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[littleorphanalien]

It's probably not the smartest thing to wait until a little over a month before you get hitched to finalize the party, but for the longest time, Michael hadn't really thought about best people. Without Max and Isobel for him, without Kyle and Maria and Liz for Alex, it had been something that didn't spend much time thinking about until Max had brought it up.

And then, David asked, and Michael realized there was someone he wanted to stand with them -- someone who saved his life, and probably kept Alex from being killed.

That was their best man.

If he'd say yes.

Ducking out of the Airstream when he sees the car on the horizon, Michael calls over for Alex. "He's here!" he shouts, taking the steps down and wiping his hands off, heading inside to see if Alex is ready for this. It's not that he's worried that Caleb will say no, but it's still one of the biggest questions he's ever going to ask -- right on the heels of asking Alex to marry him in the first place.

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[unendurable]

The reason that Darrow is so important to Alex is because they have so much here they would have never had before. Family. Friends. A home. He wants to believe they would have that at home, but he doesn't have to guess here. This is their life.

Right up to asking Caleb to stand up for them.

In Alex's mind it makes perfect sense. He's been there for them and endured so much to help them. How could they not ask?

Grinning as Michael comes in, nodding eagerly.

"I'm definitely ready." He pauses, smirking at Michael. "Why am I so nervous?"

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb parks beside the Airstream — and it's so fucking weird that the city just... Dropped it off for him — and climbs out into the summer day. The entire property is buzzing with nervous excitement, bees pushing him toward a ledge that makes his stomach swoop. But it's a good feeling, just as sunset purple as always.

He heads to the door, knocks, then opens it to come in. He's been told he doesn't need to knock a thousand times, but he's still going to do it.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael leans over to squeeze Alex's forearm and gently guide him towards Caleb, grinning as he grabs him in for a hug. "Hey, man," he says, the minute Caleb's at their doorstep, and he's not nervous, not really.

Caleb's seen them through so much, he's not going to screw them over now.

"Thanks for coming over. I know it sucks to drive a little more, but we wanted to talk," he says, waggling his brows at Alex to get him to ease up.

[unendurable]

He rolls his eyes at the knocking, smiling so widely though. This is exciting, for all of them, and he can't help but be practically bouncing. It's going to be their wedding so soon, and they're in their home and how did this happen?!

Okay they've been through horrible things too, but they're together.

"And stop knocking," he says, giving him a look. "Family doesn't knock." But he's just so happy, unable to control it though he knows it's probably overwhelming to Caleb and he's trying to hold it in.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb grins and shrugs, but accepts the hug from Michael, then hugs Alex, too.

"Well, I can tell you're not about to break up with me," he says with a laugh. "What's going on? You feel..." He gestures vaguely, then laughs. "Fuck, you're excited. I feel like I'm at the top of a Rollercoaster."

[littleorphanalien]

"Maybe we just had sex," he deadpans, even though he knows Caleb will know the difference and will know that they didn't (it was hours ago, in bed, when Luke was asleep). He watches the way Alex and Caleb hug, feeling something settle that feels beyond right in his gut.

"Come on, sit, have something to drink or eat," he says, gesturing to the fridge. "We can't just be excited to see you?"

[unendurable]

"Break up? As if," Alex snorts, laughing at that and unable to help being amused. It's one more step closer to being Alexander Guerin and he can't wait. He just wants their marriage and their life. All of their life.

"Though now I'm realizing you've never acted like this after sex," Alex teases. "Should I bet hurt?"

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb huffs a laugh and shakes his head. "You guys are such dorks," he declares. He grabs himself a water, though, and settles down in the living room. When Bopp comes over to greet him, he smiles and scrubs his knuckles over the top of her head.

"Okay, but for real," he says. "Why do you feel like you have something really important to say?" The things he's feeling from them make him want to pace and jump and whoop, and it's weird and exciting at once, because normally they're both a lot chiller than this.

