Work Text:
[ 🩺 1: The dilemma]
Only 3 months left and the 1st year anniversary between Robby, Jack and Dennis will finally happen. Dennis has been over the moon ever since he became the final piece of the puzzle. Dennis took a leap of faith for those two and Robby and Jack took a chance for Dennis. The past few months has been nothing but bliss especially when Dennis has never felt love like this, love where he finally deserves it, love that makes him safe, love that finally puts the check in his Maslow's hierarchy of needs that he puts in priority for his patients, and his ABCDEs in triage.
But, Dennis feels like he needs to do more for his boyfriends. He gives them love, of course. Through morning coffees, breakfast, vinyls in Saturday mornings which make Jack grumpy but it becomes a routine with Robby, working out with Jack and coming back to a fulfilling meal cooked by Robby, soft and quiet nights sandwiched between the two men, knitted scarves and pillow cases by Dennis evident on their living room couch, framed polaroid pictures of them three from Dennis' vintage cameras and the mixed scents of cologne that radiates throughout the house.
Dennis begins to think, and what better way to think if it's with Trinity Santos?
"Dude, I mean this with every bit of my being and with every bit of my kindness, but what can you get those two when they can get anything at this point?"
Trinity said with utmost truth while eating more of the apple crumble that Dennis had made as a bargaining chip. Dennis groans. 'She's right. They're older than me so they have more money and they're not even materialistic'
Stupid boyfriends, Dennis thinks. My stupid ass boyfriends, he continues.
"That's the reason I'm here, I need your help, Trin." Dennis, at this point, pleads to her.
"I mean, you can just buy a set of lingerie and you're good to go."
Dennis kneels while covering his face, hiding his blushing self behind the counter. That was part of the plan but he wanted something else, something that fixed the puzzle.
The preliminary plan was simple.
- A dinner cooked by Dennis with some dessert
- He gives them gifts
- He shows them lingerie that he was actually hiding and they ravish him on their shared bed, with permission that they can do whatever they want to him and he won't stop them.
Dinner, that can be crammed. Also with dessert. Lingerie can be crammed because if he's being honest, he's looked through what his boyfriends want so he has an idea so yes, it can be crammed. But the gift? He has a limited budget. His salary doesn't give much room in the first place for an expensive gift so he's clueless.
"I need something more, Trin. Come on!" He opens the refrigerator door and hands Trinity a bottle of water. She thanks him and shrugs her shoulders.
"I mean it though, you know those two so well. How come you're having such a hard time thinking about this?" Trinity asks.
"Look," Dennis sits beside her in their living room. Even after almost a year together with his boyfriends, even if he spends more time there, he hasn't moved in. There was just something nostalgic about sharing an apartment with Trinity. And he thinks to himself that there are still certain things that he needs to do for himself, such as gossiping with Trinity Santos. And smoking. And vaping. And guilty pleasures with Trinity which involved them on the couch watching some TV show (recently has been Criminal Minds), vodka, pizza or some unhealthy food choice that contradicts what he tells his patients to avoid, and their twin vapes.
Plus, they never asked him formally anyway. So, there's that.
"I'm broke, yes I'm getting some money since I'm a first year resident. I considered a vinyl but only Robby listens to them wholeheartedly. I considered cooking for them and I do it every single time so it may not be special. I considered knitting something for them but I am out of ideas. I even considered watches until I remembered that Robby has a literal Rolex. How am I going to compete with that!?" Dennis groans into his hands and Trinity half-heartedly pats him on the back while still scruffling down that damned apple crumble.
"If I were you, just observe them more closely. Or go to the next best person who knows them just as well." Trinity said.
"What, profiling them?" Dennis rolls his eyes. "You have got to stop watching Criminal Minds if you think for a second I have the ability to read them to the point of getting them the perfect present."
Trinity grins. Damn her and her obsession with Emily Prentiss. Damn with his obsession with Aaron Hotchner. Damn this friendship. Damn Trinity Santos who is getting her third plate of apple crumble.
"Or Dana? Our charge nurse? Knows them like the back of her hand? Savior of all that is evil?" Trinity suggests while putting another spoonful of apple crumble in her mouth. "Dude this apple crumble is good, I love it."
"I made it as a peace offering to help me and you are of no help at all." Dennis sighs and stands up and paces around.
"Just ask Dana, alright? She knows them and she knows everything that has happened in your boyfriends' lives even before you learned to walk, okay? She's your best bet at this point." Trinity said and sat down in the living room, watching with amusement as her best friend paces around the living room, possibly leaving a dent into her carpets.
Trinity was right, Damn was she always and Dennis will not give her the satisfaction of knowing that he knows that she's right but based on her smirk as she eats his apple crumble, she knows that she's right.
"Okay. Operation: Anniversary present for the boyfriends. Is on the go." Trinity said and her smirk grows wide, into a full grin. "Step One: Look through Lingerie."
"Trinity!”
[ 🩺 2: Step One - Dana Evans (not a lingerie, that comes later)]
"Hey, kid." Dana says as she sees Dennis walking into the ambulance bay, with a cigarette in her hand.
"Hey, Dana." Dennis greets her back, pulling out a plastic vape from his pocket and starts vaping.
Dennis smoked, and vaped. A legendary combination. But he hated smoking during shifts because the smell stuck to his clothes and was evident by the time that he got back from his breaks. And of course, with the daily manhandling of Robby, a raised eyebrow from him makes him feel shameful because he knows that Robby has caught a whiff of the cigarette smoke. So, he started vaping. Just so he won't feel shameful in shifts, especially when he once told a patient to cut down on smoking but he knows he also smells of smoke.
Plus, Robby and Jack never even knew that he vaped. The benefit of still having his own place. But he feels like Robby and Jack know but does not bring it up.
"Bubblegum, really?" Dana laughed as she smelled the smoke that Dennis let out. Dennis feels himself blush as he shifts his weight a bit.
"It was the only thing available when I bought it and I just needed a vape so I just bought it." Dennis explained as he stood closer to Dana.
"Your boyfriends know?" Dana said, taking a breath of smoke into her lungs and exhaling it.
"I think they know but haven't said anything about it." He said.
Robby once kissed him when he just finished vaping a root beer-flavored vape before entering his house, and he looked at him in question, asking him, "Since when did you drink root beer?" Dennis never drinks root beer. Dennis used the excuse that they had no coke or Pepsi when they had delivered food in Trinity's place so he settled with root beer. Robby shrugged and continued kissing him, Dennis was relieved but knew Robby was suspicious.
"If you think that, it means they do know but Robby and Jack have no place to reprimand you especially when they used to smoke." Dana said, stomping down the cigarette butts but pulling another one from her pack and lighting it. "What brings you out here, kid?"
Dennis rarely went out for a regular smoke break. Dana, Robby, Jack and Trinity know that if there's a difficult case, he goes out and takes a smoke break. But this shift was mellow enough and not emotionally draining to prompt a smoke break in the ambulance bay.
"I have something to ask you." Dennis started. Dana hummed as she continued to smoke, an indication for him to continue. "My anniversary with Robby and Jack is coming up in 3 months and I really don't know what to get them with my intern salary." Dennis continued and Dana hummed once more as she stopped smoking to take a look at him.
"What? You think I can give you an idea? I'm not the one in a relationship with them." She teases him and he groans. "And I think this is an idea of one Trinity Santos?"
Dennis sighs and takes a deep inhale of his vape, loving the burn of the chemicals in his throat. God, he's such a high risk for popcorn lungs at this point. Damnit Trinity Santos, he curses in his head. This is all her fault for introducing him to the joys of vaping. But he shakes his head to get back to the important subject.
"Yeah." He gives up and takes another inhale. "Those two aren't even materialistic and has more money to get their own things themselves. This is a disaster." Dennis groans, kicking the pavement just to release his frustrations.
"Kid, you know them better now. Yeah, I know them longer but you now know them better. You're the boyfriend! You have the answer somewhere in there so you think, you look into the gaps and you're a smart kid so you know what is the perfect gift for them." Dana said, pocketing her almost empty pack of Marlboro Reds and tapping his shoulder.
"If at this point you don't know what to get them, a good set of Lingerie does work, you know?" She laughs at the flush in Dennis' cheeks and he huffs.
"You and Trinity suggested the same exact thing." Dennis grumbles and she laughs louder.
