Summary: Mark and John just have one wish: To eat at a restaurant like a couple without being judged.

John Illsley and Mark Knopfler were a couple. Yes, that's right, John Illsley, the bassist and Mark Knopfler, the lead singer and guitarist of Dire Straits. It was a secret and not a soul knew about it except the band members. David Knopfler and Pick Withers had had a suspicion for a long time without having the courage to ask them, until Mark and John confided in them of their own accord. It wasn't easy for the two to hide the love they had for each other. Instead of a kiss in public, a quick smile had to suffice. Instead of holding hands, they put an arm around each other's shoulders and laughed. And going out together? Impossible. If they wanted to go out to eat together, one of the other band members always had to go with them because they didn't want to attract attention. And three men in a fancy restaurant were less conspicuous than two sitting opposite each other and smiling at each other. In other words, society didn't make it easy for Mark and John.

*

"Pick?" Mark asked one Friday afternoon after the drummer and guitarist had tidied up the recording studio.

"Mh?" Hummed the drummer, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"I was wondering if you... if you had time tonight?" Asked the tall blonde cautiously. Pick thought for a moment.

"I think so. I don't have anything planned today. Why?"

"Well... eh... today is... today is the day John and I met. Five years ago to be exact." Mark bit his lower lip.

"And you want to go out with him?" Asked Pick. Mark nodded silently. "And you want to know if I would go with you?"

"Yes." Mark murmured. "I understand if you don't feel like it and don't have time and..."

"Hey." Pick reached out and rubbed Mark's shoulder. "I always have time for you, buddy. I know it's just for your safety."

"I'm sorry I have to bother you about this." Mark sighed.

"I'm sorry you two can't just have a romantic evening like all the other couples can." Pick replied. Mark felt tears in his eyes and looked at the floor. Pick pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Mark. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I just want John to know how much he means to me and... every other couple goes to a restaurant on a day like this, you know?"

"Mh." Pick hummed and rubbed Mark's back. There was silence between the two for a while before Pick pulled back from the hug. "Will you pick me up from my house?" Mark smiled at his friend and nodded.

*

At 6 p.m. Mark drove up to John's apartment in his car. The bassist was neatly dressed, suit trousers and a blazer, with a clean shirt. He smiled when he saw Mark's car and opened the passenger door. John turned his head back to see the back seat of the car.

"Hello Pick." He smiled. The drummer waved, grinning. Mark started the engine again and they drove on. Pick watched silently as John put his hand on Mark's thigh and rubbed it with his thumb while looking out the window. The drummer sighed quietly. He really felt sorry for his friends. They suffered a lot from not being able to show their love.

*

During dinner, Mark and John sat opposite each other, Pick had sat on a chair to the side of them. He sat on the front of the table. The drummer remained silent and tried to say as little as possible so that the two could have a nice evening, even though he was there. However, Mark and John kept asking him questions to include him. It was a little uncomfortable, but they were happy with what they had.

"I have something for you." Mark said quietly and took a small box out of his pocket, which he handed to John. The bassist took it in his hand in surprise and looked at the smaller man in confusion. "Open it." Mark giggled. John nodded and opened the black box. His eyes widened. A silver ring appeared. It was a wide silver ring with gold inlays. John pulled the ring out of its box and turned it in his fingers, fascinated. Suddenly a rather confused waiter was standing at John's side. The waiter had wanted to ask if they wanted any more drinks, but then saw the ring being handed over.

"This is a wedding ring." Pick said quickly. "John here is Mark's best man and is supposed to look after the ring." The waiter smiled understandingly.

"May I ask when it will be?" He asked, looking at Mark. The guitarist smiled unnaturally and bit his lower lip.

"In two weeks."

"Congratulations, sir. Would you like another drink?"

"No. I'd like to pay." Mark said in a weak voice. The waiter nodded and left the table to get the bill. Pick watched as Mark and John changed pained looks. John put the ring on his left ring finger and put the box in his pocket before smiling gently at Mark. The waiter came back with the bill.

