The view from the balcony was breathtaking, and the air seemed magical. After taking off the suit jackets, their outfits were perfect for the post rain weather. There was a slight chill in the air that fought off any humid filtrations that tried to invade their spot. Mark had chosen the restaurant specifically for the view. He could see the miniature ferryboat that was going to be their final destination before home, and he could even see, if strained, the multiple people scurrying around the top to prepare for their arrival. It wasn't quite dark enough to fade their white suits away, and for that, Mark was thankful. He needed to know that something was going as planned for the evening. It'd taken him a good ten minutes to convince the waiter that it was he, in fact, who reserved the balcony for the evening. He finally had to tell him to go get the manager. Plus, Derek hadn't really spoken much since Mandy had come up, so he was just trying to get settled in, and prepare himself for the rest of the night, no matter what it held.

Derek walked onto the balcony and immediately stopped in his tracks. Now he knew why Mark had been so excited. "Mark.." He barely could get the name out as his eyes scanned the arrangement. The balcony's floor was covered in a black carpet of sorts, and the table was a matching metal with a glass top. It was rather small considering the space it was given in the balcony, but it was perfect for the two of them. Rectangular in shape, the glass had a white table cloth over it, but with the help of the rain that'd passed only hours before, it was damp, therefore making it slightly see through. Finally, Derek's eyes met Mark's, who was standing against the metal ledge of the balcony looking out onto the water. "It's beautiful out here, Mark. Thank you." Derek spoke softly as he wrapped his arms around Mark's waist from behind, nestling his chin into his shoulder.

"I'm glad you like it, D." Mark smiled for a moment before sliding away from Derek's grasp to sit at the table. Slightly disappointed at the distance, Derek followed suit and sat in the other chair across from him.

"What would you have done if my flight was canceled?" Derek grinned, waiting for the waiter to come out to take their order.

"Eh. That's what the back ups are for." Mark chuckled with a shrug of his shoulders. "All I'd have to do is cancel the cake."

"Cake?" Derek leaned in towards him in curiosity. "We get cake?"

"Well.. I get cake. I don't know about you. Depends if I remembered to tell them the right name." He winked as he extended his arms across the table to grab Derek's hand.

"Funny. You know I didn't have to come." Derek playfully withdrew from Mark's grasp, an amused spark in his eyes.

"But then you'd miss all the.. " He was cut off by the waiter's appearance, so instead he offered a faint smile in Derek's direction before turning his attention the the waiter, who didn't seem at all amused that they were taking up the entire balcony on a Friday night.

"What can I get for you two, tonight?" The teenager asked without even meeting either of their gazes.

Derek began to order, when Mark cleared his throat. "Our orders have already been given to the chef. Thanks." Mark grinned at Derek, completely ignoring the waiter's questioning gaze.

"Alright then. I'll return with those." Offering a faint acknowledgment of his leaving, Derek turned his attention to Mark.

"You ordered for me too? You didn't order salmon again, did you? You know I hate salmon."

"Relax D, I didn't get you any type of fish." Mark rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to laugh at his worked up expression.

"What'd you order, then?" Derek asked, not being able to quite believe that Mark had ordered something that he would actually like instead of something that Mark would like.

"You'll like it. I promise." Even though Derek wanted to argue back, the definitive look he received told him that he should let it go, and so he did. He sat back in his chair, and once again his eyes traveled to the water. He wasn't sure what his attraction to the water was, but it'd always seemed majestic somehow. Something about how the waves just kept going gave him hope. It had endless possibilities, and possibilities was something Derek lived for.

