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#i am wasting too much time on this hell site/app and mostly mobile app as it stands
tsuyu-season · 4 years
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If you can't make your own self-discipline, store-bought is also fine :)
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1989dreamer · 4 years
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In Your Little Werewolf Oven
On AO3
Summary: Danny moves to New York City and ends up opening a bakery called Little Werewolf Oven and most of his clientele ends up being supernatural.
As his reputation grows, Danny finds himself overwhelmed, so he advertises a position and gets not one, but two blasts from the past in the form of Derek Hale and his boyfriend, Stiles Stilinski.
Things work out great for Danny because now, not only does he have more time to do the things he wants, but he also meets his future husband through Derek and Stiles.
Life couldn’t be greater, Danny thinks.
Note: Andrew Erickson would be played by Aldis Hodge if on screen.
Main relationship: Danny/Andrew
Background relationship: Derek/Stiles
                                                                                                                     ~ * ~
Danny makes his break with Beacon Hills when he chooses colleges. He graduates high school a semester early and then heads out.
No one even notices that he’s gone.
Well, no one except cousin Miguel who asks if he feels safe, if he thinks he needs help with the supernatural, and if he wants to keep in touch.
Yes, no, and not really.
Derek Hale is simultaneously the kindest and most fearsome person Danny knows. Mostly because there was a rumor floating around school before he left that Derek had killed both his uncle and a junior at the high school, Vernon Boyd, the third. Well, the uncle was still alive, but Boyd wasn’t, so Danny kindly turns down Derek’s offer of protection and then promptly fucks off to the other side of the country, hoping the distance will be enough.
And it is. For seven years. Long enough to get two bachelor’s in science, physiology and computer science, and to accidentally walk into a cooking class and end up in culinary school just so he can open his own bakery.
He is a bona fide business owner now.
He has no one working for him, so he is only open five hours a day and the rest of his time is spent baking.
It is, in a word, exhausting, but it is his work and it makes him happy.
Business is good for about three months, and then some big name celebrity comes through, orders some of his haupia—which he only made because it was easy and he could set it aside once it was done and not worry about it—and raves about it online.
After that, there is no peace.
Danny can’t get anything done aside from baking and making haupia, and he becomes despondent, trudging from one minute to the next, not even enough time or energy to swipe right on his dating app.
Yes. While Danny was in college, he had also taken time to create a new dating app for LGBTQ+ people. He has gone on a few dates using the app, and the experience is far superior to Grindr or just meeting someone at a bar. But now he doesn’t even have time for that.
He is horny and tired and he really needs help.
Well. Online applications are a thing. So, all he has to do is find three minutes to post something. He finds the time the next morning during breakfast, so he types up a job requirement and application and posts it.
By that afternoon, he has sixty-some applicants.
Okay. So it will take more than three minutes this time.
Great.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Three weeks later, Danny still hasn’t sifted through all the applications. He is desperate, yes, but also too busy. It would be nice if he can just point at someone and assign them to work with him.
He has, however, managed to make an update to his app, and has received favorable feedback. So, while he is still unable to take a moment to breathe, at least he has money to hire someone to go through the applications for the bakery.
It’s a selkie named Ryliegh, visiting her cousin who lives in the apartment across the hall from him, and she is fantastic at everything except baking.
Danny feels a little more at ease with her watching his back. His store, while crowded with humans of every shape, size, and color, is also filled to the brim with supernatural beings who like to take pictures with the bakery’s sign, get something to go, and then hang out on the minimal furniture Danny had grudgingly added a few months back to compete with the Starbucks two blocks away from him.
Why he is a supernatural draw, Danny doesn’t know. Could be the sign.
There are very few things Danny has kept from his life in Beacon Hills, but a stage-whispered conversation between Stiles Stilinski and Scott McCall made the list, and his bakery is named Little Werewolf Oven.
Anyway. Danny views the supernatural as closeted. They don’t want the world to know they exist because the world would respond negatively. Hell, the first week he’d been open, a hunter had stopped by to ask him about the sign, and Danny had pretended to be obsessed with Jacob from Twilight—not that Taylor Lautner isn’t a hotty-mchotty who Danny had actually crushed on for a quick minute.
