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As January faded, February brought more sunlight, even if it was still cold outside. The sky had cleared, and the days felt just a little bit longer. It was on one of these sunny but brisk afternoons that Marvin sat at his desk at work, staring at his computer screen, when he noticed the date—February 10th. A jolt of realization hit him. Valentine’s Day was just four days away.
In their relationship, Marvin and Whizzer had a kind of unspoken tradition. They would take turns planning something special each Valentine’s Day. This year, it was Marvin’s turn, and although he had an idea in mind for weeks, life had gotten in the way. He hadn’t had the chance to properly prepare, but now it was time to pull it off, and fast.
For the next few days, Marvin worked on his surprise in between his regular tasks, making sure every detail was perfect. On the morning of Valentine’s Day, he woke up earlier than usual. The sky was still a soft, pre-dawn blue as Marvin quietly slipped out of bed. He made his way to the kitchen, careful not to make too much noise. He brewed some coffee, took out a piece of paper he had carefully prepared, and walked back into the bedroom.
Whizzer, still half-asleep, lay on his side, the blankets pulled up to his shoulders. Marvin smiled at the sight of him, peaceful and warm in the morning light that began to trickle through the window. Gently, Marvin sat on the edge of the bed, lightly rubbing Whizzer’s arm to wake him.
“Good morning, my Valentine,” Marvin said softly, his voice warm with affection.
Whizzer stirred, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly came to consciousness. “What time is it?” he mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes.
“Eight thirteen,” Marvin answered, watching as Whizzer blinked, still half-asleep.
“Good,” Whizzer mumbled again, his voice still heavy with sleep as he rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the morning light streaming through the window.
“You want your gift?” Marvin asked, his voice warm with excitement.
Whizzer stretched lazily, his limbs moving slowly under the blanket. “It might be too early for that, you know?” he said, yawning. Then, as if a sudden thought struck him, his face lit up. “Oh! I’ve got something for you too. I don’t want to be the only one getting spoiled today,” he added, reaching over to his bedside table.
He handed Marvin a card and a small, neatly wrapped box of chocolates. Marvin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s this?” he asked, taking the card, which was white and delicately decorated with an elegant design.
“Open it,” Whizzer said, grinning with excitement, his eyes now fully awake and twinkling.
Marvin carefully opened the card, his curiosity piqued. “An invitation?” he said slowly, reading the words on the front. Then, as he opened it further and saw the full text, his smile grew wider. “Marvin and Whizzer… the second of June,” he read aloud, his voice filled with warmth. He turned to Whizzer, his grin now practically stretching from ear to ear. “Are these...?”
Whizzer nodded, looking pleased with himself. “Well, that’s a prototype of our wedding invitation. I’ve only made this one so far, but I’ve got two other designs for you to choose from. I figured you’d want a say in it,” he said, handing Marvin the other options with a playful smirk.
Marvin shook his head in disbelief, glancing over the beautiful designs in his hands. “You are impossible,” he said with a chuckle, admiring the attention to detail in each card.
"Impossible in the best way, I hope," Whizzer repeated, his smile softening as he leaned in for a gentle kiss.
Marvin grinned, pulling back just enough to meet Whizzer’s eyes. "I love this one, actually. Don’t even bother making the others," he said, holding up the card Whizzer had shown him earlier.
“Got it,” Whizzer replied, his tone light and teasing.
“Now,” Marvin started, his grin turning mischievous, “I think you’re ready for your gift.” He handed Whizzer a casually folded piece of paper.
Whizzer raised an eyebrow, taking the paper with a bit of skepticism. As he unfolded it, it revealed a map drawn in Marvin’s handwriting.
“Huh? You want me to play scavenger hunt?” Whizzer asked, his expression both amused and confused.
“Kind of…” Marvin shrugged, clearly pleased with himself. “But it’s going to be worth it, I promise.”
Whizzer looked down at the map again, this time noticing some written instructions along with it. He began reading aloud, a smirk forming on his face. “The game includes five locations around the town. It starts right where you are—at home. You’ll have to search for the prompt of the second location in the room where we argue the most."
