The Wedding Speech by LunaFlower

'Now I know that this is the bit that you have all been waiting for, the part where I dish the dirt on Paul and tell you all what he is really like. But considering that in just under six months I am going to be sat where he is and he's going to be the one standing up here I concluded that perhaps on this occasion discretion is the better part of valour.'

A small ripple of laughter ran through the assembled wedding guests.

'Instead I want to share something very special with you all. Whilst trying to put together this speech, and with my own nuptials approaching, I got to thinking about this whole marriage business, what is it that makes a good marriage, a strong marriage, what, in short, is the secret of a happy marriage? So I began to ask around, asked my friends and my friend's parents, flicked through a few books on the subject before I realised that I was directing my research in the wrong place. The answer to my question was right under my nose the whole time.'

Darren looked over at Daniel and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'did you know he was going to do this?' Almost imperceptibly Daniel shook his head no.

'If you want to know the secret to a happy marriage,' Josh continued, 'then I suggest you look no further than our parents. If your love is strong enough to overcome the kind of boundaries and prejudices that they have had to overcome, to tackle every hurdle that is thrown your way and to tackle it head on then you will have a good solid foundation on which to build your lives together. And it was as an outpouring of this love that they welcomed Paul and I into their lives, into their hearts, into their home. Two waifs and strays, unwanted, unloved, they welcomed us with open arms and turned us into a family.'

Out of the corner of his eye Daniel could see Darren reach for his handkerchief and had a sudden urge to be by his side. Unfortunately there were three other people including the bride and groom sat between him and his love. Oh what the heck, he thought to himself and slowly pushed his chair back.

Darren gazed lovingly up at his eldest son. It seemed only yesterday that he was a young child, getting himself into all kinds of scrapes, relying on his fathers to pick him up, dust him down and set him back on his feet. Now here he was a grown man, confident, compassionate and strong.

Feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder he turned his head to see Daniel crouching down beside him. Meeting the eyes of his partner he smiled and placing his own hand over Dan's, gave it a tender squeeze.

Looking over Tess caught the brief exchange between her new fathers-in law and smiled. Yes, if her and Paul were still looking at each other like that in twenty years time then she would count herself extremely blessed.

Pushing back her own chair, she discreetly tapped Daniel on the arm and motioned for him to take her seat. Mouthing his thanks he eased himself up and gratefully sat down, quietly moving the chair so that he could take Darren's hand in his.

Perching herself on her husband's knee, Tess sighed softly with content as she felt two strong arms wrap themselves round her waist.

'Three of the things that I have learnt from my fathers' marriage include; the need for respect, the need for space and the need for time. Respect for yourself and for each other. Space to develop as individuals and together as a couple. The importance of giving each other room to grow as a person, to support and advise yes, but not to judge and discourage. Ultimately to be there no matter what. To share in the high points and comfort in the times of tragedy.'

Those close to the family murmured sympathetically, they knew there had been hard times. Darren had lost his beloved older sister eight years ago in a car crash and only recently Daniel had undergone a, thankfully negative, cancer scare. But these times had only served to bring the couple closer together.

'Both our parents lead busy lives,' Josh went on, 'but they always made sure that they made time for us. Made sure that we were all together as often as possible. I think it's true to say that Paul was probably flying before he was walking.'

Daniel grinned. It was true. When the boys were little if Darren was on tour than the whole family went with him. Instantly adored by the back up entourage, Josh and Paul had found themselves a much loved part of their wider family. Despite all the pressures and demands on his time, Darren always managed to take half an hour out of his day to have lunch with Daniel and the children, or to read the boys their bed-time story. In short, despite their demanding careers and schedules both men had made sure that they were there for their children.

'It's not easy when both your parents are minor celebrities.' Again laugher from the guests.

To call Daniel and Darren minor celebrities was a bit of an understatement on their son's part. Between them they had picked up practically every award going for song-writing, music and producing. Only a few months earlier Darren had been honoured with a Grammy for 'outstanding contribution to music' in recognition of a career that had now spanned almost thirty years.

