It was the day of the wedding.

As George stood in the bathroom and adjusted his tie, he stared at himself in the mirror. He looked classic and handsome in his gray suit, one which he'd always dreamed about wearing. He gazed around the bathroom where his personal hygiene items mixed with Nick's on the sink and in the vanity. A second towel hung on the towel rack. It was all very domestic, very cozy.

The past week was a blur now as George prepared for what was ahead of him. He was about to get married to his old high school crush. For money. Deep down inside, it felt wrong. It kept George up at night, no matter how much he tried to reason with himself.

Did it feel wrong just because of the money? Or was it that it wasn't a marriage born of love? He'd told his parents, Rachel and Donnie, over the phone what was going down. Although they hadn't been too keen on the idea, they said they'd still show up for the wedding. That was fine by George since he hadn't expected them to jump for joy, or anything. Still, it was the fact that they hadn't that made him feel a little down. He wanted to experience the joy of announcing an engagement to the family and being met with warmth and excitement. After all, wasn't it meant to be a celebration to draw family closer?

“Hey, are you almost done in there?” Nick called through the closed door.

“Yeah, but it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” George called back in a playful tone, glad to be shaken out of the funk before it got too deep.

“Good thing you're not the bride, then.”

“Are you the bride?” George further teased, grinning away to himself. Neither one of them was the bride, of course, but it was all in good fun.

“Do you have a thing for men in dresses? Kinky.”

George laughed then opened up the door. When he did, his cheeks exploded with color as his eyes fell upon the gorgeous man before him. Nick wore a black suit that fit him perfectly. The dark fabric brought out his eyes and how handsome he was. The traditional suit complimented his chiseled jaw. Then again, George had always had a weak spot for men in suits.

“You look incredible,” George murmured.

“So do you,” Nick said, his voice low. When their eyes met again, George's whole body became flushed. Throughout the week, they had not once had sex. Still, the tension was present between them every time they passed each other. It was only further heightened by their close proximity and the stress of the wedding.

Before George could do something foolish, like jump Nick, he took a step forward and brushed by him. “The bathroom’s all yours!”

“Wait.” The voice was punctuated by Nick’s hand grabbing George’s arm.

George stilled, gazing back at Nick in question.

“Are you really sure you want to go through with this?” Nick asked, his voice low and careful. “It's not too late to pull out now.”

George drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I've been thinking about it a lot. Sometimes I'm not sure this is the right thing to do, but... we both really need the money, so I'm game if you're still game.”

“It'll all work out,” Nick promised as he gently squeezed and massaged George's arm.

“I'm sure it will,” George agreed as he flashed Nick a smile.

* * *

George was excited for the day, but very nervous as well. They had the ceremony slot booked for 1:30, although they were going in earlier to get their marriage license, which was legally required no earlier than 30 minutes before the wedding. This was also when they were going to meet up with George's parents, Nick's parents, Jett and Ryan, and Davin. Although George had read that the San Fransisco City Hall only listed bringing six guests, he'd read comments from couples who said that this didn't seem to be a strict guideline. He had no desire to make things more complicated, especially since there was only a ten-minute window for the actual ceremony. Davin had agreed to be their photographer since he dabbled in photography. Then, there was a party planned for the evening that cost more than the wedding itself. George was still amazed with how cheap it was to actually get married.

When they arrived outside of City Hall, it really hit George that this was happening. His chest tightened as the breath was sucked out of his lungs as he gazed to the building. The hall itself was beyond gorgeous. It was made of beautiful stone with the grandeur of a palace. It was beautifully rounded and tall in the center with rectangular builds on the sides.

It seemed like he and Nick were the first to arrive of their party. George trembled now as he watched other people go up and down the steps leading to the hall. Like them, some were obviously getting married that day. Some wedding parties were larger, which led George to believe they likely booked private weddings instead of going the civil ceremony route.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around his own. George gazed at Nick by his side and blushed as Nick wrapped his hand back around his.

“You doing all right? You're shaking,” Nick observed. The kind gesture and words only made George more emotional about everything, but he tried to hold it together.

“I'm just nervous. Also a bit excited.” Nick had done this before—the marrying thing. It was completely new to George. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this was actually happening.

“As long as you don't get cold feet,” Nick teased with a grin.

George laughed, but before he could reply he was distracted by a familiar voice shouting, “Hey!” Davin was the first to arrive, dressed up in a suit with a fancy camera in his hand. At least it looked fancy to George, who didn't know much about cameras. “I hope I'm not late.”

“Actually, you're the first to arrive,” George said with a large smile.

“Perfect! Do you guys want some pictures outside of the building?”

George's cheeks went red as he glanced to Nick. “I'm cool with it.”

“Yeah, same here,” Nick said with a smile of his own. With each passing moment, the nervousness turned into excitement. Did Nick want to get married more than he let on?

“Hey! Look at you two!”

George's whole body flushed as he spotted Jett and Ryan walking toward them. He was still a fan of Jett's, and Ryan Sparrow was promising. He was also a big fan of them simply being together. Two romance writers falling in love and being with each other was so something George was on board with.

“Hey, guys!” Nick greeted, and then nodded between Ryan and George. “George, this is Ryan. Ryan, this is George.”

“Pleased to meet you,” George said, his voice cracking a little as he shook Ryan's hand. “I loved your book.”

“Oh, thanks!” Ryan said with a beam. “Nice to meet you, too. You guys look great.”

They barely had time to converse before both sets of parents arrived on the scene, although he was infinitely more pleased to see his own parents. Although they had said that they'd be there for the wedding, a part of him had worried that they'd back out. Despite not being too close, their support still meant a lot to George.

“Look how handsome you are!” Rachel gushed as she approached and hugged George.

