Ummmm, hey! Surprise? lol

Okay, so let me explain this. This isn't another story (God forbid). See, I had been talking with my good friend Dreama last week, and the whole topic of my slow updates came up. If you haven't read my new chapter of EG, I asked everyone the question if I should continue to alternate between stories, or just put DoaS on hold, and finish EG.

I do want to thank everyone for their suggestions. It sure helped me a lot. Based on the response, I will continue to alternate. However, if I feel the need to update one story again before another, then I am going to do that. I think it will help me not focus so much on going back and forth-and instead focus on which story I think needs an update.

Anyways, as I was talking with Dreama about this, we started talking about how much we both missed the simplicity of a normal (non-angst day) in the life of our favorite DP characters. And I mentioned I have all these little ideas in my head, but they just don't fit in the stories or are just not relevant. So, she suggested for me to do some drabbles. And that would also help keep you guys nurtured as you wait for the the stories to update. So, of course I was like yes, yes, yes! And here we are!

I am going to give this a go. There is no set schedule or anything. It's more of whenever I get some inspiration for a drabble or one shot, and I still haven't finished the main story chapter. I already told myself I won't let this delay my chapters updates; so no need to worry about that. Instead, it will be something to just keep me motivated, and at the same time, give you guys something quick to enjoy.

So, these 'clips' are very random. I might do a few DoaS related ones, but most of them will be cannon and EG/CM universe. Again, they will be random. In fact, this was just a spur of the moment that I did not ask my beta to check this. I will not be getting these drabbles revised since it's just meant to be quick clips and nothing fancy.

So, here's the first one! Enjoy!

Dreama, this ones for you, my dear! XD

Simple is Sweeter

PoV: Annabelle Hui

You know, I realized long ago people have different opinions of what makes a perfect birthday. Some people like big parties or outrageous gifts. Others enjoy taking some 'me' time, and that is enough. Heck, there are people who even mope around on their birthday, complaining about getting old. Then again, maybe the last one is more for 'adults'.

My point is everyone has some kind of concept of what makes a perfect birthday. Sooo… Is it too weird that I do not have one?

Okay, sure. I am like most people that have a family; and their family does something nice for them. I also have the typical friends who pretty much blow up your phone writing 'Happy Birthday'. I appreciate all that. Really, I do… But, I think even with all that, my birthday is just… another day for me. If others did not announce it for me, I think I'd probably let it go unattended and I would be perfectly okay with it.

So, really, I have no sort of opinion of what makes a perfect birthday, because… It just doesn't seem like big deal to me.

"Happy birthday, Annie."

I jolt a bit out of my thoughts and look behind me, only to see a boy I know really well sitting in the set behind me. Oh right. Did I mention I am currently at school in… Calculus? Yes, Calculus. My teacher is really boring. I suppose it's why I am even thinking about the 'concept of a perfect birthday'. Yes, I am that bored.

"Thanks, Henry," I whisper back with a small smile.

He glances at our teacher up front to make sure he was still talking before looking back at me with the smallest smirk.

"Now that you're older… Want to take me up on that date, blondie-roo?"

I roll my eyes a bit, though a light blush colors my cheeks. I still don't even know how he thinks that's supposed to sweet-talk me. I've known Henry since middle school. He's a very outgoing guy. A bit of a trouble-maker, honestly. But he seems to also know his limits. I suppose having a successful father who is always in the spotlight forces him to behave—most of the time anyways.

But I would be lying if I said I don't like being around him… and maybe I also like him in other ways—not that I'd ever admit it to him! He's a big flirt. And I suppose with his looks, it just comes with the territory. It was hard to resist his head full of tight light brown curls, and silvery-green eyes which seem to smile and glint whenever he was up to something. He was pretty tall, too. He played basketball, if that hinted at anything. But he definitely had the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing going for him. Although instead of 'dark' I'd say he was more of a 'clown'.