"Come on, kid. You got this and honestly, I'm only saying this because I don't know of a perfect gift for them that won't put you in debt." Dana finishes and she gets back inside, with a reminder that he has less than 5 minutes of his smoke break before Robby notices that he's missing.
Dennis slumps his shoulders and runs his hands through his now longer hair which shows his curls. Robby and Jack love running their hands through it and kissing him through it. Jack even shares some of the shampoo that he used when he first started growing them out so the curls stay intact and fluffy. Eventually, his boyfriends bought him shampoo that did good on his curls but also smelled like Dennis, lavender they said, fit him the most.
Dennis, though, is not a quitter. He's a fighter and he'll fight through hell and back just to make sure he gets that damn present.
He pockets his vape and goes inside. As he did, he caught the "Where's Whitaker?" Of his boyfriend. Dana nods in his direction and Robby looks at him, warmth filling his eyes and a small smile that wrinkles his eyes, something Dennis loves to death.
To the point that he makes it a habit to kiss his boyfriends' crows feet every single time, a reminder that he loves their smiles that show in their eyes and make a mark on their faces.
"You called, Dr. Robby?" He asks and Robby places his hands on his shoulders and makes him look at the board.
"Yes, I did." He says as he points to the next name on the Board. "Central 14 may need you next. Are you good there?" He asks as he looks into Dennis, brown meeting blue.
"Yeah, sure. I'll run through her chart and get there as soon as I can." Dennis says as Dana hands him a chart to which he looks at immediately, looking at the laboratory results that were drawn when she was at the waiting room.
"Good, let me know if you need me. Report to me when you have it." Robby said and before leaving whispers, "There's a really good sandwich with your name on it. Jack made it before we left. Get some food when you're free." Robby winks at him as he leaves.
Jack makes the best sandwiches. Always an 'on the go' food type of person who experiments with all types of sandwiches that they can bring to the chaos of the emergency room. Claims that since you never know when you're getting called for a case, might as well have a nutrition packed sandwich to eat on the go. God, how Dennis loves the look in Jack's eyes when Dennis and Robby give him their approval on a new experiment sandwich.
When he does get the time to eat, he finds a wrapped sandwich with his name, beside an identical sandwich but with Robby's name. Dennis unwraps the sandwich and he finds a grilled chicken with cheese and greens. He smiles to himself.
Very Jack to remember even the littlest thing of Dennis, especially the favorite sandwich combination Dennis had when he was little. And very Robby places a can of his favorite energy drink beside with a box of chocolate milk.
[ 🩺 3: Step Two - Be like Emily Prentiss, profile the shit out of them]
Dennis sips his second can of energy drink as he sits in Robby's work station. Well, now Jack's work station since he's working the night shift. Robby remembers to pack him two cans if he's on the night shift and more protein bars because he knows that Dennis likes to pace to keep himself awake, especially on the night shift.
"Hi baby." Jack flirts as he sits beside him with a chart on his hands. Jack gives him a small smile to which Dennis returns. "Feeling sleepy?" He whispers, concerned. Dennis can handle the night shift but it can be hard to reroute his body clock so suddenly when he was on the morning shift just 4 days ago. Dennis just needs a little help in the form of energy drinks, chocolate and more protein bars. And the shitty coffee in the break room that he claims wakes him up, much to Jack and Robby's disgust as they prefer to taking in coffee from the hospital's cafeteria.
"Not really. I'm used to drinking two energy drinks in one night shift just to stay awake." Dennis replies as he looks through his notes that he's writing using Robby's workstation.
"You can get a smoke break, you know? Or maybe a vape break." Jack smirks at him and Dennis groans into his hands.
"I fucking knew that you knew." Dennis said.
"Well, of course we did." Jack said as he turned to Dennis.
"How did you know?" Dennis asks, out of curiosity.
Dennis never vaped or smoked in their house. He knew that Jack and Robby didn't smoke unless they were that stressed out as they were trying to cut back. They have been somewhat successful but sometimes, it was easier to turn a blind eye when he notices that his Marlboro Reds and Mints had a missing stick in them. Or how Dennis likes to take cigarettes from the right side of the box and push everything to the left, and there would be a missing stick in the left side. Dennis wasn't stupid but he won't question it when he smoked almost every single time that he had the opportunity. Vaping just made it easier to hide. Vapes don't trigger smoke alarms so in more chilly weather where he would rather stay indoors vaping in his room rather than out the balcony freezing and smoking.
"Your supply of cigarettes just lasted longer these past few months. Back then you would go through one pack a week and now, it might last for even a month. Eventually, when you asked Robby for your charger from your bag that one time, we saw your vape. We didn't say anything since it seemed like you were hiding it when you never hid the fact that you smoked." Jack said, putting down the chart and looking at him with those eyes.
He hates their eyes at this point. Why are they so round and so brown and so beautiful when it hits the sun just when he wakes up and he finally finds his favorite shade of brown. The brown of Robby and Jack's eyes when they hit the sun.
"What, profiling now?" Dennis teases his boyfriend who places his head on Dennis' shoulder while laughing quietly.
"Honey, that's from the show you and Trinity like to watch, huh? Thank god, you're not bringing it into the house." Jack groans, knowing well that Trinity and Dennis like to binge watch Criminal Minds on nights that they don't have a shift the next day. The amount of times Robby and Jack ask him if Dennis would come over would be answered with, 'Trinity and I have plans.' Ah yes, Trinity first and boyfriends second. Not that the two attending have a problem with it anyway.
Dennis rolls his eyes and scoffs at Jack who laughs quietly. "Honey, it's not a problem for us. You do know you can smoke and vape inside the house, right?" Jack reassures him, placing a hand on his lower back that just shivers at the weight of it. Relishes at the thumb rubbing smooth lines at his back, calms him down.
"It's just out of respect. My brothers didn't smoke in front of mom, I didn't smoke when people were in the house, I smoked on the balcony and it's just a form of respect." Dennis defends himself and wraps the jacket around his waist as comfort.
"I know, baby." Jack said, hums to himself. "But it's not a problem for us, don't worry about it. Just, pace a little, hun." He continues.
"Dr. Abbot." Both of them turn to Dr. Ellis who raises a smug eyebrow and hides a smug smirk.
"What is it, Ellis?" Jack turns to them as they give him a sheet of paper.
"The leave I have in 2 weeks. Need your sign." They give him the paper and Jack reads through it, nodding to himself, satisfied with the contents of the request.
"Yeah, sure." Jack places the piece of paper on the counter and looks at Dr. Ellis, "Do you have a pen?" He asks and Ellis rolls their eyes and gives him their pen.
"What kind of senior attending doesn't have a pen?" They ask and Jack rolls his eyes.
"Me, I guess. The nurse's station has an endless supply of pens, so I might as well use it to my advantage." Jack says as he removes the cap and places his signature for approval on the leave request.
"That's stupid." Bridget, the night shift charge nurse, who overheard the conversation, says. Jack huffs a laugh.
"You adore me, Bridget." Jack mused and Bridget rolls her eyes.
"I always knew it was you who took the good pens." She scoffs and goes back to her tablet, making sure everything goes where it should go.
"Good pens?" Dennis inquires and Bridget smiles at him.
"He likes those gel pens that don't bleed into the papers. We don't have much paper in reality but with the so many responsibilities of our dear Senior Attending, we keep a handful here for them. Dr. Robby likes the same exact pens, doesn't bleed, doesn't cut, and is thin enough for legibility." She said and Dr. Ellis laughed. "They go missing, then they ask for another one. Very responsible. The nurses take on the responsibility of making sure there’s pens at hand, my poor nurses." She mocks.
"Dude. Stop stealing the pens of the nurses and get your own." They tease as they walk away while Jack rolls his eyes.
"Don't listen to them, Denny." Jack said as he stood up. "They are all evil and out to get me." He teases Bridget and some other nurses who were there to witness the scene who all laugh at him.
"Yeah, sure. Go and get some patients would you?" Bridget looks at Jack through her glasses and Jack puts his hands up and ruffles Dennis' hair.
"Finish up your notes and get a patient, report to me when done." Jack says as he goes to check up on the other residents and students.
Dennis looks across the nurse's station and finds a small pen stand filled with pens. All ranging of different brands but the similarities are of what Bridget says. Thin points, lightweight, with clips, retractable, does not bleed, does not cut and all in all, good for writing.
