Andrew was doing his best to enjoy himself. He felt like a stiff doll, knowing that they were following a playbook, knowing when Maxwell was going to propose, but also knew that he had put a lot of thought into this as well.
There was a reason that this was a classic proposal.
"Mm. That's an honour." Maxwell told him with a soft grin that had Andrew swooning. He was going to die from a heart attack before they got to dessert. He could feel it. Maxwell turned towards the waiter with a cheeky grin that not many others had seen. "Sorry for the scene. Please, explain what we have here." Maxwell said and Andrew sat there, letting the words wash over him but not comprehending a damn thing.
When he met Maxwell's gaze, he could tell that the other man knew it too. He winked, and Andrew dropped his gaze to his food, but continued to hold Maxwell's hand. This was what Maxwell wanted as a proposal, and Andrew wanted to support him.
It was his day too, and honestly, Andrew was just embarrassed, but happy. Too happy. He had a feeling that Maxwell felt the same way, but they just had different ways of showing it.
Andrew ate the food placed before him, a true burst of flavour on his tongue and couldn't get the way that Maxwell was looking at him from across the table out of his mind. The man watched him like he was his everything, and it was dawning on him how close they were to that actually being the case.
Andrew's tongue felt big, thick and swollen in his mouth. He felt like a fool. What if he fucked up and didn't say yes? What if he stumbled over his words? What if he said yesh? Would that make Maxwell mad? What if he bit his tongue? He knew he was overthinking this, but what else was he supposed to do? He'd kept it together most of the day, but as soon as he had to put on the suit, he felt like a damn fool.
"Andy, Baby, it's okay." Maxwell's words cut through his haze of panic, and when Andrew raised his gaze up, he met the calm, composed blue gaze of the man who loved him. Maxwell's hand squeezed his in comfort, his expression soft.
Andrew let out a soft exhale, taking a few deeper breaths to calm himself down while Maxwell watched him and the waiter cleared their course plates away. They were both finished, and now they had a moment alone before the next course.
"I-I'm sorry. I know I'm making this weird." Andrew muttered quietly, self deprecating, and Maxwell's smile turned down in a frown.
"Baby, you aren't making this weird. If you weren't yourself, why would I even be here? It's fine, but I can see those wheels turning in your head, doing silly things." Maxwell's frown turned up slightly. "It's okay, Andy. I'm here with you, not with anyone else. I'm sure it's obvious, but I wouldn't be doing this if it was anyone else." Maxwell's ears turned pink as he cleared his throat. "I had to ask a few people, months ago, to throw off the scent, what people normally did for engagements." Maxwell's words washed over Andrew and Andrew realised, once more, that while Maxwell put on a good show as a hard, classic businessman who had his shit together, he was Maxwell. Maxy. His.
Andrew felt his shoulders relax slightly at the admittance and Andrew blinked a few times, before he looked down at the empty space before him where the next course would sit. He felt his lips turn up slightly.
"I…I always had a plan." Andrew told him softly. "I always wanted to get married." Andrew glanced up at Maxwell and found that warm, soft expression back on his face, a knowing smile there as well.
"I had a feeling. You seem like the kind of guy who would go wild in his younger years, and then would want to settle down." Maxwell didn't say it in a demeaning way, and Andrew knew that he didn't mean it that way either. It was just an observation from a man who had never even considered having a stable relationship before Andrew.
Andrew nodded slowly.
"I actually didn't expect to go wild in my younger years. If Mom hadn't passed I think I would have found someone in university and settled down early, but because she started…" Andrew trailed off, swallowed thickly, and then picked up after the truth burned his throat. "I needed something to distract me." Andrew said with a small shrug. Maxwell didn't speak for a moment, just squeezed his hand.
"Yeah. You told me as much before." Maxwell agreed, his eyes soft, kind. It was a look that Andrew rarely saw outside of their house, and he worried it would do something to Maxwell's public image if others saw him like this. Maxwell's soft sigh drew Andrew's thoughts away from Maxwell's image and back to the man in question. "I, like I told you, had no plans for someone like you in my life." Maxwell said carefully, his eyes sparkling.
He looked so pretty against the backdrop of the city. His jacket was open, his crisp white shirt on full display and his vest tight against his body. Andrew's mouth watered as he scanned him, his hair slightly shifted over time, a few gelled pieces hanging over and onto his forehead. Andrew wanted to reach across and push them back, but also didn't want to ruin the moment.
"Yeah. A bachelor for life." Andrew said warmly, no hint of anger or bitterness in his voice. Maxwell's smirk matched Andrew's.
"Yeah. Then this tall man came to my door, carrying a casserole on the day that I had filed a restraining order against a lesser man." Andrew hadn't known that part, and watched as Maxwell smirked. "I had no idea what kind of wrench he was going to throw into my plans for my future, but I'm never going to be upset about it." Maxwell's words were soft, sweet, and Andrew inhaled sharply.