Still, the fact that he captured so much attention made me reluctant to get involved with him. I don't fully trust him to really like me. Or maybe I'm just not ready for a boyfriend yet. I'm not sure.

Anyways, he thinks his little pet name is so clever. My hair is blond. And my father was Australian. Original.

"What makes you think I want to say 'yes' just because I've turned fourteen?" I challenge with a raised eyebrow.

He suddenly gives me a pink rose that apparently he was hiding under his desk and replies, "Because the stars have finally aligned, and it's just meant to be."

I have to struggle not to laugh. Like I said, he's a big flirt. And pretty bad at it in my opinion.

Still, I smile a bit and accept the single flower. I smell it before answering, "Thanks, but sorry to say that the stars are still not aligned." And then I turn back around to hide my grin.

So, I like him. Doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for him.

I hear him chuckle a bit before he whispers to me, "You're a heartbreaker, Panda-Roo…"

Great, now he's pulling in my Chinese heritage. You'd be amazed how many names this guy can come up with that he will end in 'Roo'.

I quietly giggle to myself as I pull out a piece of paper and fold it in a half. I quickly write something on it before I spend the rest of the class time doodling on it.

The bell soon rings, and I am happy to know that was my last class, and I can go home at last. However, as I stand up, I turn to Henry who is grabbing his things, and hand him the folded paper.

"Thanks for the flower," I say, and smile at the surprise look on his face as he accepted the paper.

As I walk off, I hear him unfolding the paper. On the paper I wrote, 'Try again next year. Roo…' and had drawn a Chinese dragon on it.

I laughed to myself as I heard him whoop loudly.

On my way out, I ran into a few friends and we briefly talked about our afternoon plans. Of course, I got asked the usual question, 'What are you doing for your birthday?'

And I replied the usual, "Don't know yet."

Well, I kind of did. I knew I'd be spending it with my mom—as usual. My family actually consisted of just to the two of us. Naturally, I had extended family, but most of them lived in Florida. As for my biological father… Never met the guy. And honestly, I am okay with it. I suppose it's because I've never… had need of him. My mom was great. And… I personally liked to think my family consisted of one more person—even if he wasn't around all the time.

Anyways, my mom usually got me a cake and a present, and we'd just spend the day watching movies. But other time we would go to my grandparents' house in Florida for a weekend to celebrate. And on other times, she would make a big party at our house. So, pretty much I had already experienced it all. So, I suppose, it was kind of weird I did not have my own opinion of what made a perfect birthday.

Pretty soon, we all went our own ways to our respective rides waiting at the pick-up area. There was no such thing as buses here. Probably because it was a private school for a lot of kids whose parents had way too much money.

I usually don't talk about my school to anyone outside of my friends, because the few times I had, some people would get the wrong idea. Sure, there are snobby rich kids in the world. But most of them are normal teens. The school—although private and of good standing—goes through the same stuff as any other school: a teenage pecking order, complete with its bullies, popular kids, and outcasts. And there was also lots of homework…

The only difference is that we have limos and fancy cars pull into our school. Of course, not everyone was a billionaire's son and daughter. There were also kids from the hard-successful, working class, too, like myself. My mom had a really good job; but by no reach of the imagination were we filthy rich.

Suddenly, I saw a familiar fancy car pull into the curve… except, it wasn't my mom's car.

But I knew who's car it was. And as I watched the completely dark passenger window come down, I confirmed who it was:

The third person I considered part of my family. The world knew him as Vlad Masters. To me, he was …

'Baba?' I whispered in disbelief. I couldn't even remember the last time he picked me up from school. I knew though it wasn't easy for him. He was always busy, and then, being seen with my mom who was single…

Well, people liked to talk, let's just say.

Still, right now I didn't care about that, and I quickly moved closer. "Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?"

He smirked softly. "Well… It just so happens I heard it's someone's birthday today. And I thought, what kind of baba would I be if I didn't go wish my little girl a happy birthday?"

I grinned so wide I'm sure I looked like an ecstatic puppy.

