Closed You are My Sunshine

[Asher Renner]

Asher had been planning this for a while now. The little box in his pocket felt heavy, but thankfully Archie hadn't seemed to notice his preoccupation. He'd been kicking ideas back and forth for months. Probably even longer than that, if he was being really honest. But that was beside the point. Having settled into their new house, with their daughter and Knox, they'd gone back to date nights. Archie had chosen the last one, and with his father watching Dash for a few days, Asher had picked a spot for their next one.

Asher was dressed and ready for the night, leaning against the wall as he waited for Archie. He leant his head back, lost in thought. He would have never imagined himself here. Ready to spend his life with such an amazing man. After everything that had happened with Matt and Isaac, he'd locked his heart away. He'd thought once that he could love Leo, but he'd chosen to love Leo in a different way- chosen to make the band his closest family. He missed them, sometimes, missed arguing with Delaney or pestering Vera for her attention, missed spending his time with Leo- eating Leo's pastas, Leo's tarot deck and the smell of paints and cigarette smoke floating through the house.

But he didn't miss that aching loneliness he'd kept buried. He knew that the band loved him, in theory. But he couldn't help but feel like sometimes, he'd been the last to the show, that Leo and Vera saw him as a kid. He realized that no one had ever taken him seriously. Or at least, that's how it felt. But Archie... Archie was a breath of fresh air, the sunshine on a cloudy day. Ash smiled softly, humming a new tune gently. He never felt like an extra in Archie's life. Archie made him feel important, feel strong and secure and loved. And Asher couldn't ever imagine his life without Archie by his side.

Ash shut his eyes, smiling to himself as he pictured a day on the beach. The sunlight on Archie's skin, bouncing off of his golden, luscious curls, a smile that made his eyes shine brighter than the stars in the sky. He couldn't help but smile, replaying Archie's laugh in his mind, hands in his pockets and running his fingers over the small velvet box.

 

[Archie Renner]

Archie couldn't deny that over the last few months and for the first time, he entirely and completely felt like he had grown up. With the responsibility of raising a daughter with the man he loved, and in quitting his job at the ice cream parlor to be a full time parent, Archie in every way felt he had left his previous self behind. He was no longer the mess he was in his twenties and early thirties, a man burdened by the fact he didn't know who he was, who filled the void in his heart by partying too much and subsequently wearing his heart on his sleeve, falling in love with any and every man that showed him affection and who never considered the consequences of the next day. Instead Archie felt like an entirely new and renewed version of himself, and while his life was still in many ways defined by the love he gave to others, he had grown to realise his love was more valuable when he put it towards the people that truly cared about him, and who he cared about in return. One of those people was of course, Asher Beckett who in every way other than platonically had Archie's heart.

Archie couldn't imagine facing the journey of fatherhood with anyone other than Asher. Their relationship had started out rocky, and in mess of confusion in the same way Archie had been a mess at the time, but despite all odds had grown into the most stable and committed relationship Archie had ever known, bar his friendship with Orwell however this went without saying. Asher was Archie's partner in life, his boyfriend and now the man he was co-parenting with and he wouldn't have it any other way. It was as if they had grown so much as people from the time they first met, maturing together and presently walking along their path in life, hand in hand and entirely supportive of each other and Archie was completely happy. He was furthermore happy that in spite of being parents, they were able to make time in their schedules just for themselves, organizing date nights once every fortnight so they had more of an opportunity to be together. As much as Archie loved the new responsibility of being a father he also understood the necessity of temporarily getting away from it all, to simply exist and give himself an opportunity to rest and recuperate of course with Asher alongside him.

That night was another date night, one that Asher had planned because it had been his turn and one that Archie was very much looking forward to. With Dash staying with Asher's father for a few days they had those few days for all important time to themselves and to simply be, and that made it entirely worth the wait. Archie had spent the last hour or so getting ready, choosing a silk button up shirt and some dress pants paired with glittery shoes. He too, added some glitter to his collarbone and his eyelids just because he could, and because in the sunshine and later low light of the evening he loved being able to sparkle. It was after assessing himself in the mirror one last time, that Archie left the bedroom to meet Asher in the living room, smiling widely and stepping forward to press a kiss to Asher's cheek. "Hey you." He greeted softly, as if they hadn't seen each other yet that day despite getting ready together. "Where are we going?" He asked, curious to know the location and date Asher had picked for them as he reached to intertwine their hands.​

 

[Asher Renner]

Asher smiled when he felt Archie's lips brush his cheek. He straightened up, turning to his partner with a warm, tender smile. He laced his fingers through Archie's, reaching up to brush at the man's hair. "Hey you," He murmured, trying to steal a kiss of his own- not caring if he got a bit of glitter on him. He tried to pull Archie into his side, feeling content and happy with the man close to him. "It's a surprise," He offered, reaching up to boop Archie's nose. "I've got a lot of surprises for tonight. Are you ready to go?" He questioned, knowing he had already packed a few weekend bags for them without telling Archie. Ash was hoping to make it into a romantic getaway for them, a little mini-vacation to hopefully celebrate their new engagement after Archie said yes.