"Hey, J."

"Hi Chris."

"Guess what?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm getting married."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gwen had made Chris feel a certain way, it was true. After all, she was beautiful, talented, funny, and quite intelligent. However, Chris realized after his initial encounter with the blonde actress that his attraction for her was fading by each passing day.

He knew that he wasn't going to find any woman that he liked more than Jonny, and he knew that Gwen was probably his best and last chance at a happy life.

So, afraid that he was going to lose Gwen for good, he proposed less than a year after they had confirmed a relationship to the press.

And fuck, she'd said yes.

Chris was both excited and nervous. Yes, he was finally able to start the family that he needed to save his ass, but it also meant leaving Jonny for good. He wanted Jonny. He wanted kids. Why couldn't it have worked out?

He took a deep breath and thought about the positives. Gwenyth was an amazing woman and children were a blessing from the universe itself.

But Jonny. How would he break the news to Jonny? He hadn't had a girlfriend yet. He hadn't gotten back on his feet yet. He had to tell him. It's not like something as big as a marriage was going to be kept a secret forever.

Again, Chris sighed. It was only then that he noticed that he was pacing back and forth in his bedroom of the flat he rented, only a bit away from Jonny's.

He sat down, stood back up, then sat down again. Jonny, he thought. Oh, my dear, sweet Jonny Boy.

They were set to finish up the album they'd been working on next year, so the wedding was set for this year. This year!

"I can do this. I can do this!" Chris told himself, and he picked up his mobile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm getting married."

The heartbreak was so much for Jonny, he was worried that Chris would hear the crack in his heart through the phone.

Married. Chris, the love of his life, was getting married to someone else.

He should feel happy for the singer. After all, Gwen was amazing and he knew how happy she made Chris. But it was so soon. They hadn't even been together a year, and Chris had already proposed. Meanwhile, Jonny couldn't even get a girl to look his way.

It was all too much.

Tears ran down his face, and though he was crying, he did his best to hide it from his best friend. "Th-that's great man! Congratulations!"

Chris noticed, of course, like he does nearly every time Jonny is upset. "Hey, man, are you ok?"

Chris knew it was coming. He knew he was going to hurt Jonny more than he already had, and it was painful to listen to. "I'm coming over there," Chris said when the green-eyed guitarist didn't reply.

He was over in no more than five minutes. He quickly hugged his best friend and ex-lover, who was sitting on the couch bawling his eyes out. The sight of it made him want to do the same.

"It's okay, J. Cry it out. I understand." He tried to hold himself together, but the sight of his love, heartbroken and in pain because of him, was too painful to bare.

He broke down, too, and on the small couch in Jonny's flat, the two of them cried, holding each other in shaking hands. Chris wished that he could explain everything. He wished that Jonny would believe him and that everything would be ok, but realization that it could never be done flashed in his constantly-thinking mind, and he cried harder.

When they both had their tears dried out, they held hands and looked at each other. "Why were you crying?" Jonny asks suddenly.

The question took Chris by surprise, but he supposed that Jonny had already forgotten the promise they had made over a year ago.

"Forever and always," they had said.

"My love for you will never stop, Jonny. I promise."

"Nor mine for you. I promise."

"Forever and always."

The two of them sat there for awhile, Chris deciding whether or not he should answer honestly, and Jonny waiting his decision anxiously. "Because Jonny, I..." He avoided saying the three words that could have fixed (or ruined) everything. "I... feel so horrible about hurting you. You only deserve the best."

Half the truth is better than a lie, Chris thought.

"Oh... well, I forgive you for everything, of course. You only wanted a family and I can't hold that against you. It... it hurts, but as long as you're happy, I'll support you." Jonny squeezed Chris' hand harder before letting go and walking to his kitchen.

Chris sighed and wished he didn't have to imagine himself with Jonny anymore. He wanted Jonny more than anything, but everything was upside-down on Ollama.

"I'm sorry, Jonny. I really am."

J shook his head. "Don't be sorry. Have some tea. You look tired."

That's my Jonny Boy. Looking out for me even when he needs attention more than I do.

Chris gave him a small smile and declined. "You need some more than I do, J."

He shook his head. "Nonsense. We'll both have some."

After a minute of back and forth, Chris finally gave in drank some of Jonny's tea.

One thing about the green eyes was that he could somehow make tea better than anyone else in London.

"Jonny Boy back at it with the tea that gives me orgasms," teased Chris.

"Hey, don't you get any of your seamen on my floor, you twat! I just washed it!" He replied with a hearty laugh. Chris loved making his friend smile and giggle, especially when he was down.

"It would match this horrible-colored floor you have! Seriously, this color looks like what a baby would throw up after drinking soiled milk!"

"I didn't pick it!"

"You picked the house didn't you?"

"Well, when I was looking for a house, I wasn't exactly looking for a beautiful floor," Jonny said, making both of them crack up.

"Come on, man! That's what everyone should look for! A beautiful floor and a large toilet, obviously. Everyone knows that!" They laughed harder.

"Guess I didn't get the memo!"

Chris was just happy to see Jonny laughing. When they were together, the gray fog masking the beauty of Jonny's green eyes was lifted. It was beautiful.

I will try to fix you, Jonny Boy.

Chris was struck with emotion as heartfelt, emotional lyrics flowed through his body and onto a piece of paper that he had grabbed at random.

"Hey, you'd better not let me find any pornography on my shopping list," Jonny teased. Chris cracked a smile, but was too busy writing to respond or really process what the younger man had said. The only reason he had really smiled was being able to hear Jonny's voice.

