Author's Note: Okay, so I hope I'm not laying it on a bit thick with this one…

"Good Morning Dearest…"

Blake's eyes fluttered open to meet a surprising sight indeed; the sun shone brightly through the window of Team RWBY's dorm, but more importantly, Mina was up, and before her, "Mina…" Blake rubbed sleep from her eyes as she pushed herself up, "Since when do you get up this early?"

Mina chuckled, "Dearest, it is past eleven o'clock…"

"What?" Blake bolted upright in bed in a panic, searching for her clock and hoping that it wasn't true, but no such luck, "We're gonna be late-,"

Another chuckle, "Dearest, it is Saturday…"

"It… Saturday… Oh thank God…" Blake sighed in relief, "But how did I sleep so late?"

"Well, you were positively adorable, so I did not want to wake you, but now… well, sleeping a day such as this away would seem a bit of a waste…"

"A day like this…?" Blake blinked confusedly, "What?"

"Happy Birthday Dearest," Mina smiled, placing a little kiss on Blake's forehead.

Was it her birthday? Blake couldn't quite remember. It was the right month but she hadn't really been keeping track of it to be totally honest. Getting a good look at Mina though, she was wide awake now, birthday or not. Mina, seated beside Blake on her bed, had opted for a change in wardrobe for the special occasion it seemed. Her usual black blouse had been traded out for a dark green tube top sporting a little bow at the middle of the neckline – for modesty's sake, of course - and her fatigues had likewise been swapped for a casual khaki skirt that went just past halfway to her knees. To round out the ensemble, Mina had opted to wear sandals with the outfit today, and as one last finishing touch, of the two locks of hair that she always left hanging to frame her face, the left one had a little red ribbon tied in another bow, as if it were wrapped about a birthday gift.

I guess it is my birthday…

"I uh… Like your bow…"

"Ah yes… I thought I would see what it was like to wear one… So it does look… pretty then, yes?"

Blake nodded, "Yeah… it looks nice…"

Mina smiled, "Miss Xiao Long said that I should forgo the outfit entirely and get in bed beside you wearing nothing but the ribbon tied in a bow over my chest…" she chuckled, "Though I think it is for the best that I let Weiss talk me out of it…"

"Pity…"

"Hmm?"

"N-nothing! I said that it's probably for the best…" Blake scrambled to backpedal. Somehow she didn't think it was working though, "You'd have uh… needed a lot more ribbon…"

"Oh, I bought plenty," Mina smirked, "but the whole idea was perhaps in poor taste…"

"That sounds like Weiss talking," Blake tried not to sound like she was complaining, but not very hard.

"Maybe," Mina shrugged, "But it has been some time since I've worn anything like this…" She tugged suggestively at her rather sparing top, "We can discuss that later though; for now, you must be hungry; would you like breakfast, or would you prefer to skip to an early lunch?"

Blake thought on it for a moment, then got up to dress, "It's almost noon… I guess lunch makes more sense…"

"Excellent; I was hoping you would say as much, because I have already taken the liberty of ordering your Grilled Salmon~"

"How did you-?"

"It is your favorite, yes?" Blake nodded in response, "You see, I asked Clara to bring your meal to Beacon from the Summer Blossom; excellent food, yes? And this time there will be no risk of being shanghaied into waitressing…"

Blake raised an eyebrow, "Clara again? She seems rather… eager to help…"

"She owes me a favor,"

"I thought we owed her a favor…"

"Paid in full and then some," Mina assured, "Her words; you see, I may have… dissuaded a few unduly insistent patrons on her behalf..."

"You didn't-,"

"Rest easy Dearest; no one suffered any permanent harm…" Mina waved off Blake's concerns, "At any rate, your meal should be arriving within a few minutes…" Blake shook her head with a sigh, but let it drop and instead headed for her dresser, only to again be interrupted, "That will not be necessary Dearest; I have also taken the liberty of setting out your clothes. You needn't lift a finger today,"

"Well aren't we on top of things today?" Blake smiled.

"Should that be your preference~" Mina teased, "Now, if you would kindly raise your arms…"

"Mina, I can dress myself-,"

"Yes, but that would be lifting a finger, would it not?" Mina smiled in response, "Now if you'll just be so kind as to raise your arms…"

"Mina, don't be so- Hey!" Blake's objections were smothered as Mina took the hem of her nightgown and abruptly pulled it up and over her head.