Whizzer paused, giving Marvin a raised-brow look. “Wait, argue? Marv, no offense, but we don’t argue that much. Well, maybe only…” He trailed off, and then the realization hit him. His smirk widened into a full grin. “The bathroom!”
He jumped up from the bed, full of energy, and practically dashed toward the bathroom. Marvin laughed softly, following behind him at a more leisurely pace.
Whizzer flung the bathroom door open, scanning the room. It didn’t take long for his eyes to land on a bouquet of vibrant flowers sitting on the edge of the sink. He turned around, laughing in disbelief. “Marv, are you serious? You put these in the bathroom?”
Marvin leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed and a satisfied look on his face. “It’s the only place we ever have those little disagreements,” he said with a playful shrug. “Seemed fitting.”
Whizzer shook his head, but he was grinning from ear to ear. He picked up the bouquet and admired it for a moment. “Alright, fine, you’ve got me. What’s next on this adventure of yours?”
Marvin gestured toward the flowers. “Check the card inside,” he repeated with a grin.
Whizzer pulled out the small card tucked between the stems, unfolding it with a curious glint in his eye. He read aloud, “‘For your next clue, think of the place where we seconded.’”
Whizzer’s face broke into a wide smile, and he shook his head in amusement. “Oh, come on, that’s obvious, dear,” he said with a chuckle. “The baseball court, right?”
Marvin nodded, looking pleased. “Like I said, this won’t be hard.” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, “But before we get to the next part, how about we fuel up? Maybe we’ll try that cheesecake omelet recipe you’ve been wanting to make?”
Whizzer’s eyes lit up at the mention of food. “Oh god, yes,” he said enthusiastically. “Please tell me we’ve got peanut butter, though.”
Marvin laughed, already heading toward the kitchen. “Of course. What kind of household do you think this is?”
Whizzer followed him, grinning. “Well, I’ve learned not to take anything for granted after that one time you ran out of coffee.”
Marvin raised an eyebrow playfully. “That was a national crisis, not my fault. We both know the store was to blame for that one.”
As they moved around the kitchen, their banter and the sound of eggs cracking into a bowl filled the space. The sunlight streamed through the windows, and the chill of February outside seemed far away as the warm, homely scent of cooking filled the room. They worked seamlessly together, preparing the meal as they always did—Whizzer whisking the eggs and Marvin handling the stovetop with ease.
“So,” Whizzer said as he spread a generous layer of peanut butter over his portion of the omelet, “you’ve really mapped out this whole day, huh? I should be concerned about how much time you’ve had to plan.”
Marvin smirked, flipping the omelet onto a plate. “Let’s just say I’ve had some help.”
Whizzer looked at him curiously, taking a bite of the fluffy creation. “Help? Who could you possibly have roped into this?”
Marvin leaned against the counter, looking rather pleased with himself. “Emmett. He had a few good ideas.”
Whizzer laughed through a mouthful of food. “Emmett? Really?”
“He’s got a romantic side. Trust me, you’ll see,” Marvin replied, stealing a piece of Whizzer’s peanut butter-slathered omelet with a quick flick of his fork.
After finishing their breakfast and lingering for a moment over cups of coffee, Whizzer pushed himself up from the table. “Alright, back to the scavenger hunt. To the baseball court?”
Marvin nodded, smirking. “Yup, it’s where our ‘second’ moment happened, after all.”
Whizzer snorted, thinking back to that moment years ago. “I still can’t believe we made out behind the bleachers like high schoolers.”
“You loved it,” Marvin teased, grabbing his jacket and tossing Whizzer’s to him.
“I did,” Whizzer agreed, catching the jacket and pulling it on with a satisfied grin. “I really did.”
They both recalled the day after their third date, a day filled with nervous excitement as they watched Jason’s match unfold. Marvin and Whizzer had been swept up in the thrill of it all, but what really made their hearts race was the rediscovered pleasure of physical affection. Sneaking away to share kisses amidst the bustling crowd had felt exhilarating, like a secret mission.
