#and the first non ceremonial outfit louis gets

[amberswilddreams]

happiest memories🫶

pairing : nicky byrne x fem!reader

summary : all it took was just one photo, a photo from nicky and alessandra byrne's recent wedding that set off four of the couple's happiest memories together.

warnings : just a lot of fluff

a/n : the photo in question will be first and then the memories will be in 'order' and in italics so it makes more sense and the present time will be in normal font. also, i decided to finish my nicky byrne streak today with a happy one-shot after giving him some really depressing scenarios. 

nicky and his wife alessandra byrne had just been rearranging their house when alessandra stumbled upon some of her and nicky's wedding photos from 2003. the photo she saw though, in particular, sending good shivers down her spine. the photo in specificity was taken as they left the church after the ceremony. nicky and alessandra had a very fancy, showbizzy sort of wedding in france after having a civil ceremony in county wicklow. the photo was taken just outside the church they had just gotten married in, alessandra was taking up majority of the photo with only a slither of nicky able to be seen, alessandra smiling a big smile at her new husband as they held hands. the slither that could be seen of nicky was his hand holding his wife's and the faintest/blurriest portion of his chin that looked as though he was also smiling at his wife. a big talk of the wedding was the fact that alessandra had two separate dresses, her ceremony dress, a simple satin, silky long-line dress, and her reception dress, a short dress with sparkling fringe all over it. which, of course was screaming y2k whilst nicky just changed from his suit jacket to his white button-up for the reception. 

"...wow, i had completely forgotten about this photo..." alessandra trailed off as she looked up to her husband who could only smile and nod his head 

"...i did too to be quite honest. i'm still glad even after so many years though that it doesn't show me crying *giggles* because lord have mercy, i just know i would have been non-stop heckled for that!" nicky joked as alessandra smiled at her husband, also laughing with him 

"i mean, in all honesty, i kind of wish the photographer had included you in it more. you're cute when you get emotional," alessandra giggled as nicky smiled, shaking his head as he giggled 

"i have to say though, this may just be my favourite photo from our wedding..." nicky trailed off as that intrigued his wife 

"...how so?" "you'll see," nicky smiled as he opened up a photo album that was titled 1999

1999

alessandra was currently recording her first-ever single as one of rca records' new artists that they had just recently signed a contract with. whilst the girl was excited, she was just as terrified as she was excited. this was something she had been dreaming about doing for ages and now at just shy of twenty, she was doing exactly that. whilst it wasn't the first time exactly that alessandra would be recording a song, it was still the first time she was doing it as a signed artist with a record deal. 

the girl was just asked to come out of her recording booth to meet another recently signed artist to rca records, another irish act but, she was told it was a boy band, five boys who ranged from the ages seventeen to twenty. however, she was slightly worried that because she was wearing nothing but a calvin klein bra and sweatpants she'd be making the wrong impression on the boy band. but, her manager, louis walsh told her not to worry about it and that her outfit choice would not change the impression from the boy band. and, honestly, she was glad that she trusted her manager's judgement because, in louise we trust, he was right. 

"...hey...umm, you're alessandra buchanan? the other new signed artist to rca records?" a dublin accent rang out which caught alessandra's attention, looking up from her sheet of lyrics and sheet music, she smiled as she saw one of the five members of the boy band in front of her, he had gorgeous blue eyes and what looked like dyed blonde hair, looking a little nervous 

"hiya...yeah, i am alessandra and, you are?" 

"nicholas...i'm nicky byrne, i'm one of the memebrs of louis' new band, westlife. we've also been signed to rca records recently," he smiled shyly as alessandra smiled back at him as she scooched over so he could sit with her, a smile forming on his face as he quickly took the seat, ignoring the wolf whistles of a second blonde boy who was most likely another one of the members of the band 

"oh, nice! i'm also being managed by louis, i think i do remember him mentioning that he was managing another boy band after boyzone but, i thought the band name was westside, maybe i hallucinated that actually *giggles*," nicky giggled at alessandra's quip of hallucinating westside as alessandra shared eye contact with the fellow blue-eyed boy 

"you didn't hallucinate that, alessandra, we were originally called westside but, we had to change it for legal reasons cause i think a charity or whatever was named that so, we changed it to westlife," nicky explained as alessandra hummed with a nod of her head with a small giggle afterwards

"ahh, that makes sense..." 

"...hey, nico, i was just looking for you..." 

"...oh, i...i am so sorry. was i interrupting anything?" a sligo accent suddenly rang out, alessandra shifted her eyes to see a slightly shorter and slightly younger irish lad who had a striking set of hazel-like eyes standing in front of her and nicky 

"oh, no, no, you weren't at all. nicky and i were just introducing ourselves to each other. hello, i'm alessandra buchanan, another one of rca records' newest signed artists and i'm also under louis walsh's management," she introduced herself as she stood up so she could properly shake hands with the new unnamed lad who smiled back at her - nicky watching at how effortlessly she had just done all of that with the most manners ever 

"hiya alessandra, i'm shane filan, i'm in westlife with nicky and another three lads, also managed by louis walsh," shane smiled as alessandra too smiled and nodded her head as she then giggled 

"well, shane, seeing as we're all here, do you want to sit here with nicky and me unless you needed to grab nicky for something else like a recording session or something?" both boys were so shocked to see how poised and put together a fellow signed artist who was basically the same age as them was after having just met the both of them, the two lads smiling at each other 

"yeah, sure, i can stay here with you both. i was just trying to find nicky is all as one minute i was talking with him and bryan and the next second i look back and he's off and gone somewhere else," shane giggled which made nicky's face heat up - did he seriously bail out from his friends to introduce himself to her? 

"oh, did he really do that? anyway, that's great you can stay with us, shane. besides, still confuses me why i'm recording today considering i can't even understand the melody this bloody song and i have to record it by the end of the day..." alessandra trailed off as nicky couldn't help but smile at the girl that was sitting very close to him 

"...well, i...i mean, if you wanted, shane and i could help you with getting the melody? just so you can get the song recorded by today?" nicky stammered out nervously as alessandra smiled at the offer, shane agreeing as well 

"seriously? i mean, it wouldn't be the first time i get someone raising their voice at me for not figuring someting out on my own *giggles* but, if you are able to, that would be such a help, thank you, nicky and shane," alessandra thanked sweetly as nicky and shane smiled at the girl 

"it's no problem at all alessandra, nicky and i have already done our recording for the day, only bryan, kian and mark are left in the studio so, we're happy to help you. plus, we don't want you to be yelled at again, also, i know we should be like "enemies" and compete but, that's not our vibe. we're label buddies so, we'll be buddies in real life, so in saying all of that, let's help you get this song recorded!" shane announced as alessandra smiled as nicky grabbed her arm and helped her up from the seat 

alessandra started to walk to her studio, turning around to see nicky and shane stalling behind her, giggling, she spoke up, "you coming boys or are you gossiping about me?" nicky and shane paused before shaking their heads 

"we're coming alessandra!" they both shouted out which made the three of them giggle, alessandra turning around to continue to walk in the direction of her studio, leaving the sligonian and dubliner to themselves 

"you are totally in love with her nico!" shane chuckled as nicky rolled his eyes, pushing his friend as they walked over to alessandra's studio 

"no, i am not!" 

"just wait a year, maybe less..." 

"...nico, babe, what were you thinking about?" alessandra rubs her husband's back as he smiles 

"'99, when we first met in the studio when westlife and you were signed to rca records," nicky smirked as alessandra giggled, showing the photo he had found that had been taken later that day  

"holy crap, that feels like it was foredver ago now!" alessandra chuckled as nicky nodded his head in agreement 

"it really does, shane really was right..." 

december 1999

it was britannia's record of the year 1999, where both westlife and alessandra were nominated for record of the year with their songs flying without wings and breathe when it was shown that westlife and alessandra were seen walking in together, causing a right stir to all the magazines and paparazzi that showed up for the event. making the artists both giggle, none more so than alessandra and nicky, since they were shown walking in next to each other. it was wildly known within the magazines the whole year that those two had grown extremely close and was rumoured that they were dating since they were always seen out together. which, when it came to rumours around westlife and alessandra, people were shocked that bryan wasn't trying to ruin it since it was usually him that was in the magazines for those sorts of things. but, to be funny, nicky and alessandra started to put more fuel in the fire by constantly amping up their public outings and public flirting and egging on the photographers and magazines so they could get a reaction. 

for the first time this entire night, however, alessandra had walked off from nicky and their table as she had spotted shane chatting with ronan keating, westlife's co-manager, fondling a whiskey. 

"...hey shay, ro, can i sit?" alessandra asked sweetly, the ceremony not even begun filming yet, shane and ronan's eyes moving from their glasses to the young girl, both of them smiling back 

"hey aless, course you can," shane smiled, ronan smiling too, "where's nicky, thought you'd be joint at the hip," the fellow irishman chuckled before the three composed themselves, so as to not create too much noise 

"of course you did. but, nah, since the cameras aren't rolling, and before the evening starts, thought i'd just frolic around and talk to some people before the ceremony starts, ya know? just to release some nerves," alessandra smiled, making shane and ronan smile back as they empathised with the girl since record of the year was such a prestigious award show that was now in its second year 

"fair, i mean, record of the year can be quite stressful," ronan smiled with a shrug of the shoulders since it was his second year being nominated 

"do you think he's realised you've left him?" shane chuckles at alessandra, playing around with his whiskey that he was seemingly having trouble even drinking as the irish lass chuckled 

"i mean, i feel like if he had he'd be going on a manhunt right about now but, i think right now he hasn't noticed, why do you say that mr filan? you suspect mr byrne and i have a thing going on?" alessandra narrowed her eyes at the boy, bringing her hands underneath her chin as her elbows rested against the table as she moves closer to the sligonian who giggles hysterically and moves back instinctively, ronan quietly giggling, the three of them thanking heaven that they weren't on air right now 

"no, why would you think that? am i that obvious?" shane cackles, his head flailing backwards making alessandra and ronan shut shane up so no one else would hear them as they also start giggling 

"sssh, unfortunately, yes, you're not as slick as you like to think you are mr filan," alessandra giggles as the three of them calm down 

then, just as the three of them calmed down, denise van outen, the host of the 1999 record of the year made her way to the stage after the cameraman had announced that they were about to go live. this then worried the crap out of alessandra, the colour draining from her face since it was her first big awards show since getting her recording contract at the beginning of the year. both men, shane and ronan, noticed this and asked the girl if she was okay. 