Mark was correct, Derek decided as he leaned back against the chair after consuming almost every ounce of edible meat on his steak- well done. He didn't ask how much it was, because he was certain he didn't want to know. Splurging was always fun, why ruin it? Darkness had already taken over the star-filled sky. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen so many stars in Boston. His eyes, once again, traveled to Mark, who'd finished his chicken salad long ago. He thought momentarily that maybe it was because he'd spent all of his money on his steak, but decided that Mark probably just didn't want to ruin his flat stomach- not that he blamed him. Mark's physique, well, it easily put his to shame, and even he made a point to work out once or twice a week. Didn't seem fair. Then again, he'd just consumed a steak that Mark would probably rather cry than eat as much as he had, so really, he couldn't complain.

"Ready to go?" Mark asked once he realized that Derek was no longer eating. He'd been too caught up with his nerves to even notice, Derek could have easily been talking the entire time, and he probably wouldn't have noticed. He watched as Derek nodded his head before standing up.

"Thanks for the steak." Derek grinned as he reached out his hand to grab Mark's, instantly intertwining their fingers at contact.

"Told you." Mark beamed proudly as they walked back into the restaurant, heading for the door.

"Wait. Don't you have to pay?" Derek's eyes bulged, sincerely hoping that Mark wasn't doing what it seemed like he was doing.

"Relax D! It's all been taken care of." Mark laughed as he used his free hand to wave to the manager of the store.

"Once again, I am impressed, babe." Derek offered softly, deciding that the earlier flight across the country for this was completely worth it.

"There's still more to come." Mark offered with a grin before he opened Derek's door for him.

"Alright babe, what's going on?" Derek smiled as he leaned against the car, not getting in yet as he looked at Mark.

"What do you mean?" Mark's eyes bulged as he consciously felt his pockets to make sure the box was still in it.

"Steak.. Free steak at that, opening doors.. What'd you do?" He narrowed his eyes playfully on him, crossing his arms against his chest.

"Can't a guy do something nice for his boyfriend that's been gone for a month." Mark grinned in amusement, thankful that he hadn't figured it out.

"Well.. yes. But.." Derek pouted, realizing that Mark wasn't going to tell him anything.

"Then just enjoy it, D." Mark smiled, leaning in to kiss Derek's cheek.

"I'm going to figure it out, ya know?"

"Of course you are, babe." He laughed as Derek finally got in the car, before walking to the drivers side and getting in.

He couldn't believe how perfect it all looked. Given they were still sitting in the car, everything was just amazing. Even the stars seemed to be a little bit brighter than he'd ever remembered them being, and their reflection on the water was completely mesmorizing. He was afraid to get out of the car, because he was afraid that the shine was just due to the glint of the windows, and that as soon as he stepped out of it, they would become dull, and unimportant. He needed them to be on his side tonight. He needed the support of the moon and the stars simply because, right in that moment, they were all he had to believe in.

"Ready to go?" He turned to Derek who seemed to be in just as much awe of the scenery as he was.

"Go? Go where? We're at the docks." Derek laughed thinking that Mark had truly lost his mind.

"I know that, silly. I drove, remember?" Mark grinned, reluctantly opening the door with his left hand, while releasing Derek's hand in his right. He just hoped that he'd be holding it again at the end of the night.

"What have you done, Sloan?" Derek chuckled, following suit with the passenger side door. As he stepped out of the car, the wind had picked up a bit since he'd gotten in, but it was still nice weather, definately suitable for him to take off his jacket again. He still couldn't believe Mark had made him wear a suit! On a date! "You do know that it is illegal to steal a boat, right? That law doesn't apply to just cars."

"I'm disappointed with how little faith you have in me, Shep. Really. I might just have to call this whole thing off." Mark crossed his arms against his chest as he met Derek in the front of the car.

"I have all of the faith in the world in you, just not so much your knowledge in the law." Derek quipped back, mimicking Mark's stance down to the way his feet were pointed straight ahead of him, and his knees were slightly bent.

"I'll have you know that what we're going to do is completely and totally legal in, well, this state." Mark smiled before making his way onto the dock, not even bothering to make sure Derek was following him, he could hear his feet pound against the wooden boards, most likely trying to catch up. Who knew those uncomfortable shoes would came in handy?