"Come, let's go. I told your mother we wouldn't take too long."

I chuckled happily before I quickly jumped into the car and threw my book-bag in the back seat. I then hugged him before strapping on my seat belt.

I never notice how he smiled warmly at me with the affection.

"I can't believe you're here! I mean, what if someone sees you?" I asked.

"Let's not worry about that," he dismissed and took off.

Now, I'm sure you are all wondering why I'm so happy to see this man. Well! He's pretty much my dad. Well…unofficially, but I am on a mission to get him to tie the knot with my mom—who had been his high school sweetheart when they had been about my age!

Yup! It's so meant to be! They… just don't know it yet! Well, I think my mom does. I don't know. I figure they are in denial. So, whatever. I just gotta help them along.

But in all seriousness, Vlad has been part of my life before I was even born. I might not be his biological daughter, and he might be clueless about being in love with my mom. But he's my dad. He's always been my dad.

And I was just so happy to see him because he was always so busy and I honestly felt we did not spend enough time together.

"What's that flower you got there?" he suddenly asked me.

I look up at him before looking down at the rose still in my hand. I smile a bit before smelling it. As I brought it down, I answered playfully, "A boy gave it to me…"

I wasn't looking at him, but I could practically see the frown on his face as he quickly asked, "What boy?"

I almost laughed, but managed to say with a bit of amusement, "A nice boy… He wants to take me on a date."

Okay, so most girls would not be telling their dad this. But my baba was so easy to get going I couldn't help but tease him. He got so dramatic over the weirdest things sometimes. For example, one time I was eating a bowl of fruit loops and he had come by. The moment he saw it, he went on a rant how awful that cereal was and all the reasons I should never consume it again. Even my mom had stared at him like he had grown a second head. Ha! That had been funny.

"Annabelle? Are you listening to me? Aren't you too young to be dating… boys?"

"I'm fourteen," I answered innocently.

"That's too young. You should at least wait until you are in college…"

I could hear the 'or never' at the end of his comment, and I laughed a bit.

"What? Baba, come on! You dated my mom when you were close to my age, remember?"

Like I said, it's too easy!

I saw him tense, and he gave me a sideways glance. "Yes, well… that was different… Different times… "

He regained his composure and said firmly, "You are too young. Boys your age are hardly looking for commitment. It's best if you wait."

"Okay, baba," I answer like a good daughter; but then I suddenly pull closer to him and add mischievously, "But he is so cute! He has a pet-name for me and everything! And you even know his dad! You know? The guy that owns that chain of fancy hotels in Madison? His son's name is Henry."

If his eyes could change color or shoot beams, I was pretty sure he would have done just that.

Vlad glanced at me in surprise and displeasure, and asked, "William's son? Annabelle, please… He's hardly worthy of you! But it seems I will have to have a talk with his father… Boys his age should not be giving 'pet names' or gifts to a young lady like you."

"If you say so, baba," I replied, smelling the flower again. "But it's just a simple flower, you know..."

"It's how it starts," he grumbles.

I laugh a bit with his reply but then changing the subject, I ask, "Is my mom home already?"

"She should be," Vlad replied with a moment's pause. "She left before I did."

"Oh yeah…?" I reply and my tone hints at him to continue. What were they up to?

Vlad finally grins at me. "You are not getting anything out of me."

I just smile wider.

He suddenly laughs, and ruffles my bangs. "Oh stop. You know I hate that look."

"What look?" I press innocently.

"That look," Vlad answers, narrowing his eyes playfully at me.

I laugh again, but I soon notice that we are heading down the road to my house. It's actually not that far from Vlad's own home—which is an actual castle! The roads here are long, especially on these typical country roads. But the road to his house was the same as my own, except that he had to take an off road and then his castle was literally alone in the middle of a forest—or it should be a forest by how secluded it was.

For a moment, I thought we were going to his castle; but he made the turn to my own home. When we finally got there, I saw my mom's car parked there.

