Here's the next chapter with a surprise for Buffy. Thank you to all you who reviewed.

The next morning when Buffy awoke she smiled seeing the teddy bear Link had given her lying in the bed beside her. She picked up the bear and smiled before hugging it tightly. There was a knock on her door and Buffy looked up to see Doctor Smith.

"Good morning. Doctor Carrey said that you had a very quiet night once everyone left."

"Yes, I will admit that after delivering the gifts to all those people I was tired."

"How are you feeling right now?"

"Hungry and ready to go home. When can I leave?"

"When I say you can. I haven't gotten all the results back from your testing so until I do you are to remain here. I even brought you something that should help keep you from becoming bored."

Buffy watched as he went back in the hall and came back with a cart that had a television on it.

"I thought about what you said so I brought this from my own home. The results of the rest of your test should be in later today if everything looks good we could probably send you home tomorrow morning."

"Thank you Doctor Smith. This was really nice of you."

"You're welcome. I know it can be tough to stay occupied when you're stuck in a hospital. I'll see what's taking your breakfast so long."

Doctor Smith had just opened the door when he saw visitors walking down the hall.

"Looks like you have company coming."

Doctor Smith left the door open as he left and soon her father, Corny, and Link had come in. Her father came over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Morning Dad. Morning Corny. Morning Link." Buffy said hugging Corny and kissing Link.

"How are you feeling honey?"

"I feel fine. Doctor Smith says if my tests come back positive I could go home tomorrow."

"That's good. The house has been quiet without you there."

"Hey beautiful, I just wanted to come see you before school started. I'll be back after the show with some of your work. Your dad wants to make sure you don't fall behind having missed a month." Link kissed her goodbye quickly once more before saying goodbye to Corny and Mr. Summers.

"I need to get going as well. I'm going to head into work for a few hours. If you need me have the nurse call me and I'll come running."

"I'll be okay daddy. Doctor Smith brought a TV in for me to watch so I'll get to see the show later."

"All right. I'll stop by after I'm done working. I love you Buffy."

"I love you too daddy."

As Buffy's father was leaving the nurse was coming in with her breakfast. The nurse sat Buffy's breakfast tray on her lap and then headed back out. Corny sat with and let her eat. When she was done he took the tray and put it on the nearby table.

"Buffy you remember on your and Link's one month I told you that you reminded me of someone and one day I would tell you. When you got sick I was afraid that I was never going to be able to tell you about my little sister Christy. Christy was ten when she became very sick. She spent months in the hospital until finally she passed away. She would have been about the same age as you and Link. Christy was such a free spirit. She was a loving, caring person, and she knew just how to make people smile and laugh. She was spirited and so much more just like you."

"I wish I could have met her."

"You would have like her. When you got sick I thought it was happening all over again, and I thought I couldn't bear to lose another sister."

"You didn't. You can't get rid of me that easily. I think my mom and your sister were watching over me." Buffy said reaching over him and hugging him tightly. "You'll always be a part of my family even if I one day one of us leaves Baltimore. We'll fly out and see each other and talk on the phone."

"I love you Lil Sis."

"I love you too big brother."

Buffy test results came back positive and Buffy was released the following morning. It was Saturday and Buffy was looking forward to seeing her friends. Her father picked her up and Buffy was disappointed that Link hadn't come to see her home.

"I'm sure he'll be by later." Her father said once they were in the car.

"I know. He probably had practice today."

Hank Summers watched as his daughter tried to hide her pout and he was smiling on the inside. Fifteen minutes later they arrived home and Buffy's smile widened instantly as she saw Link leaning against his car. When the car came to a complete stop, Link was there opening her door and offering his hand.

"Sorry I wasn't there when you were released. I'm afraid I overslept a bit."

"That's okay you're here now." Buffy said kissing him quickly before they walked into the house.

"I have practice in an hour. Do you want to come?" Link asked as they sat down in the living room.

"Can I daddy?"

"That will be all right I guess. I have to go into work for a few hours today anyway to make up for some of the time I took off. I don't want you overdoing it."

"I won't. I need to get a bath in then before we go. I'll be back down here in twenty minutes." Hank Summers and Link watched as Buffy ran up the stairs excited about being able to go out.

