Bloom (ManxMan)

Hugs and Flowers

"Maybe inviting him was a bad idea. I'm not sure if he wants to be seen with me, he wears a disguise at the store and we only ever go out under the blanket of the night sky." Andy said as he paced the kitchen, his mother setting the dip she wanted to put beside the bowl of chips.

Angela was in a baby blue sleeveless gown with a large belt and nude flats, she had gone to the salon and gotten her hair styled in a bun with these little accessories on it.

"You're freaking yourself out."

"Mum..."

"Not that I'm pushing you out of my house, but when are you going to look for a place to stay?" Angela said. "You told me you wanted to stay with me for a while and it's been six months now."

"Mum you can't deviate."

"Fine." She lets out a sigh and turned to her son. "Any one who wants to hide every precious moment he spends with you, isn't someone you want to be with. Either talk to him about it or freak out in private not minutes before the guests start arriving.

Today was the fourth anniversary of That's So Pastry, Andy's first store. He had worked at a bakery as a baker helper since he had turned sixteen but once he hit twenty one, the novelty of being a helper wore off and he wanted more. He wanted people to try out his recipes, under his own name and in a store of his creation. He wanted his bakery to exude his character and this That's So Pastry was born.

Andy never hid in the closet, once he found out he liked boys he had ran to his mother crying, feeling like his heart was two beats away from falling right down to his stomach. His mum had been right then and she was right now. They hadn't talked about it.

Anyway it wasn't like a lot of people were coming for the party. They tended to keep it strictly family and friends, so that meant Andy invited Annie and her family while his mother invited members of her book club, her assistant at the library and some of her yoga buddies, like Andy liked to call them.

Andy had made three various pies that morning while his mother happily cooked, making dish after dish. The party was to be held at the store, Andy and Annie had hung up little fairy lights and balloons at the corners. There was a buffet table set up in front of the counter, three small candles at the center of every table. They had gone all out.

Annie and her family were the first to show up. Annie had on a tight green gown with a sweetheart neckline and her hair was styled in loose curls. She looked fantastic. The only thing that made her Annie were the bright red sneakers on her feet.

"Annie, you look wonderful." Andy tells her as he wraps his arms around her in a tight hug.

"What? This old thing." Annie waved her hand. "Seriously it's old, it was buried at the back of my closet, I had to dig it out."

"You still look good." Andy chuckle. Annie gives him a mock bow and a kiss to the cheek before making her way to his mother. Andy greets Annie's parents just as enthusiastically, shaking her father's hand and hugging her mum.

The other guest began to trickle in, a loud murmur filling the store. Andy finds himself staring at the door a couple of times, okay more than just a couple of times. He was nervous and he wanted to see Isaac. The prince hadn't come in today due to a meeting he had with his mother and the head of the church of Christ.

"No matter how long you look at the door, he isn't just going to burst in." Annie whispers, a flute of champagne in her hand.

"You never know."

"I know. Go and help your mum, she's wants to grab the bottle waters from the fridge but Mrs. Jensen is asking her if they can read fanfictions at the next meeting."!

Andy thankfully wasn't drinking or eating anything because he was sure he would have choked or done a spit take. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to start reading fanficitions.

"Imagine if she stumbled upon yours and Prince Charming's and reads it all through the s*x scenes and all."

"Then I would throw myself off a cliff and pray for a fast death."

Laughter trickle out of Annie lips and she nudged him with her shoulder. "You are such a drama queen."

"I was born this way."

"Go and get your bottles of water and I'll save your mum."

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

Andy wove his way through the crowd of people until he got to the kitchen, he made a beeline for the fridge and pulled out the pack of water underneath. He carries it with both hands and walked out of the kitchen. He arranged the bottles on the table and was about to grab a small plate of pie when the room suddenly fell quiet and truly there was one reason why it's be this quiet.

Andy spun around and lets out a breath.

Isaac stood at the door, a large bouquet of lilies in his hand. He had on a white shirt with three buttons undone tucked into a pair of neatly pressed pants and black shoes, his hair was styled off his face.

Isaac was here.

No disguise and looking like he walked out of the pages of a magazine.

Andy doesn't hesitate, he bound towards Isaac who was staring right at him like he was the only person in the room. Andy wraps his arms around Isaac's neck and pressed his nose into the prince's neck.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm sorry I'm not around much anymore." Isaac whispered, his voice only loud enough for Andy to hear.

"Don't apologize for doing your kingly duties."

"Anything for you, my pretty prince." Isaac replies, leaning back a little so he could press a kiss to Andy's temple. "I got you a little something."

"I love the flowers. Thank you."

"Not just the flowers, darling. I'll give it to you when we're alone." Issac says with a wink, a small smile on his face.