Dennis finally has an idea. He smiles to himself, takes a tablet, thanks Bridget and goes on to the next patient in need.
[ 🩺 4: Step 3 - Back at it again to Trinity Santos, insert: Cheesecakes. Also insert: Dr. Melissa King]
"Mel?" Trinity questions, with a glare at Dennis as she opens their apartment door to find the doctor on the other side with cups of hot chocolate, bundled in a thick coat and her hair, instead of the usual braid at work, is free flowing.
Dennis snickered to himself, as he ignored the glare Trinity directed at him as she let the blond doctor inside their apartment. Of course, Trinity with cheesecake meant lesser jokes but with Mel around? Yeah, she's going to impress the shit out of Mel while gay panicking.
"Hey, Mel. Thanks for helping out." Dennis said, welcoming her in and taking her coat to hang it in the closet.
"No problem, Den! Just thankful for the cheesecake and thanks for giving Becca a portion." She smiles at him when he returns.
"Yeah, no problem. The rest is in the fridge and you can get it before you leave." Dennis sits her and Trinity down, who now has the entire pan of cheesecake on her lap as she gobbles it down.
"Okay so this is the plan." Dennis starts while looking at the two women. One who is currently subdued with cheesecake and for some reason now has the jar of strawberry jam beside her and one is listening attentively to him.
Damnit Trinity, why the fuck do you look like a mess in front of the woman you have been pining for weeks, months actually?!
"The plan is, I will get them customized pens." Trinity opens her mouth after swallowing a mouthful of cheesecake and he raises a finger to stop her. "Yes, I'm aware we don't use pens as much because of digital charts but I have been noticing that they don't have their own pens. Literally, they just get one from the nurse's station all the time. Since they're senior attendings, they have more paperwork than us. So, I invited Mel since she is a stationary queen and I need her advice on what type of pens to get them."
Mel smiles and nods, indicating that she will be happy to help with this plan. Trinity smirks.
"So, Mel is with the pens and I'm with the Lingerie?" She teases and Dennis groans.
"You know what, fine, sure." Dennis finally agrees and Trinity lets out an excited "whoop!" And pulls out her phone while setting the baking pan and jar of strawberry jam onto the coffee table.
"Oh, if you're getting Lingerie, you should get it in their favorite colors then." Mel contributes and Dennis covers his blushing face with his hands. Trinity laughs loudly.
"Mel, this is why you're my favorite." She said, eyes on the phone. Shame, as she couldn't witness the blush on Mel's face. "Black and blue is good for you, Den?" Trinity asks. Dennis hums, refusing to take the conversation further.
Dennis props up the laptop and Mel sits beside him, telling him of affordable stores that sell quality pens that are within the criteria that he's looking for.
They were browsing through four different sites, discussing the options when Trinity sat beside Mel and leaned her head onto Mel's shoulder. She shows her phone and there is a picture of a Lingerie that is both frilly and lace, see-through. Colored with dark blue and black with ribbons onto the lace.
"Should I order it?" Trinity asks and Mel nods in agreement.
"Looks really pretty." Mel swipes through the sizes and chooses a smaller size. Dennis looks at her. "No offense but you are all meat and I guess your boyfriends really like it when they get to squeeze."
Dennis had his jaw dropped while Trinity continued to laugh loudly. Damn Mel King, where the fuck did you learn that? How the fuck can she say that with a straight face, but he knows that smugness in her eyes as she continues to look through the options.
As if it isn't true. He thinks to himself. He doesn't know what to do if they know this information.
Dennis continues to look through the options of pens in the new website Mel suggested for him when he stopped and clicked on the item. He looks through the description. Lightweight, retractable and available in both dark blue (for Robby) and black (for Jack). He looks through online reviews on what the pen looks like when used and he nods to himself that it's perfect. An additional fee for embossing a text and it uses gold, perfect against the colors of the pens. He looks through the store and it's near their place, only a bus ride and a few minutes walk.
"Hey, that looks nice." Trinity comments and Mel nods, already running her fingers on Trinity's hair as her head is already on her lap. Dennis rolls his eyes.
"Yeah, I might go there the next time I have a free day. Can you go with me?" He looks at the two women and they both nod. Dennis smiles at himself and thanks them. God, is he so lucky to have such friends. He'll also inform the group chat (Him and the girls - Trinity, Mel, Vic and Samira). Maybe if they're free that day, they can help him decide on food to cook on.
"Hey, Dr. Abbot just messaged you." Trinity said, giving him his phone that was on the coffee table.
[ 16:51; Jack 🖤 to "boyfriends" ]
Jack 🖤: Denny, you free for tonight? Robby wants to make us dinner for tonight.
Robby 💙: Also angel, what do you need from the grocery? Jack and I are shopping right now.
God, he loves his boyfriends. He thinks to himself and looks at Trinity.
"We still have that other pan of cheesecake right?" And she hums, knowing full well that when Dennis makes something in their apartment, there is always extra for his boyfriends.
Dennis 🤍: Yep! And I also made extra cheesecake. Trinity was craving.
Dennis snaps a picture of the baking pan that is already half empty with the half jar of strawberry jam on the coffee table and sends it to them.
Dennis 🤍: [img.384]
Dennis 🤍: It's a no bake cheesecake. 🥰
Dennis 🤍: Can you get more chocolate, Reese's and the small cups? And chips, if its okay. Oh, and more coffee and milk, please. <33
Robby 💙: Our sweet boy, thank you.
Jack 🖤: Good God, Santos eats cheesecakes like that?
Robby 💙: Of course, we already got those. Anything else?
Dennis 🤍: I'm all good. Thank youu, let me know when you get home.
Dennis 🤍: Dunno. My first time making her a cheesecake and this is a revelation.
Jack 🖤: God help her.
Jack 🖤: We can pick you up if that's alright.
Dennis looks at the two who are now discussing Criminal Minds as Mel has not watched it yet and Trinity was explaining to her the plot and what she expects from it. Mel looks engaged and has a softer look in her eyes as Trinity continues to ramble. He raises an eyebrow and looks back to his messages.
Dennis 🤍: Sure, we're just chatting anyway. Just tell me when you're outside.
Robby 💙: Does chatting include vaping? 😂
Jack 🖤: Sorry honey.
Dennis 🤍: I doubt you're really sorry!! 😡
Jack 🖤: You're right, I'm not. 🤭
Robby 💙: I fully expect a kiss that is bubblegum flavored.
Dennis 🤍: No you aren't 🫥 BYE
Dennis snaps another picture of Trinity who is browsing through the characters of Criminal Minds as she continues to explain it to Mel. And sends it to his boyfriends.
Dennis 🤍: [img.385]
Dennis 🤍: Come quicker please. 😓
Jack 🖤: Oh? 👀
Dennis 🤍: Gossiping it later to you all during dinner. Please come quicker.
Robby 💙: Paying already, baby.
Robby 💙: Is there something between them? 👀
Dennis 🤍: I cannot believe you are gossipers now. This is what you get for having a boyfriend who has a gossip as a best friend.
Jack 🖤: Please, we were always gossips. We just know more because of you.
Jack 🖤: On our way. Love you, angel.
Dennis 🤍: Love you both! 🤍
Almost 15 minutes later and while starting the first episode of Criminal Minds. Jack messages Dennis that they arrived. Trinity and Mel are shocked that he's leaving already but gives Trinity a small pinch in her thigh and a knowing look on his face as he leaves. Trinity flips him a finger to which he laughed as he went downstairs.
"Hey!" He greets them both with a kiss as he settles down on his seat.
"Hi, our sweet boy. How was the day with Trinity and Mel?" Robby asks as he drives to the direction of their house.
"Watched Criminal Minds but no smoking and vaping around Mel, don't worry." He says as he looks out the window.
"Good. You taste like bubblegum." Robby teases him as he looks at him through the mirror.
"Okay Michael." He sarcastically says while sticking his tongue out. Robby is always a big tease and if you combine Jack with him? Hell on earth. But he loves it, God he loves it. Whenever they tease him, he gets grumpy and he's rewarded with tons of kisses from his boyfriends. At this point, they just indulge him with everything he wants.