"Would you like to pay separately, gentlemen?" He asked with a smile. Pick was about to say that he would pay for his meal himself when Mark interrupted him:

"No. I'll pay for everything together." Mark pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.

"But Mark." John protested.

"That's okay." Mark smiled as he handed the waiter £100. "I invited you, after all." The waiter gave Mark his change back.

"I hope you have a nice evening and a nice wedding."

"Thank you." Mark smiled.

*

When the friends were back in Mark's car, John could no longer hold back his tears and began to cry. Mark sat silently next to him and started the engine. Pick watched them in agony. He didn't know what to say to make the situation better.

"Don't cry, John." Mark sighed as he had to stop at a traffic light. He rubbed John's thigh gently through the fabric of his suit pants. "It's supposed to be a nice evening."

"I... I know." John sniffed loudly and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "But I... I hate that we can't go to a restaurant as a couple. I... it's such a beautiful ring and I'd have loved to kiss you right there, but..." Mark giggled weakly and rubbed John's thigh again before the traffic light changed and he drove off again.

"That'll have to wait until we get home, darling." Pick's eyes widened when he heard the name. Normally the bassist and guitarist only used these names within their four walls.

"I love you." John said quietly. Mark smiled weakly.

*

"Listen, David. We have to do something for them both." Pick said when he and David were alone in the studio the next day.

"What do you mean?" David asked, winding up a guitar cable.

"John's really suffering because he and Mark can't openly show their love. We went out to dinner yesterday and John was crying. Mark was close to tears. We have to do something for them both. They should have a nice evening where we don't have to be there and where they can kiss or something. We owe it to them. We're their friends." David sighed and leaned against an amplifier.

"I guess you're right, but what did you think about? You know they can't appear in public as a couple." Pick grinned as an idea came to his mind.

*

Two months later it was Mark and John's three-year anniversary. John had agreed with Mark that he would ask Pick and David to go to a restaurant with them. So he asked them, but both of them told him that they didn't have time today. Desperate, John called Mark's sister, but Ruth also said that she didn't have time. John sat sobbing in his apartment and held a phone to his ear.

"Stop crying, honey." Mark said gently over the phone. "We'll just have a nice evening, okay? Who needs a restaurant when we can watch a movie, huh? Don't cry."

"I guess you're right." John sniffed. "We don't necessarily have to go out to eat."

"Should I come to you, or are you coming to me, darling?" Mark asked gently. The guitarist was currently still in the recording studio and was on the phone with John from there.

"I'll come to you." John sniffed loudly.

"Don't cry. Put on something nice that you like and we'll have a nice evening, okay?" John giggled. "I love you."

"I love you too." Smiled Mark. "At my house in half an hour?"

"Sounds good."

*

Mark and John met in the parking lot in front of Mark's apartment block. They smiled at each other and made their way to Mark's apartment. They walked up the stairs to the third floor.

"You look stunning, honey." Smiled Mark and kissed John's cheek before unlocking the apartment door. What the door revealed, however, was something neither of them had expected. It was warm in the apartment, which meant that the heating had been turned on. The dining table was in the living room instead of the kitchen and was set with plates, glasses and cutlery. Also with a white tablecloth and a candle in the middle. The record player was playing a soft jazz song. Mark took John's hand and looked at him confused. They took off their shoes before Pick suddenly stood in front of them. He was wearing a black suit, a white shirt and a black bow tie around his neck. He smiled at the two of them.

"Good evening gentlemen."

"Pick?" John asked confusedly and let out a laugh.

"I'm your waiter tonight. My name's Mr. Adams." Pick said confidently and took off John's coat. The tall bassist looked at him amused but also confused. "I have a table reservation for Knopfler-Illsley. That's you two, isn't it?" Pick hung Mark's coat on the coat rack next to John's. Mark giggled a little.

"I guess so."

