#lemarie

Shane comes back from his run and goes to the kitchen to make himself a protein shake. He opens the fridge to take out the almond milk. As he closes the fridge he sees a wedding invitation on the fridge, he reads it, hmmm must be Ilyas friends the name Lemaire sounds vaguely familiar. There is a QR code on the bottom right hand corner to RSVP. Knowing Ilya sticking it on the fridge was his way of saying they were going but that he was leaving the details to Shane. Shane pulls out his phone scans the code and is taken to a website that links to an RSVP page and then linked are registries. He fills out the RSVP and selects fish for both of them knowing it will greatly annoy Ilya to have the fish option. He finishes making his protein shake and scrolls through the registry as he drinks it. Ilya and Shane didn’t have a registry since they are both MHL superstars it seemed uncouth to have a registry. Looking through it he wonders if they should have made one. He finishes his protein shake and buys a set of Shun knives nothing to ostentatious but not to cheap either. He has it delivered to their house it will take up luggage space but Shane likes being the one to give a gift at a wedding reception. 

He hears the water running as he climbs up the stairs. He and Ilya have some time before they have to get to practice. So hopping into the shower with Ilya sounds like a great idea. 

**** 

On the way to practice. 

“Do you want me to book the travel for the wedding?” Shane asks 

“Ok” Ilya replies 

****

HOUSE VINEYARD LUTHERVILLE, MARYLAND

Shane and Ilyas flight landed in Baltimore the night before the wedding. They drove the hour to the vineyard. It was a beautiful drive woods surrounded the highway once they got out of the city.  As they got into vineyard country they had the windows down the air smelled amazing floral and fruity. Shane wished he could bottle the smell, it was intoxicating. 

House Vineyard was a 5 acre property with a main house that served as a hotel and restaurant. There were three converted barns that were used for events. 

“Welcome to House Vineyard, how can I help you” said a woman running the front desk 

“ Hello we are here to check in the reservation is under Hollander” Shane replies 

“Ok Mr. Hollander I will just need your ID and a credit card to check you in” 

Shane hands over his license and a credit card. 

When she sees his license 

“Canada! Are you here for the wedding?”

“Yes”

“ Oh how fun how do you know the couple” 

“ They are friends of his” Shane montions to Ilya who has wandered away to look at a dog painting thats hung on the wall 

“ Well you are all checked in, here’s your key breakfast starts at 7 am and the bar is open till 11 pm” 

“Thank you” Shane takes the key card 

He motions to Ilya and Ilya rolls their bag towards the elevator. It is a three story building and they are on the top floor which Shane is grateful for he hates hearing anyone above him in a hotel. 

They enter the room it is cozy and tasteful you could tell that whoever owned this property had spent a lot of money on the building. Shane opens their suitcase and pulls out their suits and hangs them up so they won’t wrinkle he goes about pulling out their toiletries and setting them up in the bathroom while Ilya pulls out their gift that Shane had a service wrap it looks beautiful if he does say so himself he was worried it would get ruined by baggage handlers but it arrived intact. As Ilya finishes putting away the rest of the clothes they brought for their short trip. Shane comes up behind him and hugs him and just breathes him in. 

And because Shane and Ilya have never met a hotel room they didn’t get turned on in.

*** 

The next morning Ilya and Shane go down to the onsite restaurant for breakfast. As they are finishing up their eggs and bacon. Ilyas calculating if they have enough time for another round before the wedding starts. 

“No” Shane says out of nowhere 

“ What I wasn’t doing anything” 

“ I know what you were thinking and no we don’t have enough time before the ceremony starts” 

“ You don’t know I was thinking this” Ilya grumbles 

“Yes I do, tell me I am wrong” 

Ilya waves his hand in the air as if to brush off Shanes words “you know nothing” 

Shane lightly kicks Ilyas ankle under the table “ come on lets get going” 

“Who starts a wedding at 11 very inconvenient” Ilya says as he follows Shane back up to their room. 

Even with Shanes protests they do fool around in the shower. As they get dressed Ilya in a grey suit with an off white buttons up shirt underneath and Shane in a blue suit and a crisp white button up shirt. Ilya loves how Shane looks in a suit. He wraps Shane in a hug and kisses him 

“Ilya you are going to wrinkle my suit and we need to get downstairs”

“Hmmmm”

“Come on the shower wasn’t enough” 

Ilya pulls away slightly 

“ I’ll never have enough of you” 

Shane flushes which always makes his freckles stand out more. Ilya can’t help himself he kisses Shanes flushed cheeks and sighs 

Ok lyubimy lets go 

****

The nuptials are held outside at the edge of the vineyard a ballon arch set up between two rows of grapes it is the oddest combination of decor but to each their own. 

