First Birthday: Candlelight and Cake
Is cheesecake cake or pie?

Note: I do not own Power Rangers Jungle Fury or its characters. I do own Kiran though and Jarrod's Mother for the time being.
Prompt: First Birthday (bigthingsinlife)
Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst
Rating: T (Minor language)

The break went by fast, peaceful with Kiran at my side. My Mother had spent most of the time trying to make amends with me while my Father hid. I preferred it that way. From what I could see, he was still the same asshole he'd always been. I hadn't remembered my birthday until my Mother came in one morning and wished me one. It was my 17th birthday, and I hadn't celebrated in seven years.

It had been so long I had forgotten the day; it hadn't mattered in so long. Kiran was just as surprised but murmured a birthday greeting into my neck after my Mom left the room. My Mother had asked how I would like to spend my day. I don't see it as a special day; it's just a day like every other. I told her I had no idea, so she suggested making us a nice dinner. I had liked that idea, the Lion wanted steak and so I had asked for it and she beamed and told me I would have whatever I wished.

Then she vacated so I could have some time alone with Kiran. I think she thinks we're going to have sex again especially because it's my birthday. I think she thinks it's a typical guy thing but I'm just happy to have my girl near me since until her, I've had no one. And given Kiran's history I'm not about to expect sex on a regular basis. I don't want to approach her on it; I want her to come to me about that when she's ready.

We both shower and change for the day and tomorrow we would return to the academy. As I was pulling my shirt over my head I heard a knock on the door. I was currently stuck in my shirt and turned to Kiran, or where I thought she was.

"Can you get that?"

"Sure fat-head!" she chirped with a laugh at my predicament. I feel her pass me and I continue to struggle with my shirt and stop dead when I hear her gasp.

"Hello Kiran," I recognize the voice of Master Swoop and finally tug my shirt back off. "Jarrod," he says, oh crap. I instinctively want to growl at him, as I know he is here to take her from me.

"Swoop! How did you find me?!" she asks.

"It wasn't easy Persephone. You know better than to just disappear. I've been worried. The Josephs said you left the first day of break. Informed me two days later. They only said you were a demon. I have been searching for you ever since. What happened?" He stands over both of us, his face stoic as usual; Kiran shoots me a worried look.

"Well my spirit animal decided it was time to come out and play. Needless to say we were all a bit surprised. I'm here with Jarrod now." She said her voice taking on a hard edge, which makes him tilt his head towards her and a small smirk appeared on his usually empty face.

"You mean your Mate. I can sense the marks you've left on one another. You do realize you are now a permanent couple. Once a mating occurs, it does not happen again."

"That's not what Phant's said." Kiran said.

"Hey! Thinking about getting rid of me already?" I ask shooting her a wounded look. She shakes her head and puts a reassuring hand on mine.

"Never. But he says that for some mating isn't permanent and they can…mate…a lot." I knew she wouldn't leave me; I just needed to ask, I'm still very unsure about myself as a boyfriend, a mate. I've not been instructed too much on mating, but apparently Phant has filled Kiran in long before. That has given me confidence because she has chosen me to share her life with.

"That is true but neither one of you is included in that. Those circumstances are different. Mates die. Some animals aren't monogamist, but that is up to the person the animal spirit they wield." He tells her.

"I hope you didn't come here to lecture me about my Mate," she says, her voice is low and her hand wraps around my wrist.

"I haven't. I was coming to collect you, but now that I have seen that you're mated I will leave you in his care. But I want to speak to you alone. Jarrod, please put on a shirt and leave us for a moment." I understood that for a long time he has acted as Kiran's therapist and I respected his wishes. I left my room and headed downstairs, knowing he got into the house from the front door, I feel the need to check on my mother.

I find her in the kitchen; she's putting the raw steak into a marinade. Little did she know my basic instincts are to eat it as it is but knowing that my body wouldn't tolerate it well, I do not.

"Who is that gigantic Man? I saw a symbol on his coat that reminded me of that man who came…Mao, wasn't it?"

"Yes, his name was Mao. That is another Master, Master Swoop. He's partly Kiran's caretaker and therapist and wanted to speak to her alone. I respected his wishes."

"Good, she needs it," she muttered, I don't think she realized I caught that but pretended like I didn't. It hurt me to think that she suddenly disapproved of Kiran.

"What do you mean?" I ask softly.

"Nothing dear. Nothing, what do you think he needed to talk to her about?" she asks, her motherly concern coming back.

"I don't know. Probably about how she got here."

"That is something I'd like to know as well."

"Her animal spirit came out and the family she was staying with didn't handle it well. She didn't know what to do so she came to me."

"It was good of her to come here then, if it keeps her safe and calm. I know how scared I was when I saw your lion come out for the first time. It isn't easy seeing something burst from your child, witnessing you collapse into seizure when you've never had one in your life until that moment. At least she knew she could count on you." My Mother smiles at me and pats my arm. "How did you two meet?" she asked, I see her curiousness is getting the best of her and I indulge it. Any interest my Mother is willing to take me in, I cling to.

"We were placed in the same dorm. We've been living together since I arrived there. I started to like her and I didn't realize she liked me back until we left. She was always so nice and kind to me. She even took care of me after I broke my leg."

