Wow, two chapters in one day…I'm proud of myself! Of course, it's people like potter-me- and FuritiveFox who keep me going, since they're my only regular reviewers…I'm going to skip a little bit ahead, so that way I don't have to say what goes on during those five months or so that they wait for Isabel's birthday to come…anyway, here you go! This is probably just going to be in Isabel's POV, because if I put someone else's as well, it would go on forever. But it's so romantic!

Chapter 12

Isabel

I'm so happy! It's my birthday today! Of course, Matt doesn't seem to care. Jimmy and Mum went out somewhere early this morning, and I haven't seen them all day. Harry's been off doing his own thing, and Ginny's the only one who'll talk to me. So that's what we're doing. We're sitting up in my room, talking.

I sigh. "It's my birthday, and my own brother doesn't care," I tell her.

"Well, that sucks," she replies. "Happy Birthday, though."

I smile. "Thanks."

Ginny sits up, as if a sudden idea just came to her. "Hey, if it's your birthday, why don't we go celebrate?"

"How so?" I ask, intrigued.

"By going to the mall, of course!"

I grin. "Hell ya, girl!" I grab my purse and we run to get our shoes on. We come back hours later, giggling over all the stuff we bought. She won't show me what she got, but I got lots of clothes and awesome stuff. Ginny offers to take both our bags up to my room, and I hand mine over. So far, it hasn't been a bad day. I walk towards the living room, thinking about flopping down on the couch, but when I turn the light on, everybody is there, yelling, "SURPRISE!" Ginny comes running downstairs with wrapped presents in her arms.

"These are from me, Matt, and Harry," she says as she puts them on a table. The others grab their presents and put them on the table too. Arkarian and Matt are the only ones who don't put anything on the table, but Arkarian comes over to me.

"Happy Birthday," he says, and I giggle. He wraps me in his arms and kisses me. We stay like this for quite some time, until Neriah clears her throat, breaking us apart.

"Alright," she says, "Now that the guest of honour is here, let's get this party started!"

There's a cheer that erupts at her statement, as we walk into the backyard. Matt does some weird thing, which he says is him putting a sound proof dome around the entire back yard. Neriah joins him, adding invisibility to the mix. So now, nobody will know there's anybody back here, let alone 15 people partying. Ethan creates a stage complete with microphone and a sound system, and Neriah walks up there, taking the mic.

"Attention, everyone," she says, and we all look to her. "Stage one of this party has now begun! So go on and tell Ethan the song you wanna sing, and he'll make it come!"

Ethan grins as Rochelle flings herself onto him, whispering something in his ear. The two of them walk up to the stage, singing "Can You Feel The Love Tonight". Then, Matt and Neriah go sing "Breaking Free", followed by Dillon singing "I'll Be There For You". Jacob sings, "How You Remind Me", and Clara sings "I Am". Then it's Ginny's turn. She sings "Keep Holding On" to Harry, and he goes up to sing "How To Save A Life". Hermione sings "Unwritten", and Ron sings the Happy Birthday song to me, very badly, I might add. Vanessa sings "Miss Independent", and Kyle sings "Sexy Back", making us all laugh. I can't persuade Arkarian to sing anything, so I go up instead, singing "Everything Back But You".

When the karaoke session is over, it seems that Ginny and Harry organized a trip to somewhere called "Diagon Alley", so we go there. It's so much fun, even if the other people keep looking at us funny. As soon as the people there see that we're with Harry, they leave us alone. After that, we go back to Angel Falls to my place for cake and ice cream, and finally, the present opening. Probably my favourite part of the whole evening, to be honest.

The first one is from Ginny, and it's a card game called Exploding Snap. Clara gives me $100 to spend at some place that sells baby stuff, while Ron gives me a set of Wizard Chess. Jacob gives me a sapphire necklace to replace the one his fire burnt, and Vanessa gives me some wizarding money, "In case you ever decide to come visit us over there," she adds with a grin. Kyle's gift is some candy from a store called Honeydukes, and Neriah's is a beginner's art set, since she wants to teach me. Hermione gives me some books from their world, in case I want to know more about it, and Ethan gives me two tickets for sky diving, saying he'll go with me if nobody else wants to. I laugh at that before Rochelle gives me her present: a whole bunch of baby clothes for both boys and girls. "It's getting close," she says. Harry gives me a huge banner saying my name that's clearly been made by magic, as the pictures and everything are moving. The letters of my name are coloured in blue, and the banner itself is silver with little blue lights that flash. Dillon gives me the newest CD of my fav singer (Avril Lavigne).

Matt and Arkarian are the only two left. Matt comes forward first. "Well," he says, "I was talking to my father, and he agreed that this is a good gift to give you." I raise an eyebrow, wondering what my brother could be talking about.

He puts his hands just above my head, and I'm reminded of my Initiation into the Guard three years ago. "Isabel Becket," he says, eyes flashing gold, "I award you with the power of flight." Oh my god. Matt just gave me wings! Sweet! As soon as he's finished, I hug him tightly, thanking him over and over again.

Finally, it's Arkarian's turn. I can tell that his gift is going to be something big. He comes towards me, and takes my hands in his. "From the moment I met you, that day that Ethan brought you up to my chambers, I knew that you were special. And when Marduke killed you on your first actual mission, I was devastated." I have no clue what he's talking about, but I let him continue. "Ethan tried to go after you into the middle world, thinking he was your soul mate, as only a person's soul mate can save them from that world, but I knew otherwise. I went in after a while, and you answered to my voice. I was sure that this could never be." I'm pretty sure I know where this is going now…

"When you risked everything to save me from the underworld, going against my father's direct command, I knew that I would do anything to be with you and have you by my side. And I have. But now I'd like more." He let's go of my hands, and I use them to cover my mouth, tears sliding down my face. I know for a fact exactly what his present is, and I couldn't ask for a better one. Dropping on one knee, Arkarian pulls something from his pocket; a ring box. Opening it, he asks me the one question I'd never let any other man ask me. "Isabel, will you marry me?"

I know the answer right away. "Yes!" He slides the ring on my finger, and I fling myself on him. Everybody claps, and as I look around, I see that all the girls have tears on their faces, even Ginny and Rochelle! Matt's grinning from ear to ear, which surprises me. I would have thought this'd upset him! All I can think is that my life is finally perfect.

There you go. Don't worry, this fic is far from over, as Isabel still needs to have her baby, and I'm planning on putting at least one more fight scene in here before I end it. Now do you see why it's only in Isabel's POV? I'd like to thank FuritiveFox for giving me the idea for Matt's gift, and I hope that the rest of you like this fic so far. Like I said, it's nowhere near being finished, so don't worry.