Alright guys this is just a short filler chapter. Enjoy, R&R!

Chapter Seven

"Happy Birthday sweet heart!" Juice whispered into Nikki's ear. She was asleep, her eyes slowly fluttered open, a smile filled her face. Juice had a chocolate cupcake with a candle in the middle of it that said "18" and a small bouquet of red roses next to it, next to that was a small velvet box.

Nikki's eyes went wide, and her heart fluttered up into her throat. "What's all of this?" She asked, still smiling. She felt giddy, like she was turning sixteen again instead of eighteen.

"It's your birthday. I know it's not much, but it's what I can give you right now. I'll make it up to you later, I promise!" Juice said, sitting on the bed.

"Don't be silly, this is wonderful. I love you!" Nikki crawled over to Juice, wrapping her arms around his neck, before sharing a brief kiss. When they pulled away, Nikki bit her lip, looking into Juice's eyes, admiring them. She really did love him. He changed her world, made it better. She knew if he was willing to break her out of a mental hospital and hide away in a cheap motel room with her for a few weeks, he was a keeper. He'd do whatever he could to keep her safe and happy.

"What did you get me?" She asked, sitting next to Juice, who smiled down at her. "Well…first, here are some flowers." He said, handing her twelve red roses. She smiled, breathing them in. "They are beautiful, babe, thank you!" It was the first time she had ever received roses from a guy before.

Juice handed her the small velvet box, "Open it." He whispered. She did, and with a gasp, tears filled her eyes. "It's not much, but it's a promise to you." He was right, it wasn't much. A small silver ring on a matching chain, engraved inside it said "I promise".

"This is beautiful, Carlos." Nikki wiped away the tears forming. "Can you put it on, please?" Juice took the necklace, and eagerly put it around Nikki's neck, clasping it together.

Once Juice secured the necklace around Nikki's neck, she jumped off the bed, and ran to the bathroom, wanting to see what it looked like on herself.

Juice walked up behind her, snaking his arms around her waist. Her hands resting on his, right over her stomach, they were pressed together. She smiled; he kissed her neck, right below her ear.

"I promise to always be there for you. I promise to protect you from your fears and demons. I promise to love you. I promise to be there for you, for whatever you need. I love you baby."

Nikki turned around in his arms, smiling, and eyes full of happy tears. She reached up, cupping his face, and kissed him. He lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and walked back to the bed. Together they fell on the bed, giggling between kisses.

Suddenly, Nikki stopped, putting her hand against Juices shoulder. He stopped too. Looking down at her with a concerned face, "What's wrong, babe?"

"I just realized…" She paused giggling again, which made Juice laugh and ask, "What?"

"I just realized that I'm eighteen now. You can legally have sex with me now." Nikki started laughing again. Juice sat up, turning his head to the side, with a smile on his face. He realized the humor in it all, but at the same time it also made him feel like a pedophile, and he wasn't that.

"Really?" He said, "What makes you think I want to have sex with an adult… you know… since I met you when you were still a kid." His voice was playful and light, so she knew he was joking.

Instead of her saying anything, Nikki leaned up, and quickly kissed him, catching him off guard. His shocked expression amused Nikki even more, making her laugh out loud. Juice joined her, only this time, he was going to get her back.

Straddling her legs so she couldn't move, he started tickling her sides, against her rib cage. She was squirming underneath him, and laughing. She tried to kick her legs, but she couldn't. All she had were her hands, and they were pretty useless at this point, because Juice was much stronger than she was. Nikki tried to push him away, but it proved to be like pushing a brick wall, he didn't budge at all.

"Tell me you love me, and I'll stop." Juice said, laughing through his request. Nikki screamed out in fits of laughter, her eyes watering, cheeks hurt from laughing, and stomach hurting from laughing, but it all felt good, it just felt right. So Nikki gathered up all her strength and screamed to the tops of her lungs as loud as she could, "I LOVE YOU JUAN CARLOS ORTIZ!" And instantly, Juice dropped his hands, and collapsed on the bed next to her. She was still giggling, coming down from that high, as she curled into Juices side, kissing him on his neck, because that's where she could reach. He rolled over onto her, "I love you too Nikki Marie Dallas." Together they made love, slowly and full of passion just the way Nikki liked, and when they were done, Nikki laid in his arms, wrapped in the sheet, and they both shared the chocolate cup cake, and spent the rest of her birthday naked and in bed, laughing and battling in epic tickle and pillow fights, which always ended in making out and sex. It was the best birthday she had ever had, spent in a cheap motel room, with the only person she loved, her other half.