Cal got to go first, which may not have been a good thing necessarily, if he'd had any idea what Gillian had been planning. Smugly, he thought she was going to have to live up to what he had planned for their anniversary when they went on her date on Sunday. Surely she had not put as much thought into it as he had. But then, when they were getting ready to go out and Gillian had said 'well if it's a surprise at least give me a hint about the dress code' and Cal had said 'casual' and she said 'oh' and then 'ok' he thought maybe he hadn't tried hard enough. They already went out to nice restaurants that required those incredible dresses and heels and hair and makeup and he had figured, when he was making his plans, that because they always did that, if they did it again on their anniversary, their ten year wedding anniversary, that it just would not be special enough. So he had hunted around for something else, something that wasn't their normal, but wasn't completely crazy, and he thought he had done a good job. Now he was nervous.
"Are you nervous?" Gillian's hand came to rest on his thigh, up high and Cal shifted in his seat.
"Uh yeah that makes me a little nervous."
He could feel Gillian smirking at him across the car. She was in jeans, nice jeans, and a pink shirt with grey and silver pin stripes so that it almost looked like it was shiny and her brown leather jacket. She looked great, as she always did; casual meant 'casual nice'. So Cal was also in jeans, dark ones, and a black shirt with a sports coat. No matter what he did, next to her, he felt underdressed.
Gillian's hand shifted higher and Cal straightened up even more, his foot hesitant on the gas; he needed to slouch a little to reach. "Did I mention we're headed to a public place? Might not be a good look walkin' around with a hard on."
Gillian laughed, gave his leg a tight lingering squeeze and withdrew it. She turned in her seat to face him. "So where are we going?"
"That's cheatin'," Cal told her. "You can't just ask outright."
"Fine," she pretended to huff. "Is it an activity?"
"What does that mean?"
"You know, going to do something, like... um... sailing a boat, as opposed to having dinner. Which I'm already guessing we're not. Although, you better be feeding me at some point Cal Lightman."
"Course. You put out if you're fed."
Her hand struck him in the upper arm and he laughed while she huffed again. "Are we going sailing?"
"No."
"Does the date require physical activity? Because I wouldn't have worn these shoes..."
"Only if you want it to luv," Cal responded. Her hand hit him again.
"Don't push your luck." But the way she said it certainly did not sound like a 'no'.
"No physical exertion mandatory," Cal answered. He made a turn on the bridge and Gillian was silent for a moment as she watched the river slide by beneath them. Cal figured she was probably trying to work out what was in Rosslyn, Virginia. She guessed a few more but really, she can't have been thinking about it too carefully because they were random and she didn't really get any clues out of him. Not until he pulled into a side street did she suddenly click. Probably helped there was a giant billboard advertising.
"We're going to see a movie?" Her face was delighted as they parked in a side street.
"You like movies," Cal noted, withdrawing the keys from the ignition.
"I do," Gillian agreed.
"You'll like this movie too."
She gave him a slight smile in the streetlight. Cal pulled on the latch for his door and got out. He went to the boot and pulled out two folded blankets and a few cushions; of course, the idea was that she would cuddle up to him but what was he going to lean on? He'd also packed a picnic while Gillian was in the shower getting ready. It was really hard to hide different food in the refrigerator; from Gillian and the boys.
Gillian watched him and smiled. She offered to help carry something and Cal refused her. She linked her arm around his as they walked, the picnic basket banging between them gently. Gillian picked the spot and they headed towards it. Cal made a show of tossing out the first blanket for them to sit on and placing the cushions for her. "What time does the movie start?"
"Eight," Cal responded. "Something to eat?"
"Yes please," Gillian enthused, leaning back on her elbow.
Cal had packed food from the deli, marinated olives, dried marinated tomatoes, feta cheeses, cured meats and pickles and other finger foods. But he'd also made her sandwiches and there were juice boxes and carrot sticks. He handed her a juice box and she laughed. "Sammie?" Cal pulled the lid and offered her the container.
Gillian peered in and gave a little gasp. She sat up straighter. "You cut the crusts off?" She gushed, covering her mouth with one hand and looking up at him with shiny eyes. Cal gave her a slight grin. "When you're trying to be cute..." she started and took a sandwich in each hand, crossing her legs in front of her. She took a bite and watched him for a moment. "What else have you got in there?"
