Olivia woke up with a knot in her stomach. She hated her birthday. Her mom had ignored it or used it as an excuse to get drunk and yell at her about how she'd ruined her life. Olivia had preferred the years her mom ignored it, which was how she continued to deal with her birthday. At least nobody on the team knew it was her birthday, she hoped.

When she got to her desk, there was a toasted bagel, a cup of coffee not from the station and fresh fruit on it. She looked suspiciously at Elliot, but he didn't give anything away. "You got breakfast last week," he said. "My turn."

"Thanks," she murmured, biting into the bagel. She was on guard the rest of the day, but nobody brought out a cake or sang to her, thankfully, and she started to relax a little.

Only she and Elliot were left finishing up paperwork, and even they got to leave on the early side today. She went to the bathroom before heading out, and when she got back to her desk, there was a chocolate cupcake with a single candle on her desk. She swallowed past the lump in her throat, and Elliot leaned over her desk to light the candle. "Happy birthday, partner," he said quietly. "Blow out your candle and make a wish. I won't subject you to my singing."

She managed to blow it out before turning away from him, desperately trying to stop herself from crying. She hated crying in front of people, especially her team. She felt Elliot squeezing her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he told her, looking genuinely contrite. "I thought a cupcake wouldn't be too much."

She took a few shaky breaths before she could respond. "It was nice of you. Thanks. How did you know, anyway?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Must be a detective. Besides, I needed your driver's license for a form a few months ago."

She had forgotten about that. "No, I mean, how did you know I didn't want anyone to do anything?"

"I just figured. That you didn't ever mention it. I doubted your mom was throwing birthday parties for you."

"This is the first time anyone has ever celebrated it," she admitted. "I've never gotten cake or had anyone sing to me."

He re-lit the candle and started singing. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Olivia, happy birthday to you." This time, she managed to smile when she blew out the candle. "You deserve to be celebrated, you know." She shrugged and got out a plastic knife. "No, your birthday, you get the whole cupcake. Don't worry. I got one for me too." He grinned at her, bringing it out.

"Thanks for not telling everyone else."

"I wanted to live until your next birthday."

She laughed.

"Happy birthday, partner. Next year, we'll bring out the streamers and balloons, have the whole station sing to you."

She looked at him, horrified. "Liv, I'm kidding. I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to. Go home. Enjoy the rest of your birthday and not being stuck here for once."

"Thanks, El."

A few minutes after she got home, a delivery person showed up with Chinese food she hadn't ordered. This time, she genuinely smiled. Maybe birthdays weren't so bad.