i know its been forever im sorry but i knew at some point id eventually write more for this story
i mean it might be just as long before i write another chapter of this but still
let me know what you think in a review
"It's been about a year since we met," Dan said to Phil one morning in February. "Can you believe it?"
"No," Phil said. "It's gone by fast."
"This has been the greatest year of my life, Phil," Dan said to him as they ate breakfast together.
"This is going to be really eloquent," Phil said, "But same."
Dan laughed and as they cleaned up their mess from breakfast they paused to kiss.
Valentine's day was approaching as well. Dan wasn't sure what he would do. The obvious thing would be to get Phil a bouquet of roses. But he wanted to do something special.
Dan had to be at the shop that day, but could spend the entire evening focusing on Phil. He normally cooked dinner, so he decided he would go the extra mile. So on the day just before Valentines, Dan checked the linen closet for a table cloth and made a quick trip to the supermarket. There, he found candleholders and tall candles to set up the table with.
When he brought them back to the house, he put them into the linen closet. He kept them in the plastic bag as a way to disguise them.
At the store, he also bought things for dinner. He kept those in their plastic bag as well.
That night that Dan organized everything, as he and Phil settled in for sleep, he suddenly worried that Phil may have planned something further ahead of time. In the event that should happen, Dan supposed he could simply save the candles for another occasion.
So, the following day when Dan returned home from work, he set to work. He decided to cook sirloin steak for dinner along with sautéed vegetables and bread rolls as sides.
He preheated the oven for the dinner rolls then began to cut up the vegetables first, so that he could begin sauteeing them as he began cooking the steak. He quickly cut up the vegetables as nerves set in.
Why was he so nervous? His hands shook slightly as he cut into a zucchini. He took a deep breath, then continued.
When he was done with the vegetables he threw them into a pan with olive oil and few seasonings such as garlic salt and ginger. As well, he put the steaks onto the plug-in griddle. He added a few seasonings to those as well. As everything was slowly cooking he set to work on the dining room table. He cleared everything off of it, which was not much, and then went to retrieve the candles and table cloth.
He threw the table cloth over the table and then placed the candle holders and candles in the middle of the table. He decided to wait to light them. He returned to the kitchen where he stirred up the vegetables, satisfied with how they were softening. The steak needed more time before it needed to be flipped.
He realized he was unaware of how Phil liked his steaks, and hoped that medium was okay.
He nervously stirred and watched over everything. He checked the time. Phil would be arriving soon. He made sure he had a kitchen lighter and checked the 'everything' drawer. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found one there. He put it out on the counter as he would use it as soon as Phil walked in.
He flipped the steaks a few moments later.
Not long after that, Dan heard the door to the house open and the sound of plastic bags. So Dan immediately went to light the candles.
"It smells good in here," Phil called out.
Dan lit the first candle. Phil walked into the dining/kitchen area as he lit the second candle.
"What's all this?" Phil asked, his mouth open slightly in surprise.
"Is it too much? I can get rid of the candles," Dan said quickly.
"No, Dan, it's beautiful. But why? You didn't have to do all that."
"Honestly, Phil. I always cook. The only way I could've made it more special was with candles and a table cloth."
"I know but still," Phil said. He glanced down at the bags he carried. "And all I got was your favorite ice cream and a movie."
"Well, even better. We have dinner and dessert now!" Dan said. He approached Phil to take the bags from him, lingering as their hands brushed.
He put the movie on the table and went to the freezer to the put the ice cream away. "Everything should be done in just a few minutes," Dan said as he shut the freezer and returned to the stove.
To his surprise, Phil walked up behind him and wound his arms around him.
Dan sighed and put his arms over Phil's.
"I love you, Dan," Phil said softly. He breathed in Dan's scent. Which was almost always of flowers and soil, but this time it was mingled with the smell of dinner.
"I love you, too," Dan replied.
Phil lingered there for another moment, and then released Dan. He watched as Dan cut into a piece of steak to check their progress. They were about medium, so he turned off the griddle. The timing for the rolls was at about three minutes.
"You can go sit or something. You know, relax," Dan suggested. "The rolls have a couple more minutes but everything is just about done."
"Uhm, okay," Phil said. He did as Dan suggested.
Dan made two plates each with a sirloin steak and a scoop of vegetables. While waiting for the rolls to finish cooking he put silverware on the table, as well as a dish of butter.
