7 years later...

"That's too much gel, Clive!", Dylan shouts at him as he keeps on styling his hair.

"Just a bit more..." he bites his lip as he keeps working way too hard.

"You should really stop now," Dylan says, worriedly. He didn't want to look like a joker on his wedding.

"He is right. You should stop." David says, casually munching on the almonds. He wasn't here for anything else but food.

"You are one to talk." Clive scoffs and then turns Dylan to the mirror to show him his masterpiece, "Ta-da!" Clive claps his hands excitedly.

Dylan frowns after looking at himself. No way he would let James see him like that.

"Yeah, no. I am washing my hair." And he rushes to the bathroom to take off the filthy gel.

David stumbles from his chair, laughing. "You should just stick to anchoring."

Clive empties the whole almond bowl over his head as he stops laughing.

"Daddy!" Anna comes running straight into David's arms.

"AAH! My princess is here to save me. Save me from Clive!" David asks cutely to their 5-year-old daughter.

"Daddy, Logan uncle is panicking, something about James uncle." Anna pouts.

It then clicks.

They have been so focused on Dylan but it was James's wedding too!

x-x-x-x

"No, no, let me just jump from here and we'll see if the wedding continues or no!' James, who is standing close to the window, is threatening Logan.

"Come on James! Are you kidding me now? The wedding is in 2 hours!" Logan is so done with this kid. People have cold-feet before their wedding. James seems to have totally lost his mind.

"No, no. Let him continue." David chuckles when he arrives to the room. Clive and Anna are still with Dylan. "I wanna see how it ends."

Logan looks at him in disbelief. "What are you even saying?"

"This is what my students do in their classes. Whenever I announce a test, they just flee. But if you tell them to do the same thing that they are doing, that is running away, they wouldn't actually do it. It's a proven fact." David sits down smugly.

"Yeah, yeah. Why don't you tell the scheme to everyone?" Logan whispers because James was listening.

"They are supposed to listen! That's how it will work." David shrugs looking at James who was now a bit calm. James takes a deep sigh and sits down in front of the mirror. He touches his suit, looks at his well-groomed hair and sighs again.

"What if I don't make him happy?" James sighs.

"Okay, we've been over this an hour ago. Dylan loves you and you make him happy. Period." Logan pats his back.

"But...what if...." James starts but is interrupted by Dylan.

"Can I talk to him?" Dylan peeks into his room.

"Yes please!" David pushes him in and gets Logan out of the room. "Let's give them some privacy."

"Are you okay?" Dylan asks James, walking towards him. James stood there frozen because he couldn't take his eyes off of him.

"I......" he stutters, "I.....you....look....amazing..." James just looks at his amazing small face which glows in the sun. A blush creeps across Dylan's cheek as he still walks towards him.

He presses a small kiss on James's lips and pulls away, "All okay?"

"Perfect!" James smiles through his teeth and holds him by his waist.

"I know this is stressing you out. With the movie coming out and the wedding, we can always postpone it, love." Dylan gives an understanding nod.

"No. Everything is perfect now. I promised myself that I will make you mine on the day the movie releases. Because that story is our story, the story of how we met." James caresses his cheek, "I am sorry, baby. I freaked out." He chuckles.

"It's okay. I am freaked out too. I changed my hairstyle at least thrice just before coming here." They both chuckle at their silliness.

Until the knock on the door.

"Dylan, are you in there?" the voice from outside the door makes Dylan freeze on his spot. He looks at James and mouths, "Noah?"

James goes to open the door and sees Noah, in the flesh.

"Oh, I am sorry if I disturbed you. I'll come later." Noah was about to turn when Dylan peeks from behind,

"Noah?" his voice was cracking. The last time he saw him was 3 months ago when he was released from prison for his good conduct.

"I can come some other time," Noah says but James invites him in with a hug.

"Long time no see! Come in!" Noah hesitantly comes in and is face to face to his little brother.

"You really came!" Dylan hugs him and Noah looks really emotional.

"I'll give you guys some time alone." James pats his back and leaves the room.

