"Hey Jase, you know what this means?" Shane said as he, Jason and Eliza sat waiting for the others to return. Jason just looked at him blankly. "You get to go out in Las Vegas after all." Jason smiled in realisation.

"Do you want to?" He asked Eliza, "I understand if you don't it's just, well, it might be a cool way to celebrate." He was trying to appear casual but in reality he really wanted to go out.

"Sounds good to me, will we have enough time?" Eliza asked.

"Depends how tired you're willing to be tomorrow." Shane responded. "If it was me, I'd give up sleep altogether to celebrate such an important occasion." He encouraged them.

"We could just stay out until we get tired?" Jason suggested, to which Eliza agreed enthusiastically, getting quite excited.

"Hey Shane, can we borrow you a sec?" Mitchie called down the stairs. He excused himself, leaving the birthday boy and girl alone.

"The bus looks really cool." Jason stated. "The girls went all out for you."

"You want to share it?" Eliza suggested, sensing he was a bit jealous. "In fact," She continued as she rose from her seat and crossed the bus to a small cupboard in the kitchen area. She'd discovered it to be quite a good hiding place over the last few weeks and when the guys had asked them to give them their presents for Jason, she'd kept one behind so he wouldn't have to wait all day to receive anything. She returned to her seat before handing over the small present.

He pulled the shiny wrapping off, revealing a tiny box. He slid the lid off before emitting an incredibly girly squeal as he saw what was inside.

"Liza, this is awesome!" He exclaimed, repeatedly flipping the new plectrum over and over in his hand. It was bright blue. One side had an image of a robin standing on a branch with his initials on, the other a carefully drawn birdhouse. It was perfect. "I'm keeping this forever." He said, wrapping his arms around Eliza. Then, realisation hit him and he turned suddenly solemn.

"What's up?" Eliza asked, worried something was wrong with her gift.

"I didn't get you anything. You got me this perfect gift and I have nothing to give you in return." Jason explained sadly.

"Jase, don't be silly. I didn't tell you it was my birthday. I don't expect you to get me anything." Eliza responded.

"But that's not fair." He sighed. They were both quiet for a moment before Eliza had an idea.

"Tell you what. Tonight, when we go out, you help me celebrate properly and we're even, okay?" She suggested.

"No. I'll help you celebrate and then, when we're done with the tour, I will buy you the most awesome present ever, then we'll be even." He held out his hand. "Deal?" Eliza nodded before shaking his hand.

"Deal" She said.

CR-CR-CR

"Jase, Liza, you guys have to stay on the bus until we tell you, kay?" Nate said. They wanted to be sure everything was set up in the hotel before the two of them got to see it. They had moved to the guys' bus so everything from the girls', including all of Eliza's presents which she had refused to open until Jason got his, could be easily moved.

"I still can't believe we're twenty-one." Eliza said as she took a seat.

"I know, it's so old. I swear I'm not mature enough to be that old." Jason responded.

"No, you're really not." Eliza joked. She loved how immature her twin often was, it was definitely better than being constantly serious.

Five minutes later Nate returned, informing them they were now allowed to enter. Jason was so excited he actually ran through the hotel to get to the suite everyone was sharing (a one off as it was their birthdays). As Shane opened the door wide smiles spread across both their faces.

The entire room was filled with balloons of different shapes and sizes, some reading 'Happy 21st', others in the shape of a 21. On the walls hung banners and photos of both Jason and, thanks to some last minute contact with the Austen's, Eliza through their lives. The floor was barely visible under the massive pile of presents.

"Guys, this is insane!" Eliza exclaimed as she looked around. "How did you do all this?"

"We had some of the crew help." Shane explained. It had taken quite a bit of pre-planning to make sure everything was where it needed to be in time.

"This so beats Disney!" Jason stated. "So...presents?" He suggested. Eliza nodded enthusiastically and they were ushered to the sofas in the centre of the room while the rest of the gang handed the presents over one at a time.

After nearly an hour of continuous unwrapping there were only six presents left, three each. One from each of their parents, their gifts from Marie, who'd insisted hers were opened last, and two small ones, wrapped in the same paper which only had a 'to' not a 'from'.