"You broke your leg!" I should not have mentioned that.

"Accidentally," I said, cringing slightly since I knew I had to tell her it was Kiran's fault. "She ran into me on the stairs and we started to fall. I didn't want her to get hurt so I took the most damage." My Mother blinked at me, clearly surprised.

"How noble of you, I don't think I know many men that would willingly break a limb to protect a girl they weren't married to."

"I didn't want her to get hurt." I repeated, "I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I had let her fall."

"I can see she means a lot to you."

"She always has. Even my Lion has attached itself to her." My Mother nods as she puts away the steak and checks over the pantry.

"I saw that the other day. Just-"

We both hear Swoop and Kiran coming downstairs. She is angry; he's masked as usual. He stops in the kitchen and looks at my Mother. She's probably surprised since she realized he couldn't actually see her.

"I'm sorry for coming in so rudely. I'm sure by now Jarrod has told you my identity. It was of matters of important that I needed to speak to you Kiran about her disappearing act." He frowned and Kiran rolled her eyes.

"I said I was sorry," She grumbled.

"No, you're not." Swoop stated, she sighed heavily.

"I know. Sorry for being insincere."

"Stop apologizing when you don't actually mean it."

My Mother and I just stare as they banter. Usually Kiran is not so forward or disrespectful to Master Swoop or any of the Masters. He clearly told her something she didn't want to hear.

"Swoop, just go." She told him flatly. He stared down at her, face still blank. He put his hand on her shoulder. She tried to shrug it off but she clearly couldn't.

"Jarrod, I apologize to you and your Mother our behavior. This is our usual banter, and neither one of us is angry though we appear so. I had to give her some undesirable news. I'm going to leave now but I will return to bring them both to Pai Shua. I'm sorry for the intrusion." With that he turns on his heel and promptly leaves.

I look to Kiran, who has withdrawn into herself and tears start to form in her eyes. She inhales and concentrates, calming down within minutes. I place my hand on her arm and gently rub it.

"Are you ok?" I ask, she nods and looked up to me. Her features change back to being bright and happy.

"I'm fine! So Birthday Boy, what are we going to do today?" she asks. I shrug.

"I don't care. Its just another day."

"Our last break before we're back in captivity." Kiran pointed out.

"True. I'm willing to just sit and take it easy before we're thrust back into training."

"Ugh. Swoop's totally going to have my ass when we get back. I'll probably be training from dawn to dusk."

"Well that's what you get for being sassy." From the looks both Kiran and my Mother are giving me I can tell that came out rather insensitive. "Sorry…"

"Its fine, I'm just bitter." Kiran said and shrugged and wandered towards the living room and plopped on the couch. My Mother and I follow her in and sit. I sit beside her and pull her to me, pressing my hand to the skin of her arm, trying to sooth her. My Mother sits on the loveseat across from us, studying us with concern in her face.

"Why? What's wrong? What did Master Swoop want?" she asks, Kiran sighs and sinks further into the couch.

"He scolded me for running off because he wanted me to go to him, not here. He's just worried about me too much. He treats me like I'm fragile and I'm not." My Mother doesn't say anything and I know she's holding back.

"Does he realize you're not a child anymore?" I asked, usually when I'd hear them talk, he seemed to be like an overbearing father, not that either one of us would know.

"He doesn't want to."

"Do you think he could be doing that because he just want to make sure he's doing what's best for you?" My Mother asks, Kiran sighs, covering her face.

"Sure but he doesn't realize I'm being an adult and I'm now mated. It's not something anyone at the Academy takes lightly. I'm committed to your son for the rest of our lives because I chose to be. Jarrod has chosen me as well not only personally but his spirit has."

"I've noticed. I have noticed the way you two are when you're together. The mere touch of skin on skin soothes you both. Being in one another's presence is vital to both of you. Jarrod, you may have not realized but when you were apart and you were speaking to me the kitchen, you were pacing." I feel my eyes widen, I hadn't realized I was even moving.

"I was?!" I still don't want to believe I wouldn't have noticed pacing the kitchen.

"Yes dear, you were, but I understand not wanting to be taken from the one you love." She glanced at her watch. "I should head to the store. I need to get you your cake. Do you still like chocolate?"

"It doesn't matter, a cake is a cake," I tell her, Kiran smirks.

"What if it's cheesecake? Is it cake or pie?" My Mother laughs.

"Pie. It has a crust." She said, Kiran smiles now that makes me happier.

"I agree."

The rest of the night goes well, dinner was excellent and my Father ignored us still. I felt at home here now. When it was just the three of us, together, happy. As Kiran and I settled into bed, I hold her close.

"You ok?" she asks, I nod. I just want to hold her.

"Fine, I just have a bad feeling about tomorrow."

"Don't worry about it, We're mates, we can't be separated. Not willingly anyways," she tells me simply.

"RJ and Dom are going to know."

"RJ's going to know right off the bat, Dom doesn't have the senses that RJ does but he isn't stupid."

"But-"

"Just go to bed Jarrod. It will be fine. I promise."

I closed my eyes and sighed, I trusted her word and began to drift off to sleep.