"...aless, you okay?" shane questioned, snapping alessandra out of her disassociation as she smiled at him and ronan 

"yeah, i'm fine, why?" alessandra responded as the two lads looked at each other in worry 

"do you want me to get nicky or do you want me to walk us back to our table for the awards ceremony?" shane then asked as she smiled and nodded her head 

within minutes, nicky with two glasses of vodka soda had reached shane, alessandra and ronan. downing the two drinks, shane and nicky, along with alessandra in the middle of them, walked back over to the westlife/alessandra table for the ceremony that was moments from going live. 

let's just say that for the rest of the ceremony, nicky and alessandra did not leave each other's sides after the first time failed. that was until it was announced that westlife had won and had to perform their winning song one last time. 

"...nicky, do you remember when we went on tour together?" alessandra suddenly sks her husband as he tilts his head, trying to rack his brain of the memory 

"i'm trying very hard, why? what happened when we went on tour together?" nicky questioned, leaning against the table as alessandra pointed at a photo that showed the two of them together in the middle of laughter with the other members in the background

westlife and alessandra on tour

just one glance was all it took for alessandra to forget the next set of lyrics to her song as she tried her hardest to get back on track so she could remember the next set of lyrics so it wasn't the crowd singing the whole time. 

to the fans in the audience, it was obvious why alessandra forgot her lyrics and who that one glance was to. and nicky wasn't so slick either. the two had been making silly faces at each other until one of nicky's signature "nicky looks" caught her off guard and made her forget what lyrics were coming next in her song. 

after barely getting through the song due to her giggles, alessandra spoke up for her mini speech before the next song, "...gosh darn it, nicky! okay, for those who were concered or confused, the reason why i forgot the lyrics of my own song was because of nicky byrne from westlife! we were making silly faces at each other, as we usually do, when nicky caught me off guard with one of his famous "nicky looks" and it all just went to shit from there *giggles* so i apologise greatly for that everyone!" alessandra giggled, the audience laughing with her as she turned to notice nicky suddenly get all bashful and red in the face 

laughing cause she could hear his bandmates giving him some stick, alessandra spoke up again, "now nicky's getting teased by his bandmates which is the funniest thing in the world but, it is your fault, nicky!" alessandra joked as nicky shouted an apology which caused everyone to laugh again 

"i'm sorry, okay aless?!" nicky shouts as alessandra and the audience laugh, resulting in the couple, nicknamed nicsandra, also bursting out into laughter 

"i know, i was just playing with you, nico!" alessandra giggled as nicky let out a dramatic sigh of relief, the both of them really just teasing the crowd at this point 

"i take that back actually..." alessandra huffed as nicky's entire body shook in laughter, his head flying back as alessandra had a sly smirk that was twitching at her lips before she also broke 

"...you wish!" nicky snickered after he had composed himself from his full-body laugh as alessandra groaned and rolled her eyes after she had composed herself from her laughter as well 

"well, shit, i can't win this and, now i'm supposed to continue performing? how unfair!" alessandra huffed as nicky and the rest of the westlife boys and the audience found this entire interaction between the couple hysterically comedic 

"that's because you never do, i always win these things! i would've thought you'd know this by now babe, come on now!" nicky teased, not realising that he had just outed him and alessandra's relationship, causing the entire audience to scream bloody murder, alessandra's eyes widening and nearly giving herself whiplash from how quickly she turned towards her boyfriend

in an attempt to stop the fans from freaking out over this new revelation, alessandra tried to lessen the imapct, "nicky! no, guys, calm down, nicky and i are not dating..." trailing off at the end only because she knew that there was no way this could be fixed, nicky had seriously just outed his own relationship with alessandra after keeping it private for at best, a year 

"...yeah, nah, there is no way we can hide it now, sorry aless!" nicky hushed out after alessandra finished her set, causing the girl to smile, grabbing her boyfriend's face and kissing it 

"it's okay babe, i think it was starting to stress us out a little too much so, i don't mind that everyone knows now..." she trailed off as nicky's face lit up, not just in excitement but also due to the fact he was blushing 

"...cool, i agree..." nicky trails off as he giggles, before pulling alessandra in for a kiss causing the both of them to giggle even more as they touched foreheads before hearing the click and seeing the flash of a camera, making them giggle more 

"...babe, i had never felt such fear until that moment i accidentally outed us on our first tour together!" nicky chuckled as alessandra giggled hysterically, nodding her head in agreement as they looked at the photo where the memory had come from 

"i know! i was mortified but, by the end of it, i didn't care anymore since it did stop the magazines from constantly making rumours about us just to stop them from mentioning brian," alessandra giggled as nicky nodded his head, giggling too 

"honestly, at that point, i think i was too since we were so used to seeing brian in the magazines for the wrong reasons, i guess we also wanted to prevent that and how it could have potentially ruined westlife's image," nicky smiled as he rubbed his hand against his wife's back before giving her a kiss on the cheek and getting up to make dinner whilst alessandra continued to look through the photo album 

2004

"...wait, your full name really is nicholas bernard james adam byrne jr?" alessandra chuckled, she was currently staying with nicky in baldoyle and right now they were at nicky's childhood home, she had picked up a photo frame that she hadn't seen until this moment - a baby photo of nicky that had his first, middle(s) and last name engraved in the photo frame

"yeah...it's been like that my entire life, what about it baby?" nicky scoffed as he turned around to see what his wife had gotten into when he realised what she was holding 

"why didn't you ever tell me that james was really one of your middle names?" there was sort of a sad tinge in alessandra's voice when she asked that and, it saddened but at the same time confused nicky, who had placed the tea towel down and left the kitchen to check on his wife  

"i...i'm not sure babe, i guess our middle names really haven't eveer come up in conversation since our wedding, why are you asking that babe? i thought it was common knowledge that i had three middle names. is there something you haven't told me yet?" nicky was genuinely concerned as alessandra scoffed slightly as her husband tilted his head 

"james was the name of my brother that uh, that wasn ever born because of a very late abortion that my mam had taken..." alessandra trailed off in embarrassment, placing down nicky's baby picture as she sighed heavily - nicky was never told about that and, whilst it intrigued him, it worried him more so than anything else 

"...how late, if you don't mind me asking, of an abortion did mam have of baby james, babe?" nicky's face was genuinely a look of concern as alessandra smiled slightly as she placed her hand plam down against the old cabinet that had the old childhood photos, including that baby photo of nicky amongst other ones of him with his siblings, gillian and adam, scattered all over it

"at the fifteen week mark, two weeks after she had been told that baby would have a facial abnormality and a week after she had an early ultrasound to determine the gender of baby james..." she trailed off and it was very obvious to nicky that this was a thing that she rarely spoke about and he respected that but, it still hurt his heart as he never thought his mother-in-law would do something like that to a baby who was so close to being born, not that he was one to ever judge what a woman does to her body however 

"how...how did you and the rest of the family react? how did dad react?" nicky stuttered, feeling like he shouldn't have been asking so many questions but, he couldn't help it and alessandra was slowly smiling - as if talking about this trauma that she had shoved so far down was actually helping her relieve the trauma it gave her 

"we were absolutely appalled by what she did at first. i mean, i refused to talk to her and honestly, sometimes i still do as it's something my step-mam has trouble shutting up about at every family function even though it was a couple of decades ago now. dad was devastated, he didn't care if baby had a facial abnormality. he was just excited that we were bringing in the eighth kid as we all were however, mam, on the other hand obviously soon realised, as did the rest of the family, that if she were to carry the baby to term, it wouldn't just be bad for the baby but also get dangerous for mam as well. so, it was decided that terminating the baby was the safest bet, especially since she didn't want her already seven children to get older without their mam alive to see it," alessandra trailed off as nicky's face fell into furrowed eyebrows with a saddened look on his face 

"wow, that...that's awful and, i bet no matter facial abnormality or not, baby james would have been the sweetest little brother ever!" nicky smiles softly, placing his hand over the top of his wife's who smiled back as she nodded her head 

"thanks, nico, never knew i'd reveal that especially so soon after our wedding as it isn't technically my place but, i guess it's just been weighing me down lately..." alessandra trailed off as nicky's smile grew prouder 

"...and i'm proud of you my love... also, what's your middle name? you didn't tell me at the wedding so i had to stand there red-faced whilst my full name was recited out but yours wasn't,"  

"for god's sake nicky, it's sofia-anne," 

"have i ever told you that your middle name is absolutely gorgeous?" nicky just randomly blurts out as he mashed up the sweet potatoes as alessandra giggles and furrows her eyebrows in confusion 

"excuse me what?" she cackled as she went back to folding up clothes that had just been washed, nicky giggling softly as they kept an eye on the noise in the play room 