Buffy and Link arrived at the studio right at eleven. They had managed to hit every traffic light on the way to the studio and Buffy thought Link did a few on purpose. Link opened her door for her and offered her his hand to help her out. He then offered her his arm to escort her inside. Once they were inside Buffy thought the studio seemed awful quiet.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Buffy had jumped a bit when they all jumped out from where ever they were hiding. They had surprised her that was for sure.

"Wait a minute! My birthday isn't until May 5th."

"We know and that's today." Corny told her and the others nodded.

Buffy looked around at everyone who was there. Almost all the council was there with the exception of Amber. Seaweed, Jermaine, Rhonda, Pearl, and a few others that Buffy knew from Negro day were there. There were also a few people she knew from school there and off to the side stood her father.

"I can't believe I didn't remember it was my birthday."

"Well it was your dad's idea. We mentioned wanting to throw you a sort of "We Missed You" "Welcome back party" and he mentioned your birthday so this party is a combination of all three." Link told her.

"This is great." Buffy said as she took in the decorations. She moved over to where her father stood. "So this is where you hurried off to. You didn't have to go to work."

"I knew you didn't remember your birthday was coming. You never did like to make a fuss but this day seventeen years ago was one of the happiest days of my life. Happy Birthday Buffy."

"Thanks daddy."

"You have a good time with your friends and I'll see you later tonight for a family celebration." Buffy nodded as Corny turned on some music and everyone began dancing.

Buffy was hot from all the dancing and she and Link went to the punch bowl to get a drink. Seaweed and Tracy were also making their way to the bowl. Buffy had seen the two dancing together and couldn't help but smile at how cute they look.

"So are you having a good time?" Buffy asked Seaweed and Tracy.

"Yeah, who knew cracker boy here could throw such a good party. What about you? When I heard you were in the hospital I tried to come see you but the hospital wouldn't let me in. They said it was for whites only."

"It's okay Seaweed. I know you would have been there if you could."

"I would have. You are one of the few people that have ever treated us like we were no different. The first time we met on Corny's show and you asked if there was anything we needed I knew the color of our skin meant nothing to you. I'm glad I have you as a friend." Seaweed hugged her.

"Me too." Buffy told him.

Link went over to the punch bowl and began dipping out the punch and handing a glass to each of them. Before they had time to enjoy any of it the music stopped.

"Where's the birthday girl? Buffy come out here to the middle of the stage."

Buffy looked at Link, Tracy, and Seaweed who only smiled at her. Setting their drinks down Link led Buffy to the center of the stage. The lights on the stage dimmed a bit as the council gathered around Buffy and began singing a special rendition of Happy Birthday that had a rock beat to it. As they sang Corny rolled a cart out that held a cake that was shaped like a big can of hairspray that said Happy 17th Birthday Buffy. The 17 on the cake were number candles. When the song ended Buffy blew out the candles and the lights came back up.

"Let me guess Mr. Spritzer sprung for the cake?" Buffy asked. Corny nodded.

"He said he had brought his granddaughter a cake just like this." Corny told her. "Tracy and Shelley are going to cut the cake while you open your gifts."

Buffy nodded as Link brought out a chair for her to sit in and the other guest grabbed their gifts to give to Buffy.

After the party ended Buffy and Link did a few things together before returning to Buffy's to give her a chance to change. Hank had told Link that he was taking Buffy's family out to dinner at one of Baltimore more expensive restaurants. Link found out that Buffy's family included himself, Corny, Tracy, and Tracy's parents. Once Link had dropped Buffy off, he quickly ran home to change his own clothes. For the party he had opted for slacks and a nice collared shirt which would mean he'd be under dress for the restaurant. He grabbed one of his suits that he wore for the show picking the one he knew Buffy liked. Checking his hair in the mirror he grabbed his hairspray and began spraying it all over. Satisfied with his appearance he left his room and checked in on his father who was passed out from drinking once again. Quietly shutting the door to his father's room he left to return to Buffy's. Buffy had wanted to meet Link's father but Link kept coming up with excuses for his father like he was out of town or working when in reality he was mostly drunk. As he pulled up to Buffy's house he put the depressing thoughts of his father behind him and put on his most charming smile. Knocking on the door, his mouth dropped upon seeing Buffy and the dress she was wearing.

"I take it you like what you see." Buffy said stepping back and twirling for him. Link nodded.

