I'm setting up the table in Angel's kitchen. There are paper plates and plastic cutlery and napkins neatly organized. In the middle of the table sits a small white cake with pink and purple frosting. Spelled in icing on the cake is Happy Birthday Angel.

"We've got more than enough party supplies," Angel puts his hands on his hips. "It's only us and we got so many!" He chuckles.

"At least you'll be able to save them for another time," I shrug. "Always best to be more prepared than underprepared!"

"Say, is Smiles joinin' us?"

"I invited him yesterday," I reply as I glance at the clock on the wall. "I told him to be here at 8pm. It's 7:59."

I stare at the clock in worry.

"I don't think he's coming…" I sigh.

"Maybe he's busy?" Angel tries to comfort me.

"Maybe you're right…" I gaze down.

Dun dun dun.

Angel and I turn to the door in surprise.

"I got it," Angel pats my shoulder.

Angel heads over and unlocks the door, revealing Alastor behind it. I'm sitting on a chair while leaning my elbows on the table, looking bummed out.

"Smile, my dear!" Alastor pops his head next to mine.

"Alastor!" I'm surprised. "I thought you weren't gonna show up."

"You did invite me to be here at 8 in the evening."

"Well, you're on the dot!" I glance at the clock and see it's exactly 8pm.

Alastor holds out a large bottle of whiskey with a pink bow at the top to Angel.

"Happy birthday," Alastor keeps his eyes closed as he holds the bottle.

"This giant bottle for me?" Angel's eyes sparkle. "Aw, Smiles, you shouldn't have!"

"Take it before I change my mind."

Angel takes it with an excited squeal. He places it on the table with my other presents in a pink bag.

"Well, I guess that's it," I shrug. "Let's celebrate!"

"I got the first drink," Angel opens the whiskey bottle.

Angel pours whiskey into three glasses and hands one to me and one to Alastor. We stand in a triangle as we hold our glasses.

"Cheers!" Angel grins.

We clink our glasses together and take a good swig.

"Woo!" Angel shakes his head a bit. "That's some whiskey ya got me there, Smiles!"

"It's got a little more kick than usual," Alastor keeps his smile.

"Damn, it really does," I lick my lips.

"I wanna see what you got me, Ellie!" Angel heads over to his present.

Angel rummages through the pink tissue paper and pulls out a box.

"What?!" Angel shrieks. "You actually got me the Dance Dance Revolution game?!"

"Yup!" I smile. "You've really wanted it for a long time."

"Thanks, Ellie!" Angel hugs me.

"You're welcome," I giggle as I hug him back.

"Let's play it!" Angel rushes over to his television.

He hooks up the gaming system to his 56 inch flat screen television that's mounted on the wall.

"Can't wait to play!" Angel looks through the bag.

"I'm surprised you even know the game," I say.

"I may have been born in an earlier time than you. But I adapted quickly to modern tech. Unlike Red over here," he gestures to Alastor.

"I'm sure I can also easily adapt to modern technology myself," Alastor defends. "I just don't have any interest in it."

"Fine, let's try it out," Angel has the game finally set up.

Angel prepares the game pad on the floor some feet in front of the television.

"I'll do the first song," Angel uses the pad to maneuver the game. "That way you can see what it's like."

Angel finally chooses Sexy Planet. The music starts and Angel begins to step on the designated arrows.

"So you basically have to hit the arrow when it gets to the markers at the top," I explain to Alastor. "It's pretty simple."

"Hm. How intriguing," Alastor watches the television.

I observe Alastor as he's so intrigued by the game. His eyes follow the arrows and scans the colorful flashing graphics as the music plays.

'He really doesn't get much exposure to modern tech like this…' I think to myself. 'And the way he's so intrigued by it...it's actually cute. He looks like a kid.'

"Your turn, Ellie!" Angel interrupts my thoughts.

I snap out of my thoughts and stand on the dancing pad. I scroll through the songs and finally choose Boom Boom Dollar.

"Gosh, it's been a while since I've played this…" I await the music to play.

"She kicks ass at the arcade," Angel tells Alastor.

"Arcade?" Alastor raises a brow.

"Oh! We should take you there!" Angel suggests.

"We'll talk more once I'm done," I prepare myself.

I watch the arrows quickly move on screen and I begin to step on the pad. The song is fast and fun, stepping left-right, left-right, down-up, down-up. This song is a lot faster than the one Angel picked out.

"Woo-hoo! Look at her go!" Angel cheers.

"I forgot how crazy this song is!" I continue to swiftly step on the arrows of the dance pad.