There are rows of chairs set up to either side of the ballon arch. Most of the guests are already seated. Which is good for Shane and Ilya as they wanted to sit as close to the back as possible. They take their seats and look over at each other with humor in their eyes thinking about their own chair less wedding. Shane had grabbed a program on the way in. He hands it to Ilya who puts it in his jacket pocket. 

“Oh you don’t want to look at the program” Shane asks 

“ I will if you want me to but these are your friends not mine so it doesn’t really make a difference to me” Says Ilya with a shrug pulling out the program 

Shane stares at Ilya

“ What do you mean these are my friends I don’t know these people” 

“ Haha Shane very funny” 

“ Im not joking Ilya I don’t know these people I thought you knew them” 

Right as it dawns on them that neither one of them knows who is getting married the orchestra starts and one of the grooms starts walking down the aisle. 

Everyone stands 

The man is walking with both parents on either side. He is tall with brown hair a heavy brow and perfectly kept facial hair. Something about him is vaguely familiar but Shane can’t for the life of him place him. He feels like he knew him when he was young did he go to school with Shane? 

Before they can sit down again. 

The next groom appears with his parents walking him down the aisle he’s massive built like a defenseman, tall and filling out his suit like it might burst at the seems but with a round face that makes him look like a baby. 

As they retake their seats someone in the wedding party catches Shanes eye is that Harris? Up on the first grooms side? Yes it is Harris! Is that how Shane and Ilya know these guys through Harris the connection is very lose very odd to invite friends of a friend to your wedding. Shane nudges Ilya and points up at the front 

“Look its Harris” 

Ilya looks up and see his friend. If anything Ilya looks even more confused than before. 

They make it through the ceremony its nice but nothing to personal is said so that doesn’t help Shane in figuring out who these people are. 

Shane leans over to whisper in Ilyas ear “do you want to slip out of here after this we can skip the cocktail hour and reception since we don’t know these people.” 

Ilya thinks about it and shakes his head “No Shane that would be super rude, we RSVPd we have to stick it out, just maybe don’t talk to anyone else so they won’t know we don’t know theses guys” 

***

The ceremony ends and the wedding party go off to take pictures in the same area tall tables have been set up and waiters walk around with drinks and canapés. Shane and Ilya find the furthest table they can and set up camp there. Ilya plucks a couple glasses of wine for them. 

As it turns out while they might not know anyone else everyone definitely knows them. They are approached constantly throughout the cocktail hour. Luckily nobody asks them how they know the grooms they seem to be under the impression that of course they would be there and isn’t it so nice to celebrate love and how brave everyone is. Ilya is starting to think that maybe Shane is right and they should just leave. Of course this is when Harris chooses to approach the table. 

“Thank God you are here!” Harris exclaims 

“Is nice to see you too Harris, where is Troy” says Ilya 

“That is why I am so glad to see you! He is stuck on the side of the road with little to no service! A tow is on the way but they say they won’t get here for another 3 hours did you guys drive here? Do you think you could go get him?” Harris frantically says 

“Yeah man we can go get him” Shane says 

Harris sighs with relief “Thanks so much you guys are the best here let me text you the pin he dropped also there’s no service out here either you’ll have to wait in the lobby for it to load.” 

“ If there is no service out here how do you know he’s stranded?” 

“ For some reason there was a spot of service by the ballon arch so I got his texts but it must have been a fluke nothing I’ve been sending has gone through.” 

“No worries Harris we will go rescue your man.” Ilya says clapping Harris on the shoulder as he passes him. 

Shane and Ilya make their way to the main house and Shane runs up to grab the keys to the rental car. 

Right by the lobby door Harris’s text comes through Ilya puts in in this map and sees that Troy is stranded on the side of the highway they came in on so he wont need to rely on GPS to find him. He sends Troy a text telling him they are on there way to pick him up. 

Shane comes back with the keys. Ilya drives because he has an uncanny memory for directions. 

“So if troy and Harris are here maybe the are MLH players” says Shane 

“Yes Shane they were wearing their jerseys in one of the picture so they are obviously in league” 

“Wait what pictures”

“You did not turn invite around and see the pictures” 

“No, you had it up on the fridge already.” 

“ And you can not turn invitation around” 

“I thought they were your friends why would I need to look further into it!”

“Why didn’t you say anything when I asked you if you wanted me to book the travel?!”

“Because I thought they were your friends so why would I need to say anything!”

