#mostly bc of abigail's insistence maybe

[empcthis]

breaking  news !      actual  hermit  william  graham  makes  only  one  (1)  social  media  account  and  joins  civilisation.

[faridahmalik]

lmao i have nothing super amazing written for v-day bc

well. depression. 

it’s def not finished, but idk. teaser/this will probably never HAVE a full fic but. it’s kinda cute?

modern au fake relationship stuff with Will n Wilson sort of climax scene, aka ‘okay to get them to leave me alone would u be willing to almost marry me?’ aka I have not been to a wedding since i was like five. research was weird.

it’s just self-indulgent fluff. happy valentine’s day.

Wilson tried not to wince as the music starts, he was already steeled for the fact Will wouldn’t even show, just as they’d talked about two days ago, on the veranda of the restaurant they’d all gone to after the rehearsal.

Despite his mother's want of a full traditional ceremony, Wilson had coaxed her into a more relaxed procession, it starting with him at the altar because they didn't have a huge friend group, and Will's only family was Jack and the kids, while Wilson's family was sprawling.

It also made William vanishing easier.

He’d looked determined as they talked about the plan, and really, after all the trouble Will had gone through for him, Wilson couldn’t help but understand. Once this mess was over and done with, he wouldn’t even blame William for not wanting to even be friends anymore. It’d just kept spiraling, and selfishly, once he realized it was more than just platonic love with Will, Wilson had held on. Excuses were made, and more time was spent pretending that they were a couple.

More time both of them making stupid jokes, sarcasm at his parent's antics, living together. More nights in the same bed, talking quietly. More owed lunches, for putting up with all of this, and Will, in good humor, mentioning that at the very least he was fed well for all of this.

The rare staged kiss, which always provoked both thrill and worry.

Their fake engagement rings, which Wilson couldn't help but sigh when he had to put it away until the next visit, wishing it wasn't just a bargain bin set, a pair of cheap fakes, but instead something actually gold, with a real gemstone like amethyst, not glass, that he'd picked out for Will specifically.

Still, he'd fucked this up royally. By not actually asking Will out the first time, too scared he'd lose his best friend, but wanting more time closer than just friends with him.

One deep breath, and he was prepared to feign sorrow, thinking it was cold feet, not their plan. Apologize to his folks for wasting their time and money, though really, he could care less about their money. They’d been the ones who pushed for a traditional wedding, even if the attendance was his family, their friends, and Jack and their kids, and since they said they’d pay, he relented. Really, besides feeling sorry for himself, he was mostly sorry his siblings had to come out with their families. He’d never thought he’d be jealous of them. But there they were, with spouses they cared for and loved.

And then there was their friends, who'd insisted the moment they heard even the slightest rumor, even though they knew this was all a show. He didn't feel sorry for them, just... annoyed.

The room was silent, save for the music; it felt like everyone else was also holding their breath. Wilson couldn't help but bite the inside of his lip, trying to hold back tears that were threatening to fall, at least he could claim nerves. God, he'd made so many mistakes and Wilson just wanted it to be over. Let him go wallow in his broken heart already. He could tell Willow and Woodie were both fidgeting behind him, they were probably tired of this too.

The door opened. Maybe Charlie to say William wasn't coming, his folks had demanded at some sort of best man/woman for both of them, they wanted at least something traditional, even if their son wasn't traditional in the slightest. It'd have to be Charlie, Wes hated speaking.

The music didn't stop. There was no words indicating William was a no show.

So Wilson turned. Wendy and Abigail were first, they had demanded to be the flower girls for their uncle, fake event or not after Jack had explained it to them. His youngest sister's daughter, Wisteria, had joined them, a few years younger then the twins.

Webber, Charlie's nephew and the not official, but basically adopted younger brother of the twins with the rings, also cheap, he'd bought them. Though, with the next sight, Wilson wished he'd spent more on them.

William, with Jack next to him, with the real flowers Wilson's mother had insisted on. If he remembered the mix; poppies, lavender, and lilies. William had acted engaged in the planning, and chose his favourite flowers.

He finally met William's eyes, and there was the same look on the other's face as two nights ago. Wilson's heart pounding so hard he couldn't hear the light whispering from their friends, the right side still silent.