Moving his hand to gently stroke his love's hair Daniel reflected that Darren hadn't really changed that much from the shy young man that had so captivated him at the Red Edge audition all those years ago. So he may have acquired a few tight lines around his eyes, a few streaks of silver round his temples, but to Daniel he would always be beautiful, always be his Darren.

'Another very important thing our parents taught us was to never let the sun set on an argument. No matter how late it is, stay up and work out your differences.'

Here Josh paused and looked at his fathers. 'Can I tell them about the portrait?'

Both men laughed wryly. 'Go on then.' Darren said shaking his head in amusement.

'Well as some of you may know there is a portrait hanging in my Dads' living room. A nice big family portrait of all of us. What many of you probably don't know is how it got there or what it hides. The truth is that when I was seventeen I made the mistake that many young guys of that age make and I came home rip-roaring drunk and I mean absolutely plastered. It was about two am and I thought that I would be safe, that everyone would in bed asleep. Unfortunately not, Dad Dan was worried that I wasn't home yet and had waited up for me. So there I was, thinking I had gotten away with it and was just in the process of carefully removing my boots when the light snapped on and I was confronted by one very angry father.'

Daniel leant his head on Darren's shoulder in mock-embarrassment, they both knew what was coming.

'Now things might not have been too bad except that I chose that moment to throw up, all over the floor and all over myself. Well you can guess what happened, Dad Dan was not impressed to say the least and when he saw that words were not going to get through to me he picked up the nearest thing to hand and threw it at me. Unfortunately it proved to be one of my recently discarded boots, fortunately for me I managed to duck, unfortunately for the wall it didn't and ended up bearing the full brunt of the blow, causing it to gain a large boot heel shaped dent in it.'

Tess's mouth dropped and Paul grinned, he had told her many of their family tales but not this one.

'At this point all I wanted to do was crawl into my bed and die but I wasn't allowed to, instead I got a lecture on the irresponsible nature of driving home drunk, Dad Dan explaining how worried he and Dad had been and what my behaviour did to them. I wasn't allowed to go until we had talked it through and he had explained just why he was so upset. It wasn't that I had come home drunk, more that my actions had consequences for other people beside myself. Then it was Dad Dan who helped me to the bathroom, cleaned me up, rubbed my back whilst I threw up a few more times and then was there the following morning with the aspirin and the water when the mother of all hangovers kicked in.

Ok so I still got grounded for a fortnight and lost car privileges for a month but the point was we had talked it through. Oh and the portrait, well three weeks later Dad Darren arranged for the sitting, citing that he had been thinking about getting one done anyway and that we had to cover up that 'bloody great dent that your father has put in the wall somehow.' And yes, in case any of you are wondering, the dent is still there.'

'Moving swiftly on.' Daniel interjected quickly, to much laughter from the floor.

Josh caught his father's eye and smiled at his comment. He folded over his sheets of notes and placed them down on the table.

Turning to his younger brother and his new wife he said. 'Paul, as your best man and, more importantly, as your big brother, I feel that can I can offer you no more advice as you begin your married life then to say that if you are only half the husband to Tess that our fathers have been to each other and if you are only half the father to any children that you may blessed with, as Dad Dan and Darren have been to us then you will be doing pretty well.'

He looked from his brother to his fathers and back again. 'You have a lot to live up to my boy.'

Paul smiled at this and reaching across rested his hand briefly on Daniel's shoulder. 'I know.' He replied simply.

Josh looked out at the assembled guests. Friends, family, the other members of Paul's band, people who had known them ever since Darren and Daniel had adopted them. All of them smiling or nodding their heads in agreement at the sentiments of his speech.

That left just one more task for him to perform.

'So, in conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you will forgive me from deviating once more from the norm. At this point in the proceedings it is traditional for me to ask you to raise your glasses to the happy couple, but I know that my brother and his lovely wife will not be offended if I ask you instead to raise your glasses to another very special couple.' Picking up his champagne glass he turned to face his fathers. 'Our parents. Darren and Daniel.'

Everyone rose to their feet and echoed 'Darren and Daniel.'

Blushing slightly Darren turned to his husband and whispered proudly, 'We did ok didn't we?'

'Yes my love,' Daniel replied, 'we did.'