Back When We Started.

Candles lit? Check.
Rose petals casually thrown about? Check.
Champagne on ice? Check.
Engagement ring in pocket? Check.

Matt Flyzik breathed in deeply, gazing around the living room that he shared with his long-term partner, Zack Merrick, in their modernly-furnished apartment. The apartment that they’d bought together three years ago, when they’d decided to take their 4 year relationship to the next level. And now at 7 years, Matt was ready to take their relationship to the next level again. He was ready to ask Zack to marry him.

He’d thought about it long and hard. He’d asked his parents for advice, asked if he was rushing into things. His momma had smacked him round the back of the head for asking such a stupid question and his Daddy just laughed. They both loved Zack – their answers were easy. And he’d asked his friends too, Vinny, Ian and Danny, and they’d just rolled their eyes. They all knew how much Matt and Zack loved each other – they knew that Matt would ask him anyway, regardless of what they said. And with Vinny’s help, Matt had chosen the most perfect, simple and smooth platinum band, with the words I love you scripted on the inside. It was slightly cheesy, yes. But he wanted Zack to always know how Matt felt about him.

Zack was his one and only.

Zack had always been his one and only, to be truthful. Even looking back to when they first met, and to when their relationship started, Matt had always know Zack was the only one for him. Matt couldn’t help but smile as he thought about when he’d first clapped eyes on Zack, right back on their first day of high school.

~

“Hey Matty Matt Matt Matthew Flyzik! Come over here!” Vinny yelled, jumping up and down as he waved his arms to get Matt’s attention.

Matt blushed slightly as people stared at him, shifting his glasses up his nose. His best friend Vinny from middle school really could be embarrassing sometimes. But at least he knew someone coming into high school. He was scared enough as it is, without not knowing anyone at all.

“Matt Flyzik, meet our brand new friends,” Vinny introduced.

Uh…names?

“I’m Ian Planet,” the curly haired boy introduced, laughing at Vinny.

“I’m Danny Kurily,” the shorter brunette introduced.

“And I’m Zack Merrick,” said the boy with longer jet black hair.

Huh. That hair can’t be natural. Matt wondered what his real hair was like.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” Matt said politely.

Ian and Danny grinned. Zack just blushed, and his blush caught Matt’s attention. He’d always liked it when boys blushed, and he was starting to figure out why. And he especially liked Zack’s blush. Hmm. He decided to make it his mission to get Zack to blush more.

~

Matt had made it his mission to get Zack to blush as much as possible – and through that, they’d become closer and closer. Matt knew he owed Vinny big time for that first day of high school, introducing Matt to Zack like he had, but Matt kind of hoped that he and Zack would’ve met anyway, like they were fated to be together. That’s what he hoped.

It had only taken two years for Matt to get Zack comfortable enough around him, comfortable enough with both their sexualities, to make Zack his. Like now, with all his careful planning and preparation, Matt had asked Zack out. And what an incredible first date it was.

~

“So, Matty, where are you taking me?” Zack asked, smiling sweetly.

Zack was one of the very few people that Matt let call him ‘Matty’. The others were his two Grandma’s. Zack liked calling him that, and he liked that he was one of the only ones that could, which is pretty much the only reason why Matt let him. Anything for Zack.

“It’s a surprise,” Matt grinned.

“I don’t like surprises,” Zack pouted.

Matt fought the urge to just kiss Zack’s pout. No, they hadn’t reached that stage yet. Just kisses on the cheek. No matter how much Matt wanted to kiss him properly, he wouldn’t push Zack into something he wasn’t comfortable with.

“You’ll like this one, come on,” Matt laughed.

Matt linked their fingers together, making Zack blush. Oh he loved that blush. The two of them walked in a happy comfortable silence, hands linked all the way, until they reached their destination. And Zack’s jaw dropped.

“You’re taking me to the funfair? I didn’t even know it’s in town!” Zack said happily.

“It hasn’t been advertised widely, because it’s only just arrived. And I know how much you liked fun fairs so I thought why not?” Matt grinned.

Yes! He knew this had been a good idea. He’d been researching for weeks when this had come up, and he knew it would be perfect. And it looked like he was right.

“Oh thank you! This is going to be so much fun!” Zack said, smiling.

And suddenly, Zack leant up, pressing his lips firmly to Matt’s. Matt inhaled sharply, not expecting this at all. But he sure as hell wasn’t complaining. Zack made a happy sound when Matt started kissing him back, only encouraging Matt to cup Zack’s face with his hands. Wow. This was better than he could ever imagine it. Zack’s lips were so soft, so inviting, Matt’s newly pierced bottom lip rubbing against them so gently that he couldn’t help but smile as he pulled away.

“Wow,” Zack breathed.

Matt blushed a little for once, guessing that Zack hadn’t expected his little kiss to get so intense. But Matt didn’t care. He’d finally kissed Zack, after years of waiting. And he wasn’t letting him go any time soon either.

“Let’s go have some fun, yeah?” Matt grinned, linking their fingers together again.

“Yeah, let’s,” Zack grinned back.

~

That date had been the first of many, and was the start of their 7 year relationship. They may only be 23 now, but Matt knew in his heart that there was no-one else he wanted to spend his life with. He could only hope that Zack felt the same.

Right on time, his usual 7pm arrival home from work, Zack walked through the front door of their apartment, his jaw dropping when he saw what Matt had done with the décor.

“Matty? What’s going on?” Zack asked, dropping his bag on the floor.

“Get comfortable first, please,” Matt urged.

Zack frowned slightly but kicked off his shoes and hung his suit jacket on the back of the nearest sofa, unbuttoning his shirt a little and rolling up the sleeves. There that was better.

“Now will you tell me what’s going on?” Zack asked, smiling.

Matt just nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He’d been preparing for this moment for weeks. He could do this.

“Zack, you know you’re my world. You know that you’re the only one for me. And I hope you know that I love you more than life itself,” Matt started.

Zack just blushed, giving Matt the confidence to continue.

“I’ve been trying to think of the right thing to say, trying to express my feelings in the most poetic way possible, but everything just boils down to this. I love you, with all my heart. I will never love anyone like I love you, and I never want to. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and there’s only one way to do that,”

Zack gasped as Matt got down on one knee and pulled the perfect engagement ring out of his pocket.

“Zachary Merrick, will you do me the honour of becoming my husband?” Matt asked softly.

Tears sprung to Zack’s eyes and he nodded, making Matt grin.

“Yes. Yes of course I’ll marry you,” Zack choked.

Matt couldn’t stop tears springing to his eyes too, as he slid the ring onto Zack’s fourth finger, Zack finally smiling as well, those tears streaming down both their cheeks. Matt stood up from one knee, and cupped Zack’s face with his hands, pressing their lips together in the most intense kiss he possibly could.

“You have made the happiest man in the world,” Matt murmured, once Zack pulled away for air.

“Ditto,” Zack grinned.

Matt just grinned back and kissed him again.