After parking their car, they made their way to the bleachers, the silent them. But the real excitement came when they found a secluded spot behind the bleachers, just as they had done on that memorable day.
Whizzer glanced around, and his eyes fell on a new camera bag sitting in nearly the same spot where they had stolen kisses. His heart leaped as he recognized the familiar shade of blue. “You have to be kidding me, Marv!” he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I mean, I love it, obviously!” He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Marvin and planting kisses all over his face. “Gosh, that is exactly the shade I wanted!”
Marvin chuckled, his cheeks flushed with affection. “I know. You mentioned it a hundred times, you know?”
Whizzer pulled back slightly, looking into Marvin's eyes with a playful glint. “Well, it worked! This is perfect.” He took the bag from the ground, admiring the craftsmanship. “You always pay attention to the details, don’t you?”
“That’s the plan,” Marvin replied, his voice warm. “I wanted this to be special.”
“Consider it a win,” Whizzer said, leaning in for one more kiss, this time deeper, more lingering. “You really know how to make me feel loved.”
They shared a moment there, wrapped in the intimacy of their affection, the world outside fading away. Eventually, the sounds of the game drifted back into focus, breaking the spell. Whizzer pulled away, breathless and smiling.
“Ready for the next clue?” Marvin asked, glancing at the camera bag in Whizzer's hands.
“I’m not sure,” Whizzer replied with a playful smile. “Where’s the next clue?”
“Look for it,” Marvin teased, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Whizzer chuckled, rummaging through the pockets of the bag until he pulled out a small piece of paper. He unfolded it and read aloud, “They serve the worst food there, but it keeps the best memories.”
A lightbulb went off in Whizzer’s head. “This scruffy place where we went on our first date?”
“Exactly!” Marvin beamed.
“Oh gosh, I hoped I would never have to go there again,” Whizzer said, a mock grimace on his face.
“Well, it seems like you do,” Marvin replied with a smirk.
With a resigned laugh, they made their way to the car. The drive felt much longer than it had on their first date, and by the time they arrived, it was around midnight. The neon sign flickered above the old diner, casting a warm glow that felt oddly nostalgic.
“Guess it’s going to be at our exact seat?” Whizzer half-asked as they stepped inside.
“Go look for it,” Marvin said, trying to stifle a grin. “I’ll notify the waitress that we need to cancel our reservation. Unless you want to eat here?”
“No, please!” Whizzer exclaimed, already heading toward their old table.
Marvin laughed as he watched Whizzer search the area, his enthusiasm palpable. A few moments later, Whizzer’s eyes lit up as he spotted something tucked under their favorite booth.
He reached down and pulled out three framed paintings. “These!” he gasped, holding them up in triumph. “I thought I lost these!”
Marvin joined him, taking a closer look at the artwork. “Oh wow, the ones from when we painted ourselves! And this one—Jason’s painting from last year!”
Whizzer turned the paintings around to reveal the vibrant colors and joyful scenes they had created together. Each one was filled with memories of laughter, creativity, and the warmth of family. “I can’t believe you saved these.”
“Of course I did,” Marvin replied, a soft smile on his face. “I thought they might make a nice decoration in the hallway.”
“Absolutely!” Whizzer said, grinning from ear to ear. “This is the best scavenger hunt ever.”
They stepped back outside, holding the paintings between them like a shared treasure. The chill in the air did little to dampen their spirits; instead, it felt invigorating, adding to the thrill of their adventure.
“Alright, where to next?” Whizzer asked, excitement bubbling within him.
Marvin pulled out another clue from the camera bag, his expression playful. “Where you learned how sound tastes.”
Whizzer laughed, his eyes widening. “No way! The beach?”
They both remembered that day almost too well. It was a warm September afternoon when they decided to go on a date to a little-known beach. The spot was barely attended that day, the wind picking up and causing a slight chill in the air. Most people stayed indoors, but they welcomed the solitude, ready to enjoy their time together.
