PassTheToast

Lance sighed quietly, resting his head against the back of the queen-sized bed. His thumb moved quickly over the buttons on the remote control in his hand, and the only sound in the room was of the television flickering from channel to channel.

'300 channels and not a damn thing's on,' thought Lance, and he grinned because that sounded like a line from a movie he just couldn't place. Leaving the channel on some infomercial, Lance snuck a look at the sleeping man in bed next to him.

JC's was laying on his stomach, one arm thrown carelessly over Lance's pajama clad leg, and the other tucked underneath his pillow to prop his head up. The right side of his face was smashed into the pillow, and his long, curly hair lay wild against the white background of the pillow case.

His lips were parted slightly, and little gasps of air escaped the pink flesh. Lance smiled fondly, brushing the bangs out his lover's eyes and bending down to place a sweet peck on his pouty lips. Josh sighed happily in his sleep, smacking his lips together before burying his face into the sheets. Lance grinned and sat back up.

'How is it possible to love a person so much? God, he's beautiful.' Lance licked his lips, the bottom one immediately going between his teeth as he thought. 'The anniversary of the day we first said 'I love you' to each other is coming up in two days. I need to do something special for him. But what?'

"Looking for a special way to say 'I love you' to that certain someone?"

Lance's head whipped around in surprise, looking for the person who had spoken his thoughts out loud. His eyes landed on a woman on the TV, a fake smile plastered on her face.

'Yes, I'm looking for a way to say 'I love you!' thought Lance. 'But how?'

"Here's how," said the woman, and Lance's mouth fell open. She stepped closer to the TV and if possible, smiled wider.

"This product is guaranteed to let your honey know how you feel, or your money back."

Lance sat up in bed, his eyes wide with interest as he watched the woman on the TV screen show off and tell about her product.

'Wow,' thought Lance. 'That's a pretty good idea. Kinda cheesy, but original.'

"This product is an original way to tell that special someone how you feel..."

Lance rolled his eyes. 'Okay smart ass, what's the order number? Hmm?'

"Buy this product now! The order number is..."

Lance scowled, but grabbed a tissue and a pen from the bedside table and scribbled down the phone number and item number. Grabbing the phone from beside him, Lance cradled it between his cheek and shoulder as he dialed. Sneaking a glance beside him to make sure JC was still asleep, Lance waited until he heard the other line pick up.

"Yes, hello," he whispered, just loud enough to be heard on the other end, "I'd like to order item #37468 and have it rush delivered please..."

~*~
TWO DAYS LATER...

Lance cracked the door to his and JC's bedroom, poking his head inside and checking to make sure his lover was still sound asleep. He was, and Lance breathed a sigh of relief, giggling into his hand. He was tempted to stay and watch JC sleep a little longer, but he really needed to get to work. He shut the door as quietly as possible, and tiptoed downstairs and into the kitchen.

An hour later, Lance was setting the last plate of food on the table. He played around with the two vases of roses in the middle, before stopping himself. He had already rearranged them eight times.

'Not that you're counting,' he thought to himself as he rolled his eyes, 'because you have a life. Haha. Good one.'

Lance and JC had decided a week ago that they wouldn't buy each other gifts for this particular anniversary, and while Lance was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to shop for his boy, he could understand his lover's point.

"This is all about the love," JC had explained, kissing Lance's temple sweetly. "It's a reminder of one of the best days in my entire life, the day you said you loved me, and I just don't want a bunch of flashy and expensive gifts to get in the way of that."

Lance sighed happily. JC always did have a way with words. So, instead of gifts, Lance had settled on a few roses and cooking JC his favorite breakfast. He looked around the room and nodded. The food was done, and now came the fun part; waking JC up. Lance grinned and practically sprinted up the steps.

Throwing open the door, Lance thought about how he should wake his boyfriend up. Slow, sweet kisses on every inch of skin visible until those beautiful blue eyes open up? Lance shook his head. As much fun as that would be, it would take too long. So, settling for the subtle approach, Lance leaped onto the bed, tackling JC and hugging him tightly. JC's body jerked in bed, and he flew up in surprise.

"Whaa? What the hell ... happened ... hmm?" he mumbled sleepily, his heart thudding rapidly in his chest. His eyes landed on vivid green ones, and he relaxed. Hugging Lance to him and kissing the top of his head, he fell back against the bed.

"You scared the shit out of me," he chuckled.

Lance giggled into JC's chest, making him grin. Remembering what day it was, JC's eyes sparkled as he lifted Lance's head up and kissed his lips sweetly.

