A/N: It's one of those adorably cute chapter I do every now and again before things get dark again. It's little Alan's birthday and there's a little more on Richard St John who everyone doesn't want to talk about. Poor Ronnie dear. Thanks for all those lovely reviews, and please, keep them coming.

Ronald had fallen asleep on the couch. There was a cup of coffee on the table and a book fallen open on the floor. William sighed and locked the door as quietly as he could so as not to wake him up. He did look so adorable sound asleep. He lent down and picked up the book and mug of coffee and sorted everything out as quickly and quietly as he could.

"Hey..." He glanced back and saw Ronald sitting up slightly, blinking to get his vision to focus. "I was starting to think you weren't coming back."

"I'm sorry it took so long," William said, returning to his side. "I get dragged away sometimes. I'm sorry."

"What's wrong? You don't look happy," he said quietly, propping up on his elbows. "Has something happened?"

"No," he said, gently helping him up. "It's nothing."

"I don't believe you," Ronald laughed, tilting his head slightly.

"Then just trust me to deal with it," William said, running his hand through his hair. Ronald smiled softly and leant into his touch. "It's classified."

"Then there is something wrong?"

"Not wrong," he said. "Come on, come to bed. It's not wrong, just troubling."

"Is it serious?" Ronald asked, lying back on the bed and watching William as he changed.

"Perhaps. What do you know about Richard St John?" Ronald frowned and glanced away. "Ronald?"

"No more than what everyone else knows," Ronald murmured, sitting up again. "He was a sick, twisted bastard who should have been put to death rather than just locked up."

"People said that about Michelle about seventy five years ago," William said. He sat on the bed next to Ronald and gently wrapped his arms around him. "Do you think so?"

"No but he should have been." He frowned and turned away. "He should have been slaughtered like the animal he is."

"That's a pretty strong opinion based on just the official reports." He leant down and kissed his forehead. "You changed about the same time as-"

"Hey, whoa," Ronald snapped, pulling away sharply. "No, I know where this going. No. I just changed, ok? It was my second year, I felt like I needed the change. I wasn't... you'd know if I was involved in that. It'd be in my files. Why are you doing this?"

"Ronald," he whispered pulling him in again.

"I don't- Don't you dare... don't you dare act like I'm some victim, I'm not. Let it go. I wasn't involved." Suddenly he changed and beamed up at William as if nothing had happened. "Well, I've been waiting for you so long I'm exhausted. We've got to be up early for Alan's birthday surprise. Good night."

Within moment Ronald had switched off the lights and crawled into bed. William sighed and followed suit, gently drawing him into his arms and slowly running a hand over his back. He frowned. He'd never noticed before, but there were scars across his lower back. Reapers only got scars from scythe wounds.

"Ronald?" He didn't answer. "Ronald?"

He glanced down. Ronald was asleep already. He sighed and stroked his hair. Just another little secret Ronald was still too distrusting to tell him. He'd ask Eric about it tomorrow. If anyone knew the details it would be Eric. After a long moment, he closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep.

"Alright, alright," Michelle groaned, pulling on a t-shirt and heading to her front door. "I'm coming." She unlocked it quickly and swung the door open. "Eric?"

Eric nodded slowly and ran his hands through his hair. "How do you sleep?"

"Come on in." He stepped in slowly and Michelle sat him in an armchair. "You're not sleeping well then?"

"No," Eric said quietly. "No, I just keep hearing... It wasn't so bad when it was just one of two a week. I've taken over twenty souls in the past few days. How do you make them stop?"

"You remember what you're doing this for," she said firmly, handing his a mug of hot cocoa then picked up a bottle of whisky and poured a few drops in. "Drink up." He nodded and took a small sip. "Now, you just remember that you're not doing it because you enjoy it. You're doing it for Alan. Remember that. Hang onto that with everything you have, Eric. You're doing it for Alan and nothing else matters."

"What if Ron's right?" Michelle frowned and Eric kept his gaze on his drink. "What if I lose control, like you did? What if I hurt them? And what about what your Undertaker said?"

"Listen to me, Eric. You are going to save him. You're going to save him. You're going to collect the thousand souls and you're going to save him and that will make everything worth it. Understand me?" He nodded slowly. "Good. Now, I've got a nice kitchen over there. Make Alan a nice little cake, I'll get dressed, make us some coffee and then lick the bowl. Or you can try to sleep."