After the hunter left, it had taken everything in him to 1) not call Derek Hale to come make sure he was okay (not having Derek’s number helped) and 2) to remain open. What if the hunters came into his bakery all the time? They seemed set in their ways, and he knew it wouldn’t just be the supernatural population that was in danger. He himself might be targeted for “being different.”
Anyway. That hunter hasn’t come back nor has he told his friends about Danny, and so the supernatural and LGBTQ+ populations have claimed him.
And then Danny made haupia and never has peace anyway.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Ryleigh corners him a month after he hired her and slaps a stack of papers into his chest.
“What’s this?” he asks, amused if a little sad that they had reverted to this non-technological way of doing things. It’s so much easier to look at his phone than to read physical texts.
“Reviews,” Ryleigh says. “And an application. I suggest you hire him. He’s perfect.”
“Reviews of what?” Danny flips through the stack quickly. Ah, the bakery. It is now officially on some site that directs tourists around. Great. He is going to be swamped.
Then suddenly, in the middle of the stack is a job application, generic, hand-filled. Pretty script. Neat words. Derek Hale.
Danny drops the papers.
“What?” Ryleigh demands. “What’s wrong?”
“I know this guy.” Danny picks up Derek’s resume. On paper, Derek does sound perfect. And he even has work experience in a bakery. Who knew?
“Is he bad?” Ryleigh asks.
“Not exactly,” Danny replies, still studying Derek’s skills. “In fact, why don’t you give him a call, see if he can make it in for a test run soon.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Ryleigh wanders away, phone already on her ear. Danny picks up the rest of the reviews and sticks them in his office for when he, maybe, will have time to read them. Some of them look so sweet.
For now, though, someone’s gotta make more haupia because someone announced, on their social media no less, with about 10,000 followers, that tomorrow is the official day of the week that they will have it.
Well. At least it’s just one day a week. Danny can deal with one day.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Derek Hale returns Ryleigh’s call by the following afternoon, and she patches in Danny so they can talk.
“How soon can you start?” Danny asks, prepared for anything from a week to a month.
“Is tomorrow too soon?” Derek asks instead, and Danny can’t believe his good fortune.
“Sure, yeah,” he says, and then realizes he sounds desperate. Well he is, so fuck it. “Okay, Derek, you’re hired. Just bring in your social security card, driver’s license, and a bank account number with routing information so that I can direct deposit your paycheck.”
“Wonderful,” Derek deadpans. “See you tomorrow.”
Ryleigh gives him a thumbs up before she heads out for her night class. She’s taking computer science because she likes designing mobile games. Danny supports her wholeheartedly except he never downloads her apps. He doesn’t need the distraction. He still doesn’t have any time for dates, much less wasting time on his phone.
Derek will be such a relief. Too bad it isn’t tomorrow yet.
Whatever. Sleeves up. Maybe if he gets done before 9:00 pm, he can treat himself to that new Italian fine dining restaurant that opened around the corner from his apartment building.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Derek is already at the bakery by the time Danny rolls in at 6:00 am. The Italian was delicious last night, and Danny’s in a good mood which only gets better when he starts showing Derek the ropes. Derek is easy to train and easy-going. He has a bit of sharp wit that comes out when he’s not guarding it, and Danny feels honored that he gets to see it.
Derek’s smile is quick and easy. Danny doesn’t ever remember seeing it in Beacon Hills.
“So why’d you leave Beacon Hills?” he asks once he’s made up an employee file for Derek, noting that although it’s good, his license is fake. “And how old are you anyway?”
Derek rolls his shoulders. “Beacon Hills got too small,” he says, tightly. “The Argents no longer have jurisdiction over hunters there, so another hunting regime moved in. And I’m 28.”
“Yeah? Why does your I.D. say you’re thirty then?”
Derek refuses to make eye contact when he says, “Since my birth certificate was destroyed in the fire, Laura added two years to my age so that she could leave me on my own while she worked. I haven’t changed the I.D. yet because I don’t want to lose that part of her.”
“Understood,” Danny says. “Well, do you have a new I.D.? ‘Cause this one’s about to expire.”
Derek smiles, relief evident in his eyes. “Yeah. I’ll get that done in a couple of days when Stiles gets here.”
“Stiles is coming here too?” For some reason, Danny thought that if Derek left Beacon Hills, he’d leave everything behind. To bring Stiles is to bring the essence of Beacon Hills.
