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Fresh lilacs shined in the man’s hand. Their purple petals complimented the owner's green shirt. His hands shook and sweat was forming. The stares of his companions burned into his skin. All the man wanted to go home to his love. But he knew this would make his love even happier.
“Spin around once more,” Charlie said with a grin. With a huff, the man, Dean, spun once more causing a giggle to erupt from his other companion, Jo. By the time he turned around, his eyes had darkened, and a frown was settled onto his lips. When his companions saw his look they both straightened up. Both women started to look at him with a critical eye. Charlie began to walk in circles around him, stopping from time to time. When she circled around him for the fourth time Dean rolled his eyes.
“Will he like it?” he asked, rubbing his hands down his shirt to clean off imaginary dust. The two women gave a hum and looked over him once more before nodding. Pride bloomed through Dean at getting the approval of his friends. With a blush he smiled brightly, causing his friends too. He looked into the mirror once more before puffing out his chest.
“Okay, I have to get going soon, I’m meeting Castiel in half an hour.”
Putting down the flowers, Dean walked the girls to the door. They each gave him a hug and reassured him he’ll do fantastic. Just hearing those words made the man’s confidence soar even more. After making sure they got into their car safely Dean closed the front door. He leaned against it with a sigh and felt a tingling sensation in his stomach. He knew he didn’t have to worry because Castiel loved him. Castiel made sure he knew that every day. Still, part of his mind doesn't seem to understand, causing his heart to race.
When he checked his watch Dean saw he had twenty-five minutes to get there. He pushed himself off the door and walked towards his bedroom. He grabbed his glasses off the nightstand, taking a sip of water from the cup beside them. Then he grasped the bouquet of lilacs and looked around once more. He nodded and then closed his door, snagging his keys from the kitchen counter. Checking once, then twice to make sure he had everything, Dean headed towards the front door.
He stood in front of it for a few seconds before shaking his head. Forcing his hand onto the knob, he twisted it open and stepped outside then closed the door. His lips curled into a smile and he whistled as he walked towards his car. Joy coursed through his body and Dean didn’t dare to stop it. He hopped into his Impala and started driving to the restaurant.
***
A familiar rumble caused Castiel to look up. When he saw the Impala he grinned and put his phone back into his pocket. He waited for the car to park before he walked towards the driver’s side door. When he got there the windows rolled down and Dean’s smiling face was revealed. He returned the smile and got into the car. Their hands both slowly joined together over the course of the ride.
When they arrived at the restaurant Castiel quickly got out of the car causing Dean to chuckle. Castiel sped-walk to the other side and opened the door before Dean could even try.
“Thank you baby,” Dean said.
A blush erupted on Castiel’s face which led to him getting a kiss on a rosy cheek. Dean shut the door with a thump. He grabbed his lover’s hand and they walked inside the restaurant. He gasped as he looked around, eyes jumping from one site to another. Dean gave a chuckle and hugged him closer. They moved to stand behind the other waiting people. After a couple of minutes, it was their turn.
“Hey, I have a reservation for two,” Dean said. Castiel’s eyes widened and he blushed even more. He put his head in the crook of Dean’s neck and let the conversation wash over him. Soon enough he felt a pull on his hand towards where the tables were set. He followed and looked around at the new area. There were gorgeous paintings and the food smelled divine. He was brought away from his gazing when they got to their table and Dean pulled out his chair for him. Castiel sat down and smiled, a tingle coursed through his stomach to his heart.
The two men picked up the menu and looked it over in silence. They each took a glance at the other when they thought they weren’t looking. The silence was only interrupted once when a waiter came to ask for their drinks. The silence was peaceful enough but Castiel wanted to say something.
“Thank you Dean. This was very nice of you.”
Castiel cringed, why couldn’t he have said something a little less generic. He looked up from his menu and saw Dean’s darling smile. He averted his eyes and went back to looking at his menu. The man looked over the listings even though he knew what he wanted. Dean was soon saved from the awkwardness in his head when the waiter came back to take their orders.
“I’d like to have a cheeseburger and fries,” Dean said, placing his menu down. The waiter nodded as they scribbled it down. The waiter then turned towards Castiel. He opened his mouth but for some odd reason words wouldn’t come out. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down. He tried to speak again but he couldn’t get over the nerves. Nerves that had no permission to be there.
“He’ll have the same as me.”
Castiel jerked his head up and stared at Dean. Then he looked towards the outheld hand and took it. He looked down and muttered a “Sorry,” while squeezing Dean’s hand. Confusion swirled in his brain, what had just happened? He just closed up for no reason. A frown settled onto his face and his eyes dimmed.
