"Sure. I'd love to."
"Great. I'm stealing you away," Rob said to Julian as he threw him his jacket. "Danny, hold down the fort. We'll be right back."
"I guess we're going somewhere?" Julian said as he put on the jacket while walking to the front door.
"Not too far. I just want to take advantage of Christie while she's still here," Rob said and they waved to Danny before shutting the door.
Stepping out in front of the house, Rob took a deep breath and Julian admired how his chest expanded.
"Where to now?" Julian wondered, looking toward the car, thinking they might take a drive.
"How about a walk in the orchard?" Rob said as he took his hand to lead him in that direction.
Standing in rows that formed slightly crooked lanes, the trees weren't much to look at now. Only dry leaves dotted the branches, but Rob was looking up at them like he could see what they would become – green, thick with blooms then heavy with peaches that seemed to blush in the sun. Now Julian could see it too, and he couldn't wait to walk this way with Rob in every season.
"I hear people get married in this orchard," Rob said suddenly.
"Sometimes," Julian said wondering what Rob was up to bringing him out here and talking about weddings.
Rob stopped between two of the bigger trees and patted one of the tree trunks. "What do you think of this spot right here?"
"What about it?" Julian asked as Rob took him by the hand and led him two steps over.
"You can stand right here. I'll stand here and we can say our vows," Rob said while gazing intently into Julian's eyes.
"Vows?" Julian gasped and Rob squeezed his hand tighter and cupped his face.
"Marriage vows. What do you think?"
"Wha..." Julian couldn't even finish the word. All the air got knocked out of him. Rob had to kiss him to get him breathing again. "Is this your way of asking me to marry you?"
"You want me on one knee? Done," Rob said and he got down on one knee in front of him. Then he clasped Julian's hand and spoke in a deadly serious voice. "Julian, you have to marry me."
"That's not a question," Julian said ready to laugh and cry at the same time. "But I will marry you right here. I love you so much."
"I love you," Rob said in return, his voice thick. "I understand if you need time to..."
"No. I meant what I said. Yes, I want to marry you," Julian told him and pulled him up to his feet.
Up off the ground, Rob hugged Julian till he couldn't breathe. Fingers threaded through his hair, clutching at him desperately, painfully happy, Julian had him in a vise grip too.
Stepping back and letting him take only a single breath, Rob kissed him, making him breathless all over again. The orchard seemed to spin around them, and Julian felt like he was dancing and flying and happier than he knew it was possible to be.
"God, I love you so much. I want to make you happy more than anything," Rob told him as they stopped kissing but didn't let go of each other. "I don't want a single day without hearing your voice, seeing your face, feeling you against me when I wake up. I want to marry you, Julian."
Rob's eyes melted and he looked like he would cry. Speechless, shaking with emotion, biting back tears, Julian was right there with him. He was so grateful when Rob kissed him so he could let his feelings flow into that kiss. Their lips brushed, their tongues danced, their hands were restless, searching for a way under their clothes.
Julian didn't know how much time passed while Rob pressed him against the tree trunk and they kissed. Eventually they made their way back to the house.
"Now we get to tell Danny," Rob said shutting the front door behind them.
"Me?" Danny said popping up from under the stairs.
"There you are," Christie said coming out of the library.
"Oh no, you found us," Danny said as Lenny came out from under the stairs too.
"You were playing hide and seek?" Julian said.