"your middle name bubs, it's very pretty," nicky spoke as alessandra blushed as she giggled out in embarrassment 

"awe, thanks my darling! i love it as well," she giggles softly as she places the folded jacket into the wash hamper 

"who gave you your full name?" nicky then asked, his focus more on his wife's name than the sweet potato mash, making alessandra giggle 

"dad did actually. he had always loved those three names, alessandra, sofia and anne and, he realised that they had a good flow together and, when he put it together with the last name, it was just nice and satisfying to say so, they decided to name me, alessandra sofia-anne buchanan, with sofia and anne being hyphenated," she smiled, shrugging her shoulders as nicky bit his lip - yeah, he still loved the hell out of his wife 

"that's adorable. i love that your dad chose it, i'm guessing that gave daddy the upper hand in the department of the favourite parent?" nicky giggled as alessandra nodded her head as she huffed some hair out of her face that was starting to become red 

"oh, for sure. daddy's girl from the start!" alessandra giggled which made nicky chuckle as well as he then continued on the sweet potato mash for his family's dinner 

wedding day, daddy/daughter dance, 2003

it was time for the daddy/daughter's first dance at nicky's and alessandra's french wedding and, let's just say, she was so very excited and, it was mainly due to the song choice. she had elvis can't help falling in love as a surprise for her dad as that song was the song he would sing her to sleep with every single night. 

the song started and straight away, alessandro buchanan, alessandra byrne's father couldn't hide the tears that had built up in his eyes as his little girl wiped them away. instead of her father singing the lyrics to his little girl, alessandra surprised her father and sang the words to him. 

"wise men say, only fools rush in but i can't help falling in love with you..." alessandra sang softly as the father and daughter duo glided softly on the dance floor, nicky watched on as he danced with his mother with a tearful smile on his face 

"...like a river flows, surely to the sea darling, so it goes, some things you know, are just meant to be..." the duo sang together as they hugged and swayed side to side in tune with the music 

"...take my hand, take my whole life too, for i can't help falling in love with you, for i can't help falling in with you, yeah..." 

humming the melody of elvis' can't help falling in love, alessandra continued to fold clothes as nicky heard his wife, "...you alright babe?" nicky whispered, hugging her from behind as the chaos of their two kids started to filter away into white noise as alessandra smiled at her husband 

"mhm," alessandra mumbled back, turning her head to smile at her husband as she then took notice of her and nicky's eldest daughter, sofia

"sofia! could you get your brother ready please, daddy's just about done with dinner!" alessandra called out, a happy squeal leaving sofia's mouth as she neatly put her toys away before gathering up her brother's toys as well 

"coming mamma!" sofia calls back, herding her younger brother upstairs to wash their hands for dinner, giving the husband and wife a few more minutes together alone 

"mmm, you think sofia and james will react well to getting another brother or sister?" alessandra announced casually as nicky's eyes widened

"what? seriously? you're pregnant again babe?" nicky gaped in shock as alessandra giggled, nodding her head 

"yep, i'm five months, just short!" alessandra squealed as nicky picked up his wife in pure excitement

"WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER BABY, ALESSANDRA!" nicky screeched from just about the tops of his lungs as the husband and wife chuckled, hearing the increased pitter patter of feet meaning that most likely, sofia and james had heard their daddy scream 

fin

this ending is a sweet ending for sure that at the time i wasn't the biggest fan of but it has since definitely grown on me!

© amberswilddreams, 2024

[amberjazmyn]

nicky byrne one-shot

𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓮 - happiest memories

𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 - just a lot of fluff

𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓬𝓻𝓲𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 - all it took was just one photo, a photo from nicky and alessandra byrne's recent wedding that set off four of the couple's happiest memories together.

𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮 - the photo in question will be first and then the memories will be in 'order' and in italics so it makes more sense and the present time will be in normal font. also, i decided to finish my nicky byrne streak today with a happy one-shot after giving him some really depressing scenarios. 

masterlist

- - - 

nicky and his wife alessandra byrne had just been rearranging their house when alessandra stumbled upon some of her and nicky's wedding photos from 2003. the photo she saw though, in particular, sending good shivers down her spine. the photo in specificity was taken as they left the church after the ceremony. nicky and alessandra had a very fancy, showbizzy sort of wedding in france after having a civil ceremony in county wicklow. the photo was taken just outside the church they had just gotten married in, alessandra was taking up majority of the photo with only a slither of nicky able to be seen, alessandra smiling a big smile at her new husband as they held hands. the slither that could be seen of nicky was his hand holding his wife's and the faintest/blurriest portion of his chin that looked as though he was also smiling at his wife. a big talk of the wedding was the fact that alessandra had two separate dresses, her ceremony dress, a simple satin, silky long-line dress, and her reception dress, a short dress with sparkling fringe all over it. which, of course was screaming y2k whilst nicky just changed from his suit jacket to his white button-up for the reception. 

"...wow, i had completely forgotten about this photo..." alessandra trailed off as she looked up to her husband who could only smile and nod his head 

"...i did too to be quite honest. i'm still glad even after so many years though that it doesn't show me crying *giggles* because lord have mercy, i just know i would have been non-stop heckled for that!" nicky joked as alessandra smiled at her husband, also laughing with him 

"i mean, in all honesty, i kind of wish the photographer had included you in it more. you're cute when you get emotional," alessandra giggled as nicky smiled, shaking his head as he giggled 

"i have to say though, this may just be my favourite photo from our wedding..." nicky trailed off as that intrigued his wife 

"...how so?" "you'll see," nicky smiled as he opened up a photo album that was titled 1999

1999

alessandra was currently recording her first-ever single as one of rca records' new artists that they had just recently signed a contract with. whilst the girl was excited, she was just as terrified as she was excited. this was something she had been dreaming about doing for ages and now at just shy of twenty, she was doing exactly that. whilst it wasn't the first time exactly that alessandra would be recording a song, it was still the first time she was doing it as a signed artist with a record deal. 

the girl was just asked to come out of her recording booth to meet another recently signed artist to rca records, another irish act but, she was told it was a boy band, five boys who ranged from the ages seventeen to twenty. however, she was slightly worried that because she was wearing nothing but a calvin klein bra and sweatpants she'd be making the wrong impression on the boy band. but, her manager, louis walsh told her not to worry about it and that her outfit choice would not change the impression from the boy band. and, honestly, she was glad that she trusted her manager's judgement because, in louise we trust, he was right. 

"...hey...umm, you're alessandra buchanan? the other new signed artist to rca records?" a dublin accent rang out which caught alessandra's attention, looking up from her sheet of lyrics and sheet music, she smiled as she saw one of the five members of the boy band in front of her, he had gorgeous blue eyes and what looked like dyed blonde hair, looking a little nervous 

"hiya...yeah, i am alessandra and, you are?" 

"nicholas...i'm nicky byrne, i'm one of the memebrs of louis' new band, westlife. we've also been signed to rca records recently," he smiled shyly as alessandra smiled back at him as she scooched over so he could sit with her, a smile forming on his face as he quickly took the seat, ignoring the wolf whistles of a second blonde boy who was most likely another one of the members of the band 

"oh, nice! i'm also being managed by louis, i think i do remember him mentioning that he was managing another boy band after boyzone but, i thought the band name was westside, maybe i hallucinated that actually *giggles*," nicky giggled at alessandra's quip of hallucinating westside as alessandra shared eye contact with the fellow blue-eyed boy 

"you didn't hallucinate that, alessandra, we were originally called westside but, we had to change it for legal reasons cause i think a charity or whatever was named that so, we changed it to westlife," nicky explained as alessandra hummed with a nod of her head with a small giggle afterwards

"ahh, that makes sense..." 

"...hey, nico, i was just looking for you..." 

"...oh, i...i am so sorry. was i interrupting anything?" a sligo accent suddenly rang out, alessandra shifted her eyes to see a slightly shorter and slightly younger irish lad who had a striking set of hazel-like eyes standing in front of her and nicky 

"oh, no, no, you weren't at all. nicky and i were just introducing ourselves to each other. hello, i'm alessandra buchanan, another one of rca records' newest signed artists and i'm also under louis walsh's management," she introduced herself as she stood up so she could properly shake hands with the new unnamed lad who smiled back at her - nicky watching at how effortlessly she had just done all of that with the most manners ever 

"hiya alessandra, i'm shane filan, i'm in westlife with nicky and another three lads, also managed by louis walsh," shane smiled as alessandra too smiled and nodded her head as she then giggled 

"well, shane, seeing as we're all here, do you want to sit here with nicky and me unless you needed to grab nicky for something else like a recording session or something?" both boys were so shocked to see how poised and put together a fellow signed artist who was basically the same age as them was after having just met the both of them, the two lads smiling at each other 

"yeah, sure, i can stay here with you both. i was just trying to find nicky is all as one minute i was talking with him and bryan and the next second i look back and he's off and gone somewhere else," shane giggled which made nicky's face heat up - did he seriously bail out from his friends to introduce himself to her? 

