This chapter is for Rose. Thanks for the prompt! :D

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.16

Livy wasn't having a good day. Her father was away yet again on a mission that he dubbed too dangerous for Livy to join, Damian was unavailable to hang out with according to Alfred, Lancy's computer was broken and her cell phone was missing so she couldn't contact her, and Carter had called her saying that he needed help with moving some furniture into his neighbor's apartment.

Usually Livy would be happy to help, but the night before she got cut up and lost a good amount of blood. She had to stitch herself up, including doing a messy job at stitching up some hard to reach places, and she was fairly curtain she had cracked a rib. She was feeling beaten and worn, however, she knew that Carter's neighbor was an old woman who could hardly walk. She couldn't leave Carter to help the old lady all by himself.

So, there she was, placing the last piece of furniture down into the room and feeling a sharp pain in her back telling her that her haphazard stitching job didn't cut it. The stiches had ripped.

"Thank you so much. I don't know how I would manage without the two of you." The older woman smiled, and Livy smiled back.

"Not a problem, Mrs. Esser."

"It was nothing." Carter grinned. After that, Livy and Carter walked out of the old woman's apartment and Carter inquired,

"Want to hang out? I got some soup I made. It's not so bad if I do say so myself." He chuckled. Livy wanted to stay, but she needed to tend to her back as soon as possible.

"Sorry…" her eyesight started to get blurry and she felt cold.

Shit. Shit this isn't good. Livy thought. She had already lost a good amount of blood, and losing more blood wasn't good for her.

"S-sorry, I… I need to get home… I…"

"Livy, are you okay?" Carter was holding onto Livy's arm, keeping her upright.

"I…" Livy felt the blood from her injury dripping down her back. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Next thing she knew, Livy passed out.

~*~*~*~*~Later~*~*~*~*~

When Livy woke up, she smelt the familiar scent of Carter. She was on his couch, and said man was washing his hands, which were covered in blood. Her blood.

Shit. She thought with a frown. "Carter, I'm sorry." she stated from the couch, and Carter looked over at her with surprise.

"You're awake." He grinned. "I was so worried, I saw your back and stitched it up again. This wasn't supposed to happen. Of all days for this to happen to you too." He frowned, helping her sit up and placing a bowl of soup in front of her.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean about today?" Livy questioned. What is today anyway? Is it the sixteenth? The Seventeenth? Ugh… I can't remember. Livy frowned.

"It doesn't matter." Carter stated quickly. "Now, you should really eat up, get some strength. I'll take you home afterwards." He grinned, and Livy smiled back to him.

"Thanks for everything, Carter."

"Not a problem, Livy." He grinned. Livy then focused on the soup, and quickly devoured it. She hadn't eaten anything except for an energy bar that morning.

Afterwards, Carter helped her to the feet and he led her to his car, an old beaten up pick-up truck.

"Let's get you home." He grinned. Before he started to car, he checked his phone, frowned a bit, then started to drive.

"Are you okay if we stop at the grocery store first before I drop you off. I need to grab some milk and bread." Carter stated, and Livy shrugged.

"Sure thing."

Carter parked in the parking lot of the grocery store, then turned to Livy.

"You should stay in here and rest while I pick up the stuff. I don't want you fainting again." Carter stated and Livy nodded her.

"Alright, thanks." Livy grinned. With that, Carter walked to the grocery store while Livy stayed in the car.

I'm lucky to have friends who care for me so much. Livy thought with a small smile.

Five minutes passed. Then Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Livy was starting to worry that something had happened.

Just before she was about to get out of the car and check the grocery store to make sure nothing happened to her friend, Carter came jogging out of the building with a bag containing some milk and bread.

He jumped into the car, shaking his head.

"You would not believe the line in there." He laughed.

Some line. He was almost in there for thirty minutes! Livy thought.

"Good thing you came out. I was starting to worry." She informed and Carter started to chuckle.

"Yeah, I was getting worried that I wasn't going to make it out of there." Carter turned the keys and started to drive again.

When Carter parked in front of Livy's building, he got out of the car with her.

"Can I walk in with you? Just to make sure that you make it to your room safely?" Carter questioned, and Livy smiled at him.

"Thanks, Carter, but I should be fine." Livy grinned as she headed to the door.

"Wait, please let me come in with you, just so I can have a peace of mind that you didn't collapse when you walked in or something."

"Alright." Livy nodded, and Carter smiled as he walked in with Livy.

All the lights were out, and the curtains were over the windows, making everything completely dark.

That's weird. I thought I didn't close the curtains. Livy thought, but easily leaned over and flipped the switch to turn on the lights.

"SURPRISE!" she jumped in shock, and noticed…. Everyone was sitting in the building waiting for her. Damian, Josh, Selina, Dick, Tim, Alfred, Bruce, Ramon, Colin, Lancy, and Jason.

"Wh-what's all this?" Livy whispered in shock.

"It's your Birthday." Carter stated with a smile from behind her.

"Oh… wow." Livy laughed a bit with a smile. She had forgotten about her own birthday. "I'm seventeen." She whispered.

"Happy birthday!" Jason exclaimed, hugging Livy gently and kissing her forehead.

"Dad… you're back." Livy smiled.

"Of course!" Jason laughed, but then frowned when Damian ran up and gave Livy a strong kiss. He let the kiss slide for about two seconds, but when the kiss made it around the five second range, Jason grumbled,

"Alright, alright, give my girl some air, little demon."

Damian parted from Livy, shooting Jason a taunting smirk, then looking at Livy with a kinder smile.

"Happy birthday."

"Thank you." Livy breathed, then looked around at everyone. "Thank you!"

Lancy ran up to give her a hug and Livy embraced her friend tightly.

"I missed you!" Lancy exclaimed.

"I missed you too!"

January 16. She should have remembered her own birthday, but Livy had been too busy to even think about her birthday.

I am so lucky to have friends and family like this. Livy thought as she hugged everyone. She didn't know what she did in life to deserve these people, but she was truly thankful for them.

Livy's bad day drastically changed into a good one.