As February rolled in, Darren grew weary, he was going to turn 24 on the 5th, and it worried him a little, he still hadn't achieved his dream. He knew that it took time, but he still felt a little bummed out. It was also coming up to the anniversary of Chris's attack and he was acting strangely. Chris was very stressed out. He was busy writing so he had little time for Darren. But he had managed to organise a surprise party for Darren for his birthday. But Chris was having trouble with his job at the bar, he was late nearly every day and he was losing tips from customers. Chris was contemplating leaving the job but if he did he would have no money and he needed money to live. Darren on the other hand exuded happiness, he went out of his way to try and put time in for his and Chris's relationship.

Darren woke up on his birthday with a huge smile on his face, he was in a great relationship on his birthday, for the first time ever.

Darren rolled over and laid eyes upon his sleeping beauty. He lay there, staring at Chris as if he were the most exquisite, breath-taking thing in the world.

Chris's eyes fluttered open. A small smile graded his lips when he saw that Darren was awake.

'Morning, babe. Happy birthday' Chris mumbled sleepily.

'Thanks. You look so beautiful at the moment' Darren said happily, gazing deeply into Chris's eyes.

'Thanks, you too' Chris muttered, flickering his eyes away from Darren's.

'Are you alright Chris? You seem different' Darren said seriously, his expression of love transformed into worry.

'I'm fine baby, I've just got a lot on my mind. Anyway today isn't my day, it's yours. What do you want to do?' Chris asked, raising himself up onto his elbows.

'Well just to spend the day with you will be the best present ever' Darren said happily.

'Cute Dare, but would you like to open your present now? It's not much but I hope you like it' Chris warned as he stood from the bed to retrieve the wrapped gift from the wardrobe.

'I'm sure that I'll love it whatever it is' Darren smiled as he watched Chris walk into the small wardrobe.

Chris returned with a long wrapped gift and a small white enveloped card placed on the Polk-a-dot paper.

'Oh my god, I love the paper' Darren yelped, jumping up onto his knees and looking like a small child receiving a quad bike on Christmas.

'I knew you would' Chris smiled dreamily at Darren, placing the slightly heavy parcel at Darren's knees.

'Wow, I can't wait to see what you got me' Darren mumbled as he slid the card off the present.

'I hope you like it, it came in the male yesterday. I special ordered it for you' Chris blushed deeply and turned his head away from the glowing Darren.

Darren opened the envelope and retrieved a card that had Happy Birthday written on it in rainbow colours.

'That's a little on the nose, don't you think?' Darren smiled at Chris happily.

'Well yeah, but I knew you would like it' Chris shrugged.

'I love it already and I haven't even opened it' Darren smiled and placed a small kiss on Chris's lips. Chris looked a little awkward but returned the radiant smile that Darren gave him.

Darren opened the card and saw that Chris had written a small paragraph inside it. It went like this:

Darren. Happy birthday baby!

I hope you have an awesome day and I

Really hope you like the present.

I love you so much so you'd better have a good

Day. Or else…

Happy Birthday

'Oh believe me babe, I will have a good day today' Darren smiled over at Chris who blushed a little, it was hard for him to conceive that he had a boyfriend a year after he was attacked for being gay.

Darren put the card aside and pulled the present closer to him.

'I can't wait to see what this is' he repeated while he ripped the paper off.

There was a plain white box with the words Nobel Collection written on it in black.

'Oh my god, babe you didn't…' Darren exclaimed loudly as he ripped open the box.

'Be careful Dare; that cost like…well a lot' Chris laughed.

'OH MY GOD, CHRIS' Darren yelled happily as he raised a replica of the Sword of Gryffindor in the air.

'Do you like it?' Chris asked worriedly.

'I LOVE IT' Darren yelled, placing the sword down gently on the bed before throwing himself at Chris, pinning him down on the bed and placing kisses upon his face.

'I love you so much' Darren breathed in between kisses.

'You too, but babe please stop, you're getting me wet…' Chris said loudly.

'Oops, sorry babe' Darren apologised and let Chris go.

'That's alright, I just wasn't expecting this kind of reaction.'

Darren stared at Chris for a moment before turning back to his present.

'Oh cool it come with a wall hanging!'

A few hours later the sword was hanging in the living room on the wooden plaque that came with it. Darren was sitting on the sofa, just staring at it.

Chris walked into the room and smirked at Darren who was looking like a young puppy.