Mina only smirked, "Much better; and seeing as we showered last night…" Mina held up a bra, "I do hope that you like this one… unless of course you'd rather do without today…" She added a sultry wink, "I certainly did…"

"S-so you did…" As Blake was very much aware, thanks to the way that Mina had pressed herself unnecessarily close to her bare back, "Underwire is a pain…"

"My thoughts exactly," Blake could hear the devious grin on Mina's lips as she spoke the words.

"But only because it's my birthday…" Blake weakly rationalized as Mina tossed the brassier aside and encouraged her to step into a pair of underwear.

"Of course," Mina breathed into Blake's ear, "I can only hope that you might likewise indulge for my birthday…"

"I'll think about it…" Blake lazily tipped her head back to rest on Mina's shoulder, "For now though… I suppose I need a shirt…"

Mina offered a transparently fake pout in response, "Oh fine…"

After several minutes and several very accommodatingly 'accidental' slips of the hand, Blake finally had her shirt on, and Mina had then insisted that she have a seat again whilst Mina put Blake's bow into her hair. She took her time, running her fingers through the stray locks of hair as she put her Dearest's lengthy tresses in order and no doubt savoring every minute of it, just as Blake herself was. All Blake had to do was to sit back against Mina and enjoy the sensation every time Mina's fingers brushed up against her ears 'by mistake.' She was having a very good morning indeed.

"As… helpful as you're being Mina… you may as well just have worn the maid outfit…" Blake half joked, "Though I do like the new outfit; you've needed some color in your wardrobe,"

"Mmm…" Mina nodded as she put the finishing touches on Blake's bow, "Weiss and Miss Xiao Long helped me pick it out,"

"You must have been shopping all day if you had both of them along…" Blake remarked, "I can't even imagine them agreeing on something where fashion is concerned…"

"It did not take so long as you might think, but I digress… Do you like how I've done your bow?"

Blake reached up to feel it, and then nodded, before turning to face Mina again, "Yeah… and I like yours too… Are you my birthday present?"

"Feel free to unwrap whenever you like…"

"Tempting…" Blake nodded, turning to press her lips to Mina's and gently push her down onto the bed, "…I just might take you up on that…"

"I aim to please," Mina smiled as Blake resumed the kiss, pushing her tongue past Mina's lips.

Just laying their on top of Mina, holding her wrists down and confident that Mina wouldn't break off the kiss, Blake took in a deep breath, just so she could smell the lilac-scented shampoo Mina had used earlier. It was nice, but not nearly as nice as the 'come and get me' smile that Blake could read in her eyes alone as she felt her tongue play over Mina's. She released Mina's writs now, preferring instead to weave their fingers together – it let her at least pretend that she didn't enjoy it quite so much when Mina just unconditionally let her have her way-

"Room service~" Came the sound of a familiar voice, accompanied by several knocks on the door.

Blake pulled away on reflex and froze, but Mina just sighed, "It would seem that your lunch has arrived Dearest; dessert will have to wait, as is proper I suppose…"

"It would be a pity to let it get cold…" She could really care less about fish right now, but it would be rude to keep Clara waiting, considering the effort she'd gone through to bring her lunch, "I'll get it…"

Reluctantly rising from the bed, Blake moved over towards the door as she'd set out to. Sparing a first real look over the space as she went though, she started to wonder where the other's had gone and what they were up to. Perhaps Mina had arranged some private time, but Blake couldn't help but wonder where they'd gone on a Saturday with nothing planned. It wasn't that she had expected anything special; Mina was the only one who knew her birthday. She figured that what they did with what was for all intents and purposes a normal Saturday to them was ultimately their business though, and continued to open the door unhindered, meeting Clara as expected.

"One order of Grilled Salmon on Rice for the birthday girl!" Clara beamed, presenting Blake with the insulated box she was carrying, "Happy eighteen!"

"Mina told you, huh?" Blake rubbed the back of her head, embarrassed, "Thanks for making a delivery…"

"Eh, no prob," Clara shrugged as Blake accepted the fragrant box, "I am happy to help, and besides…" she raised an eyebrow, glancing Mina's way, "Stuff like this is great for my little gossip addiction…"

"Huh?" At first, Blake didn't quite understand, but when she glanced back over to Mina, and noticed that she was still breathing a little heavily, her eyes widened and she glanced down over herself, "Oh…"

Clara giggled, "Probably best to put your pants on before you answer the door next time…"

"I love you like a sister Clara…" Mina chimed in, getting up herself, "but sometimes your timing is terrible…"

"Yeah… sorry about that…" Clara averted her eyes as Blake shut the door part way so that she had something to stand behind, "But I don't think that I can be blamed for this one..."