[littleorphanalien]

"And you still love us," Michael retorts with a smirk, and settles on the arm of the couch as he settles in, happy to stay cozy and comfortable as he looks at Caleb, biting his lip as he tries to keep in some of that eagerness.

This is what happens when you can't keep surprises because of freaky powers.

"It's a month before the wedding, we're just finishing up arrangements, of course we're excited." He nudges at Alex's arm, nodding to tell him to be the one to ask.

[unendurable]

Alex moves to stand next to Michael, sliding his hand along his back and unable to help the smile that curves his lips. He's so excited for this, for ensuring the next step to making this day happen.

"We even met with our wedding planner recently. Worked out what we're wearing, and the table set ups and even the color scheme. It's space ship shimmer," he says with a grin. "And Michael's going to have orchids woven into his braided hair."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Shit, you guys are gonna be really fancy," he notes, grinning. It's hard not to smile, when they're both so happy, so full of love and excitement and joy.

He can imagine Michael with a crown of orchids — the most alien looking flower on the planet, that's no less beautiful for it — and the colors surrounding them. He can imagine the bright, impossible, sunset joy washing through him as they say their 'I dos' in front of everyone they love.

[littleorphanalien]

"He's joking, David would kill me if I tried," Michael assures, but he loves the lead that Alex is giving him. "There'll be some pretty fancy suits, though, and you're gonna need to make sure that you give us some time so we can outfit you in yours."

And then, barely a beat later.

"I mean, our best man has gotta look good."

[unendurable]

"Maybe I'm joking. Maybe I texted David and asked him nicely for the orchids. Maybe you won't know until the day of our wedding," he points out with a smirk, knowing he's done no such thing but damn it's amusing to tease him about it actually happening.

"Probably need to meet with David even. Since he's coordinating the wedding," he says, just as casually, that it was already a done deal.

"I mean, if you're going to be our best man, he's right, you need to look good."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Your—"

Caleb gapes at them, looking between them to make sure they aren't joking again. He's never been asked anything like this, before.

"Me? A-are you serious? No, shut up, I know you're serious. Holy shit." He huffs a stunned laugh. "Oh my god."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's smile is easy and he knows that this is the right thing, because there isn't a hint of doubt in him. "Yeah," he agrees fondly. "You," he confirms, giving Alex a big grin before pushing to his feet to haul Caleb into a tight hug.

"Who the hell else here risked their lives to save me, huh?" he murmurs, and squeezes him tightly. "So long as you think you can stand up there and deal with our emotions on the wedding day."

[unendurable]

"Of course we picked you," Alex says, grinning at Caleb. He never imagined this when he found himself on a train, confused and uncertain after all they had been through in Roswell. But this is perfect. Their family. Their home here.

"You have been there for us through so much, Caleb, and you're so important to us both. But," he says hurriedly. "If you don't think you can handle it, please say so. We won't be offended."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb returns Michael's hug, but it's just as stunned as his initial reaction. He looks at Alex, then at Michael, then at Alex again.

"No, of course," he says. "I... I think I can do it. I want to do it. Holy shit." He's grinning hugely, now, and he releases Michael to hug Alex, too.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's beaming when he watches Caleb and Alex hug, loving that he gets to see his two favorite people in the world happy. "We figured it was better if we didn't argue over you and instead just had you support the both of us." Michael has other friends, yeah, but none of them mean as much to him as Caleb does.

"It'll be pretty boring. Ceremony's on the beach, near here, and Luke's gonna be the ringbearer."

[unendurable]

Alex laughs, hugging Caleb rightly. They've all been through so much but without Darrow, they wouldn't have this chance, this family.

"Good! I mean, I would have had to convince you to be there for Michael at least if you said no. He's going to maybe need it." He grins at that though, just feeling so excited by it all. One more things, one more step closer to their wedding.

"It will be magical," he argues, giving Michael a look. "And perfect. For us."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"It's gonna be amazing," he agrees. "Fuck. Oh shit, what do I wear? What do I bring? I've never been to a wedding before!" He laughs, nervous and excited and joyful with them.

