It was their one year anniversary, and Leonard had no idea what he was going to give Jim. What did he give his boyfriend who didn’t even really want anything? He had no clue.
“Bones. I can see you stressing.”
“Sorry. Just thinking about stuff.”
“You, and our anniversary.”
“Oh. Well, you wanna know what I think?”
“We should plan it together. There’s no reason it has to be gifts. We’ll go somewhere.”
“Vacation?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of a concert of some kind.”
The gears in Bones’ head started to turn and he thought of the perfect thing, “What about an orchestra?”
“No. We can’t. But we can afford to go.”
Bones was typing furiously on his PADD, finding the concert he had been looking at about a week ago.
“The Sacramento Philharmonic is performing tonight.”
“We’re not gonna actually go, Jim. We’re gonna stand outside and listen.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
Jim looked thoughtful for a moment before deciding, “Okay. Let’s go.”
Leonard smiled at him and said, “This’ll be great, I promise.”
So that’s why several hours later they were sitting in the courtyard outside the Mondavi Center, waiting for the music to start.
“So, what’re we gonna do?”
Jim was starting to have his doubts about what Bones had planned, but he dispelled them quickly, remembering that he was with Bones and just that was good enough for him. When the music started, he began to sway slightly to the tune, recognizing the piece a piece from Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni. It was K. 527, Overture. It was a long piece, intense in some places and soft in others. It was one of Jim’s favorites.
As the concert went on, he began to watch Bones, who was swaying, lost in the music. The relaxed, completely content look on Bones’ face made Jim smile. He was glad he had agreed to this.
When a waltz began, he tapped Bones gently on the shoulder, and took his hand, helping him up. He led them to a large, open patch of grass not far from where they had been sitting. He moved close to Bones as he began the dance.
They smiled at each other as they stepped and spun, completely engrossed in each other. They let the music lead as they continued, moving to the feel of it. There were a few spectators around who watched as the happy couple waltzed around the courtyard.
It was a beautiful dance. It was far from professional, but it was truly outstanding. Jim twirled Bones around the yard, leading with poise as the music continued. They switched positions about halfway through, Bones taking the lead and Jim following. Bones lifted, twirled, and dipped Jim with grace as they glided across the grass, unaware that a small crowd had gathered to watch them. They were grinning at each other like idiots in love, and they were. Idiots in love, that is. They just had yet to tell each other. Maybe it was because they hadn’t wanted to ruin what they had, or they were nervous that the other didn’t feel the same way, or maybe it was just that they hadn’t found the right time.
Jim thought then was a pretty good time.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
“I love you,” Jim said, grin brighter than the sun.
“I love you, too,” Bones replied. There were tears pricking at his eyes and he let them fall. He was happy, for the first time in a long time. And it felt good.
When the waltz ended, they were laughing and crying and grinning at each other before finally leaning their foreheads together and silencing, only then hearing the applause.
“Looks like we had an audience.”
“So we did,” Jim said, beginning to laugh again.
Leonard kissed Jim sweetly, drawing it out. He knew it wouldn’t turn into anything more than a kiss when Jim wrapped his arms around Bones’ neck, entwining his fingers and pulling Bones closer. It was a kiss full of feeling and warmth and most importantly love. They loved each other. Thank god it had only taken a year to get them to admit it.
When they broke apart, they leaned their foreheads together again and just took in the sight of one another, breathed the same air as one another.
“I love you,” Jim said again.
Leonard kissed Jim again, chastely this time, and told him, “Happy anniversary, darlin’.”
