Sorry these updates aren't more regular, between work and planning a wedding my ideas aren't coming to me as fast lol. This one is pure fluff, hope you enjoy it!

"I hate hospitals," Charlotte moaned, staring at the IV freshly poked into her arm. "And I especially hate being poked."

"Aww come on now sweetie," Penelope cooed, arranging the cold hospital food that sat in front of the disgruntled brunette. "You aren't eating as well, so the IV is for your nutrition. Can't have our favorite girl wasting away."

"Cancer's already doing that, Pen," Charlotte eyed the food with distaste.

"I told you to stop saying things like that," Penelope scolded, practically pushing the plastic fork into her hand. "The doctors say you're making good progress with your lungs, and your radiation isn't going horribly. Spencer hates it when you get down. We all do."

"I'm sorry," Charlotte sighed. "It's just, it's been a bad week. I'm usually not this grumpy."

"It's about your birthday, isn't it?" Pen patted her arm sympathetically. "It must be very hard to spend such a milestone birthday in the hospital."

"I'll be 25 years old on Friday and I'm stuck here," Charlotte pouted, spearing a piece of chicken rather violently. "When I pictured myself at this age, I certainly didn't see myself sick with cancer again."

"Of course you didn't, lovebug," Pen said. "Out of curiosity though, how did you picture yourself?"

"I always thought I'd be a writer, to be honest," Charlotte sighed, setting down her fork. "I'd be hard at work on my first major novel, in a small studio apartment in New York City. I'd be engaged to a wonderful man with a good paying job, and we'd be the proud parents of a little British bulldog."

"Sounds very picturesque," Penelope smiled. "But our lives rarely turn out as we picture them, do they."

"No, I guess they don't," Charlotte shrugged. "Look at me. I've never started a book, I've only had nannying jobs since I left college, and I'm stuck in a hospital in fricking Quantico, Virginia dying of leukemia and interstitial lung disease."

"Hey now!" Pen smacked her arm, her eyebrows knitted. "Besides the cancer part, your life is pretty good. Jack is an adorable child, and nannying isn't so bad. You have amazing friends who care about you, and an absolutely wonderful boyfriend who loves you more than anything. And if you want a British bulldog, just ask Spencer. He'd give you the moon if you wanted it."

Charlotte couldn't help but smile at her friend. Trust Pen to say just the thing to cheer her up. She was right. She had the team. She had Spence. She had loved her job. Event though she hadn't planned on it, she wouldn't change any of it for the world.

"Thanks Pen," she reached out and grabbed the blonde's hand. "I needed to hear that."

"No problem babycakes," Penelope squeezed Charlotte's hand. "Ooh! That reminds me, I got you something for your birthday."

"Aww, you didn't have to!" Charlotte took the small gift bag the tech queen handed her.

"Come on, girl! You're one of my best friends, of course I had to get you a birthday present," Penelope clapped her hands. "Open it, open it!"

Charlotte smiled, reaching into the bag and pulling out the contents. "Oh Pen, this is so cute!"

It was a framed picture of the entire team and their significant others at one of Rossi's monthly Italian dinners. They were all posing goofily for the camera. Charlotte rubbed her finger lovingly over the frame, the smiling faces looking up at her warming her heart.

"Thought you needed a bit more brightness in this room," Penelope smiled. "Nothing to cheer you up like a little team spirit."

"I love it," Charlotte set the picture on her bedside table. "Thanks, Pen."

"You're welcome," Penelope patted her arm. "But that's not it. There's one more thing. Close your eyes."

"Close my eyes?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"Just do it," Penelope scolded.

Charlotte rolled her eyes but closed them. She heard some scuffling and shuffling, and a muffled curse. She frowned. "Pen?"

"One second, sweetie. Alright, open them!"

Charlotte opened her eyes, and gasped.

The whole team, plus Beth, Will, Jack and Henry were standing in her little room, smiles on their faces. Aaron had a cake balanced in one hand, and everyone was holding a present.

"Happy birthday Charlotte!" They all cried.

"We brought you a party!" Jack added gleefully, bouncing up and down.

"You guys!" Charlotte gasped, reaching for one of her many inhalers. She took a few deep puffs, letting her lungs settle. "You didn't have to!"

"Of course we did," Derek waved his hand. "Not every day our girl turns 25."

"It was all Spence's idea," JJ smiled, pushing the genius forward. "He though you could use a little cheering up."

Charlotte felt her heart swell with love as Spencer shuffled shyly towards her.

"Hope you like it, sweetheart," he leaned down to brush a kiss across her forehead. Charlotte closed her eyes at his touch, feeling a tear slip unbidden down her cheek. "I love you guys so much," she sniffed.

"Hey, no tears now," Aaron set the cake down. "This is a happy day. Who wants a piece of cake?"

As everyone crowded around the cake, Charlotte looked up at Spencer, who had remained by her side.

"Thank you baby," she smiled, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "I really needed this."

"It's nothing," Spencer blushed. "Oh, here, let me give you your present." He handed her a rolled up piece of paper. "Happy early birthday, sweetheart."

Charlotte took the paper, looking at Spencer curiously. She unrolled the paper, and her heart nearly stopped.

"Spencer," she breathed, her eyes filling with tears again. "You, you named a star after me?"

"You're my shining star," Spencer blushed deeper, a soft smile on his face. "And this way, even if," he paused, swallowing heavily, "even if you have to go, this way I can look up in the sky and see you, looking down at me. For the rest of my life."

The tears were now pouring down Charlotte's face. "Oh Spencer, baby, I love you so much."

"I love you too," Spencer pressed another kiss to her forehead. "Always and forever."

"Charlotte! Do you want some cake?" Jack's exuberant cry came from across the room.

Charlotte wiped her tears away, laughing at the little boy's enthusiasm. "That would be very lovely, thanks Jack." She lay back among the pillows, her star paper in one hand and Spencer's hand in the other, watching her family with loving eyes.

"Best birthday ever."

Thanks for reading! Review if you can please!