“Yeah, well, it’s kind of rude to leave your boyfriend behind.”
“Boyfriend?!” Danny can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of him. Derek glares at him. “Sorry. I just. I didn’t ever think Stilinski would get a boyfriend. Or laid, for that matter.”
“Yeah, well, he’s excellent in bed.” Derek stiffly turns back to the breads, kneading just a little too hard to be human.
“Easy on that,” Danny warns him. “I don’t need to replace these counters.”
“I don’t need you to hassle my boyfriend,” Derek returns, but he does lighten his touch.
“So, Stiles is coming here. Cool. What’s he going to do?”
Derek shrugs. “Beats me. He got his degree in anthropology and zoology. He’s trying to prove that certain supernaturals evolved as a missing link between humans and some older species. It’s really fascinating, but he loves talking about it, so you’ll probably get a rundown on it if you see him.”
“That sounds cool actually,” Danny says. “Now. Have you ever heard of haupia?”
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Stiles does indeed arrive within a couple of days and Derek takes an hour to run to the DMV to update his license.
Then, when they get back, Stiles asks Danny if he still needs help.
Danny looks at the sea of people and then back at Derek and Stiles. “Yes,” he says, and Stiles hands him the same documents he’d asked Derek for.
“All right, you’re hired.”
Stiles grins, tying on an apron and jumping on the register. The line moves quickly, and suddenly the bakery is empty, for the first time in what feels like years.
“Cool,” Danny says. And then heads into his office to read the reviews from Ryleigh.
By the time he surfaces, the bakery is closed, Derek and Stiles have cleaned up, and Derek is prepping for tomorrow while Stiles sits on a stool and chats at him.
“Hey, thanks for coming out here,” Danny tells them. “It’s really awesome that you’re here.”
“Yeah, well,” Stiles says, “Beacon Hills kind of imploded on us. Did Derek tell you about the new hunter family that moved in? Right bastards, the lot of them.”
“He’s mad because they saw my eyes and decided that I needed to die.”
“Aren’t you mad about that too?”
Derek shrugs. “Yeah, I mean, that’s where I grew up. But Beacon Hills itself hasn’t been kind to me in a long time. I’ve got friends out here from before I followed my sister back. We’re actually going to meet one of them today.” Derek shares a look with Stiles. “Do you want to come with us?”
“You realize that I’m gay, right?” Danny says. He can’t help giving Derek a knowing look.
Derek snorts. “So is he. Do you want to come with us?”
Danny thinks of his lack of love life and lets it influence his answer. “Yes. I’d like to meet him.”
“Settled then,” Stiles says. “We’re meeting him at that deli on 23rd. His name is Andrew.”
“Are you going to tell me anything else about him?”
“He’s six feet tall, likes to dress well,” Stiles says. “He works as an analyst for a company close by. And he loves your baked goods.”
“So I have already met him?”
“Yeah,” Derek says. “And he thinks you’re cute. He hopes you think he’s cute too.” Then, Derek dusts off his hands, puts away everything, and washes up. “We have about an hour before we’re supposed to meet Andrew.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Danny says, waving them away. They leave, exchanging knowing smirks. Whatever. It’s cool.
It’s a stretch to think he’ll get laid today, but the potential of meeting someone makes Danny a little giddy. He needs a quick shower, a touch up of his cologne, and then maybe he’ll have some time to clean out his inbox.
Oh wow, he has time tonight! Who knew that having employees would make his life so much more manageable.
Anyway. He doesn’t want to be late to meet—or rather, re-meet—Andrew.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Derek and Stiles are standing outside on the sidewalk when Danny comes running up. He’d gotten wrapped up in his emails, unused to having even five minutes to do something like that instead of being too tired to function when he got off work.
“Andrew is already inside,” Derek says, pulling Danny close so he can run a hand over his back, something Danny used to watch him do with his pack before they were forcibly disbanded. Danny shivers under the touch. No lie, if Derek wasn’t with Stiles, Danny would be climbing him like a tree. As it is, he still has to will away a boner.
Derek smiles like he knows what just happened, and Danny shrugs him off.
