Disclaimer: I'm only using anything familiar from POI for entertainment purposes.

Word Count: 474

Mini Summary: Joss wants to surprise John on his special day.


Chapter 29 - John's Birthday

A new day, a year older. Joss knew that Joss was a bit sensitive when it came to these days. This would be the second birthday he would have since they have known each other. Now things would be different. Joss learned from Finch that John wasn't busy with work but he hadn't been in his loft. She let herself in with a spare key John had given her a few months ago, prepared to surprise him.

Things had been a little rough in the last couple of weeks with case workloads and John probably thought that she had forgotten about his birthday. Unlucky for him, she didn't. There was no way she was going to let him go through his day like any other day. Joss took the time to bake him a cake herself and Taylor had gotten him a gift of tickets to a basketball game with some money that he made after taking a part-time job.

It would be a small gesture but Joss wanted to do things like this for him. Their relationship was one that she wouldn't give up for the world. He may be difficult sometimes but John was worth going through all the hassle for. He was a beautiful man inside and out and tonight he was going to officially be a little older after blowing out the candles, which wasn't a bad thing at all.

John had a sexiness to him that was uniquely his. Those silver streaks on the side of his hair most men would do their best to cover up. He, on the other hand, seemed to embrace the look and it suited him perfectly. His stamina in the bedroom was even more amazing for his age. Joss wondered how in the world she could have landed a perfect man like him. Talk about hitting the jackpot in more ways than one.

Joss put the delicious cake on the living room table and decorated it with the appropriate amount of candles before lighting them. Putting on a colorful hat and picking up a popper, she checked her phone and saw John's GPS marker in the building. Smirking, she snuck her way to the door and pressed up against the wall next to it. Her breathing sped up when she heard the jingling of keys and just as the door opened, she struck.

"Happy birthday John" she shouted in jubilation before pulling on the popper to cause streamers to fly into the air.

John completely caught off guard, looked at his girlfriend. "Joss, you didn't have to do this."

She stopped any further protests with a finger to his lips. "Hush you. I slaved over your cake so you're going to enjoy it." Barely giving him a chance to put his things away, John let himself get dragged to his living room, secretly happy to be sharing this day with her.