writefiction | New "Breaking Free" Chapter!!! (Reply)

Title/Chapter: Breaking Free (44/44+Epilogue)
Author: amanda: jaclyn's twin sister
Pairing: Zaylor Hanson
Rating: NC-17 over-all
Word Count: 1,925
Previous Chapters
P.O.V.: switches back and forth but is clearly marked.
Notes: AU-ish. No Natalie, Ezra, Ellie etc. And they still live in Tulsa. And the story starts in May 2003.
Summary: Breaking Free is a tale of two brothers who fall in love and the struggles to make it work. Can they make it last a lifetime? Or will the relationship crash and burn?

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

ZAC’S POV

I wake some time later, stretched out on top of my husband. I sigh and nuzzle against his neck. Taylor pets my head. “Are you awake?” he asks quietly. I nod. “How are you feeling?” I shrug. “Please don’t freeze me out.”

I lift my head, frowning at my brother. “I’m not freezing you out, Tay,” I tell him. “I just… I honestly have no words. I don’t know how I’m feeling or what I should do.” I shrug again and look down at the necklaces adorning that beautiful neck of his.

“I’m sorry I can’t make it better,” he says, carding his hand through my hair.

I shake my head. “No worries, Tay.” I fiddle with one of his chains for a moment, then decide to speak my mind. “So, um, I was wondering…”

“Yes?”

“How would you like to do a vow renewal?” I ask.

Taylor looks at me suspiciously. “Why?”

“Well, I was just thinking that coming to Tulsa was like a new beginning for us, ya know?” Taylor nods. “So I thought it might be nice to renew our vows and actually get to have our family there with us. Mom never said it, but I know she was sad that she missed our wedding.” I shrug. “So what do you think?”

A grin splits my lover’s face. “Really?” he asks. “You really want to have, like, a second wedding?”

I nod. “Yeah. This is our new beginning, why not have a new wedding? One with our family and not so secret.”

Taylor grabs my face and pulls me in for a hard kiss. When he pulls away, he’s grinning from ear to ear. “I think this is a great idea, Zac!”

I chuckle. “Yeah?”

Taylor nods emphatically. “Yes, of course! When do you want to do it? Where do you want to do it?”

“I was thinking the backyard,” I tell him. “I mean, it’s big enough and it’d be great to have a cookout afterwards. So we’d have to do it some time soon, ya know, if that’s okay?”

“Oh, Zac, that would be perfect! And seriously, the only thing Hanson’s do better than music are cookouts. Mom will love to make all the salad stuff and Dad will love to man the grill. You are definitely a genius.”

I laugh. “Oh? I’m a genius?”

Taylor nods, wrapping his arms around my neck. “Yes, yes you are. And you’re beautiful and talented and an amazing father…”

“Hey, are you writing your vows right now?” I tease.

Taylor laughs. “Maybe.” He winks. Then we get out our calendar to pick out a good Saturday for a wedding and a cookout. When we call our mom to tell her and ask for her help with the food, she gets extremely excited. I think even more excited than Taylor. Those two stay on the phone for hours coming up with ideas on how to decorate the yard and the menu. I swear, a bride and his mom.

