Liam got up the next morning to get ready for Theo's birthday surprise. He wasn't sure what to do since he was given no notice. He called Mason and asked but all Mason said was that he sucked at keeping secrets. It would never have worked. This way he'd have no time to overthink his gift for Theo.

At least that was the plan.

When he and Mason went to the mall, Liam went into overdrive. His thoughts were completely irrational.

"Li. It's not that serious. You don't have to get him a whole ton of shit. You still barely know each other. Calm down."

"It is that serious. The guy knows stuff about me. Family level stuff. Same for me. He's-" Liam stopped there. He couldn't say that he knew stuff that Corey, Theo's best friend, couldn't be told. It felt like betrayal.

"I get that. But still. You guys are still pretty knew. I feel the same way about Corey. We're still feeling each other out. I'm not gonna go and buy him a twenty-four karat gold Rolex after only knowing him a month."

Liam thought about it. Mason had a point, but he also didn't know what Liam knew. Then also...

Liam felt a little guilty.

Brett was Theo's abuser and Liam basically welcomed him with open arms.

"I know. I just feel like I've been a shitty friend lately..."

"Dude. If you're talking about trying to kiss him, I think it's safe to assume he's over it. You guys have been having sleepovers and he's been picking you up from work like it never happened. You're obviously good. Now get something so we can go."

Just then, Liam thought of the perfect gift. A key.

It was simple. It was hopeful, but not to the point that it was obvious.

Mason was right. They'd been having sleepovers and been normal.

However...

Liam was still worried about Brett and Josh and Theo's overall safety. A key was the perfect way to tell Theo 'I trust you'. Liam wanted Theo to know that he was welcome in his home at any time.

He wanted to let Theo know that not only did Liam trust him, but that Theo could also trust Liam. No matter what.

"Let's go to this kiosk."

"Ok?"

"I know it sounds stupid, but I think he should have a key to my house..."

Liam looked at Mason for any sign of judgement. Any laughter. Anything signaling that Mason would try and talk him out of it. Nothing.

Mason looked at Liam with bright eyes and a small smile and said "I don't know why, but that seems like the perfect gift."

Liam looked around for some keyrings to go with it but he couldn't find anything. He searched high and low. Putting his initial on it seemed cliché and lame. Then there were some generic Beacon Hills keychains.

Right as they were getting ready to leave, Liam saw a small impulse shop nearing the exit. He didn't pay much attention on the way in, but now that he knew what he was looking for, he would give it a second look. He and Mason looked in the shop amongst the trinkets and actually were surprised at they assorted display. There were action figures and movie posters and t-shirts. It was a great place to get something for a last minute gift. You know. If you don't think about things like that too hard.

Nothing. Liam was finding absolutely nothing.

Just when he and Mason were about to give up, Mason stopped by a t-shirt wall near the register. He was looking to give Corey a special something for when he stayed over. A token of their... 'friendship'.

Liam looked at the turntable of keyrings. That's when he saw it. It was a small keyring of a champagne bottle. Not just any champagne, though. It was Veuve Clicquot. The exact same bottle that Liam was gifted by Theo for his twenty-first birthday. Liam grabbed it and smacked it down on the register next to Mason. Mason eyed him, but didn't say anything. It was as if he knew.

They got in the car and still Mason said nothing. He just wore a look on his face that Liam couldn't quite place. Liam almost wanted to ask, but he knew what the answer would be.

They arrived at the bar to decorate and make sure everything was squared away for the surprise party. Peter was going to ask Theo to come in and work for a few hours and help set up for a private party. It was good. Peter had shut down the bar for the day so they could do this for Theo, but the excuse was that there would be a private party. They did things like this all the time. Theo knew this. Hell, Liam's had been semi-private. It was how Mason was served alcohol underage. It wasn't like they were technically served by anyone that actually worked there.

Peter was also the only one of them that was a decent enough liar to even pull it off. He was like a professional. Corey and Mason were too innocent for their own good and Liam was so bad at lying they literally couldn't tell him until the day of. Derek and Malia just were too blunt and honest so they were avoiding the situation so they didn't have to lie to him. Peter couldn't care less.

Mason kept talking to Corey and looking at Liam like he was up to something or like he knew

something. Liam wasn't thinking he was being obvious by his gift choice, but apparently he was.

They had bout another hour before Theo would be there and they have already been finished decorating. Theo wasn't big on parties, so then they did have them for him, it was very minimal, but they needed to make sure they had time to get everyone there and get the food and things ready. They may not go all out with decorations, but they did make sure to make all of Theo's favorite foods AND order special things from his favorite restaurants.

An hour later, Theo showed up in his uniform. Obviously no one told him he didn't have to wear it. They all yelled surprise and he looked like he was thrown. It was good, but he sort of looked upset. At least to Liam. Maybe he was reading too much into it, but maybe he had to cancel plans for work that apparently he didn't actually have.

"Wow guys! This was- unexpected. Thanks!"

"Yeah! That's the surprise part of a surprise party" Corey laughed.

"We just never had good timing on your actual birthday, Theo. We all had weird schedules and have been so busy lately. We wanted to make it up to you" Malia stated sweetly. She seemed very fond of Theo and the others regardless of her personality in general. She was a very hard to take person until you got to know her.

"Thanks guys. This means the world to me."