Tears steam down your face,
When you lose something you cannot replace.
Tears stream down your face,
And I...

"Are those lyrics?" Jonny asked, serious now.

Chris nodded. "You'll have to put a riff to it, J."

He handed Jonny the notepad and watched as he reacted to the heartbreaking lyrics. At one point, he wiped at a tear trying to escape and Chris sat, helpless, but hopeful.

"These lyrics are deep, Chris."

The songwriter nodded. "Can you riff it?"

Jonny's face lit up. "Of course! Let me grab my guitar."

He ran to his room, grabbed his favorite guitar, and ran back while Chris sent a text to Will and Guy.

at j's place. we think we have a new song idea. please come over. thankyou.

As soon as Jonny sat down, he began to play different chords, trying to find the right sound for the powerful lyrics that Chris had written. Chris sat beside him, making faces at different chords and wondering how on earth he'd gotten himself into this situation. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"It's probably Will or Guy," he said. Jonny ignored him.

Chris opened the door and let in Phil, who both Jonny and Chris were surprised to see. "Hey, Phil. What are you doing here?"

"Will texted me and said you all were working on something. I was just down the street when I got it, so I just head over here. Watcha got, J?"

Jonny smiled. "I actually just got the lyrics from Chris. I'm working on a riff now." He handed the notepad to Phil, who read the lyrics carefully.

"Damn! These are good!" He said as he read the last word. Chris smiled and looked back at Jonny.

He played a chord and Chris gasped. "J! Play that again!" Jonny replayed the chord and Phil nodded.

"Yeah, that's the one."

"I love it! Can you make a riff out of that?"

Jonny nodded. "I like it, too."

Not too much later, Guy and Will showed up at the door, Will with two drumsticks and Guy with his bass.

"Guys! Listen to the riff Jonny came up with!" They listened intently as Will read the lyrics.

"Wow, it matches with the lyrics so well," he said, passing the notepad to Guy, who agreed. "Well done, mates."

Chris and Jonny smiled. "It needs bass and I'm thinking keys as well," Chris suggested. They all nodded and before long, they were in the studio recording perhaps the most sad song they'd ever create.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How do I look?" Chris asked his friend, fixing up his bowtie.

Jonny gave a small smile. He wasn't happy. He should have been, as his best friend was about to marry an amazing woman. But, at the same time, it was his love that was about to marry an amazing woman.

"Incredible," he said, honestly. Chris smiled and hugged Jonny, breathing in his scent. He hugged back, savoring every second. It was the last time that he could hug Chris as a non-married man, and it stung.

"Thank you for understanding," Chris breathed. Jonny nodded.

When Chris pulled away, Jonny noticed himself gazing deeply into those ocean blue eyes, searching for any sign of hurt.

Chris hid his pain well, of course. Letting Jonny know that he was about to marry the wrong person could be disastrous to everyone, and he was unwilling to take that risk.

He took a deep breath before kissing Jonny, quickly but softly, on his mouth, and walking out of the dressing room, where Phil, Guy, and Will were all waiting for him.

Jonny didn't move. He was stunned from Chris' soft lips having been pressed against him one last time. Was it a sign? Did Chris still love him? Could it be possible? No, surely not. He was marrying a woman, and Jonny certainly was not as amazing as her.

"Leave it to Chris to be late to his own wedding," Guy teased, snapping Jonny out of his trance.

He ran into the hallway with the others and admired them. Indeed, they all looked very attractive, Jonny thought, chuckling to himself. "Sorry, Jonny wanted to get one last check of my arse," Chris said with a laugh.

"It was hanging out of your tux! Seriously, could they have made it any bigger?" Jonny retorted with a snort.

"Come on, you two! You'd better get down there before Gwen does or she'll be steaming," Will chuckled, waving Chris and his best man off. "Good luck, mate!"

Jonny, his best man, shuffled out of the hallway and quickly ran down the stairs to where the wedding was being held.

It began quickly and Chris took a deep breath. Jonny gave him a comforting pat on the back, but all he could think about was that kiss. What did it mean?

Gwenyth began walking down the aisle, and Chris noticed his hands shaking.

"I love you, Chris."

He imagined two different voices in his head. Gwen's voice, which was intimidating in a sexy way, and passionate, and the way that she talked to him made Chris wonder if she was into him for the same reason that he was into her. Then, he imagined Jonny's sweet smile and his genuine tone.

"Forever and always."

This was a mistake. He wanted Jonny, not Gwenyth. He looked back at his love, and saw the hurt. It pained him. It really did.

"Chris? Your vow?" The priest asked, shaking Chris from his trance.

"Oh, right..."

He quickly recited the vow he had written to his fiancée, suddenly not meaning a word of it. No, he didn't love your shining brown eyes. He loved Jonny's sparkling green eyes. No, his heart didn't lurch every time he saw you smile. His heart lurched whenever he saw Jonny smile.

He had another decision to make. Risk everything to be happy with the one he loved or drive himself insane by playing it safe with someone his heart had no desire for.

"Chris, do you take Gwenyth to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to care for, through illness and through health, through bad and through good, and for as long as you both shall live?"

What lies.

Here it comes.

"I..."

~Author's Note~
Sorry about the cliffhanger! But this chapter was already pretty long and I didn't want to make it longer.

We still have plenty more to go! Thank you for reading! I truly appreciate everything!