As they walked along the shore, the sound of crashing waves mingled with their laughter. They chatted easily, sharing stories and playful banter. At some point, they started just laughing incontollaby about something random.
“Gosh, I love you,” Marvin said before he even realized it had slipped out.
Whizzer gasped, his eyes wide with surprise. The unexpected declaration hung in the air for just a second too long, and then the wind picked up. A gust blew sand directly into Whizzer’s mouth, causing him to cough and sputter.
“Marvin!” he managed to choke out, trying to wipe the grains of sand from his lips while laughing uncontrollably. “You can’t just say things like that!”
“I’m so sorry!” Marvin said, trying to contain his own laughter. “I didn’t mean to—well, I did mean it, but not like that!”
Whizzer shook his head, still chuckling as he caught his breath. “Well, if you’re going to make grand declarations, you might want to do it without the sandstorm!”
As they both settled down, the earlier laughter faded into a comfortable silence. The waves rolled in rhythm with their thoughts, and Whizzer turned to Marvin, his expression softening. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
Marvin nodded, the sincerity evident in his gaze. “I do. I just didn’t plan for it to come out like that.”
Whizzer grinned, the earlier shock replaced with warmth. “Honestly? I’m kind of glad it did. That was… unexpected.”
“Yeah? Well, you know me—always keeping you on your toes,” Marvin replied with a playful smirk.
“More like keeping me with sand in my mouth,” Whizzer shot back, laughing again.
They spent the rest of the afternoon on that beach, talking about their dreams, sharing hopes for the future, and laughing until their sides hurt. The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over everything, and it felt as if time had stopped just for them. Even though Whizzer wasn’t ready to say these words back yet, Marvin felt that the day was close.
________________________________
Now, standing in front of the beach where it all began, Marvin felt a rush of nostalgia. “Ready for a walk?” he asked, nudging Whizzer gently.
“Absolutely,” Whizzer replied, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
They tried to retrace the original route they had taken that day, stopping by familiar landmarks—a weathered tree near the shore, the rocky outcrop where they had once sat and talked for hours. But after almost five years, the beach had changed, and so had they. It was hard to follow the exact path, but one thing stood out clearly in their memories: the hidden bench near the end of the beach, tucked away in a patch of overgrown bushes. It was where they had shared their first quiet moments after Marvin’s unintentional love confession.
“That’s it,” Marvin said, pointing toward the bench. “Right there.”
Whizzer grinned, pulling Marvin along as they made their way through the sand toward the spot. As they approached the bench, Whizzer noticed something resting on it—another gift, neatly wrapped and waiting for him.
“What’s this?” he asked, picking it up.
“Open it and find out,” Marvin said, watching Whizzer’s reaction closely.
Whizzer peeled away the wrapping paper to reveal a photo album. “An album?” he said, smiling as he opened the cover.
“I picked out some of my favorite pictures you’ve ever taken,” Marvin explained. “After all, we’re running out of wall space at home.”
Whizzer began flipping through the pages, and the photos unfolded chronologically, capturing the life they had built together. Each photo brought a memory with it, a moment frozen in time. There were candid shots of their friends, landscapes from their vacations, and even pictures of mundane, everyday moments that now felt precious.
“Oh! This one’s from after the girls’ wedding,” Whizzer said, stopping at a picture of Charlotte and Cordelia, tired but beaming with joy after their ceremony.
Marvin nodded. “Yeah, I love that one. It was such a good day.”
Whizzer continued flipping through the album, pausing here and there to appreciate the memories. But halfway through, he noticed something: the pages were blank.
He looked up at Marvin, a curious smile on his face.
Marvin smiled softly. “No, I left the rest empty on purpose. For you to fill up.”
“For us,” Whizzer corrected, leaning in to kiss Marvin gently. “This is perfect. Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate this, Marv.”
