Are you two serious?" He made his voice sound heavy, scolding. Ben flinched and Amir looked even more ill. He looked like he wanted to speak, but he was unable to as his body shook, trembling and he threw up again.

"We’re sorry. Andy. We didn’t think it would be like this. We didn’t-we had no idea." Ben rushed, his words tumbling over each other. "Honestly, we aren’t sure. Hopeful, but not sure." Ben sounded flustered, and Andrew couldn’t blame the guy. This was a big deal.

"You don’t know?" Andrew asked and Amir coughed, shaking his head.

"No." He rasped. "This is...we’re just guessing from my reaction. I was fine on the boat, even fine all night. I took a sip of champagne about five minutes ago and this is the reaction." Amir’s voice sounded rough. Andrew felt bad for the guy.

"You didn’t drink earlier with Maxy and Maria?" Andrew asked and he shook his head.

"Just had orange juice." He told him and Andrew sighed.

"Shit." He muttered and Ben winced. "There should be tests under the sink." Andrew told him, gesturing to the bathroom. Ben’s eyes widened.

"What?" He sounded shocked while Andrew gave him a smirk.

"Maxy and I were prepared for anything. Do a test, then come join the dinner. I’ll let the others know that you think you ate something that disagreed with you and you’ll join us later. Let me know the results then." Andrew told him. Ben looked...relieved.

"You aren’t mad?" He asked, clearly speaking for him and Amir. Andrew snorted.

"Why would I be mad at you? Did you plan this?" Andrew asked and both men shook their heads.

"No." Amir rasped and Andrew chuckled.

"Then everything’s fine. You aren’t announcing it, you’re finding out. Two very different things. Honestly, I thought something like this would happen. Take your time. I’ll make sure you two get the full dinner." Andrew told them. Ben reached for Andrew, pulling him in close.

"Thanks man. You’re a good one." Ben told him and Andrew grinned.

"I better be. You’re stuck with me for life." Andrew told him teasingly, before he moved to Amir and gave him a hug. "You’ll feel better soon enough. I’ll get them to give you a mocktail like mine." Andrew promised. Amir gave a tight smile.

"Thanks Andy. Best brother-in-law a guy could have." He whispered and Andrew grinned.

"You know it."