"So. Food first or presents?" Corey asked. Everyone gave him a look that simply expressed 'are you fucking kidding me'.

"Presents? You all already gave me presents" Theo argued.

"Yeaaahhh but those were like- pre presents. They don't count" Corey laughed. Their work relationship was far different than their friendship. They were more like Mason and Liam were, but not quite like Liam and Theo had started to become.

"Open mine first!" Malia said as she shoved he first gift at him from behind the counter.

"Oh my god is this-"

"Limited edition and autographed. In person. Not a copy signature like they're doing now. I wanted it to be special," she said seriously as if to say 'that's not a real autograph'.

It was a signed copy of Linkin Park's Meteora 20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Addition and Malia somehow got everyone, except obviously Chester, to sign and write a greeting for him inside. Theo was stunned. It was probably the best gift Theo had ever gotten from his expression.

"Oh my god. Malia- this is- wow!"

"Yeah well that's not all. Look."

There was a poster that she apparently had copied that had Chester Bennington's signature on it. Theo started crying. This band had gotten him through some tough times that they never even knew about. Dark times. It was something that he'd forever be grateful for. They pulled him out of his darkest places. Even Theo's friends didn't really understand the depths.

"Wow Malia. maybe we should just say it's from all of us and return our gifts" Corey deadpanned.

"Cor, I'm sure I'll love everyone else's just as much."

Liam just didn't know what to do. In comparison, his gift was a joke.

"Well, you might as well open mine next" Peter said. "If it's going to be anticlimactic, then it might as well go all the way to the bottom."

Peter hands Theo an envelope with what is presumably cash. It's very... Peter.

"Thanks Peter. See? I can get a use out of this too!"

"It's actually part two of a two-part gift but Derek seems to be missing at the moment."

"I was checking on the food and drinks." Derek suddenly said as he appeared out of nowhere. "Here you go Theo."

Theo opened the envelope to see an all-inclusive and expenses paid trip for Theo and a guest to spend a week from Wonderbox.

This made Liam's gut wrench. Who would he take? Corey? Malia? Probably not Derek.

"For two?" Theo laughed.

"That's really the only option we had. Plus. It was cheaper for two."

"Well. Thank you. I need a vacation from this place. And you guys." Theo laughed with a smirk.

"Oh? Well maybe I shouldn't give you my gift" Corey said feigning hurt, but not even in a remotely believable way.

"Too late. I already got it" Theo laughed snatching the bag from him.

Theo removed the paper to find a box wrapped neatly with a bow. He carefully unwrapped the wrapping and opened the box inside to find another smaller box inside, also wrapped. Theo just laughed and looked up at Corey with fondness. This was obviously something special that happened often. When Theo opened the box there was a small bag inside.

"Really another bag?" Theo snorted.

"Just open it!" Corey said with an expression of excitement and amusement. Whatever it was, was definitely better than what Liam had gotten Theo.

Theo opened the bag to find a small envelope, that Corey had filled with confetti, and two tickets to the Linkin Park reunion tour.

So that's why...

Mason had asked Corey when they were out what to get him and Corey had said a Linkin Park t- shirt would be perfect.

Everyone got correlating gifts. There was a theme. Liam got Theo a key. He was also the last one to give Theo his gift. He was probably expecting something similar.

When Mason was presenting his gift, Liam opted to go to the restroom. He was rethinking the

whole thing entirely. He wasn't so sure he even knew Theo anymore. He didn't really know just how much he loved this band, he just knew Theo was a fan. Liam was taking deep breaths in the bathroom mirror and Theo would of course walk in while he's having a freak out.

"Hey. Are you ok? You seemed... overwhelmed back there..." Theo asked.

Liam felt bad now because while Theo was supposed to be enjoying his birthday party, he had still been worrying about Liam.

"I didn't know there was a theme... I didn't find out until last night or I would have gotten you something better" Liam said as he reached in his pocket to pull out what looked almost like a ring box, but bigger.

"I'm sure that whatever you got me will be great" he said sincerely. Sweetly. Alluringly, if Liam were honest with himself.

He handed Theo the box. No wrapping. Purely simple and open just like his friendship with Theo was.

Theo opened the box and was stunned. Speechless. "Liam. What- is this- Liam is this to your house?" Theo looked hopeful and also like he could cry.

"Well... I thought with everything going on... If you ever needed it... You have a place to go... like... a home away from home... a safe haven." Liam said this shyly and with a reddening face. He hated how he blushed every time he was around Theo. It was horrible. He was already nervous for other reasons, but now this was getting to be telling. He wasn't even sure what it was telling, just that it was.

"Liam... Thank you for trusting me with this... but I don't know if I can acc-"

"It comes with this" Liam reached in his other pocket and pulled out the keychain and Theo didn't immediately light up, which made Liam question his choice... but only for a moment.

"Is that-"

"Veuve Clicquot. The same champagne that you gave me as a birthday gift. BUT... I know you're not really a champagne person... so... this" Liam smiled brightly at this, as Theo's face turned from indifference, to a giddy smile, and then a smirk.

"Liam, I thought you weren't trying to court me?"

"Shut up and accept it before I give it to Corey" Liam smiled.

When they left the bathroom, Mason gave Liam a knowing smile and then leaned to listen to whatever Corey had been saying to him.