Between Friends

Song: Love Like We Do by Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians (I picture this as the song that plays at the end of this chapter. It's so perfect for the ending- The end of the chapter... not the end of the story! I'm not done yet!)

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Once you both walked back up the aisle and entered the building, you leaned toward Chris, "I really gotta pee, babe."

He laughed, "Of course."

He took you back into your dressing room as it was the closest restroom. You rushed in, him strolling in behind you as you made a hasty beeline for the bathroom.

He glanced around the room, his hands in his pockets, while you did your business and when you came back out, his attention snapped back to you. "Everything come out okay?", he joked.

You scoffed out a laugh as you went to him, humming, giving his lips a soft kiss, "Just fine... Hubby."

He blinked slowly, the corners of his mouth curled into a gentle smile, "Hmmm, I've waited so long to hear that voice say that word."

"I've waited so long to say it.", you smiled back. You moved around him to sit on the sofa taking his hand, "Whoo. I need to sit for a minute."

He sat next to you, lifted your hand, kissed it, then smiled. He looked around, shrugging out of his suit jacket and draping it over the back of the couch, "This is a nice room, mine was a closet compared to this." You both chuckled and he continued, loosening his tie, "Nice couch too." His gaze suddenly got intense.

You knew what that look meant. You turned your head slightly, but before you could react, his mouth was on yours.

He guided you down to lay on the couch with a hand on your back, being careful not to put weight on your belly. He then kissed your neck and shoulders urgently, his beard tickling you and causing you to giggle and pull up your shoulder. He growled playfully in response and he was desperately trying to bunch up the skirt of your dress so he could touch your skin. His voice was husky as his lips and tongue continued their work, "I fucking need you, baby."

Your insides fluttered and your inner walls started swelling quickly at his words. "We need-", his teeth grazed you and you let out a vocal gasp, "Ah!... Chris, everyone's waiting.", you breathed out, your eyelids falling closed.

He spoke against your mouth now, between kisses, barely shaking his head, "No, no, no... they can wait... I can't." He finally got all that fucking fabric up to your hip and threw your leg over his waist so he could squeeze your ass firmly, his grip spreading your center slightly.

You whimpered against his parted lips, your hands tangling in his hair. You really wanted him too and it was getting harder to protest.

There was a knock on the door and you panted against his mouth, "Chris-"

"It's locked." His words were hurried as he assaulted your neck again and swept his fingers over you center.

You gasped, gripping his strong arms through his dress shirt and he growled deeply at your reaction.

There was another knock, followed by Shirley's voice, "(Y/N)? Chris? You in there?"

Chris's head fell, hanging down as you paused and called out, "Yes! Just a second!" You urged him back with a hand and he lifted himself and sat back on the couch, heaving out an exasperated sigh.

You stood, him smacking your ass, making you squeak. You smiled over your shoulder at him and he smiled back, you pushing your dress back down, heading for the door.

When you opened it, she spotted Chris past you on the couch, arm draped over the back of it, looking a bit disheveled.

She smiled, "Oh, there you are!" She looked to the side, shouting down the hall, "I found 'em!" She addressed Chris now, "You can't get her pregnant when she's still got one in there, son."

You giggled and he pressed his lips together, tilting his head and raising his eyebrows, "Doesn't make it any less fun." He smoothed his hair back with his hands. He stood and started tightening his tie as Nat came in the door.

She looked at you both, Chris now putting on his jacket as she smirked at you. "I told you." She grinned. "Now hurry up, everyone's waiting."

Her and Shirley left the room.

"Told you what?", he asked as he hiked his jacket the rest of the way on.

"That my dress would make you want to drag me to a closet and boink me right after the ceremony.", you chuckled.

He glanced up from the buttons he was doing up, his forehead wrinkled, "Well, the dress helps, sweetheart,", he walked to you and gave you a quick kiss, "but it's my wife inside the dress that made me wanna boink you." You smiled as he kissed you again and took your hand, leading you out the door, "Let's go, Mrs. Evans."

Once you both approached the event room, it was already starting to get dark. You heard a voice announce your entrance, everyone clapping and cheering. You both entered as the soft, slow music started for your first dance, Chris leading the way to the dance floor, hand in hand with you. The room was only dim enough to give an intimate mood, those strings of white lights complimenting the tone.

You were both beaming as he gently swung you around in front of him. His hand lifted, still holding yours, his other wrapping around your back, your arm coming to rest on his shoulder while he pulled you close against him.

He looked down at you with more love and adoration than you thought was possible as you both started to sway. You gazed into his eyes, you both smiling softly at each other. You could see your future in his eyes; your husband.