"I never thought you could get more beautiful than you already were but I was clearly wrong. You look stunning." Link said seeing that she was wearing the heart-shaped earrings that he had given her at the studio.

"You look pretty good yourself. I love you in that suit. It's my favorite one."

"I know." Link said with a charming smile as he leaned in to kiss Buffy.

"Buffy is that Link I hear?" The two jumped apart quickly.

"Yes daddy." Buffy called back. Her father then came down the stairs dressed in one of his nicest suits.

"Good, Corny is picking up the others and I told him we'd meet them at the restaurant. Come on our reservation is at seven."

They walked out to Hank's car where Link opened the door for her as she climbed into the backseat. Once she was in he climbed in behind her. Buffy and Link talked quietly in the car as her father drove.

By the time Buffy, Link, and her father arrived at the restaurant Corny and the Turnblads were already there. Buffy greeted each one of them with a hug before they went in. Link offered her his arm and they walked in behind her father. Buffy's eyes went wide at how fancy the place looked. There were tablecloths and candles on every table. There was a huge dance floor where at one corner there was a man playing soft romantic music on a piano that people were dancing to. They were taken to their table where Link ever the gentleman pulled out Buffy's chair for her. They all sat down and began looking over the menu.

"Oh wow, look at all this. I don't know if I can choose just one thing off this menu. It all sounds so good."

"It's your night honey. Order anything you want. If you can't decide on one get both. Whatever you want." Buffy nodded and looked at Tracy who sat on the other side of her. "What are you getting?"

"I think I'm going to get the chicken parmesan. What about you Link?"

"I'm with Buffy on this one. I'm having a hard time deciding."

He looked the menu over again and he and Buffy began to talk about what to order. By the time the waiter had come they had decided on two different meals that they both wanted. This way they could eat off of each other's plate. With the orders taken Link turned to Buffy.

"Would the birthday girl do me the honor of this dance?"

"I would love to."

Link and Buffy found a spot on the dance floor and began to slow dance with her. Knowing that they had the eyes of just about everyone at their table they made sure to stand at a reasonable distance. The two danced until dinner was brought to the table.

After dinner and dessert Hank presented his daughter with her present. He handed her a big rectangular box and Buffy had a good idea what it was. She had been admiring a jacket. Taking the bow off, lifting the lid, and moving aside the tissue, she pulled the jacket out. Her face lit up into a huge smile as she clutched the jacket to her chest. She jumped out of her chair and hugged her father.

"Thank you daddy. It's exactly what I wanted."

"I know." Her father said with a chuckle. Buffy went back to her seat and putting the jacket back in the box.

"Mine next." Corny said handing her a smaller square box. Buffy lifted the lid and gasped when she saw the picture frame.

"Thank you Corny, I love it. Look Link."

Buffy took the picture frame out of the box and showed it to Link. It was the newspaper picture of them and it was signed by Elvis.

"We got you something too Buffy." Tracy said as her mother held out the package.

Buffy took it and opened it. Inside the box were items from the joke shop that had her picture on it.

"Tracy told us it was your plan to give the patients flowers to cheer them up. I had these made up especially for you."

"Thank you. I love them. Especially this one." Buffy held up the whoopee cushion with her and Link's face.

"I've got something for you too." Link said reaching into his jacket and pulling out a long, skinny, rectangular box.

"Link you didn't have to. The earrings you gave me at the studio were enough."

"Consider this part of that one. Once you open it you'll see why I didn't give it to you there."

Buffy took the present from him and lifted the lid. She gasped at the beautiful heart-shaped locket. She lifted it out and slowly began to examine it. On the back there was an inscription Buffy and Link 4-ver.

Below the inscription there was a lock.

"There's more. Look underneath." Link told her pointing to the case.

Buffy set the locket down on the table and picked up the case. She pulled out the board that the locket had been placed on. In the bottom of the necklace case was a key attached to a note. The note read: The key to my heart.

She pulled the key off the note and placed it in the lock of the locket. Turning it she heard the click as it opened to reveal a picture of both of them.

"Oh Link!" Buffy cried out and quickly turned and hugged him. "It's perfect! I love it! Thank you."

A few tears slipped down her face but everyone knew they were tears of joy.

I know Buffy's birthday is like in January but for my purposes it's in May. I hope you like it.