GROUP POST | Hunt & Evans Wedding Reception

[richandlovingit]

[OPEN TO ALL]

Out of all the things in his life that Ethan had worked towards and achieved, he was pretty sure he had never been this exhausted in his life. The wedding was over, and Stuart and Tom had finally managed to tie the knot, only one hour later than originally expected. Stuart had arrived at the ceremony just as Tom was about to panic,

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[kissmyhaggis]

Gus was pretty sure he had never felt this exhausted in his life. Now that it was over, the whole day felt like the biggest haze, but from the looks of it, all his family in seeing distance was happy. Of course, Bradie was outsight, so he wasnt counted for, and Callum was... somewhere else. The two who probably really did need to stop and be okay with each other. Gus was still reeling from the whole thing, though one thing their family knew better than anything was when Bradie exploded, he exploded and it was always for a reason. It wasn't irrational, it was just a lot of pent up upset and bad timing. But they were the Evans family. They never did anything in halves.

For now, though, he had a breather. Keira was his mum and dad, happy in the fact now she was walking and found her feet. Apparently it was awesome fun trying to get away from Nana and Grandpa as quick as she could. When all else failed, she dropped back down on all fours and crawled for her life. Daddy's girl, through and through. He swallowed down a couple of large mouthfuls of beer and then went back to watching Stuart and Tom dance. He felt that familiar urge to cry happily again at seeing his baby brother so happy, but he swallowed it back with yet another swig from the lager bottle.

hope this is okay ;)

[rockmeall_night]

Jules had left Kenzie in the corner at one of the tables as she made a beeline for Gus to check on him. She slipped her arm around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his temple as she just sat next to him quietly for a few moments and joined him in watching Stuart and Tom.

This morning had been a roller coaster to say the least, and most of it she'd only learned about through text messages. She rest her other hand on his thigh and turned her head to look at him. "You alright?"

Always ;)

[kissmyhaggis]

Gus nodded and threw a smile in her direction. "Aye, it's all good. Well, mostly all good. Pretty sure all of us could've done withoot the untimely blow up and I really need to try and get Cal to talk to Brades, but other than that, aye. We've all waited for this day for so long..."

He paused and glanced at her. "I have to ask, though. Did you know aboot Bradie and Kenzie? I'm nay gonna be pissed if you did. Girly talks and all that, I understand. It's just... feck. Bolt oot of the blue, and right under my nose. I had nay idea."

[rockmeall_night]

Jules smiled back as she gave his leg a squeeze and rest her chin on his shoulder. "Aye, agreed. Dinnae ever want to go through this again, and all I did was observe a wee bit. I cannae even imagine what it was like at yours this morning. So, what's the plan, man? Anything you need, count me in, aye? Nay letting you do this on your own."

Her eyebrows went up at the question before she gave a shake of her head. "I didnae know a thing. I was in the dark too until she exploded in tears when I told her what had been going on. I didnae think she'd ever keep something like that from me, but she did. I wouldn've told you the moment I knew anything, Gusto. Nay secrets between us."

[kissmyhaggis]

Gus shrugged and sipped his drink. "Seriously fecked if I know. I dinnae want to push anything on Stu's day. I think that was the whole catalyst for it all. Bradie didnae want to ruin the day by talking aboot the break up, so he and Kenzie agreed to sit on it until after it. Only, poor Cal and Kylie, under the delusion Bradie had been okay the last few months with Kenzie, felt it was okay to announce their baby news. Bradie just... man, he exploded. It was like a bomb going off. It was a real blow to hear they had kept the news because of him. But who really knows what the right way to deal with it was? I dinnae. Nay at all. Still dinnae. I just need that pair to fix things. When two of us are fighting, the whole family mojo is oot."

"Did she say what caused it? I havenae had the chance to really ask Brades aboot it. He just told Nana that they had been fighting a lot. Things were okay when they moved to London and started living together, but it just built up."

[rockmeall_night]

Jules frowned a little. "I cannae even mind something like this happening when you were all wee lads. You all seemed to work things out pretty quick for the most part. Maybe they need a big big brother talk from Iain, like? I dinnae think either way it would have made Bradie feel better. If he was having problems with Jules, there was a chance of exploding nay matter when Cal said."

