It was the first time they could properly celebrate since their time travel adventures had begun, since they'd been a couple, and since he'd come back from the dead as far as his family was concerned, and in actuality as his bunker family knew all too well. Jiya was determined to make Rufus' birthday extra special.

Wyatt shook his head and let out an amused sigh at the sound of the doorbell. Instead of the ding dong that normally chimed at the press of his finger, he was greeted by the Imperial March. Apparently Darth Vader had moved to suburban Palo Alto.

A few seconds later the door swung open and they were greeted by a grinning Rufus, "Did you hear it? Did you hear it?"

"Hi to you too Rufus" cut in Lucy smiling at her clearly delighted friend, "yes we heard it."

"Oh sorry, yeah hi!" her corrected, giving them each a quick hug. "It's frickin' awesome though isn't it?" he beamed. "It was a present from Jiya. It's so cool, it's programmed with all different sounds and music from Star Wars. Listen…" he nodded to Wyatt indicating he should press the button again. As it was his best buddy's birthday Wyatt decided to oblige and play along unleashing the swoosh and buzz of a lightsaber as he pressed (if he was honest he did think it was kind of cool, not that he'd admit it to either of them). They stood on the doorstep as they patiently acquiesced to his repeated requests to press the buzzer, scrolling through the sounds of PodRacers, Chewbacca growls, Blaster shots, R2D2 whistles, TaunTaun grunts, TIE fighters, and Darth Vader breathing, with Rufus filling in the gaps when Lucy looked at him blankly, which was most of the time. She'd never been that into Star Wars.

Jiya finally came to their rescue as the Cantina band kicked in, "Rufus if you hadn't noticed the party's actually IN the house, and that's fifth time you've done this, this evening!" She rolled her eyes as he looked away sheepishly, though a grin was still etched on his face. "C'mon in guys" she ushered towards Wyatt and Lucy, as they exchanged cheek kisses and hugs "you both look amazing by the way."

Wyatt eyed Lucy top to bottom for about the 20th time that evening, he definitely agreed with Jiya's assessment. Following the strict instructions she'd given 'Star Wars fancy dress, no exceptions' Lucy was dressed as Princess Leia. Sadly not in her gold bikini, although as she'd pointed out when he'd suggested it more than once he probably wouldn't really have relished her being at a party in little more than underwear. Rather she'd opted for the classic white dress; swathes of butter soft silk enveloping her delicate frame from her throat to the floor. Despite her whole body being covered, or perhaps because of it, he felt his body flush each time he looked at her, picturing what lay beneath. He was reminded too, of the other times she'd been similarly draped in white; their wedding just a few months earlier when his heart had crashed into his ribs at the sight of her walking down the aisle towards him, and that glorious night almost 80 years ago when that silky gown had ended up pooled at her feet and he'd been able to touch her for the first time. Even the buns curled around on each side of her head framed her face and made her dark pretty eyes look even more striking.

Naturally Wyatt had come as Han Solo – reckless hot head, gun toting charmer and the coolest of all the characters in his opinion, plus he got to bed Leia, there was no way Wyatt wasn't going to be Han. He wore dark, tight fitting jeans (which Lucy had picked up for him and had noted with satisfaction cupped his ass most deliciously), long leather boots, a long sleeved undershirt (which she'd also ensured was unbuttoned nice and low, and into the nook of which she'd slipped her fingers, brazenly pawing his chest on the cab ride over) and a black vest. The look was completed with a holster slung low on his hips and plastic blaster he'd picked up in a 99c store. Lucy had seen Wyatt in all manner of costumes over the year but she had to admit as she snuck another sideways glance at him, Wyatt made a damn fine intergalactic hero.

"Thanks" Lucy smiled at the compliment. "You both look pretty great too."

Rufus, wearing a gi, large leather belt and boots that appeared to have been wrapped with bandages round his calves had gone with Luke. Ok so the dude wasn't black but who cared. He was the original bad ass Jedi and as much as he loved all things Star Wars, the original three were for Rufus still the best films of the nonology. He'd wanted to be Luke since he was kid. I mean it was worth saying again the guy was a goddamn Jedi. Having the Force trumped Han's swashbuckling way with the ladies any day – although flying the Millennium Falcon and hanging out with Chewie would be pretty cool too he conceded.

And Rufus brain had exploded earlier that evening when he'd first seen Jiya. She looked incredible as Captain Phasma in her metallic storm trooper armour clad over a skin tight catsuit and a large red bordered black cape slung over her shoulder. Her hair was loosely pulled back in a windswept knot, and though she wasn't currently wearing it there was a helmet somewhere around. He might have to try and persuade her to wear that for him later on, kinky thoughts momentarily clouding Rufus' mind yet again.

Having sufficiently exchanged compliments the four of them headed down the hall into the large open plan kitchen where groups of people were chatting, laughing and slowly spilling outside. There were quite a few familiar faces including Rufus mother and his brother Kevin, as well as some Lucy and Wyatt didn't recognise – presumably old friends or employees from their new venture.

It had been little under a year since the team had finally defeated Rittenhouse and moved out of the bunker. In that time Rufus and Jiya had set up a small consultancy and tech development company 'Riya Industries' which, with Mason's guidance and more than a little bit of inventive brilliance on the part of the eponymous founders, had soon become rather larger . So large in fact they had recently issued an IPO (having already transferred a small stake to their best friends for the princely sum of $100, determined that the Preston-Logans should share in their good fortune) and having closed a particularly lucrative contract, they'd made enough to buy the 4,500 square foot ultra-modern home in which they now all stood. Sharp lines of buffed white concrete, sheets of floor to ceiling glass, sleek steel frames and banisters, expanses of polished wood, and every conceivable electronic mod-con and gadget imaginable. The kitchen had a large set of bi-fold full width doors that opened onto the immaculately landscaped yard and a glittering pool that lay beyond. It was stunning perfection, like something from a catalogue. As Lucy had mused to Wyatt after their first visit it could have so easily felt cold, anonymous and empty, but it didn't - not in their hands. Rufus and Jiya had so much joy, so much warmth and so much love, they filled the space and made it a home, just as they had done in that dark, dank, dusty bunker. Their smiles had the ability to light a room.