Chris and Denise decided to spend the night before his fortieth birthday having date night at his favorite steakhouse. It was easy getting the night off with Grandma Lisa around, she practically chased the couple out of the house with a broom so she could have some time with her grandson. It was expected his family and friends from Boston were going to fly to LA to celebrate his fortieth birthday. It was a huge milestone, and if they'd been willing to fly in for their son's first birthday- there was no doubt they would fly in for Chris' fortieth, especially after receiving the glamorous invites Denise designed.

The black and gold invitation decorated with white feathers and shimmery pearls informed the recipients that the party was going to be a Gatsby themed night. Those who knew Denise well knew her obsession with the 1920s, and since she'd missed the chance to have a 1920s party herself for her twenty-first birthday- she decided to throw her gentleman one instead. This party had been one she'd been gathering bits and pieces for since he told her to "save it for the big four-oh." With a little help she'd managed to get the contact of Baz Luhrmann, otherwise known as the brilliant director of 'The Great Gatsby'. A chain of emails and a few FaceTime sessions later, she'd organized the perfect Gatsby party; one that Mr. Gatsby would've been proud of her for.

"I can't believe you are officially forty tomorrow," Denise said then laughed when Chris buried his face in his hands, groaning. "C'mon," she reached across the table, wrapping her hands around his wrists to pull his hands from his face. "It's a good thing," she told him, withdrawing one hand while the other's fingers interlocked with his, "you're getting wiser."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better about being old," he quipped and she winked, making him laugh. "Do you want to know what I can't believe?" He quizzed and her raised brows prompted continuation. "That you are officially a twenty-three year old with a forty year old husband tomorrow. That's a little-" He snickered when she rolled her eyes. "What, you couldn't find guys your own age?"

"I'm sure I could've, but this incessantly persistent old guy wouldn't leave me alone." He doubled over the table, howling with laughter and drawing attention from the other diners. "Shut up," she hissed, trying not to laugh too loudly herself, "we're in a fancy restaurant." His laughter subsided and she felt him press a kiss on the back of her hand before sitting up right. "Okay, I'm going to order dessert so it doesn't look like we're just sitting here disturbing the peace." She pulled her hand from his so she could politely wave the closest waitstaff over. "What?" She asked when she turned back to him and saw the smile he had playing on his lips. It was a smile she saw often, but one filled with multiple meanings that she could never decipher on her own.

"I'm praising myself for taking my own advice when it came to you," he answered. "'Whatever you're scared of, push yourself into it.'" He elaborated before she could ask, and she felt her eyes narrow slightly because yet another new piece of information.

"Chris Evans scared of little ol' me?" She teased and earned a roll of his eyes. "I do have resting bitch face so that's understandable." She looked around the restaurant for a member of the waitstaff, sighing when she couldn't spot one close enough. "Do you think my face is the reason we can't get someone to take our dessert order?"

"Let me finish then I'll personally go and grab a waitstaff to come take our order." He chuckled, placing a hand over hers. She quickly returned her attention to him, smiling at him to show he had it. "I wasn't scared of you, per se. Though I was incredibly nervous when I finally, and successfully approached you at that Starbucks." She chuckled every time he mentioned his failed attempts, she was definitely glad he persisted otherwise she wouldn't have the life she had now. "No, I think it was the idea of you and what you could mean to me. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be person capable of drastically changing my life. And then I found out you were the girl who wrote 'Perfect' and I realized I was right. I had to stop and ask myself, 'if her writing has the ability to affect me the way it has, what is she- as a person- going to be able to do to me?' I'd just gotten out of something big with Jenny and I wasn't sure if I was ready to jump right back into something big, y'know?"

"Can I ask what made you approach me then?"

"I could say something cheesy like 'I knew I'd regret it if I didn't', but why lie when we both know the honest answer is 'because I wanted to prove to Scott that I could finish what I started.'" He said and she laughed. "No," he chuckled, "that's not the reason. I actually uh- I actually did know I'd regret it if I didn't. The disappointment that came from the two failed approaches told me that much, so as scared as I was- I had to. And I'm glad I did, I can't imagine having to miss out on this incredible life that we have together."

"I'm glad you did too," she smiled, turning her hand palm up so she could hold his hand instead. Chris eyed Denise curiously when she fell silent, he'd expect more than that in her response and wondered why she was just intently watching her thumb run across his knuckles. She began as she met his curious gaze, "can you go get-" cutting herself off when she saw he'd been expecting more of a response. "And I call myself a hopeless romantic." She scolded herself sarcastically, drawing laughter from Chris. "I'm sorry, baby. I don't know what to say, I don't think I can further elaborate how much you mean to me. I love you so much, I'd take a bullet for you without even blinking an eye."

"Like I'd let you take a bullet for me."

"Of course not, Captain America," she bit playfully, giggling. "But you see my point, right?" She asked and he nodded, smiling. "Everything I have and everything good in my life is because of you, Chris. What I have with you is unparalleled to anything I'll ever have with anyone else, or anything I'll ever achieve. If you still can't comprehend that, I think it's best you reread everything I've ever written for and about you. I've also got a movie coming out soon if you don't feel like reading," her smile tenfold when she said that. It was surreal to be able to admit she had a movie coming out, that was another dream she never thought she'd achieve.

"I can comprehend it," he assured her with a nod. "But I think I'm still going to reread and watch anything and everything you've ever created just to remind myself how lucky I am." She smiled, squeezing his hand. "As well as how talented you are." He pulled her hand to his lips, giving it a quick kiss before releasing it to stand up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get my beautiful, sweet-toothed wife her crème brûlée," he said and she smiled as he walked off.

