Charlie was having an amazing night out with his boyfriend. Ian has taken him on a walk through the park. They are eating a delicious meal of soft shell crab. And he was just informed that they will be going dancing at a bar/dance club Ian discovered a few days ago

Wait...DANCING!

"Ian, no. Just...no. you DO not want to try to dance with me. I have two left feet!" Charlie was going to put up a fight, he really was. But then Ian just had to stand up, come to his side of the table, and give him probably the sweetest kiss he has had in awhile. Damn him!

Charlie pretended to pout as Ian went to sit back down. He could tell by the slight smirk on his face that he knew he won. Smug bastard...God he loved him.

Today they are celebrating their two year anniversary and it seems that Ian has pulled out all the stops. After the night is up he would be driving them to a cabin he knows out on Big Bear for a weekend of hiking, fishing, and hopefully mind blowing sex.

As their waiter came to bring them their dessert he noticed Ian looking more anxious. When they were once again alone he took Ian's hand. "Are you ok?"

Ian didn't know how to answer that. He was great. Fantastic even. But he has something important to ask Charlie but for the life of him, no matter how many times he worded it, nothing sounded good enough.

Fuck it. He would just have to go with what felt right.

He turned his hand over and held Charlies tight in his. "I love you so much baby."

Charlie was confused. "I love you too. Ian, what's going on?"

Ian stood, never releasing Charlies hand, and knelt beside his boyfriend, using his other hand to begin to pull the ring he has hidden out of his pocket. "Charlie, would you..."

"Ian?"

Fuck fuck FUCK! Of course someone has to interrupt him when he finally got the words right. Turning his head to tell the man off he stopped cold, his blood turning to ice.

In front of him was the mistake. The man Ian had used to forget, and had cost him Charlie.

He had to think quick. "I'm sorry, I don't know you."

The man looked slightly crushed. "Oh come on. It hasn't been that long since..."

"As you can clearly see, I'm on a date with my boyfriend." Please dear god just fucking go.

Not as dumb as he looked, he mumbled an apology and walked away. When he turned back to charlie, his eyes were glassy. "That was him, wasn't it."

Not a question. Charlie was the smartest man he knew. Of course he would be quick to figure it out. Sighing he nodded his head.

Charlie closed his eyes then slowly took his hand back. No.

"I'd like to go home now." His voice was so soft Ian almost didn't hear the pain behind it. Almost.

There was nothing he could say. There was no way Charlie was in the mood to stay out and Ian just wants to be with Charlie. "Ok baby." He dropped some money on the table. More than the cost of the bill he could tell but he couldn't care less.

He put his hand on the small of Charlie's back and guides him to the car. Ian thanked whatever God their was that Charlie didn't shy away from his touch.

The drive home was quiet. No music, no talking. Ian didn't try to hold Charlies hand as he had done on the way over. Charlie was somewhere else and Ian didn't want to disturb him. Though he really wanted to know what the younger genius was thinking.

When they made it home, instead of going straight inside, Charlie headed to the garage. Ian paniced. "Charlie?" His voice sounded high pitched.

Charlie turned. "I just need a bit of time to myself."

Ian was going to argue but Charlie walked up to him and pulled him into a hug. Ian held on tight. After a minute Charlie pulled back, though Ian was loathe to let him go. "I promise Ian, I'm ok. We're ok," he stressed. "I just need a bit of time. Ok?"

Ian Understood that. And he felt better after what Charlie said. "Ok baby. I'll be inside when your ready."

Charlie nodded his head, gave Ian a quick kiss, then walked up the drive into the garage.

Ian stayed in place even after Charlie had disappeared into the garage. He fucked up again. Not intentionally mind you. But if he never had gotten with the guy, he would never have recognized him, and he would be dancing with his new fiancee.

Heaving a heavy sigh he made his way into the house.

He was a couple steps in when he realized he wasn't alone. Dons voice rang out. "Hey, you guys are back early. I thought you'd be out all night celebrating."

Ian didn't want to talk to anyone, especially Charlies overprotective brother, but more than anything he didn't want to be alone. Slowly he made his way to the living room.

Don had part of his attention on the game while slightly turning his head. "What happened, there's no way in hell he said no. Did you..." he broke off when he finally turned and looked at Ian. He could only imagine how he looked. "What happened?" Good ol' Don. Always on alert.

