Warnings: None

Word Count: 2019

Author's Note: It's the moment you've all been waiting for: the wedding chapter :) and an introduction to Max! I hope you enjoy this one :)

*     *     *

You watched as Marenna and Carter moved slowly around the dance floor. They were so wrapped up in one another that it was almost like nobody else was in the room but them. It was nice to see the two of them so happy - Carter, especially - after the last few months of hectic wedding planning.

Your moment was interrupted by someone tugging on your clothes. Max was standing next to you, one of his little fists clutched tightly around some fabric, looking up at you with wide eyes. You bent down so that you could hear him better.

"What's up, little dude?" you asked.

"Drink," he frowned.

"You want some juice?"

He nodded and held his arms out to you. You scooped him up and walked back towards the table where the bag Marenna and Carter had given you was sitting. Shortly after you had set Max down in a chair, someone walked up behind you and placed a hand on your back.

"Need any help?" Tyler asked.

You relaxed once you realized it was Tyler and not some family member who was coming to rope you into a conversation. Your teenage relatives - and some of Marenna's who hadn't realized that Tyler was "part of the family" - had already been hovering around you for most of the afternoon, hoping for a chance to talk to Tyler or get a picture. It happened at every family reunion nowadays.

"Yeah, can you make sure he doesn't run off while I grab him a juice box?" you asked.

"No problem. Hey, woah, little dude," Tyler said, quickly grabbing away his beer bottle that Max had been reaching for. "That is not for kids."

"Ty, Carter is going to kill me if he gets his hands on a beer."

"I grabbed it in time!"

You shook your head as you finally found the juice box buried underneath a mountain of stuff that Carter and Marenna had left for you. Max, upon realizing that you were holding what he was after, started to reach his little arms out towards you, making grabbing motions with his hands.

"Juice."

"Hold on, bud, I have to get the straw in here for you."

When Max finally had his drink in his hand and was happily sipping away, you took a seat at the table. People started to walk back towards their own tables now that the first dance was over, happy to go back to their talking and catching up with family members that they hadn't seen in a few months. You turned to Tyler and held out a hand for him to grab.

"Hey, Ty," you said, giving him your best smile.

"What do you need?" he laughed.

"Could you go get me a vanilla Coke from the bar? My throat is a little dry."

"No problem, I needed to get a drink for myself, anyway," he said, bending down to give you a quick kiss before walking off.

"Thank you."

You took a second to watch Tyler walk off before turning back to Max. He was still sipping away at his juice, his eyes roaming around the room at all the unfamiliar faces.

"How does that taste, Max?"

He nodded and then gave you a little thumbs up. You reached out and brushed some hair back from his face, even though he tried to avoid your hand. When he saw the frustrated look on your face, he began to giggle.

"You're just like your dad, did you know that?" you laughed, tickling his side. He giggled and swatted at your hand.

"What's going on over here?"

"Dadda!" Max cheered, his juice box instantly forgotten.

"Hey, buddy," Carter smiled, picking up Max from his chair and then promptly sitting down in it. "How is he being?"

"He's doing great. The only trouble we had was earlier when he kept trying to get Tyler to chase him during dinner, but other than that he's being an angel."

"Good." Carter pressed a quick kiss to the top of Max's head. "I'm glad to hear it."

"How are you doing? Is everything going ok?"

"Actually, yeah. This is much less stressful than I thought it would be."

"I'm glad, you deserve to have fun today."

"Thanks, Y/N."

There was a pause in your conversation as Tyler arrived back with drinks: the vanilla Coke you had requested and another beer for himself. He wasn't typically one for drinking, but if he kept up the pattern he had right now, he would be a little more than tipsy by the end of the night. Not that you minded, it had been a hard month for Tyler; letting loose for a night might not be such a bad idea for him.

"Hey, Joseph, how's it going?"

"Pretty good. Congrats on the marriage, dude."

"Thanks," Carter said. His face had once again been overtaken by his dorky grin.

"Marenna is finally a Y/L/N now, officially," you smiled.

"Yeah, and you won't be one much longer," he said, elbowing you.

You rolled your eyes. Carter had started pestering you and Tyler about getting married over the last few months, despite the fact that you had told him numerous times that you were in no rush. With Tyler's busy schedule, finding time to even think about planning a wedding was a struggle.

Even if deep down you knew it was something you wanted.

"Anyway," Carter said, noticing the awkward silence he had created. "I just wanted to check in with you two and this little dude." He ruffled Max's hair. "Marenna and I are going to talk to some more people and then we can take care of him for the rest of the night so you two can relax, sound good?"

"Perfect," you smiled.

Carter set Max down in his seat and then stood up to hug both you and Tyler. Max started to get upset once he realized his dad was leaving, but Tyler was quick to swoop in and distract him. You couldn't help the smile on your face as you watched him spin Max around in his arms and toss him into the air, all the while Max giggled happily.

