It was so bright. Too bright.

Itachi moaned, tossed and turned but the brightness followed him – amplifying the hammering in his head. It was a steady thump, thump, thump. He threw his arm over his eyes but even the slightest pressure was too much for his head to handle.

He shot up in irritation, his red, dry eyes scanned the room. Someone had purposefully left his curtains open. He thought back to the previous night, all he could remember was Mellissa revealing a bottle of vodka and then his memories grew grey and fuzzy. He sighed and looked at the spot next him – the spot that was usually occupied by his tan fiancé.

It was empty, a crumpled yellow hoodie was still draped over his chest. Seeing his bed so empty, so large and cold bothered Itachi. It was a significant irritation and a subtle sadness. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and slowly stood up – his surroundings blurred together and his stomach coiled in utter protest.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath,

Then he took another one.

It didn't really help with his run down feeling, but he chose – in utter desperation – to believe that it did help. He stumbled out of his room and into the kitchen where he heard faint sizzling. He stumbled in, seeing Mellissa behind the stove, Obito smiling faintly at his phone and Sasuke munching on some pancakes.

"Wha...?" Itachi mumbled in confusion and slight nausea at the sight of Sasuke's pancakes.

"Well, good morning", Mellissa greeted – not turning around.

Sasuke smiled at Itachi as Obito winked at him in greeting.

"Sit down, I made you breakfast", Mellissa ordered.

Itachi stumbled over to a chair next to Sasuke.

"You smell like a brewery", his bother muttered.

Itachi lightly smacked Sasuke's shoulder, "I do not."

It was silent, "Do I?" Itachi asked in insecurity.

"It's normal", both Mellissa and Obito commented.

"Oh my God, I'm going to go shower", Itachi tried to get up.

Mellissa slammed a plate before him and shoved her nephew back down onto his chair, "Not before you mop up the alcohol."

Itachi looked at the plate before him, there was a cut up banana, two eggs and seven salted crackers. He covered his mouth in repulsion.

"I- I can't eat that", Itachi stuttered.

"Well you're going to have to, to get rid of the hangover – or at least lessen it", Mellissa ordered.

"Mellissa I can't", Itachi insisted.

"Here", Obito passed him a glass of water, "Keep drinking until you can stand the sight of food."

Itachi took a gulp of water and in seconds finished it. He didn't feel much better but he could stomach the sight of the food. He tentatively picked up a cracker and took a small bite of it.

"Now you just keep doing that until it's finished", Obito encouraged.

Mellissa made her way to the coffee maker and Itachi spotted his phone in her back jean pocket.

"Is that my phone?" Itachi accused.

"Usually there isn't a tradition of not speaking calling or texting one another the day before the wedding...but everything is finalised and perfect so I'm not allowing any contact", Mellissa spoke evenly while pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Give it to me", Itachi deadpanned.

"No", Mellissa responded easily.

Itachi squinted his eyes in anger. "Look at me however you want, you're not getting it back until tomorrow. Plus, you two will have the rest of your lives together – one day won't hurt either of you, it might even strengthen your relationship."

Itachi sighed and cut into his eggs, the yolk flowed out and he was quick to eat them – saving the bananas for last. Despite its unappealing appearance, the combination worked well for his hammering head and malaise feeling.

"Okay now I'm going to shower", Itachi announced as he pushed the finished plate away from him.

"Obito, time?" Mellissa asked.

"Eleven", Obito answered.

"You have half an hour before your final suit dressing, hurry up", Mellissa instructed.

"I find it unfair that I'm held to such a schedule if Shisui isn't", Itachi grumbled.

"I'm glad you brought that up, Hae – Shisui's mother – and I have been working very closely together. He might even be on a stricter schedule. Now hurry up", Mellissa scolded her eldest nephew.

Itachi tried to take as best of a relaxing shower as possible – the heat turned up before his final suit arrangements. His attention was always stuck to the spot Shisui's bodywash used to be – it was no longer there.

*****

The fitting was rather quick – Itachi was till mesmerised by his suit, It was a deep crimson colour with the only other colour being the white of his tie, As white as untouched snow. When he put the suit on – it all suddenly felt real.

He was getting married tomorrow – he was completing a promise of love and eternity, a promise his parents had made. Naturally, his fear screamed that he was making a mistake. His insecurities hammered that it wouldn't last – that this promise was going to wilt like a flower during heat.

But Itachi thought back,

"I love you", Shisui whispered, placing his forehead against Itachi's.

That "I love you" was so sincere – so complete – that the Uchiha needed no more convincing. He was going to wed this man and they were going to struggle together. They were going to love and laugh together. Anything, absolutely anything, that came hurtling toward them – they would handle together.

"Okay, now all that's left are your vows", Mellissa commented as she let the stylist out, "Have you thought of any?"

Itachi looked at Mellissa in determination, "This part I want to do alone."

Mellissa smiled slightly in pride, "Of course. Sasuke! Call Sakura – we're going to any restaurant you want tonight!" She called out to the youngest Uchiha.

"Ok!" Sasuke called back excitedly from his room.

Itachi soon had the house to himself, memories visited him like old friends.

"Attention everyone!" The teacher called, "We have a new student. I would like you all to welcome Shisui – he's new here so everyone be nice."

"Hi Shisui", the class greeted – with some girls giggling uncontrollably.

"Go ahead and take a seat", the teacher said.

Itachi had been listening but didn't take his eyes off the chemical equation skilfully written on his notebook. There was a noise beside him as a chair was pulled out. This made Itachi look up.

"May I sit here?" Shisui asked Itachi kindly.

Itachi smiled at how he and Shisui had first met, he scribbled down on a notepad.

"Oh come on, I know for a fact that Konan asked you! We can go as a group, you and Konan. Me and...Kakashi..." Itachi mumbled shyly.

"Don't say that", Shisui snapped, "There is no you and Kakashi!"

Shisui's jealousy at the time now brought a smile to the Uchiha's face, his pen flying across the page – striking out certain lines and rewriting them as better.

Shisui had Sasuke on his broad shoulders, Sasuke's arms were out – like that of an aeroplane. His face was lit up with enjoyment as Shisui grinned slightly – also having fun.

The scene of those two, 'flying' through the living room – basking in the orange afternoon light that seeped through the windows – was so fulfilling to Itachi. It was so comforting and so safe. He wanted to take a picture of it – a picture of the two men closest to him. A picture he could cherish for eternity.

The two playful 'boys' were oblivious to Mellissa and Itachi's presence leaning against the door frame.

"I know I'm the last person to say this..." Mellissa began, eyes never leaving the playful living room, "But you only find one and if you lose them...You go on, searching for them in other people." Mellissa sounded sad but wise at the same time.

It was that memory that solidified in Itachi's mind. He could still feel the golden sunlight on his skin, he could still see nine year old Sasuke atop a seventeen year old Shisui's shoulders. He could, so clearly, see the image. He didn't know at the time – but his mind had already taken a picture of that enchanting scene. When it came to Shisui, he could easily forget the bad times and the ghosts that followed him.

His vows were written and it was passed 7 p.m. The wedding was at ten in the morning tomorrow and his reminiscing had Itachi tired. In fifteen hours, he would be Shisui's and Shisui would be his. He didn't want Mellissa to hound him about getting some sleep so Itachi grabbed Shisui's yellow hoodie, switched off his room's light and got under his covers. He left his curtains open so he could see the stars.

The same stars that Shisui was looking at that night – the two connected in a way that rationality couldn't calculate and that emotion couldn't justify.

A/N: Omg, a wedding... I honestly would have never expected it to reach this point! Are you excited? Let this Icicle know!!❤️