Justin awoke slowly and stretched, reaching across the bed for JC. When all he found were cold sheets, he cracked his eyes open, finding an empty bed next to him. He heard the shower running and glanced at the clock. 7:42. JC had a meeting at 8:30. Climbing slowly out of bed, he made his way down to the kitchen and started the coffee so it would be ready by time JC came down. Then he grabbed the paper and made his way to the counter in the kitchen, perching precariously on two legs of the barstool.
He was halfway through the sports section when he heard JC coming down the stairs, fully dressed and ready for his day. JC made a beeline for the coffee pot, pouring a cup for himself before making his way to Justin, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He grabbed his keys off the counter and made his way toward the door. Before he left, he turned back to Justin.
“I have a surprise for you tonight. Be dressed and ready to go by 7:00. I love you.” And he was gone. Justin sat still for a moment before grabbing the phone off the wall behind him and dialing JC's cell phone. He didn’t even wait for a hello.
“What the hell? You can’t tell me you have a surprise for me and then just take off before I get a chance to try and get it out of you.” Justin pouted. JC laughed lightly into the phone.
“Baby, you’re just gonna have to wait for this one. I promise, it will be worth it. Just be ready by 7:00, ok? And dress nice.”
“Nice how?”
“Nice as in a suit and tie nice. I love you, J.”
“Love you too. I’ll see you later.”
*****
Justin was dressed and sitting in the living room by 6:45. At exactly seven o’clock, the doorbell rang. Frowning, Justin climbed to his feet, wondering who the hell was ringing his doorbell. He had a surprise coming to him, and dammit, this was no time for interruptions. A man he had never seen before stood on his porch, dressed in a pair of pressed black pants, a suit coat, polished black shoes, and a chuffer’s hat.
“Good evening, Mr. Timberlake.” Before Justin could answer, the phone rang and he held up a finger, signaling the man to hold on for a moment. JC's cell phone number blinked at him from the caller ID as he turned the phone on.
“Just go with him, J.”
“Go with who?” Justin asked.
“The man standing at the door. It’s ok, I swear.”
“Where am I going with him?”
“That’s part of the surprise.” Justin could hear the smile in JC's voice. “I just had to call cause I knew you wouldn’t just willingly go with the man without question. I’ll see you in a little bit.” And the line went dead. Frowning again at the flashing phone in his hand, he set it down and walked back to the door, apologizing to the man still standing there.
“This way, Mr. Timberlake. You’re car awaits.” Looking past the man, out to the street, Justin saw the sleek black limousine sitting there.
They drove a short distance, Justin’s mind racing with thoughts of what exactly JC had planned, before the limo came to a stop and the driver climbed out. But when his door was opened, it wasn’t by the driver, but rather by JC, dressed in a tailored black suit, crisp white dress shirt, and a red tie. The smile that lit up his face matched the one plastered on Justin’s own face. Justin’s breath caught in his throat. He knew JC was beautiful, but this was just beyond anything his mind could comprehend at the moment. He was gorgeous, he was magnificent, he was...
“You look exquisite.” JC said, taking the thoughts right out of Justin’s head. He grabbed Justin’s hand lightly in his right, intertwining their fingers, while he raised his left to Justin’s face, running his fingertips gently along Justin’s cheek. “Come on,” he whispered, pulling Justin gently away from the limo.
Justin stopped short and was pulled slightly forward by his hand, which was still intertwined with JC's, when he saw the horse-drawn carriage waiting before him. The awe on his face must of shown because when JC turned around to glance curiously at him, a light red tint hit his cheeks when he saw the look in Justin’s eyes.
“You’re incredible,” Justin said, leaning in for a quick kiss. The blush on JC's face became a little deeper and he glanced down. “Hey,” Justin said, nudging JC lightly until their eyes might again. “I mean it. This is wonderful.”
Once they were seated and the carriage started moving, a comfortable silence passed between them. Justin’s hand settled on JC's thigh and he ran his thumb in gentle circles. It wasn’t so much sexual as it was comforting and relaxing. He heard JC sigh contently and lean into him, his head resting on Justin’s shoulder. JC turned his head until his lips were pressed softly against Justin’s jaw, leaving a soft kiss in their wake. JC's lips moved slowly until they were resting against Justin’s ear. The feel of his breath against the sensitive skin was enough to send a shiver through Justin’s body, but the whispered words made his heart soar.
“I am so in love with you.”
Justin turned until their eyes met, and without words, the two of them spoke volumes. Love and pride and friendship and happiness traveled between them as blue stared into blue. Justin could see each and every emotion traveling through JC's soul through his eyes and he sent it back through his own.
