How Did We End Up Here? - A Phanfiction

***7 months later***

"No... Lou, it's not right. Can't you see, the right side is a little longer?"

"It looks fine, dork. Stop stressing out, I need to go check on Dan. You look lovely, I'm sure he looks lovely, and it doesn't even matter. You could be covered in horse shit and I know he'd still want to marry you." Louise responded, patting Phil on the shoulder. He sighed and nodded in defeat, accepting that his bowtie probably wasn't actually uneven and it was most likely just all his imagination.

"The girls are dressed?"

"Yeah, just wait till you see Anna." She smiled, stepping forward to tug just the slightest bit on Phil's turquoise bowtie, and when he looked back in the mirror it was perfectly even. "There. I'm going to go check on your groom, good luck out there." He took in a shaky breath and nodded again, nerves running through him.

Twenty minutes. In twenty minutes he would be marrying the love of his life.

The time passed painfully slowly, and he was wiping away sweat about every ten seconds. Finally, he made his way to the altar, smiling at his friends and family as he took his position to wait for Dan. The ceremony started, and Phil felt a choked sound escape his mouth as he saw the two girls began walking down the isle. Fuck, if he was already crying, this ceremony was going to be a mess. Not like he had expected anything different. Anna and Louise's daughter, Darcy, walked down the isle in frilly dresses, black on the torso with turquoise skirts that perfectly matched the colour of his tie. Anna giggled as she wobbled a bit on her feet, throwing fistfuls of petals down the isle from the basket in her hand, and then coming up to stand right next to Phil, holding onto his leg.

Louise, PJ, Chris, and several of Dan and Phil's other friends made their way down the isle, and stood along the sides lining the arch at the altar, acting as groomsmen and women. Phil grinned as he scanned over the audience, and then he saw something that caught his attention. In the back, hiding a bit behind a pillar as if she wasn't sure she should be there, stood Michelle. Phil's jaw fell slightly slack, as he watched her give him a nervous apologetic smile and a little wave. He recovered after a moment, and realized how clear her eyes looked. How she was put together and dressed nicely and looked much more like the old Michelle he had known years ago. He smiled and gestured for her to come in and she did, taking a seat.

Phil leaned down to Anna at his leg, and pointed at Michelle. "You're going to get to meet your mommy soon. I don't know how it'll go... but you're going to get to meet your mum." The knowledge that Anna was actually going to possibly get to know her mom sent Phil all the way over the edge and tears were falling, and from his crouched position next to Anna he waved to Michelle and Anna followed suit, shaking her hand wildly, with a dimpley grin showing. Phil watched as Michelle's face spread into a huge grin and tears were falling down her face too, and she was waving back. They shared a look, and then Phil stood back up, just in time to see the top of Dan's curly hair come into view.

Dan turned the corner around the hedge before the isle, and began making his way towards Phil, stepping on pedals as he went. Phil didn't think he'd ever smiled this hugely. It was strange, he felt like this should be a bigger moment, but it just felt right. It didn't feel hugely life changing, because he already felt as if he were married to Dan, this was just catching up with the paperwork. Still, he felt tingles run through him at the sight of his groom, striking in a black suit and bowtie, grinning from ear to ear, dimples on full display. Once Dan was halfway down the isle, Phil saw him turn to his father on his arm and whisper what Phil later realized must have been a short apology before letting go of his arm and racing up the rest of the isle to pull Phil into a long kiss.

After they pulled apart, Dan turned, blushing to their 'audience', apologizing "Sorry guys, I know that's not how you're supposed to do it, but I'm an impatient guy and just.... look at him." Dan gestured towards Phil, and he felt a blush take over his face. The ceremony passed as a blur, and soon they were to their vows.

Phil pulled out a piece of paper, took a deep shaky breath, and began reading.

"Daniel James Howell, from the moment I laid eyes on you... well... we'd already been talking for months so I guess it wasn't that big of a deal actually." He paused for the appropriate laughter from their family and friends before continuing. "I don't know how, but you worked your way into my heart until it felt too heavy to carry myself so I had to give it to you, and I hope that you'll keep it for me. For safekeeping. I love you with all of my heart and I know that I always will. Honestly, I don't really know what to say here that I don't say to you every day, so I guess what I'm trying to say is that I promise... I vow... to keep reminding you of how much I love you each and every day." Dan smiled and reached out to squeeze Phil's hand, and Phil breathed out a sigh of relief that the part he had been most nervous for was over. Now it was Dan's turn, and he didn't have a notecard.

"Philly... What is there that I can say? You have become me. You have changed me so much, all for the better, that a piece of you has made its way into me, and I'll never be the same." Phil waited for Dan to make some sort of joke about that innuendo, but he didn't. "I love you, Phillip, but the word love doesn't even seem to be enough. I loved you the moment I met you, but it grew to be more. When we first started talking, I loved the idea of you. I loved the times I got to spend with you, and felt sad when we weren't talking. But our love now... Our love now is different. Because you have become such a part of me, that I have you with me even when we're not together. You make me happy always, Phil. I no longer get as sad when we're apart, because your light shines through my entire life, not just bits and pieces. You radiate such a strong love and compassion that it breaks through every single one of my walls. I don't think I realized that soon enough, but I'm sure glad I did. I still remember the moment I knew I loved you." Phil drew in a sharp breath through his sobs. This was the question. This was the question he had always wanted to know the answer to, but always forgot or was too embarrassed to ask. Finally, he would get to know.

"I knew I loved you the moment you laid eyes on our daughter. When she looked up at you in the hospital, something changed in you right then, and my heart felt as if it had just fallen out on the floor. And I can't believe how distracted I let myself get with my fear of loving you that I didn't even stop to think about Anna, and if it weren't for your bravery..." Dan had held himself together so far, but now his voice started to break with sobs, "I don't know where we'd be now, or where Anna would be. You're the reason I am now living the best life imaginable, and I could never thank you enough, Phil." Dan's voice was high, choking out the words through his tightening throat, trying to hold the tears back for the remainder of his speech. "I vow to always stick by your side, through thick and thin, and I vow to do my absolute best to add light to every piece of your life, whether I'm there or not." Dan smiled at Phil, which Phil could barely see through his tears.

"Do you, Phillip Lester...." the minister began.

"I do." Phil choked out.

"And do you..."

"You'd fucking better believe I do." Dan laughed through his tears.

"Then you may kiss your husband." Phil pulled Dan into a kiss faster than he ever had before, and he felt as if he was floating.

He was floating on the cheers from their loved ones.

He was floating on the love he and Dan shared.

And he was floating on the small squeaky giggles and claps coming from his ankles.