"Cake sounds good."

"Sounds brilliant."

"You're just like Alan, wanting to like the bowl all the time."

"Well if the mix is as good as the cake I can see why."

"Why are you being so nice?"

"I'm a hopeless romantic," Michelle said. "I find it adorable that you're willing to do all this for your dear Alan. I wish someone loved me that much."

A few hours there was a knock on the door. Michelle hurried over and opened it only to be pounced on by Grell. He smiled over at Eric and squeezed his hands arms around Michelle's shoulders.

"So, I don't think I can be trusted not to ruin the surprise now," Grell said. "Tell me what we're doing for little Alan."

"Alright," Eric said. "He can carry stuff for anyway." Michelle nodded. "To start off, go and wake up Ron and William, tell Ron to sort out Alan I told him last night and then bring William and meet us at Ron's old apartment."

"Right."

He hurried off again and Eric closed the lid on the box they'd put the cake it. "I hope Alan appreciates all this."

"He'd better do," Michelle said. "You're lucky I'm still technically working for Will so we work the same shifts."

"Yeah, yeah," Eric muttered as Michelle shut the door behind them. "So, while no one's around, just what do you expect me to do in return for all this? You said something about murder?"

"Don't be silly," she laughed. "It's not murder. Look, we'll talk about it tomorrow, or later tonight. Today is Alan's birthday, no work talk."

"Alright."

After a forty five minutes Grell turned up and Ronald's apartment with William behind him. Considering Ronald hadn't really been back there since William had invited him to stay he'd agreed to let them keep everything there. All that they needed to do was move it and take it out the boxes. William looked distinctly unimpressed by being woken up so early and being roped into helping out. Even so, he took the boxes and carried them without a complaint.

"Eric?" Alan groaned, cracking his eyes open. "Eric, where've you gone?"

Eric's side of the bed was cold and empty. He frowned. Eric was never up before he was. He'd gone to get a drink last night and Alan had drifted off to sleep before he got back. He didn't seem to have been sleeping well. He sat up and glanced around.

"Eric?" he called a little louder.

The bedroom door opened and a mop of blonde hair popped around the door frame. Alan smiled and tried to find his glasses but couldn't find them. He sighed and decided he didn't really need them anyway. It was his birthday and Eric had a surprise planned- that probably meant they weren't going very far. Most birthdays- both his and Eric's- if they weren't working they didn't get much further than the bedroom.

"Didn't you come back to bed last night, love?" he murmured. "I missed you."

Their lips met gently and suddenly- now they were close enough that his near sightedness wasn't an issue and the world focused- Alan realised it wasn't Eric but Ronald. He should have known really, he was far too small to be Eric.

"Well, I missed you too, sweetie, but I don't think it's a good idea for me to be joining you in bed when Eric's around," Ronald laughed.

"Ronald," Alan said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably. "What are you doing here and where is Eric?"

"Good morning to you too," he said with a grin. "I'm here because I don't want to be with the boss at the moment. Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thank you. Why don't you want to be with William?" he said.

"Ah, he's just talking about things I don't want to, you know how it is sometimes."

"Like what?"

"Like the academy and that sort of thing."

"You should talk about it more, we're all only worrying about you, you know? We just want to keep you safe."

"I know, I know," Ronald said. "Come on, get dressed. I'll make you a coffee."

"Right." Ronald got up and stepped away and Alan went to get up but he paused and frowned. "Ronald, have I left my glasses in the other room?"

"Oh, no," Ronald said without stopping.

"Well then where are they?" Alan snapped.

"I've got them," he said. "Hurry up and get dressed. Or are you so blind you can't get dressed without them?"

"Why have you got my glasses?" Ronald just giggled and he knew he wasn't getting them back yet. "Go and make coffees, Ronald."

"You're so cute when you're trying to be mad."

"Go."

Ronald laughed and shut the door behind him. Alan sighed and got dressed slowly, pulling on a pair of black jeans and searching out a warm shirt. It was Eric's judging by the size of it but that was alright, it mean it could put on an extra layer beneath it.

"Ronald, can I have my glasses back yet?" Alan called, knowing his way to the kitchen simply by instinct. He could just about make out Ronald sitting on the kitchen counter. "Ronald?"

"Come over here then, Al," Ronald laughed.

