"Edgerton!"
Don called his name across the bull pen. Ian glanced up from his paperwork to look at the S.F.A. He had been working at the L.A. F.B.I. office for over two months now. Through some favors Don got him transferred to his team. He was now living with Charlie at his house, with Alan in his little apartment above the garage. His life was now complete...Well almost.
"Get out of here Ian! You got a dinner to plan!" Don said, smiling. He knew what he had planned and he couldn't be happier for them both. "Still the same plan right?" Ian had changed what he wanted to do so many times Don had felt his head spin a time or two.
Ian gathered up his papers and placed them in his drawer. Grabbing his jacket, he made his way over to Don. "Yeah, same plan. 7." Don gave him a pat on the shoulder as he made his way out toward the elevator. On the drive home he called Charlie.
"Professor Eppes" Charlie answered, sounding a little distracted.
Ian Smiled. "Hey baby. Slight change of plans tonight." He could hear the frown on the other end of the line.
"Oh?" Charlie always got worried when things changed or he had to cancel. In the past few months he has come to understand that Ian really was here to stay. But sometimes his old insecurities came out.
"Yeah, and I hope you don't mind, but I thought we could have dinner at our place with your dad and Don. I know it's been awhile since you've really got to spend time with them." He hoped Charlie wasn't too upset about the change. He planned to make this a fantastic night for him.
"That sounds like a great plan. Today has been havoc on my nerves."
"How so?" Ian was always worried about his boyfriend.
"One of my students didn't think he deserved the grade I gave him and got physical over it."
Ian's hands tightened on both the phone and the wheel. "Who was he?"
"No, not going tell you. He has already been banned from the premises and his photo is all over the place. He will not be coming back." Charlie understood that given what happened Ian was more protective now that he ever was. But he was not going to add fuel to the fire.
"Charlie..." Ian ground out.
"If he comes back or starts giving me trouble you will be the first person that I come too. I promise." Charlie said, letting the love he felt for the other man slip into his voice, hoping it would calm him down. It did.
"Ok, I will still want you to tell me everything."
"Yes dear" Charlie said laughing. Ian laughed with him.
"Can you break away about 6:30? I'm hoping to have dinner ready about 7."
"Yeah, I should be there on time or shortly after."
Ian smiled. So far his plan was working. "Ok, I'll let you go and I will see you at home. I love you." '
"I love you too."
Ian hung up his phone and had a smile on his face the whole way home.
*NUMB3RS*
When Charlie pulled in front of the old Crasftman house he saw that all of the lights were off. Looking around he didn't see anyone' car's in the front. Stepping out he made his way to the front door. Did he get the time wrong? He opened the door and went to turn on the lights at the same time as they came on.
"SURPRISE!"
Voices came from everywhere as people popped up from all around the house. His dad and brother were by the couch, laughing at the look on his face. All of Don' team was there, plus Larry, attached to Megan' arm. Amita came from the kitchen on the arm of her husband. And there was Ian, standing by the front door, holding out a balloon for him. "Happy Birthday Baby." He says, giving the balloon to him as he wraps his arms around him and kisses his temple.
Pulling away, Charlie looks around. "You planned this!" He asked Ian, laughing that he got this past him.
"Well, Your dad and Don helped me out a lot! I wanted your Birthday to be special surrounded by people who love you." Ian took his hand in his and guided him into the house more. He saw there were balloons everywhere, along with streamers. Ian took his balloon and tied it to the bottom of the stairs. "Come on, I think we bought out your favorite Chinese place." Everyone gathered into the kitchen and helped themselves to all of the delicious looking food. Charlie grabbed a little bit of everything, Ian staying by his side.
*NUMB3RS*
As the night wore on, everyone was having a blast. Charlie opened all of his gifts, he had such amazing family and friends, and someone got out the old twister board and he got to see Don and Ian in some very compromising positions.
He was talking to amita when he felt warm breath by his ear. "Come outside with me." Ian spoke softly. Charlie followed, not noticing everyone slowly making their way to the back door. When he got outside, Charlie' breath left him.
The Koi pond was alit and running, Soft music was playing, and small tea lights were everywhere. As Ian drew him outside, he took it all in. "Ian, what's all this?"
Ian brought them in the middle of it all. "This is some of your birthday gift from me. It occurred to me that I have never took you dancing. And That has been something I have wanted to do for a very long time."
As Ian put his hands around his waist, soft jazz music came from hidden speakers. Ian swayed him to the music, placing gentle kisses along his face and neck, hands softly running up and down his back.
Ian pulled Charlie in close as he kissed him passionately, expressing all the love he felt for him. When he pulled back, Charlie's eyes were full of love and lust. "Are you ready for your other gift?"
Charlie, still trying to come down from the high of their kiss, nodded.
Chuckling softly, Ian pulled out an envelope from his jacket pocket. Charlie took it and opened it, eyes going wide as he read it. "Paris? As in Paris France? For two weeks! IAN!" He grabbed Ian and wrapped his arms around him in a bruising hug, laughing and planting kisses along every inch of skin he could reach.
When they pulled apart Ian looked at Charlie, a soft but serious expression on his face. "I thought it would be a great place to go after."
Charlie looked at him, confusion on his face. "After?"
Ian smiled and kissed softly. "After we get married."
Charlie lost all breath and thought as Ian sank down on one knee and drew a small velvet box from his other pocket. "Charles Edward Eppes, Words could not begin to describe how I feel about you. The love I feel for you. When you first came into my life, you were beautiful. Full of life, and always keeping me on edge." He spoke softly but clearly. "When you said yes to having dinner with me, I felt like I had won the lottery. This beautiful, young, intelligent man could have anyone in the world. But he said yes to me." He reached up, gently wiping a tear from Charlie' face. "We have been through so much. Some so very good. Some so so bad. But their is no one else I would rather have by my side." He opened the box, revealing a platinum ring, one diamond in the middle. He pulled it out and held it up for Charlie to see the inscription. L = 8 + .5Y - .2P + .9Hm + .3Mf + J - .3G - .5(Sm - Sf)2 + I + 1.5C , written in small script on the inside of the band, the newly discovered formula for love. Charlie smiled wide and laughed softly. "I felt like I won the lottery when you said yes to dinner. Will you make me feel like I've won the world? Will you marry me Charlie?"
Charlie had more tears falling down his face as he knelt down in front of Ian, Holding his left hand out. "I couldn't imagine saying anything else but YES." His answer came out as a laugh. Ian smiled wide as he slipped the ring on his finger, both hearing the ear splitting applause from the house, and grabbed Charlie' face to bring him in for a hard, yes so soft, kiss.
They had no idea how long they had stayed that way when they were suddenly surrounded by their family and friends, all hugging them and congratulating them. As everyone started talking about wedding plans and the trip to Paris, (Did Charlie' dad just bring up surrogates?) All Ian could see was Charlie, letting everyone see his ring, looking for all the world the happiest man alive. Once again Ian found himself wondering how he had gotten so lucky as to have this man and his love.