He finally reached the right boat after several moments of silent walking, obviously ignoring the creaking of the boards beneath their feet. Any other time, Mark might have been slightly afraid of crashing into the water with the way the boards shook the farther down he went, but things just looked too amazing for something like that to happen. Derek was too amazing. "Here we are." He concluded with finality as he stepped onto the boat quickly before turning around to help Derek onto it as well.

"Please tell me you didn't Mark." Derek gasped as his eyes finally darted to the banner above the deck entrance. 'Welcome Mark and Derek.'

"You deserve it, D. Come on." Mark smiled as he tightened his grasp on Derek's hand.

"Did I forget to teach you how a bank account works, Mark? This is way too much." Even though Derek was obviously concerned about the cost, he couldn't bring himself to stop smiling, or even offer to leave. It was just too.. surreal. This didn't happen to real people. This didn't happen to him.

"D.." Mark's voice dropped to a soft whisper as he guided Derek's eyes to meet his. "I have it covered. I promise. Come on. Their waiting for us." He offered a confident smile before heading for the stairs of the boat.

"They?!"

XOXO

They made it to the top of the deck in a matter of moments, and once again, Derek was overwhelmed with the scenery. It really had Mark written all over it, too. Even though, he couldn't of possibly done all the work, he'd had to of told them what to do in like paragraphs of specific details. He felt a rush of sympathy as he looked around at the frazzled teenagers running about the place, trying their best to get everything just right. But the feelings were drowned away by the fastening pulse that he could feel in his wrist, and the flips his stomach was doing. If there ever was such a thing as a perfect night, Mark was brinking the edge of achieving it. He couldn't think of a single thing that could make the night any more amazing. Even though, he highly doubted that this was all Mark had planned. Mark was never one to build a bridge without crossing it.

"Derek?" Mark's capitivating voice drew him away from his thoughts, and as he looked around once again, he realized that all of the people in white uniforms were all gone. No doubt enforcing Mark's next scheme. He finally met Mark's gaze with a blissful smile on his face before walking further onto the deck to the edge of the flooring, overlooking the sea.

"You were right." He managed to whisper, and luckily the slight breeze carried his voice just enough for Mark to hear him as he stepped to the right side of him.

"About?" Mark smiled despite himself. No one ever hated being told they were right. Even when they don't want to be right, it's slightly gratifying to be ABLE to use that "i told you so" face, even if you don't. Once again, it's all about possibilities. And this night? This night was full of possibilities.

"Tonight. You were right. I'm so unbelievably happy that I'm here.. with you." Derek grinned as he turned slightly to face Mark, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.

"I'm happy you're here too, D." Mark mumbled into his ear as he ran one of his hands briefly through Derek's detangled curls. All the worries that'd been consuming his mind were pushed away as he took in Derek's scent. He didn't know what it was, he'd never wanted to know, because he was afraid that knowing might somehow ruin it's effect. So he'd always made a point to ignore the bottle whenever it was out in the open.

Once one of them pulled away, Mark's hands dove back into his pockets. Neither were sure which one iniated the end of the embrace, but both accepted it. Mark couldn't stop from fumbling with the small box. If he was going to do it, he had to do it today. He had to. Because once again, Mark found himself on the same anniversary as he did on prom, their first sober kiss. Not to mention the fact that he'd never get up the nerve to do this again, or the money for that matter.

It couldn't have been more than two, possibly three, minutes before their a small shift in the boat, and Derek quickly realized that they were leaving the harbor. Knowing that words would fail him, even if he tried to speak, Derek kept his attention to the open water, even though he couldn't even begin to hide the shrill of excitement running through him. Ever since college, they hadn't celebrated this anniversary. They'd celebrated the day they'd officially become a couple, an exclusive couple. Not to say that this anniversary had been forgotten by any means, but it was just, it'd been placed on the back burner simply because neither of them cared to remember how life their senior year was outside of each other.