Damian was trailing kisses does Simon’s stomach, when the phone rang. Both men groaned but the redhead rolled off Simon and picked up the phone. "Hello? Oh hi, Mrs. Krucli. Sorry. Chandler. How are you?"

Simon rolled his eyes and leaned back. They would not be returning to their activities any time soon; his cousin Chandler was a huge talker. He settled for looking at his lover, eating him up with his eyes. Damian really was beautiful. At the moment, his pale skin was marred with black ink from a project but it was otherwise flawless and completely bared, interrupted only by the white sheet that trailed around his waist. He had flirted with the idea of cutting his hair for years but Simon had always objected, so it was still long, longer than ever in fact, trailing down to brush his thighs. Simon caught flashes of green through that thick layer of hair.

He kissed Damian’ shoulder and forced himself to stand, thinking very hard about Mrs. Michaels naked. About any woman naked. It worked and he wandered to the restroom to brush his teeth feeling more comfortable.

When he returned, Damian waved him over while saying, "Yeah, he’s right here. Okay. Bye." He handed the phone over. Simon sighed and leaned down, taking the phone and greeting his cousin.

Damian smirked and kissed his nose as he rolled out of the bed and wandered out of the room, uncaring of his nudity.

Simon found himself asking Chandler to repeat her last few words.

"Are you ever going to marry the boy?!"

Simon sighed, wishing he hadn’t asked.

--

Damian gathered up the plates, ignoring both Lord and Lady and Mudpie and Bonaparte. Mudpie was now nearly twice the size of Bonaparte but was still much more mellow. She was begging with the dogs. Bonaparte was swatting at all three, trying to hoard any food that happened to drop.

He sidestepped all of them and trudged up the stairs. He paused in front of the bedroom door to shuffle plates around so he could free a hand. Simon was still talking to Chandler.

Damian froze at Simon’s next words.

"I’m not going to propose to him! It’s not legal."

Damian resisted the urge to storm in and point out that it was legal in other states, instead pressing his ear against the door.

"We’ve gone over this. I can’t- fine, won’t propose. He wouldn’t say yes or if he, he would spend the rest of his life regretting it."

Damian rolled his eyes. For a second there, he had been really worried. But it was just Simon being his usual anxious self. He leaned against the door, holding the plates upright and glossed over the rest of Simon’s self-pitying ‘I’m old and he’s not’ crap. He would just have to show Simon he was an idiot once and for all.

When he finally wound down, saying goodbye, Damian stood straight and kicked the door. "Hey, can you help me? My hands-" Before he could finish, Simon was opening the door and taking half the plates from Damian.

He kissed him on the cheek and settled on the bed with the food. "You’re a sweetheart."

Damian grinned at him. "I try," he said cheekily. He took a bite before asking, "Hey, wanna go to dinner tonight?"

Simon gave him a disproving look. "Don’t chew with your mouth open. And sure. Where?"

"Avian?"

Simon blinked at him. "Am I missing something? An anniversary or birthday or something?"

Damian smirked. "Nah, I’m just asking you out on a date."

Simon grinned at him. "You had me worried. I’d love to if you can manage to get reservations."

Damian smirked.

At eight that night, Damian and Simon followed the waiter to one of the secluded, almost room like booths in the back of the Lupine. Damian wasn’t holding Simon’s hand in respect for the older man’s discomfort with public scrutiny, but as soon as the waiter disappeared, Damian wrapped an arm around Simon’s waist and scooted around the booth.

"Damian!"

"Aw, come on. No one can see us but the waiter and he’s a Silver Dragon kid. He had it written all over his arm. He won’t care."

"But-"

"Simon, us being together isn’t illegal anymore," Damian pointed out gently. "I’m twenty-five. It’s not even that weird anymore. Jake’s older than you and currently shacked up with a guy a year younger than me."

"Yeah, and it’s creepy," Simon grumbled. "That kid is nearly his son’s age."

Damian grinned. "Yeah, that’s creepy. Probably not the best example, but they’re both fine with it and there’s nearly a seven year difference between their age gap and ours. We don’t even get weird looks anymore from people who are comfortable around gays."

Simon stayed mulishly silent, but stopped trying to struggle. He actually slipped an arm around Damian’s waist. He tensed slightly as the waiter came back but the young man just grinned at them.

"Hey Mr. Taylor."

"Marquis."

"Cute boyfriend."

There was a long pause. Damian was finally the one who broke it, grinning widely. "Thanks."

Marquis grinned back. "Hi, I’m Marquis. I’ll be your waiter tonight. Can I take your drink order?" he asked, falling back on protocol.

Both ordered. When Marquis was gone, Damian leaned towards Simon. "You didn’t tell me he was one of yours."

"You cut me off," Simon said wryly. "And besides, you’re right. You’re always right. It shouldn’t matter. Especially because Marquise is probably the biggest flamer you’ll ever meet."

"Really? He didn’t look it."

"He’s working."

Damian laughed. "Well, whatever the reason, I’m happy." He gave Simon’s waist a squeeze. "You’re hard to convince sometimes."