Ian sat Down heavily on the chair opposite him. For a long moment, he didn't speak. So many things he wanted to say. What came out was "I fucked up."

Not what he should have said as Don surged to his feet. "What did you do Ian? Where's Charlie?"

Yeah, he should have kept his mouth shut. "He's fine Don, in the garage."

Don shook his head. "You were suppose to be getting engaged, going dancing then to the cabin. If he's in the garage he is not ok. What. Did. You. Do."

Ian put his head in his hands. "I fucked another guy two in a half years ago and he chose tonight of all nights to walk right up to my table and say hi as I was asking Charlie to be my husband." There, no sugar coating, just plain truth.

Don looked surprised. Then shocked. "And Charlie..."

"Knew who he was right away."

Don stood for a few more seconds then sat back down. "Fuck."

Ian had nothing to say to that so he didn't say anything. He could apologize again for screwing up in the first place but what good will it do. It still came back to bite him in the ass.

Don got up and dissappearEd into the kitchen. He came back and placed a bottle of beer in Ian's hand, then turned to watch the game. Ok..."Your not going to get on my ass?"

Don looked confused but then his features smoothed. "No. I'm not. I've seen you do everything in your power to make it up to Charlie. Show everyone that you love him. And you might not realize it Ian, but Charlie forgave you along time ago."

Ian did know that. Charlie had told him on many occasions when Ian's guilt got the better of him. He still couldn't believe that he somehow had this amazing man. Don smiled slightly then turned back and watched the game. Ian didn't really watch so much as it game him something to look at so he wouldn't constantly check the back door.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard the back door finally open then close. Ian stood up as Charlie rounded the corner. He opened his mouth, possibly to apologize again when he found himself with his arms full of Charlie.

He was quick to return the gesture, hearing Don excuse himself as he walked out the front door.

As he held Charlie he could feel wetness at his shoulder. Charlie was crying.

He pulled back just enough to see his boyfriends face, and was shocked to see a smile adorning it. He was really confused. "Charlie?"

Charlie smiled wide and kissed his boyfriends bewildered face, everywhere he could reach. "I'm ok Ian. Really."

Ian was stunned. "Ok, how? I wasn't the one who was hurt and this is tearing me up."

Charlie took his hand and led him to the couch. Sitting down he was quick to talk. "Ian, did you actually pay attention to what he looked like?"

What kind of question was that? Of course he looked. He...he...

Charlie, as always, read him just right. "Brown eyes, curly hair, though slightly lighter than mine, lanky frame." Charlie was still smiling as he spoke but there was something is his eyes, understanding maybe?

When he didn't say anything Charlie went on. "I'm not saying it was right what you did Ian. And it hurt like hell when i realized who he was. But even when you did it, you were still thinking of me. If it hadn't been for his beard I would have thought i'd been looking at my twin."

Ian thought hard about the other man. "I'll be Damned " He whispered. He had gone out that night to get shit faced drunk, not with the intent of finding someone but did anyway, and he found someone who looked just like charlie.

Charlie squeezed his hand. "Even then, during that dark time, you loved me, and thought of me. It still hurts but in some strange way it helps too."

Ian couldn't believe it. This was not how he thought this conversation would go. He expected Charlie to be angry, upset. Not understanding. But he was, and he did. Ian pulled Charlie to him and kissed him passionately. Not getting enough of him.

Charlie gave as good as he got, wrestling his tongue with Ian's, chasing his taste. Finally they pulled back to breath, both men panting. Ian just stared, Charlie was truly amazing.

Charlie was the first to break the spell. "Now, I believe you were going to ask me something at the restaurant" He spoke softly.

Ian, not wanting to waste another second, dropped down on one knee in front of Charlie, pulling the ring box out as he went. "Charlie, will you..."

"YES!" Charlie yelled before tackling Ian to the ground and kissing the breath out of him. Ian laughed and shifting slightly, pulled the ring out of the box and slipping it on Charlies finger.

Charlie stared at it for so long Ian was partly afraid he had broke him. Then Charlie was back, kissing him and ripping his close off, wanting to get as close to his new fiancee as possible.

Ian would have preferred to g take his groom to be to bed, but at this moment, the floor in the living room was the perfect place.

Later they would go to the garage so Charlie could surprise Ian with his ring before they made their way to the cabin for the weekend.

For right now, there world stopped, time stopped. Everything was perfect.