Chapter 4: Life Celebration of "A Hero"

Ryan sits at the kitchen table with a blindfold over his eyes.

"Come guys, this is stupid...I already know we're having a party, and I-"

"Ssh!" Micki breathes.

Ryan closes his mouth and sighs heavily.

"Jack..." Micki whispers. Jack nods and grabs Ryan's arm.

"Come along Ryan."

"Where are we going?" Ryan asks. "Downstairs?"

Jack slowly aids Ryan over to the staircase. Micki smiles.

"Can I at least take off the blindfold to go down the steps?"

"No!" Jack and Micki tell him at the same time. Ryan scoffs.

"Okay, but if I fall I'm going to blame you two."

Jack lets out a laugh and helps Ryan down the stairs.

"You won't fall Ryan I've got you." Jack assures him.

"I still can't believe you both went to all this trouble just for me."

"It was no trouble at all." Micki's voice is heard.

"Okay, last step."

Ryan steps off the stairs and sighs.

"Well...Can I take off the blindfold?"

Jack gently pulls Ryan over to a chair and sits him down, then let's go of him.

"Jack?"

"Just stay where you are, I've got to get the lights."

Micki slowly walks down the stairs with a large chocolate cake, 26 candles burn brightly, illuminating her red hair. Jack turns off the lights. Micki steps off the bottom step and places the cake on the desk.

"Guys?"

Jack walks over to Micki and stands near her.

"Come on guys, can I take this stupid thing off now?"

Micki and Jack exchange glances then look at Ryan.

"You can take the blindfold off now." Micki says with a smile.

Ryan slowly reaches up for the blindfold and unties it. As he pulls it off his face, it brushes his bangs up ever so slightly. He smiles at Micki and Jack. Micki lets out a laugh and walks over to Ryan. She grabs him by the arm and pulls him up from the chair. As she does, she softly sings to him in a warm alto voice.

"Happy Birthday to you." Micki begins. "Happy Birthday to you."

Jack then joins her as she pulls Ryan over to the desk.

"Happy Birthday dear Ryan!" Jack and Micki shout. Ryan grins at them with his signature half smile. "Happy Birthday to you!"

"To youuuuuuu!" Micki sings loudly, and drum rolls the desk.

"And many more!" Jack sings.

Micki laughs.

"Now you have to make a wish."

Ryan smiles shyly and looks at Jack. Jack smiles back at him. Ryan looks back at the cake then at Micki. Micki's pearly whites under her salmon lipstick, shine brighter by the candlelight. Ryan then looks back at the cake, he slowly bends down near the candles and blows softly. The candles start to go out but then relight themselves.

"Oh, Jack!" Micki exclaims. "You bought the trick candles!"

Jack lets out a laugh.

"Life without tricks can be boring Micki."

"Life without a fire is good too Jack, help me blow these things out, hm?" Ryan says cockily.

Jack picks up a book and fans the candles. Ryan blows on a few of them.

"Here I'll take them and put them in the sink." Micki replies and begins taking the candles off the cake. Wax drips on to Micki's finger as she turns to go up the stairs.

"Ow." Micki hisses. Ryan turns.

"You alright, sweetheart?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll get the lights." Jack utters and hands the book to Ryan. Jack turns on the lights. Ryan begins taking off the candles. As he does, the bell to the front door is heard. Jack and Ryan look up. A man and a woman enter the shop.

"Our apologies, but we're closed right now." Jack starts. "If you'd like to come back tomorrow..."

"Cousin Katherine?" Ryan cries. "Frank, what...what are you doing here?"

"We came to celebrate your life." Katherine says with a smile.

"And to see my little girl." Frank blurts out.

"Mom!" Micki shouts from the stairs.

Jack and Ryan turn. Micki smiles widely and runs over to Katherine. Micki hugs her tightly.

"Daddy." Micki hums with a smile.

"Hiya Mick" Frank replies and wraps his arms around her.

"Ryan?" Katherine speaks out. She then walks over to him with a card and hands it to him. "This is for you."

"Thanks."

Ryan starts to open the card, and Katherine kisses his cheek.

"I...I can't accept this... $100 bucks, are you for real?"

"Keep it, slugger, take my baby girl to a nice dinner or something." Frank announcers and wraps his arms around Micki.

"Daddy, don't embarrass him."

"Forgive me Ms. Katherine, but we haven't officially met I'm Jack Marshak, I assist your daughter here in the store."

"Oh how nice, and thoughtful of you Mr. Marshak."

Jack smiles. "How about some cake, Ryan?"

Ryan stares at the 100-dollar bill then looks up.

"Sure."

Ryan walks over to the desk and starts to cut the cake.

"So how are you and um...Frank close to Ryan, I don't mean to pry." Jack questions.

"Not at all...and Frank isn't...he and I were married, and we had our little Micki, and then I married Ryan's cousin Josh...of course Frank and I divorced sometime before that."

