The sun was warm on his shoulders and back. He smiles looking up into the clear blue sky. It was a beautiful day in San Fransisco. He glanced down at his arms and touches his chest. The smooth white tux, gliding under his palm. There was something he was suppose to do, some place he was suppose to be, but he just couldn't remember.
Derek pushes the large door to the church open and the music fills the air. Wedding music. A young man approaches him, his hazel eyes wide with worry. "I was worried about ya, come on, before we're late." Philip took his hand and lead him to the front of the church. Alex and Rachel smile as he walks by hand in hand with the priest. "I thought you'd never get here." Philip points to the place beside the alter and Derek steps into place. He leans a little toward Derek and whispers. "You have the ring, don't you?"
"The ring?" *What's going on here?*
"Yeah, the ring, you're suppose to be the best man, remember?"
"Oh, yes, of course." Derek reaches into his inside pocket and pulls out a small ring box. He opens it and looks at the two, matching wedding rings. "Best man."
Philip nods and smiles. "I k'ow how y'u feel. It was quite sudden."
Suddenly everything begins to spins, Nick is standing in front of him. *Nick?* He yells out but Nick just smiles and takes the ring, placing on the finger of a blonde woman. Laura smiles at him as Nick speaks his vows. "With this ring," the room becomes cloudy and Nick looks at Derek, "I thee wed." Laura takes the other ring from the Philip and speaks her vows as well.
Everything goes in slow motion as the vows are completed and Nick and Laura make their way down the aisle. Philip takes Derek's arm and leads him down the aisle after the 'happy couple'. Clapping, yelling, laughter fill the church as they go through the door and out to the front steps.
"Nick, no." He couldn't get to him, couldn't ask him what had went wrong. Nick was married and was leaving. Philip smiles up at him and nods.
"NICK!!!" Derek sits up in bed, drenched in sweat. Nick comes through the door.
"Derek, what's wrong?" Nick sits down beside him, feeling his forehead.
"You left me," He glances down at Nick's attire, a white tux. "Oh goot, you got..."
"Derek, it's ok, I'm here." Nick brushes the sweat drenched hair from Derek's eyes and caresses his cheek. "I'm here. What happened?"
"You and Laura."
"Yeah, me and Laura. What?" Nick climbed up on the bed and sat close. "We went out to dinner, I was keeping an eye on her."
"You married her."
"What?" Nick laughs a little. "I like Laura, but I'm kind of partial to my own sex. If you know what I mean." Derek sighs and sits back, relaxing a little at Nick's words. Nick feels Derek's forehead again. "At least you're a little cooler, your fever was pretty high when I left."
"What?"
"You were sick, don't you remember?"
"Sick, I ahhh..."
"Yeah, you had a fever. I wanted to stay, but you insisted I go and take Laura out. Rachel said your fever was down. Are you sure you're okay?" Derek leans into the touch this time and gathers Nick into his arms.
"I love you." Nick pulls back and smiles.
"I love you too. I'm gonna get out of this monkey suit and come to bed. Okay?" He stands up and walks to the door. "You do know what tomorrow is, don't you?"
Derek shakes his head. "It's Valentine's Day boss man. Just you and me, breakfast in bed and all the benefits." Derek smiles and lies back, "Go back to sleep, I'll be back soon."
Derek nods and forces a smile. He watches Nick slip away and through the door. He curls on his side and pulls hte blanket up. It may have been just a nightmare, but don't dreams mirror your thoughts, feelings and fears? He will want a family someday, he's so young.
*How could I expect him to want to stay with me forever. Maybe not tomorrow, but someday, I will lose Nick.*
He fought the tears for awhile then let his body fall asleep.
~finis~
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