“I’m sorry. Was that too much?” Dean panic in his voice.
“What? No! It was fine, I just don’t know what happened,” Castiel sputtered out and squeezed Dean’s hand more tightly. Dean smiled and sank back into his chair. Silence breezed over them once more and both men sat there staring at the other. Castiel looked up once more when the smell of peaches wafted through the restaurant and a waiter came out with a peach pie. Castiel's eyes followed it until it reached their table. The waiter set it in front of him. He looked between the pie and the waiter who nodded at Dean.
“Did you get this for me?”
“Yea, I know dessert usually comes last but I love seeing that look on your face too much,” Dean answered with a charming grin. Castiel chuckled and used his hands to hide his face. They were pulled away just after they were put there and he had to look into bright brown eyes. His face warmed up when Dean gave a kiss to his hand and sat back. “How am I supposed to see your gorgeous face if you hide it?”
Castiel was about to reply when another waiter came with their food. She sat down the identical plates of food and gave utensils wrapped in a napkin. The men gave a thank you and the waiter walked away. The men then grabbed their forks and started to eat their food. Each gave a sigh when they tasted their first bite and quickly took another. Both knew it would be an amazing night.
They were wrong to make that assumption.
***
It was when the two men were finished eating that Dean noticed he forgot something. He forgot the one thing he needed to make this night special, the damn ring. Now he had to not freak out in front of Castiel and somehow find a way to get the ring. He was currently failing at both.
“What’s wrong Dean?” asked Castiel with a knit to his brow. He reached over and grabbed Dean’s sweaty hand. The hand was shaking and that caused him to frown even more. Dean hated to see that look on his love’s handsome face. He contemplated saying something but he didn’t know what to say. Hey, I was gonna propose to you but I forgot to bring the ring? No, he had to come up with something else.
“It’s nothing, just hot in here that’s all,” he replied and immediately drew back because it wasn’t hot in here. One of the reasons he picked this place is because it was on the cooler side. Castiel was very sensitive to warm weather. That means he would know he was lying. However, Castiel seemed to sense he wanted it to be left alone and didn’t ask anything else. Dean felt so grateful for him at that moment.
Dean knew there was nothing he could do to fix this. He couldn’t go back home and get it because Castiel would want to come. Nor could he have someone bring it to him. After planning this whole special moment months in advance it was ruined. His eyes started to burn while his face flushed. Dean pulled his hand away and looked down. He didn’t look up until the waiter came with the check. When he finished paying he took Castiel’s hand and walked towards his car. Neither man said anything when they got into the car. The quiet hugged them and made the car ride uncomfortable. It was when they was halfway home that Castiel spoke up.
“Did I do something? Your mood just changed in the middle of nowhere,” he said.
“No, of course not. It’s just that…”
“Just that what? You can tell me if something is wrong,” Castiel said with a hint of sternness. He couldn’t have his Dean not feeling like he could trust him.
Dean was actually contemplating on telling him. Castiel was the person he went to when he messed up. He was always understanding and told him that it would be alright. Perhaps he would do the same with this?
Dean sighed and looked at the road to distract himself, “I was going to propose to you. But, of course, being me, I forgot the ring. I’m sorry I ruined this for you,” He finally let the tears fall and used the hand that was holding Castiel’s to wipe them away. He didn’t dare to look at him in fear of seeing disappointment. They finally got to their apartment and he parked the car. Castiel didn’t say anything for a while. Sadness had almost consumed Dean’s body when he finally did speak.
“You didn’t ruin this,” Dean lifted his head, “in fact you made it better because you told me. You trusted me enough to admit you made a mistake. That takes a lot of courage and I’m so proud of that. And anyway, I don’t care for a ring when I have you. The only thing I will ever need is you.” Castiel grabbed his hands and kissed them each. “Dean, will you do me the honor of me being able to call you my husband?”
Dean sat there in shock before snapping out of it when Castiel made a questioning noise.
“Of course!” Dean said before pressing his lips against his lover’s. It was hardly a kiss because neither could stop smiling. He awkwardly climbed over the console and sat on Castiel’s lap. Dean wrapped his arms around him and peppered kisses all over his face. After he was done getting kissed all over Castiel rested their foreheads together.
“Shall I still go get the ring?” Dean asked.
“Yea, definitely. Let me kiss you for a little more though.” Castiel replied with a smile.
“Obviously.”