"oh, did he really do that? anyway, that's great you can stay with us, shane. besides, still confuses me why i'm recording today considering i can't even understand the melody this bloody song and i have to record it by the end of the day..." alessandra trailed off as nicky couldn't help but smile at the girl that was sitting very close to him 

"...well, i...i mean, if you wanted, shane and i could help you with getting the melody? just so you can get the song recorded by today?" nicky stammered out nervously as alessandra smiled at the offer, shane agreeing as well 

"seriously? i mean, it wouldn't be the first time i get someone raising their voice at me for not figuring someting out on my own *giggles* but, if you are able to, that would be such a help, thank you, nicky and shane," alessandra thanked sweetly as nicky and shane smiled at the girl 

"it's no problem at all alessandra, nicky and i have already done our recording for the day, only bryan, kian and mark are left in the studio so, we're happy to help you. plus, we don't want you to be yelled at again, also, i know we should be like "enemies" and compete but, that's not our vibe. we're label buddies so, we'll be buddies in real life, so in saying all of that, let's help you get this song recorded!" shane announced as alessandra smiled as nicky grabbed her arm and helped her up from the seat 

alessandra started to walk to her studio, turning around to see nicky and shane stalling behind her, giggling, she spoke up, "you coming boys or are you gossiping about me?" nicky and shane paused before shaking their heads 

"we're coming alessandra!" they both shouted out which made the three of them giggle, alessandra turning around to continue to walk in the direction of her studio, leaving the sligonian and dubliner to themselves 

"you are totally in love with her nico!" shane chuckled as nicky rolled his eyes, pushing his friend as they walked over to alessandra's studio 

"no, i am not!" 

"just wait a year, maybe less..." 

"...nico, babe, what were you thinking about?" alessandra rubs her husband's back as he smiles 

"'99, when we first met in the studio when westlife and you were signed to rca records," nicky smirked as alessandra giggled, showing the photo he had found that had been taken later that day  

"holy crap, that feels like it was foredver ago now!" alessandra chuckled as nicky nodded his head in agreement 

"it really does, shane really was right..." 

december 1999

it was britannia's record of the year 1999, where both westlife and alessandra were nominated for record of the year with their songs flying without wings and breathe when it was shown that westlife and alessandra were seen walking in together, causing a right stir to all the magazines and paparazzi that showed up for the event. making the artists both giggle, none more so than alessandra and nicky, since they were shown walking in next to each other. it was wildly known within the magazines the whole year that those two had grown extremely close and was rumoured that they were dating since they were always seen out together. which, when it came to rumours around westlife and alessandra, people were shocked that bryan wasn't trying to ruin it since it was usually him that was in the magazines for those sorts of things. but, to be funny, nicky and alessandra started to put more fuel in the fire by constantly amping up their public outings and public flirting and egging on the photographers and magazines so they could get a reaction. 

for the first time this entire night, however, alessandra had walked off from nicky and their table as she had spotted shane chatting with ronan keating, westlife's co-manager, fondling a whiskey. 

"...hey shay, ro, can i sit?" alessandra asked sweetly, the ceremony not even begun filming yet, shane and ronan's eyes moving from their glasses to the young girl, both of them smiling back 

"hey aless, course you can," shane smiled, ronan smiling too, "where's nicky, thought you'd be joint at the hip," the fellow irishman chuckled before the three composed themselves, so as to not create too much noise 

"of course you did. but, nah, since the cameras aren't rolling, and before the evening starts, thought i'd just frolic around and talk to some people before the ceremony starts, ya know? just to release some nerves," alessandra smiled, making shane and ronan smile back as they empathised with the girl since record of the year was such a prestigious award show that was now in its second year 

"fair, i mean, record of the year can be quite stressful," ronan smiled with a shrug of the shoulders since it was his second year being nominated 

"do you think he's realised you've left him?" shane chuckles at alessandra, playing around with his whiskey that he was seemingly having trouble even drinking as the irish lass chuckled 

"i mean, i feel like if he had he'd be going on a manhunt right about now but, i think right now he hasn't noticed, why do you say that mr filan? you suspect mr byrne and i have a thing going on?" alessandra narrowed her eyes at the boy, bringing her hands underneath her chin as her elbows rested against the table as she moves closer to the sligonian who giggles hysterically and moves back instinctively, ronan quietly giggling, the three of them thanking heaven that they weren't on air right now 

"no, why would you think that? am i that obvious?" shane cackles, his head flailing backwards making alessandra and ronan shut shane up so no one else would hear them as they also start giggling 

"sssh, unfortunately, yes, you're not as slick as you like to think you are mr filan," alessandra giggles as the three of them calm down 

then, just as the three of them calmed down, denise van outen, the host of the 1999 record of the year made her way to the stage after the cameraman had announced that they were about to go live. this then worried the crap out of alessandra, the colour draining from her face since it was her first big awards show since getting her recording contract at the beginning of the year. both men, shane and ronan, noticed this and asked the girl if she was okay. 

"...aless, you okay?" shane questioned, snapping alessandra out of her disassociation as she smiled at him and ronan 

"yeah, i'm fine, why?" alessandra responded as the two lads looked at each other in worry 

"do you want me to get nicky or do you want me to walk us back to our table for the awards ceremony?" shane then asked as she smiled and nodded her head 

within minutes, nicky with two glasses of vodka soda had reached shane, alessandra and ronan. downing the two drinks, shane and nicky, along with alessandra in the middle of them, walked back over to the westlife/alessandra table for the ceremony that was moments from going live. 

let's just say that for the rest of the ceremony, nicky and alessandra did not leave each other's sides after the first time failed. that was until it was announced that westlife had won and had to perform their winning song one last time. 

"...nicky, do you remember when we went on tour together?" alessandra suddenly sks her husband as he tilts his head, trying to rack his brain of the memory 

"i'm trying very hard, why? what happened when we went on tour together?" nicky questioned, leaning against the table as alessandra pointed at a photo that showed the two of them together in the middle of laughter with the other members in the background

westlife and alessandra on tour

just one glance was all it took for alessandra to forget the next set of lyrics to her song as she tried her hardest to get back on track so she could remember the next set of lyrics so it wasn't the crowd singing the whole time. 

to the fans in the audience, it was obvious why alessandra forgot her lyrics and who that one glance was to. and nicky wasn't so slick either. the two had been making silly faces at each other until one of nicky's signature "nicky looks" caught her off guard and made her forget what lyrics were coming next in her song. 

after barely getting through the song due to her giggles, alessandra spoke up for her mini speech before the next song, "...gosh darn it, nicky! okay, for those who were concered or confused, the reason why i forgot the lyrics of my own song was because of nicky byrne from westlife! we were making silly faces at each other, as we usually do, when nicky caught me off guard with one of his famous "nicky looks" and it all just went to shit from there *giggles* so i apologise greatly for that everyone!" alessandra giggled, the audience laughing with her as she turned to notice nicky suddenly get all bashful and red in the face 

laughing cause she could hear his bandmates giving him some stick, alessandra spoke up again, "now nicky's getting teased by his bandmates which is the funniest thing in the world but, it is your fault, nicky!" alessandra joked as nicky shouted an apology which caused everyone to laugh again 

"i'm sorry, okay aless?!" nicky shouts as alessandra and the audience laugh, resulting in the couple, nicknamed nicsandra, also bursting out into laughter 

"i know, i was just playing with you, nico!" alessandra giggled as nicky let out a dramatic sigh of relief, the both of them really just teasing the crowd at this point 

"i take that back actually..." alessandra huffed as nicky's entire body shook in laughter, his head flying back as alessandra had a sly smirk that was twitching at her lips before she also broke 

"...you wish!" nicky snickered after he had composed himself from his full-body laugh as alessandra groaned and rolled her eyes after she had composed herself from her laughter as well 

"well, shit, i can't win this and, now i'm supposed to continue performing? how unfair!" alessandra huffed as nicky and the rest of the westlife boys and the audience found this entire interaction between the couple hysterically comedic 

"that's because you never do, i always win these things! i would've thought you'd know this by now babe, come on now!" nicky teased, not realising that he had just outed him and alessandra's relationship, causing the entire audience to scream bloody murder, alessandra's eyes widening and nearly giving herself whiplash from how quickly she turned towards her boyfriend

in an attempt to stop the fans from freaking out over this new revelation, alessandra tried to lessen the imapct, "nicky! no, guys, calm down, nicky and i are not dating..." trailing off at the end only because she knew that there was no way this could be fixed, nicky had seriously just outed his own relationship with alessandra after keeping it private for at best, a year 

"...yeah, nah, there is no way we can hide it now, sorry aless!" nicky hushed out after alessandra finished her set, causing the girl to smile, grabbing her boyfriend's face and kissing it 

"it's okay babe, i think it was starting to stress us out a little too much so, i don't mind that everyone knows now..." she trailed off as nicky's face lit up, not just in excitement but also due to the fact he was blushing 

"...cool, i agree..." nicky trails off as he giggles, before pulling alessandra in for a kiss causing the both of them to giggle even more as they touched foreheads before hearing the click and seeing the flash of a camera, making them giggle more 

"...babe, i had never felt such fear until that moment i accidentally outed us on our first tour together!" nicky chuckled as alessandra giggled hysterically, nodding her head in agreement as they looked at the photo where the memory had come from 

"i know! i was mortified but, by the end of it, i didn't care anymore since it did stop the magazines from constantly making rumours about us just to stop them from mentioning brian," alessandra giggled as nicky nodded his head, giggling too 

"honestly, at that point, i think i was too since we were so used to seeing brian in the magazines for the wrong reasons, i guess we also wanted to prevent that and how it could have potentially ruined westlife's image," nicky smiled as he rubbed his hand against his wife's back before giving her a kiss on the cheek and getting up to make dinner whilst alessandra continued to look through the photo album 

2004

"...wait, your full name really is nicholas bernard james adam byrne jr?" alessandra chuckled, she was currently staying with nicky in baldoyle and right now they were at nicky's childhood home, she had picked up a photo frame that she hadn't seen until this moment - a baby photo of nicky that had his first, middle(s) and last name engraved in the photo frame