However, just as my baba turned off his car and we stepped out, my mom came out of the house.

"There you are, my love!" she said with a smile and came up to me to give me a big hug. "Happy birthday, my baby! I love you so much!"

I grinned as I hugged her back. "Thanks, Mom! I love you, too!"

She pulled away and wrapped an arm around me. "Come we have a surprise for you…"

Wait. Did she say 'we'?

My eyes lit up. "What is it?" I ask as I looked between her and Vlad.

"I think it's better to show you," Vlad answered.

"Okay…" I reply, and follow them both.

I smile as I watch my mom whisper something in Vlad's ear and he chuckled. I do not understand how they are not together. They have known each other practically all their lives, and anyone could tell they were so at ease with each other. It was probably why baba tried to avoid being seen with us in public, unless it was a work affair.

Anyone who paid attention would easily be able to see my mom was more to him than his secretary.

It was probably the only reason I sometimes wished my baba wasn't so rich and well-known. Maybe then he would not be so afraid to get close to us.

My thoughts are interrupted when I see a horse trailer with two horses inside.

"Wait…" I say slowly.

I walk up to the trailer, and look in, only to see two of Vlad's horses in them. I recognized his favorite mare, Ginger right away. The other was a white horse called, Ghost. (It was an odd name, I personally thought)

But why had he brought them all the way here?

"I don't get it," I said with a confused frown.

"Well, I know you like going horseback riding; so I figured we could take a ride," my mom said with a small smile. "So, I asked Vlad to bring over two of his horses."

I smile, and reply, "Awesome!" And it was then I also realized they were both dressed in casual clothing ideal for riding.

"Here, let me get them out. They are ready to go," Vlad said. But then he paused and dramatically said, "Oh but wait…! There are three of us… Hmm, and only two horses…."

"That is a problem," my mom agreed.

I raise an eyebrow at their obviously exaggerated comments. Sometimes I could swear they thought I was four and not fourteen.

"Oh I know… We should probably check the stable!" Vlad exclaimed.

"I think we should, too!" my mom agreed with a smirk.

I shake my head. "Fine, I'll go check the stable," I say because it's obvious that's what they want.

I walk over to the closed stable, and pulled it open. Only to freeze…

There in the stable was a young male horse. It was beautiful. He was splotched with white and black, but had a full black mane and tail. This was not one of Vlad's horses.

"No way…," I whispered. I look at my mom. "Is he…?"

"Yours?" she finishes for me. "Yes, darling. He's all yours."

I had always wanted a horse! Our house was built with a stable and even had fenced pasture to keep one But my mom knew from her childhood they were a lot of work; so she had promised me we would get a horse when I was older. I just didn't think the day would come at last.

"Do you like him?" my mom probed at my quiet reaction.

"I love him!" I breathe out before running over to my mom and hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much!"

"Of course, darling," she answers.

I notice Vlad smiling at us before he clasps his hands together, and says, "Well! Let's get to it then! Still much to do!"

I laugh at his over-excited attitude, but then I quickly run back to the stables and go up to my new horse. The young horse quickly sniffs my hand as I raise it to his nose. I might not have had my own horse until now; but I had been around them since I was a little girl. My grandparents had horses, too. And Vlad, of course, did, too.

But I had never seen a horse as beautiful as this one. I just loved his splotched coloring! And then I suddenly knew what I was going to name him.

"Oreo…" I said with a grin. "Let's go have some fun!"

Took a few minutes, but we were soon on the horses and heading down a walking trail in the area. We took a slow pace for a moment; before I challenged my baba to a race. He was too competitive to say 'no'.

We couldn't go too far though. My mom was carrying a few things on her horse's back; so we had to wait for her.

By the time the sun began to set, we had found a nice place near a creek. We took a small break from riding and enjoyed a picnic dinner. I loved it. The simplicity of such a day was beautiful to me. I could say I was completely happy. Like… for a single moment, life was perfect.