"But I still love her."

Katherine purrs at Frank and smiles at him as he walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her. Jack nods as Ryan places cake on several plates.

"Ryan?" Micki whispers. Ryan turns around. Micki stands by the door and gestures with her finger for him to approach her. Ryan wipes his hand off on his shirt and picks up a plate and a fork.

"Excuse me."

He brushes past Katherine and Frank. They both presume to talk to Jack. Ryan walks down the steps to the front door and up to Micki.

"What's up?"

"I still haven't given you, your present yet."

"Oh, well you didn't have get me anything."

"Ryan..."

"You didn't."

"I did...and I'd like to take you to it."

"Take me to it, where's it at?"

"Come on." Micki then opens the door.

"Wait, don't you want to stay and talk to your folks?"

"They'll be here when I get back."

"What about the cake?"

"Ryan..."

Ryan takes a bite of the cake.

"It sure is good."

"Will you-"

Ryan holds his fork out with cake at the end of it. Micki sighs and takes a bite of it.

"See?"

"Thank you...it should be...I made it." Micki replies as she finishes eating the cake. She then wrinkles her nose at him. Ryan wrinkles his nose back and leans in toward her face.

"Can we go now?"

Ryan quickly pecks her lips and places the plate down on a table near the door.

"Yeah, let's go."

Ryan and Micki leave the shop. Jack, Frank, and Katherine don't even notice their departure. Jack begins to tell Frank and Katherine stories about his days as a magician, and his death-defying act, the "Pendulum of Death!" Micki drives Ryan out a ways from the city.

"Come on Micki, where we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"I've had all the surprises I can stand for one day."

"Well, you'll like this one."

"I hope...we're in...I know this road."

Micki looks at him then back at the road. Ryan pauses and looks out the window.

"I know this place."

Micki smiles at Ryan's words. She then pulls up to an old church and a gym. Micki parks the car. As she does Ryan quickly gets out and looks up at the church.

"Remember?"

Ryan turns, and Micki is out of the driver's side and looks over at him.

"Like I was here yesterday."

Micki smiles and walks over to him. She takes him by the hand and leads him over to a door.

"The pastor said it would be unlocked...said we could stay until 8." Micki explains and pushes on the door. Ryan lets go of her hand and walks out on to an old gym floor. The lights come on one at a time as Micki turns them on. Ryan looks around. Micki walks over to him and touches his shoulder.

"And that... that's your present." Micki whispers and points. Ryan follows her finger and looks over at an old air hockey table, still standing in the corner of the gym. Ryan slowly looks at her.

"My present?"

"To relive that day... and give yourself a memory you can hold on too... and we can finally declare a winner."

Ryan smiles. Micki smiles back and walks over to the table, Ryan follows. Micki stands on the other side.

"Hope you remember how to play." She grins.

"Do I?" Ryan says sarcastically. He then pulls the puck out and hits it with the striker. Micki blocks the shot and hits it towards Ryan. The sound of the puck hitting the sides echoes in the gym. The pair plays for about an hour. Micki stares at Ryan. Ryan smiles and hits the puck toward her, and it goes in her goal.

"Yes!" Ryan shouts and fist pumps the air. "Micki, come on you weren't even paying attention to that one."

"Oh...I...I'm sorry...it's just... you're so happy."

Ryan smiles at her.

"Thanks to you Micki."

Micki blushes and pulls the puck out the slot on her side..

"Okay...25 to 25... the next shot...will end it all."

Ryan pushes his sleeves up. "Go." He tells her. Micki hits the puck with her striker. Ryan hits it back.

"Ryan!" Micki shouts and hits the puck back toward him.

"What?!" Ryan shouts playfully and hits the puck back toward her. Micki grunts and hits the puck hard with her striker and it hits the side and then slides into Ryan's goal.

"Ah geez!" Ryan yells. Micki laughs.

"What do you have to say about that Mr. Dallion?" Micki says with a cocky smile.

"Good game Micki."

Micki sighs with a smile.

"Good game." Ryan says again and nods. "Man I forgot what life was like before chasing down these damn objects."

"We all deserve a little fun in our lives."

Ryan smiles. Micki walks over to him and holds his hand. Ryan nods and holds her hand as they walk over to the back door. Ryan opens the door for her and she steps out.

"Thank you."

"No sweat."

Ryan and Micki walk out back and they both look up at the same time. A swing set still stands proudly. Ryan grins then gently pushes her.

"Hey!"

Ryan takes off running toward the swing. Micki chases after him and pulls at his jacket.

"Hey!" He shouts back. Micki laughs as she runs ahead of him. "That's not fair!"

Ryan then picks her up from behind. Micki screams as Ryan swings her around.

"Ryannn!"

Ryan puts her down and they both reach the swing at the same time. Ryan breathes heavily.