He continues to ramble on about what Trinity and Mel has going on and uses the opportunity to leave them to hopefully spark something if it's just the two of them. Contrary to popular belief, Trinity looks and acts like a badass but places a woman in front of her? Losses every single thought and badass in her system. It is endearing and uses it to tease her constantly, and makes up to her with sugary treats or meals.
They continue to their house, Dennis helping them take out the groceries and placing them in their respective places. Kisses both his boyfriends as thanks. Dennis places the cheesecake inside the fridge and settles down on the couch as his boyfriends change into something more comfortable after showering.
A 'ping' from his phone has him checking his messages.
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Whitaker!
This is Catherine from Cath's Stationaries. Your appointment is scheduled in two weeks. Kindly see the document below for our terms and conditions. As indicated, all pens will be customized and additional fee is required for embossing and customization of the text.
We will inform you on the day before the appointment of the available parts that you can choose from. If you are to choose a part that is not available on the day itself, expect a maximum of 1 week additional waiting time.
A down payment is required which is 40% of the total payment. We accept cards and cash payment. See the document below for additional information.
Any inquiries, feel free to contact this number.
Thank you for your interest in our products and we hope to see you soon!"
Dennis smiles to himself and browses through the document. Seeing such beautiful parts for his gift makes him giddy. Lucky him that he has a credit card (that he got after finally getting paid) and pays them on time so he has no problem with using his card for this purchase. Robby and Jack teach him on his expenses, the benefits of having older boyfriends, he muses to himself.
"What's got my boy so giddy?" Robby exits their shared room and he closes his phone while smiling to his boyfriends.
"Trinity sent me a video for our streak and she sends the most random things just to make sure she sends me one." He puts down his phone and wraps his arms around Robby.
"Let me guess, TikTok?" Robby states as he positions Dennis on his lap, laying kisses on his neck.
"Yep. How'd you know? And your beard is still wet!" Robby laughs at the junction of his neck and continues kissing nonetheless.
"I remember that one time we were overtime and heard Samira go, 'Trinity your fucking streak!' And she rambled that it was a busy shift so she never got the chance to open the app." He says and Dennis wraps his arms around his neck to properly kiss him.
"How was your day?" He asks, hopefully not noticing that Dennis pulled his phone under the pillows and Robby won't bring it up.
"Nothing eventful. Jack is a furnace and it was a bit chilly this morning. We had breakfast and decided to do some errands, hence the grocery shopping." Robby says, giving him kisses in between as he talks.
"We also went on a little lunch date, the two of us. A little Italian bistro just downtown. We'll take you next time, hmm?" Robby says as he hugs Dennis tighter.
It wasn't uncommon for Robby and Jack to have some dates without Dennis with them. Dennis didn't live with them and sometimes when Dennis is on shift and the two aren't, they would have their own little dates and have a souvenir for Dennis. Honestly, if Dennis lived with them, he would be more around for these spontaneous dates. However, Robby and Jack understood that Dennis tends to go 'first come first serve' when planning his schedules. So if Robby and Jack invited him first before the girls, then he'd go with them, but if the girls got to him first then he'd go to the girls first. He was glad that Robby and Jack understood the importance of the girls in his life and didn't want them feeling left out just because Robby and Jack were boyfriends.
"I would love that, Micheal." Dennis kisses him then he feels a kiss on his forehead. He looks up and sees Jack with a soft smile on his face as he continues to nuzzle in Dennis' curls.
"The bistro was good, baby. Maybe we can go next week on our off?" Jack suggested. They usually had at least one day off, mostly on the weekends. They spend it on different things to do, maybe cleaning, dates, errands, or bed rotting.
"Of course, I'll place it in my calendar so Trinity is aware."
"Both of you are very Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang." Jack and Robby laugh and Dennis whines.
"She's good for me but I don't think she would barge into the house and demand she lay down next to me while both of you are also in bed." Dennis muses to his boyfriends. Leaning on Jack's shoulder as he sat next to them.
"If that did happen, I won't even question it at this point." Robby comments as he stands up and kisses Dennis and Jack. "I'll get everything ready, join me if any of you are of help in the kitchen." He teases.
"Hey!" Dennis yells out.
"We're of help!" Jack claims as he continues to nuzzle in Dennis' neck.
Robby's laugh vibrates across the apartment as he starts to cook for dinner. Dennis and Jack continue with a cuddle session and a brief make out session before joining Robby in the kitchen. Jack backhugs Robby as he cooks with a kiss on his shoulder and Dennis looks at them with love in his eyes as they cook together.
The rest of the night is filled with domesticity. Dennis updates them on the latest gossip and helps out Robby in cooking while Jack takes off his prosthetic and sits down on the bar stool. Both men are engaged in the gossip and the senior attendings update him on other gossip that they know of.
As they eat, they continue to talk on varying topics and sometimes silence, the type of silence that is comfortable and not at all awkward. Dennis used to fill the silences when they first started dating but got comfortable enough to just stay in the bliss of domesticity as their relationship progressed.
Eventually, he took out the cheesecake and made two plates for his boyfriends while he started on cleaning the dishes. Robby urged him to take a slice but in all honesty, he just wanted to enjoy the look on his boyfriends' faces as they ate his sugary treat. Eventually, the two men urged him to shower before heading to bed while they finish up cleaning, claiming that they only need to load the dishwasher since Dennis already rinsed them all.
Dennis showered and proceeded to sneak his hands into the section of Robby and Jack's clothing. Getting himself an oversized shirt from Jack and a hoodie from Robby. Sue him, he gets cold easily especially when he grew up in mostly sunny days in the farm.
"Here's our boy." Jack said, already moving to his side and making space between him and Robby for Dennis.
"Here's my wonderful boyfriends." He answered before getting in between them, kissing them and then snuggling to his two furnaces.
"I love you both." He blurts out, already half asleep. I guess being with Trinity the first half of the day then his boyfriends gives him a sense of satisfaction, thus making him sleepy. Plus, the warmth makes him sleepy easily.
"We love you too, sweetness." Robby kisses him and meets Jack's lips, whispering "I love you, baby." As he pulls away. Jack smiles at this, whispers his own I love you to Robby, then kisses Dennis on the lips.
Dennis feels Robby's arm over his stomach and Jack's breath on his neck, over his chest.
He feels at home, finally, after so many years. From the life in Nebraska where he always felt differently, the hardships in medical school and jumping from shelter to shelter to finally in the warmth of one Michael Robinavitch and Jack Abbot.
[ 🩺 5: Step 4 - His appointment with the girls for the boys]
"Hi! Good Morning! Do you have an appointment?" The lady at the counter asked.
"Yes. Uh, For Dennis Whitaker, for this 10:00 AM." Dennis shows his schedule.
"Ah yes! On time, I like that." She smiles at them. "Hi, I'm Catherine. Nice to meet you, Mr. Whitaker." She greets them and leads them to a private room, all with the customization of pens present in the room.
"These are my friends. I hope you don't mind them being here." As he looks to Trinity, Samira, Victoria and Mel.
"Of course! Not a problem for us. This might take awhile but it is our job to make sure you're comfortable with the pens you get, for yourself and for the people that you're gifting to." Catherine sits down on the other side of the table while the five doctors take the entire couch.
"Here in Catherine's Stationary, we value the importance of tradition. I always loved handwritten letters that I can customize, pens that mean the world to me because it has been through my journey, stickers that make my life a little more whimsy in the practical world. I have loved stationery ever since I was little and I opened this shop to make sure that people understand. That love, I can share it with other people." She makes a brief introduction to her store as she pulls out different pen parts for him to choose from.
"That is amazing, and the store is all so humble." Samira says as she looks around.
"Well, thank you! I appreciate that." She smiles at all of them and lays out all the parts in front of them.
"Alright. So, these are the different parts of the pen. I understand that you want something retractable but not a fountain pen, is that correct?" Catherine asks.
"Yes. Maybe with a 0.35 to 0.4 point if it's alright. Both black inks." He confirms. "But I also saw in your website that you can twist it instead of retractable so I'm also interested in that. Might be a bit more classy." He continues.
"Of course! No problem with that! Okay so we have the barrel. This is the main shaft of the pen and this is the cap which is 3/4s of the pen. Next are the accents such as the thrust tubes which can be any color. Personally, it is much better if your accent colors in the pen would be only one so it looks whole and professional." Catherine laid out mostly black, neutrals or dark blue colors as he requested.