"You really came!" Dylan exclaims again, pulling away from the hug.

"Well, I couldn't miss your wedding, could I?" he chuckles back.

"Why didn't you meet us after you were released?" Dylan's voice becomes small, "I kept sending you letters but you never responded."

"I.....I just...couldn't face any of you right now. It took me a lot of courage to come here too." Noah says.

"You know we don't blame you for what happened to William, right?" Dylan knows that must be the case that Noah is so hesitant to meet his own brother.

"I know you guys don't but I can't help but think. I wasn't myself when I stabbed William but I could have stopped that demon from overpowering me." Noah sits on the bed with a long sigh.

"But you already paid for that. You were in prison for six years." Noah sits beside him.

"But me confessing and repenting for my crimes won't bring William back, would it? And all the other people whom I killed?" Noah looks at him with tears in his eyes.

"Noah..." Dylan wants to speak but nothing comes out of his mouth.

"Look at me! It's your wedding today and I am making you cry." Noah chuckles and then gets up.

"I.....can't really give you a wedding gift because not many people are keen on giving a job to an ex-convict but here..." he hands him a photo album with all their group photos and family photos. "I hope you like it."

Dylan's eyes are brimming with tears as he turns through the pages, "I love it! But why are you giving this to me now?"

Noah looks at him with a knowing expression and Dylan's eyes become wide.

"You are not staying for the wedding?"

"I think I should leave now." Noah pats his back, "I am moving back to Deltora."

"Why?" Dylan asks, surprised. "You can stay here in LA with all of us. It will be like before."

"Nothing can be the same without William here. And me being here will just be a sick reminder of him not being in this world anymore." Noah looks down, "That is the punishment I give myself. To be away from you guys, to be away from you." He looks at Dylan who is crying.

He hugs him tightly, "I would like to change the beginning of this story and let you guys have a fresh start." Noah says while sobbing.

"You can't just go back and change the beginning. You can start where you are and change the ending." Dylan says, whimpering. His hug tightens.

"Perhaps, somewhere, someday, at a less miserable time, we may see each other again," Noah says his last goodbye and leaves a sobbing Dylan on the floor. His tears keep running through his cheek as he closes the door. But someone taps on his shoulder.

He quickly wipes his tears and turns to see James.

"Thank you, Noah, thank you so much for coming." James hugs him again. Noah is emotional again seeing the kid hug him whom he hurt so much.

"Take care of Dylan," Noah says walking straight ahead.

He reaches the end of the stairs and looks at Clive, David, and Logan standing there. Clive was holding Anna in his arms.

"Congrats to you both." He smiles at Clive and David and holds Anna's little hands, "Darling, you have got the best parents in this whole world." Pointing at Clive and David.

He then looks at Logan and he reciprocates with a warm smile. Noah's heart hurts remembering everything he has done to them but they still receive him warmly.

"When are you leaving for South Korea?" he hugs him and then pulls away, asking him.

"Tonight. After the ceremony." Logan replies.

"I am sorry...for whatever I have done till now. Wish you all good luck." Noah dashes down the stairs, without looking back or answering to their calls.

"Noah!" Clive shouts but he doesn't answer.

"Why did it feel like he was saying goodbye?" David frowns.

x-x-x-x

"Noah really went?" James says looking around. Dylan and James were now walking down the aisle and to the pastor.

"He wanted to punish himself," Dylan says. James holds his hands tightly and whispers to him.

"You okay?" Dylan nods and smiles at him.

x-x-x-x

The ceremony was over. James and Dylan take the center table and sit.

Clive takes the mic and starts the announcement.

"Everyone, thank you all for coming to this wedding. A special thanks to Mara Martin, who, even with her busy schedule, could attend the wedding." Everyone claps looking at Mara and she raises her drink to him.

"To your delight, let me introduce to her as the female lead in James's new film, 'Castle'." The applause becomes louder at the mention of it.