You could picture him as a father to your child... playing with your little boy as a toddler; chasing him around the park, scooping him up and pretending to eat his little round belly playfully while the little guy giggles uncontrollably. You could see them bouncing up in their seats and shouting at a game on the TV, spilling a bowl of popcorn from between them all over the couch in their enthusiasm. You could imagine Chris tucking in your son, kissing him on the forehead and saying 'Goodnight, little man. I love you.' with your boy returning a small 'I love you, Daddy.' before Chris smiles and turns out the light.

You took a huge breath and as it came out, your eyes welled up in a flash and you choked back sobs, still looking him in the eyes.

His face twisted a bit as he spoke low and titled his head, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Your breath hitched and you shook your head, "Nothing. Everything's perfect."

His eyes got a little wet too, "It really is. I love you, (Y/N)." He dipped his head down to kiss your lips so softly.

You smiled and laid your head on his chest and slid your arms underneath his and laid your flat hands against his upper back, "I love you, Chris. More than anything."

He sighed heavily at your words, closed his eyes and enveloped you in his arms completely, hunching over you protectively, both of you still moving to the music with everyone watching... but it was just the two of you in that moment. His heartbeart... that heartbeat... that heartbeat that could comfort you in a way nothing else could. You felt safe, secure and loved. So loved.

After your first dance, people came to say congratulations as you and Chris stood at the front near the stage, Sam and Nat with you both.

After about five minutes, you felt yourself getting antsy, looking down the line of people waiting to see you both. You were getting hungry, shaky and your feet and back were hurting. You kicked off your heels then took a drink of from the water bottle on the chair behind you, "Honey, how many people did we actually invite?"

Chris didn't get to answer you before another couple greeted both you both, hugging you up; more of his family. Most of the people there were people from his family and some of his friends, less your shared friends and a good number of people from work.

He could finally answer you between people, "About one twenty-five, I think." He put an arm to your back, the other under your belly and dipped his head, seeing you trying to hide your discomfort and noticing you shaking, "You okay, love?"

The next people were waiting as he tended to you and you answered, "I-", you sighed. "I don't wanna put anyone out,", you got up on your toes and he bent down so you could talk quietly in his ear, "but, I'm really hungry, my feet and back hurt and I have to pee again."

He held you close against him now, "Baby, why didn't you say something sooner? Don't you worry about anyone else. You come first." He called over to Sam and asked him to tell the band to announce that the bride needed a break to get something to eat and you both would greet everyone else afterwards. It was also announced that the buffet was open, so they were welcome to eat. He scooped you up to take you to the restroom first, with Nat in tow.

"I got her, Nat.", he glanced over his shoulder.

"You can't go in the ladies room Chris, and she's a little shaky.", she argued.

His brows furrowed, "The fuck I can't. Who's gonna stop me?", he challenged, chuckling confidently. He set you down in front of the restroom, "I'll be right here, little mama." He kissed your head and waited while Nat took you in with her hands under your elbows.

Chris carried you back to the wedding party table off to the side of the stage where you, he, Nat, Bruce, Sam and Maria would sit. As he did you chuckled, "I know you're my hero and all, but I can still walk."

"I know, but you said your back and feet hurt and if I can keep you from being uncomfortable, I will." He set you down next to your chair and pulled it out, then he sat after tucking your chair in. He rested an elbow on the table, his other arm over the back of your chair as he leaned in, "I'll always take care of you, remember?" He huffed out a laugh and shook his head, "Still not changing."

You smiled softly, "I actually love how you take care of me. It makes me feel treasured. Thank you."

He returned your expression and leaned in to nuzzle right under your ear, "My little... wife." He hummed, planting a kiss there as you fought a giggle, scrunching up your nose at his facial hair tickling you as he continued, "Mmm, wife." He pulled back and he scrunched his face up, looking silly, "I just love saying that." You chortled as he asked Nat, "Can you sit with her, please, while I go get us plates?"

"I'll get it, you stay with your wife.", she winked at him.

He nodded and smiled, "Thanks, Nat."

Bruce got up and went to help her.

After you got something to eat, you were feeling a lot better and you greeted whoever came up to see you both. Then there were the toasts up on the stage into the microphone; Nat, Sam, Chris's Dad and Tony all had one to give.

Nat told everyone that she was the mastermind behind the whole relationship and told everyone "you're welcome". She then got serious, her eyes tearing up. She bit her lips into her mouth for a beat, "But, really, (Y/N) has become my best friend. She lets me tease her more than I think she should.", she huffed out a laugh. "And I've been friends with Chris for a long time too. I just knew,", she looked at you lovingly, her closed lips in a small smile, tilting her head, "these two needed each other. And I'm so happy they're here today." She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with the pad of her finger, "Thanks for making me an Auntie! Congrats you crazy kids!"

