When Andrew's eyes snapped open the next morning, there was no way he was getting back to sleep.
As he had warned everyone he had spoken to about his plans for today, he called them at the reasonable hour of 7 am to confirm that everything was set up, ready, and in working order. All of them answered, save the florist who didn't open that early, and assured him that everything was fine.
The doorbell rang and Andrew's smile widened slightly. Maxwell looked confused.
"Who is at the door?" Maxwell asked and Andrew gave a slow, calculating grin. He didn't answer and instead headed downstairs to let the photographer, and May in.
May had picked up the flowers for him, and was dropping off more flowers at the destination that Andrew was planning to actually propose. She hadn't really connected the dots until this moment, staring at the woman who carried two bags with her, and had a rather expensive looking camera around her neck. Andrew could see the gears turning.
"What are you up to?" She finally asked quietly as Andrew took the flowers from her hands. A beautiful bouquet that was filled with colours and life. There were so many flowers that meant love and eternity that Andrew hadn't been able to make a choice. He'd used the same kind of flowers for both arrangements, and the ones that were going to be at the proposal location were going to be spread out by the staff there after May had dropped them off.
Andrew gave her a soft smile, before quietly showing off the ring that was already on his finger. May's eyes shot wide open, shock colouring her expression before Andrew beamed at her and pressed a finger to his lips.
"Keep it to yourself." Andrew told her quietly. May's eyes began to water.
"How on earth am I going to be able to manage that? Ford is going to take one look at me and know something is up." She protested, clearly wanting to pull Andrew in for a hug but not wanting to hurt the flowers. The photographer caught the scene with her camera before she gently took the flowers from Andrew and placed them on her bag. May surged towards the other man, squeezing him tightly in her arms as she let out a happy laugh.
Andrew hugged her back, actually happy that she had caught on. While he did want it to be a surprise, she was the only person he had decided to reach out for some help. The only one he wanted to reach out. She wasn't his Mom, but she wasn't not his Mom. His Mother. A good woman who easily filled his empty maternal shoes, and probably with his Mom's blessing.
"I'm going to be a mess driving home." She complained. "Is that why you two are having a party tomorrow? Was it a lie?" She spoke quietly, as if Maxwell didn't know his intentions. Andrew didn't clear up that confusion. Some things should still be surprises.
"Well, it isn't exactly a bad thing to have a gathering once a month, is it?" Andrew told her mildly and she pulled away, staring at him in his suit, her expression crumbling as she tried not to cry. Andrew had to look away so he didn't start bawling.
"Oh Andrew." She whispered, smoothing out the collar of his shirt. "This is so wonderful." She said softly and Andrew let out a shaky breath.
"You should go before he gets curious." Andrew told her and she nodded, jerking her head up and down before she stepped back, took one last look at him, and rushed back out into the cold. She paused at the door, realising something.
"I'm on my way to drop off the other arrangements now. Don't worry. Everything will be perfect." She said, giving him a thumbs up and Andrew gave a soft smile in response. Now that she was in on it, she was going to absolutely make sure of that. The door closed behind her and Andrew stared at it for a few seconds.
Andrew then turned to the photographer as soon as the door was closed and she smiled at him. She handed over the flowers easily.
"Can I take a few photos of the rings?" She asked quietly and Andrew nodded, looked at her conspiratorily before motioning for her to follow him into the office.
Andrew taken the two ring boxes out and had placed them side by side. One with Maxwell's ring in it, and then Andrew slipped his ring off and placed it in the box as well. She took a few snaps with the flowers, and then like planned, she was now in charge of Maxwell's ring box. Andrew grabbed the flowers, her swapping out the flowers that Andrew had gotten Maxwell for the ones that Maxwell had gotten Andrew.
It was sweet, and would mean a lot to both of them later. Now, Andrew took a few deep breaths and headed upstairs. He could feel that Maxwell's curiousity was going to get the better of him soon, so he needed to make sure he didn't come down.
