That weekend, we went House hunting with Phil and Andy, and they showed us all the available houses they had. After a week of searching Alex and I settled on getting a house that was something similar to what we both grew up in. A suburban two-story house, with a master bedroom, three other bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a furnished basement, and a sized decent backyard. Unfortunately for us or fortunately for us, it was on the same street as Jay and Gloria.
Once we put our money down on it, everyone then helped us move our things into the house. Then the weekend came and with our parties, Alex left before me with her bridesmaids, while the groomsmen would be picking me up soon at least according to Eric. Arriving outside our new home I see Eric pull up in a limbo with all my friends in the back.
"Get in here! We are already pregaming!" Eric shouts to me as I walk over to the limbo after locking up.
Inside I see everyone is already drinking from the mini bar inside the limbo. There is music jamming and everyone looks already buzzed. Sitting down they hand me a few shots to check up on them. By the time we made it our first stop, the top-rated steakhouse in LA we all were already heavily buzzed. We even brought the limo driver inside with us. He didn't drink but he got some food, as Eric was paying for the dinner covering everything tonight.
Once we filled up on steaks and beer, we made our way to the fanciest strip/nightclub. There the night got blurry for me, as we all got drunk at the place, with everyone getting lap dances. I woke up the next day wearing only my jeans and nothing else, no shoes or shirt. With a groan, I stood up and saw we made it to a five-star hotel, inside a penthouse here.
'Fuck this is like Hangover,' I think with a groan escaping my lips from the hangover, as I go inside the bathroom to see Will passed out in the tub.
"Gabe… where the fuck are we?" Will says sitting up as I'm pissing in the toilet.
"No idea, I assume Eric's hotel room," I say flushing the toilet and washing my hands, then swishing some water in my mouth as it feels extremely dry.
"Fuck… I barely remember what happened after we got to the strip club," Will says standing up and he is completely naked.
"Will, go find some pants dude," I say walking out of the bathroom with Will looking down to see he is completely naked.
Walking out into the living room, I see a few women I don't know leaving. They just smile and wave goodbye to me, as I just wave back. Even in my drunken state, I knew I wouldn't cheat on Alex, so I was not worried about them being here. I can only assume they hooked up with someone else. I took a seat on the couch after making some coffee for myself.
"This place is fucked," I hear Carlos say as he comes out from another room seeing the mess that the hotel penthouse is in.
"You get lucky last night?" I say as he grabs some coffee too, with Will coming out to grab some coffee as well.
"Yeah… at least I think I did," Carlos says sitting down next to me with Will practically collapsing into the armchair nearby.
"Last night was fucking awesome!" James says walking out to us making us all groan, though James seems unaffected.
"My bad," James says taking a seat on the other couch.
"How are you not hungover?" Will says glaring at James who shrugs.
"Never had that issue, at least if I avoid Gin," James says as we all stare at him in envy.
"Man, after last night I might reconsider dating a stripper," James says breaking the silence that took place. We all just stare at him very confused.
"Best sex of my life," James says explaining that whoever he hooked up with changed his world.
"Please tell me you at least used a condom," Carlos says looking at him with worry.
"Fuck that, I never use those. My pull-out game is the best in the world," James says smirking at us.
"There is more to worry about than just knocking someone up dude," Will says with a sigh, as James dismisses our concerns.
Slowly one by one everyone else wakes up and we are all sitting in the restaurant in the hotel for breakfast. Everyone except James looks half-dead from the hangover we all have. However, after some food and a lot more coffee, we all start to feel better.
"Anyone want to bet that James knocked up a hooker and maybe got herpes or something?" Josh says breaking the silence after are all relaxing after having eaten and drank a bunch of coffee.
"Yeah, fuck it I'm in," Will says and we all agree as James looks completely offended by us.
"Fuck you guys! I'm in too, there is no way," James says as we all start a complex betting system for it.
"Gabe, look is there anything wrong here," James says, and before I can say anything pulls his junk out to have me look at it.
"What the fuck dude!" I say almost punching his dick.
"You're a doctor! Be a doctor and tell everyone I don't have anything," James says as everyone is laughing seeing this.
"Jesus Christ!... From the first look, I don't see anything–" I say since now my photographic memory will forever have James' penis in my mind.
"See!" James says putting his dick away.
"But! You need to get some blood work done, as they can confirm if there are any real STDs," I say as James grumbles but nods his head.
"So, are you gonna have James' junk forever stuck in your memory?" Eric says while laughing making everyone else realize that too now.
"Oh shit! My bad bro," James says patting my shoulder as I stare at him and everyone with annoyed looks.