"Happy anniversary baby," he said, "I love you."

Lance nodded and sat up, excited over his surprise and anxious for JC to see it. He got out of bed and tugged on JC's hands.

"Come on," he said, "lets go downstairs."

JC frowned, hurt and confused as to why Lance hadn't said 'I love you' back. Lance dragged him down the steps clumsily, but JC stopped them both right before they entered the kitchen.

"Baby?" he asked.

"What?" Lance asked quickly, eager for JC to see his breakfast and wondering why they had stopped.

JC sighed, trying to catch Lance's eye. "I love you."

Lance struggled with pulling JC, who had his feet dug into the carpet. "I know Josh, now come on!"

JC swallowed, his smile shaky. "Isn't there something you want to say to me?"

Lance stopped and looked at his boyfriend. Grinning, he hugged JC tightly. "Of course baby," he whispered, and JC relaxed. "Lets eat!"

JC sighed in frustration, turning around to leave. Lance grabbed his arm though, and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Surprise!" yelled Lance, a goofy grin on his face.

JC turned around, surprised but barely happy at the breakfast and roses laid out on the table for him. Why hadn't Lance said he loved him?

"Well?" asked Lance, wrapping his arms around JC's waist. "What do you think?"

JC shrugged, pulling out of Lance's arms and sitting down at the table. "It's fine," he said flatly.

Lance frowned, confused and a little hurt. Did JC not appreciate the effort he went through for him?

"Oh," said Lance, swallowing thickly. He tried to make eye contact with JC, but the other man just kept his eyes on his food. Fighting back tears, Lance headed for the counter to make the toast.

Seeing the item he had purchased on TV sitting by the toaster, he sighed and wondered if it was a good idea any more. 'What the hell,' he thought sadly. 'Not much to loose now.' Grabbing the small stamp-like item, he pressed it into two pieces of bread, and then popped them in the toaster.

A few seconds later, when the toast popped up, Lance put them on a plate face up. He grinned because the item had actually worked. Growing nervous again, Lance walked back to JC, setting the toast in front of him and sitting down.

"I got you some toast Josh," he said.

JC just crunched his bacon loudly, not looking at Lance or the toast.

"Josh?"

"No thanks. I don't want any."

Lance sighed, trying not to get antsy. "It's really good," he said. "Mmmm!"

JC threw down his bacon angrily, turning to Lance.

"Look Lance, I don't want any damn toast!" he said loudly, picking up a piece of toast to wave in Lance face. "See? I don't ... want ... any ... toast."

JC's words trailed off as he stared at the piece of bread in his hands. It was golden brown, slightly black in some spots, but printed across the front in white letters were the words 'I LOVE YOU.' Lowering the toast, JC was met with Lance's grinning and blushing face.

"I know it's dumb," he said shyly, "but I saw this thing on TV that you press into bread like a stamp, and when you toast it the words 'I LOVE YOU' show up on the front." He lowered his head in embarrassment, waiting for JC's reaction.

He wasn't sure what he expected. Maybe for JC to say 'Aww, that's sweet' or even 'That's kinda dumb,' but JC bent over and laughing hysterically was nowhere on the list. Lance watched JC clutch his stomach, gasping for air, and he felt his face flush.

"It was stupid, I know," he mumbled, the corners of his mouth curling into a frown as he reached for the toast.

JC saw the sad look on Lance's and immediately stopped laughing. He stood up and grabbed Lance, hugging him tightly.

"Oh baby," he said with a chuckle, "I loved it."

He heard Lance sniffle, and wanted to kick himself.

"Then why did you laugh?" came a meek voice.

JC pulled back with a smile, wiping away the one tear that rolled down Lance's cheek.

"Because you hadn't said you loved me all morning ... and I thought that maybe you didn't ... and then the toast ... and it was just too much," he laughed.

Lance pressed his lips to JC's quickly, his tongue diving into his lover's mouth with a desperate passion that left them both gasping for air. Leaning his forehead against JC's, Lance smiled.

"I'm sorry Josh," he said sincerely. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just thought the toast would be more romantic." He paused, and then cracked up laughing. "That sounded so weird."

JC grinned. "The only problem is, what can I do for you next year? I mean, toast with writing on it ... how can you beat that?"

Lance laughed loudly, picking up a piece of toast a biting off the word 'YOU.'

"Ah yes," he grinned, "there's nothing like a piece of toasted bread to say �I love you.'"

JC nodded. "Speaking of that, I just have three little words for you Lance."

"And what's that?" asked Lance, loving every time JC told him he loved him.

"Pass the toast."

THE END