"You'll find out," he responded simply. He had dessert as well. How could he not? Biscuits and dried apricots with a chocolate dipping sauce, hot chocolate for when it got colder and milk duds. The movie was free; he had to really go all out on everything else didn't he?
Gillian finished her sandwiches and opened her juice box and Cal offered her a little fork that Owen used to use when he was learning how to use utensils, so she could spear and pick from the cheeses and other selections. "Wait, where's your fork?" Gillian asked him, amused. Cal produced a plastic one. "Aw," she pouted. "Here," she offered him the pastrami and feta she had already snagged. Cal leaned forward and opened his mouth. Her grin got wider until she was beaming as she ate.
Ten minutes into their picnic the movie started. They weren't entirely surrounded but the open aired venue had filled up a little more. Other couples and families and groups were also eating, take out and snack foods. "Had enough?" Cal asked as the opening credits started.
"Yeah," Gillian whispered as she shifted to lie back, moving a cushion to support her head and neck. "Oh I love this movie!"
Cal gave her a grin. He knew that. And it was a freaking fantastic spot of luck that it happened to be playing the weekend of their wedding anniversary. He put everything away again, most of it gone, and settled beside her. Gillian pulled on his arm and lifted it above their heads. She settled it behind her neck and cuddle up against him, using his shoulder as a pillow now, exactly how Cal had planned it. The second blanket was for in case she got cold but at least for a while his body heat would suffice.
When Harry Met Sally played on the big screen but Cal paid more attention to the feel of his wife against him. Her hand smoothed absently against his shirt and after a while she draped a leg over his and pressed her lips against his neck. "This is great, thank you Cal."
Cal shifted his hand over her arm and gave it a squeeze. "You're welcome." God she smelt good.
An hour later Cal felt Gillian shiver. "Are you cold?" He murmured.
"I'm starting to feel it," she admitted.
Cal sat up, dislodging her and grabbed the second blanket, shaking it out to drape over them, making sure she had most of it and that she was all covered up. He turned on his side and she did the same and they embraced, using the cushions stacked on top of each other to prop their heads up. Gillian shifted so her forehead was resting against Cal's sternum and he could feel her hands against his chest, curled up between them. He slipped a hand up the back of her leather jacket, feeling the warmth of her skin through her shirt. He tried to pick up the plot to but the truth was, he hadn't seen this movie in over twenty years and he didn't care much for it then, let alone now. It was just nice to be with his wife and not have to go somewhere or worry about what their children were up to.
Cal reached behind him for the picnic basket and produced the box of milk duds. "Oh!" Gillian breathed surprised. "Of course you have dessert in there."
"Of course," Cal agreed, trying to pry it open with one hand. Gillian laughed a little and took it from him, pulling back the cardboard tab. She tipped out two onto her hand and raised one to slip past his lips. Cal grinned. "And the otha one, go on." Gillian gave a slight laugh and pushed the other into his mouth, withdrawing her hand sharply when he licked her fingers. Gillian took a few for herself and settled against him once more, the box between them. They ate about half and then Cal felt around behind him for the apricots and chocolate. Gillian opened them both as well. She dipped the fruit and fed them to Cal slowly. He wondered if she was even watching the movie now. She waited eagerly for the next treat once they had finished. Cal found the container of cheese and put it back, then the olives and put that back. "Oh you're just teasing," Gillian told him, leaning in closer so she was over his chest.
"I can't bloody see," Cal grumped.
"What are you looking for?"
"Cookies."
Gillian pushed herself up a little and Cal turned over on to his back. Gillian dug through the picnic basket. Somewhere in the darkness someone called out and it sounded like a child. Then a dog barked and it seemed the entire gathering lost concentration for a moment. "Found them," Gillian announced softly and turned to plant a warm kiss on his mouth. Surprised, Cal lay still. "You're so sweet," Gillian murmured, pulling away again.
"I just had chocolate," Cal responded. She gave him a smirk opened the container. There was one each. Two huge chocolate chip cookies. Cal sat up a little more to eat. "There's cocoa too if you want."
"Oh yeah!" Gillian enthused. "You spoil me."