“Thanks. I'm really glad you guys are here,” George said, unable to stop smiling.

Rachel glanced to Nick and then back to George. “I may not wholeheartedly like what's going on here but I'm still not going to miss your wedding.”

“I think we should all go inside now,” Nick spoke up over everyone's chattering. “We can all get to know each other later. We have to get the marriage license first before the ceremony.”

“Yes, sir,” George giggled, giddiness suddenly hitting him. He drew in a deep breath and grasped Nick's hand before striding inside. The building was truly impressive and so bright despite being made of stone. He didn't have time to gawk, though. That'd be for later. After the necessary paperwork was filled out and the marriage license was obtained, it was time to get married.

George's nerves were back with a vengeance. He was shaking so much that he was sure someone was bound to notice. Despite this, he couldn't help but to smile as he watched couples ahead of them. Some were even more nervous than he was, but everyone glowed. Especially the couples that returned, now married.

Finally, it was their turn. George instinctively reached for and grabbed Nick's hand to brace himself as they walked forward. When Nick squeezed his hand as though to calm him, his heart fluttered. It wasn't like he was marrying a complete stranger or someone he hated, and that was enough to give him hope despite the initial conditions for going into this.

As they continued through the City Hall and to the second-floor rotunda, George's eyes were drawn forward to the grand staircase. The space was beyond gorgeous, in George's humble opinion. The stone carvings above the archways of multiple doors, the circular designs on the floor, and multiple lamps that were like candles was beautiful. Sunlight streamed in through the windows above, adding to the beauty. The geek inside couldn't help but to think about wizards inhabiting this place.

George held his breath now as he and Nick moved into place before the judge while their friends and family stood to the sides. His hands were clammy and he felt bad that Nick had to hold them. There was no way in hell he was going to wipe them off in his suit, though.

He raised his eyes to meet Nick's and was relieved to see that he looked nervous as well. As soon as their eyes met, he was rewarded with a smile that was probably meant to reassure Nick as much as it was to reassure him.

Even despite the tension, Nick was glowing.

George's heart skipped a beat as warmth and affection overwhelmed him.

“Welcome family and friends,” the judge started as she held open her book with the script. She was a kindly older woman with her silver hair pinned back, although some wisps still fluttered free, giving her a more youthful look. “We are gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony of Nicholas Morgan and George Bennett.”

Even hearing Nick's full first name alone was enough to make George beam. Even though they were surrounded, he couldn't take his eyes off Nick's. Although this marriage was ultimately a scam, in that moment, the weddings itself was true and pure. George allowed himself to get swept up in the fantasy of it to enjoy it to the fullest. It was easy to do when he allowed himself to dwell on how much he cared for Nick.

As the judge continued through the opening, George was almost dizzy with happiness. As if sensing that he was in danger of floating away, Nick squeezed his hands now and again to ground him. Little gestures like these only made George even more pleased.

To be honest, while he heard what the judge was saying, the words didn't really register with him. His head was too high up in the clouds. She kept the speech short and sweet, and George snapped back to attention when he heard, “And now the vows.”

George straightened up, drawing in a deep breath and readying himself. It was now that he noticed the tremble in Nick's hands, too.

“Nicholas Morgan. Do you take George Bennett to be your husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, until death do you part?” the judge asked.

“I do,” Nick said, his voice breathy.

In that briefest of moments, George was alarmed. The words they were saying were sacred. It felt wrong saying them when they weren't intending to be together until death did them part. No, this was all a ploy.

Hold it together, man, he told himself. Think of the money.

“George Bennet, do you take Nicholas Morgan to be your husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, until death do you part?”

This was it. This was the moment in which he could've let the charade fall apart. He could've legged it like a runaway bride. He could've left this scheme far behind and returned to his old, somewhat mediocre, life.

But instead, without even truly thinking about it, he uttered, “I do.”

“Now we exchange the rings,” the judge continued.

George was a nervous wreck, his hands clammy, but he held it together as Jett gave Nick the wedding band. He didn't even see the bands beforehand since it was Jett himself that picked them out. He and Nick had been so busy with everything that Jett took that task on for them. It was another aspect of getting married that George had missed out on. The rings didn't feel personal, and they were supposed to be powerful symbols of love and commitment.

George gazed to Nick still as his hand was held up and the ring placed to his finger but not slid on. In those few moments, he searched Nick's eyes again. Was he thinking of fleeing? Did he truly recognize the insanity of what they were doing?

Unsurprisingly, Nick looked much calmer than George felt. In fact, his eyes were adoring, which made George blush. What earned him that look?

“Please repeat after me,” the judge said. “I give you this ring in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed.”

“I give you this ring in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed,” Nick responded while sliding the ring onto George's finger. It fit perfectly and filled a void he never knew he had. He was shaking, smiling and blushing. Nick's voice was so warm and sincere...

Then it was George's turn as Davin approached and gave him the wedding band. Like Nick did, George repeated after the judge, “I give you this ring in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed.”

As he slid it onto Nick's finger, his heart nearly exploded. Despite wanting to run away mere moments earlier, he purely lived in the moment.

The judge continued with closing words and her blessing as George and Nick held each other's hands once again. When she was done, the judge smiled. “I now pronounce you husband and husband.”

Even though she didn't call for it, George surged forward and caught Nick's lips in a sweet kiss. In all the weddings he'd ever seen on TV and in movies, that's what happened. For a second, he could feel Nick’s surprise, but before George could pull away, Nick gave him back a light kiss in return. In the background, there was light clapping.

When their lips parted, Nick was glowing, too. He was radiant standing there before him, their warm hands clasped as the cool metal wedding bands warmed on their fingers. With the way Nick looked at him in that moment, George could've sworn there was real love there.

If this was a dream, George never wanted to wake up.