It was as hard to believe as someone claiming he'd finally gotten his dream job, even with the quiet "Hey," out of Will's mouth as he joined him at the altar. Wilson turned to face him, a little early, but no one stopped him.

Stars, he still might cry. William had a soft smile across his flushed face, and was fidgeting slightly, more obvious without the flowers in his hands, already passed to Charlie. His throat couldn't form words, it was like all of a sudden he couldn't find words at all. Their hands though, like they had during rehearsal, slid together, and it was comforting.

Thank the stars they'd asked his old mentor, Wickerbottom, to be officiant, as they'd be able to let her in on what was going on. She, thankfully, was always articulate, even in surprising circumstances and even as he couldn't make out many of the words, the mere sound helped.

William was here. William was still here.

There was a period of silence and Wilson realized that it was one of their turns to speak and oh hell, he couldn't remember the vows he'd only really wrote two days ago and could recite when they were fresh.

"I... I didn't expect to fall in love, you know." Was the first thing out of his mouth and boy did it sound dumb to him, and most likely weird to his folks. "This wasn't what I expected to happen when all this began, a-and honestly, I wasn't expecting to be standing here today, with you. You were... are, one of my best friends. And when I asked for your help, it was for a number of reasons, but one, one that's extraordinarily important, came to light after the fact, and I realized I couldn't let you go. You're so special to me, William. We've been friends since college, and... and, I think I should have realized it sooner. And I'm sorry for that." His face was red, that was completely off script and not at all the vows they'd written.

"Wilson..." Oh stars. That smile was going to kill him. "This... has probably been a long time coming for me. When all this started, when I was helping you, I went in with an aching heart, it was probably unrequited, but you were one of my best friends, and you've helped me so much... I wanted to help you when you needed me. Even if it ended up with my heart breaking in silence."

Oh no. Oh hell. How much had he... Wilson could feel the tears almost budding, how much had he hurt Will through this, by not saying something. Did this tear him apart earlier then it had for Wilson. Had William felt used after a point. That, alone, was terrifying. Will had been though enough of that.

"So I kept on. And I decided to keep going, no matter what laid ahead, and decided to lay my feelings bare, once and for all... even if it ended up a mistake. Because if I ran, I wouldn't know. And so I'm here, right now, with you. My best friend. Someone who makes me happy, who I trust and love with my whole heart. As long as you want me." William's voice broke on the last half of that sentence, and there were tears running down his face, and that egged on Wilson's.

Wilson released the other's hands, then pulled William to him, instead, and hugged him tighter then he'd expected he would, their positioning letting him whisper into the other's ear, along with comforting both of them. "It was breaking me to know you weren't supposed to show." He wanted this so bad, William and him in the house he'd inherited, without his folks around. To wake up and see William sleeping still, the other was a light sleeper but he slept late when he wasn't disturbed.

"I wanted to say something... even if you rejected me at the altar." Will whispered back. "I thought you would..."

"Never. Stars, William, how could I? I love you." This close, he could feel the start of what would have been a sob, before being swallowed down.

"Th-they're waiting on us, you know. Not that it exactly matters, this is about us, but I'm starting to feel a little like a show, and not your groom." There was a swallow, "Though, I'd assume they're just living for the drama, if I know your family and our friends." A little humor and Wilson chuckled, pulling back to wipe a thumb under one of Will's eyes, lifting the glasses.

There was an amused hum before Wickerbottom game an "Ahem?" to convince them to return to how they had been.

"Now that we've heard them speak... are there any other vows you two would like to say before I continue?" There was a teasing smirk on the professor's face, and both of them looked away before nodding.

"Wils-"

"Will-" They'd both opened their mouths at once and quietly laughed, Wilson squeezing Will's hands, asking to go first. "William. I vow to be with you as long as I can, and to love and support you always, and in whatever I can do, to be with you no matter how things are around us. To make amends for how foolish I was, and make you happy. To make you laugh when you are sad and when I can't, to hold you and love you still." Off the top of his head, wasn't too bad, if he said so himself.

