A day worthy of celebration

[Nahuel]

He had taught her to ski and she couldn't get enough of it. He had to remind her often to take her medication and to remember she needed rest too. The cold hadn't affected her that much and he loved seeing her laugh so much. On days the weather was too cold, he made it fun to stay indoors by teaching her to speak Spanish. She was a quick learner too. She had asked him where he got his ideas and had told her it was just things he thought she would like. Secretly, he hoped reading her private thoughts were not a bad thing.

He'd had the day planned for days now. Today, was her birthday and she would be 25. He had in a round about way asked her her favorite flavor of cake and had a grand cake ordered. Afraid he would mess it up somehow, since baking was not his strong suit, he picked it up and proudly went back to their hotel. They would only be here for a day or two more before going to their next and final location. The time was running out to tell her the truth about him, but for now...he couldn't think of that.

Nahuel walked into the room where she sit on the bed and smiled big, presenting her with her birthday cake. Funfetti with funfetti icing.




<Feliz Cumpleaños!!> {Happy Birthday!}

[Alena Flores]

She had been having so much fun that she hadn't even really remembered that she was sick, which was nice. It was amazing to not feel so crappy all the time. He had taught her Spanish, taught her to ski, so many amazing things that she never thought she'd have the chance to experience. Part of her wondered how he knew so many things she had wanted to do, but another part of her didn't want to find out because she was afraid it would upset her. And she didn't want anything to ruin this trip.

"Feliz Cumpleaños!!"

She turned and looked at him, a smile growing brighter on her tired face; she hadn't told him that it was getting harder and harder to stay up for so long, harder and harder to even breathe. It was so wonderful seeing him smile all the time, and she did not want to be the reason that smile disappeared.

"Oh wow! CAKE!" she said with a laugh.

[Nahuel]

He smiled bigger and approached the bed, lowering the cake for her to blow out the candles. After she did, albeit struggling to inhale deeply-which he noticed, he set the cake aside and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. <Cake, your favorite. Are you feeling okay? You remember you promised me...you promised to tell me when you didn't feel well.> He ran the back of his fingers along her cheek and smiled.

<We can stay in today. Learn some more Spanish. Do anything you want to do. Today is your day after all.>

[Alena Flores]

She shook her head and smiled up at him. "I'm fine! Nothing to worry about, just a bit short of breath. It's probably cause it's cold," she said quietly.

She leaned forward into his touch and nuzzled his hand. "Let's stay here, maybe watch a movie? I don't wanna do too much. Room service!" she squealed, then laughed.

[Nahuel]

He chuckled and nodded, believing her words to be true. Looking over at the cake, he grabbed the knife and sliced a piece for her. <Well, since it is your birthday...maybe dessert before dinner?>

Handing her the small plate of the cake, he watched her eyes light up and hoped that when all this was over she chose life...eternal life.

[Alena Flores]

She grinned and took the plate from him, gingerly holding the fork in her fingers before cutting off a piece and bringing it to her lips. It was delicious!

"Let's have dessert, then dinner, then dessert again while watching the movie," she said while giggling a bit. "So what else do you have planned?"

[Nahuel]

He laughed with her and grinned when the icing on the corner of her lip went un-noticed. He shrugged at her question. <It is your day after all. What is it that you want to do? Any particular movie I can get?>

The icing beckoned him and before he thought his actions through, he leaned forward and wiped the icing from the corner of her mouth then placed his thumb in his mouth to suck it from his finger. <Sweet...>

[Alena Flores]

She blushed when he wiped the icing off of her lip and put his thumb into his mouth. Woah, was it getting hotter in here? She wiped at her face and grinned at him.

"Just whatever is on is fine. I know they have good movies here. We can see what we find, how's that sound?" She put another forkful in her mouth then cut off another piece and held it out to him, their eyes meeting and their gaze unfaltering.

[Nahuel]

He handed her the remote control and turned to face her again, seeing her holding out a piece of cake for him. He leaned forward and took the bit she offered him, eyes never leaving hers. Her cheeks flushed and he chewed and stood from the bed, licking his lips free of icing. Swallowing, he nodded. <I see why you fancy that. It is good.>

[Alena Flores]

"It's amazing,isn't it? And it's so..... happy!" She grinned and stared at the colorful cake filled with sprinkles. It was what her mom used to make her all the time when she was little.

"Go find a movie. I'm going to finish off my piece, go change and get settled in." She finished off the cake in record time, slid off the bed and padded into the bathroom. She almost didn't make it; she faltered for a second, catching herself on the counter, just turning in time to put her face over the toilet and throw up the little bit of cake she had managed to get down. She hoped he didn't hear. She didn't want to ruin any of this night, any of this trip. She stood, shakily, and washed off her face, brushed her teeth then slipped into the pajamas she left sitting on the counter, slid them on and headed back to the bedroom with a smile plastered to her face.

"Let's do this!" Still smiling, she walked to the bed and snuggled up next to him, passing out into a deep sleep within moments, her dreams filled with cake, sprinkles and her mother.