Marvin felt his heart swell, the warmth of Whizzer’s gratitude washing over him. Whizzer closed the album carefully, resting it on his lap as he looked out toward the sea. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the shore filling the air. The beach, though familiar, felt new again—much like the love they had for each other. It was a love that had grown, weathered storms, and bloomed into something they both cherished deeply.
“Let’s make sure the next time we’re here, we take another photo for that album,” Whizzer said after a while, his voice low but full of affection.
Marvin chuckled. “Deal. And next time, let’s avoid the sandstorm.”
Whizzer laughed, his voice light and happy. “I’ll do my best.” He leaned in, kissing Marvin again, this time lingering a little longer, savoring the moment.
“Is that the end of the surprises, or…?” Whizzer asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.
Marvin grinned. “There’s one more location. Look for the final clue.”
Whizzer flipped through the album again, scanning the pages for any hint. As he neared the last few blank pages, a small piece of paper slipped out. He unfolded it and read aloud: “I’m the only old thing you don’t want to get rid of.”
Whizzer gave Marvin a puzzled look. “What does that even mean?”
Marvin smirked. “I’ll give you a second.”
Whizzer thought for a moment, mentally going through all his old things. “Is it my vintage coffee cup?” Marvin shook his head. “One of my old shirts? The records?”
“Nope,” Marvin replied, his grin widening with every wrong guess.
Whizzer threw up his hands in playful defeat. “Alright, I give up. Just tell me!”
Marvin chuckled. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yeah, and can you please turn the heating up in the car? I’m freezing out here,” Whizzer said, rubbing his arms. But then something clicked, and he stopped, eyes narrowing as he stared at Marvin. “Wait... The last location is our car, isn’t it?”
“Finally,” Marvin laughed. “Took you long enough.”
Whizzer shook his head, half-amused. “How did I miss that? I didn’t even notice anything was hidden in there.”
“That’s because you didn’t check the boot today,” Marvin teased, giving him a playful nudge.
Intrigued, Whizzer led the way back to the car, anticipation bubbling up inside him. When they reached it, Marvin opened the trunk with a flourish, revealing a small, elegant box. Whizzer picked it up, his breath catching as he opened it to find two matching cufflinks—one set for each of them..
“Marv,” Whizzer whispered, his voice soft with emotion as he turned the cufflinks over in his hand. “They’re perfect.”
Marvin smiled, watching Whizzer’s reaction with a tenderness that made the moment feel even more special. “For the big day,” he said quietly, “I wanted something for both of us. Something we’ll always have.”
Whizzer looked up, meeting Marvin’s gaze. “You are impossible,” he whispered, his smile growing as he leaned in for another kiss. “But I love you for it. This... this is perfect.”
They decided to scrap the idea of a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant and instead opted for heating up leftovers from the fridge. As they sat down, plates of reheated pasta and veggies in front of them, Whizzer looked up thoughtfully between bites.
“There’s one thing I want to ask you,” he said, almost casually.
“Yeah?” Marvin replied, curious.
“Who’s taking whose last name?”
Marvin blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… I never really thought about it,” he admitted, shrugging. “It hasn’t exactly come up.”
Whizzer leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Marvin Brown,” he mused, saying it out loud a few times like he was testing how it sounded. “Or… Whizzer Cohen.”
Marvin made a face. “I’m not sure which one sounds better.”
“We could always flip a coin,” Whizzer suggested, a playful glint in his eyes.
“That is not happening,” Marvin said, shaking his head with a smirk.
“Right,” Whizzer chuckled, taking another bite of his food. After a moment of silence, Marvin spoke up again.
“How about… Whizzer Cohen-Brown?” Marvin proposed, testing the combination.
Whizzer’s eyes lit up. “Yes! And Marvin Brown-Cohen. Or wait—Cohen-Brown actually sounds better!” Whizzer’s excitement was contagious, and Marvin couldn’t help but laugh.
“That was easier to figure out than I thought” he said.
“Only because your last name is ridiculous like… Weisenbachfeld for example.”