"True enough…" Blake admitted, blush deepening, "Thank you again, and I don't mean to be rude, but…"

"Scram? Gotcha," Clara chuckled good-naturedly, "No offense taken; I'll be on my way – oh, and Mina, the boss said that we're gonna be offering hostess service as of this week, so heads up,"

"That sounds fine," Mina nodded, "So long as the gentlemen pay and keep their hands to themselves,"

"That's what I thought you'd say. Well, later!" with a wave of the hand and a look that suggested that this exchange might turn up on a gossip blog later, Clara departed, leaving Blake and Mina alone once more, and able to close the door, much to Blake's relief, making room for the new concern that Clara had just provided.

"Hostess service?"

Mina just shrugged again, "The idea's been floating around for a while now; all it really amounts to is that the customers can now have a specific waitress sit and chat with them while they eat… For an obscene fee of course…" Mina added with a little smirk.

"I see…" Blake replied, somewhat deflated, "Well as long as that's all…"

"There is that jealousy again Dearest," Mina gently chided, "Rest assured, no one else gets to kiss me or touch me; now, why don't you enjoy your meal, and then we can resume… dessert?"

Blake sat down at Weiss' desk, "Oh alright…"

As motivated as Blake was to get back to dessert, after eating she opted instead to briefly defer gratification as it were, if only long enough to finish dressing and relocate. As exemplified by the untimely delivery of Blake's lunch – however delicious – RWBY's dorm wasn't anywhere near private enough; as a start, any one of their teammates could walk in unannounced at any time, so the dorm was definitely out. The showers were out too; during the day, there was no telling who might stroll in after an extracurricular training session. That didn't leave many options short of simply dragging Mina into a janitor's closet, but that wasn't exactly… romantic… The thought did cross her mind that half past noon might be an odd time for intimacy, but Mina could be so very… persuasive… and when push came to shove, there was always, It's your birthday, dammit! Having cemented her, er… resolve, Blake took Mina by the hand and headed for the perfect place. Doors that locked from the inside, privacy, and soundproofing… the quiet study rooms in the library would indeed serve. Blake just hoped that the librarian didn't know Mina was blind…

"It is of course your birthday…" Mina breathed into Blake's ear as Blake draped her arms over Mina's shoulder's thinking to take her time, "But I think that I may enjoy this more than you do… and we can't have that…"

"Oh?" Blake whispered, letting her fingers slip under the back of Mina's tube-top, "And what would you suggest we do to fix that?" Blake didn't much care which of them enjoyed it more in all honesty; she just wanted to enjoy it…

"Well…" Mina smirked as she pulled Blake's head down to her chest and whispered into Blake's cat ears, "You could share with me every little one of your deepest, darkest, most vulgar little desires-,"

"I am rather content with the way things are going actually…" Blake purred lazily as she continued to nuzzle up to Mina's chest, "And besides, I don't need to give you more material to embarrass me with on my birthday…"

Mina cracked a wry smile, "I would not dream it Dearest; and at any rate, I should find it difficult to satisfy desires that I don't know about…"

That gave Blake some pause as Mina pulled away and sat herself down on the study room's table, one leg hanging over the side, "Shame…"

Mina looked perplexed, "Dearest?"

"I… didn't bring Gambol Shroud…"

Mina blinked a few times before the penny dropped, and a truly massive grin spread on her lips, "Well, well…" She pulled Blake close again and moving the fingers of one hand up Blake's stomach and under her shirt to caress a breast, "Perhaps next time then… For now though… Well… I know your preference is to be… in control… But submission too has it's… perks…"

Blake drew a sharp intake of breath, feeling her knees get a little shaky as Mina's other hand slipped under her waistline and traced delicately forward around her hip to unbutton her pants, "A-alright… go right ahea-,"

Without warning, the door to the quite 'study' room was unlocked and opened, and on the other side stood Glynda Goodwitch. She was momentarily puzzled, but it did not take long for her expression to sour, "Girls…"

"Good afternoon?" Blake offered weekly as Mina swiftly removed her hands and put them behind her own back.

"I don't think that I really need to waste my time on a lecture, do I?" the Professor asked rhetorically, "I'm confident that you both know what you are doing wrong…"

"You said that we were to keep our… intimacy private," Mina offered, "And these spaces are private-,"

"Study rooms," Glynda finished for her, unimpressed, "And they are meant for studying, not… quality time…"

"Well we are studying each other…" Mina shrugged, "after a fashion…"

Glynda just glared.