He was right to be worried. Maxwell was in the middle of moving the tray when Andrew stepped back into the room with the bouquet. He froze, staring at the flowers, before his shoulders relaxed.
"Oh thank goodness. I was worried something bad had happened, like your father had shown up." Maxwell said and Andrew was glad that he hadn't even considered that as a possibility today. Those assholes couldn't ruin today for him. He would just have them arrested instead.
"Nothing like that. The bouquet arrived, that's all." Andrew said, passing over the huge arrangement over to Maxwell. Maxwell's smile reached his eyes as he let out a laugh.
"Did you ask for it to be bigger last night?" He teased and Andrew felt his eyes widen.
"What? Why would I do that?" Andrew asked. He was very genuine about his response. Andrew would not do that to someone. Maxwell stared down at the flowers, smiling, before he raised his gaze to Andrew.
"Well, it's just…bigger than the one I got you." Maxwell said carefully, and Andrew felt his eyes widen. That was an unintentional side effect of his indecisiveness when it came to what flowers he wanted in it.
He wanted every flower that told Maxwell that he loved him. Like an overflowing, burst dam. Which meant an enormous bouquet that dwarfed the one that Maxwell got him, even though his bouquet had hydrangeas in it.
Andrew felt his face warm.
"I…I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention." Andrew said slowly, and that made Maxwell laugh. True, happy laughter that made him tilt his head back.
"Baby, come here." Maxwell ordered and Andrew went. Maxwell pulled him down, kissing his lips slowly, and his warmth washed over Andrew like a cleansing energy. "I'm not mad. I just thought it was funny. What does this mean?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew was busy telling Maxwell about what each flower meant, why he'd selected it, and if it meant anything when paired with another flower in the bouquet.
Like Andrew had hoped, his descriptions had distracted him enough that the photographer was able to snap a few shots of them from between the crack in the door that Andrew had left for her. Andrew had no idea how good the photos would turn out, it had just been a suggestion on his part.
Andrew wondered if Maxwell would be happy about what he had suggested, or if he was going to be upset once he found out? Andrew would have to wait.
For now, he focused on staring at Maxwell as he listed off all of the flowers that he'd selected, and watched as Maxwell hummed with contentment, before pulling Andrew in for a kiss.
"You spoil me." He said softly, and Andrew melted.
The man had no idea what Andrew had planned for the day, but from the way he was looking at him, Maxwell was coming up with an idea. Andrew hoped that he lived up to the standard he was setting for himself, but then again, Maxwell had already said he would be happy if Andrew proposed as soon as they woke up in the morning.
Andrew knew that was bullshit, the man had some expectations, but he appreciated those words. Now, Andrew just needed everything to go off without a hitch, and the first step was now introducing the fact that they had a photographer in the house at this hour, and that the event was starting now.
Andrew pulled back, a smile on his face, in his eyes as he looked down at Maxwell.
"Max, I lied a little when I said that the flowers arrived. So had someone else. Our photographer is just outside the door and I thought she could take some photos of you while you are getting ready for the day." Andrew said softly, and watched as Maxwell's eyes widened slightly, then he glanced towards the door.
"This early?" Maxwell asked. "I haven't even eaten breakfast really." Maxwell murmured. Andrew's smile tightened slightly.
"I just wanted her to catch every moment, just in case." Maxwell's eyes were wide, but something flickered behind his eyes. A slow, calculating look grew there.
"Are you planning to keep me on my toes the whole day?" Maxwell asked carefully and Andrew's lips twitched.
"That sounds awful. Why would I do that?" Andrew asked and Maxwell shook his head with a slow chuckle.
"Oh, you bad boy. Come here." Maxwell growled, pulling Andrew close for a kiss. "I'll get you back for this." Maxwell warned and Andrew let out a light laugh.
"This isn't about getting even. I just…want it to be a special day." And Andrew meant a full day of special activities.