"Let's open these next." Jason suggested, picking up the mystery gifts and handing Eliza hers. They opened them at the same time, ripping the paper off rapidly and discarding it on the floor. They were left holding a small, square box each. There was one difference though; Eliza's had a large note attached. They opened the boxes to reveal two very similar charms, a small five point star made out of sterling silver, the only difference being that Jason's had 'brother' engraved on it and Eliza's 'sister'. On the back was the date and time of their births, Eliza a few minutes after Jason's.

"Wow, our fans are generous." Jason stated as he inspected the charm before removing the chain from around his neck and sliding the star onto it.

"Yeah." Eliza replied, the note still firmly gripped in her hand. She had a sense this wasn't from some anonymous fan. She excused herself, going into her room wanting to read the note in private. The others shared a concerned glance, those who knew the secret having their own theories about the mysterious gifts.

Eliza took a seat on the edge of the bed, placing the charm beside her. She unfolded the note nervously, unsure who it would be from.

Dear Eliza,

I hope you like the charm. I'm aware you don't know who I am, don't worry, I'll explain. You have actually met me, though your parents didn't explain who I really was. My name is Tiffany Black. I am your biological Grandmother (on your birth mother's side).

Why couldn't I just put that on the gift tag you ask? I'm not sure if my grandsons yet know of your true relation to them and I knew if they saw my name, they'd wonder why I was giving you and Jason such similar gifts.

I've watched you grow up, from a tiny baby on the day of your birth to the mature and successful young lady you now are. You used to ask your parents who I was whenever I visited in your childhood and every time they told you I was a family friend. I'm glad you can now know the truth and perhaps I can finally treat you as a Grandmother should her only Granddaughter.

I guess you're wondering why your parents didn't tell you about me when they told you about your adoption. I asked them not to; I wanted to tell you in my own way, when I felt the time was right which I do now.

When you were born, I was the first person Denise and Paul told about their plan. I tried to persuade them not to go through with it, but they were too determined. I am so sorry I was unable to stop you being separated from your family. After I spoke to my daughter that day, I rushed out to buy both you and Jason a gift each. They came in two parts.

You both received the first part on your 13th birthdays, a symbol of your transition into teenage. Do you remember it? A tiny silver charm bracelet, though it contained no charms, ready for you and your family to fill. If I remember correctly, you refused to take it off, even when you slept. Jason received a chain of his own, which he wears around his neck continuously. Unlike you, he was aware it was from me.

The second part is the charm you now have in your possession. I've waited twenty one years to give it to you. I wanted both you and Jason to have something which binds you together, no matter how subtly.

I hope this charm helps to bring you together. It was always my wish to see all my grandchildren spending time with each other.

I hope that soon I will see you again, but in the mean time always remember Eliza dear, that throughout your life you had a family who loved you, whether they be blood relations or not, you made them so happy.

Happy 21st Birthday. May all your dreams come true.

Love, Tiffany Black.

Eliza placed the note beside her, unhooking the chain which had become a constant feature on her wrist over the last 8 years. She looked at the many charms she had collected. Every year she'd been given one by her parents and one by Marie. Her eyes fell on her favourite charm, a tiny music note, engraved with the date she'd signed her record contract. Every time she looked at it, it reminded her of the best day of her life.

She slid the new charm in place, before putting the bracelet back on her wrist. She smiled at the piece of jewellery which now represented both of her families, connected.

CR-CR-CR

"Liza, can I show you something?" Mitchie asked, poking her head round the dressing room door. Eliza agreed and allowed Mitchie to lead her back to the stage.

"What did you want to show me?" She asked as they came to a halt.

"You'll see in a minute." They waited, listening to Connect 3 perform 'Pushing Me Away', their final song before their encore.

"They sound so much better than they used to, even in their old stuff." Eliza commented. She rarely heard the guys' set, remaining in her dressing room once her performance was over.

"I know what you mean, I'm glad the label gave them this chance." Mitchie responded.

"Today's a very special day on the 'Play My Music' tour." They heard Shane say to the crowd, surprising Eliza who had expected them to disappear off the stage in the usual false end style. "Not one, but two people are celebrating their twenty-first birthdays." Jason's head snapped up as he realised what Shane was saying. He blushed when he heard the cheer of the crowd.