All laid out are plain matte and even with a few speckles on some. It looks so beautiful and he's so excited.
Catherine proceeds to show him the other parts, even pulls out pouches and the boxes that he can place the pens to give to his boyfriends. It takes them an hour to choose all components of the pens because Dennis is a bit indecisive but Catherine has been patient with them and even considers the opinions of the girls because she knows that they mean well and are there for support.
"Now lastly, the text and embossing. We decided that for the one with the dark blue pen, it will be gold. While for the black pen, it will be silver." Dennis knows it suits them, mainly so it matches Robby's Star of David gold necklace and Jack's silver military tags.
"Have you decided on the texts?" Catherine asks. "A bit of pressure but I feel like this is for very loved ones so what you write is going to be meaningful." She explained.
Dennis has been thinking of what to place onto the pens. He wanted something that his boyfriends can show off in a professional setting but knows its something that is intimate, like people would know it was made by someone who is special to them.
"Will you stick with their titles and names?" Victoria asks. 'Dr. Michael Robinavitch' and 'Dr. Jack Abbot' in cursive font, did come up in his mind the past two weeks but for some reason he wanted to add something more to it.
"Is it possible to engrave something on the other side?" Dennis asked. Palms sweating because what he had planned needed to have that as a possibility.
"It is possible! An additional fee but since Dr. King is a loyal customer to this store, I can forgo it." She smiles at them. "And that love for your loved ones, I can see it is very special. Take it as a little token from me." She states and pulls out a paper for Dennis to choose the font and write his statements.
Dennis smiled and thanked her for her generosity and took a pen to write down his statements. All is going well for his plan, only one month left and he is good to go. He writes it on the paper, all the girls coo at the statements and gives their own nod of approval.
Catherine lets out a small smile at the text to be embossed and nods in agreement. "Alright, I'll have it finished in an hour. You can pay the down payment before you leave and just keep your receipt so you can claim it later as I have my assistant heading the front desk at times as well."
They all stand up and shake hands with Catherine who gives him well wishes on his gifts and Dennis and the girls go to get lunch.
He's giddy, he can't stop smiling, everything is going to plan and he is very excited for his plans.
[ 🩺 6: Step 5 - Plan with the boyfriends (3 days before the anniversary)]
"Hey." Robby sits beside him on the couch while waiting for Jack to join him, to which he eventually does with a blanket for Dennis while they watch a movie.
"Hey, you." He responds and leans back onto the couch, the warmth of his boyfriends and their cologne which is fading but a small hint of its scent still familiar yet sparks on Dennis' system.
"So," Jack wraps his arm around Dennis which prompts him to look at him. "Our anniversary is in 3 days." He starts.
"Yeah. I'm very excited." Dennis confesses, not catching the widening grin of his boyfriends.
"Since it falls on a weekend, do you want to book a cabin and stay there for the weekend? We can leave on Friday and get back on Sunday afternoon." Jack offers and Dennis smiles.
"Yeah, yeah! That sounds really good, a good idea." Dennis says, kissing both of his boyfriends. "I'm really looking forward to it."
"We are too, sweetie. We can't wait."
[ 🩺 7: Step 6: Get their minds off any gifts (using sex)]
"Got everything, angel?" Jack yelled from the kitchen. Dennis places the boxes of his gift (and the Lingerie to which he still blushes from the sight of it) at the bottom of his bag, carefully.
All of his gifts were in his apartment with Trinity and he got them the night before they had to leave. His excuse to his boyfriends for dropping at Trinity was to get more appropriate clothes for their anniversary which worked because he had mostly sleep clothes and his scrubs at their place.
"Yep! All done!" He wears his backpack and goes to the kitchen to find his boyfriends sharing a cup of coffee before they had to leave. Only a 4 hour drive to the cabin they rented out so Jack and Robby decided to leave after lunch and have dinner cooked in the cabin.
"What's with all this food, darling?" Robby asks, finding the paper bag with some food he planned to cook for dinner. He didn't mind not hiding that fact but the flush on his face is still evident.
"I wanted to cook us lunch and dinner on our anniversary." He shyly admits, avoiding their eyes to get a box of chocolate milk to drink.
"That's so sweet, baby. I cannot wait." Jack says, kissing his forehead and then his lips which reeked of chocolate milk now, humming in satisfaction.
"Urgh chocolate milk and melon do not go well together." He says and Robby laughs.
"What happened to bubblegum?" He asks, hugging Dennis from behind and kissing his neck.
"Apparently, Trinity liked the bubblegum flavor and apparently used it so much, its gone. So she paid for my new one and we stuck to melon." Dennis looks at the confused face of his boyfriends.
"We?" Jack asked.
"You have to understand that people who vape tend to share vapes. Don't worry, we wipe before and after." Dennis said and threw the milk box to the bin.
"Okay, Grey and Yang." Robby jokes as he bites Dennis jokingly on his ear.
"Stop that!" Dennis giggles as he tries to get out of Robby's grip. Robby laughs at him and kisses his forehead, then kisses Jack on his lips.
"Let's go, oh lovers of mine?" Robby asks and they grab their belongings and they leave.
The next 4 hours were filled with fun and sleep. Dennis joked with them and filled them with more stories that he knew off and then fell asleep at the back of the car. He was woken up by Jack as they did a stopover at a gas station beside a diner. After that quick snack, they proceeded to the cabin.
"Denny, you've been a bit sleepy recently huh?" Jack mused as he hugs Dennis from behind while he puts away all the food they packed. Dennis slept soundly during the ride, easily after the food and Dennis even mused while they got out when they arrived that
"I'm sorry, are you not aware of the fact that I'm a first-year resident who changes from days to nights based on your wonderful boyfriend's schedule?" He sarcastically states with a teasing grin and Robby, who walks into the kitchen raises his eyebrow.
"Thank you so much for thinking of me as wonderful, baby." Robby holds Dennis by the waist and tickles him slightly which causes him to laugh and squirm in the grip of his boyfriends. "I'm also very sorry for being a very supportive chief attending for making sure you have the best experiences in your residency. I am so sorry, baby." Robby mused with a teasing grin to his younger boyfriend who rolls his eyes.
"You can buy my forgiveness for $200." Dennis teases and Jack laughs loudly and pulls Dennis away from Robby.
"Oh? A fight before our anniversary. Very naughty of you both!" Jack laughs as he sits down on the dinner table with Dennis on his lap. "Unless this is your gift for us? Make up sex is a very interesting gift for us, my sweet sweet boy."
Dennis scoffs and gets out of Jack's lap and walks away, continues to open the cooler and places the protein in the freezer. He looks at his boyfriends who are now looking at him with those eyes again. Fucking brown eyes. Brown eyes filled with love and fondness that just makes him both tingle in excitement and melt down to a puddle.
"Sex is an interesting gift, isn't it?" Dennis asked. One thing he picked up from Trinity by being best friends with her, is by being a sarcastic brat.
"So, sex is the gift, baby?" Jack smirks.
"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?" Dennis smirks and puts away all the paper bags and the cooler to the cabinets. "Maybe you're about to find out tomorrow night."
"Maybe," Robby walks slowly to him with a smirk. "Can we get a start on it tonight?" He proposes and lightly brushes his fingers against Dennis' bare arm.
"Maybe," Dennis drags the 'e' and kisses Robby on the cheek, on his tippy toes, "You should take a course on patience and management, honey."
Jack laughs loudly yet again while eating the strawberry yogurt that he got for him. "God, being best friends with Trinity did make you a brat." He stands up and stands together with his boyfriends. "Who knows? Maybe this is our anniversary present. A brat, a fight, make up sex, real exciting." Jack laughs again.
Dennis laughs and kisses Jack, then Robby before sending them a small smile. "I love you." He says as he remembers the text on the pens he gifted to them. An immediate 180 to their banter just seconds ago.
A small smile appears on both their faces and they both hug him.
"What a sap you are, our sweet boy." Robby comments as he kisses Dennis' forehead while Jack continues to nuzzle onto his curls.
"Someone has to be the sap around here." Dennis.
"Woah! Our puppy bites, and he bites good." Jack laughs against his curls. Jack really has a thing with his curls, he doesn't know why but he was the one who urged Dennis to grow it out more and is very meticulous on his hair. Maybe some kind of projection since he has curls of his own? He doesn't know.
"I love you both as well." Robby says, as he caresses Dennis' waist and Jack's curls.