• • • • • • • •

Chris helped Denise with her coat as they walked out of the restaurant. "Thank you for dinner, baby." He pecked her cheek and she smiled. It wasn't the first time she'd taken care of the check by herself in such a fancy restaurant, but it still felt just as good knowing she was capable of it. "I realize taking me out to dinner is nothing compared to the party you have planned for me tomorrow, but thank you anyway. I appreciate all your efforts to make my fortieth birthday the best birthday ever."

"It's my absolute pleasure, sweetheart."

He smiled. "Alright, now let's get out of here before we get caught by the paparazzi," he said and she nodded, turning her attention onto the valet. "Oh shit," she heard him cuss and she turned back to find him searching his pockets. She assumed he was looking for the valet ticket- an item he seemed to have the tendency to misplaced, which was why she usurped that responsibility a long time ago. "Did I pass you the valet ticket? 'Cause-" He frantically gave his pockets another once over then laughed when he looked up and saw his wife passing their ticket to the valet. "Now we know, forty is the age I develop a terrible memory."

"Luckily you have a young wife, right?" She teased him, slipping her hand into his.

"My young wife loses her house keys very often, so I don't know how lucky I'm going to be when we're both locked out of our house." He joked and she laughed. "Seriously though," he chuckled. "Do you have your house keys? 'Cause my set is at home, I only carried my car keys tonight."

"I've got them," she assured him with a nod as the valet returned with Chris' car, holding open the passenger door for her. Chris released her hand and walked around the front of his car to the driver's side as she began to inform him about their plans for the rest of the night. "Not that we'll need them..." She waved a keycard that allowed them access to a room at the Four Seasons hotel, smirking when she saw his eyes light up. "When we're not going home tonight. That's right, your pre-birthday celebration doesn't end here."

He gasped. "How exciting," he remarked. Denise simply smirked in response, then gracefully lowered herself into the car and thanked the valet who closed the door behind her. "Oooo, how exciting indeed," Chris grinned to himself then climbed into the car, closing his own door behind him.

• • • • • • • •

At their hotel room, the couple actually spent more time talking than doing anything else. No one would've believed them if they truthfully answered "so, what did you lovers get up to?" But it was true, they just talked.

Since the birth of their son, there had only been a handful of nights where they'd had to themselves. There were dozens of topics they wanted to talk about and even more moments they wanted to reminisce, which was hard to do when Jack was constantly vying for their attention. Though they felt privileged to be parents to such an adorable little boy, they were also wistful of the days they weren't. They'd missed being a couple because with Jack around, they weren't a couple- they were parents. They weren't allowed the same opportunities as they did when they weren't, there was no jet-setting across the world on spontaneous trips. Hell, they couldn't even go to the grocery store by themselves. The second Jack came into their lives, their lives stopped being their own. All things orbited around him; they were simply earth to his magnificent sun.

"Do you hear that?" Chris asked, holding up a finger.

"Hear what?" Denise's eyes narrowed as she looked around.

"Exactly," he said and she chuckled, turning back to him. "It's quiet."

"You know what baffles me?" She quizzed rhetorically. "The fact you're happier than I am right now." She told him and he laughed. "Can I just say that you're the one who wanted a child in the first place? Like I know he came into our lives unplanned, but you have always talked about wanting children."

"I know," he nodded. "And I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a fact. It is quiet, isn't it?" He asked and she nodded, chuckling. "Yeah. And I love our son, but I've missed quiet." He tightened the arm he had around her, pulling her into his chest. "And quite frankly, I've missed you." He kissed the top of her head, smiling.

"I've missed you too," she looked up at him, smiling. "I'm really sorry I haven't had much time for you," she told him and he shook her apology off with an understanding smile. "It's just that between work and Jack, you've kinda slipped through the cracks. And I know that's no excuse," she pulled away from him, crossing her legs as she sat up and turned to him. "I'm not trying to condone my negligence-"

"Baby," Chris cut her off, laughing. "I'm a big boy, I can handle not having your undivided attention." He told her and she giggled. "Honestly," he took one of her hands in his, "you have nothing to apologize for. You're hard at work making a movie and spending the little free time you have left being a mother to our son. I've missed you, yes, but I am not mad about not having time with you. I'm actually glad you're so tied up because I'm actually learning to further appreciate the time I do have with you."

His words made her heart swell. She smiled then sighed his name "Chris," shaking her head in disbelief. He smiled and drew her hand to his lips. What on earth had she done in her past life to deserve him? Because he was beyond perfect. "Please tell me you know how much I truly love you." She pleaded, eyes welling with tears.

"I'm very well aware," he assured her, squeezing her hand.

Denise fell silent as she wandered into the depths of Chris' eyes. Four years they'd been together; legally she was his wife, yet she still couldn't figure out why he loved her. Of all the remarkable people he could've ended up with, she didn't understand why he would pick her. And she'd even heard his reasons why, yet still, she felt like there had to be a better explanation. She just didn't believe that their paths should've crossed, she should have never ended up where she was right now; everything she had felt surreal.

After four years, one would think Denise would stop questioning her perfect reality. But in such moments, gazing into the eyes of her one true love, when time would slow, and all matter stilled- she couldn't help herself. "How?" She whispered. "Why?"

Chris smiled. He had his answer and he didn't even need her to elaborate because he, too, had thought about 'how?' and 'why?' on several occasions. Just the other night, he watched her as she slept and wondered how and why she fell in-love with him. It didn't take him long to realize that the answer was incredibly simple. Just as she was made for loving him, "I was made for loving you, Denise."

Her smile reached her eyes.

"Happy birthday, Chris," she whispered as she leaned in.

"It just gets happier with each passing year," he smiled and met her lips.