Title: Birthday Presents

Author: Payton Tyler

Email: darkserene at glitterbomb dot com

Pairing: Grace/Luke

Rating: PG-13 cause it's cooler than G

Season: 2

Spoilers: Eh. I guess all of season two up to and including "No Future", which is the 11/19 episode.

Disclaimer: No matter how hard I wish, I will never own JoA, Michael Welch or Becky Wahlstrom.

Summary: "I was going to burn it, but you know, ashes are a lot harder to transfer into a box.."

Dedication: Everyone at NEiAS, because you're all awesome. And Judith. Because I really liked her.

Author's Notes: It's all NEiAS's fault. I was reading something posted over there, and this just appeared. If you post over there, you probably know what I'm talking about.

Luke checked his watch again. She was late. He hadn't really expected Grace to show up on time, but he had had a sliver of hope that she would. He pulled his jacket tighter around him and took a seat on his front step, checking the road for any sight of her. Nothing. She had said six, right? In the science storage room that morning, she had said she'd meet him outside his house at six. He was sure of that. And yet, it was six fifteen and there was no Grace in sight. He let out a sigh. She had probably forgotten.

"Hey geek," a voice called from above him. He lifted his head to see Grace standing on the step next to him.

"Hi Grace," he said as she sat down next to him.

"I would have been here on time, but I had to get this first," she told him, handing him a small box wrapped in newspaper.

"What's this?" he asked, taking the box.

"Well, people usually get presents on their birthdays, right?" she asked.

"You didn't have to get me something."

"Just open it dude." Luke pulled the newspaper off the box and lifted the lid, revealing a mess of shredded paper laying on the bottom of the box. He picked up the largest piece and read it, a grin forming on his face.

"You shredded the contract?" he asked, turning to look at her. She nodded.

"I was going to burn it, but you know, ashes are a lot harder to transfer into a box.."

"Thank you," he said. She shrugged.

"It's no big deal."

"To me it is. So thank you," he said again, leaning in to kiss her. As they broke apart, Grace gave him a small smile.

"Happy sixteenth birthday Luke."

"Hey. You said my name," Luke said, surprised.

"Did I?" Grace asked, kissing him again.

-Ende-