"yeah...it's been like that my entire life, what about it baby?" nicky scoffed as he turned around to see what his wife had gotten into when he realised what she was holding 

"why didn't you ever tell me that james was really one of your middle names?" there was sort of a sad tinge in alessandra's voice when she asked that and, it saddened but at the same time confused nicky, who had placed the tea towel down and left the kitchen to check on his wife  

"i...i'm not sure babe, i guess our middle names really haven't eveer come up in conversation since our wedding, why are you asking that babe? i thought it was common knowledge that i had three middle names. is there something you haven't told me yet?" nicky was genuinely concerned as alessandra scoffed slightly as her husband tilted his head 

"james was the name of my brother that uh, that wasn ever born because of a very late abortion that my mam had taken..." alessandra trailed off in embarrassment, placing down nicky's baby picture as she sighed heavily - nicky was never told about that and, whilst it intrigued him, it worried him more so than anything else 

"...how late, if you don't mind me asking, of an abortion did mam have of baby james, babe?" nicky's face was genuinely a look of concern as alessandra smiled slightly as she placed her hand plam down against the old cabinet that had the old childhood photos, including that baby photo of nicky amongst other ones of him with his siblings, gillian and adam, scattered all over it

"at the fifteen week mark, two weeks after she had been told that baby would have a facial abnormality and a week after she had an early ultrasound to determine the gender of baby james..." she trailed off and it was very obvious to nicky that this was a thing that she rarely spoke about and he respected that but, it still hurt his heart as he never thought his mother-in-law would do something like that to a baby who was so close to being born, not that he was one to ever judge what a woman does to her body however 

"how...how did you and the rest of the family react? how did dad react?" nicky stuttered, feeling like he shouldn't have been asking so many questions but, he couldn't help it and alessandra was slowly smiling - as if talking about this trauma that she had shoved so far down was actually helping her relieve the trauma it gave her 

"we were absolutely appalled by what she did at first. i mean, i refused to talk to her and honestly, sometimes i still do as it's something my step-mam has trouble shutting up about at every family function even though it was a couple of decades ago now. dad was devastated, he didn't care if baby had a facial abnormality. he was just excited that we were bringing in the eighth kid as we all were however, mam, on the other hand obviously soon realised, as did the rest of the family, that if she were to carry the baby to term, it wouldn't just be bad for the baby but also get dangerous for mam as well. so, it was decided that terminating the baby was the safest bet, especially since she didn't want her already seven children to get older without their mam alive to see it," alessandra trailed off as nicky's face fell into furrowed eyebrows with a saddened look on his face 

"wow, that...that's awful and, i bet no matter facial abnormality or not, baby james would have been the sweetest little brother ever!" nicky smiles softly, placing his hand over the top of his wife's who smiled back as she nodded her head 

"thanks, nico, never knew i'd reveal that especially so soon after our wedding as it isn't technically my place but, i guess it's just been weighing me down lately..." alessandra trailed off as nicky's smile grew prouder 

"...and i'm proud of you my love... also, what's your middle name? you didn't tell me at the wedding so i had to stand there red-faced whilst my full name was recited out but yours wasn't,"  

"for god's sake nicky, it's sofia-anne," 

"have i ever told you that your middle name is absolutely gorgeous?" nicky just randomly blurts out as he mashed up the sweet potatoes as alessandra giggles and furrows her eyebrows in confusion 

"excuse me what?" she cackled as she went back to folding up clothes that had just been washed, nicky giggling softly as they kept an eye on the noise in the play room 

"your middle name bubs, it's very pretty," nicky spoke as alessandra blushed as she giggled out in embarrassment 

"awe, thanks my darling! i love it as well," she giggles softly as she places the folded jacket into the wash hamper 

"who gave you your full name?" nicky then asked, his focus more on his wife's name than the sweet potato mash, making alessandra giggle 

"dad did actually. he had always loved those three names, alessandra, sofia and anne and, he realised that they had a good flow together and, when he put it together with the last name, it was just nice and satisfying to say so, they decided to name me, alessandra sofia-anne buchanan, with sofia and anne being hyphenated," she smiled, shrugging her shoulders as nicky bit his lip - yeah, he still loved the hell out of his wife 

"that's adorable. i love that your dad chose it, i'm guessing that gave daddy the upper hand in the department of the favourite parent?" nicky giggled as alessandra nodded her head as she huffed some hair out of her face that was starting to become red 

"oh, for sure. daddy's girl from the start!" alessandra giggled which made nicky chuckle as well as he then continued on the sweet potato mash for his family's dinner 

wedding day, daddy/daughter dance, 2003

it was time for the daddy/daughter's first dance at nicky's and alessandra's french wedding and, let's just say, she was so very excited and, it was mainly due to the song choice. she had elvis can't help falling in love as a surprise for her dad as that song was the song he would sing her to sleep with every single night. 

the song started and straight away, alessandro buchanan, alessandra byrne's father couldn't hide the tears that had built up in his eyes as his little girl wiped them away. instead of her father singing the lyrics to his little girl, alessandra surprised her father and sang the words to him. 

"wise men say, only fools rush in but i can't help falling in love with you..." alessandra sang softly as the father and daughter duo glided softly on the dance floor, nicky watched on as he danced with his mother with a tearful smile on his face 

"...like a river flows, surely to the sea darling, so it goes, some things you know, are just meant to be..." the duo sang together as they hugged and swayed side to side in tune with the music 

"...take my hand, take my whole life too, for i can't help falling in love with you, for i can't help falling in with you, yeah..." 

humming the melody of elvis' can't help falling in love, alessandra continued to fold clothes as nicky heard his wife, "...you alright babe?" nicky whispered, hugging her from behind as the chaos of their two kids started to filter away into white noise as alessandra smiled at her husband 

"mhm," alessandra mumbled back, turning her head to smile at her husband as she then took notice of her and nicky's eldest daughter, sofia

"sofia! could you get your brother ready please, daddy's just about done with dinner!" alessandra called out, a happy squeal leaving sofia's mouth as she neatly put her toys away before gathering up her brother's toys as well 

"coming mamma!" sofia calls back, herding her younger brother upstairs to wash their hands for dinner, giving the husband and wife a few more minutes together alone 

"mmm, you think sofia and james will react well to getting another brother or sister?" alessandra announced casually as nicky's eyes widened

"what? seriously? you're pregnant again babe?" nicky gaped in shock as alessandra giggled, nodding her head 

"yep, i'm five months, just short!" alessandra squealed as nicky picked up his wife in pure excitement

"WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER BABY, ALESSANDRA!" nicky screeched from just about the tops of his lungs as the husband and wife chuckled, hearing the increased pitter patter of feet meaning that most likely, sofia and james had heard their daddy scream 

- - - 

okay, whilst i'm glad that i've finally given nicky a happy one-shot, i have got to say, this ending is not the best! in saying that though, i do like the slow inclusion of nicky and alessandra's two kids and then the ending that has alessandra reveal she's pregnant with their third. however, i'm not going to comment on that any further because i do think this is a sweet one-shot so i'm glad i wrote it again! 

ok ily bye xx

wc; 4995

[anamariamauricia]

despite l*uis showering little louis with gifts and attention and trying to distance him from anne and aramis so that he would love him more and remember him after he died, little louis in his last scene is dressed as a musketeer–as aramis, as his father–and looks extremely happy and i think that’s beautiful

[sincerelyreidburke]

Boy Scout Dex drabble time!!!!!! (S/o @bitsfordays for talking this through with me like 10 days ago and creating this concept in my head)

Anyway, CCU, Nursey goes home with Dex for senior-year Thanksgiving, let’s have a field day.

//

It’s not that Derek is scared of Will’s parents.

After all, he’s met them before. He’s pretty sure the first time he met them, at least distantly, was Family Weekend freshman year. They know who he is, and they’ve always been nice to him. When he first met Will, he was sure that he came from the type of family who would cast judgement on him without knowing anything about him, based only on the way he looks. He’s known plenty of those types of people— at Andover, back home in New York, even at Samwell. It’s a part of life. He was sure that Will came from that type of environment.

But he was wrong. Three years later, it turns out, there are a lot of things about Will he was wrong about.

And so here he is, spending Thanksgiving with the Poindexters in Maine.

He should be okay. He shouldn’t be intimidated. After all, he isn’t scared of them. They’re kind people, and he knows it full well. They were the ones who extended the invitation, who wanted him here, to share their family holiday with them.

It’s just… the way they invited him, as Will’s friend, and what he actually is to Will, these days, are two different things.

It’s okay, though. Derek knows how to stay firmly closeted around people who can’t know. This is nothing new. It doesn’t make it easy, but at least he knows how to do it.

The point is: he’s not afraid of Will’s parents. But he does sort of care an awful lot about what they think of him.

Not that he’d admit it. At least, not to them, or to Will, or to anyone, really— except maybe Chowder, a few drinks in at a kegster, spouting off anything and everything about all of his love for Will and hope for their future. But he’s not so sure that telling Will he’s been anxious for days about making the right impression on his potential future in-laws (God, he hopes) would be the best idea. He’ll tell him later, maybe.

He has to get through this Thanksgiving break first.

So when Mrs. Poindexter is giving him the tour of the house upon his first arrival, he’s on high alert.

Chill Mode is a hundred percent activated; it’s in overdrive, in fact. He trails her, a short lady with strawberry blond hair who he’s pretty sure is simultaneously the sweetest thing ever and also the most likely person to kick somebody’s ass given the opportunity. She brings him to the bedroom he’ll be staying in, to drop his stuff— Will’s room, the one he used to share with his brother; there are still two beds, Mrs. Poindexter explains, because Drew only moved out a few years ago, which works out just great for you two, doesn’t it?

