Prelude to Light, Part 4 of 6
Five times Michael watched, and pined away after, Alex interacting with others' kids and the one time it was their kid.
AN: Funny story, I may or may not have forgotten to post this chapter three days ago. So, sorry for the delay!
Also, I'm so so nervous about this chapter.
Isobel poked her head in and Michael grinned, nervousness forgotten. His smile broadened when Max followed her in, both of them smiling widely at him.
He spread his arms to the side. "How do I look?"
"You look great, Michael," Isobel said, voice thick with tears. She was clearly trying very hard not to cry, and Max, when Michael chanced a look at him, wasn't faring any better.
Isobel pulled him into a tight hug, then patted his cheek with a watery smile and stepped aside. Max took her place, pulling him into a bear hug.
"I'm so proud of you," Max whispered into his ear. "And I am so happy for you, Michael."
Michael sniffled. "Thank you. Now get off me, you big lug," he whined playfully.
Max pulled back and rolled his eyes, shoving Michael gently.
"We'll see you out there," Max said with a grin. His brother put an arm around their sister's shoulder and steered her out of the room.
Michael took a deep breath, blew it out slowly and tried to contain the mess of emotions he was feeling.
He smoothed a hand down his suit jacket, straightening out imaginary wrinkles.
His sister-in-law came in and closed the door behind her gently. She had her heels in one hand, and the other one was resting on her prominent baby bump. When she turned around, she was smiling. It only took a few seconds for her to tear up and Michael chuckled and went over to hug her.
She squeezed him within an inch of his life, and when she let him go, she smoothed a hand down his shoulders to his arms. "Look at you!" She exclaimed tearfully. "You look so handsome, Mikey."
"It's just a suit," he teased her gently. "You've seen me wear a suit before, Lizzy."
She swatted his arm and huffed when her phone buzzed in her hand. She muttered a few curses in Spanish. Michael rested his hand on her belly and frowned in mock disapproval. "Little ears, Liz."
She rolled her eyes. "Your brother is driving me insane." She took his hand and walked them both over to the chairs in the corner of the room. She sat down, and put her feet up on his thighs. "He keeps telling me to rest. Do you know what we fought about this morning?"
He couldn't keep an amused smile off his face. "What?"
"Heels. We fought about heels, Michael." She huffed.
"He didn't want me to wear them because, apparently they're bad for my back."
Michael looked pointedly at said heels, which she'd abandoned by the door, and then at her with a pointed lift of his eyebrows.
She shrugged sheepishly. "They're so pretty! And who knows when I'll be able to wear them again."
He laughed and she chuckled along with him, hand rubbing absentmindedly at her belly. "How are you feeling?"
Their eyes locked and he realized with a jolt that she'd been distracting him, and that it had worked.
"Excited." She raised an eyebrow and he deflated. "Nervous, terrified" he admitted, a little ashamed.
She settled her legs on the floor and leaned, a little awkwardly, to hold his hand with her smaller ones. "You know, I was so nervous before my wedding, I was nearly vibrating out of my skin."
He let out a breath. "Yeah?"
She smiled, her nose crinkled, and Michael couldn't help but smile too. "Oh yeah, but the minute you see him, it'll all go away."
He slid closer and hugged her, albeit awkwardly considering their positions.
Her phone rang and she smiled, exasperated and fond in equal measures. "Hi, babe," she answered. "I'm resting my feet like you told me to," she protested, then laughed at whatever Max said in reply. She stood up with a groan. "I'm fine, Max! I'm pregnant, not an invalid."
When she was at the door, she opened it, stepped out and then came back in. "Oh, and Mikey?" She smirked. "You look good."
He laughed. "Get out of here!"
This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach
Michael had Alex's hand in his, while the other was on his shoulder. It was a bit hard to dance slow to this song, but they didn't care, and they made it work somehow.
Yours was the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
And I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go
"I love this song," Alex told him with a grin.
"And thank god for that." Michael leaned in close, the beginning of a teasing grin appearing on his face. "If you hadn't, we'd probably still be arguing over which song to dance to."
Alex huffed. "You didn't like any of my suggestions either, you know."
Michael chuckled and placed a chaste kiss on Alex's lips, then his cheek. He felt him smile and his own smile widened.