Phil watched him, in awe.
After another moment or two the timer dinged for the rolls, so Dan got an oven glove and brought them out. He put one on each plate and then brought the plates to the table. He sat down across from Phil.
"This all looks amazing, Dan," Phil said.
"Well, I'm glad."
Phil continued to sit quietly for a moment. He was just smiling softly. When Dan looked at him questioningly, he reached for his silverware and began cutting into his steak.
When he bit into his steak, he said, "Oh, this is so good!"
Dan smiled.
They mostly ate quietly, as they were both hungry after busy days. But about halfway through the meal, Phil began telling a story of a couple who had gone into his shop to get matching tattoos as it was valentine's day. Dan shared his own stories. Most of which were that people were in a massive rush to get a bouquet for someone.
They spent a long while talking and finishing their meal. Even after they were done eating they continued to sit at the table for a few long minutes.
"Well," Phil eventually said and stood up. He took his plate to the sink, quickly followed by Dan and they both worked on tidying up the kitchen.
As Dan put away the last container of left-overs, he said to Phil, "Why don't you put that movie on. I'll finish up in here."
"Okay," Phil agreed with a small smile. He took the movie from the counter and exited the kitchen.
Dan washed up the pots and pans he used from dinner as he listened to the TV coming on in the other room. He paused in the middle of washing the dishes to put a bag of popcorn in the microwave. When the popcorn was done popping, he had put the last pan in the drying rack. He got a bowl out for the popcorn and brought that with him to the living room. He shut the kitchen light off as he went.
He joined Phil on the couch who said, "Ooh, I thought I smelt popcorn."
"Well, you thought correctly," Dan said as he shook up the bag to spread the butter.
The movie had reached the main menu, so Phil hit play and settled into the couch to watch while Dan poured the popcorn into the bowl.
They both idly grazed on the popcorn as they got into the movie. Eventually, when the bowl became empty, Dan put it aside.
Phil snuggled up slightly to Dan, and rested his head on Dan's shoulder. Dan glanced over for a moment, then smiled and in turn, rested his cheek on the top of Phil's head. They watched the rest of the movie just like that.
When the credits began to roll Dan said quietly, "You picked a really good movie."
"I know right," Phil agreed just as quietly.
"Did you want ice cream?" Dan asked as he got up from the couch to turn off the TV.
"I kind of had something else on my mind, to be honest," Phil replied, rising from the couch as well.
Dan didn't know how to respond. He gulped and then reached over to turn off the DVD player as well. When he turned back Phil had come closer.
In preparation for Valentine's Day, Dan had a lot to do at the shop each day. He had been very busy for a few weeks, and therefore didn't have the energy to spend more time with Phil at home. He was slightly nervous. Dan was unconsciously holding his breath as Phil reached up and put his hands on Dan's shoulders.
Phil leaned in, eyes open, gauging Dan's reactions. Dan's heart thudded loudly in his chest. He blinked and then reciprocated by leaning in as well. So Phil leaned away, teasing him.
Phil laughed softly at the look that crossed Dan's face. So Dan wound his arms around Phil and, throwing all caution to the wind, brought his lips to Phil's.
Phil kissed back just as wholeheartedly and smiled into it.
It didn't take long for Dan's initial nerves to pass. After a few long moments, Dan pulled away, looked at Phil, smiled, then grabbed him by the hand to lead him to the bedroom.
Later that night, as Phil caught his breath, he placed open-mouthed kisses on Dan's shoulder and neck.
Dan rolled over, because he was sure if Phil continued that he'd be ready for round two and he simply did not have the energy for that. So, Phil cuddled up to Dan, who brought the blanket around them.
They both slowly sobered up from their activities.
After a few long minutes Phil lifted his head, then rested his chin on his hands to look at Dan. Dan glanced back at him and tried not to smile, but within moments he was grinning widely.
Phil smiled back and then laid his head back down. He quietly said, "I love you."
"I love you too," Dan replied just as softly.
"Before I met you," Phil began. "I felt kind of empty. Like I was just existing, but now I feel like I'm actually living. Like I've got something to live for."
"I know exactly how you feel," Dan said in agreement. He began running his fingers across Phil's back and felt him sigh deeply in response.
After a few more long minutes Dan decided to reach over and shut off the bedside lamp. They spooned and then eventually rolled over to sleep, but remained touching.
alright so pls review and everything it makes me happy