I Cannot Hide This Even Though I Try ~ A COMPLETED One Direction Fanfic

Epilogue - The Big Day

After a split second of hesitation, Niall grins at me. “I do,” he utters, causing my heart to swell.

“Niall and Liam will now exchange rings. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, grief, and joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and love, which flow through the wearers today.”

Greg and Danielle subtly reach out from where they’re standing, handing the rings back to us. I turn enough to see Danielle smiling and giving me an encouraging little thumbs up before I turn to look at Paul.

“Please face each other and repeat after me: Niall, I give you this ring as a symbol of the love I have for you. Wear it now as a sign of the love we share together.”

“Niall, I give you this ring as a symbol of the love I have for you. Wear it now as a sign of the love we share together,” I say as I slip the white-gold band onto his ring finger.

“Liam, I give you this ring as a symbol of the love I have for you. Wear it now as a sign of the love we share together,” Paul continues.

“Liam, I give you this ring as a symbol of the love I have for you. Wear it now as a sign of the love we share together,” Niall repeats as he places a matching ring on my finger.

Paul grins widely at us both before speaking up once again: “Niall and Liam, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other. Hold true to the journey you both pledge today.

“Niall and Liam, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings. By the power vested in me by the State, I now declare you to be husband and husband.

“Congratulations, you may kiss your husband.”

With a passion that only someone who has been separated from their lover for an extended period of time could understand, I press my lips against Niall’s. One of his hands tangles itself in my hair, holding me there for a few moments. All too soon, though, we break apart. After all, both of our families are in the crowd right now, and we’ll have plenty of time later for snogging.

“It is my privilege to present to you, for the first time as a married couple, Mr. & Mr. Horan-Payne!”

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“What day is it? And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive.

I can’t keep up and I can’t back down;

I’ve been losing so much time.

‘Cause it’s you and me and all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to lose.

And it’s you and me and all of the people,

And I don’t know why I can’t keep my eyes off of you.

What other things that I wanna say just aren’t coming out right?

I’m tripping on words,

You got my head spinning;

I don’t know where to go from here.