They were up early on Saturday morning, much to Connor's annoyance. Jude was amused at how hard he was trying to hide the fact that he was annoyed, knowing how badly Jude liked this wedding venue. Connor just hated having his 'sleep in Saturdays' be interrupted. They were out the door on time, leaving behind a cranky Hades who wanted to know why he wasn't allowed to go. As if Jude and Connor could have explained it to him.

But Hades' presence at the venue, Jude mused, would be the breaking point of the place. Both he and Connor were set on having Hades be part of the wedding. There had been nothing on the venue's webpage about whether or not they were pet friendly and Jude crossed his fingers about it on the drive over.

They arrived at the venue just before ten and there was a woman waiting on the stone steps to greet them. She introduced herself as Allison, shaking their hands. She had on bright red heels that matched her blouse and a smooth black pencil skirt.

"So, let's take a tour, shall we?" she flashed a bright smile, her one crooked tooth contrasting sharply with the rest of her immaculate appearance. "Do we want to start inside or outside?"

"Um, outside," Connor said. "We were thinking we'd have the ceremony out there and have the reception indoors."

"That sounds amazing!" she said, and Jude liked her pep.

She chattered about the history of the building as they walked out back – it was thirty years old and built by her parents. Apparently, their goal had been to make it look like a 'modern castle'.

"It was always meant to be an event space. They wanted something romantic that wasn't a church."

"We loved the online photos," Jude admitted.

"So, here we are," Allison said. "Take a wander around1"

As he and Connor walked around the spacious garden, lined with an assortment of trees and flowers that were in bright bloom, Allison explained some of the previous wedding arrangement. Arches and seating and decorations for the trees. All things that Jude hadn't thought of yet. He and Connor had plenty of ideas but nothing set in stone and that was why, when he pictured his wedding day right now, all he could visualize was Connor's face.

He and Connor finished circling the spacious lawn, reaching under a leafy tree that provided a welcome shady spot.

"What do you think?"

"It's definitely beautiful," Connor said, casting another look around. "Let's see the inside."

"Okay, okay, don't show any excitement," Jude teased.

"I'm also thinking that it might be too big for the wedding size that we were thinking of."

"Better than too small," Jude said, lilting his tone so Connor caught his innuendo.

Connor just shook his head at Jude, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Come on, let's see the inside."

Allison happily led them through the doors, once again talking about how different set ups would flow in the cavernous space.

"As you can see, it's easily decorated to personal tastes. And, we do have an on-site kitchen, for your caterers or we can provide them as well."

"Are you pet friendly?" Jude asked, knowing he shouldn't fall in love as he wanted to before getting the answer to that question.

Allison paused. "Well … depends on what you were planning."

"We have a dog. He's three, very well-trained. We're set on having him be a part of the ceremony," Jude explained.

"Just one?"

Jude nodded and Allison was back to smiling.

"We'd need an additional pet deposit – just in case – but one dog won't be an issue."

Jude glanced at Connor excitedly and Connor nodded.

"Can we see your dates for next September?" Jude asked.

"Sure! It's filling up fast, I have to warn you."

She probably would have warned him about it even if it wasn't true but Jude felt like she was right to say it.

They followed her to the front entrance, stopping by a small table so that Allison could pull her tablet out of her purse. A couple of taps to the screen and then she turned the tablet toward them.

"All of the white days are still open, any of the green ones already have event books.

The first Saturday in September was the only weekend date that was still open. He felt Connor's hand gently touch his elbow and, for a second, Jude was concerned that Connor was telling him to stop and slow down – that they shouldn't commit to the venue today.

"We'll take the first Saturday," Connor said.

Jude grinned wildly, reaching up to take Connor's hand.

"Perfect! So, we just need a deposit today in order to hold your spot and then we can work out a payment plan for the subsequent amount. If you'd like any of our other services, like our caterers, we expect a minimum of three months notice. More, if you can get it."

Jude glanced at Connor and thought of his planning skills.

"Not a problem," Jude said. "I'm sure we'll be able to give you plenty of notice."

Their cheque handed over, their day secured, Jude and Connor shook Allison's hand and headed back to the car. Jude didn't start it immediately, instead, he turned to face Connor.

"First house we looked at, first wedding venue … How do you do that?"

"Also, the first ring I looked at," Jude said, nodding at Connor's hand. "Though, you're not my first boyfriend."

Connor angled himself toward Jude, sliding his fingers through Jude's. "I've some of your firsts."

"I knew it was you, though, from the very beginning."

"No, you didn't. You're just being sappy," Connor accused. "I knew there was something special about you, from the very first class. I couldn't stop thinking about you. There had to be a reason why."

"You thought I was hot," Connor said, his tone flat.

"Someday, baby, you'll have to get over that."

Jude leant over the console and kissed Connor's cheek, lingering in Connor's space.

"Why?" Connor asked, shifting so their lips were closer. "You kiss me every time I bring it up."

Jude pressed his lips to Connor's, stretching across the seats. He thought about trying to maneuver his long body so that he was in Connor's lap – car sex was something they'd never done – but Allison was still inside and it would be a sure fire way to get kicked off the property.

Jude ended the kiss so he wouldn't lose himself in it. "For the record, you're still hot."

"It only matters that you think so."

Jude kissed him quickly and started the car.

"We should tell people to save the date, now that we have it," Connor said. "And tell the wedding party that they are the wedding party."

"I just always assumed …" Jude started and then stopped as his thoughts got too far away from him.