"And last but not the least, I love you both as well. My adorable puppy and my huggable bear." Robby rolls his eyes, slaps Jack on the shoulder playfully and pulls away from the hug.
"I have duty for dinner tonight. Tomorrow morning, Jack has breakfast, and apparently our dear Denny has dibs for lunch and dinner." Robby informs and Jack nuzzles now on his nape that has grown a small yet significant mullet of curls. Jack inhales and sighs at the smell of his own gifted lavender shampoo.
"How did we get so lucky, right love?" Robby and Jack look at each other with that quiet yet loud and intense love that he knows, witnessed even before he joined them. He used to be hesitant to join them, already an established relationship and only needed a ring and marriage for everything to come together. Eventually they did need another to fit onto the puzzle and for now it wasn't in the form of 2 gold bands and a wedding arch under the morning sun. It was in the form of one Dennis Whitaker who grew in the harsh sun in a farm and eventually turned into a gentle warmth that both Jack and Robby had always longed for.
"I should be asking that question." Dennis said with a small smile and walked away. "I'll just unpack!" He goes up the stairs and closes the door. He stands for a few seconds and opens his backpack.
"Okay, now where oh where will I hide you?" He digs to the bottom of the bag and finds a folded paper bag with two boxes that were his gifts.
He looks around the room trying to find a place where he can place them. It was either hide them and be paranoid until tomorrow night because Robby and Jack might find them. Or just keep it under his bag and toss it at the edge of the cabinet, where all empty bags are kept to keep the clutter in check (Robby's idea).
"I'll just do the second idea then." He mumbles to himself and unpacks. He (with a blush on his face) also places the Lingerie onto the backpack and closes the cabinet, which has both Jack and Robby's backpacks and duffle bags already, completely empty.
He takes a quick shower before he changes his clothes into something more comfortable; black pajamas, an oversized t-shirt and a jacket since it is a bit colder here in the cabin. He lays down onto the bed and smiles against the cotton and silk sheets. Of course, trust Jack and Robby to ensure everything is comfortable for everyone.
He looks at the window which shows the woods, that same window is now a window nook that fits just enough for Dennis. Dennis remembered the time he first saw this window nook, there was a similar one in the kitchen which they all loved to ogle at the one cooking as of the moment. This specific window nook, Robby used it most as the bookworm of the throuple. He remembers moments when he would wake up in Jack's arms and he would be facing the window nook, a warm cup of tea on the table beside Robby, nose deep into the books he bought for the getaway. Glasses were already low on his nose and his hair in disarray, as if he didn't bother to fix it.
'Hi darling. Good Morning.' Robby greets him.
'You're very handsome in the sunrise.' Dennis comments, half-awake, but fully aware of the silly grin on his face and his words.
'Flattery won't get you anywhere, my love.' Robby stands up, places the book aside, takes a sip of his tea. Scalding hot tea based on the steam and yet Robby takes a sip as if it's nothing. He walks up to Dennis and kisses him, very sweet and very innocent. 'Lucky enough for you, it got you a kiss.'
Dennis smiles to himself. He grabs his jacket, of course stolen from Jack's closet this time and snuggles against the window nook. He smiles to himself and looks outside. He sighs to himself and rubs his wrists. He grabs the blanket at the end of the nook and snuggles against it. Unlike his furnaces (his boyfriends), he runs cold, used to the heat but cannot deal with the cold.
"My love, are you done unpacking?" Jack peeps inside the room only to find his cuddly Dennis on the window nook, a soft smile on his face and bundled in his jacket and blanket. "My love, you look so cute there. May I?" He points to the space at his feet and Dennis nods. Jack sits down and repositions himself so his head is on Dennis' chest. Dennis wraps his arms around Jack's head, kisses his forehead and hums in delight.
"So, what's the plan? Cuddle and leave Robby out of it because let me tell you, Robby is a cuddle bug and you should know that after a year of dating. He'll kill the both of us by starving us if we don't cuddle with him." Robby, surprisingly yet also unsurprisingly based on how much he touches and manhandles him during shifts, is touch-starved and loves physical contact.
"Give it 5 more minutes and we'll go downstairs to accompany him." Dennis muses, leans his head against the window. He runs his hand through Jack's curls while they look through the window. Uneventful but meaningful enough for the both of them.
"Both of you! Set the table!" They hear Robby yell from the kitchen and they giggle to themselves, getting up and fixing the window nook. Dennis remembers to place a coaster onto the table beside and fold up the blanket for Robby to use, in case he reads before he retires for the night.
"Thank you, love bug. Let's go and help out cuddlebug now." Jack and his endearments, truly an honor. Jack kisses him and holds out his hand, waiting for Dennis to grasp it before they go downstairs.
And as always, he did.
[ 🩺 8: Step 7 - anniversary]
The morning of their anniversary was a start of bliss. Jack has managed to negotiate morning sex with his boyfriends before leaving to make breakfast. Robby had also negotiated a makeout session before they went downstairs to meet up with Jack who was already plating their breakfast.
They ate their breakfast with Dennis making their cups of coffee and a cup of hot chocolate for Dennis. Dennis did try to stay far from caffeine if he wasn't on shifts since coffee and Red Bulls or energy drinks kept him alive during shifts, especially with alternating morning and night shifts. After Robby and Dennis washed the dishes, Jack went straight to showering. Robby followed suit after Jack while Dennis prepared some of his ingredients for lunch, dinner and dessert.
Dennis plans to make Trinity's famous bulgogi bowl that he promised her to let his boyfriends try because according to her, he "mastered it" already, lasagna and salad for dinner, and banana bread for dessert. Lucky enough for him, he's an expert for banana bread because he grew up helping his mother make it enough for the family and now he's indulging his childhood memories for his boyfriends' favorite sweet treat.
"What is our lovebug up to this lunch time?" Jack hugs him from behind while he defrosts the beef.
"Apparently, I lost the bet with Trinity over something that you should not even try to get out of me," He points his eye towards his boyfriends, Jack nuzzling his curls and neck while Robby innocently drinking his tea while he finishes the New York Times Crossword. "And she told me that her bulgogi recipe would be good for lunch. She taught me and apparently I have mastered it already so yeah, Korean cuisine for lunch and Italian for dinner." Dennis leans his head back towards Jack and lightly kisses the side of his head.
"Wow, very eventful for today, sweetie?" Robby lowers his glasses to look at him and Dennis rolls his eyes playfully.
"Yes and I prepared for this already so let me do my job and this is considered as my gift to both of you for this anniversary." Dennis says and Jack sits beside Robby to help him in completing the crossword puzzle. "Banana bread for dessert by the way."
"Oh you love us so." Robby teases him and leans forward to kiss Dennis who received it wholeheartedly.
The next few hours were Dennis completing lunch and already baking the banana bread. Something his mom always did was put it in the fridge for a few hours because it tasted better when it was cold, which it did. Robby and Jack loved the bulgogi and texted Trinity a thank you for the recipe to which she responded with, 'Of course, I'm always perfect,' and that earned a laugh for them all.
Robby and Jack seemed to have something special planned for him but he didn't even question it when he had something planned for them both. He continued cooking, eventually taking a bath and cuddling with Robby on the window nook while he read, meanwhile Jack sat opposite of the window nook and continued Robby's crossword puzzle.
Eventually, Dennis stood up, taking the laptop from Jack who immediately replaced Dennis' spot into cuddling Robby. He opens the cabinet and takes out a paper bag and the two older men notice this.
"What's that, baby?" Robby asks.
"Your gift but no peeking and questioning until I actually give it to you, okay?" Dennis said and left in a hurry. He got inside the bathroom on the first floor and put on the Lingerie as well as a good sweater and pants. One gift down and worn, one more to go to actually give. Good thing he said 'gift' singular so they won't hound him for more.
He prepares the lasagna before it goes onto the oven and he hides the pens in the cabinet. He looks up to find his boyfriends with a paper bag of their own and places it on the table.
"What's that, baby?" Returning the question to Robby who smiled.
"Just a little something to make it more romantic, huh?" He pulls out candles and two bottles of wine, designed to match with the lasagna. Jack pulls out wine glasses from the cupboard and passes it to Robby. Robby opened the bottle of wine, grabbing a glass and pouring it, taking a sip then humming in satisfaction.
