A\N: Okay, I read the reviews.

I just wrote this because I hate Amy Cahill. And I've already got an Ian Kabra in my life, why would I need another? And Michele Wang is NOT going to be a Mary-Sue. I'll prove that in chapter six.

There's no logic in this and it's not realistic at all. Know that.

It's your choice whether to R&R or not.

Chapter 2 The birthday party

Ian woke up to the beeping of his alarm clock. He rarely used it, but since today was his birthday he figured being late was not the best thing to do.

His teddy bear Mr. Buttons lay next to him staring at the ceiling. Ian propped it up by the alarm clock. Hopefully no one would see it.

He got up and quickly changed into one of his better suits. Walking downstairs to the dinning room he was surprised to find Jonah, Hamilton and Erasmus sitting at the table. Ian hadn't expected any of them to come.

"Happy birthday, Ian!" Hamilton called out grinning.

"Amy and Dan couldn't come." Jonah said, "Erasmus just came."

Erasmus smiled and handed Ian a small wrapped box. "Happy birthday, I'm sorry that I can't stay for the party, Amy and Dan might need help anytime." Then he sped off.

Sinead came in carrying a cake container. "It just arrived," she said, "I guess it's a party for four. Evan is getting grilled by his parents."

Or maybe he just doesn't want to come, Ian thought darkly.

Sinead placed the cake container on the dinning table, "I haven't opened it yet, and Michele told me she hoped that Ian wouldn't be too disappointed. I'll open it on a count of three, okay?"

Ian nodded, what king of birthday cake would Michele choose? At least it was better than letting Dan Cahill choose. Knowing that boy he'd certainly choose one having to do with cobras or something equally unpleasant.

"One…Two…Three!"

Sinead carefully opened the lid of the box and lifted out the cake.

The cake was an edible replica of a chessboard, the chess pieces were made out of icing. In the middle the words Happy Birthday were written in Lucian red icing.

Hamilton studied the cake, "at least we can play chess with it."

"What do you think, Ian?" Sinead asked.

"It's great." Ian said smiling.

"Would you like me to tell Michele what you said?" She asked half jokingly.

Ian ignored the question, "Thanks, Sinead, for planning this. I would've forgotten that it was my birthday.

Hamilton took out a pack of small candles out of the box, "Let's eat."

Sinead lit the candles and told Ian to make a wish before blowing them out. He hesitated for a moment, and just blew out the candles.

After that Sinead cut the cake and gave Ian the slice with the white king on top. After everybody had eaten their fill Jonah announced that it was time to open the presents.

Hamilton volunteered to bring the presents and when he went to get them Sinead asked Jonah how Amy and Dan were doing.

"They're finding the item." Jonah reported after checking his cell phone, "And Amy told me to say happy birthday to you."

Amy still remembered his birthday?

Hamilton came in with 5 packages and placed them on the table.

Ian hesitated, was he supposed to pick one and open it?

"Choose one!" Sinead encouraged enthusiastically.

He received a watch from Erasmus, a tie from Sinead and a stationary set from Jonah and Hamilton.

"We didn't know what you wanted." Jonah explained to him, "And by the way, we've locked the cat in the basement."

Ian thanked them (mostly for locking away the cat) and moved to the next package.

In it were a pair of jeans and a copy of the novel Kidnapped. Like he'd never read the book before. He put it quickly aside and glanced at the last package.

"It's from Michele," Sinead said. "She dropped it off last night."

Ian undid the ribbon and lifted off the lid. Inside there was a whole suit, from the shirt to the belt.

"It's Armani." Jonah marveled. "That girl does know something about you."

After half an hour Jonah and Hamilton went to the comm. Center and Sinead cleaned the table. After helping Sinead Ian took his presents to his bedroom and then went to the comm. Center. Sinead, Jonah and Hamilton were talking to Amy and Dan on the computer.

"There's only five more hours," Amy was saying, "Dan and I think we know where it is, and Jake is coming with us."

Then she noticed Ian, "Happy birthday, Ian!"

Ian nodded and forced a smile.

"Three days ago Erasmus introduced a Lucian to help us out at the comm. Center." Sinead told Amy. "Do you think that it's essential?"

"I guess so." Amy replied. "Do you think that person's okay?"

"Her name is Michele Wang." Jonah told her. "Do you know her?"

Amy shook her head. "I'll check her files later. But we're doing fine now. Dan and I are planning another heist. Vesper One seems to want us to become criminals."

"I've already checked Michele's files." Sinead informed her. "She seems okay. Remember to have a good disguise when you go to steal whatever V-1 wants. I'm making more fake passports now."

After discussing some more Amy hung up and Sinead began to work on the Cahill message board. Hamilton and Jonah went on an errand while Ian opened a computer and accessed to the files of every Lucian in history. He felt curious about Michele.

He typed her name in and her files came out. But when he clicked on her records the page read UNAVAILIABLE.

He frowned and checked a few other Lucian's files. Their records were all available.

He asked Sinead about it and she answered distractedly. "She has some…some secret records." Then she went back quickly to her work.

Ian went back to his room and sat on his bead while he checked out Michele's gift. The whole suit probably cost about a few thousand dollars. But he guessed that a few thousand dollars wouldn't mean much to Michele.

He sighed and hanged the suit out, also the tie from Sinead. The stationary box he put in the drawer along with the watch. Then tossed the jeans into the closet and gave the book to Mr. Buttons. After that she he went back to the comm. Center to help Sinead out.

After four hours of intensive research they still hadn't discovered anything. Evan was still being grilled by his parents.

After they pinned the new notes on the bulletin board for Michele to sort out Ian went back to his room to rest. When he'd just begun to close his eyes someone knocked on his door.

Ian got up and opened the door, standing outside was Michele, Her suit was just as finely pressed as ever, with her precisely cut hair a centimeter higher than her shoulders. Michele's eyes met his and she cocked her head slightly to one side.

"Hello, Ian." She said in her usual manner of careless charm. "I just came to say happy birthday. I hope you won't think of the present as an insult."

It was so straightforward.

Ian smiled. "It was great, thank you very much. And the cake was great too."

Michele returned the smile. "You're welcome. It was the least I could do. Are there new breakthroughs?"

"No, there weren't." Ian told her, and then added. "Can you play chess?"

"Yes." She said, and winked. "We could have a match some day after we get done with this." Ian knew 'this' meant the Vespers.

"Sure." He said. "So…have a good afternoon."

"You too." Then she went to her room which was two rooms away from his.

Ian grinned as he closed the door. Maybe birthday parties weren't so bad after all.