"More, unkie!"

Tyler turned to you, obviously tired after throwing him around so much.

"Come on, Ty!" you smiled. "You're a performer, I know you can do this!"

"Yeah, but I'm not used to carrying around weight like this," he laughed.

"It's good practice! He's only going to get bigger."

Tyler scooped Max back up and started to swing him around again, nearly taking out one of your aunts in the process. Thankfully, Max's cute smile was enough to appease her and keep her from chewing out Tyler too much, though he did still get a stern warning. He turned to you with a nervous expression, but you simply waved it off. That aunt had always been a bit harsh, anyway.

Max eventually got tired of playing and walked over to sit in your lap, making himself comfortable on your shoulder. Tyler, still panting, sat down across from you and grabbed his beer, taking a long drink.

"I still can't believe how big he's gotten," he said. "I know I was only gone for a month, but I feel like he doubled in height."

"I know. It's like you blink and a year has passed."

Tyler quietly took a sip of his beer. You leaned back further in your chair, shifting Max so you could sit a little more comfortably. The rhythmic tapping of his hand on your stomach indicated that he was still awake, but you could tell by his steady breathing that he was getting close to falling asleep. It had been a big day for him.

"Tell me if you need a break from holding him, ok?" Tyler said. "I don't mind."

"I will. I'm just looking forward to when Carter and Marenna come to get him so we can finally dance."

Tyler smiled, "Me too."

*     *     *

Your opportunity finally came an hour or so later. After a brief conversation with Carter and Marenna, they finally took a sleeping Max off your hands so that you and Tyler had an opportunity to have some fun for a little while. Tyler was also a little tipsier than he had been earlier in the night, meaning that his confidence was double its normal levels.

Your hand was held tightly in Tyler's as he led you towards the dance floor where most of your family members were currently dancing. They hardly paid any attention to you as you made your way into the crowd and found some space for yourself. Tyler wasted no time in beginning to dance, swinging his hips wildly and flailing his arms about the place.

"Come on, why aren't you dancing?" he smiled.

You started to swing your hips a little, but Tyler obviously wasn't pleased with this level of movement. He reached forward and laced his fingers with yours so that he could move your arms for you. It was impossible not to giggle as Tyler moved your arms all over the place, despite the fact that your hips were still barely moving.

"I've seen you dance before, Y/N, you're not fooling me."

"Yeah, at home where nobody else is watching."

"Nobody is watching right now! Look around."

As much as you hated to admit it, Tyler was right. Everyone was too wrapped up in dancing with their own friends to pay attention to you. Even Carter, who usually liked to poke fun at you, was too busy dancing with Max and Marenna to pay attention.

"Fine, fine, I'll dance a little more."

Tyler began to smile widely as soon as you started to move your hips, quickly forgetting about all the people around you and focusing only on him. You kept your fingers interlaced as you moved around together, both of you giggling and smiling like idiots.

The music eventually slowed down and people who didn't have dance partners began to filter themselves off the floor. Tyler brought your dancing to a stop and put on the most serious expression that he could muster.

"Y/N," he started. "Love of my life."

"Yes, Tyler?"

"Will you dance with me?"

"Of course."

Tyler pulled you closer to him and found a comfortable place on your hip for him to rest his hand. Once your hand was on his shoulder and your fingers were interlaced, Tyler began to sway the two of you slowly. His focus was on you, and you only, as he stared deeply into your eyes.

"What are you doing?" you smiled, already feeling your cheeks get hot.

"Just admiring my beautiful girlfriend."

"Oh? Where is she?" you asked, dramatically looking around the room.

Tyler reached up and caught your chin with his hand, gently tilting it up towards him.

"Right here." He pressed a kiss to your lips, but didn't linger for long. You were still surrounded by your family members, after all.

"Smooth," you giggled.

He leaned forward so that he could whisper in your ear, "The alcohol helps a lot."

"Oh, shut up."

Tyler smiled and pressed another kiss to your cheek. "You know, I've had a lot of fun today with you. It was much needed."

"I had fun too. Thank you for coming along as my date."

"I'll never turn down an opportunity to spend time with you."

You smiled at Tyler, taking this opportunity to admire all the little things you loved about him. It was hard to believe that you had been lucky enough to have him next to you for ten years, even if your relationship had been rocky from time to time. He was everything you could have asked for in a life partner, and then some.

"Now who's staring?" Tyler grinned.

"If you get to stare, then I do too."

"Ok, ok, point taken."

"I love you, Tyler."

"Oh, I get the full name today?"

You shook your head, "Just say it back, doofus."

"I love you too."

Yep, this was the guy you were head over heels in love with.