Even with tears on his face, the vow seemed to have been received well, eyes wide, staring at him with a smile. "Wilson, I vow to be with you through whatever life throws at us, through bad jobs and broken machines and failed plays, as things don't seem so bad when I'm with you. I vow to love you, to care for you, to support you, to find solutions and working to make things better with you." Show off. "I vow to embrace being your partner, your husband, for the rest of my life."

He hadn't looked at anybody but Will since he'd stood up here, though he had a feeling the sniffling nearby was Woodie.

"We come to a close, in this ceremony, after a final question posed to both of these devoted lovers. Webber, dear, the rings?"

Oh god, he was going to replace these as soon as he could. Wilson mused on the design possibilities as the young man delivered the rings, sliding behind them.

He felt a tap, Wickerbottom handing him a ring, then William the other. "Now, if you would slide the rings onto the tip of each other's ring finger..." They both compiled, "Wilson Higgsbury, do you take William Carter as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." That wasn't something he'd been expecting to say today, but it left him warm.

"William Carter, do you take Wilson Higgsbury to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"Would you both fully slide the rings onto one another's finger?" There was a pause as Wilson did it for Will, and Will for Wilson, this felt too surreal and wonderful to actually be happening, but it was. "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you two wed, you may now kiss your groom."

Oh hell. It was simple and innocent, they've kissed before, unexpected and few, but this took the cake. This was real. Will's lips were warm and uneven, chapped, possibly bitten slightly in nerves.

It wasn't long before they drew back, to the triumphant noise from their friends, mixed with laughter, and clapping (along with a few cheers from his sisters,) from Wilson's side.

However, it was almost too tempting to stop himself from peppering William with more kisses, for every missed moment he should of been kissing him. Though, even the mere passing thought of that was dashed as his parents approached, his mother certainly upset with that frown on her face. His father looked like he couldn't even care.

"Wilson Percival Hig-"

"Wilson Percival Carter." Wilson interrupted. "I'll be taking William's family name, thank you."

"Wilson." She huffed. "I'm not even prepared to go into that little tidbit of information but what was that absolute farce of a ceremony! You made us look like fools!"

No, Wilson considered, he made himself look like an idiot, but that was fairly normal. "I'm completely sorry for deviating from your perfect, pre-approved plan." He managed a straight face. "I wasn't exactly expecting my groom to show up."

"What?!"

"It was supposed to be a farce so you would get off my back! It was always get married to this girl, she's the daughter of one of dad's business associates, I want grandchildren out of you, all your siblings have given me grandchildren, why haven't you! Do you have a girlfriend? I could arrange a date for you! Every time we talked it was always about my lack of a love-life, which I was fine with!"

"You were willing to let us waste our money! Why you self entitled..."

William stepped between them slightly. "You were the one forcing this on us originally. Demanding when we were getting married. If you hadn't, we would of continued to fake being engaged."

"Did your friends think you were dating?" Oh boy, she was seething, Wilson had seen that look in her eyes.

Stars, he was thankful for Willow at that moment, noticing the distress on both of their faces. "We had a bet going on if they'd own up to being in love!" She stated, drawing enough attention away so both of them could half embrace, one of their arms wrapped around the other's waist. Will was shaking, even if his voice was steady, confrontation was not his strong suit. "They might not have been properly dating, but they were both so love sick, it was almost sad."

"So this was all to deceive us." She almost hissed.

"It wasn't wasted!" He shot back, holding Will close. "We tried to get you to let us have a very small ceremony, but you wanted big. But, right now that doesn't matter because your money wasn't wasted. I'm married! To someone I love! Who I greatly would like to go eat some cake with after we both change, thank you very much." He turned and pulled Will along, the other having to take a few longer strides to balance himself again. "Let's go get ready for the party..." He whispered. "We can change and head to the restaurant, I don't want to deal with her for the rest of the night."

It was odd, he wasn't exactly expecting to actually have a reception. Maybe a self-pity reception. Cake and alcohol for one. Their hands were entwined as they headed to the small rooms where both of them had been given to change, and out of habit from being away from everyone, especially his mother, Wilson almost pulled away. He stopped, swallowing as he realized he didn't have to pull away, they were both legally married and genuinely together. It wasn't an act anymore. He could hold Will's hand without much of a reason. He could kiss him whenever.