"Ok…open your eyes."

"Holy shit…Adam!" Charlie exclaimed as we stood in the snow outside our anniversary destination.

I smiled. "You like it?" I asked him wrapping my arms around him and cuddled into his body for warmth.

He kissed my forehead. "This is perfect," he said, and started walking towards the door.

I unlocked the door and we spilled in.

I'd been busy. There was a roaring fire in the living room, and a table set for two in the dining room.

"You're spoiling me," Charlie said, slipping off his jacket.

"You're not complaining," I told him, slipping my own jacket off.

He turned to me and pulled me into his embrace. "The food looks good."

I smiled.

"But I bet you taste better…" He punctuated his statement by lowering his lips to my neck and began to gently suck.

"God…Charlie…" I moaned, pushing him away.

He grinned. "What?"

"You know what," I told him. "Let's eat first, ok?"

He nodded and went to sit down. "Ooh. Yum."

**

"Had enough to eat?" I asked Charlie as I put our dishes in the sink.

"Yes," he called from the living room, where he lay in front of the fire. "But you really need to get in here and keep me warm."

I laughed as I walked into the room. "Charlie Conway, you're lying next to a fire. I just think you wanna get in my pants."

Charlie reached up and grabbed my hand, pulling me down beside him. "Uh oh, you saw right through me, now get naked."

I laughed and leant over and put my lips to his, running my good hand through his hair, and lay him back against the soft rug.

His tongue explored my mouth eagerly, his hands pushing their way up my shirt.

"Wait," I said suddenly, sitting up. "I want you to have your present."

Charlie smiled, sitting up.

I handed him a big present, wrapped in red paper.

"This looks fancy," Charlie commented, tearing into the paper. In his hands he held a photo album. He opened the front cover. "Oh Adam…"

I smiled and sat down next to him, looking at the image of the two of us after winning Junior Goodwill Games. Charlie had his arm slung around my shoulders and we were both laughing at something going on out of the frame. Under the picture was a caption I'd written.

Charlie's fingers traced the words. "Meant to be…" he whispered softly, turning the page.

The pages of the book were filled with images of us over the years we'd known each other. From the first game I ever played with the Ducks, to our Eden Hall graduation.

"This is amazing…" Charlie said, turning to me. I noticed the tears in his eyes.

I smiled. "You really like it?"

He nodded. "I love it."

I kissed his temple. "Good."

He closed the book carefully, reaching over and grabbing something. He shoved a small box into my hands.

I unwrapped it and flipped open the velvet box. Inside lay a silver key ring in an oval shape. On one side there were the words, 'Love always, Charlie', and on the other side, the date of our anniversary.

I smiled and the tears fell freely. "You are too amazing," I told him softly, turning to him. "This is beautiful."

Charlie smiled. "I'm glad you like it." He took the box out of my hands and put it on the coffee table beside his gift.

Without words, he moved forward and took the hem of my shirt in his hands, tugging it upwards. I raised my hands in the air and he pulled my shirt off, tossing it to the floor carelessly.

My own hands then worked to free Charlie from his shirt, throwing it to the floor where it joined my shirt.

We kissed hungrily, our mouths fused together, and our hands roaming each other's bodies.

Charlie grabbed my belt and undid it, undoing the button and zipper to my pants. He slipped his hands inside my pants and I moaned, trying left-handedly to get Charlie's pants off.

After much annoyance, I slid them off his legs as he freed my legs from mine.

I rolled onto his body, my breath uneven, and my eyes transfixed.

"I love you so much," I whispered.

"I love you," Charlie whispered back, his hands pushing my boxers off my hips.

I blushed as they slid off my feet. I'd only been naked in front of Bradi, 4 years ago, and here I was offering myself to this man.

Charlie smiled at my expression and kissed me, my hands working to free him from his boxers.

Then we were naked, lying in front of the fire, our bodies blazing and our arousal evident.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Charlie asked me as his lips grazed my collarbone.

I nodded. "I'm so sure Charlie. I want you to make love to me…"

He smiled against my skin, his hands rubbing my thighs. "I want to make love to you…"

My lips found his again and I kissed him long and hard before breaking the kiss. I reached over for the box of condoms, removing a few and handing one to Charlie.

"You don't mind, do you?"

He shook his head. "Of course not."

He sat up and I took the tiny package out of his hand, ripping it open and rolling it down over him.

"Adam…" he moaned. "God…"

I threw the packet away, and took Charlie's face in my hands, kissing him.

He lay me back down on the mat, his body covering mine, and I was distinctly aware of him.

"You're sure?"

I nodded.

He eased himself slowly into me. He stopped and looked down at me.

"You ok baby?" he asked softly, running a hand through my hair.

I nodded. "Keep going."

He did, pushing himself fully into me.

"Ready?"

I nodded again.

And then Charlie was moving inside of me. I always expected that the experience would be gross, or unnatural, but with Charlie…it was…heaven.

I moaned, my arms holding him tightly, grabbing his ass as he moved.

"Adam…oh baby, you feel so good…" Charlie moaned, sweat forming on his brow.

I kissed him briefly, my eyes burning into his. "I love you…"

"I love you," he said back, his hands gripping the rug. "Oh Adam, I'm going to come…"

I closed my eyes as I neared the edge of the precipice, my vision blurring and stars exploding behind my eyes.

"Charlie…this is it…"

I took a deep breath as I came, Charlie's release following mine.

He collapsed onto my body, his breath ragged and his body sweaty.

"Thank you baby…" he said softly, running a hand through my hair and covering my face with sweaty kisses. "Thank you so much…"

I smiled and kissed him back. "Thank you, Charlie…"

**

Our night was perfect, filled with lovemaking and cuddling by the fire, I don't think I've ever felt as alive as I did in the cabin with Charlie.

But, we had to get back to reality.

"Hey!" Fulton greeted as Charlie and I shuffled through the front door.

"Hi," I said, smiling as I dumped my overnight bag at the bottom of the stairs.

"How was your weekend?" Fulton asked, leaning against the banister, smiling devilishly.

Charlie smiled back. "Exceptional."

"What's exceptional?" Portman asked, coming into the room, followed by Julie.

"Our anniversary was exceptional," I said, a light blush creeping into my cheeks.

Julie smiled and clamped a hand on my arm, and pulled it, leading me outside into the small courtyard.

"Sit." She pushed me into a lawn chair. "And now spill."

I blushed, my face on fire. "What do you want me to say?" I mumbled, focusing on my shoes.

She leant forward and put a hand on my knee.

I looked up. "It was amazing, Julie."

She giggled. "So I take it that it was a fairly physical evening?"

I nodded and looked away.

She laughed at my reaction. "So, how was it?"

"Good." I took a deep breath and turned back to hear. "Very good. I love him so much."

"I know you do, Ads."

I clenched my hands together. "He gave me this beautiful key ring," I said, fishing it out of my pocket.

"Oh Adam…" Julie breathed, turning the silver over in her hands. "This is gorgeous."

I nodded. "I know it is…"

She looked up and smiled. "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before."

I shrugged. "I've never been this happy before."

She handed me back my keys and I turned them in my hands, my fingers resting on the keepsake.

"So what's the matter, then?" Julie asked, her eyes worried.

I looked up at her, tears in my eyes. "I don't know how I'm supposed to leave him."