Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

to."
    "Fucking Batman," he said, tossing his head.
    "Mallory located it," I admitted.
    "You made it happen."
    "For you."
    "Okay, boys," Bea said. "I do hate to interrupt, but we need about a gazillion pictures and with this lighting, that's going to take some work."
    "Oh!" Alan exclaimed and darted off. "I have my camcorder! Who wants to run it? Or I guess I could set it on a pew, except I should aim it away from the glass, but…"
    I just stood there happily watching my fiancé bounce all over the chapel, trying to set up. Finally he was somewhat satisfied and Bea herded him back to me for still pictures. Under her direction we posed and moved around and posed again, and she really did take about a gazillion pictures, but most of them involved touching Alan and looking at him, so I didn't mind. Then the minister arrived and she directed her "divas" into a protective ring around us at the altar, careful not to block Alan's camera. The minister— Pastor Augie, he told us to call him— talked to me and Alan about the real sanctity of marriage which wasn't what some people talked about but was instead the love and trust that blessed an everlasting partnership. Alan got a little wide-eyed but closed his eyes and steadied himself, and when Pastor Augie asked him if he wanted to reconsider he smiled at me and said no.
    Pastor Augie told us to face each other and asked me to repeat after him.
    "I, Lukas, take you, Alan, to be my husband," I said softly, not caring if anyone heard me but Alan, "my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
    "Oh god," Alan breathed. Pastor Augie grinned then led him through the same vow, and Alan didn't falter. Pastor Augie asked for the rings and Bea handed them over and he blessed them, and then I took one and Alan the other. Pastor Augie told me what to say and I took Alan's hand and said it as I slipped the ring on.
    "This ring is a token of my love," I told him. "I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am."
    "Oh god yes," Alan said. Pastor Augie grinned again, and Bea snickered. Alan took my hand and slipped the ring on it.
    "This is a token of my love," he said. "I marry you, Lukas, God help you, with all that I have and all that I am."
    Then, when it was far too late, I had my own moment of doubt, but I squashed it. I could take care of him. Check and double-check, and never let go of the rope.
    "By the power vested in me by the state of Connecticut," Pastor Augie said, "I now pronounce you married. You may kiss."
    I moved to kiss Alan and he grabbed and kissed me, as fierce and fervent as he had in the elevator or when we were falling into his apartment. The women cheered and Pastor Augie laughed and my husband kissed me until my toes curled then he let me go to grin into my face.
    "Okay, maybe you're not straight," he whispered, and I laughed.
    THE END
    Author bio: KD Sarge writes SF, fantasy, steampunk, GLBT, and erotica. She's usually writing two or more of those at once, sometimes in the same story.
    KD wishes fervently that she had found more time to research rock-climbing, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, video production, colleges in Western Pennsylvania, visa requirements, Danbury, Connecticut, Civil War re-enactors, and navy slang, but hopes there are not too many factual errors.
    She can be found at www.kdsarge.com and Twitter as well as a few other places.
    ****
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

WHISTLE BLOWING
    by Ada Maria Soto
     

    A bleached-blond young man with a sculpted body is sitting half-naked and curled over his own knees. His eyes are closed, and his head is down. He looks tired and scared.

    Dear Author,
    I'm so out of my league with this one I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. I watched him walk into that bathroom. How could I not notice him? Just look at him. He's fucking beautiful. I didn't see him come back out, but I was trying to play it cool, ya know? I thought maybe he'd left when after thirty minutes I didn't see him in the bar anywhere. Shrugging it off, figuring he's probably a good ten years too young for me anyway, I went to the bathroom and saw him again. Only this time he was a broken, bloody