Shane starts to laugh 

“Shane is not funny we are at random wedding because we still have the communication problems” 

“You have got to admit it pretty funny, after 18 years of knowing each other our biggest down fall is that we suck at communicating.” 

Ilya can’t help but to laugh too. 

——-

Troy was broken down closer to the city than to the vineyard so it takes them about 45 minutes to get to him. He is leaning against a Chevy Spark dressed in his suit he looks crumpled and miserable. 

Ilya pulls up next to his broken down rental. Rolls down his window and deadpans“ how much for blowjob” Shane starts laughing lightly smacking his arm and Troy looks disgruntled but relived.

Ilya gets out of the car and pulls Troy into a bro hug

“Ilya thank god you’re at this wedding the tow guy said he wouldn’t be able to come for another 2 hours and I’ve been here since 10:00 AM!” 

“You smell like you have been here for hours” 

“Shut up you don’t know the nightmare the last 24 hours have been” 

“Come on lets not waste more time out here.” 

Ilya and Tory get in the car. 

“ Hey man you look like shit” Shane says  

“Wow thanks you and Ilya sure know how to kick a guy when he’s down” 

Shane frowns 

“Ok Troy do you want to tell us boring story of how you ended up on side of road looking and smelling like shit.” 

Troy groans 

“You two are perfect for each other” 

Tory tells them all about being out in Vancouver visiting his mom and the lay over from hell in Toronto where they managed to delay his flight over night, lose his luggage and made him lose his car rental reservation. 

“So when I get to the car rentals all they have is that tin can on wheels and at this point ill take anything. Then I get a flat and there not spare or Jax or anything in that car. Plus the cell service sucks out here so trying to call a tow another headache.” 

“But why are you in your suit if they lost your luggage” Shane asks 

“It was in a garment bag on the plane with me and I change in the airpot bathroom since I was barely going to make the ceremony on time.” Troy scoffs “I should have stayed in my sweats now my suit is ruined and I don’t have another one.” 

“Well Troy lucky for you Shane could not decided on which suit to bring so he has extra.” 

Shane makes a face at Ilya. Ilya just smiles back at him. 

They get back to the vineyard and as promised Shane hands Troy his back up suit its a classic black suit, he also gives him the light grey button down shirt he would have worn with it. 

“Thanks man you are the best! Ill make sure to dry clean it and give it back to you ASAP” 

“No worries man you can keep it.” 

“Really this is a really nice suit?” 

“Yeah its no big deal its from one of my sponsors so don’t even worry about it.” 

Shane as an only child hates sharing clothes it grosses him out if Shane was lending you something he most likely did not want it back. The only person that didn’t gross him out was Ilya. 

The reception was held in one of the barns at the far end of the property. They had to be taken but a utility vehicle to get there. 

The barn was decorated with a bunch of Edison bulbs a table up at the front for the grooms and another one on the side for their wedding party. With round tables set up around a dance floor. At the doors there was a guest book that Shane dutifully wrote their names in despite Ilyas side eye. Shane adds their present to the table next to the sign in book. 

“ What they already know we are here?” Shane said defensively 

“I said nothing.” Ilya said with a quirk of his eye brow. 

Harris spotted them and made his way over

“Troy!” Exclaimed Harris the two men hugged and kissed briefly. 

“ Im so glad they found you!” 

“ You and me both,Ilya tried to proposition me”

The reception hall was filled with the other guests already seated. So they made their way over to their table. They were surprised that they were closer to the front. Harris and Tory were at their table too. 

A man in his mid 50s welcomed everyone and thanked them for being at his sons wedding and they were so happy everyone could be there celebrating their love. When he was done with his speech he sat down and the caters began serving the meal. When the entrees came out Ilya looked down at the halibut he was served. He looked up at Shane. Who was trying not to smile. 

“Seriously Shane? The fish option?” 

“What you like fish.” 

“You did this to annoy me, I am at wedding for people I don’t even know and know I am being served fish.” 

“ If you wanted something else you should have RSVPd yourself.” 

“ I did not RSVP myself because I thought they were your friends.” Ilya angrily whispers 

“ I don’t them either and I still RSVPd.” 

Across from him Harris was served a delicious looking steak. Ilya looked at it longingly as he started eating his fish. It was not bad but steak would have been better. At the table there were two other couples they were both middle aged and they seemed happy to talk amongst themselves and Harris. Until close to the end of the meal the woman to Ilyas right looks up at him and goes “So how do you know the happy couple”

“Ehm” 

“Susan leave them alone everyone knows how they know the couple and they clearly are trying to keep a low profile” Says the man sitting next to her. 

“ Its a wedding that is a very normal thing to ask.” Susan sniffs 

“Yes if they were regular wedding guests but they aren’t so leave them alone.” 

