Title: I’ll Stand Right Beside You
Author: Star star55
Part: 13/13 (epilogue to follow)
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Pairing: Danny/Dougie, Harry/Tom, Matt/James
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama
Summary: Life throws in the most unexpected situations, testing and challenging you. You can make it through knowing that someone will be right beside you…
A/N: This is The long awaited sequel to The Heart Never Lies. I have had a lot of fun writing this! I am glad it is done and I can start on the third part!!
This fic is entirely dedicated to Emma: orpheous87 because she beta-ed this book and the first one. Emma, you are brilliant *hugs tight*
This chapter is dedicated to Anna a_glance_behind for reasons that only she knows of.
Disclaimer: Not mine *sigh* this never happened…

You need to have read The Heart Never Lies for this story to make sense. Read it (and comment!) if you haven’t yet.

Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Tweleve



Chapter 13
Eternity


“This is not good,” James said hovering over Tom’s body.

Danny gratefully took the wet cloth Dougie had searched for and he placed it on Tom’s forehead. “C’mon, Tom, wake up,” he shook his friend lightly.

After a few long moments, Tom finally awoke and he immediately started to panic.

“Where’s Harry?” he said. “He can’t do this to me! I need to know where my fiancée is!”

Tom stood and straightened himself. James quickly stepped in front of Tom, placing a hand on his arm.

“James, please get out of my way,” Tom said.

James shook his head. “Tom, what are you going to do?” he asked.

“I’m going to find Harry!” Tom exclaimed. “I need to find him so I can kick his arse!”

Tom pushed by and headed into the main hall. Danny quickly followed and realised that all the occupants had turned to look at them.

Danny halted behind Tom as the blond searched the room for his missing fiancée. Tom pulled out his phone and briskly waked outside, still scanning for Harry.

Danny searched as much as he could for Harry without leaving Tom’s side. The blonde was fretting and they needed him to remain calm. There was no use in having everyone lose their heads over this.

After fifteen minutes, Tom turned to him with wet eyes.

“He’s not coming, is he?”

Danny bit his lip and pulled Tom into his arms. “Oh Tom,” he said softly.

The blond broke down, crying into his jacket, clutching at him tightly. Danny rubbed Tom’s back in soothing circles and he tried to calm his best friend.

“Danny.”

Danny looked up at Dougie’s voice to see Harry running across the road to them. He ran across the lawn and up the stairs and finally stopped once he reached them.

“Tom,” Harry whispered.

Tom looked up, and threw himself at Harry, crying harder.

Harry rocked Tom in his arms and mouthed ‘sorry’ to Danny. Danny just nodded and pulled Dougie into his arms, holding him loosely.

Tom’s crying eventually subsided and he looked up at Harry. “I thought you had left me,” he whispered.

“I could never leave you,” Harry said, lips closing over Tom’s in a kiss. “C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up so we can get married.”

Tom nodded, keeping a firm grip on Harry as they made their way back into the building.

Half an hour later, Danny stood at Tom’s side, smiling as Tom recited his vows to Harry, making the brunette tear up. He slid the ring onto Harry’s finger and kissed his hand softly.

Harry said his vows, keeping his eyes trained on Tom the entire time and Danny couldn’t help but smile at the love that radiated from him.

The celebrant finished the ceremony and told them they could kiss. Tom smiled and met Harry’s loving kiss with his own.

Everyone applauded and Danny caught Dougie’s eye from where his boyfriend stood. Dougie smiled at him as he clapped his hands along with everyone else. Danny felt the little velvet box in his pocket and he knew that tonight was the night that he would ask Dougie to marry him.

****

Danny tapped his spoon against his glass and stood, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room turn to him. Nerves fluttered in his stomach but he squashed them down, flashing the crowd of people a smile.

“The first toast of the evening has been allocated to me, so I figured now would be a good time,” he started. “I’ve known Tom since I was a kid and he’s always been a determined lad.”

Tom smiled at him softly.

“He can be a bit bossy at times but that’s just Tom,” Danny continued. “He’s always been a lover and the day that he met Harry, he fell hard. It took them long enough to get together but they did. I have watched Tom grow from a geeky choir singing boy into the handsome man that he is today. He is one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met and he deserves all the happiness in the world,” he paused. “Thank you Harry, for making him happy.”

He raised his glass in toast and everyone clapped. Danny sat and let the others do their speeches. He took Dougie’s hand in his underneath the table and gave it a light squeeze.

Danny turned his gaze back to Tom and Harry who were smiling at all the speeches that were given and Tom had to dab at his eyes a couple of times with a tissue to prevent crying everywhere.

