Melanie was so excited. It was only one day to go until she was finally seventeen. Kathi had made some allusions about a party, but you couldn't take her serious the way she had told her. Anyway, she was also very glad to have birthday, because Wesley had started teasing her for some reason. He had turned seventeen just two weeks ago.
She entered her quarters and looked around. Kathi and Data were supposed to be at home, but no-one was there. She knocked on the bedroom door, but it reminded silent.
"Computer, locate Comdr. Meunier and Lt. Comdr. Data."
"Comdr. Meunier and Lt. Comdr. Data are on holodeck four." She knew what was going on. Obviously Kathi and Data had another date on the holodeck and she didn't what to disturb them. Therefore she sat at the table and got her PADD out of her pocket and started her school work. A few words from the teacher and her horrible results in the latest test had made her working for school.
When she was finished she placed her forehead in her hands and sighed.
"Computer, locate Wesley Crusher."
"Wesley Crusher is on holodeck four." She raised an eyebrow. If this was a date, what was Wesley doing there? She got up and left the quarters. When she came to the holodeck, Wesley was waiting for her in front of it. In front of?
"Hey, Wes, what are you doing here?" He just smiled and laid an arm around her shoulders.
"Well, why don't we go to my quarters and spend some time there?" She looked at him very suspicious.
"What's going on?" Instead of answering her, he pulled her in a loose hug and kissed her.
"Stop asking, little one, don't be so curious."
"Don't call me little one. Do you understand?" She punched him in his side and as revenge he tickled her from the neck to the belly. She left out a sudden and quick scream. A lieutenant in a yellow uniform stopped and raised an eyebrow.
"Everything's alright!" Wesley hugged her from behind and patted her shoulder. The lieutenant just nodded and went on. Melanie and Wesley went along the corridor to his quarters. They spend the evening at his place until Melanie got a call from Kathi that she had to return to their quarters.
"See you tomorrow, sweetie." Wesley kissed her and brought her to the door. She played a few seconds with a strand of his hair and kissed him back.
"Well, then see you", she said and left.
The next day, Melanie woke up early, earlier than usual. She got up and looked at the clock. It was half past six. She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes for few seconds.
"Melli, are you awake", Kathi's voice came from the other side of the door, "Come on Melli, we have a surprise for you." She sighed and got dressed.
"Hang on a second, I'm coming." She found her comm-badge under her shirt and fixed it to her dress. In the living room she found Kathi and Data holding a huge and very embarrassing banner with 'Happy Birthday, Melanie'.
"You gotta be kidding me", she said and covered her face with her hand. Kathi cheered and handed Melanie a piece of her favourite chocolate cake.
"Thanks, but what is that supposed to mean?" She pointed at the banner Data was still holding.
"Eat your breakfast. We have another surprise for you." Data folded the banner and put it under his arm. With just a few bites she finished her cake and put her plate in the replicator. Kathi laid her arm around Melanie and hugged her from the side. With her hand at Melanie's shoulder she guided her through the corridors to the turbolift.
"Deck four", she said and the turbolift started moving. All three left after it stopped. Kathi and Data each took an arm of Melanie and guided her to the holodeck. He pushed some buttons and the doors to the holodeck opened.
Melanie was greeted by a cheering crowd. Wesley, Geordi and a few students from her class were standing around a small table with a huge birthday cake on it.
"Please…" she said, but she couldn't finish her sentence, because she busted out giggling. Wesley came to her and hugged her.
"Happy birthday, Melli." She tried to cover her red face with her hand and walked into the holodeck. The doors closed behind her and the image of the English park was breath-taking amazing.
"Come here, please, and cut the cake and blow out the candles", Wesley said and gently pushed her towards the table. She took the knife and cut a piece of cake.
"Here you go, sweetie." She handed him the cake and in return he kissed her.
"I suppose we're the same age now, not so little one anymore." She cut the rest of the cake in pieces and handed them to the other guests of her party. All of them congratulated her and she gladly received it. When all were settled down at the long table Wesley poked her elbow.
"You should hold a speech or at least say something." After a quick whispered argument she slapped her glass with her fork and got up. Everybody fall silent.
"Well, everyone, I was asked to say something and you should know that I normally don't hold speeches. So, in case I screw it up, this will be the only time." Everyone apart from Data laughed. "I wish you all a good appetite and I'm not responsible for the cake." Again almost everybody laughed. She sat on her chair and wanted to eat when Wesley got up and raised his glass.
"I think we should wish Melanie a happy birthday together. To Melli." Everybody raised his or her glass, too, and said, to Melanie. She leaned her face against his shoulder.
"Oh my god, this is so embarrassing", she whispered. He patted her hair and smiled.
"Trust me, Melli, it's gonna be a lot more embarrassing", he said and his smile turned into a grin.
"Well, I'm prepared for the worst."
"Are you?" He smiled at her mischievously and finished his cake. After a while Geordi came to them.
"Wes, can you give me a hand with the projector?" She gave him a half puzzled and half scared look.
"Don't worry. Just sit back and relax." She watched him and Geordi preparing a strange device in the middle of the park. It took them not very long and when they were finished, Wesley called for silence.
"I'd like everyone to pay attention. Commander Meunier and I have prepared a little presentation about the childhood of Melli. Enjoy!" He pushed a button and a picture of Melanie as a baby appeared on the screen. Her look could only be described as flabbergasted or shocked. Kathi laid her hand on Melanie's shoulders to prevend her from getting up. Another picture of her appeared and she was very close to just push Kathi's hands away and get up to kill Wesley. It was a picture of her on her first school day with a huge cornet of cardboard and a very embarrassing outfit.
"Just for explanation, this is called a 'Schultüte' and it's given to kids on their first school day", Kathi said and smiled at Melanie who gave her a look with the ability to kill. When he was finally finished, he came back to his chair was about to sit down. She got up and gently punched him in his side.
"Wesley Crusher, you're a dead man and I will kill you as soon as the witnesses are gone!" When she said it she started laughing and the purpose of her words failed its target.
"Don't be upset. You were a cute baby."
"WESLEY!" she screamed and chased him under the laughter of the circumstances through the park. Her dress was swirling around her knees, although it was supposed to be longer.
All in all her surprise birthday party was a complete success, although Kathi had decided that she had to tell some embarrassing stories about her youth in Germany.
"Can I ask you something?" Melanie said when she and Wesley were sitting alone in his quarters, "where in earth did you get the pictures of me as a baby from?"
"Well, you know, your father reported you missing after you fell through the time portal and so a whole lot of pictures from you ended up in the data base. What was that cornet in your arms when you were about six years old?"
"As Kathi said, kids in Germany get this when they have their first school day and of course I got one, too. Normally it's filled with sweets or school stuff."
"That's sweet. I'd wish we had this too." She leaned back in her chair and smiled at him. "Oh, before I forget it; I have another present for you." He got up and also helped her out of her chair. He pulled her in a kiss and slowly guided her to his bedroom.
This will be continued in "Magic Missing scenes".