Three Weeks Later
Today is the day, our vow renewal. All our brothers and sisters are here, as well as our parents, Isaac’s girlfriend Nikki and JD and Paul. I couldn’t get Andy to answer any of my calls. I even told JD that Andy was invited, but she said that Andy would be a no-show. Even though I’m greatly disappointed, missing my best friend on such an important occasion, I can’t help the grin that comes over my face as my mom walks Taylor across the patio and down the stairs to stand with me. She gives him a hug and kiss, then turns to me to do the same.
When I look over at Taylor I notice there are already tears running down his face, which only serves to make my eyes water. Isaac is once again officiating for us and begins the service. “We are gathered here today to witness the rejoining of two souls. Two souls that have always been meant to be together. Today is the day that these two stand before us to once again proclaim their love for one another. Now, won’t you join hands.” Taylor and I turn and grasp each others hands. “Taylor, if you’d go first.”
Taylor gives a little nod and clears his throat. “My happiest moments in life have always been with you,” he begins. “I don’t know how I managed my life before I told you how I really felt about you. You’re an amazing man. You love me and take care of me. And you’re the most amazing father. The way you care for our daughter just takes my breath away.”
My husband stops to take a breath, his lower lip trembling, but a loving smile on his face. “You’re my rock,” he says. “You hold me up but let me fall on my butt when I need it. Your passion, your kindness and your heart have always kept me in your arms. But now, it’s your passion for our baby girl, your kindness to her, and the utter devotion you have for her that makes me fall for you all over again, day after day. We’ve been together for three and a half years, but in my heart we’ve been together since the day you were born.”
He stops again, sniffling. “You are everything to me, Zac. I would give you the moon if I could, but we all know it’s not possible. What I can give you is my love, my devotion, my passion for our family. I promise to hold you up when you’re weak and I promise to let you fall on your butt when all else fails. But mostly I promise to always be here. I love you.”
He sniffs again and reaches up to wipe his eyes with one hand. “Now, Zac,” Isaac says, gesturing to me.
“Crap,” I mutter. “What am I suppose to say after something like that?” Our little crowd of family and friends give a collective chuckle. I take a breath and try to remember what I was going to say before he blew my mind with his speech. But I can’t, so I just wing it.
“I know I’ve already told you this, but when I think back on my life one of my first memories of being in love with you was when I was four and Mom and Dad went away for their second honeymoon. I was really upset that they were going away for the weekend, but you made it all better. You cuddled me while we watched Mary Poppins. You made me feel safe. You let me sleep in your bed till they came home, cuddling me close, once again making me feel safe.”
I pause to take a breath. “Now, all these years later, if I’m feeling upset all you do is put your arms around me and I feel safe. I feel like everything will be okay and I know you make Jenna feel that way as well. You’re such a great father, Tay, and I’m glad you’re the one I’ve started my family with. I know it was the right choice.”
I look down at our clasped hands, my eyes misting up, a lump forming in my throat that I try to swallow down. I lift my gaze back to Taylor’s and notice he’s having the same problems. At least his speaking part is over. “This is our new beginning,” I tell him. “This is where we were meant to be, here in Tulsa, in this house, raising our little girl. I can’t wait for our family to grow and to run around in this backyard. I can’t wait to grow old with you and spend every night falling asleep to you, waking up every morning to you.”
Then a thought occurs to me and I grin at my soul mate. “I’m like the Grinch and you’re like the people of Who-ville. You make my heart grow three sizes too big.” Everyone chuckles at this, even Taylor. “I feel like every day I spend with you is another day my heart grows with love and it’ll just keep getting bigger until it grows too big for my chest. You’re my knight in shining armor, Tay, always and forever. I’ll love you until the end of time, I promise you this.”
I take a breath, time for the finale. “I promise to always be the man you can depend on, the man you’ll always be in love with. I promise to be the father you’ve always dreamed of having for your children, the only father you’ve dreamed of. I promise to take care of you and make you laugh when you’re sad. I promise to fight with you just so we can have fun making up.” Again, the group laughs.
“But mostly I promise to be your best friend, your confidante, your lover, your soul mate, anything you want me to be. I’m here for you. I love you, forever and ever, for as long as I live.” Taylor squeezes my hands and we turn to look at our older brother.
“With all of our blessings, I now pronounce you partners in life… again. You may kiss your husband,” Isaac says. Taylor and I grin at each other and I pull him close.
“I love you,” I murmur.
“I love you too,” he replies softly. Then we lean in, kissing slowly and softly. Our group of friends and family cheer for us as we hug tightly, tears in our eyes and on our cheeks.
I lean my forehead against my husband’s. “This might have topped our actual wedding,” I tell him quietly.
He grins. “It just might have. Our whole family’s here.” I nod in agreement.
Our mother comes up to us and gives us each a tight hug, her eyes tearful. “Aw, don’t cry, Ma,” I tell her.
“I can’t help it,” she says. “I always wanted to see you two marry and this makes up for missing the first wedding.”
“We would have invited you--”
My mother cuts me off by raising her hand and shaking her head. “Don’t apologize, Zachary, I understand why you two didn’t tell us the first time. But like I said, this is just as good.”
“Promise?” I ask.
She nods. “Definitely.” She hugs and kisses us both again, then rushes inside, grabbing people along the way to help her with the food.
Later that night after everyone has left, we put Jenna to bed. JD and Paul are staying with us and we all decide we’re too exhausted from the day’s events to stay up much later. So we say goodnight and head to our separate rooms.
I strip down to my boxers and climb in to our large bed, spooning Taylor’s slight frame with my bulkier one. I hold him tightly to my chest and nuzzle the back of his ear. “Thank you for today,” I murmur.
“Mm. Thank you too,” he says quietly.
“Today was pretty perfect, wasn’t it?”
Taylor nods. “I’m just sorry Andy couldn’t be here. I know how much you wanted her to be.”
I shrug. “S’okay. I know she’ll come around sooner or later. I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.”
“Me too.”
I snuggle down under the blankets till only my head is showing. I kiss Taylor’s shoulder and the back of his neck. “I love you so much, Tay,” I tell him quietly.
Taylor threads his fingers with mine, giving them a squeeze. “I love you too, forever and ever.”