"I certainly feel like a kid again."

Micki cocks her head to the side and smiles.

"I'm glad...you...you never had much of a childhood did you?"

Ryan looks at her and pulls the swing back. Micki smiles and sits down.

"No...I guess I didn't."

Ryan presumes to push her in the swing.

"Hey, Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

Micki kicks her feet slowly as she doesn't go as far as she did when she was a kid, then pulls them back in as Ryan pushes her.

"I know if you tell me...it won't come true...but I really have to know... what did you wish for tonight?"

Ryan continues to push her.

"Ryan?"

Micki drags her feet along the dirt and falls back into Ryan's chest. Ryan grabs the chain of the swing.

"You didn't waste your wish on me and Jack did you?"

"No...I...I didn't..."

"Then what did you wish for?"

"You know the rules Micki, if I tell you it won't come true..."

Micki sighs and looks away, Ryan starts to push her again, then stops. Micki drags her feet again and falls back into his chest. Ryan sighs and grabs the chain.

"But if you really want to know... I wished to never be alone...and if there's a place up there for mom and dad, and Jimmy... I hope there's a place up there for me too."

Micki stares at him.

"Ryan... you've done so much for me...and for Jack... that if there's not a place up there for you, none of us are safe."

Ryan looks at her.

"How does it feel to be 26, and how does it feel to be a hero?" Micki whispers softly. Ryan leans in close to her.

"Feels kinda funny."

Ryan then kisses her. Micki kisses him back. Ryan stops a moment and nuzzles her nose and pecks her lips. Micki wrinkles her nose up at him and kisses him again. Ryan presumes to make-out with Micki as she sits in the swing. They then break off their kiss, and Ryan nudges Micki out of the swing.

"It's my turn now."

"Ryan..."

Ryan sits down in the swing.

"It's my birthday, come on push."

Micki sighs and pushes on his shoulders. Ryan barely moves.

"Come on Micki!"

"You have to pick up your feet!" Micki yells as she attempts to push Ryan in the swing.

"They are up, come on it's my birthday!"

"Act your age!"

"I am, now come on!"

Ryan holds tight to the chain of the swing as Micki tries to push him.

"Go baby go!" Ryan says with a laugh.

Micki stops pushing on him and hits the top of his head.

"Shut up!" Micki says playfully but still angry.

"Alright, alright." Ryan replies. He then gets up out of the swing and Micki glares at him.

"What?" Ryan stifles a laugh. He then places his hands on her face. Micki pouts at him.

"Thanks Micki." Ryan says softly and pecks her lips. He then wraps his arm around her and they walk over to the back door.

Later that evening, the shop is quiet. Ryan is sound asleep in bed. Micki quietly walks over to his nightstand.

"What are you doing?" Jack whispers. Micki jumps at the sound of his voice and turns toward him. She then places a finger to her mouth and points at Ryan.

"I did what you said, Jack...I couldn't find the right card so...I wrote one." Micki whispers.

"Micki...we threw him a surprise party, the boy got to eat chocolate cake, he spent the evening with you...and now a card..." Jack whispers.

"Jack, come on now, we said we would make it special for him."

"Alright, alright, just remember on my birthday I like strawberry cake."

Micki smiles at him. Jack winks at her then tip-toes down the stairs. Micki turns back toward the nightstand. She places a card near his headphones, and sneaks into her bedroom, shutting the doors behind her quietly. As Ryan sleeps, the note on his nightstand is revealed to be a letter that reads:

Ryan, I hope you never think differently, but you're so damn creative and unique and cool. You are simply amazing, and you are so near and dear to my heart. You can make anyone laugh, you can dance, you can sing. You give great hugs, and you're my very good friend. You amaze me, inspire me, and make me happy. Thanks for the memories, and the memories we will make. Thanks for being there, thanks for being you, thanks for providing never-give-up speeches. Thanks for simply being my friend. This couldn't possibly count as a gift. It's not even close to what I want to say as a shout out for your birthday so here are 26 Things I Love About You:

1. Your Smile

2. Your Eyes

3 Your Hair

4 Your Brain

5 Your ideas

6 Your Morals

7 The way you laugh

8 The way you dance

9 The way you listen

10 They way you talk and the words you use

11 The way you write

12 The way you play guitar

13 Your kindness

14 Your bravery

15 Your wisdom

16 How beautiful you are deep down to your soul

17 How you care for other people

18 Your hugs

19 Your voice when you sing

20 How you handle difficult situations

21 How you shelter and protect me

22 The way you hold me in times of danger

23 The way you complain to me about our Mercedes troubles.

24 The way you make me laugh

25 The light you add to the dark in my life, and Jack's.

26 You.

Happy Birthday Sweetie, with love Micki.

Attached is a drawing of a hand holding another hand with the initials M.F. at the bottom.