Spoilers for "An Evil Within," season 4, episode 2.
Waffles
Pete could smell the delicious aroma from the bottom of the stairs. He bounded into the dining room, where he found the table set for four. A heaping plate of scrambled eggs and bacon was in the middle of the table next to containers of orange juice and milk. Butter and syrup were also there, hinting that there was more food to come. Pete speared a chunk of eggs with one of the forks and had just raised it to his mouth when Steve entered the room from the kitchen, carrying a plate of waffles.
"I thought you didn't cook," Pete said around a mouthful of eggs.
"I never said that I didn't cook, I said that I wasn't going to cook for you," Steve retorted as he set the waffles down on the table.
"Um, hate to burst your bubble, but it looks like you just proved that isn't true." Pete took a seat and started filling his plate with food. Claudia and Myka entered the room at that moment.
"Wow, that smells good," Myka said, sitting.
"Yeah, what's the occasion?" Claudia added as she took a seat next to her.
Steve sat in the remaining chair. "When I was little, my mom would make me waffles on my birthday." Pete and Myka exchanged worried looks.
"Today's not your birthday, Jinksy," Claudia said, covering her waffle in butter and syrup.
"Good, because I didn't get you a present," Pete said quickly.
Steve looked embarrassed. "I know it's not my birthday, but one year ago today..."
Claudia remembered immediately. "I brought you back with the metronome."
"Yeah. I just thought I should do something to celebrate. I wanted to say thank you for what you did for me, Claudia."
"And you picked a good way to say thank you," Pete said, his words nearly incomprehensible with the food in his mouth.
"Were you raised in a barn? Swallow before you talk," Myka chided.
"I think it's a great idea," Claudia said. "And we're glad to still have you around."
"I'm glad to be here. I know it was kind of ... rough, at first. I wasn't very appreciative."
"Hey, it was a surprising experience. Not many people come back from the dead."
"Anyway, thanks, Claudia, for bringing me back to life," said Steve.
"It's like your rebirthday. Get it? It was your rebirth, so rebirthday." There was silence for several seconds as everyone stared at Pete.
"Eat your waffles, Lattimer," Myka commanded.
The conversation went to plans for the day. Steve listened with a smile on his face. He enjoyed this, just sitting in the company of his friends. He thought of all the experiences he would have missed if he had stayed dead.
When Claudia was done eating, she balanced her dishes in one hand and leaned over to give Steve a one armed hug. "Happy Rebirthday, partner," she whispered in his ear.
The end