After some time, the song finally ends. I catch my breath a bit, stepping off the pad.

"Wow, that's a good work out," I head over to the kitchen table.

"So how about we check out the arcade?" Angel suggests. "I'm sure Smiles has never been to one."

"That sounds fun!" I take my glass of whiskey. "So, what do you say, Alastor?" I take a sip.

"What about being seen together?" Alastor questions.

"The arcade isn't too far from the karaoke bar. That part of town is very low-status, so a lot of people don't know anyone we do that may compromise us. That's why we've been doing fine at the karaoke bar."

"Yeah, they don't give a fuck!" Angel laughs.

"I suppose we can," Alastor agrees.

"Yes!" I jump with joy. "Let's eat some cake, get drunk, and head out!"

The three of us are inside the arcade. It's fairly packed in here since it's a Saturday night. We head to the token machine and insert money to get a load of them.

"You can be our token boy," I give Alastor a tin filled with tokens. "At least until you see what it's like to play these games. Then you can try them too!"

"Alright," Alastor agrees.

"Yay!" I jump in joy.

Alastor follows after us as he holds our tin of game tokens. Angel spots a Dance Dance Revolution system for two players.

"Hey! Let's dance!" Angel points at it.

"Let's do it!" I head over with him.

Angel and I insert the necessary tokens and the game starts.

"Your pick Angie," I say.

"Thanks!" He's excited.

He scrolls through the different songs until finally arriving at Captain Jack.

"You're trying to kill us," I joke.

"It's for good fun," Angel grins. "Watch and learn, Smiles!" He gives Alastor a smirk.

The song begins and we quickly find ourselves stepping on the arrows rapidly. The game system flashes with colorful lights and booms with the music as we dance away.

"You're doin' better than me!" Angel shrieks.

"You're not too far off!" I laugh.

"My legs ache!"

"Mine too!"

We begin to laugh and tear up as the song continues to play, arrows scrolling up rapidly. The song finally ends and we take deep breaths.

"That was fun…" I breathe as I lean on the bar behind me.

"No kiddin'..." Angel also catches his breath.

We look at our high scores and see that I won by a ten point difference.

"Aw! So close!" Angel slaps his thigh.

"You did pretty well!" I say. "It was a close call."

Tickets are dispensed from the machine and we take them.

"You wanna try, Red?" Angel turns to Alastor.

"Not at the moment," Alastor replies.

"No worries," I giggle.

"Let's go try that shootin' game!" Angel rushes me over to another game.

Alastor follows after us like a nonchalant parent watching after his children. Angel and I play the shooting game, laughing maniacally as we get a high score. The game spits out a bunch of tickets.

"Yeah baby!" Angel is excited.

"Awesome!" I take my own tickets.

"I'm gonna need a swig," Angel takes out his flask.

"Same," I laugh and take my own flask out.

He takes a gulp at the same time I do.

"Damn, that really is some good whiskey, Alastor," I lick my lips.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Alastor keeps his smile.

Angel spots a guy nearby playing a shooting game. He's having trouble winning so Angel sees this as an opportunity.

"Let me split my game," Angel whispers to me.

"Well, it is your birthday," I shrug.

Angel heads over to the guy and proceeds to help him play the game. They hit it off immediately.

"He finds bodies fast," I laugh a bit.

"With no problem at all," Alastor adds.

"That's Angel for you. Come on. Let's try this game out," I gesture for him to follow me.

I lead him to a driving safari game where we sit in a booth with curtains at the sides. We climb in, closing the curtains, with me in the driver's seat.

"This is fascinating," Alastor glances around to the front and back screens.

"Yeah, it really does make you feel like you're actually in a safari," I say.

I insert the tokens and begin the game. As I drive, there are sounds of animals in the distance.

"You might wanna grab that gun," I say. "We're gonna need it soon."

Alastor looks at the game gun and takes a hold of it. After some time, we hear a roar. Behind us on the screen, we can see a Tyrannosaurus rex chasing after us. I hit the gas and we speed away, the t-rex close behind in pursuit.

"Start shooting!" I laugh.

Alastor begins to shoot at the dinosaur and it continues to roar. Alastor is surprised at how immersive this game is and gets into it, shooting as much as he can.

"Good, good!" I keep driving.

We reach a stone bridge and drive across it. The t-rex is still chasing after us.

"You're doing great!" I encourage Alastor.

"This is rather fun!" He smiles as he continues to shoot.