"Jason is now a fully fledged adult, hard to believe I know." A laugh could be clearly heard from the audience. "And so is someone you have already seen tonight. Do you think you could give us a hand getting the birthday girl on stage?" The crowd cheered again and from her position beside Mitchie, Eliza couldn't help but laugh.

"After three you all need to yell 'Eliza' okay?" Shane explained before counting to three slowly and then, in an almighty eruption of noise, Eliza heard her name screamed by nearly 17,000 people. Mitchie led her onto the stage, whilst Nate dragged Jason to the centre so the two of them were stood side by side.

"We want you guys to help us to help them celebrate, what do you think?" Mitchie asked, receiving yet more cheers in response.

"Ready?" Nate asked, the others nodding in response before leading the crowd in a performance of Happy Birthday. As everyone sang, Marie and Caitlyn walked slowly and carefully onto the stage, each carrying a birthday cake with 21 lit candles on top. They placed a cake each on the table which had been positioned in front of the twenty one year olds.

Jason's cake was so perfect he couldn't believe it.

"This is so cool!" He exclaimed into the microphone as he stood staring at his cake, whilst it stared back at him. It was an intrinsically crafted robin, completed with individual feathers, all made from Victoria sponge cake and fully iced. It sat on a branch and in it's mouth it held a piece of paper upon which were the words 'Jason Grey 21 today.' It was the absolute perfect cake for him.

Eliza meanwhile couldn't believe the cake she was presented with. It was shaped to look like a stack of CDs, each representing a real album she owned, including Connect 3s latest. The CD on the top was her own, complete with album cover which had been copied so precisely it looked almost real. On top of the CDs lay an IPod, with the headphones hanging down beside it. The screen read 'Happy Birthday' with 'Eliza Austen' below as if it was the artist name of the track being listened to. To Eliza, it was definitely the best cake she had ever received.

The girls stood there proudly watching their friends' reactions. They had taken it upon themselves to provide the cakes, having discovered a couple of weeks ago that Shane and Nate had forgotten that aspect of birthdays. They'd found a specialist bakery located near to the stadium and had spent nearly two hours on the phone describing in detail how they wanted the cakes to be.

When the singing ended the lights were dimmed, leaving Eliza and Jason in a dull centre spot, the candle light illuminating their faces. They each made a wish before counting to three together, blowing their candles out in sync.

"This song is for the birthday people and if anyone out there in the audience is celebrating their birthday today, it's for you too!" Shane called as he and Nate stated to play. Jason threw a panicked glance at them but Marie leaned up to his ear.

"Don't worry, you don't need to play this one, just enjoy it." She said as Nate and Shane started to perform the cover of "I've got a feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas which they'd only learnt hours before. As they all got into the song, jumping and down to the beat excitedly, the stage was being slowly drenched in confetti. Marie and Caitlyn removed the cakes from the stage before running back on with arms full of balloons. They ran to the end of the cat walk, throwing them out into the audience. The party raged on for the rest of the encore, with the entire gang remaining on stage, dancing and singing along.

"Happy birthday!" Nate called as the final note rang out through the auditorium. The girls left the stage, allowing the guys to say their final goodnights alone.

"I am so going to kill you for that." Eliza joked as she and Mitchie walked back to the dressing rooms.

"You loved it and you know it. Who else can say 17,000 people sang them happy birthday on their twenty first?"

"True." Eliza conceded, a smile breaking out across her face. It was only 9 o'clock, she had yet to go out and celebrate, but she knew already this was the best birthday she'd ever had.

"Who wants cake?" Caitlyn asked as she and Marie entered the room.

"Me!" Eliza squealed. Cake was one of her favourite things about birthdays. If she had her way, she'd eat birthday cake every day.

CR-CR-CR

"Do you want to head out soon?" Jason asked minutes after they arrived back at the hotel.

"No, you guys have to sit on the sofa now, you can go out later." Mitchie informed them before she and the others disappeared into Caitlyn and Marie's joint room.

"Are your birthdays normally like this?" Eliza asked.

"Depends on where we are and what we're doing. Tour birthdays are often pretty cool as we all feel the need to make them a bit more special since we don't get to see our friends." Jason explained.

"Guys, can you close your eyes?" Marie asked, joining them in the living room. When she was sure they were closed she told the others to come back in. When Eliza and Jason re-opened their eyes moments later they saw two packages sat on the table in front of them.