"I try," Cal countered, reaching into the basket again. He was surprised she didn't find it herself, but then again, it was dark. He poured and they sipped, eating their cookies, ignoring the movie for awhile. The cocoa had lost some of its heat so Cal consumed his rather quickly. Gillian savoured it and she watched him over the rim of her plastic mug.
"This is really nice," she told him.
"I made it with twice the chocolate," Cal told her, which is how she liked it.
"The whole evening," Gillian clarified. She handed him her empty mug and he tossed it over his shoulder to get out any last drops, careful to check there was no one camped out there first, then put it back in the basket and closed the lid. He was out of treats. "Come and lie with me," Gillian suggested.
Cal immediately took his place and Gillian snuggled up close while Cal fixed the blanket over them again. "I love you," Gillian murmured against the skin of his neck.
"Love you too," Cal tightened his arm around her back, beneath the blanket. Their legs entwined in each other's and Cal didn't think she could even see the screen anymore. They didn't have to say much more after that. It had all been said. Ten years of marriage had accounted for just about everything. Lying close like this was enough. Cal knew all the things Gillian would be thinking about, all the things she would probably tell him, but right now wasn't, not because she couldn't, but because she already had, loads of times.
"Thank you for loving me," Gillian whispered.
Cal pressed a kiss against her forehead and she tilted her head to capture his lips. She didn't let him go either so Cal held her tighter, feeling heat flood through himself. After ten years, he was probably not aware every day of how much he loved her. Some things got lost in routine and business. But when they slowed down for moments like these he knew, their love was as strong as it had ever been. "Sometimes I can't believe it's been ten years," Cal murmured. "Feels like foreva. Feels like not long enough."
"Mmm," Gillian murmured. She held him tighter. "I know what you mean."
"Good cos it sounded good in my head but when I said it aloud I figa-ed you might be offended."
Gillian laughed quietly. "I know what you meant."
"Are you watchin' this movie?"
"I know what happens in the end," her hands shifted to the top of his jeans and she slipped her fingers down against his pelvis.
Cal flinched, hard, but couldn't escape her without exposing both of them to the people sitting on blankets around them. He was suddenly hyper-aware that they were in public. He liked the idea of that but the reality actually had a lot more to worry about. "Gill," he whispered, trying to keep his voice down. "What are you doin'?"
"Nothing," she responded simply and she did nothing, just left her hands there, didn't touch him or tease and eventually he trusted her and relaxed. "My hands were cold."
"Does that mean I can warm my hands in your pants?" Cal teased.
"No," Gillian crowed at him in a whisper, sounding like Owen. But she kept her hands where they were and they continued to hug closely. Even when it got so hot under the blanket Cal broke out in a sweat, he didn't dare move. He suspected Gillian had gone back to watching the end of the film. The guy got the girl and they had their happily ever after. There was a smatter of applause as the end credits started to roll and the noise of people packing up to leave.
"Do you want to go home?" Cal murmured as they continued to lie there for a moment longer.
"Not yet."
"People might suspect we're doin' somthin' naughty."
Gillian shivered. "What time is it?"
"After ten."
"Hmm," Gillian hummed. Her head came back to look up at him. "Then I suppose we should go."
"We can finish this in the comfort of our own bed."
"Sounds good."
Cal shifted back and Gillian rolled away and they got up from the cold ground stiffly. Cal was right though, they had a baby sitter to get back to. The boys were in their beds asleep and Gillian went up to check on them while Cal walked Cathy back to her home down the block. When he got back Gillian was already in bed, lying on her side, the covers up to her ears, but she was awake. Cal brushed his teeth quickly and used the bathroom and then stripped off before crawling in to bed next to his wife.
Gillian snuggled closer against him, warm in juxtaposition to the cool sheets. "You smell sexy." She was sleepy.
Cal chuckled. "Thank you."
She hummed pleased. "I had a really great time tonight."
"I'm glad. I wanted it to be somethin' different."
"It was and it was great. I would have been happy doing anything with you."
"That sounded promisin'," Cal teased.
Gillian gave a little laugh.
"Next time I'll plan somethin' naughty."
Gillian gave a little shiver against him. "Ok," she whispered.