"Andy, people are staring."

"Yeah, they're probably staring at you." Andy said, his cheeks pink and eyes bright.

"I think it's the both of us."

Andy holds the bouquet, Isaac's hands slipping into his before he turned around. Isaac was right, everyone was staring at them like they had just sprouted another head. Andy gives Isaac's hand a little squeeze as he led the tinge towards his mother who was watching with a shocked expression. Andy wanted to point and laugh at her but he was sure she was going to smack him upside the head.

"Mum, why are you staring at him like that? Do you think I was gibbing when I told you I went on two dates with him?"

Angela smacked her son on the arm and Isaac tried to push down the laughter.

"Good evening Miss Parrish."

"I don't know if I'm meant to bow or-"

Isaac shook his head. "No bowing, please."

"Okay. I'm going to call you Isaac then."

"Only if I can call you Angela."

"My friends call me Angie." Angela relaxes as she pulls Isaac down for one of her bear hugs. The murmur had picked up and Andy was sure they were talking about this, hopefully no one takes pictures yet.

"I have to say, I actually didn't believe my son when he told me about your dates." Angela says, ignoring Andy's squawk of protest. "He's a bit of a dreamer, my boy."

"He's perfect just the way he is."

"I know. I raised him, my little flower."

"Mum..." Andy groaned, trying to hide behind Isaac who was laughing. Isaac and Andy spend time talking to Angela before she gives them space. Andy pulls the prince into the kitchen and locked the door behind them.

"You look beautiful." Isaac says, his hands reaching for Andy's.

"Thank you." Andy replies. "Are you alright? A lot of people are out there and they might take pictures of you, of us."

"That's alright."

"Are you sure?" Andy asked, looking up right at Isaac's face, trying to catalog his every expression and twitch. He, however, never finds any twitch, instead Isaac was staring right at him, exuding confidence and happiness.

"I don't plan to hide you. You are a star and I want everyone to see how wonderful you are and how happy you made me." Isaac said, his hands coming up to cup Andy's cheeks, his hands steady, his heart anything but.

"My Prince Charming."

"Always."

Andy leaned up, standing in his tippy toes as he pressed his lips to Isaac's cheek, his lips lingering a bit, Isaac's grip tightening around his waist.

"You're too sweet."

"You're too beautiful."

Andy smacks his arm and tried to push back his laughter, his cheeks a bright red and Isaac is so f*****g gone for this man and so ready to make him his.

"Come on, lets go before everyone thinks we're doing something dirty." Andy said, his hands sliding down Isaac's body, resting on his chest, the light pulse of Isaac's heart beating against his palm. Their hearts beating in sync.

"I made pie."

"Then I've got to try it. I'm ready to have my mind blown." Isaac says, his fingers interwoven with Andy's.

Andy laughs as they made their way out. Immediately they stepped out, Andy and Isaac were surrounded, people asking for pictures and Isaac complying and asking them not to post it until the party was over and they were at home.

"Are you two dating?"

"Not yet." Andy replies, he squeezed Isaac's hand a little. Reassurance.

Annie walks around with them, dinner was served and Andy takes his seat, Isaac pulling it out for him. They seat at a table for four and it felt like they were the only ones in the room, their eyes only for the other.

After dinner, gelato was served, Angela and Annie doing the honors. After dessert, Isaac asks Andy for a dance, his hand stretched out in front of him.

The soft melody of a Backstreet Boys' Drowning coming through the speakers. Isaac led him to the small space at the front, his hands finding their home on Andy's waist and Andy's hands around his neck. Both of them moving to the soft tune.

"Thank you for coming."

"You asked me to." Isaac said. "I can never say no to you." The prince adds, a soft smile on his face.

"I thought you were going to come in a disguise." Andy said honestly.

"I knew today was important for you and I wanted to be there and give you my support as me, not hidden behind glasses and a blonde wig."

"I kinda want to see you in the blonde wig." Andy chuckles, his fingers playing with the small strands at the back of Isaac's head.

"Anything for you."

"Isaac..." Andy starts.

"Yes, baby?"

"I like you." Andy said. "I like you a lot and these past few days with have been the best of my life. I like spending time with you, talking to you and holding your hand."

"I will hold your hand for as long as you'll have me."

"What if I say forever?"

"Then forever it is."

Andy smiles shyly. "Why don't we start off small? Dating seems like a good place for us."

"Can i ask you now?" Isaac asked, his smile bigger than ever and his grip a little tighter. Andy nods and Isaac pulls him closer until their noses bumped.

"Would you, Andy Parrish, like to be my boyfriend?"

"Yes." Andy cheers. "Yes!" He screams and closed the distance between them, pressing their lips together. Three dates and a kiss and Any wouldn't mind spending forever with Issac.