Was it now? Was this happening right now?
Maxwell's grin widened as he watched Andrew realise what was happening, and the shaky way he was glancing around, nervous. Maxwell squeezed his hand again.
"I'm not someone who believes in fate. In fact, I'm someone who actively fights against it." Maxwell started, and Andrew felt like Maxwell could hear how fast his heart was beating. "People have told me that ever since I was born, I have been busy trying to defy the odds. Trying to prove to others that I am fine on my own, that I can manage without the help of others. I started my company with help from my parents, but iced them out as soon as I could, with every intention to take the company out of the Beckett name as soon as I could." Maxwell let out a soft breath, his eyes warm as he stared at Andrew. He hadn't looked away the whole time he spoke.
"You changed that plan." Maxwell admitted softly. Andrew couldn't breathe. "Ever since the moment we crossed paths, I've watched every wall I've put up crumble. It didn't matter that you were with someone else, I had every intention to remain in your life in some way as soon as I met you. I tried to fight it at first." Maxwell admitted, laughing more to himself, shaking his head at his own antics. "I tried to resist it, but as soon as I came up against one speed bump, there I was, at your door, asking for help. Andy, you gave it to me willingly, without question, without asking for anything in return and from that moment forward I couldn't have fought this if I tried." Andrew felt his tears spill over, and this time Maxwell didn't reach across to wipe them away.
Andrew could feel how Maxwell's hand trembled in his own. It wasn't fear, god, he hoped it wasn't fear. His guess was that Maxwell was feeling emotional himself. Andrew sniffed.
"I was afraid I was going to scare you away at first, that I was going to be too dark, too scary for you to approach. You never cared, and you brought so much light and life to my stifling, dark world. I had no idea how much, until you disappeared." Andrew inhaled shakily as Maxwell shuddered, closing his eyes for the first time. "I never want to know that fear again. I never want to feel it, and knowing that I had no rights over you? No way to find you in a legal way? That crushed me. I…I'm a planner, you know this, and from that moment on, I knew what I wanted my future to look like." Maxwell looked a little embarrassed admitting that, but at least Andrew knew now how long he'd been planning it.
Ever since he'd been kidnapped.
"I have never met someone with such a big heart, Andrew. Someone who is so caring, kind, and reminds me that the world isn't only a dark place, but one of light. You bring me out of the darkness I was drowning in, and I can't even imagine going back to my previous plans." Maxwell let out a wet laugh, shaking his head. Andrew reached into his pocket, trying to grab the squares of fabric he'd shoved into his pocket. He finally found one, and wiped at his eyes.
"You changed my plans too." Andrew said hoarsely, and Maxwell's grin in response was bright.
"I know. My new plan is to make sure you never regret that." Maxwell's words were sincere, and he took a deep, steadying breath. Andrew held his own. "Andrew Knox," he started, and Andrew's heart was in his throat. "Not only are you a brilliant man, with a mind that surprises and amazes me, but your heart, your personality, and ability to forgive are something that I've always found admirable. My plan for the future didn't have someone like you in it, because I couldn't have predicted someone as thoughtful as you ever showing an interest in me." Andrew was desperately trying to hold it together. Maxwell smiled, his own eyes wet with emotion. "I was bitter, angry, and filled with a rage that I never thought could be calmed. I didn't want anyone at my side because I thought they would only want me for my money, for my status. You never cared about that. You cared about me, the person, and I realised what love actually looked like, not just the show people put on for others to witness." Maxwell's voice grew somber. "I don't care who you are, what you are, where you came from. That never mattered to me, and will continue to not matter to me far into the future. I love the Andrew that is sitting across from me, who loves me so deeply I never feel alone even when he's not by my side. The man who has never hesitated to do what was right for me, even if it caused us to bicker." Maxwell's lips quirked up slightly. "I have a new plan, a plan that I hope you are willing to walk down with me."
Maxwell stood up, reaching into his pocket and everyone in the restaurant held their breath. Maxwell, the omega, got down on one knee before Andrew, opening up the velvet ring box he'd had for months. Andrew couldn't even see the ring through his tears.
"Andrew Knox, will you walk with me, by my side, as my husband? Will you marry me?" Maxwell asked and Andrew nodded, his throat choked.
"Y-Yes. Of course." Andrew sobbed, and watched as Maxwell gave a relieved smile, reaching for Andrew's finger and sliding the ring into place. Andrew reached for him, pulling him into his lap to kiss him senseless, not caring that others were watching. The photographer did her job while Andrew tasted the victorious smile that was against his lips.
How was Andrew going to live up to that? This sweet man!