I know this is a quick update, but I'm just so excited to have so many reviews in two (maybe three, I really don't know) days! I just wanna thank you all!

CreCre : I'm very glad you love it! Aw... I'm blushin'... (And say WHA? FF has a share button? No waaaaaay! :])

Endless Secrets : I'm trying to make them seem like they're really in love so I can... Well, you'll find out... ;]

Jtoasn : I don't think I would mind too much either! ;D

Jadeypoo : You use the XD too? :D NO WAY! XD

LisKatKaram : I've left you type-less? *blush* I'm honored! :]


Jester slunk down the stairs and into the kitchen, only to be greeted by an overly chipper Pepper.

"Why good morning, nightingale!" she smiled, hands behind her back. "It's about time you were awake!"

Jester yawned loudly and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Good morning…" he said slowly.

She pulled her arms from behind her back and held them out to Jester. "It's a present! For you!"

"Why are you giving me a present…?"

She sighed and grabbed his hand. She pressed a small package in the palm of his hand. "It's your birthday, you silly! Did you forget?"

"Oh yes! Jane reminded me this morning…" Jester smiled, watching Pepper's face go through a wide range of emotion in seconds. He pulled at the strings of the small bag. It unfolded to reveal a biscuit with fresh strawberry frosting. "Oh, Pepper! Strawberries! My favorite!" he said, grinning. Jester leaned down, for her was much taller than Pepper, and placed a gracious peck on her cheek.

She giggled as Jester turned to leave and was met with a spoon pointed at him.

The bearer of the spoon was none less than Rake, the castle's gardener. He had cut his brown hair short, and he had a grin on his face, but a fire in his eye. "Mitts off m'lady, good sir…"

Jester quickly looked around and grabbed a rag off the table, wielding it at his friend. "And what are you going to do?"

Rake smiled widely and lunged at Jester with his spoon. Jester dodged it and whipped at Rake with the rag. It hit him with a loud crack and Pepper stepping in between the two boys. "Okay, that is enough. You two are going to bring up dust and get it on the king's breakfast!" she scolded them.

"And we all know Rake was about to get his butt kicked!" Jester said, setting the rag back on the table.

Rake pocketed his spoon and jokingly punched Jester's arm. "I could take you!"

"That's what you say every time!" Everyone heard. They all looked to the stairs to see Smithy coming down from the courtyard. "It always ends with Pepper saving you from a royal butt-whooping!"

Everyone laughed as Rake flushed bright red all the way to the tip of his ears.

"That's okay!" Pepper said, crossing over to Rake. She grabbed onto his arm and pecked his cheek. "I don't mind saving him!"

This sent everyone into a deeper fit of laughter as Rake blushed an even deeper red.

"Hey, Rake! I think you are spending too much time with your beets!" Smithy laughed, holding onto Jester for support. "You're starting to look like one!"

Jester and Smithy roared into laughter, holding onto each other to stop themselves from falling over.

"Ah, that is a good one!" Jester said, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Jester!"

Jester looked up to the windows that looked out to the courtyard to see Jane.

"Yes?"

"The king wishes to speak with you!" she yelled down.

"Uh oh… Did he say what about?" Jester asked, trying not to worry.

"No, he did not, but it would be best not to keep him waiting!"

"Oh. Ha ha!" Rake laughed, poking Jester in the chest. "Now the jokes are at Jester's expense!"

"It's my job to make fun of people, Rake…"

Rake's face flushed red again. "Oh… yeah…"