Then, they walk into the deli. Derek leads the way, heading for a booth tucked near the back, a tall, suited man already sitting there, phone in one hand, the other resting on his head, fingers tangled in his curls. Danny stutters to a stop. He recognizes this man. He was one of the first people to visit the bakery. He’d made some mention of the name, something like, “Reminds of my best friend,” before winking and buying a dozen cookies.
Yeah, he was definitely cute.
“Andrew,” Derek is saying, “this is Danny. Mahealani. I think you’ve met before.”
Andrew looks up, taking in Danny standing there and nods. “Yeah. He’s an awesome baker.”
“And he’s gay,” Stiles remarks, sliding into the booth across from Andrew. Derek waves Danny to the table, and Danny sinks down next to Stiles. Andrew stands up and lets Derek sit so that he’s across from Stiles.
“Danny,” Andrew says, extending a hand, “Andrew Erickson.”
“Pleasure,” Danny says.
“Yes,” Andrew remarks, eyes sparkling. “It is.”
“Shall we order?” Stiles asks. “I’m starving.”
Danny doesn’t know if he’s hungry for food or for affection, but he knows either way, he’ll get what he needs tonight.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
The sort of date goes so well that Danny and Andrew walk back to Danny’s apartment together and then spend most of the night talking.
They don’t have sex, but it’s a near thing. Instead, Andrew spends the night on Danny’s couch and they exchange numbers and kisses.
Then, they both drag themselves to their respective jobs the next morning.
Stiles cracks a joke about the walk of shame, and Derek smacks him.
“Go well?” he says, as if he can’t tell. He’s a werewolf. He’d be able to smell if Danny had done anything.
“Yeah, it went really well. I think we could really work out.”
“Good. I’m glad.” Derek hauls Stiles into the kitchen.
Danny is thankful, but Derek and Stiles must have gotten in early because there in nothing for him to do.
Wow. This is going to give him so much time.
“Hey, you realize that you don’t have to do everything, right?” he calls out as he walks into the kitchen. Derek shoots him a blank look accompanied by a thumbs up. “Seriously, you can leave stuff for me to do.”
“Hey, werewolf here,” Stiles says. “He moves at two speeds: fast and faster.”
“Yeah well, you’re making me feel lazy here.”
“When’s the last time you had time to yourself?” Derek asks. When Danny doesn’t answer, Derek points at him. “Exactly.”
Danny looks to Stiles for help, but Stiles just shakes his head.
“Hey, you hired him,” he says. “Which reminds me: do you want me to do anything other than run register?”
Derek shakes his head, so Danny says, “Uh, no? That’s okay, Stiles. You did awesome yesterday. It’s probably going to be that busy again today.”
“That’s good, right?” Stiles asks. “I mean, it means that people like your business.”
“It also means that I can pay you.”
“And go on dates with Andrew,” Derek adds. “By the way, he really enjoyed last night. I think he’s definitely going to ask you out again.”
“Are you going to be okay with me dating your best friend?”
“Yeah. I mean, you and Andrew deserve to be happy. What kind of friend would I be if I got in the way of that? Maybe you’ll break each other’s hearts, but you won’t know unless you follow your path.”
“He’s gotten really Zen lately,” Stiles says. “Sometimes it’s really helpful.”
“Unless your name is Stiles and you don’t like to listen to your boyfriend.”
“I listened, honey. That’s why we’re in New York City.”
“Okay,” Danny interrupts before Derek can respond. “I’m going to go open now. Stiles, you wanna come with?”
“Yeah, sure. See ya, honey-baby-love-of-my-life.” Stiles throws an exaggerated kiss at Derek, who mimes catching it and tucking it into his pocket. It’s cute. Far cuter than Danny would have given either of them credit for seven years ago.
Maybe one day, he and Andrew can be like that.
It’s a goal. But first. Get through today. He needs to do an update for his app, reinforce some firewalls that keep out the bigots. If Derek and Stiles can handle the bakery, then he can get a head start on it. And meet with Ryleigh about financials.
It’s so nice to have employees.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Andrew calls him two days later, on a Sunday, and asks to see him again.
“Been thinking about you a lot.”
“Me too.”
“Can’t wait. Can we meet now?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Cool, let me in.”
“You’re here already?” Danny looks around his apartment, but it’s neat. He’s clean—showered after a run with Derek this afternoon. He even changed the sheets on his bed.