"I, as the best man, would like to say a few words to our two friends. William, it has been four years since you are gone but the pit you have left behind is still in our hearts. We wish if you are up there listening, bless us with your amazing knowledge." Everyone chuckles as Dylan and James look at Clive with tears in their eyes.

It's true. They are missing William a lot.

"Now, I'll let my ex-boyfriend say a few words." He passes the mic to David as everyone gasp at the introduction.

"Firstly, Clive, please stop addressing me like that. I am his husband, everyone, not an ex-boyfriend." Some people were laughing, "I would like to thank everyone who attended this wedding. Noah, if you are here, then please listen." He looks around but couldn't find him. James clutches Dylan's hand.

"We cannot change the course of fate. We are meant to be standing here, celebrating with our closed ones. Even though we come across various hurdles, we cross them together." He looks back at Clive and their daughter.

"Someday, you will realize that the pain was necessary for yourself. And the day you realize that, you will grow." He raises his glass to Dylan and James, "Congrats to you both. And we miss you, William and Noah!" David shouts and Dylan chuckles at his cuteness.

The party has just started. James and Dylan are busy greeting the guests.

"Hey, guys? Meet Jung Hoseok!" a tall man shakes their hand, "He is the leader of my team." Logan introduces him.

"Congratulations." Hoseok wishes them.

"Please take care of him. We know he is a bit dumb but he loves photography, and he knows he will learn something from you." David jokes and gets a pinch from Logan.

"Hehehe, that's enough." He grits through his teeth. Hoseok just chuckles looking the group of friends. It reminds him of his own.

"Okay, okay, everyone!" Clive brings their attention to the couple, "Our newly wedded couple have something to tell you. A big round of applause!" everyone claps as James and Dylan take the stage for the first time as husbands.

"Thank you, everyone. We prepared a small thing." James starts.

"These are like our thoughts to each other. I remember spending so many months just thinking about what to say, but when I looked at James, I knew what I had to write." He looks at James.

"I'll start." James takes a long breath and looks at his paper and then at Dylan.

He doesn't need the paper!

"Dylan, I love you. I don't mean I love you like the way I love my coffee with two sugars or the way I love an extra ten minutes of sleep on a Monday morning or the way I've never loved anyone before. I love you in a way where we always fight evil spirits from the past and come out victorious. I love you in a way that I'll be willing to rob a convenience store just for your midnight cravings. I love you in a way that when this ends, our love remains. I love you more than Walter loved his poems."

"I love you in a way that consumes me. To me, you are that part of life that is my strength. Dylan, will you give me that strength and stay by my side, forever?"

Dylan nods happily as James says these words looking straight into his eyes.

"Ahem, guys? Get a room!" Clive shouts as Dylan keeps staring at James. Everyone laughs as they see two flustered boys up there.

"Uhm....mine isn't so long...but I hope you like it." Dylan looks at James again and says,

"James, I got more than I ever wished for. And you know something funny?

Lifetimes ago, it was you.

it's still you."

James smiles at the reference and picks Dylan up. He presses a long kiss on his lips as everyone applauded.

They truly have what they wished for.

Each other, in their arms like this, forever.

x-x-x-x

Noah reaches the graveyard with a small white rose. William always liked white roses. The grave already had a few of them indicating the others were here too. I guess he was late again.

He falls on his knees as he looks at the name.

"In the loving memory of - William Payne."

Noah places the white rose as a tear trickles down his cheek.

"I didn't get to say how much I loved you." He says as his voice cracks. "Thank you for staying, even when you had every reason to leave. Thank you for not letting me break into pieces and making it easier whenever life got hard."

"I thought how can I be good enough for anyone else when I'm not even good enough for myself? But you proved it wrong with you love."

"Maybe, it was not our time. Maybe, it was never meant to be. Maybe, you and I were just a moment of relief, to each other's extreme pain."

He gets up, wiping his tears. "I promise to stay by your side, protect your heart forever and always."

Noah presses on last kiss on the gravestone before leaving, this time for good.

"I miss you. I miss who I used to be but I like where I am going now." He smiles, waiting to live out the rest of his life as penance.

The End