The dinner passed quickly, Damian ordering dessert when Simon was in the restroom and then convincing him to wait. When it came, Simon found himself laughing. "What is that?"

It was Marquis who answered. "My specialty," he said, waggling his eyebrows. "Pure debauchery." He put the platter down. "I’ll be back later. Have fun," he sang, gliding away.

Simon stared at the formation of whipped cream, cherries, chocolate syrup, and ice cream. "Told you he was a flamer."

Damian laughed. "Yeah, I actually have to agree. I talked to him for a couple minutes while you were in the restroom. He told me about this. Apparently it’s a favorite of couples that come in here and get this booth."

Simon looked down at the booth he was on.

Damian laughed and grabbed his hand. "Come on. Relax. You’re wearing pants. For now."

Simon couldn’t help but smile. "For now? I plan to keep these on, I’ll have you know."

Damian pouted at him. "But we have this… thing," he waved at the dessert, "and we’re all alone here." He leaned close to Simon.

Simon leaned away. "With dozens of people feet away and a waiter who could be back any second."

"Unlikely," Damian said mildly. "I told him I’d over tip him considerably if he disappeared for awhile."

"Damian! That’s my student!"

The redhead grinned. "Ooh, he approved. And promised to promptly forget about it. Please?"

Simon flushed, but nodded, heated green eyes sweeping away all rational thought. He caught Simon’s lips in his own. Simon let him. He was the first one to go for the whipped cream.

Long minutes later, Simon was buttoning back up his shirt. Damian was already dressed, presentable other than his mussed hair, when he dropped to one knee in front of the table, the Japanese style screen hiding him from the general crowd.

Simon blinked at him owlishly. "What are you-" He froze as Damian pulled out a small, red velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing two wide rings, one silver with small emeralds intermixed with diamonds, the other its perfect match except in gold with sapphires.

"Simon, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

Simon’s jaw dropped. "W-What?"

"Please?" Damian asked, smiling. Despite the smile, his eyes were wide. Simon glanced down and indeed, Damian’s hands were shaking too.

Simon reached down and cupped his face, pulling him up for a fiery kiss. "Yeah, baby. I’d like nothing better."

Damian shot up and pulled him down for another kiss. "Even though you’re so damned sure I’m going to regret it?"

Simon smiled. "Heard that, huh? You asked me. My guilt is absolved. If we fuck marriage up, it’s all your fault."

Damian giggled. "I can live with that."

Simon kissed him again, drawing him back onto the booth and into his arms.

"All safe?" Marquis called, out of sight.

Damian sighed, leaning his head against Simon’s shoulders. "Your students have crappy timing."

Simon patted him on the back. "Yeah, all safe." He kept Damian on his lap. They were engaged. It was okay to be caught. They weren’t a teacher and his former student anymore. They were engaged.

Marquis came around the corner and grinned at them. "Ooh la la. Mr. Taylor’s loosening-" He caught sight of the abandoned rings on the table. "My goodness, did a proposal just happen?"

Damian grinned and nodded happily. "I’m making an honest man out of your teacher."

"Damn! Congratulations. John is going to be so depressed when I tell him!"

Simon just sighed, resisting the urge to scold either his student or his laughing lover. "Just give me the check."

Marquis handed it over. "Still! Damn, honey, congrats. To both of you."

Simon gave him back the check with his credit card. "Do me a favor and try not to make a big deal out of it."

"Whatever you say, ducky." He walked away, still shaking his head.

Damian watched him go. "John?"

"A student."

"Ooh, I think I’m jealous."

"You really don’t need to be."

"Shush. I’ll make you forget all about him tonight, okay, sweetie?"

Simon grinned. "We couldn’t just be celebrating our engagement?"

Damian waved his hand dismissively. "Two birds with one stone. You’re sure?"

It took Simon a moment to grasp the topic change, but when he did, he smiled softly and held up his left hand. "Yeah, I’m sure."

Damian smiled radiantly at him and pulled out the emerald studded silver ring. He kissed Simon’s raised hand and gently slipped the ring on his finger. "We should elope in Canada."

Simon laughed. "Or Mexico. There are some pretty awesome beaches there."

Damian laughed. "Okay. Mexico then."

"Oi, invite me!"

Simon sighed and took his credit card back from his student, signing the receipt. "Sure. Why not invite the whole school while I’m at it?"

Marquise grinned cheekily. "Yeah, yeah. Later, Taylor."

Damian grinned after him. "I like him."

"You would."

Damian dug out his wallet and left a generous pile of bills on the table.

Simon sighed and shook his head. "You realize I tipped him with the card too."

"Of course, I was watching. But restaurants watch those things and the poor waiters only get a portion. I worked at a restaurant for a while, remember." He tweaked Simon’s nose. "Now, come on. I have an engagement to celebrate."

Simon smiled one of those big dopey smiles that everyone knows is dopey, but just can’t help. "Okay, love. And in the morning?"

Damian smiled. "In the morning, we have the rest of our life to plan. I personally want to see Paris before I die."