And he remembered to buy condoms when he was at the store earlier.
“Um, sure. Let me just.” Danny throws on a light jacket and jogs down to the street. Andrew grins at him when he pushes the door open for him. They walk back up to Danny’s apartment in silence.
“So, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but do you want to have sex with me?” Danny asks once they’re inside again. Andrew pauses mid-step, shooting a puzzled look at Danny.
“Sex, on the second date?” he asks.
Danny shrugs. “We’re both adults. As long as it’s consensual, why shouldn’t we?”
“Do you think we’re even compatible?” Andrew asks.
“If you’re asking, you’re already thinking about it. Now, I’m vers. How about you?”
“Vers too. I prefer to top with partners on the first time. Is that okay?”
Danny nods. “I was going to play later,” he admits. “So, I’m ready to go. I’ve got lube and condoms in the bedroom. Will you join me?”
Andrew nods, reaching out for Danny’s hand.
He’s reminded sharply of Derek grabbing Stiles’ kiss. “Are we going to be cutesy and couple-y?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” Andrew says. “I mean, some partners like it, some don’t. I know I like pet names, but I’m not much for showing affection in public.”
Danny understands. As a gay black man, it has to be harder for Andrew to show his feelings or who he is without being attacked. “We won’t hold hands in public if it bothers you,” he says, “but I do like to call partners sweetheart and love. But not out in public.”
Danny isn’t under any illusions that Beacon Hills was an anomaly and that homophobia is still the norm in many places. He doesn’t like endangering either his partners or himself unnecessarily.
They sit on the bed, and Andrew studies Danny with kind eyes. “So, we’ll be cutesy and couple-y but only in private. Is it okay to walk with you, to stand near you?”
“To be caught looking at me, you mean?” Andrew nods. “Yeah, as long as it’s okay for me to do the same to you.”
“Definitely. So, this lube?”
Danny laughs, pushing at his chest. “Get undressed and I’ll give you a show.”
It certainly is a show when he gets down to it, and the sex is fun, messy, and only sort of good because they need to learn each other, but he doesn’t hate it, and he actually likes the way Andrew curls around him after they’ve cleaned up, and they sleep.
Danny wakes up in the middle of the night, sees Andrew still in his bed, and smiles before going back to sleep.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Derek obviously smells when their relationship changes, but he doesn’t make a big deal out of it, and he doesn’t let Stiles do it either.
In fact, they go on a lot of double dates, and Stiles tells horror stories of the first time he bottomed for Derek.
“Never again,” Stiles sing-songs. “Derek doesn’t mind, do you, honey-bunches?”
“I mind you discussing our sex life,” Derek retorts, “sugar-sweet-on-top.”
They jibe each other often and throughout the day. The customers love it. They also seem to love it when Andrew manages to come in for lunch and he and Danny usually hide in the office.
The bakery does so well with the extra help that Danny hires an additional four people and extends the hours. He also starts making more traditional Hawaiian goods, which go over just as well as the haupia.
Then, suddenly, he looks up to find that he’s been dating Andrew for a year and he knows that he absolutely wants to marry this man. Andrew has already moved in, and his suits don’t look out of place in Danny’s closet.
Everything fits.
There’s some small fights. And once Andrew spent the night at Stiles and Derek’s apartment while they cooled off and reconciled.
But, still, 365 days. Danny definitely knows he wants to plan a proposal, plan a wedding, and spend the rest of his life with the beautiful creature that sleeps in his bed.
To celebrate their anniversary, Danny enlists Derek and Stiles’ help.
Derek whips up more than baked goods, and Danny is thoroughly impressed by the spread he prepares. Everything is on the table, literally. Way too much food for just two people.
Derek sees him eyeing the table. “You know how you’re thinking about implementing a donation of unused foods to the homeless shelters nearby? Yeah, this is the test run.”
“That’s wonderful,” Danny says. “Thanks, Derek.”
“Hey, I helped,” Stiles says, jabbing himself in the chest. “I made some of the dishes.”
Derek nods. “He did. They’re good too. Traditional Polish dishes, like pierogi, pączki, żurek, and naleśniki.”
“Andrew’s had them before,” Stiles points out. “I’ve never cooked for you, so I don’t know if you like them.”