Danny finished his meal happily and grinned when Tom got up on the stage where there was a band playing.

“Umm,” the blonde cleared his throat. “I just wanted to thank you all for coming today,” he smiled. “And I wanted to share this with you.”

James handed Tom his acoustic guitar and then sat back down, a large grin on his face.

“I wrote this song for Harry and it’s the first time playing it to anyone,” Tom explained. “This is called All About You.”

Tom strummed his guitar and started singing the lyrics of the song he had written especially for Harry, keeping his eyes on the brunette the entire time.

By the end of the song, Harry had tears in his eyes and clapped harder than anyone else in the room. He stood and kissed Tom softly before pulling him onto the dance floor. The band started up again and the newlyweds swayed in each other’s arms, seeing no one but each other.

“They look so happy,” Dougie said.

Danny focused his attention on his lover. “They do,” he grinned.

“Would you like to dance?” Dougie asked softly.

Danny nodded and took Dougie’s offered hand. They immediately wrapped their arms around each other and swayed to the music. Danny’s world melted away as Dougie kissed him gently before laying his head on Danny’s chest. Danny’s arms tightened around his lover and held him close.

A tap on his shoulder made Danny look up.

“May I cut in?” Tom asked softly.

Dougie smiled. “Sure,” he stepped aside and Tom took Danny’s hands in his own.

“Feeling better?” Danny asked.

Tom nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “I can’t believe I ever doubted him.”

Danny chuckled. “I had that feeling too,” he said honestly. “Trust Harry to have a flat battery in his phone and then get lost on the way.”

Tom smiled. “I’m glad he got here though. I think I would die without him.”

“Let’s hope you never have to experience that,” Danny said softly.

They danced together, seeing their respective partners also dancing together, Dougie laughing at something Harry said then was twirled on the spot.

“I can’t believe I’m married,” Tom whispered.

Danny smiled. “I am so happy for you,” he replied. “You and Harry are meant to be, you are the couple I look up to because you’ve both been through so much but you’re still standing strong. And that ring on your finger signifies that.”

Tom smiled softly at him. “I love you, Dan, you know that, right?”

Danny nodded and chuckled. “Of course I do,” he replied. “You’re my best friend.”

Tom grinned as Danny twirled him and then came back to face him. “I cannot wait for our honeymoon.”

“Ah, I see Harry’s not the only one that’s missed the contact!” Danny chuckled.

“Damn straight, do you know how hard it was for me to keep my hands to myself for the last few months?”

Danny shook his head. “I can only imagine,” he smiled softly and Tom broke away to go back to Harry.

They stayed well into the evening, celebrating Tom and Harry’s marriage until Tom had had enough and told Danny that if he and Harry weren’t alone in the next thirty seconds he would shag him right there. Danny made sure that Tom and Harry were gone before they had to witness that.

As he and Dougie pulled up their driveway, Danny smiled softly at his lover. He took Dougie’s hand in his and kissed it softly. Dougie smiled at him and then got out of the car.

Danny came around and took Dougie in his arms, twirling the blonde, a large grin on his face. He couldn’t seem to get rid of this giddy feeling that he had and he wanted to share it with Dougie.

They made their way inside and Danny turned on the stereo to play soft music as he pulled Dougie in close, swaying softly with him. They kissed gently and Danny didn’t want the moment to end. He pulled back after a while and told Dougie he would be back soon.

He grinned widely as he came back into the living room, a bottle of champagne in his hand and two glasses.

He handed Dougie one and kept one for himself, taking a sip before placing it on the coffee table. He pulled Dougie back into his arms, smile not leaving his face.

“You’re very excitable tonight,” Dougie said softly.

Danny grinned back at him. “It’s been a great night,” he replied, dipping his head to kiss the soft lips in front of him.

Dougie pulled back after a few moments. “Dan, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said.

“Me too,” Danny grinned. He was ready, it was the right time.

“You first,” Dougie said.

Danny took his lover’s hand in his and he surreptitiously took something out of his pocket. He got down on one knee and looked up at Dougie, love shining in his eyes. “Dougie, will you do me the honour of marrying me?” he asked.

Dougie’s eyes widened and tears formed in his eyes. “Dan,” he breathed.

Danny frowned when his lover didn’t respond. “Dougs?” he asked, worried.

“Danny,” a tear spilled from Dougie’s eye.

His breath hitched in his throat and he looked away.

“Dougs?” Danny prompted again, standing up to be level with his lover.

“Dan, I’ve been asked to move to Paris,” Dougie whispered. “Next week.”

*****


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