"Candle lit dinner as well." Jack comments, pulling out the candles and lighting them. He opens the blinds to reveal already the darkening sky. He closes off some lights to make it more romantic as it seems.
Dennis needs 5 more minutes on the lasagna before he takes it out. He places the chicken caesar salad on the table while Jack prepares the table for him. He gives a kiss and returns to the kitchen. He takes a deep breath, inhales and exhales enough to calm him down.
As he takes out the lasagna, Jack continues to set the table, taking out a pitcher of water and settling it down on the table with a coaster. He finally sits down and takes off his prosthetic while Dennis puts down the lasagna on the table, enough for them three and more servings.
"Where's Robby?" He asks as he sits down.
"Right here, baby." Robby walks down the stairs and places a vinyl in the record player by the kitchen. He never even saw Robby moving it from the living room which made him laugh. Robby placed the vinyl and turned it on, a lovely jazz tune came playing but Robby turned the volume down; perfect to still have the tune in the background but not overpowering their eventual conversations.
"Oh! And we need to take a picture first before we eat!" Dennis pulls out his Canon camera. He takes the tripod and maneuvers it in front of them three and messes with the settings. Unknown to him, his boyfriends are looking at him with those brown eyes that light differently on the orange light of the candles. Beautiful brown eyes, filled with love and fondness for the farm boy that is rushing back to his seat while telling them it's on a timer.
"Smile!" Dennis and his boyfriends smile and he gets up, smiles widely to see the perfect picture to print out when he gets the chance. "So lovely, I'll have it printed out and I can give it to you in a frame." He puts down the camera and sits down.
"Let's eat?" He smiles and he cuts a slice of lasagna for his boyfriends and makes cuts on the dish so it would be easier for them to grab if they want more servings. Jack filled their wine glasses with wine and water in a separate glass while Robby served the salad.
"Cheers, happy anniversary to us. I love you both, so very much." Robby raises his glass and looks at his boyfriends with a soft, love-sicken look on his face.
"I love you both, my love bug and cuddle bug. Happy anniversary." Jack raises his glass and they both look at him.
"I love you both, thank you for welcoming me and loving me. Happy anniversary." Dennis clicks their glasses together and they proceed to eating.
"This is amazing, sweetie. Good job." Jack said as he took in another bite of the lasagna. Robby nods as he chews on the lasagna.
"This is very good, Denny. Amazing." Robby said as he took a mouthful of salad.
Dennis thanks them but honestly, he's very nervous about his gift. He takes a deep breath and tries to eat since he was planning to give the pens to them when they eat their dessert but honestly? He couldn't wait especially when he's been planning for this for months.
Robby and Dennis are already in their second serving of lasagna and salad. Second glasses of wine; meanwhile Dennis is still nursing his first glass of wine and halfway onto his first slice of lasagna. Robby and Jack made small talk between them but Robby and Jack must have noticed a shift in his mood and before they could ask, he beat them to it.
"I," He starts and laughs nervously. "Honestly, I have gifts for you and have been planning it for months and," He exhales and smiles. "I can't wait to give it now but I'm a bit nervous." He admits as he stands up and takes the two paper bags, plain white in color and gives it to them. He checks the tags before doing so, not wanting to have a fail of an unboxing.
"Okay before you open it, I want to say that I had put a lot of thought into this to the point I practically had to go profiler the past 3 months just to get this gift. I even went to Dana because I had no clue since you guys get a good salary and are not materialistic but this gift, I kinda worked hard for it and I want to say it's a really good gift." He said and his boyfriends just looked at him. "Hey, in any case that you don't like it, I'm wearing a really good Lingerie and good sex later to make up for it." He jokes and Robby and Jack laugh.
"That is really...nice. Okay honey." Jack laughs as he holds the paper bag.
"Okay, a little over the top overthinking there, sweet pea." Robby says and looks at him after sipping his wine. "Look, I'm sure whatever you got for us, we will love it. Because you thought of it and made sure it is special for us so all that is enough to know that we will love it." He continues.
"That's true." Jack takes his hands and kisses the back of his right hand while Robby does the same on his left. "We'll love it, trust in yourself and of course, trust in us."
Dennis takes a deep breath and smiles at them. He takes his wine glass, takes a sip and swallows. "Okay, go on, open it."
On command, both of them open the paper bags and find the boxes which are sleek with felt lining on the boxes. He sees Robby nodding as he feels the felt lining of the boxes. His in dark blue while black for Jack. He raises his eyebrows as indication for them to continue. Robby and Jack make eye contact and open the boxes together.
"Holy shit."
"Oh, God."
He smiles at their reaction, laughs, as the nervousness are finally out of his system as he continues to observe their reactions and as they examine the pens.
Robby's pen is a beautiful dark blue colored pen which is speckled with white and gray grains. The clip and the tip were colored gold, to match his Star of David necklace. Jack's pen was a similar mechanism, only pure black with silver accessories. The black was speckled with shades of gray. Instead of it being retractable, Dennis opted for the 'twist' mechanism to release the tip. It was not exactly lightweight since the materials that were used were metals rather than plastic
On one side of the clip read their names and titles, 'Dr. Michael Robinavitch' and 'Dr. Jack Abbot' in beautiful cursive fonts while on the other side of the clip, both pens read; "all to you, sine cera."
They find the pens and continue to examine them. Dennis uses this as an opportunity to explain himself. "I noticed you guys don't have your own pens so I thought getting you guys your own pens would be a great anniversary gift. Since both of you are senior attendings, you still have paperworks to do outside of the online charting that we do."
"This is amazing, so beautiful, lovebug. Where did you get these?" Dennis smiles at Jack's question.
"I consulted Mel since she's a stationary queen. She and the other girls helped me while we picked out the parts."
"And the 'all to you, sine cera?' What does that mean?" Robby looks at him as he handles the pen with utmost gentleness.
"It's a little embarrassing and very sappy so please don't laugh!" Dennis begged.
"We won't, dear. Don't worry, come on now." Robby says as he looks at him with love in his eyes.
Dennis takes a deep breath and smiles, avoiding their eyes since he can feel the flush in his face. "I always thought that having a pen like that was very sophisticated. Aside from the practicality of the situation since you don't have any pens," He stops to laugh and he looks at the widening grin of his boyfriends. "And we love giving each other little letters in the morning or at night depending on who's home in the morning and vice versa. Use that pen to save a life because you saved mine. Use that pen to show me you love me, because I love you."
Dennis wipes off his tears and lets out another laugh. "In masses back in Nebraska, it was always 'offer everything to you, all to you, my Lord' and it never felt right. Always never right even after my theology degree. However, I give my all to both of you. Take everything you want and I'll give it wholeheartedly because it feels and is right. 'Sine Cera' means 'without wax' in Latin. Because marble statues without wax were more true and valuable. So to say that I give my all to you, my love and my everything to you, without wax means I say it sincerely."
It was sappy, Trinity teased him but let out a smile when he first explained it to you with a blush on his face. Told him that he was a modern Romeo for his boyfriends but also told him 5 minutes later how Robby and Jack were so lucky to have him, just like how lucky he was to have them.
"Oh love. Come here, I want to hug you but I already took off my prosthetic." Dennis laughed and moved his chair next to Jack and hugged him, Jack kissing his arm that wrapped around his chest. Robby stood up and moved his chair as well and sat beside them, with Dennis in between them. "Oh I love you, Dennis. I love you so much. This is such an amazing gift! I can't wait to show it off when we get back." Dennis received a kiss all over his face by Jack which made him giggle and squirm.
"I love you so much, Den. So much." Robby, speechless, as he starts placing kisses onto Dennis' curls. "God, this gift is really making our gift to you look real bad." He joked and Jack laughed.
"Why, what's your gift to me?" He pulls away and smiles at them, excited by the prospect of a gift.
Robby and Jack looked at each other and smiled. Jack reaches to a paper bag next to his chair and gives it to Dennis. Dennis looks at the gift wrapper and meticulously unwraps it. He looks at both his boyfriends who have an anticipating look on their faces and he takes a deep breath and continues to unwrap it. Seeing the box makes him stand up and yell, "Oh my God?!"
Robby and Jack laugh loudly. Jack kisses Robby at the back of his hand, as they look at Dennis currently freaking out. "You gifted me a stethoscope? And a fucking litmann at that?"