'Dare, let's go, we have reservations at eight' Chris reminded him.

'Coming. Are you sure this place is not fancy?' Darren asked, running to catch up with Chris.

'I'm positive Dare' Chris said for the hundredth time that day.

'And you are sure that I've been there before.'

'Oh that I know you have' Chris smiled 'you've been there plenty of times.'

Darren wracked his brain trying to remember what restaurant he had been to many times and that wasn't fancy. All he could think of was McDonalds, but he was sure that Chris wouldn't take him there for his birthday.

They walked out onto the street, Darren started to walk off down the street before he realised that Chris wasn't next to him anymore, instead he was standing next to this blue Forward car that had two people in it.

'Chris, are you alright?' Darren called out as he made his way over, he didn't need Chris to be attacked again when it was a year since his first attack.

'I'm fine, Darren. Come here though' Chris called out.

Darren ran over to Chris and looked inside the unfamiliar car. He saw Cerina and Charles Criss sitting there, smiling at him.

'Mum, dad. Did you get a new car?' Darren asked in wonder, his parents car was sliver, not a dark blue like this one.

'No honey, this is yours' Cerina smiled happily and took the keys from Charles who was flashing a toothy grin that he had passed down to his son.

Darren stared at the keys his mother was holding out to him.

'What-what do you mean?' Darren stuttered as he slowly took the keys from his mother.

'Well you are a big 24 year old now Darren and you live with Chris and neither of you have a car so we decided to give you one for your birthday. Oh and Chuck says it's also from him because he forgot to get you a present' Charles said matter-of-factly.

Darren stared at his parents for a moment before a wide grin splayed over his face.

'Oh my god, you guys are the best!' he yelled.

Cerina and Charles got out of the car and walked to their son. Chris was standing behind the family, smiling.

'Darren hugged his parents before turning to Chris and saying 'you knew about this, didn't you?' and before Chris gave an answer, Darren walked over to him and bought him into a bone-crunching hug and whispering 'your present still beats this one.'

Chris smiled happily and patted Darren on the back before pulling away.

'Well now that you've got your car, how about we go to the restaurant?' Chris asked happily.

'Sure, except I don't know where it is…' Darren began but Chris silenced his with a finger to his lips.

'Babe you'll be in the back with me, blindfolded. Your parents will drive us there' Chris said happily.

'Are you guys coming also?' Darren asked excitedly 'Is Chuck there meeting us?' Darren asked.

'Yes to both' Cerina said as she produced a small black blindfold from her purse and handed over to her son.

'Now put this on when you're in the car and hold onto Chris, you are terribly uncoordinated and we don't want you to fall.'

Darren smiled at his mother and took the blindfold from her. He followed Chris into the car. It had the new car smell and Darren loved it.

Chris smiled at Darren before Darren got the hint. He placed the blindfold over his eyes and all he saw was blackness.

'Whoa guys, this is kind of creepy' Darren said suddenly. Chris chuckled while his parents snorted.

'Darren, trust us' was all that Chris said.

The car trip was silent, Darren was sitting there, listening to everyone breath it was a little hypnotic to him.

The trip took about fifteen minutes and Chris got out of the car first before opening the door for Darren and offering out his arm which Darren gladly accepted.

'Ok now there are some steps here' Chris warned as they walked up the pathway.

'So just hold onto me and take it slowly' Chris warned Darren. Darren squeezed Chris's hand and said 'ok.'

They climbed the six steps, Darren heard the door to the place open. He and Chris followed his parents into the building.

'Can I take the blindfold off?' Darren whined.

'Yes baby' Chris said happily, watching as Darren raised his hands and wrenched the black blindfold off his face.

'SURPRISE' called out about thirsty voices.

Darren actually jumped in the air, he was not expecting this. He was standing in his parents' house with all his friends and family there.

'Oh my god, guys' Darren called out while placing his hand over his chest 'I was not expecting that.'

'Good, so it worked then' Chuck called out from the crowd.

'Like a charm' Cerina smiled down at Darren.

'Happy birthday Darren' Chris whispered into Darren's ear.

'You set this up didn't you?' Darren asked as the guests started to talk among themselves, somewhere in the depths of the house music started to play.

'Yeah I did, are you really surprised.'

'Yes I am. And oh my god, Chris, this is amazing. I love you so much' Darren said happily. He leant up and kissed Chris happily, this was not the birthday he was expecting but he loved it anyway.