"Although if you do not mind my asking, Professor, how did you get in here?' Mina queried, seemingly heedless of the predicament.

"I was conducting inspections of the study rooms, Miss Carfax. It is not terribly rare for students to accidentally activate the locking mechanisms as they leave, so seeing as the lights were not on, I assumed this to be the case and used my master key…"

"Ah…"

"Professor Goodwitch-,"

"Miss Belladonna, I suggest that you see to your trousers before you attempt to make excuses,"

"Yes ma'am…"

"Still, at least the two of you aren't in class this time-,"

"So then you will-,"

"Absolutely not," the professor shot Mina down flat, however…" Goodwitch sighed, "I am very busy today, so I might be willing to forget this little infraction provided you take your leave now,"

"Yes ma'am-,"

"And Miss Belladonna?" Good witch added as Blake made to leave, pulling Mina by the hand,.

"Yes?"

"See that you do not bring Miss Carfax to the study rooms again,"

"Yes Ma'am…" Blake's ears drooped under her bow.

Goodwitch nodded approvingly, "Good, now, that said…"

"Well this was certainly… nice of Goodwitch…" Blake commented, somewhat awed.

The good professor had indeed directed them from the library, but before dismissing them, she had, albeit with a heavy sigh, handed Blake a folded sheet of paper as they took their leave. Initially perplexed, Blake had unfolded the paper as she had disappointedly left the library, and was then surprised to find that the sheet of paper had printed upon it what looked to be a printed map of the Beacon campus with a small area in one of the far corners circled and underscored with the words 'be discreet.' She'd glanced confusedly back over her shoulder at Goodwitch as they left, but the professor did not further acknowledge them beyond that. Curiosity peaked, Blake decided to take Mina to the place indicated on the map; she couldn't think of anything else at this point, and this was becoming a very stressful birthday…

"Indeed…" Mina agreed, getting a quick feel for the surroundings with her semblance.

The place that Glynda's little map had led them to was near the far edge of the Beacon Cliffs, almost ten minutes' walk from the nearest building. There was a little spring of cool water that bubbled along to a small stream that poured over the Cliffside, the grass was soft, and the whole place was surrounded by cherry trees. The only touch of civilization was a little park bench by the side of the spring.

"Wow…" she couldn't quite decide what to make of it, "I'll have to thank her…"

"Mmm…" Mina agreed, "Although it does beg the question; why does she have this place marked? Is the esteemed professor in the habit of illicit rendezvouses?"

Blake folded up the little map, "I'd… rather not think about that… besides, this was run off on a printer; something tells me she gave me this more to get us out of the library than because she's a romantic…"

"Possibly," Mina allowed, moving to have a seat on the bench, "But she could have simply kicked us out of the library and left it at that…"

Blake pondered this for a moment, but soon decided that she had other priorities, "We can worry about that later…" She sat down beside Mina, draping an arm over her shoulder and tracing her fingers over Mina's bare stomach, "Right now though…"

Mina smiled, leaning into the kiss, "Whatever you like…"

Blake never had gotten used to the feeling of Mina's fangs when they kissed like this; it was strange – almost threatening – but not quite, and as… odd as the feeling of her tongue brushing past them was, it never did get old. Mina gradually let Blake lower her down onto the bench, never breaking off the kiss, and wove her fingers together behind Blake's neck as Blake's hand moved up her stomach and her fingers slipped under the tight fabric of Mina's top. This was perfect; a peaceful, quiet little spot a long way from anyone where the two of them could just enjoy each other…

"Mina…"

"Blake…?"

"NORA!"

"What the-!?" Blake jumped with a start, tumbling from the bench in her surprise, "Ugh… Seriously?"

Mina couldn't stifle a laugh though as she greeted their latest interloper, "Hello… Miss Valkyrie… We… weren't expecting company…"

Blake looked between Nora and Mina in frustration and resignation by turns, "Come on Mina, this isn't funny!"

"Oh come now Dearest, be a sport," Mina replied sitting up; the moment was dead enough by this point.

Turning back to their wetsuit-clad friend, Blake asked, exasperated, "What are you doing here Nora?"

Currently waist-deep in the spring, Nora took off her goggles and snorkel before cheerily answering, "I've come to commune with the water-sloths!"

"What."

Nora produced a turtle from the bottom of the spring, "These guys!"