(Ha. Derek wonders if he can get away with some funny business once the bedroom door is shut tonight. He’s not sure he wants to test the waters with Will’s parents, but then again, if he was extra careful to keep Will quiet…)

Not the point, not the point. Derek is chill. He’s doing the tour of Will’s childhood home, the space he grew up in, trying to see all the imprints of his memory in the worn floorboards and the old furniture. “You have a lovely home,” he tells Mrs. Poindexter in the living room. She smiles at him like this is the best thing he could’ve said.

“Well, thank you, Derek,” she replies, gracious and kind. “It’s nothing all too fancy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Derek shrugs, flashing an effortless smile, and replies, “Fancy is overrated.”

Mrs. Poindexter chuckles. Over his mother’s shoulder, Derek watches Will as his face washes with relief. Derek knows what he’s thinking. This is going well.

Derek hunts for more things to compliment, and his eyes land on a series of photos on the wall next to the fireplace. “Oh!” he says, with a smile, as he steps towards them. One of the pictures features Will in a cap and gown, in what Derek recognizes as the front yard of this very house. “Will, was this your graduation?”

Will nods, and so does Mrs. Poindexter. “It was a beautiful day,” she remarks. “And look at the weigela in bloom right behind him; aren’t they nice?”

Derek nods like he has any idea what plant she’s talking about. There’s a big pink bush over Graduation Will’s left shoulder, so he’s guessing it’s that. “They’re great.”

“We’ll need another one soon,” Mrs. Poindexter hums, with a smile, and then puts her hands up in a frame shape like she’s imagining just where it’ll go on her wall. “When you boys finish this year.”

“God, Ma,” Will mumbles, with a smile that might be real or might be forced. “Not so fast. We’ve still got over half a year.”

Mrs. Poindexter laughs. “I know,” she replies. “I’m just teasing. But it’s gone by so fast, hasn’t it?”

Derek catches Will’s eye, and answers for both of them. “Quicker than anything.” He pauses, smiles at him. “But it’s been a good run.”

Will smiles back, just a tiny bit, and then looks back at the pictures as if they aren’t on the wall in his own living room in the house he lives in. Derek follows suit, and this time, he catches sight of one below the graduation one, of Will with just his parents in some kind of banquet hall.

Derek squints at the picture. He does a double take.

What is Will wearing?

It’s…… he’s in some kind of a sailor outfit. It’s white on the top and bottom, with a hat and a dark necktie and a bunch of pins or maybe patches near the collar. His parents are in regular dressed-up clothes, his dad in a suit and his mom in a dress, and they both look as proud as can be.

Derek looks between picture-Dex and the Dex next to him, who is in distinctly non-sailor clothing, just a trademark flannel and jeans. Dex looks younger in the photo, but not that young. It’s from high school, for sure.

“Will,” he says slowly. “Is there a story behind this picture?”

Will looks where he’s looking, and then pauses to look right at Derek, like he’s trying to figure out if Derek is about to make fun of him. During his silence, Mrs. Poindexter chimes in. “Oh, that one!” She smiles huge, the trademark of a proud mother. “That was his Quartermaster ceremony.”

Derek looks back at the picture. Steadily, the joy of this fascinating new discovery about the man he’s been in love with for 2+ years starts to register. There is a story behind this picture. And he thinks he’s about to hear it. “Quartermaster?”

Will lets out a gentle sigh, tucking his hands into his pockets, and says, kind of unceremoniously, “I was a Boy Scout.”

This, Derek was aware of. Will occasionally makes cracks about being prepared or lets an offhanded comment loose about his scouting days. But Derek hasn’t ever heard a word about quartermasters, whatever they are. And he definitely hasn’t seen this sailor outfit.

He looks at the picture. Will looks cute. Cute enough that he’s feeling some type of way about it. His hair is a little long— at least, long for Dex; it’s still short in general— and it’s sideswept a little under his hat, from which his ears stick out underneath. His necktie is just a little crooked to one side. Even his shoes are white.

He looks like some kind of old-timey boat guy. And Derek is kind of thinking he needs to show the group chat immediately.

“I feel like you should tell me more,” he replies, grinning up at Will.

Mrs. Poindexter nudges Will from the other side. “Oh, darling, you should,” she says. “You’ve never told Derek about scouting?”

“Oh, I’ve told him,” Will replies, but his tone is fully conscious of the fact that she’s going to have him tell Derek again, and Derek has literally never been more pleased with a situation.

He pulls out his phone, snaps a picture of the picture, and saves it for later.

For now, he’s going to hear this story.

BONUS:

Samwell Men’s Hockey 2017-18

Nursey sent a photo to the group

Nursey: everybody

Nursey: PLEASE look at my boyfriend

Nursey: i am a.) dying, and b.) also in love

Dex disliked a photo

Dex: Stop being corny on main

Chowder loved a photo

Chowder: omg!!!!!!!!!!!

Chowder: dex where is that from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ford loved a photo

Ford: DEX WERE YOU IN ANYTHING GOES?

Dex: Looooool, no. Sea Scouts.

Dex: Like Boy Scouts but w/ sailing.

Tango emphasized a photo

Tango: tahts so cool???

Chowder: dex how come i never knew this!!!!!!!!!!!

Nursey: to be fair i also didn’t know this until like 20 minutes ago

Nursey: lol

Hops: Omg you look like sailor moon!

Dex: I wish I knew what that meant

Nursey: hops you’re my hero

Hops: Thanks nursey!

Hops: :D

Nursey: guys i can’t even

Nursey: he looks so cute

Ford: This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.

Bully: nothing but respect for MY captain

Nursey: OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Chowder: sailor dex sailor dex sailor dex!!!!!!!!!

Ford: Brb changing group chat photo

Nursey: ily ford

Chowder: we should put this on shirts!!!!

Louis: Dexy the sailor man

Dex: Derek, Im going to blcok you

Nursey: love you bby

Dex: GROSS

Rhodey: is group chat flirting a fine

Bully: It should be

[eeveedel]

Hi all, I haven’t recced some fics in awhile but...today is fic writers appreciation day! And there are so many fics that I love so very much and have brought so much happiness into my life. 

And it just so happens I have a personal document where i’ve kept track of fics I’ve read for the past 3-4 years, categorized by tropes. So I thought it would be fun to rec you my all-time favorite fic from each of my personal categories! There are so many good fics so I hope you enjoy. And if you want a full fic rec list for any of these categories, please tell me! 

And a big thank you again to all of the lovely authors out there, I hope you have a lovely day and now how valued your work is. 

A/B/O

Sisterwives by jaerie

This was it, the moment Louis had been waiting for his entire life. Giddy excitement bubbled up as he held hands and stared up at his soon-to-be alpha and husband and grinned. The ceremony was small and simple, but Louis didn’t mind. Fresh flowers pinned into his hair and a brand new outfit was all he needed to feel special in front of their few witnesses. It was just some members of his family and a few of the church elders in attendance as was customary for any marriage beyond the first wife within the faith.

First wives were the ones to have elaborate weddings with the whole community involved. An alpha’s first wedding was a celebration of an their coming of age, his first steps into fulfilling God’s prophecy. There were many glories for an omega that came with being a first wife but also many responsibilities. Louis had never aspired to be a first wife or even a second. He wasn’t experienced enough to be the leader of an alpha’s many wives and children and he didn’t think he’d be up to the task.

Louis was just fine in the position he was stepping into as the seventh.

Or Louis thinks he's getting everything he's ever dreamed of. Harry helps him find what makes him truly happy.

Action/Adventure 

The Dead of July by whimsicule

Harry is Captain America, and Louis’ been dead for 70 years.

Age Gap

White Pages, White Lace, Big Hands, Pretty Face by thechesirepussycat

“He touches his sides, his neck, his lips, all the places Harry has just been, all the places that still tingle from Harry’s touch. Such a strange feeling Louis has, so unreal and nerve-racking. He can’t begin to describe what Harry has done to him, what about Harry makes Louis want to call him… Daddy.“

Or, a gratuitous Sugar Daddy!Harry and Student!Louis AU.

Angst

Bot by tomlinsunshine (11k)

Zayn builds robots; Harry is a big fan of his latest model.

Break Up

got the sunshine on my shoulders by hattalove

five years ago, harry styles left his tiny home town to make it big as a recording artist. he didn't have much regard for what he left behind - a life, a family, and a husband, who woke up one morning to find him gone.

now, harry has everything he could possibly want: he's rich, famous, and adored by everyone he meets, including his boyfriend. but when said boyfriend proposes to him, he's forced to face the uncomfortable facts of his past - and louis, who's spent the last five years returning every set of divorce papers harry sent him.

(or, an au based on the movie sweet home alabama.)

Canon

nonstop earthquake dreams of you by lumineres

And there's heat behind it, blazing, plasmatic, like stars crashing together, like an explosion in space, like a supernova, like a black hole--everything else sucked out of existence. There's no bed and there's no pillow and they're not lying down, just floating somewhere, somehow, and there's no room and there's no X Factor house and there's no Niall snuffling or Liam's deep, even breathing and there's no wind or traffic outside and there's no hum of the heating unit and it's all just Louis. All encompassingly Louis.

or, harry falls hard and finds louis already at the bottom

Classics

Love Is A Rebellious Bird by 100percentsassy and gloria_andrews

AU in which the boys still make music. Louis is the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Harry is the New! and Exciting! interim conductor/ex-cello prodigy who "has made Mozart cool again" according to Esquire Magazine (Louis hates him immediately, which is definitely why he internet stalked him in his dark bedroom late at night that one time), and Niall is the best. Zayn and Liam are around too.