Ilya feels super awkward

“Well how do you know the couple” He asks that seems to alleviate the moment as Susan brightens 

“Oh I am his aunt!” 

That doesn’t really clear anything up as there are two grooms. 

“How nice.” 

Maybe if he asks the other couple he will get a better feel for how he knows these people. 

“What about you” he asks the man sitting next to Susan 

“Oh im her husband so I’m is uncle by marriage.” He gruffly replies before going back to his dinner 

The other couple is a little too far away to shout at them.. 

The toasts start while dinner is still going. 

The Best man from each groom. That also does not give any details on who these people are. 

After dinner was cleared there are more speeches. 

The baby faced grooms mother stands up and gives a lovely and moving speech all about love and what it takes to make a marriage work. Its nice but its going on forever just as Ilya is spacing out she says “And of course none of us would be here today without Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander!” She gestures to them with her arm a spot light that Ilya hadn’t noticed until then lands on them. Ilya and Shane share a panicked looked 

“No need to be modest boys stand up” She says 

Ilya and Shane awkwardly stand and wave a little as the other guests clap. They sit back down quickly. They thought that was the end of it but no the rest of the speeches included a mention to them, Shane and Ilya are getting more and more uncomfortable and confused. The groom with the neat facial hair’s dad starts crying after thanking Ilya and Shane in his speech. 

After the last dads speech a video starts playing behind the grooms table so everyone can see it. It starts off with home video of each of the grooms as babies it shows them throughout childhood in hockey gear, celebrating birthdays a young Harris is in a few of the birthday clips of the groom with the facial hair. Then there is a picture of Ilya and Shane on draft day with the baby faced groom standing on Ilyas other side holding his fingers up in a number 3. The next picture is of Shane and the groom with the facial hair arm slung over him at the MLH awards Shane is holding the rookie of the year award Scott Hunter and the other veterans are in the background a line of shots on the table next to them. A picture of that same night with the baby faced groom and Ilya on the rooftop over looking the city. A clip of an all stars game both grooms are on Shanes team the team is surrounding Shane as he celebrates making the winning shot.  The next picture is of Shane and Ilya handing the baby faced groom the award they had presented together in 2014. Next is a clip of the two grooms playing each other in round one of the Stanley Cup play offs Dallas vs Minnesota. Next is a picture of booth grooms presenting at the MLH awards they are handing Shane an award. After that its all pictures and videos of the grooms together doing coupley stuff. A clip of Scott Hunter kissing Kip and a news article about Shane and Ilya are mixed in with the grooms own announcement of their relationship. The second to last photo is of Ilya, Shane, Troy, Harris, Eric, Kyle and the two grooms at the kingfisher. It ends with the grooms proposal. 

Oh! Shane says a little too loudly the guests turn to look at him. He ducks his head. Ilya is trying so hard not to laugh. 

“Did you remember any of that” Ilya whispers 

Shane shakes his head no his cheeks are so red 

“Well mystery solved” Ilya says 

Unfortunately for him Tory overhears this 

“What mystery?” 

“Nothing there is no mystery?”

Troy furrows his brow “ you just said well mystery solved” 

Shane chooses this moment to pipe up “ We didn’t know how Harris knew Lemaire so well to be in the wedding party. Looks like a childhood friend.” 

“Oh yeah he was my cousins best friend so we kind of grew up together but lost touch after my cousin moved and my heart stuff. I honestly didn’t remember him until after troy and I got together he reached out and we became really good friends again.” Harris says 

After the video the grooms have their first dance to “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross

The rest of the wedding is pleasant enough but as the dancing gets under way Ilya and Shane decide to call it. They decided to walk all the way back to the hotel. 

When they are far enough from the barn they break out in laughter and they can’t stop. After a stressful day of being at a wedding to two people they thought they didn’t know only for them to have been in the periphery of their lives this hole time!

The next morning as Shane is checking them out of the hotel the two grooms, husbands now are coming down the stairs. “Hollander! Rozanov!” Korogyi calls 

Shane and Ilya turn their way. 

Lemaire and Korogyi are smiling at them. 

Congrats you guys!” Ilya says meaning it 

“You know when we saw your RSVP we were really surprised and even more so when you actually showed up! Thanks for coming.” Lemaire said 

“Why were you surprised?” Shane asks brow furrowed 

The husbands exchange an amused look 

“Oh its just that we used to have this joke that you and Ilya had no idea we existed since you were so caught up in the whole being Rozanov and Hollander.” 

“I have to pay my mom a hundred bucks now we made a bet she said of course you knew who we were”