"Please follow me, gentlemen." Pick led the two to the table. They sat down and giggled. "What would you like to drink? I can offer you beer, lemonade and red wine." John and Mark looked at each other and giggled.

"Lemonade sounds good." John giggled. Pick nodded and wrote it down on a small notepad.

"And you?"

"A beer would be great, Mr. Adams." Mark grinned. Pick nodded and handed them two small sheets of paper.

"Here's the menu. Thank you, gentlemen." With that, he went into the kitchen. John looked confused at Mark, who shrugged and giggled. They could see David and Pick in the kitchen. David wore a white chef's hat and an apron around his waist. Mark shook his head, giggling, and turned his attention to the white paper in his hands. The heading read: Menu. He could see that it was David's handwriting. There was no choice. Just chicken soup for starters, spaghetti for mains, and a surprise dessert for dessert. Mark raised his head and smiled at John.

"Those two are crazy." The bassist giggled, pointing into Mark's kitchen where Pick and David were talking. The guitarist grinned.

"Oh. I'm afraid they are. But they're also brilliant." Mark reached out and grabbed John's. "I fucking love you, John Illsley." John's cheeks turned red and he felt tears in his eyes.

"I love you too, Mark Knopfler." Pick suddenly appeared next to them and put the drinks on the table.

"Have you decided on a meal yet, gentlemen?" He asked, grinning. Mark gently rubbed the back of John's hand and smiled.

"Yes. We'd both have the chicken soup for starters and the spaghetti for mains."

"That sounds good." Grinned Pick. "And for dessert? I highly recommend the surprise dessert."

"What do you think, honey?" Grinned Mark. He was so happy he couldn't put it into words. Eating like in a restaurant and calling John honey had been his greatest wish.

"I think that sounds pretty delicious." John giggled.

"All right." Pick wrote something down on his pad with a grin. "I and the kitchen team would also like to congratulate you on your anniversary."

"Thank you. That means a lot to us." Smiled Mark and squeezed John's hand gently.

*

Throughout the evening, John and Mark had laughed more than they had in a long time. They had talked about everything that came to their minds and they felt like they were on a real date for the first time in their relationship. They could talk about whatever they wanted without thinking about what they were saying and what the consequences might be. David and Pick sat in the kitchen and ate dinner there themselves, grinning as they kept glancing into the living room.

"That was a damn great idea, Pick." David giggled. Pick winked at him with a grin. After Pick had cleared the plates, he and David prepared dessert in the kitchen. Mark and John heard them cursing and giggled to themselves.

"We're damn lucky to have friends like that, you know?" John asked with a smile and played with the spoon that was the only cutlery left on the table.

"Yes. That's right." Mark sighed. Pick and David appeared next to them grinning and both held a small plate with a tiramisu made in the shape of a heart on it. John gasped and put a hand over his mouth when he saw the letters J and M on the tiramisu.

"You're crazy." Mark giggled as David put the plate in front of him.

"Recommendation of the house." David grinned. "Our dessert for lovers."

"Is that so?" Mark giggled. David nodded, grinning.

"The food and drinks are on us today, as an exception." Pick said. "Because of your anniversary, the management has decided to serve you for free." John giggled.

"That's very nice. We appreciate it."

"We're off work now and going home." Pick said, grinning. "We're very happy that you visited us and wish you a happy anniversary."

"Thank you." Mark and John grinned at the same time. With that, Pick and David left Mark's apartment. Mark burst into laughter as soon as the door closed.

"Damn, they're both adorable." The guitarist giggled. John stood up and suddenly sat on Mark's lap. The smaller man looked at him confused.

"I fucking love you." John kissed him eagerly. "That was the best date we've ever had." Mark smiled and rubbed John's back.

"Well, if you enjoyed it so much, my love. Maybe we can try this restaurant more often." The two burst into laughter and kissed each other eagerly before feeding each other the tiramisu. In the end, an anniversary did not always have to be celebrated in a fancy restaurant. At home, in a family environment, was much better.

THE END;)