Sam talked about how he saw Chris struggle to win you over and that he was proud Chris hadn't given up, because with you was were he should be. Chris's Dad told about how he was so glad that a wonderful young lady like you was able tie Chris down because his wife was driving him crazy about Chris giving her grandbabies before it was too late. He then became more serious and loving, welcoming you to the family.

Tony talked about what he had seen between the two of you since the beginning and how he always assumed you'd end up together... "I had always seen that... pull between you. I knew that one day you'd both end up here... and I always had a hunch it would be three of you here today... though I pictured it a little different..." He stared at you both intensely for a beat. You teared up and Chris squeezed your hand under the table. He was talking about Sebastian, but in a way that only the two of you and a handful of others would understand. You bit the corner of your bottom lip to hold back crying. You heard Nat sniff next to you.

Tony then broke eye contact, addressed the crowd and became lighthearted again, booming, "I was betting they were gonna have a girl!" Everyone laughed. He looked to you both again, "Congrats, I love you both." The guests clapped. He made a blowing kiss gesture at you and you smiled as Chris wrapped his arm around you and pulled you close to kiss your temple.

"I wanna say something, come with me?", you asked Chris.

His eyebrows pulled up, "Sure, baby."

He stood, took your hand and led you up to the stage. He stood near you, shoving his hands in his pockets as you stepped up to the microphone. You shielded your eyes from the the spotlight for a beat and squinted as you muttered, "Jesus."

There were soft chuckles from the crowd, then you continued softly, "Hi... So, uh, first of all, thank you to each of you for coming. I can't tell you how much it means to me- us-", you turned and glanced at Chris. He winked and you faced the guests again, "that you all came today. But what I really wanna talk about is the man who is now my husband." You reached out for his hand and felt the tears pushing behind your eyes. His brows pulled up in center and he took a step closer, taking your hand. You continued, "I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to marry the one who has become my everything. He's been my friend, my shoulder to cry on, my rock, my strength...", your own tears were falling quickly now.

You looked at Chris. His eyes were starting to glisten with tears. He squeezed your hand and looked to the floor, free hand back in his pocket again as you addressed the crowd, "He was an unsuspecting victim of indecision...", he heard Chris huff out a laugh at that as you went on. "He was patience, love, devotion, wisdom. The level head, the needed smiles, the strong arms of safety and security...and now the father of my child..." You choked on a sob, "He was there for me through some deep and tragic losses..." You pressed your lips together and his eyes met yours as you looked to him again, "One of them, was a loss of someone very close to him as well. And he waded through his own pain, right by my side... all while still managing to take care of me... take care of us." He bit his lips into his mouth and nodded gently, a tear rolling down his cheek while he blinked, his eyes moving to the floor again. "He never gave up on me...", you sniffed. You were still looking at him and when you spoke to finish your string of thoughts, his eyes met yours again, "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, Chris... You're my hero. I love you."

You went to hug him and he took you in his arms quickly, holding you tight as people applauded. He spoke low into your hair, "I love you, baby. Thank you for that."

You both pulled back, wiping and dabbing at your eyes. Near the mic, you said, "Ugh, I need to fix my makeup again."

"You looked perfect.", Chris said quietly, smiling at you.

Sam shouted at Chris, "WHAT?!"

Chris leaned into the mic, "I said she looks perfect."

Some made 'aww' sounds and others laughed.

You chuckled, smiling, hitching a thumb at Chris, "This guy..."

He put a hand to the back of your neck to pull you closer and kissed your head, bent over and kissed your belly then stepped to the microphone with an arm still around your waist, "Okay, enough crying... LET'S DANCE!"

The band started playing a loud, upbeat song as everyone stood, leaving their tables for the dance floor. Chris led you down the stairs and to the floor, laughing, scrunching his nose and shaking his head at your cuteness when you started to shaking your baby belly and your booty. You scrunched your nose back at him, smiling and he took your hand pulling you into him and kissing you deeply. He pulled back, smiling softly, shaking his head. He couldn't even think of the words to express how full his heart felt... so he just said, "My heart is so full... there are no words."

You smiled up at him, "Me too."

He kissed your nose and started to sway slowly, you following his lead as he held you against him. You rested your head on his chest and you both continued to sway as everyone around you danced their little hearts out.

The rest of the night was filled with nothing but joy, laughs, smiles... and looking to the future.