So if you wanna be with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery, ah-ha, mm-hmm
Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I really think you like me
The song ended, and they stayed in each other's arms, swaying slowly and lost in each other's arms.
Michael felt small hands push at his legs and when he looked down, he saw their four year old niece poking his leg insistently. He and Alex separated and crouched down to her level. She ignored Michael in favor of snuggling into Alex's arms, and his husband- Michael was sure he was never getting tired of saying that- sent him a smug smile from over Gemma's head. They stood up slowly and Michael put a subtle hand on Alex's back, just in case he needed a bit of support.
The second they were both standing, she held her hands up to Alex and said, "I wanna dance now," with all the authority her three feet tall body could muster.
Michael stifled a laugh and watched adoringly as Alex picked up the little girl with an exaggerated groan.
Michael stroked a hand down her hair, though he made sure not to mess it up, and smiled when she glanced at him. "Hey, Gem, can I dance with you?"
"No," she said decisively.
Michael clutched his chest in mild hurt and pouted. Gemma huffed and patted his cheek. "It's okay, uncle Michael; don't be sad. I'll dance with you, too." He gave the laughing Alex a smug smile and made to take her out of his arms, but the little girl pushed his hand away. He spluttered and watched her lay her head on Alex's shoulder. The other man shrugged, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
Michael huffed and stepped aside, watched Alex hug the little girl close and whisper something to her that made her giggle. He looked around, and when he spotted the water bottle at the nearest table, he realized how thirsty he was. He went to grab it, but then he was intercepted by his sister. "Let's dance," she said as she dragged him back to the dance floor.
Michael groaned. "Now I know where Gemma gets it from," he muttered, as he allowed her to tow him behind her.
The song playing was slow, and it wasn't one he recognized. Alex was now twirling a giggling Gemma, who seemed to be having the time of her life.
"Pigs are flying, aren't they, Michael?"
"Hmm," he said, but a second later the words registered and he tore his eyes away from the adorable sight of his husband and his niece dancing. "Cute," he told her, rolling his eyes.
"I'd be offended by you ignoring me, but I know exactly what it's like to see the guy you love with kids," she sympathized, a shit-eating grin on her face. Michael definitely did not blush, but he did roll his eyes. "It does things to ya."
She suddenly laughed, and when he followed her line of sight, he joined her. Gemma seemed to be teaching Alex a dance, albeit clumsily, and his husband was definitely stifling a laugh as he tried to imitate her moves.
"Aw, she's such a spaz," she said fondly.
Michael shook his head at her and laughed. Greg came over to them, their two month old baby sleeping in one arm and wrapped the other around Isobel. She smiled and leaned back into his embrace, closing her eyes when he kissed her cheek. Michael smiled, thankful beyond measure that she'd found someone who loved her like she deserved.
The beginning notes of a familiar song replaced the slow one, and Michael grinned when Liz, Rosa and Maria came rushing onto the dance floor, dragging a reluctant Max and an amused Kyle with them. The nine of them, plus Gemma, started jumping around and dancing like kids to the cheerful notes of Mrs' Potter's Lullaby.
Alex, who had somehow been able to learn Gem's dance, was dancing with the little girl, both of them laughing so hard he was surprised they were still standing.
Michael stopped dancing altogether and just stared at his husband. Alex's tie, along with his suit jacket, had been abandoned on some chair in the room, his sleeves were rolled up till his elbows, and his hair was disheveled in a way that no one else could pull off. Smiling and laughing, Michael could safely say he'd never seen him so happy as he was now.
He made his way to him, and saw Gemma hug Alex's legs. She looked up at him with a look of pure adoration, and he returned it tenfold.
He couldn't help but picture him like that with their own kids. His heart ached for it; for the possibility of having their own little family someday in the future.
"Hey," Alex called out to him over the music, hand extended towards him and fingers wiggling impatiently to have his own wrapped around them. He pulled him close and pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to his cheek, then carded his hand through Michael's hair.
Michael smiled and leaned in, kissing him tenderly and leaning his forehead oh his husband's temple. "I love you so much, Alex."
Michael leaned his head on Alex's shoulder, closed his eyes, and smiled. He'd just married the love of his life, he was surrounded by their family, and he was truly happy.
For now, it was way more than enough.
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