Alan made his way over and Ronald pushed a cup of coffee into his hands. Alan was grateful for the coffee, but he'd have preferred his glasses. Whatever was going on, he wasn't sure he liked it. Ronald was chatting aimlessly and Alan got the impression that Ronald was actually there to keep him busy while Eric worked on some sort of surprise, they had all been muttering between themselves a lot recently. Although, there was the slightly more cynical thought that Eric had probably had Ronald reminding him all week that his birthday soon.

"Can I have my glasses now, Ronald?" he said quietly.

"I do love you guys, you know," Ronald muttered.

"I know." He laughed and ran his hands through his Ronald's hair and leant up to give him a reassuring kiss. "I know you do."

"I mean, not like I do the boss," he said.

He smiled and took Alan's hands gently. "I know, silly. Half the time I have to remind myself- and Eric sometimes- that Eric's not actually your big brother. He might act like it but you're not."

"And you're really mothering."

"I wish you two would stop using feminine descriptions of me. I'm not overly fond of beautiful or cute."

"You're such a pain," he laughed. "You know I'm not overly found of cute either, but it's a compliment, take it. Look at us, we don't really fit the tall, dark and handsome thing- although I'm lucky enough to have a man who does."

"Can I have my glasses back yet?"

"Nope."

"Ronald," Alan said firmly, although the sternness of it was weakened a little by the fact that he couldn't resist burying his fingers in Ronald hair. "Give me my glasses, please. I won't ask again."

"Good, that'll save time," Ronald laughed. "Are you done with your coffee? We've got to go, we'll be late if we don't."

"Ronald, what are you-"

"Are you done?"

"I... I guess." Ronald grinned and slid off the side. "What is going on, Ronald?"

"Well, to start off, I'm blindfolding you."

"What? Why?" Alan said, folding his arms. "I can barely see without my glasses anyway."

"Barley isn't the same as can't, Alan," Ronald said. "Come on, hold still. It'll be worth it, I promise."

He sighed and the world went dark. It was weird but he trusted Ronald. He smiled as Ronald helped him into his winter coat and gloves and led him out into the cold. As they were walking down the street, Alan managed to link arm his arm with Ronald's so he could at least not trip over. Ronald seemed happy with it. They ended up going up a steep icy hill and if Alan had been able to see he would have been glaring up at Ronald for laughing when he slipped.

"If you don't stop enjoying yourself I'm going to turn around and go home."

"No you won't," Ronald laughed. "You'll trip over. Even if you get off that blindfold- and I tied it pretty tight- I've got your glasses. Besides, it's your birthday, and this is a birthday surprise. Do you want me to be miserable?"

"When did you stop respecting your elders, Ronald?" Alan muttered.

"I do, it's just that Eric is older than you."

"So you respect him more?"

"He's also bigger than you."

He laughed and suddenly Ronald moved away. Alan stopped instantly and waited quietly, listening for any sound of movement. The blindfold was slowly pulled away and his glasses were handed to him. The world suddenly seemed incredibly bright. He lifted his glasses slowly.

He was in a small forest clearing. There was a light snow covering the ground and the trees, almost glittering as the sun began to rise. There were small pieces of glass up in the trees and the light glinted of them like little diamonds. Alan smiled slightly. It was beautiful. There was a wooden swinging beneath and a small shed with the doors thrown wide open and a gas heater with a few soft make shift chairs around them.

Ronald, William, Grell and Michelle were facing him and watching quietly. His smile widened slightly and a pair of arms encircled his waist. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Wow, Michelle, this is all really amazing," Alan whispered.

"You're welcome, darling," she laughed.

"Hey, hey," Eric snapped. "Why are you thanking her? This was my surprise."

"Yes, but I expect that Michelle was the one who did most the work," he said, smiling up at him. "Much as I know you try to be so lovely and romantic like this you just don't have to organisational skills to put this together."

"What was to organise?" Ronald laughed. "This is her and the boss' old mak-"

William and Grell clamped their hands over his mouth and Michelle and Eric glared over. After a moment they let him go and he folded his arms.

"Don't ruin the romance, Ronnie," Grell hissed.

"I think Alan ruined the romance when he thanked the wrong person," Ronald muttered.

"Hush, Ronald," William said gently, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "You talk too much."

Alan laughed softly and pulled Eric down into a gentle kiss. "I love it, Eric. I'm sure you worked very hard."