[littleorphanalien]

"You'll wear a suit, and you just bring yourself. Alex and I don't need gifts," he promises, because he feels like he'd just feel guilty. "Maybe you might give a speech at the reception?" he suggests, "but hey, that's only if you're willing to do it."

"We just want you there, and I just wanna get married to the love of my life," he says, honest and bare, staring at Alex with a pleased smile.

[unendurable]

"Seriously, he's right. It's about having you there for us. You've been through so much for us. I mean, you actually hang around with us and have to deal with all the schmoopy emotions, after all."

There's a teasing lilt in his tones but it's amusing at the time, a hint of laughter. It's not that it's not true though.

"A speech might be nice. A toast. Mocking us publicly," he says with a grin. "That kind of thing. That's all."

Smiling back at Michael, so utterly entranced as they approach their wedding day.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Oh God," he says with a laugh. "I'm so bad at public speaking. I'd ruin your whole fucking wedding, trying to do a speech."

He laughs, but he's blushing a little, because it's actually true. His hands would get sweaty, and he'd keep losing his train of thought or his spot in his notes, if he had them. It'd be high school English all over again.

"Maybe I'll write the speech, but I'll have Neil read it." A beat, and then his eyes widen. "Oh, shit. Can Neil come?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael is all for happy parties and guests, but he squints at Caleb in confusion because he's pretty sure a Neil has come up casually before, but never in conversation like this.

"If you tell us who Neil is, then yeah. I mean, you get a plus one no matter what, so obviously you can bring anyone, but I wanna believe I can con you into telling us like that."

[unendurable]

Oh yeah, Alex is on that in an instant. He didn't think that Caleb didn't have friends. More than friends, sure, but hey, maybe it's a generational thing. He looks between Alex and Michael, trying not to smirk.

"You know, in my day and age, bringing someone to a wedding was a big deal," he points out, glancing around. "Where's my crutch so I can shake it at the kids on my lawn."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Oh my God, I hate you both so much," he says with exactly zero conviction. He rolls his eyes, but there's a small blush on his cheeks. "Neil is... my... boyfriend," he mumbles. It's not that he's embarrassed or ashamed. But he knows Michael is going to give him a world of shit for not telling him the second they decided to get involved, or whatever.

"He's the guy you saw at Pride," he says to Michael. "We've been hanging out, and, like, now we're... y'know... hanging out."

[littleorphanalien]

"Nah, you don't," Michael says dismissively, but he squints at Caleb at the whole boyfriend thing. He'd known that things with the last one had stuttered to a halt, but he hadn't heard about the new one just yet.

Though, it makes a lot of sense.

"You were giving him these fuzzy heart eyes," he admits, nodding at Alex. "You should've seen him. Big dopey look," he teases, and then turns back to Caleb. "Do we need to have a birds and bees talk?"

[unendurable]

Alex is grinning so wide it nearly hurts. It's just the best thing he could hear. Caleb having a life here, finding happiness, and that's all he wants for his family here. Everything he wants for his family here.

"Ooooh. So now you're hanging ooooout," he says, sing song and smiling. "I'm happy for you, Caleb. I really am."

He winks at Michael. "Can we hang out tonight." Okay, he couldn't help himself.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Fuck, why do I even come here," Caleb complains. But it's hard not to grin, cheeks pink but eyes happy and warm. "He just... he helps. His feelings are..."

He blushes again, looking down as he fiddles with the mood ring Michael gave him as a joke.

"He brings me to that green place."

[littleorphanalien]

"Cuz you love us," Michael reminds him, point-blank, with a stupid smirk. He leans back and looks at Caleb as he talks about the green place, which he hasn't brought up in a while.

Michael's smile softens to hear it, so grateful he found that.

"You feel better these days, huh?"

[unendurable]

"And we're family and you're stuck with us," he says with a smirk, but he's looking at Caleb with such a look of happiness that he's found something in this place that gives him that kind of feeling.

"I'm glad for you," he says with a smile. "I'm really glad for you."