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Joe sighed in content as he completed the finishing touches on dinner. The table was set perfectly; two plates, two sets of silverware, two glasses and two lit candles in the center. It was breathtaking, right out of a cheesy rom-com, but it was still beautiful. Going back to the kitchen, he checked on dinner. He wasn't the best cook, but he could get chicken done without it being burnt or raw.
This was going to be a big night. Tomorrow John would be turning 70 and he already said flat out that he didn't want a party of any kind. But this was still a big milestone and Joe had something important he needed to tell his husband. Glancing down at his phone, Joe saw that it was almost 6:30. John would be back soon from his evening walk. Taking the chicken out of the oven, Joe heard the door close.
"Joe," John called out.
"I'm in the kitchen," Joe replied.
He soon felt a pair of strong arms wrap around his waist followed by warm and familiar lips against the skin of his neck.
"How was your walk?" Joe asked. "It was good. No fans or paparazzi were hounding me...what's this?"
"Dinner, and it's just about ready. Why don't you go sit down."
Heading for the dining room, John stopped dead when he saw the sight of the table.
"Joe," he called out in a stern tone.
"What?" Joe said as he come up behind John and placed the chicken on the table.
"What's with all of this?" John asked as he gestured to the table. "I said no party."
"This isn't a party, it's a birthday dinner." Joe then placed a kiss on his husband's lips. "Now stop being so grouchy or you won't get your birthday present."
Hearing the sultriness in Joe's voice perked the older man right up and with no other complaints he sat down.
"You really didn't have to go all out like this," John said as he served himself some chicken.
"I know that, but I wanted to," Joe said as he sat down. "This is a big birthday and you deserve to celebrate it."
"Yeah." John adverted his eyes and Joe knew immediately what and who he was thinking about.
Getting up, Joe knelt down in front of his husband and cupped his cheeks, placing a sweet kiss on his lips. "They are both wishing you a happy birthday," he whispered. "You know that, right?"
John just nodded and Joe could feel water against the pads of his thumbs. He simply brushed away the tears.
"It still doesn't feel fair, even after all of these years," John said in a quite voice.
"I know, but neither Freddie or your dad would want you to pity yourself like this."
John smiled and kissed his younger husband. "You're right, as usual. Look at me, you went through a lot of trouble to cook me a birthday dinner and I am ruining it. Let me wash up and I'll be right back."
John was gone less than five minutes. When he returned to the table, he found a small rectangular box by his plate. It looked like those boxes a watch a bracelet went in. "What's this?" he asked as he sat down.
"Your present, one of them at least." Picking up the box, John opened it. What was inside was not a watch or a bracelet, but a small plastic stick. With a shock expression, he slowly looked at Joe.
"I found out this morning," Joe said. "I know this wasn't planned, but this baby is you and me, and I want to keep it."
Putting down the box, John stood as did Joe and the two men were soon in each other's arms.
"I'm not mad," John whispered. "But I am scared."
"I know you are, I am too, but let's not think about that right now. You are happy, right?"
"Of course I am, this is the best birthday present I have had in a long time."
"Happy Birthday John."