It was Alara's first birthday aboard The Orville and frankly she's not imagined much fuss being made. Maybe a few 'Happy Birthdays' and a couple of presents in her quarters after her shift but she'd never imagined the whole mess hall being turned into full party mode just fo her. Retirements, special occasions or Ambassadors, yeah, but her not so much.
When their shifts ended the entire bridge crew had left the night shift lot to take over and Alara had innocently been shuffled down to the mess hall only to find the tables moved back and the party already in full swing. There were banners and the balloons that Humans were so fond of in all different colors, her favourite songs were playing and it didn't take a genius to figure out Isaac had been the prime cause of that. Speaking of Isaac, he'd quickly vanished from sight only to appear a moment later with a glass of wine for her that she took with a smile before leaning into his metal form.
"Thank you, Isaac."
"You are quite welcome." Came his easy reply. "One of the stipulations of our relationship was that I provide for your needs and wants."
Alara chuckled over the hubbub. "So you're taking care of me."
"Indeed."
"Good. Always best to have a happy girlfriend. I love you."
"I know. Also, happy birthday, Alara."
Alara paused then with a question. It was a question she'd had for a while but for some reason kept forgetting about only to remember when Isaac wasn't around.
"Isaac, how old are you?" She asked curiously.
"Seven-hundred and thirty-one." He replied. "However, that is according to The Orville's measurement of years, three-hundred and sixty-five days consisting as one year since the Union runs on Earth times."
Alara's eyes were wide. "Please tell me the seven-hundred is because of your time on that planet, I couldn't cope if you were over a thousand."
"You are correct, my time on the multi-phasic planet has added seven-hundred years to my life while you only aged eleven days."
The Xelayan calmed a little at that and relaxed against him. "Okay, good. Awesome. So you're thirty-one, only seven years older than me really. Mom and Dad can't through a fit over seven years."
"Seven-hundred and seven, Alara." He corrected.
"Yeah, I don't think those years count so I'm not gonna mention them to my parents... like ever."
Isaac nodded slightly as people moved around them going this way and that for drinks and to help themselves to the buffet.
"As you wish, Alara. I believe this is a topic you would deem it is 'always best to have a happy girlfriend' in."
Alara smirked and took a sip of wine. "Good boy, you're learning."
It was then that Gordon, Kelly and Lamar approached the pair with their own drinks in hand and smiles on their faces; the helmsman seemed to be half way through some sort of spring roll.
"Must be weird flirting with a glorified toaster."
Kelly had just been about to reprimand the Lt. Commander when someone bumped into him as they passed and knocked his beer from his hand. Before anyone could even move Isaac had caught the glass and raised it back up for him to take.
"Ask that of your toaster."
Malloy burst into laughter then while Lamar took back his beer.
"Dude, you just got owned by Isaac!"
Kelly decided then to change the subject then. "Have you been enjoying your birthday so far, Alara?" She asked with a smile.
Alara nodded. "Oh, yeah. Thank you for all of this-" she gestured to the decorations around her "- it's great."
"Good. Come on, open your presents."
So Alara did. Being watched by so many people had been a little weird but she soon got through it. The Captain made a small speech afterwards that had just enough jokes and random comments in it to keep even Gordon's attention and afterwards stupid – and rather bad – karaoke took over as did the largest chocolate cake she'd ever seen.
It was fun, entertaining and in many ways special but by the time Alara and Isaac got to her quarters she was tired and ready for bed; would have been nice to ride Isaac for a couple of hours but no, she didn't have the energy. Isaac seemed to notice that easily because as soon as he'd set the presents he'd carried for her down on the coffee table he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom where he sat Alara down on the bed and took off her shoes while she striped off her clothes. Once she was settled and tucked up in the bed she reached out for Isaac's hand.
"Stay? It is my birthday."
"Actually your birthday ended an hour and thirteen minutes ago, although I will remain if you wish."
Alara watched with a smile as he lay down on top of the covers beside her. She reached over to flick off the bedside lamp only to find a small box no more than the size of her palm wrapped in purple paper with a silver bow waiting for her. The Xelayan instantly sat up and plucked it from the night stand.
"Happy birthday, Alara." Said Isaac calmly as his girlfriend turned to beam at him. It was only in that moment that she realised she'd not gotten a present from Isaac himself. "I have learnt that surprise presents are sometimes more meaningful."
"Thank you, Isaac." Alara leant over to kiss his faceplate where his lips should have been. "I really wish you could kiss me for real."
Her attention went back to the small box then and she quickly shredded the paper from her gift until it lay in scraps on the sheets. With the paper gone she found a standard and rather uninteresting looking white glossed box that she opened eagerly. There she discovered a silver bracelet similar to that of a charm bracelet she'd once seen Claire wear, it had a single charm hanging from it, a small silver X, one section of which looked as though it had connected to or slotted into something else at some point.
"Oh, Isaac, it's beautiful." She quickly put it on to admire the bracelet against her skin. "I love it! Thank you. Does this mean I always have a kiss?"
Isaac nodded. "Yes, that was the intended affect. However, it is more than that. Since our relations began I have allotted extra time into the study of relationships and the concept of love." Alara was in for a long explanation again she could tell, still, she didn't mind. "I have learnt that biological lifeforms – especially Humans, Xelayans and Bragians – see giving someone love as giving away their heart; an important part of themselves A symbolic representation that one could not live without the other half of the couple. This is, of course, incorrect, however, it is the persisted symbolism that is important. I have no emotions so I cannot give you my love and I am not biological so I do not have a heart either, although, I do have a generator which is the artificial counterpart. I have recently preformed a diagnostic and repaired parts of myself. This-" Isaac pointed with a metal finger to the X charm "- is a piece of the inner workings of my generator. It seemed fitting that this piece resembled a human kiss mark."
Tears welled in Alara's eyes. "This is part of you? You're giving me a piece of you?"
When she blinked tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Yes. That is what I said. Why are you crying?" Isaac enquired. "Have I done something to upset you or have I misunderstood? If so please correct me."
Alara shook her head and moved to straddle him in a single motion.
"No! No, you've done everything right! I love you." She kissed him.
"Happy crying?"
The Xelayan breathed out a laugh at that. "Yeah. Happy crying."
Alara kissed him again right where his lips should have been; oh how she wished she could kiss him.
"Are you sure you can't feel?"
"Quite certain." Came his quick reply. "Has my gift been well received?"
Alara nodded frantically. "Very! And don't let it go to your head but you may be the best boyfriend ever."
The brunette yawned then and leant against his shoulder.
"It is time for you to sleep."
Isaac easily manoeuvred her over to lay down on the mattress. He lay beside her for hours as she slept, when Alara started to thrash and jostle about he soothed her by rolling her onto her left side and pulled the covers back up over her; he'd had to do that a few times since they'd started dating. Sometimes he wanted to be able to sleep as she did, to dream, the experience would have been rather enlightening.