I Choose You : A New Chapter

Best Date Night

"Shh, don't wake mummy," Ben softly whispered into Aiden's ear as he carried him in one arm and a plate of breakfast in the other. He quietly set the plate down on her nightstand, then sat down next to her legs. "Darling," he softly called. 

Cassie twitched a bit, but she didn't wake. Ben then had an idea. He set Aiden down on the bed and he happily gurgled and crawled over to his mommy. He grabbed at her cheeks and nose, making her stir awake. "Well good morning, my handsome boy," she hoarsely said. 

Aiden's toothless grin couldn't get any wider as she sat up and took him in her arms. Ben smiled at the sight and said, "Happy Anniversary, love." Cassie brought him into a kiss and said, "Happy Anniversary, my other handsome boy." He giggled a bit at that, then gave her another kiss. 

"Well, I attempted to make you breakfast in bed," he said as he looked to the plate of slightly burnt waffles. "Actually, your son did." Cassie hummed in suspicion, but thanked both of her boys anyways. "I'm so sorry I won't be around today," Ben told her. "I promise, I am going to come home early and we're going to go out for the nicest dinner either of us have ever had."

Laughing, she said, "Ben, it's fine. Just be back tonight and all will be perfect." He often wondered how lucky he was because not many wives would be okay with their husband's leaving all day on their anniversary. Ben had a good excuse, though. He had play rehearsal today. 

"Alright," he said, "then I shall leave you to your horrid breakfast and I, unfortunately, have to get going. I called mum and she said she would be here to pick up Aiden around five. I made reservations for us at seven. Sound okay?"

"Sounds amazing," she told him, "now go. I don't want you being late and having to stay extra." He gave her a long and loving kiss goodbye before heading out the door. Sighing, she took a bite of her waffle. "You and daddy didn't do so bad," she said to her son, "but...how about I treat us out to breakfast?"

About an hour later, Cassie was sitting outside of her favorite breakfast place with Aiden in a high chair next to her. "My goodness, is that who I think it is?" Cassie looked over and gasped when she saw Tom! "Tom, oh my God!" She got up and hugged him tightly as he did the same. 

"Sit down," she insisted. After he did, she continued, "I can't believe how long it's been! I haven't seen you since Aiden was born!" He let out his signature laugh and said, "I know, but I've been busy trying to finally move into London. I just got a place down the street, actually."

"Wow that's great! How's everything else?" He explained to her how he's doing some odd jobs to make some extra money while he looks for an acting job. "Enough about my boring life," he chuckled, "I cannot believe how big Aiden has gotten! What's that in his ears?"

Cassie explained how Aiden was deaf. "Oh, I am so sorry. He'll be alright, though?" She smiled as she said, "He'll be perfectly fine." He let out a breath of relief and said, "Well, I should get going. I have an audition at the theater. Tell Ben I said 'hi' and to call me when he can."

She gave him a hug and said, "I will and good luck at your audition!" He laughed a bit, then waved goodbye to Aiden. After that, Cassie paid for their food and headed home. She occupied herself by writing some of her book while keeping an eye on Aiden as he played in his pin. 

By the time five o' clock rolled around, she was almost finished with the revisions on her sequel. Wanda was a little late to get Aiden, but when she came, Cassie showered her baby in goodbye kisses. Ben came home only a few minutes after she left. 

"Alright, you," he said as he slinked his arms around his wife's waist and held her close. "Ready for a night of your husband romancing you?" She put her hands on his face and smiled, "You already romance me." He chuckled, then brought her in for a kiss. 

They got ready (in a shared shower, of course) and put on their best and most expensive dress wear. "I don't know, Ben, I don't feel like I'm dressed up enough." Cassie looked down at herself and frowned. "Hey," Ben cooed as he brought her in for a hug, "you're gorgeous, love. Every man is going to be jealous of me."

She buried her face into his dress shirt and giggled. He always knew what to say. "I wish I could dress better for you on nights like this," she admitted. He lifted her chin up until she was looking at him. "Don't say that," he told her, "ever. Please. I don't want you dressing up for me. You know I couldn't give a shit what you wear, you will always be beautiful."

Yeah, he definitely knew what to say. 

"I'm so glad I married you," she said. He chuckled and placed a kiss on her head. "So am I, love. Come on, we don't want to be late." He drove them to the restaurant and they were seated in the middle of the room at a table. "Wow, Ben," Cassie breathed out, "you really went all out."

He smiled shyly as he told her, "It's our anniversary. I wanted to make it as special as I could." And special it was. He ordered them champagne, an entrée to share, but ordered them appetizers first. He was right, this was the nicest dinner they've ever had. 

"I can't believe I saw him today," Ben said, as he cracked his lobster tail, "it's been an age! Do you remember Scott?" Cassie shook her head as she smiled at him. He continued to explain who Scott was and where they had met him. Truthfully, she wasn't paying attention. The smile on her face wasn't because he was being funny. 

The smile on her face was because of how in love with this man she was. The way his arms unnecessarily flailed with his story, his lisp coming out every so often when he got excited...it was the little things. The big things were obviously his heart, his eyes, his smile, his body, his velvet voice. 

She was completely enamored. 

"What?" Ben asked with a laugh, making her snap out of her thoughts. "What?" She asked. He chuckled, then took her hand on the table. "You're staring," he said. She blushed at the fact at being caught, then said, "Sorry. I'm just...admiring you."

He started turning pink from his neck up to his cheeks. "Admiring? Why would you admire me?" He shyly asked. She skimmed her fingertips over his soft hands, then said, "Why wouldn't I? You're perfect, Ben." If he could blush anymore, he would turn into a tomato.

"Maybe I should show you," she told him, "but that will have to wait until we get home."

Between eating their dessert and finishing their drinks, finishing up took a little more than an hour. When they left the restaurant, Ben walked them a few blocks to a pub. They sat at the bar top and ordered a few drinks. 

"To the best date night we've ever had...so far," Ben said, lifting his drink. Cassie pulled away hers and said, "I don't know about that." He gave her an odd look, so she explained, "Our first ever date, in my dorm room. That was a fun ass night."

Ben set his drink down with an odd look on his face. "What?" She asked. He took her hand and said, "Let's skip our walk in the park. I have an idea." She nodded and allowed him to lead her out of the pub and to the car. He got them home in just a few minutes. 

"Wait here," Ben said, leading her to sit on the bed, "but get in your pajamas, get comfy." He disappeared and Cassie did as he requested with a smile. By the time she got dressed and got all of her make-up off, Ben came back. 

He got himself dressed in pajamas, then led her downstairs. "Oh my God," she giggled when she saw the little fort with the couch cushions. Ben had put a sheet over the fort and she could see lights inside. "My lady," he said, he said holding his hand out to her. She took it and he gently led her down to the floor where she crawled inside. 

"No fucking way," she laughed. He made the fort look exactly like the one she had put together that night five years ago. Granted, her's was bigger, but this was close enough. Pillows propped up on one end, wine bottles on the other, her record player with the Stones ready to play, fairy lights strung up. 

Ben crawled under after her and let out a sigh of relief. "Do you approve?" Her answer was a deep, passionate kiss. "I love you," she whispered. He smiled and brought her in for another kiss.  "So," he said when he pulled back, "what was it that you admire about me?"

Smirking, she told him, "Get on your back and let me show you..."