College/Uni 

Could be Kissing My Fruit Punch Lips by thechesirepussycat

Harry happens upon a porn site that specializes in live videos and sort of falls in love with the cute boy he only knows as Kitty.

And then he gets the surprise of his life when he finds out Kitty attends his university...

Crime

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by haroldslouis 

1997 AU where Harry is a bank robber and Louis falls in love with him

Dom/Sub

No Control Club series by SadaVeniren

Harry, a popular BDSM blogger, writes a negative review about Louis’ club. Louis wants to have a chance to make it up to him.

Dunkirk/Alex

Poison & Wine by tilthesundies

Alex comes home from the war to find a stranger living in his flat.

Dystopian/Apocalypse

things have gotten closer to the sun by starseas

when a solar flare is announced to end the world in twelve days, harry reunites with the people that he used to know better than the back of his own hand.

Enemies to Lovers

you flower, you feast by stylinsoncity 

He's King of the Underworld, but don't assume Louis has it all. He could stand for some excitement in his monotonous, eternal life and maybe, even.....a soulmate.

(Despite not having a soul.)

And along came "Harry"

Established Relationship

I Only Ever Want You by itsmiz

Louis and Harry's relationship goes through a series of changes while Liam and Zayn discover new things about themselves, as well.

Or: Louis & Harry and Liam & Zayn begin to have sex in front of each other and a lot of kink-discovery results from that.

Fairy Tale

Red by frosteddream 

Shockwaves were sent through the village after the McPherson family was savagely killed. There were people who feared the beast that did it, and then there was Louis, or, as most people liked to call him, Red. (Little Red Riding Hood AU.)

Fake Dating 

And Then a Bit by infinitelymint

Harry and Louis fake a relationship for publicity. Eventually it becomes a lot less fake and a lot more real.

Famous (non-1D AU)

a million roses (bathed in rock n roll) by deLILah 

au. harry sings in smoky dive bars; louis misses his flight home. they go to coney island in the morning.

(aka - harry is lana del rey, and louis makes him a star.)

Fashion

Just my style by thoughtsickles

Harry is sick, and the only thing that might help him is the pheromones from his mate--problem is, he hasn't got a mate.

Louis' just been disowned, and taking part in a medical study where he has to cuddle with some strange alpha seems to be his only option for earning a bit of cash.

The hippies and Omega Rights campaigners are busy changing the world--but all Harry wants is a chance to live.

Fluff

Dreaming of You by velvetoscar

The Begrudging Starbucks AU.

The world is winter and steamed milk and creamy espresso shots. The world is a never ending queue. The world is a Starbucks logo and a pink-cheeked smile from Niall and a bored scowl from Zayn and the world is Louis watching his best mate, Liam, fall in love with their newest customer, Harry. Who may or may not be in love with Louis. The world is cruel.

Frat

Soft Feet, Fast Hands, Can’t Lose by dolce_piccante

American Uni AU. Harry Styles is a frat boy football star from the wealthy Styles Family athletic dynasty. A celebrity among football fans, he knows how to play, he knows how to party, and he knows how to fuck (all of which is well known among his legion of admirers).

Louis Tomlinson is a student and an athlete, but his similarities to Harry end there. Intelligent, focused, independent, and completely uninterested in Harry’s charms, Louis is an anomaly in a world ruled by football.

A bet about the pair, who might be more similar than they originally thought, brings them together. Shakespeare, ballet, Disney, football, library chats, running, accidental spooning, Daredevil and Domino’s Pizza all blend into one big friendship Frappucino, but who will win in the end?

Friends to Lovers

OmegaVision by jaerie 

Tomlin Networks Presents: OmegaVision starring Louis Tomlinson! The world's first 24/7 reality channel available in over 150 countries worldwide following the life of the first male omega born in over a century. Follow Louis through his daily routine, the ups and downs of growing up or just leave him on for comfort. There are many reasons to tune in but, no matter what yours may be, there's always a part of Louis that is just like you!

Or a Truman Show au that nobody asked for where Louis is Truman and Harry just wants to be his mate

Girl Direction

Never Enough by idekboo

Louis couldn't get enough of Harry and that gorgeous body of hers. She wasn't shy about letting her know.

High School

I found a love (darling just dive right in) by wonderlou

Louis, an omega with very little control. Harry, an alpha with a lot of emotion. Neither of them have any idea what do to with this little thing called love, but they'll be damned if they don't put up a good fight.

Historical

Coax the Cold by MediaWhore 

England, 1897.

English Professor Louis Tomlinson’s passion for the occult has been a source of mockery and derision for most of his life. When he hears whispers of a travelling freak show newly established in London claiming the existence of a monstrous sea hybrid, half-man, half-fish, Louis sees it as his ticket to credibility amongst his peers. The summer he spends undercover working on the show, however, gives him much more than that.

Miscellaneous/Unique

the impossible now by stylinsoncity

A wish on Christmas Eve sends Louis to an alternate dimension where Harry is a member of One Direction.

Mpreg

The Things I’d Do to Wake Up Next to You by dirtymattress (36k)

Harry wakes up to a pregnant Louis Tomlinson and a wedding band on his finger.

Mythology

Say Hallelujah, Say Goodnight by alivingfire

Louis is an angel who is just a little too bad to be good, Harry is a demon who is just a little too good to be bad, and they're both a little too in love to be impartial when angels and demons go to war.

PWP

mr. tomlinson by iwillpaintasongforlou

Louis is a billionaire CEO who makes grown men cry and rival companies crumble. He's also an omega. Harry is the quiet cupcake of a man he calls his alpha and the only one who gets to see Louis as anything less than fearsome.

Roommates

streetwise hercules by bottomlinsons

Uni AU, where Louis pretends to be Harry's boyfriend to scare away his one night stands.

Royalty

feel the chemicals burn in my bloodstream by togetherwecouldbealright 

Harry is a journalist with a lot of secrets and Louis is the future king of the United Kingdom; they live together for 60 days.

Spies

never gonna dance again by togetherwecouldbealright

Louis is a spy and Harry is a dancer. The only real thing they know is each other.

Soulmates

Nameless Night by green_feelings

For their 18th birthday, every person receives a letter that reads a simple date. That is the date you'll meet your soulmate.

Harry and Louis have different beliefs, live in different worlds and have different dreams, hopes and fears. Yet, they're not so different from each other when it comes to love. When their paths cross, there is no doubt they belong together. Except for that one, essential difference: they didn't receive the same date.

Or, a fic about differences that make no difference at all: Harry and Louis are soulmates. In every way possible. Featuring Niall as a role model, and Liam and Zayn as a different kind of role models.

Summer Romance

Rivers til I Reach You by embodied

AU. Louis studies astronomy; Harry studies Louis. They spend their summers on the water and it shouldn't be complicated (spoiler: it is).

Supernatural

Howls Like a Beast (You Flower, You Feast) by indiaalaphawhiskey (16k)

France, 1754. Château de Versailles.

“You don’t love me,” Louis had said, utterly blasé as he callously fractured the heart of a Harry that was just barely eighteen.

“I do,” Harry had insisted pleadingly, green eyes already watering.

Louis had rolled his eyes, exasperated and flippant in the way only beautiful, young boys could be when faced with the affections of a baby prince. He had run his finger down Harry’s cheek then, had forced him to look into his eyes as he delivered the final blow.

“You’ll change your mind once you’ve seen more of the world,” Louis had teased, pressing a brutally delicate kiss onto Harry’s lovely, pure cheek. “Once you’ve been properly defiled.” He had whispered filthily, delighted by the gasp he heard, the frantic pink blush that had rested high on Harry’s cheeks, the power he had felt at knowing he could make the Crown Prince squirm.

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

Tues 6 Aug

First we got tons of fan footage of Harry leaving Cancun in his cute lil white outfit (tennis shorts, tank, black jacket and a wee ponytail right on top of his head), then he popped up in Philly and took approximately one million fan pictures, has dinner with pals (same outfit with a button up thrown on, he should do a travel fashion column, these pieces can go from beach time to upscale cricket club dinners to transatlantic travel all in a single day!) then boom on his way again, this time headed for London which will hopefully take long enough for me to get this update out before he starts taking pics somewhere else. If video filming and HSHQ ramping up merch ads weren't indicator enough that they're up to things all this Being Seen would suggest it anyway. Shawn Mendes said the other day that if he was gonna run a UA it'd be for Harry cause there's so much good material and he isn't wrong! (Though I'm pretty sure it's actually people running, like, Zayn UAs who have the right idea, much more relaxing, Shawn wasn't really taking into account the workload of keeping up with this non stop energy machine.) We also learned today that his application to copyright TPWK was approved in the UK so yes, Harry owns kindness now (and some feel he is more than welcome to it.)

Louis on the other hand flew into LA mostly (but not quite) incognito: is he headed in for Sunday's Teen Choice Awards ceremony to accept a prize? If he stays in town it looks like we'll be tuning in for that with our fingers crossed... And is his HQ also ramping things up a bit? His YouTube page quietly updated and added a picture.

Exciting things in both the Niall fandom and Niall's fandom of choice- for us we got a rumour that he will be presenting and performing new material at a private Capitol Records event tomorrow and he tells us he was in the studio recording something exciting today, and for Niall, action for his footie team (a win and an acquisition) which he was over the moon about and not afraid to say so. May we all be as unabashed about our fanning as Niall, an inspiration for us all!