Dennis looks at the box, a Littman Classic III Stethoscope in Black. He looks at it in amazement and examines it, a quality Littman and not just something that is second handed like this current one. As he examined it, he noticed the engraved text on both of the ear tubes.
A 'Be a warmth to your patients, like you are to us - M & J' on the right and a 'Dr. Dennis Whitaker, MD' on the left. Placed on the left, as if it brands closer to his heart.
"Holy shit, Michael. Holy shit, Jack." He continues to ramble as he looks at the Stethoscope. He remembered telling the both of them that the first big purchase he wanted to do when he finally started receiving salary was a stethoscope. Seems like Michael and Jack took a leap of faith.
"Actually there's another one." Jack says, taking a bite of the lasagna and pointing to the bottom of the paper bag where there's a small box which is also wrapped. He has a confused look on his face and unwraps it. He opens the small box to see 2 keys. His mind is loading and the moment it all clicks into place, he hears Jack speak up.
"We want you to move in with us."
"But why is there another key?" Dennis looks up at Jack.
"That is for Santos." Robby says and smiles at the confused look on Dennis' face. "Santos won't move in with us of course, but she'll have a copy of the key. The thing is, both of you are a package deal so if Santos wants to be with you for the morning or for the night, that key is for her. She is welcome in our house. No need to ask us if it's alright, it will always be alright."
"Oh, I love you both, oh my god." He starts to tear up and feels him being hugged by his boyfriends. "God, how did I get so lucky?" He starts to ask.
"Because you are you, my love." Jack looks at him, God damn those brown eyes again that just hits Dennis over and over again. "You are here, so warm, so loving, so caring and so full of light that we never thought we would have the chance to be so deserving of it." Jack kisses him and pulls back, giving Robby the chance to kiss Dennis.
"God, I love you both so much." He wipes his tears and laughs. Jack and Robby nod at each other for a job well done with the gifts. "Now, the lasagna is cold now so let's continue eating, shall we?" Dennis offers, Robby grabbing their plates so they can sit side by site.
They do continue eating with stories on how they managed to think of the gifts that they gave each other. Dennis asked why they didn't have a gift for each other. Robby answered that they wanted to focus on Dennis since it is a first year anniversary as a throuple and it was something they discussed especially when they were together first before Dennis came into the picture.
After finishing the dinner, they decided to eat the banana bread tomorrow morning for breakfast. Robby and Jack washed the dishes which wasn't much since Dennis liked to wash dishes in between cooking to prevent too many dishes stacked on top of one another.
Once they were finished, they went upstairs only to find a smirking Dennis with a black and blue lingerie, bows on the waistband of the panties which compresses his already hard and leaking cock, the brassiere compresses his chest, nipples already hard and still. Mel made the good decision to order a smaller size as it accentuated his skin, which makes Robby and Jack grip it as hard enough to leave bruises. Thank God, for their boyfriend.
"One last gift before the day ends, boys?" Dennis lays down on the bed and laughs at the expression of his boyfriends. Thank God the girls have good taste. "Also, you have complete freedom to do anything to me, no stopping, no nothing. I'll beg and beg, but you are in charge and I won't even stop you."
Let's just say, good thing Dennis took Trinity's advice: to bring Viagra.
[ 🩺 extra: the boyfriends using the pens ]
“Dr. Robinavitch and Dr. Abbot. Just in time.” Gloria walks into the emergency department with a stack of papers on her arms. The entire staff was gathered in the central nurse’s station for a quick huddle with both the day and night shifts.
“Time for my untimely death, I presume.” Robby jokes which leads to muffled laughs from those who heard it. “Gloria, what brings you down here?” He asks politely.
“Just some signature of some forms.” He places the forms onto the counter and Jack and Robby look through it. Looks like this months budget and proposals that need to be signed by all heads and senior attendings of the hospital.
“Alright. We’ll sign this and I’ll bring it up to you when we’re done.” Robby states. Gloria thanks them and leaves the emergency room.
After a quick reminders from Robby and Jack, as well as signing off the night shift residents, Robby and Jack get to signing, just to make sure these were done before the chaos of the Pitt bestows them all.
They take the pens that Dennis gifted them, the same boy who was handing off his patients to Trinity before he was being signed off. After he was done, he left her to get some snacks in the break room while she continued to go through the patients that Dennis handled in the night shift. But she got a bit distracted.
“Woah Dr. Robby and Dr. Abbot, nice pens you have there.” She mentions quite loud which made some residents and nurses to look at the two senior attendings.
“Nice pens, guys. Does that mean we won’t be keeping our special pen organizer here for you two?” McKay jokes. “So fancy, huh?” She adds as she takes a peek on the pens as they signed the papers Gloria brought.
“Sine Cera? That’s Latin if I’m correct.” Heather remarks, a teasing glint in her eye.
“All for you? How romantic.” Jesse commented as well, handing Princess and Perlah a $20 bill.
“Now who, oh who, can give you this amazing, expensive and very romantic pen? Who do you think, Princess?” Perlah dramatically asked her co-Filipina.
“Well, I do not know. I am without words and thoughts.” She dramatically answered back. This made Jack and Robby roll their eyes playfully but with a fond grin on their faces.
“I assume our resident bloodhound has decided on a very thoughtful gift for you both. How sweet.” Dana remarks as she takes in how beautiful the pens were, as well how beautiful the text was engraved.
“Yes, Dennis got us these. Thank you, Mel, Santos, Mohan and Javadi for helping him out for this. We love the pens.” Robby thanked the girls who smiled at him but Trinity smirked.
“You can thank us by ordering lunch for us this shift.” Santos, oh Santos. If only you knew how much you’ve influenced Dennis. Robby and Jack thought as they remember the $200 line back at the cabin.
Robby and Jack look at each other with fond looks and smiled. “Okay, fine. I’ll do that.” The day shift then cheered.
“Hey, how about the night shift?” Shen pointed out and Jack rolled his eyes.
“As if you even helped us. When I asked you, Ellis and Walsh on possible anniversary presents, you said, ‘Is sex counted as a present?’” Everyone laughed. Shen and Ellis had a scandalous look on their faces as if they did no such thing. He feels like a parent with stubborn kids. “Fine. I’ll order something before the day shift finishes later.” Shen and Ellis let out a loud ‘whoop!’ As they get their sign offs.
“Signed off already, Whitaker?” Langdon with a smirk, butts in. Everyone looks at the bloodhound who obviously has Robby’s hoodie on with his backpack on.
“Yeah. I am.” He replied to Langdon and looked at Jack. “I’ve handed off all my patients to Dr. Santos and the pending discharges are also up to her.” He updated. Jack and Robby look at him with a fond look before continuing signing the forms. Only a few more and Jack can leave with his lovebug and cuddle together before the shift later tonight.
“Good.” He praises and looks around to see everyone with a smug and teasing look on their faces. He rolls his eyes. “Everyone back to work. Night shift get the hell out of here!” He yells out and points his eyes to his colleagues who muffle their laughter and go on their separate ways.
“Alright, I’m all done, Robby. Just take this up to Gloria later.” He said, pushing the forms to him. He looks at Whitaker who is seated at Robby and His’ workstation, just waiting for them to get done. “Whitaker.” He beckons him to come over to which he did. So obedient. He muses to himself.
“You done, Dr. Abbot?” He asks and Jack nods.
“Yeah, kid.” He pockets his pen and winks at Dennis who flushes at the realization that Jack and Robby used the pen that he gave them. “We’ll be on our way, Robby.” Jack looks at Robby who looks at him with a fond grin.
“Breakfast is on the counter when you get home. And some hot water for tea if you need it.” Robby informs them as he continues to sign the forms. “You alright, baby?” He whispers to Dennis.
“Yeah! Just a little tired, nothing new. You got the lunch we made for you?” He asked Robby who nodded.
“Of course I did. Thank you, my darlings.” Robby thanks them and Jack puts on his backpack. “I love you both. See you later.”
“We love you too. Good luck and we’ll see you later.” Dennis bids Robby goodbye then he and Jack leave the premises.
All the while, Dennis’ stethoscope tucked in safely inside his backpack and the key that now is snug against his pocket. Similar to the clips of the pens of his boyfriends, glinting sharply against the light of the emergency department; a reminder of their love to each other.
So subtle materials that fit in their lives like routine, and in the process of saving others and themselves.