"Nora… That's a turtle… not a sloth… It's not even a mammal…"

But Nora was far too chipper to care, "Well not technically, but they're slow, and don't make a lot of noise so… Close enough!"

Blake facepalmed, "Alright then…"

"Oh, don't be too upset Dearest…" Mina came up and hugged Blake from behind, "We can always come back later…"

"Yup!" Nora agreed, oblivious, "The turtles ain't goin' anywhere! And I should know – I come check on them every Saturday afternoon!"

Mina giggled again, but Blake just sighed, "Right…"

"So…" Nora leaned in, suddenly serious, "I hope you didn't come here to steal them…"

"…No Nora… you're fine…"

Nora instantly brightened again, "Oh good then! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to convince them to try climbing trees! You two… go back to whatever it was you were up to!" And with that, Nora put her goggles back on and plunged back under the once-peaceful water.

"Well…" Blake stared at the ground, "Saturday afternoons are out, I guess…"

"So they are…" Mina nodded, her chin still resting on Blake's shoulder, "But we can always come back this evening…"

It was true, if small comfort, "Alright… but promise me that-,"

Suddenly though, Blake was interrupted not for the first time that day, this time by the ringing of Mina's scroll. Being that Mina was blind, and therefore had no use for a screen, the device didn't have one; only a speaker, and seeing as she'd never learned to read, braille or otherwise, the only buttons were to answer incoming calls and a dozen speed-dial keys. The ring was plenty loud though, and so with a dramatic sigh, Mina answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mina?" it was Weiss' voice.

"Yes…"

"We need you back at the dorm… Yang mixed up our laundry with Team JNPR's and some of your and Pyrrha's… unmentionables… got mixed up…"

"Very well…" Mina nodded for nobody's benefit but her own, "I'll be there in a few minutes,"

"It's just one thing after another today…" Blake muttered, "And since when does Yang do anyone's laundry?"

Surprisingly though, Mina grabbed Blake by the hand and made for the dorms, "No sense in brooding over it Dearest… I have… laundry to see too…"

Just over ten minutes later, Blake was standing outside Team RWBY's Dorm again, not particularly relishing the idea of sorting through Mina and Pyrrha's laundry, but she resigned herself to it. It wasn't anyone's fault that her birthday hadn't been quite as… exciting as she'd got to hoping; Mina had done all she could, and nobody else knew, so there was really no one to blame. Blake was thus a bit puzzled as to why Mina's grip on her hand tightened when they arrived, but she dismissed it – it was probably nothing. At least, that's what she thought until Mina opened the door and gave her a playful shove inside.

"Surprise!"

Blake was greeted by the shouts of the rest of their team, as well as those of Jaune, Pyrrha, Clara, and even a somewhat more mellow declaration from Ren.

"Wha- Guys… Is this?" Blake gaped.

Yang shot Mina a look, "You did give us the right day, right?"

"Of course," Mina smiled, nudging a shocked Blake further inside.

"But did the signal work have to be unmentionables?" Weiss blushed, "I could have just called you back to the dorm,"

"But that would have ruined the surprise~"

"Surely the signal could have been something else," Pyrrha agreed with the embarrassed Heiress, "Anything else?"

Mina just shrugged, "What's done is done, yes? Clara, I trust that you also brought the cake?"

"You betcha," Clara gave a thumbs-up, "It's right over there on the-,"

"SURPRISE!" Nora burst into the room, still in her wetsuit, "I uh… almost forgot… Turtle?" she held up the poor reptile in her hands as a peace offering.

After a moment's stunned silence, Blake shook her head, "No, thank you, but I uh… appreciate you coming…"

"No problem!"

Blake turned to Mina, "You set up a surprise party?"

"Guilty as charged~" Mina admitted, "I would have taken a more active role in the set-up and decorating, but someone had to keep you occupied…"

Yang whistled, "I hope you two didn't get too steamy…"

Blake's mood soured again, if only for a minute, "How could we? We never got a chance…"

Author's Note: Okay so admittedly, two consecutive intimate chapters might be a bit much – and I promise that I have more plot coming next time – but I got a humorous prompt form OtakuBrony, so and I couldn't figure a better birthday chapter for our favorite long-suffering cat Faunus, so here we are. Also, I know I've done the surprise party thing before, but eh, it was about time for Blake's birthday, and it's as good a framing device as any. Anyway, I do hope that you enjoyed this, and don't hesitate to leave input; I always enjoy feedback.