"Assumed what?"

"Daria always talked about getting married. She and Taylor loved all of those wedding shows and I always ended up watching them too. They talked for days about big puffy dresses and guest counts in the hundreds. Taylor said that Daria and I would have to fight over who got her as maid of honour and I always thought that there was no reason why we couldn't both have her." Jude swallowed, trying to break up the emotion building in his chest. "And Callie was supposed to be here for stuff like this. She was supposed to have the biggest part in it. And then she died and, when it comes to how I feel about her, Taylor died with her and all that went away. When I was ring shopping, I called Adam but Jesus was the one who came with me and it made me thinking about how different this wedding was going to be from the way that I'd thought it was going to go."

"What did you start picturing?" Connor asked.

"I started thinking that the two people I was sure were going to be there on my wedding day weren't going to be but Callie gave me this family and that it only made it right for Jesus and Brandon to be the ones standing with me and now I don't even want to send them a save the date text." Jude tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, feeling disgusting over the whole situation.

"You won't be angry by the time we get to the wedding date. I really believe that you'll have talked through everything by then and that if they're not in the wedding party, you're going to regret it."

"Yeah, probably," Jude said. "But, we have enough time that I don't have to get over it now."

"Even if we didn't, no one could make you before you were ready."

"True," Jude agreed. "I think you know me too well, Connor Stevens."

Jude glanced over at Connor, who suddenly looked nervous. He was quiet when he replied, "Well, enough to know you're not going to want to change your name when we get married," as if it were a risky thing to say.

"I hadn't really thought about it," Jude admitted, "but, you're right. I want to keep my name. Why? Do you want me to change it?"

Connor shook his head, hiding his face behind his shaggy hair. "Actually, Jude, that's the thing … I want to change mine."

"Really?" Jude asked and then he realized how his tone could be read and he backtracked. "I like the idea, baby, I didn't mean to sound so surprised. I just couldn't think of a reason you'd want to change your name. And, the three names together are just long."

"I didn't mean to hyphenate ours," Connor said. "Jude, your last name means a connection with your family and about knowing who you are. My last name reminds me of that scared, closeted kid who was trapped in an awful relationship. Being with you allowed me to feel confident and that gave me the freedom to know me. If I had never met you, I wouldn't be half the person I am today and I'd always be missing all of the ways you've touched my life. For the first time, with you, I was unashamed of who I was and I know what love and a good life and what a good man is because of you. I love you and marrying you is going to be the proudest moment of my life. I want everyone to know that we're one. A team. That's what your last name means to me."

"And you said you couldn't write your own vows."

"I just couldn't say that in front of anyone else," Connor said with a frown. "You've always said I'm not the romantic one."

"Normally you're not," Jude said, his mind replaying Connor's words, trying desperately to memorizing them.

"So," Connor said, his voice small, "is it okay with you if I take your last name?"

Jude pulled into their garage and turned the car off. He and Connor face each other over the console once again and Jude tried to remember the last time he'd seen Connor look so nervous about something. He reached out and cleared the hair out of Connor's face and then he cupped Connor's jaw in his hand. Connor rested his cheek heavily against Jude's palm and met Jude's eyes.

"I would love it, baby."

"Yeah?"

Jude nodded, feeling a well of emotion and he blinked rapidly. "Did you think I wouldn't?"

"I didn't think you'd say I shouldn't, if I wanted to. I was worried that, because you weren't changing yours, you wouldn't see how much it mattered. And, I really need it to mean as much as you as it does to me, because this means a lot to me."

"It means a lot to me," Jude promised.

Connor smiled, his eyes lighting up and Jude just couldn't resist the urge to kiss him. Connor kissed him back and then smiled at him.

"Come on, Hades is going to have to go out."

"Okay."

They were out of the car and into the house when Connor added, "and you should text your moms about the date, even if you don't want to text your siblings."

Jude groaned. "Yeah, okay …"

He did as Connor suggested and then joined his fiancé out on the back deck, watching Hades roam around.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I want to talk to Mariana about all of this. About the wedding and the planning. She's so good at this stuff and I'd love her help."

"Text her too."

"No," Jude said. "She'd probably just get mad and think that I was trying to ignore all of the other issues and that will just make me all over again and …"

Jude just sighed loudly, hanging his head.

"Think about it, anyway."

"Yeah, maybe," Jude said, even though he knew how it was going to play out and he definitely wasn't going to text her first.

Connor took a seat in one of the sun-soaked lawn chairs and Jude flopped down into Connor's lap. They had a wedding venue and a wedding and he and his husband were going to have the same last name. It was only the good things that he should spend his day thinking about.

Hades dropped a dirty tennis ball at their feet and Jude grabbed it, tossing it so that it hit the fence, and Hades bounced off after it.

He was going to spend his day thinking about the best things.

The chapter's title is after the song You And Me by You+Me. If you have a song that reminds you of Under The Stars and would like it to be on the playlist – and possibly a chapter title – send it in and let me know! I'd love to hear your playlist suggestions! (Chapter titles are mostly chosen via shuffle.)

So, on tumblr I'm: we are all of legend now (with dashes between every word). If you want to find my replies to anon reviews, add backslash tagged backslash anon dash replies. If you want to see anything I post about Under The Stars, go to my tumblr URL and add backslash tagged backslash under dash the dash stars dash. Punctuation is spelled out due to Fanfiction's restrictions. If you're having any trouble accessing the tumblr content please send me a pm and I can format it for you in a different way.

~TLL~