Prompt 15 - I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. Melinda's party. The one she hates. The one where she turns around and gets Daisy a gift. She adopts her.

Melinda glared at Phil. He'd tiptoed out of the room at five thinking she hadn't noticed. He was now standing in their bedroom doorway holding a tray filled with her favorite breakfast items. And a damn bottle of champagne to boot. Dangling from his arm was gift bag, a very large gift bag.

He tentatively walked in and put the tray on the bed, sat down on the bed and put the bag at his feet. He grinned at her. "Happy birthday,' he sang out cheerfully.

"I told you very clearly I didn't want you to make a fuss Phil. Daisy is already doing that and I thought I could count on you to keep my wishes."

"Yeah, about that. Um ...the party might be bigger that we first thought. Daisy apparently invited other people besides just the team."

Melinda's glare grew into a death glare. "What has she gone and done now Phil?"

"Well she wants it to be a surprise. I promised not to say anything Mel. And your breakfast is getting cold."

She grabbed the tray pulling it closer and stuffed a piece of waffle in her mouth. "Spill it Phil."

"You know Daisy really thinks she is going to surprise you. It's important to her."

"I'll pretend Phil. I can play undercover you know."

"She's gonna pick up on it, Mel. She's damn smart you know."

"Well she's not smart enough to listen when I said no fuss and no party for my birthday. So ..."

"She loves parties you know. Probably never got many as a kid, if at all. She's just doing what she thinks you really want."

"Stop with the guilt thing. And oooo... you made orange marmalade muffins." She took a bite and sighed with pleasure.

He smiled and grabbed one for himself. The two continued to eat in silence, Melinda giving him a small smile after finishing her waffles with strawberries and cream, two of the muffins, and a piece of cinnamon sticky bun. Melinda grabbed her glass of champagne and leaned back against the pillows and headboard sighing in contentment.

"I'm stuffed."

Phil laughed and stood up, and moved the tray over to the dresser, and then put the bag on the bed next to her.

She glanced at the bag. "I told you to not fuss Phillip."

"I didn't ...listen."

She smiled. "You're as bad as Daisy."

"What can I say Mel. We both adore you. We both love you."

"I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."

"Oh please. You deserve the world. You deserve a day to be fussed over, and to be loved with unbridled devotion You deserve to have a day of selfishness and be the center of attention. You deserve to be happy Melinda. Now open your damn presents. I want to see what you think."

She reached into the bag and got our one of the larger boxes and opened it. It was a new leather jacket.

"To replace the brown one that had all those blood stains that you had to throw away."

"Practical. I like it. Actually, I love it."

"Yeah, yeah. Keep going."

She pulled put another large box and opened that one. She pulled out a fluffy blanket colored in rich greens and browns.

"You are always complaining how cold it is here on the base."

"It's very nice Phil."

She opened a smaller gift box which contained a beautiful cashmere purple sweater. The next box held a tin of special tea that he knew she liked. The last box was just a small flat box. She opened it and a piece of paper spilled out. She picked it up and read it. She looked up at him in surprise.

"Is this for real?"

"Of course. We talked about it. I put a down payment on it. That's the transfer deed. The bank owns the rest. If you still think it's a good idea – I can put a huge chunk of my savings to it and..."

"And I can do that as well. That way we own it outright."

"Yeah. It would be ours."

"Our home."

He smiled and sat back down on the bed next to her. "Our home. Mine and yours. And Daisy's of course."

"We should build that suite onto the main floor like we talked about. A couple bedrooms, and small office with a bathroom."

"Yeah I might have already called a contractor about that. He can start next week."

"Good. We can wait then till it's finished to tell Daisy. How long did he say it would take?"

"Well for the added rooms, and the upgrade to the kitchen, and out bedroom and bath – he said it would take around three months. But he said if we are willing to pay overtime, he could get just the suite done by Christmas."

"Call him back and give him the go ahead. I want it available for Christmas for Daisy and so we can all celebrate there this year. Thank you, Phil."

"I love you Mel. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"How cliché." She laughed. "But don't you ever forget it."

"Never." He tilted her chin up and kissed her.

She melted into him and passionately kissed him back. Pulling apart, she gave him a smile. "You are such a sap."

"So are you. We're a sappy family."

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway I guess the party is tonight huh?"

"It is. Remember to pretend you know absolutely nothing about it all day. The kids will be getting ready for it. They'll look guilty as hell and stutter a lot when you talk to them.

"Great."

"You still going to do the thing at the party. Turn the tables on Daisy."

"Yeah later. I'll let Daisy embarrass me first and have her fun. I have all the paperwork done. All it needs yet is her signature. If she wants to."

"You have doubts?"

She nodded. "A little. I mean I want it to be her choice, you know. I just hope she says yes."

"Me too."