[alarriefantasy]

Louis and Harry in a plural relationship rec? Doesn’t really matter who with

Here are a few! A lot of them are just pwp fics, but you mentioned relationship so that’s what I aimed for! :) 

Yours, Mine, and Ours by hharrytomlinson 

Words: 3k

Prompt: Louis is Zayn's best friends in Uni. They shared just about everything. Louis has helped him fit and be more confident in his skin. Everything changed when Louis started dating a gorgeous (almost still jailbait) curly haired, green eyed boy. They were perfect together. Zayn can't think of anyone else better suited than them. Zayn can't help but look a little longer at the boy. It doesn't help that's he's funny and charming too. Zayn pines and feels guilty until Louis talks to him and asks him if he wants Harry. Zayn freaks out, afraid that he might ruin his friendship with Louis. Louis tells him that he doesn't mind it though, he doesn't mind Zayn looking, he doesn't mind Zayn touching Harry. Louis talks go Harry and opens up how Zayn feels, negotiation starts. Queue Louis and Zayn sharing Harry, being domesticated and all. Harry being all cute, shy and loving to the two of them. DP, spitroasting and kinkiness is more than welcomed.

All These Things I'm Saying to You by jannika 

Words: 12k

Magic!AU. Zayn can travel the realms but doesn’t have a home, Harry is a prince trying to break a curse, Louis is a pirate without a crew, Liam is a sheriff who can’t remember his past, and Niall is a werewolf who has never once eaten anyone. Or, curses, kissing, pirate ships, vanishing kingdoms, true love, polyamory and cinnamon rolls

Sisterwives by jaerie

Words: 32k

This was it, the moment Louis had been waiting for his entire life. Giddy excitement bubbled up as he held hands and stared up at his soon-to-be alpha and husband and grinned. The ceremony was small and simple, but Louis didn’t mind. Fresh flowers pinned into his hair and a brand new outfit was all he needed to feel special in front of their few witnesses. It was just some members of his family and a few of the church elders in attendance as was customary for any marriage beyond the first wife within the faith.First wives were the ones to have elaborate weddings with the whole community involved. An alpha’s first wedding was a celebration of an their coming of age, his first steps into fulfilling God’s prophecy. There were many glories for an omega that came with being a first wife but also many responsibilities. Louis had never aspired to be a first wife or even a second. He wasn’t experienced enough to be the leader of an alpha’s many wives and children and he didn’t think he’d be up to the task.

Louis was just fine in the position he was stepping into as the seventh.Or Louis thinks he's getting everything he's ever dreamed of. Harry helps him find what makes him truly happy.

Just Us by orphan_account

Words: 54k

University!AU (kind of, very little University actually involved). Louis and Harry have decided, as Harry is going off to Australia for way too long, to be non-exclusive. Now all Louis has to do is actually find someone other than Harry that he wants to fuck.

Destined For More by karamelised

Words: 76k

The one where Louis is a bit of a slut, Zayn doesn't like it in the bum, Niall mostly just likes playing the guitar, Liam is like 100% straight, Harry is a cheeky flirt, but also gets off to subbing during sex. There's some coming-to-terms-with-yourself ziam, some mild D/s larry, friendly-blowjobs narry, first-time-gay-sex lilo, some shared crossdressing-kink shenanigans zarry, some dp lilourry, lots of fluffy ot5, oh and at the end there's even kid!fic, too.

Uncharted Shores by Suzie_Shooter

Words: 111k

Written for a prompt of "the plane taking the boys to LA crashes and the boys are left alone and alive on a deserted island. They're the only five survivors on the plane. As time passes, they find that they will most likely never be rescued and go about settling down. (Building a shelter/house, harvesting food, etc). Just when they've finally settled in, and given in to the romantic relationship between the five of them that was bound to happen, rescue arrives. Back in the real world, they have to adjust to the real world again, but can they leave their relationship behind on the island? Or would they be happier staying the way they were?"

feeling it out by delsicle

Words: 131k/WIP

"Harry wasn’t jealous. He liked watching Louis and Alex together and how blissfully happy they were, a perfect pairing who would one day make a perfect family. Even in his lowest moments when he dreamed about the taste of Louis’s mouth on his, he would never want to live in a world where Louis broke Alex’s heart and left him for Harry.

But maybe he did want to come over one day, and have Louis kiss him in a greeting when he came over for dinner. He wanted a night to come when Alex would pick a tipsy Louis up to take him to bed and to glance over at Harry and say “you can stay, you know” and he wouldn’t just mean just for the night but forever.”

Harry has been hopelessly in love with his twin brother’s omega for five years. And then the war comes.

[kevinmoyer]

Glamorous Winter Wedding at The Battery :: Rachel & Dave

Photography by Diana Rothery.

Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a winter wedding as cool as this one! Rachel & Dave married on their fifth anniversary at super cool members-only club The Battery in San Francisco. They incorporated romantic florals, fun nods to Dave’s Scottish heritage, and some bold, modern elements (like their acrylic stationery… and that dress!) which fit perfectly with the vibe of their luxe urban setting.

Are there any DIY details you’d like to tell us about? Dave wrote a cute poem on the bottom of my shoe, which was a total surprise and I loved it! Also, as one of Dave’s wedding gifts I made him a video highlighting all of our vacations together – it was something I had been putting off forever, so I think he enjoyed reliving those moments.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding? We wanted everything to feel comfortable and not forced, so we chose to forego a lot of the typical wedding traditions because they just weren’t us. The Scottish elements we incorporated (groom and groomsman wearing kilts, our bagpiper) were the most ‘traditional’ things we included. I did have something borrowed, something blue, a six pence, and a tartan garter from Dave.

Rachel told us having a first look “helped my nerves and I felt more relaxed when it came time to walk down the aisle.”

What was the best advice you received as a bride or groom? Rachel: it was from Dave on the day of our wedding in a card he gave me – take a breath and enjoy every minute // Dave: I had received that same advice I passed onto Rachel from a friend. It’s so important to do this as the day passes in the blink of an eye.

The Ceremony

Why did you choose this location for your ceremony? We chose The Battery for our wedding and reception because the building and décor are stunning. Dave and I both work in construction and love history, architecture and design – The Battery has it all! The building was built after the earthquake in 1907 and sits in the middle of the city near the iconic Transamerica pyramid. The interior is modern and luxurious with rich colors, patterns and textures in each space. We were able to use three different spaces within the building for the ceremony, cocktails, dinner and reception, which gave our guests a change of scenery for each part of the day, without the hassle of traveling across the city.

How did you go about planning your ceremony? After deciding what was most important to us, we asked Dave’s brother for help a and he outlined everything. It was important to incorporate Scottish elements, as Dave is from there, so we had a bagpiper play for our entry and exit and chose  a Scottish poem as one of our readings.

What was your ceremony music? Wedding Party Processional: Flower of Scotland / Bride’s Entrance: Highland Cathedral / Ceremony Recessional: Highland Laddie.

Your ceremony in three words. Non-traditional, unique and entertaining… or in just one word, us!

Who officiated your ceremony? How did you choose him/her? Dave’s brother, Alan. We wanted someone who knew both of us well and would remain close to us throughout our marriage. Alan was a huge help in putting the ceremony together and really understood the feel we wanted.

What were your ceremony readings? 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13 and A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns.

What were your vows like? We wrote our own vows – they were personal, a little emotional and mostly playful.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony? Being surrounded by so many great friends and family sharing our special day.

What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with details, so try to see the big picture and remember the day is about you and your soon-to-be spouse, not everybody else. When it comes to selections, choose a few elements that you are really passionate about, then be flexible and open minded with the rest. My ‘must have’ list included our wedding planner, specific photographer, stationery designer and our specific floral vendor.

Also, we chose to wait to go on our honeymoon – for couples doing the same, we suggest planning a mini-moon (nearby, or even a staycation) while you’re still feeling all the excitement from the big day.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? Our venue’s interior design and the city itself were both big inspirations – we wanted something modern, inviting and unique. Our jewel-toned color scheme was incorporated subtly through the flowers and bridal party outfits; it was important that everything be cohesive and timeless. With so many beautiful weddings and styled shoots it’s easy to find inspiration and want to copy everything (!), but try to remember your wedding should have its own identity and reflect what you both like.

Why did you choose this location for your cocktail hour and reception? We celebrated in three locations within The Battery – Musto Bar (cocktails), Parlor (dinner) and Penthouse (dancing). The ability to have the ceremony and reception in one location with an amazing staff and beautiful environment were the deciding factors.

The Reception

How would you describe your reception? A reflection of us – a lively environment with lots of love, conversation, laughing, hugs, stories, dancing and a few cocktails!

What was your wedding menu? Starter: Roasted Beets, coconut green goddess, cress and fennel pollen-pistachio streusel // Entrée: Petite Bistro Filet, green peppercorn and jus // Dessert: Ile Flottante, honey anglaise and orange blossom and wedding cake.

Do you have any budget tips for other brides? Set a budget and stick to it, as it’s easy for things to spiral out of control.

What type of cake or dessert did you serve? Our wedding cake was one tier Lemon Zing and one tier Banana Bread Heath Bar. Dessert was included with the meal, so we didn’t find it necessary to have piece of cake for every guest. We had a small cake for cutting that served twenty-four – so those who wanted additional dessert were given a piece of cake.

What was your first dance song? Father/daughter or mother/son dance? First dance: Better Man by Paolo Nutini // Mother and son: What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Please tell us about any other special details or moments from your reception. Watching Dave dance with the flower girls and ring bearer, and getting to dance with my nephew, Isaiah!

If you had it to do over again, is there anything you would do differently? No!

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