I laugh as I enjoy seeing him have as much fun as I am. I continue to drive to make our way to the safe house. After sometime, we finally reach it and end up winning the game.

"Yes!" I jump in my seat. "We won!"

The tickets begin to slip out and I take them.

"You did really well," I smile at Alastor.

"Thank you," he gives me a smug smile.

"You up for some more games?"

"If they're as fun as this, why not?"

After playing different games throughout the arcade for at least an hour, Alastor and I accumulated a ton of tickets. Angel has been busy flirting with the guy and enjoying his time here too. I gather the tickets we've just won from a shooting game.

"We've gathered a large amount of tickets," Alastor excitedly says. "Are there any other games we haven't tried out?"

"We've played the majority!" I glance around. "You've really gotten into this, huh?"

"I really am enjoying these gaming machines!"

"I'm glad you're having fun," I give him a warm smile. "I think it's cute how excited you are."

Alastor blinks at me for a moment after what I said. I'm also surprised at myself, the whiskey not holding my words back at this point. I blush slightly and look away.

"Um, let's see what we can get for prizes," I try to change the subject.

I head toward the prize counter and Alastor follows.

"What can I get for you?" The staff behind the counter smiles at me.

"Let's see…" I scan the prizes.

I lay eyes on a small, fluffy, brown plush bear on the back shelf. It's 150 tickets. I count mine and see I only have 75.

"Oh…" I look down in disappointment. "I don't have enough."

Alastor counts his and has another 75 tickets. He takes my tickets and places them with his on the counter.

"I'll have the bear on the back shelf," Alastor tells the staff behind the counter.

"No problem!" The man takes the tickets.

The man grabs the bear and hands it to Alastor. I watch as he turns to me, holding the bear out for me to grab.

"Here," he says.

"Alastor…" I'm surprised. "You used your tickets."

"I don't mind. Nothing else appeals to me here. And if this bear makes you happy, you can have it."

I stare up at Alastor with a surprised look and blush on my face. I finally take the bear and snuggle it.

"Thank you," I smile up at him with a blush.

Alastor stares down at me with a soft smile, pleased to see that I'm happy.

"Hey guys," Angel stumbles over to us.

"Angie!" I smile.

"I'll be headin' home with this guy," he smiles. "He'll drive us to my place."

"Sounds good. Then I'll drive Alastor back home."

"Sorry for disappearin' on you."

"Nah, it's fine! Have fun on your birthday night!"

"Why don't ya get laid too tonight, huh?" Angel mutters to me with a grin as he eyes Alastor.

"Shoo away!" I playfully shove Angel's face away.

"See ya, Red!" Angel waves at Alastor.

Alastor and I watch Angel and his date for tonight leave. I stand in thought as I hold my new bear close.

"Any plans for tonight?" Alastor asks.

"Well, we're done celebrating Angel's birthday…" I glance at my phone. "It's about to be midnight. Don't have anything planned now that Angel's got a date."

"If you don't have anything planned, you can join me at my place."

"And have some tea, perhaps?"

"If you'd like to."

"Sure!" I smile.

"Pft! No way you drank as much as me!" I enter through the double doors. "Remember, Angel and I had the flasks at the arcade."

"Ah yes, I do remember now," Alastor chuckles.

He closes the door after us and we make our way to the living area.

"Make yourself at home," Alastor heads to the doorway.

"On this big comfy couch, I will," I plop myself on the red sofa.

"I'll return with our tea," Alastor chuckles.

Alastor leaves the living area to the kitchen. I lay down on the couch, cuddling with my new bear.

'This bear is so cute and soft…' I think to myself. 'It really was nice of Alastor to gift it to me.'

I lay on my side as I brush my fingers on the soft bear.

'Can Alastor really be as bad as they say he is?' I think. 'I haven't seen anything bad from him.'

I stare at my bear in thought, my eyes feeling heavy.

'He's really a nice guy…' I think to myself as I yawn.

My eyes blink slowly as I find myself falling asleep. After some time, Alastor finally returns with our tea.

"I'm hoping you like this tea…" he begins to say.

Alastor stops as he sees I'm sound asleep on the couch. He walks around and sets the silver platter on the coffee table. His eyes are fixated on me as he watches me sleep peacefully while I cuddle my bear. He then manifests a burgundy blanket with a snap of his fingers and sets it over me gently. He lowers himself in front of me and caresses the top of my hair gently, a warm smile spreading across his face.

'She exhausts herself so much…' Alastor thinks to himself.

He stares down at me in awe.

"Sweet dreams, Elena," he softly says.