"This is such a nice place, isn't it?" Vlad suddenly asked, and looked towards the arrays of colors reaching towards us in between the trees nearby. It was like there was a rainbow on the ground. The colors the sunset created in the sky and around us was breathtaking.

"Shame you do not have your camera, sweetheart," he said to me.

I sigh wistfully. It really was. I loved taking pictures. It was my favorite thing to do. In fact, I wanted to be a professional photographer when I grew up.

"I forgot all about it," I muttered. Darn, this would have made such a beautiful picture.

"Ah, well… I guess you will have to use this one…," he answered.

I quickly looked at him in time to see him pull out a brand new camera from another picnic basket my mom had brought. But this camera… I had seen this camera online, and It wasn't any camera. It was an exclusive, super expensive, state of the art, completely professional, most powerful lens camera ever! LIKE EVER!

I screamed, and tackled him in a hug.

He gasped as he almost lost his hold on the camera.

"Annie!" my mom exclaims before she burst into laughter.

"Baba! Thank you! Oh my gosh! I can't believe you—! I mean, how could—? That camera is like, THE BEST?" I exclaim as I tightly wrap my arms around his neck.

"Well, why don't you use it before I drop it?" he asked with a laugh of his own.

I grin at him before kissing his cheek and then taking the camera from him. Okay, maybe this is why they thought me four years old; because as soon as I sat back down, I began to fiddle with the camera, like a kid plays with their brand new shiny toy.

I barely hear my mom whisper, "Thank you," to Vlad.

I finally can work it enough to get it on, and it takes me little time to figure out the main functions. What can I say? I love cameras. I could probably tell you just about anything on them. So, it wasn't too hard for me to get the camera ready.

My mom and Vlad had been talking before I raise the camera and take a quick picture of them before they can react. This one is going in my photo collection!

I hear them protest, but I just laugh and get up. I look through the lens and begin to capture the area and the beautiful colors of the setting sun. I then take a few pictures of Oreo.

They had been watching me for a few minutes, but they soon began to talk with each other again. I could hear them laughing and teasing each other over mundane things. It made me smile and I snuck a few more pictures of them.

"Annie, come on, let's cut the cake before it gets too dark and we have to head back," my mom says.

I turn and see her bring out a small cake from the basket. I quickly grin and take a picture of it. But then, I pull back to readjust the lens.

As I do, I hear my mom say, "Oh shoot. I didn't bring a lighter…"

I finally look up to tell her not to worry about it; but then I pause when I see the candle on the cake in the shape of the number fourteen is lit, and burning with pink fire.

"Uhhh…" I begin confused. I had never seen pink fire before.

Vlad coughs. "This candle… They sure come up with clever things to make them more festive nowadays."

My mom chokes back a laugh for some reason before she tells me to come over. I sit in between them, and Vlad takes my camera for a moment to take a few pictures of me and my mom. But they soon sing me 'happy birthday', and Vlad takes one last picture of me blowing out my candle.

I hug and thank them again, and my mom begins to cut the cake. As she does, I take my camera back, and take a few more pictures.

But as I see my mom give Vlad a piece a cake, I pause with a thought. I look up at my mom and baba, then I glance at Oreo, and finally at the beautiful sunset…. And it hits me.

This… This right here is my perfect birthday. Not because of the nice gifts, but because of the simplicity of the moment.

The fact that I could just be here in such a nice place, surrounded by the two people I loved the most, and a camera in my hand… it's all I needed.

I smile at that before setting a timer on my camera, and setting it down on an angle so it can still capture us.

As it takes a picture of the three of us, I know…

Sometimes the simple things are sweeter…

This one took me... about four hours, including a quick re-read. Hope you liked it! I have another one partly done. I might post it sometime this week. We'll see.

By the way, if you have any suggestions, let me know. But they must be either DoaS related, cannon-EG/CM universe, kay?

I can't guarantee I will make drabbles for all the suggestions. It has trigger my muse, so if it does, you'll see it. lol

Thank you everyone!