Jules shrugged a little before she glanced over in Kenzie's direction to check she was okay. "I think it was just a combination of things. They're both still hurting. Kenzie's nay quite over her divorce just yet, and Braden's still got the infertility hanging over his head. As much as he wanted to step up as the baby's dad, and as Kenzie's lover... I dinnae think the two ever quite meshed. The baby's still cooking, aye? There's nay bonding with it. Nay like Iain with Hayden, or Gee with Ciaran. Even Euan with Ciaran. Or me with Keira," Jules added quietly.

[kissmyhaggis]

"We generally do, aye, but this is a big thing. I think Brades will be okay now he has exploded, but he's all back to square one, you know? We thought he was doing okay with the whole thing, but now he has to face the hard shit all over again. I dinnae even know if Iain would know what to say. He'd listen, but bottom line is, everyone else is top notch happy, while Brades get turfed under the bus," Angus frowned, "again."

He looked over to where his baby daughter was now crawling rapidly across the dancefloor to where her Uncle Stuart was dancing with her new Uncle Tom. Gus knew Tom had little experience with babies and smirked. "Oh, this is going to be amusing," he said. He turned to look at Jules and wet his lips. "I wasnae ever sure if you would want to... step up like that. I know it's nay been easy and the divorce has been hell. I didnae want to assume anything."

[rockmeall_night]

Jules looked at Angus as she raised her eyebrows a little. "Are you really top notch happy? I love Kenzie, and I'm sorry things went down hill for them, but Braden just needs a chance to find someone that will really make it work. That wants him, nay a rebound or an accidental rebound."

Jules started to laugh as she followed his gaze. "Aye, definitely. We should start a drinking game for every time Tom looks like he wants to pee his trousers." She shifted to take his hand, and threaded her fingers through his tightly. "I wasnae sure if you'd ever want me to. I havenae tried to ask you for anything, to push anything. Just figured we'd work something else when the time came."

[kissmyhaggis]

Angus thought on the question for a moment and then nodded. "Aye. Considering what I've been through and what my family have been through, aye, I am. Maybe that isnae everyone else's definition of top notch happy, but it's mine. I'm divorced and I have my wee girl permanently, with Tom making it that my ex has to pay me child support. Stuey is married, Cal's having another bairn, Iain's settling doon. I am happy. We just need to help Bradie find his feet. We were lulled into a false sense of security. In saying that, he seems a lot better than he was this morning."

He watched as Stuart bent down to pick up his niece, and as Tom watched Stuart's arse when he did. Angus sniggered in amusement, watching Tom's face shift from pervy to nervous with the baby. Stuart was a natural uncle, always had been. "And I do appreciate it all, love. I do. I'm nay sure I had the strength to think aboot anything but Keira lately. She's a handful. I didnae think being a single dad would be this tough, but I wouldnae change it. 'Course we'll work something oot. We go way back, aye?" he reminded her with a smile.

[rockmeall_night]

Jules smiled as she leaned over to kiss Angus' cheek again and ruffled his hair. "Doesnae matter about anyone else's definitely. Only matters that your definition is met. Maybe Braden just needed a chance to let it oot. If he's been carrying this aroond for weeks, months... We don't know how long, then he might feel like a burden's been lifted even if it wasnae done in the best way."

"Aye, we do, but this is the first real chance we've had to be together. That's still got to have its own challenges, like. She's still a gorgeous wee lass, and I'm glad you got her. I'm glad you get to be the one to raise her. She shouldnae be withoot her daddy."

[kissmyhaggis]

"I'm glad it's all over, admittedly. My divorce, nay the wedding. I just feel so tired, though. I need to chill oot and think aboot getting a job in London, and some sort of childcare for Keira so I can get a better income. I've got benefits at the moment for being a single parent, but she deserves better than that." Angus once again looked around for Braden, but he was still making himself scarce. "I'm worried aboot him, Jules. He's lost his footing again. He deserves some happy."

He took a mouthful of his beer and watched Stuart nurse Keira for a safe amount of time before he shifted her into Tom's arms, ignoring the protests. Poor Tom was going to get roughly shoved into Evans family life whether he was ready or not. "I still get terrified I'm gonna fuck it up. I dinnae think I've had a full night's sleep since I got her."