The intimate moment was broken when the carriage came to an abrupt halt. JC lifted his head from Justin’s shoulder and climbed down, his fingers intertwining once again with Justin’s. Glancing up, Justin saw Cicadas looming before him. It was one of the most expensive Italian restaurants in all of Los Angeles, tie and suit coat required, and very extravagant. This much he knew. He had, however, never been inside it before.
The décor inside was as extravagant as he had been lead to believe. They seemed to have combined 1920’s Art Deco with more contemporary designs throughout the restaurant. A plush bar and lounge was situated to the left of the doors. After their reservation had been confirmed, they were lead to the dining area. A grand staircase lead down into the dining area, which, from the bottom, had to have at least a thirty-foot ceiling. Plush chairs were set up around circular tables and a violinist wandered between the tables, playing softly.
Their waiter arrived as soon as they were seated, handing them menus and offering a wine list. JC glanced it over before looking up at Justin.
“Red or white?”
“You decide.” Justin knew JC knew his wines, and was more than content to let his lover decide what they should drink with their meals. He glanced over the wine list again before ordering a Mas Collet. The waiter left and Justin looked up at JC.
“This is wonderful. Thank you.”
“You deserve it, baby. You’re wonderful.” It was Justin’s turn to blush as he reached across the table for JC's hand.
Once their wine had been delivered and their orders had been taken, Justin glanced up to meet JC's eyes.
“Not that I’m complaining at all, but why did you do all this? I mean, I’ve thought about it all day and it’s not a special day for us, like an anniversary or something.” Justin asked. JC swirled his wine around his glass for a moment, a smile grazing his lips, a shimmer reaching his eyes.
“Can’t I just do something nice for the love of my life? I mean, does there have to be a reason?” Justin looked at him closely for a moment.
“Normally, I’d say no there doesn’t need to be a reason, but by the look in your eyes right now, you’re up to something. So yes, I’d say there’s a reason.” Justin confirmed. JC raised his eyebrows slightly, amusedly.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see if you’re right or not.” He smiled at Justin again before taking a drink of his wine, the conversation finished.
*****
After dinner, they headed back outside and climbed into the same limo Justin had been picked up in earlier. Once they were situated inside, the limo took off, taking them back to their house.
Upon entering the house, Justin saw an array of candles set up in the living room, each one lit, providing the only light source in the house. Justin looked at JC for a moment.
“Jace, how? These weren’t here when I left.”
“No,” JC shook his head lightly for effect. “Tony helped out with that. I called him when we left the restaurant and he lit them all and took off just before we got here.”
“So, whatever this little plan of yours is, and just so you know, I’m still convinced there’s something deeper behind this, Tony’s in on it too?” Justin asked, an amused smile lighting up his face.
“Just this part. He’s not a part of the master plan.”
“Ah, so there’s a master plan. Should I be glad Tony’s not in on it?” Justin asked suggestively, leaning into JC and running his lips slowly along his jaw line. JC laughed and allowed Justin to kiss him for a few moments before pulling away. He headed over to the stereo and pressed play. Making his way back to Justin, he led him to the couch and sat down next to him, leaning into him slightly.
“I wrote this for you,” JC said as a soft melody filled the room. It was a simple piano and after a short introduction, JC's smooth voice filled the room, coming out of the speakers situated in various corners.
The song spoke of love, in it’s truest, deepest form. Of a love so pure and unselfish that just the thought of it was enough to make a person’s heart flutter. It spoke of finding that special person some people only dream of finding. It spoke of forever.
By the time the final note hit, Justin had tears in his eyes, threatening to spill down his cheeks in a soft dance, full of love. He couldn’t remember the last time he cried. It just wasn’t him. He didn’t cry. But this song, and the truth behind it, JC's feelings and emotions spilling out through the music, hit a place inside him, a place so deep it caused emotion to rise to the surface. He felt soft fingers on his cheeks, thumbs rubbing below his eyes, stopping the tears before they hit his cheeks.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” JC whispered. Justin’s eyes met JC's and he smiled.
“It was beautiful.”
“I meant every word, Justin. I love you more than I ever thought was possible. I love you more than life itself. And the truth is, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I want to be with you 20, 30, even 50 years down the road. I want you to be my forever.” The tears started again, and actually hit his cheeks this time as JC produced a small box from the pocket of his jacket. A simple platinum band, decorated with small diamonds along the edges, sat nestled in the soft black velvet of the box. “Be my forever?”
The emotional lump in Justin’s throat wouldn’t allow him to speak, so instead, he pulled JC close, wrapping his arms tightly around JC's back, pulling him against his chest. And there, in the embrace of everything he had ever hoped to find in life, his head nestled against Josh’s shoulder, he nodded.
The End