“I’m sure I will.” Danny gives them both grateful hugs. “Thanks so much for doing this for me.”
“It’s not a problem,” Derek says, grabbing Stiles and tugging him along as he heads for the door. “Let us know how it goes, yeah?”
He nods and then they’re gone.
Danny swallows hard when he’s all alone. He’s suddenly nervous even though he and Andrew have been together for a year now.
An anniversary dinner is nice, but is it what Andrew wants? Should Danny have purchased a ring? Should he be proposing tonight?
Before he can do much more than worry that he’s not doing this correctly, Andrew steps into the room.
He takes in the table and whistles lowly. “They really know how to cook, eh?” he remarks. “They really support us, don’t they?”
“Yeah,” Danny agrees. He hugs Andrew and then pulls out his chair for him. “I haven’t tried Stiles’ cooking, but Derek says it’s good.”
“It is,” Andrew confirms, “although, I can’t pronounce half of what he makes, so he makes fun of me. We can’t all be secret linguistics, like Derek.”
“I’m going to come right out and say this,” Danny says, “I don’t have a ring. I meant to get one, and then I lost track of time.”
“You’ve been really busy,” Andrew agrees. “So I guess it’s a good thing I did get a ring.” He pushes back from the table and drops to his knee, holding a ring box in front of him. “Daniel Mahealani, I love you. I don’t want to spend another day without you, so will you accept this token of my affection and marry me when the time is right?”
Danny slides out of his chair so that he can kneel with Andrew. He picks up the ring and slides it on his finger. “Andrew Erickson, I do accept your ring and give you my promise to marry you when the time is right.”
They stand and sit back at the table.
“Twelve months,” Andrew says. “One whole year. It’s been a great year. And I can’t wait for the rest of the years too.”
“Yeah. That’s.” Danny blows out a breath. “That’s what I want too. I can’t wait for tonight, tomorrow, next week, the rest of our lives.”
“But right now, we have to do something about this spread. Certainly we can’t eat it all.”
“No, the plan apparently was to donate what we don’t eat down at the shelter.”
“Oh,” Andrew says, his smile slow and steady. Danny’s stomach flips a little, anticipating the celebration already even though they have dinner, donating the leftovers, and heading back to the apartment before they can even entertain the notion of sex. “That sounds wonderful.” He studies Danny with a knowing look. “How about we pack something up for later, drop the rest off at the shelter, and head home?”
Danny has to go around the table to kiss him because there’s too much food to lean over the table. But, hey, that’s good. So much food that won’t go to waste.
“I’ll grab some containers. Why don’t you pick out the things you think I should try from Stiles and then we’ll take care of the rest?”
“Divide and conquer,” Andrew says. “That’s why I love you.”
“That and I swallow,” Danny shoots back over his shoulder with a wink.
Andrew lets out a startled laugh. “Just go before you kill me with your quips.”
“I live to please,” Danny returns. “Just you wait.”
It’s hard to wait the two hours it takes to box everything up and deliver it. But somehow, they both survive right until they get into the apartment and the door is locked. Then they crash together, locked at the lips as they put away the food they kept, trying to undress as they move like some awkward, two-bodied creature.
They fall into bed without any injuries, and then proceed to make love at the slowest pace they have ever done so. It’s nice, but Danny is glad that the second round sometime around midnight is faster and more their pace.
Danny falls asleep afterward, sated and beyond happy. He’s got a wedding to plan with his fiancé.
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
Stiles and Derek get married around Thanksgiving. Danny and Andrew both attend as best men.
It’s the first time in eight years that Danny has seen anyone from back in Beacon Hills, and he is surprised that it isn’t as awkward as he’d thought it would be. For one, Scott doesn’t come. Stiles makes some bullshit excuse, but Danny can see how hurt he is. And another thing, everyone has grown up and matured. Sure they all have a few more scars than he remembers, but for the most part they seem happy.
After, once the vows are exchanged, the grooms kiss, the toasts are done, the food is eaten, the bouquet lovingly handed to Danny by Derek, and the guests gone with the couple departed to their honeymoon, Danny sits with Andrew on their balcony, watching the moon rise over the rooftops.
“That was a beautiful ceremony,” he says. Andrew nods in agreement. “If you don’t mind, none of those people aside from Derek and Stiles will be at our wedding.”