Eric smirked and their lips met once more in a firmer, more purposeful kiss. He smiled and led him down over to the gas heater and Michelle cut the cake, handing out the slices for them. Alan smiled slightly, noticing William's was a little smaller and hers a lot bigger. They sat quietly, just chatting and taking in the world, Alan perfectly content to sit in Eric's arms as they sat and watched the sun rise and the beautiful glittering of the snow and pieces of glass. He glanced over and noticed Ronald wasn't in William's arms. In fact he was laying his head on Michelle's lap. And Grell was leaning against her shoulders. It was cute, but troubling.

After a half an hour or so of drinks and cake and a few bit for breakfast, Grell pulled Ronald out into the snow and before they knew what was happening a snowball fight had broken out. Alan smiled watching them and felt Eric shift to get up to join them only to stop a moment later. He glanced back and saw William hand pulled him back down. Before he could ask what was going on, a snowball hit Michelle square in the face. She snarled and stood up as Grell and Ronald burst out laughing.

"You pair of idiots," she hissed.

"It was him," Grell cried.

"Like hell it was," Ronald snapped. "Do I look stupid?"

"Well you do wear those goofy glasses," he said.

Michelle ran after the, scooping up the snow as she went. Eric glanced over at William. "What's up with you?"

"We need to talk about Ronald," William said.

"It's Al's birthday, can't we wait?"

"Perhaps you should go and play stupid games with the others for a moment, Alan," he said quietly.

"If this is about Ronald, I want to know," Alan said.

"The scars on his back," he said. "Do you know how he got them?"

"He said a training accident in the academy," Eric said.

"Slingby," he snapped.

"What? That's what he said they were," he said, raising his hands defensively. "That's what he said. What did he tell you?"

"Nothing, I only noticed them last night," William muttered. Alan frowned, he'd barely even noticed Ronald's scars. The first time he'd seen them he was appalled but he'd explained it was a training accident he'd stopped noticing really. "You should have told me, Slingby. Even if you refused to let in on any of your other little secrets, you should have told me he was involved in that."

"In what?" Alan said, sitting up slightly. "You don't think it was an accident? What happened to him?"

"Lots of kids have a few scars from training in the academy, William," Eric hissed. "He's was an immature kid, there's nothing more to it. Don't get grumpy just because he didn't tell you. You've got his files, all accidents are in there."

William frowned and glanced at Ronald, then back to them. "He really hadn't told you."

"Told us what?" Alan demanded.

"It's not confirmed but..." William stopped and glanced up at Ronald. "Richard St John."

"No," Eric said, shaking his head quickly. "No. You're wrong. He wasn't involved in that mess. He would have told us."

Alan got up without thinking and walked over to Ronald, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

"Umm, hey," Ronald said quietly, patting his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Ronald," he whispered.

"What? Why? What have they said?" he laughed. "Ah, watch out."

He pulled Alan down into the snow as a few snowballs flew over their heads and Eric growled. "Hey, watch out for Alan. You know what'll happen if he gets a chill."

Of course, this only encouraged Michelle and Grell who sent a flurry toward him. While several snowballs missed Eric, Alan noticed with a small smile that none hit William. None of them were that stupid.

"What's wrong, Alan?" Ronald said quietly.

Alan frowned and looked up at him for a moment. Ronald just smiled. How could Ronald have been involved in that disgusting mess? Richard St John was a monster. Every fifty years or so they could expect to see a reaper who went too far, became drunk on their own immortality and power and shook the entire realm to its core. And more often than not they were in London. Michelle was one but too old to be remembered by younger reapers. Richard St John was the most recent, caught in about the time Alan figured Ronald would have been starting his second year at the academy. Even now, having met Michelle and knowing what she'd done and what she was capable of, he knew Richard St John was far worse. Michelle at least was a good person even if she committed hideous crimes. Richard had no redeeming features what so ever.

If Ronald had been involved in that, how could he just smile? They would have known, wouldn't they? You couldn't go through that kind of mess and not show signs, right?

"Alan?" Ronald laughed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said quietly, getting up and pulling Ronald with him. Even if he had been involved in it, what use would dragging it up again and confronting him do? "Nothing at all. Just... thanks."

"You're welcome," he said. "I don't know what I've done, but you're welcome. Hey, your present is already at your place. I hope you enjoy it."

"I'm sure I will, Ronald."