"Guys, you've already given me too many presents! I can't take any more." Eliza said.

"Yes you can. We decided to all club together to get you both something extra special from the five of us." Marie explained.

"You guys really didn't have to." Jason insisted.

"You going to open them or what?" Shane asked impatiently. They picked up the gifts and carefully unwrapped them. Jason tore his paper away to reveal a James Bond style tux, whilst Eliza's final gift turned out to be a beautiful cocktail dress. It was a strapless black number, with a sweetheart neckline and a crossover bodice made of pure silk. It was short, stopping halfway down her thigh, but not in a slutty way. It was simple yet elegant, with a wavy side detail giving it an extra touch.

They were ushered into their rooms to change and when Eliza returned minutes later the gang were left speechless. She'd untied her hair, allowing it to flow beyond her shoulders.

"You look stunning." Marie said, slightly jealous of how naturally beautiful her sister was.

"When did you guys have time to buy this?" Eliza asked.

"Where do you think me and Caitlyn were whilst you and Mitchie were performing." Marie explained. She was rendered speechless moments later when Jason emerged from his room in his tux, taking her breath away.

"This is awesome." He stated before his eyes landed on Eliza. "Wow. You girls have a good choice in clothes." He stated.

"You ready to go?" Eliza asked.

"Definitely. We'll see you guys later, though we may be quite late." Jason said, extending his arm for Eliza to take.

"Have fun; don't blow all your money on the slots." Marie joked. They gave one last wave before disappearing out the door.

"How about we make a bet of our own?" Shane suggested mischievously.

"What sort of bet?" Mitchie asked, uncertain.

"We bet how drunk they will be upon their return." He explained.

"They won't be, they aren't like that." Nate defended.

"Not normally, but tonight is their birthday and they are in Vegas." Marie reasoned. "You're on Shane."

CR-CR-CR

"We don't tell them what happened tonight, agreed?" Eliza asked in a slightly slurred voice as they stumbled into the hotel elevator. She was tipsy, but not as bad as Jason.

"Course not, telling them would be silly. We don't want to be silly!" Jason exclaimed. They'd drunk rather more than they had planned and had discovered that Jason was the bigger lightweight of the two. "Do you know what Li?" Jason asked, using his newly adopted nick name for her. He'd said it by accident and then claimed it to be the coolest name ever before proceeding to call her it continuously for the rest of the night.

"What Jay bird?" Eliza had tried to come up with a clever name for him, but in her inebriated state she had failed massively.

"I feel like I've always known you. Like when we first met it was as if we'd met before, I just didn't remember where. How weird is that?" Jason said before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"You're so weird!" Eliza claimed, laughing along with him. "The only time we could have met is... Ooh look, they opened." She interrupted herself as the elevator doors slid open, luckily stopping her before she said something she'd really regret.

The two of them walked to the door of their suite, taking over exaggerated steps in an attempt to be quiet, although their constant giggling stopped it being possible. They opened the door after many failed attempts at getting the key in the lock, only to be greeted by five surprised, and slightly unimpressed faces.

"Do you guys realise how late it is?" Caitlyn asked grumpily, clearly tired. They had agreed to stay up until the two of them got back, wanting to see the result of their birthday celebrations, but they hadn't expected to be kept waiting so long.

Eliza and Jason looked at their wrists, as if checking their watches, only to find nothing there, an action which resulted in them bursting into laughter once more.

"We don't have watches!" Eliza laughed.

"Are you guys actually drunk?" Nate asked, shocked by the state of his brother and sister. The two shook their heads rapidly, then Eliza moved in front of Nate and half whispered;

"Actually we are, but shhhh," she put a finger to his lip, signalling for him to be quiet, "don't tell anyone." Nate patted her on the head patronisingly.

"You all owe me a fiver." Marie said triumphantly.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." Mitchie said, taking Eliza's hand as Shane did the same to Jason. They were led to their beds and within a few minutes they were both fast asleep, still fully dressed.

AN: I reached 100 reviews! Dizprincess77 you were the 100th reviewer, you rock! And to everyone else so much, I never thought this story would be so successful. I really hope you liked this story and if you could let me know your thoughts, and any criticism so I can make the story better in its final few chapters, well I always enjoy reading them.