“Obviously,” Andrew says. “Do you want something similar?”
“Small, intimate?” Andrew nods. “Yeah. That sounds perfect.”
“How about New Year’s? All we need are a few suits, witnesses, rings, and some of your haupia.”
Danny laughs. “I knew you were only marrying me for my prowess in cooking Hawaiian desserts.”
“Oh sure, yeah, that’s what attracted me to you in the first place.”
“Yeah? And what attracts you now?”
“Hmm,” Andrew pretends to think about the question, before sobering quickly. “Everything,” he answers honestly. “I love everything about you. I love the way you are so smart, the way you cook, I love how you treat your friends, and how you’re not afraid to let someone know when they’ve hurt you. I love the way your face lights up when you laugh, and most of all, I love the fact that you’ve let me share your life with you.”
“Aw, babe, you’re going to make me cry.” Danny rests his head on Andrew’s shoulder. “I love you too. I love the way you always know what to say in any situation and how you know to give me space when I’m mad. I love the way you always hang up your clothes. I love the way you hog the covers at night. But most of all, I love that I get to share your life with you.”
They share a few sweet kisses.
“Shit, we should have recorded those,” Andrew says suddenly. “They would have made the perfect vows.”
Danny laughs again, sure his face is a bright beacon in the cold November air. “Yeah. We should have. How about we go write them down instead?”
“That works too.” Andrew stands up, offers a hand to pull Danny up. “God, I love you.”
“I love you too. Now move, I’m freezing.”
                                                                                                                    ~ * ~
New Year’s day dawns bright and cold. The perfect day for a quick wedding.
Danny stands in front of the courthouse, Stiles to his right, fluttering about like a nervous moth. Ryleigh would have been here too, but she’s off visiting some of her others cousins, back in Ireland. She sent her love and congratulations in a confetti- and glitter-filled envelope that Danny had the foresight to open in his kitchen on the linoleum instead of his fully-carpeted living room. He’s still finding bits of glitter even after a deep clean.
“Why are you nervous?” Danny asks. “You weren’t this nervous when you and Derek got married.”
Stiles shrugs. “You realize this is the longest I’ve been apart from my husband since we first got together, minus the time he flew out here to get the job at your bakery. I’m just.” Stiles sighs. “Sometimes I think I’m going to turn around and he’ll be gone. Do you ever feel that way about Andrew?”
“No,” Danny shakes his head, “never. I trust him to come back to me, even when he leaves mad. Do you not trust Derek the same way?”
Stiles nods, but it’s clear he doesn’t.
“Why don’t you talk to your husband about it? I’m sure he’ll explain things better than I can.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Danny. You’re a great friend. Andrew is so lucky to be marrying you.”
“And I’m lucky to be marrying him,” Danny says. “Thanks to you and Derek for introducing us.”
“Oh hey, I think I see them.”
Indeed, it is Derek and his fiancé walking toward them. Andrew has the bouquet from Stiles and Derek’s wedding.
“Something old,” he murmurs as he comes astride of Danny.
Danny pokes his tie. “Something blue.”
“All right,” Stiles directs, “let’s get you inside and married before I lose any more feeling in my toes.”
Derek holds the door for them, and Danny swears he hears him hum “The Wedding March” under his breath.
Well, he and Andrew did pick out a playlist for the reception at the bakery after this, and they’ll dance to their song then, but it is nice to have some form of acknowledgment for what this day is.
Well, that is aside from the fact that this building is only open for the purpose of filing marriage certificates today and only for about two hours.
Six other couples have already been here. And now it’s Danny and Andrew’s turn.
“Got the rings?” he asks Stiles as they line up before the justice. Stiles nods, tossing one to Derek while Derek hands Stiles a folded piece of paper.
And then it’s off to the races. Vows exchanged, rings exchanged, kiss exchanged, paper signed, objections null and void, and it’s over.
Danny stands on the steps again, Andrew next to him, matching rings on matching fingers.
Derek and Stiles wave streamers of crepe paper in both his and Andrew’s favorite colors, clapping, and in the case of Stiles, whistling loudly.
As Danny surveys the mostly empty sidewalk in front of him, standing next to the love of his life, two good friends sharing this moment with them, he thinks life can’t get any better than this.
~ The End ~
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