We all then went to our separate homes with Alex and I telling each other about our nights. Seems Alex had just as a fun and crazy night as me with her friends. The week before our wedding, House had a case that we all worked on. Which House and I were able to figure out in the end as well, only making the team more annoyed at me. While House was extremely happy he found someone like him.
Then the day of the wedding came, with everyone showing up for it. I was talking with my groomsmen outside the church as everyone was making jokes on my behalf about getting married. Then it was time for me to make my way to the altar to start the ceremony at the local church my Mother suggested for the ceremony.
I stood at the altar with the priest while my groomsmen came in with their paired bridesmaids. Then Alex came after them she was walked to the altar by Phil as this was a traditional wedding. Phil looked ready to cry at a moment's notice but was holding back for now. Once they came up to the altar Phil gave her hand to me as a few tears escaped his eyes, but he held strong still. She stood across from me while I removed the veil from her face and we waited until the priest spoke.
"Please be seated," the priest said once we stood across from one another and everyone took a seat.
"Welcome Friends, Family, and loved ones! We are gathered together today in the sight of God and of each other as witnesses to celebrate the marriage of Gabriel Hunter and Alexandria Dunphy. We hold Gabriel and Alexandria up to each other as a family, and a community of loved ones, to christen this step on their journey toward what we pray will be a long, happy, and healthy life together!" the priest then says after waiting for everyone to take a seat.
"Before we begin, let us bow our heads and ask God's blessing for Gabriel and Alexandria," the priest continues as everyone bows their head waiting for the prayer to begin.
"Heavenly Father, We ask your blessing upon Gabriel and upon Alexandria. We come to you knowing that you have created them for a purpose, and we're confident, oh Lord, that your will for their lives contains some amazing triumphs for them as they walk together in your name. We ask that you bless them and keep them with you and that you hold us accountable to do the same, Lord. In your Holy name, we pray, Amen," the priest then says the prayer to God blessing our soon-to-be marriage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we hold marriage up as a sacred union between two people who are committed to loving one another and spending the rest of their lives together, faithful to each other, and to their journey together. But we also know as a society that marriage is a serious institution. It requires deep commitment, faith and trust in your spouse, and a lot of patience to make it work. In the time I've known Gabriel and Alexandria, and in the conversations we've had discussing this ceremony, I've seen those things. I've seen their commitment to one another, their faith and trust, and their patience - and above it all, I've seen the love that these two wonderful people have for each other," the priest says, as Alex and I share a loving look.
"Now in the book of 1st Corinthians, the Apostle Paul provides us with a beautiful description of the kind of love that a marriage needs. He writes, 'Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres'," the priest says as everyone is smiling at this moment, with Phil now crying not holding back as Claire is crying too. Along with my Mother, while my Dad is just smiling proudly at me.
"Gabriel and Alexandria, I want to urge you to hold to that vision of your love for one another, because even though all of us here are behind you and rooting for you, life throws us challenges, and in the midst of those challenges, it's the kind of love St. Paul was describing that is going to get you through it. Knowing this, it's time to declare yourselves to one another," the priest says finishing the introduction to the marriage ceremony and looking at each of us with a happy but serious face.
"Gabriel Hunter, do you take Alexandria Dunphy to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forward - to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health; will you love, honor, and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?" the priest says while looking at me.
"I do," I say while smiling at Alex. The priest nods and turns to Alex.
"Alexandria Dunphy do you take Gabriel Hunter to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forward - to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health; will you love, honor, and cherish him for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asks Alex.
"I do," Alex says while smiling back at me. The priest nods his head once again.
"Gabriel, Alexandria, it's now time to say your vows," the priest says while gesturing to us to speak.
"In the name of God, I, Gabriel Hunter, take you, Alexandria Dunphy, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death," I say to Alex saying the traditional vow and placing the ring on her finger.
"Gabriel Hunter, with this ring, I thee wed, and I do promise to love, honor, and cherish you, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, until death does us part," Alex says to me and places her ring for me on my finger.
"Gabriel, Alexandria, having proclaimed your love for, and commitment to one another in the sight of Almighty God and these witnesses, it is my pleasure to pronounce you, by the power vested in me by the Catholic Church and the state of California, married! You may now kiss the bride!" the priest says to us and motions for me to kiss Alex. I then pull Alex close to me and give her a very passionate and loving kiss.
"Gathered guests, it is my great pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs.Hunter!" the priest says after we break the kiss. Everyone then cheers and claps for us. While Phil is practically jumping up and down in excitement.
"Following the processional, the couple has asked that you meet them for a reception at 'Vertigo Event Venue'. Thank you so much for joining us today. God bless you all," the priest says to the crowd now that the wedding ceremony is over.