I can�t remember a single detail from that day.
It�s been nearly three months since I asked Billy to marry me, but I can�t recall anything, other than the moment when he said yes.
But I haven�t really got time to think about that today of all days.
My wedding day.
I can�t think of anything except the churning of my stomach, and my vows, that I�ve read and re-read so many times, I think I could say them in my sleep�backwards.
�You about ready, mate?�
I looked up at Orlando and let out a deep breath. �No.�
He smiled and clapped me on the back. �Yes you are.�
I shook my head. �No, I�m not. I�m not going out there.�
Orlando grabbed me by the arm and steered me towards the doorway. When we reached it, we stopped, and he gestured to outside.
�See that guy there?�
I looked over and my heart flipped with love.
�He�s waiting to marry you. So you get your arse out there an marry him�or�Elijah will.�
�What?� Elijah demanded from in front of the mirror where he was fiddling with the rose in his lapel.
�I said, that if Dom doesn�t get out there, you�d marry Billy instead.�
�Fuck off!� Elijah exclaimed.
I turned around and looked at him.
�I-uh-uh, I mean, nothing against him. It�s just�not gonna�you know what I mean.�
I smiled at him and then looked at Orlando. �I couldn�t do that to Billy. Letting Elijah marry him would be like a jail sentence.�
Elijah flipped me off in the mirror and I blew him a kiss.
Orlando put his arm around my shoulders. �So, does that mean you�re gonna get out there and make him a very happy man?�
I grinned. �Yeah. It does mean that.�
Elijah turned around. �Good, because I�m hungry, and Sean kept pinching me every time I got too close the hor dourves.�
Orlando stifled a laugh. �Anyway, lets go.�
I nodded and straightened my jacket as Orlando opened the door, ushering me out.
My heart leapt into my throat as our small amount of guests fixed their gazes on me, and I was tempted to run back into the dressing room.
But then I saw Billy.
Billy, who was standing, barefoot in the sand, his trouser legs rolled up to his calves, hands clenched nervously in front of him, standing next to Margaret, his sister, and Viggo, who would perform the ceremony.
He instantly set my soul at ease.
My anxiety slipped from my body and no one existed except Billy and me.
I stepped out into the New Zealand sand and my toes instantly curled. The grit slid over my feet as I started down the makeshift aisle, towards my destiny, towards my Billy.
�Hi,� I said softly as I came to a stop across from him, and it took all of my strength not to reach over and hug him, to pull him into my arms and never let go.
I just watched him, my eyes locked on his beautiful green ones, my heart beating each beat with love.
He was perfection in my eyes. He was everything I wanted, and everything I couldn�t live without.
My thoughts were interrupted when Viggo, clad in rolled up trousers and a white dress shirt, open at the collar, called for attention.
My nerves shifted into overdrive, and I fixed my eyes on Viggo, who was talking to our guests about God knows what.
All of a sudden, something grabbed my hand and I looked over at Billy, whose hand was in mine.
�I would first like to start by thanking all of you for coming here today, I know that I am honoured beyond words to be such a part of Dominic and Billy�s joining.� Viggo smiled at me. �Today is a special day, one filled with love, commitment and everlasting devotion. We are all gathered here today to celebrate the love between Dominic Monaghan and William Boyd.�
I stopped listening halfway through Viggo�s speech, my whole mind fixated on Billy�s warm hand in mine. He would every so often squeeze lightly, assuring me.
My thoughts drifted off into ones of happiness, scenarios of Billy and I.
�Dominic?�
I looked up at Viggo, my eyes wide, like I�d been caught out. �What?� I asked, my throat dry.
He smiled. �It�s time for your personal vows.�
I nodded and reluctantly dropped Billy�s hand to rifle through my suit pockets.
I began to panic. My vows weren�t in my black suit. They weren�t in the breast pocket of my dress shirt.
�Here,� Orlando said suddenly from my left, handing me a folded up piece of paper. �You gave these to me yesterday, after wigging about losing them.�
I took it gratefully and exhaled, unfolding the paper and turning to Billy.
I took his hands and put the paper in my pocket. �I don�t remember when it was we fell in love. Was it a warm February day, sitting atop a cliff in New Zealand, looking over the landscape? Or was it a chilly Glasgow winter, sitting in front of a roaring fire at Grandma Boyd�s house? Or could it have been the very first time we met? I don�t know, because the truth is, I can�t picture a time in the past three years when I wasn�t in love with you. You�ve stood by me through everything I found hard, so I know there�s nothing we can�t work through. I believe in my heart of hearts that when you receive a miracle like the love we share, there�s nothing you can�t conquer. In honour of that miracle, I pledge before our family and friends to love and cherish you forever.�
I reached up and swiped a few stray tears off Billy�s perfect cheek, and I felt him lean into my touch.
Viggo gave him a moment to compose himself before gesturing to him for his turn.
He accepted the small cards from his sister, and flicked his eyes over them before putting them in his pocket. �I look at you and see my best friend. Your energy and your passion inspire me in ways I never thought possible. Your inner beauty, so strong, that I no longer fear being myself. I no longer fear at all.�
I felt tears well up in my eyes as he spoke, our hands intertwined together.
�I never thought that I could find someone I could love that would love me back unconditionally. You give me purpose when I have none. Without you, my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete. I thank God everyday that you were brought into my life, and I thank you for loving me.�
Tears fell freely from my eyes as Billy bought me into his arms in a hug that I never wanted to let go of.
I reluctantly let him go and looked at Viggo, who had tears in his eyes. �The rings?� he asked softly, and I felt Orlando pressing a ring into my palm.
I gave him a grateful look, surprised to see tears in his eyes as well.
Viggo began to talk again, but I couldn�t concentrate on the words. All I could see was Billy, looking back at me.
I repeated after Viggo the vows of the rings and slid the platinum band I held onto Billy�s ring finger, and he then repeated the action.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I looked into his eyes.
�Today is a day of happiness and love. These two people have pledged to each other their lifelong commitment, love and devotion. I now pronounce you partners in life.�
Billy moved towards me and took me in his arms, crushing our bodies together, our lips meeting in a fevered kiss.
Our tears mixed on our cheeks as we kissed, relaxing in each other�s arms.
�I love you so much,� Billy whispered as his lips broke away from mine.
�Love you, so much Bills�� I whispered back. �So much��
All of a sudden, Viggo was steering us down the aisle and towards a big white marquee, set up on the beach for our reception.
Life seemed to float by as a cloud as Billy and I took our first walk as a married couple.
Friends and family hugged us up and down the aisle, wishing us well and telling us how much they loved us.
We got to the end of the aisle and I turned to Billy.
�Glad to be with you Billy.�
He smiled. �Glad to be with you, Dom.�
