AN: Ashley! So glad to see your lovely reviews again. Thanks so much for those last reviews on Life is like a song. I swear, I almost cried when you said my writing was almost angelic. Thank you!

Birthday

Even though it had been nearly a year and a half since it happened, the nightmares still plagued her sleep. The house, Stephen in the bed, the drink, the darkness, the sewers. It never left her. She would relive it at least once a week but she didn't seek help for her reoccurring nightmare for two reasons. One: she would have to explain why she had it and who would believe her? and two: she was so done with therapy, thank you very much. The only person she would talk to about the nightmares was the only other person who often dreamt about the underworld: Stephen. And he was the only person who could calm her when she awoke because it was always him she wanted, needed to see afterwards. She stirred fitfully as the shadows danced in her dreams; Jane, Sid, Sadie, dead Stephen, all of them waltzing through her nightmare like some diabolical parade. But they started to fade as she felt fingers stroking her cheek and heard the gentle whispering of her name.

She blinked slowly, her eyes heavy with sleep as Stephen kissed her forehead. His hand went to her lower back as his arm encased her in a protective hug. His voice was no higher than a whisper. "The nightmare again?"

She groaned as she stretched a little, using the movement as an excuse to push herself closer into Stephens soft embrace. She placed her hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze, ensuring the reality of having him in the bed with her. "Yeah."

He rubbed her lower back gently, nuzzling closer to her. "I'm here. I'll always be here."

She smiled at him, her eyes still focussing to the daylight streaming through the windows. "I know, I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

He laughed gently before smiling warmly at her. "And I'm the luckiest man." He pressed his lips against hers softly, a silent promise that he would stay with her forever and that nothing would part them. She sighed happily as they broke apart, her eyes shut as she relaxed. She let the nightmare pass out of her thoughts and let the real living Stephen in the real bed flood her mind. "Thank you."

"For what sweetheart?"

"Everything."

He smiled at her again, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the woman lying next to him. To him, she was the most beautiful person in the world, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. Her courage, her strength, her flaws, her wonderful traits and her annoying ones, her sometimes restless nights that would also keep him awake, her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her personality, her kindness, her heart, her soul, everything about her was beautiful. He gently disentangled himself from her as she began to doze again and crept out of the room. Boo, Callum and Freddie weren't awake yet and he took special care not to wake the latter as he made his way through the living room. He looked around at the walls, impressed at how well the other three had put up the banners and balloons after he and Rory had went to bed. Once he made it to the kitchen, he made himself a cup of tea and a hot chocolate for Rory before taking the butter from the fridge for the toast that had just popped. He buttered the toast, placed the plate and cups on the tray and went to retrieve the single red rose that he had hidden the previous night. He brought the small vase it was in over to the tray and placed it in the middle. He carefully picked up the tray and carried it back through to the bedroom. Rory smiled in her sleep as he placed his tea on his bedside table. He sat down on his side of the bed, tray resting gently on his lap and he stroked her cheek once more. "Rory?"

"Hmmm," she blinked her eyes hard again as she woke once more. "Sorry must've dozed off again."

"You don't need to apologise for that. Here you go." He showed her the tray as she sat up.

She grinned widely and spoke with a laugh in her voice. "What's that?"

"Breakfast in bed. Happy birthday darling."

"Awww Stephen, that's so nice. Thank you." She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him before taking the tray and placing it on her own lap. She took the rose from the vase and lifted it to her nose, before putting it back in the water smiling. "I can't believe I'm 19. Just one more year of being a teenager left." She pouted comically. "I'm getting old."

He laughed at that. "How do you think I feel? I'll be 21 in a couple of months."

"That's old enough to drink in Louisiana."

"Well I'll probably never get to Louisiana but it's good to know that I'll be able to drink if I do."

She smiled and took a bite of her toast while he retrieved his tea from the bedside table. She spoke as she ate. "Y'know, it's weird. You were 19 when I met you and thought to myself there's no way I'd be able to handle a life in Scotland Graveyard if I was just 19. And then I ended up with that same life at 17 and I nearly went mad. Now here I am, 19 years old and I think I'm handling it ok, all things considered."

He swallowed his tea, lowered his cup and considered her for moment. He smiled at her softly. "You're handling it just fine, love. And if you ever feel like you're not, I'll be right here to support you."

She returned his soft smile. "And I'll be here for you."

They sat just smiling at each other for a minute, enjoying each other's company before he spoke. "Well then, do you think it's time for presents?"

She laughed. "Come on Stephen, you know me by now. It's always time for presents."