A/N: This story was written solely for the entertainment of the author for her birthday. It has a stress level of a negative number so low mathematicians have yet to discover it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Melanie slowly opened one eye as she took in the sun already starting to lighten the bedroom.

Remembering what day it was, she rolled over onto her back with a slight groan.

Well, if the day had one redeeming value, it was that no one else kne...

A large body suddenly straddled itself over hers as Layton greeted her with far more enthusiasm than she ever wanted at that hour of the morning.

"THERE'S THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL!" He all but yelled in her face. A quick peck on her nose was followed by what she could only list as one of the worst renditions of 'Happy Birthday' she had ever heard.

With another groan, Melanie lay a hand over her eyes, barely able to get her brain working to sort everything out, .

"How did you even find...?"

But the bedroom door suddenly opening cut her question short as a streak of white ran in and launched itself over Layton's side of the bed and quickly scurried across the covers to her mother's side.

Layton quickly abandoned his place as Alex, wearing a long, white fleece nightgown, plowed her way into her mother's arms.

"Happy Birthday, Mom!" Was once again all but shouted at her. But Alex quickly turned to Layton. "Are we doing the song?!"

"NO!" Came a still slightly groggy answer from the bed. "He already did that."

Alex turned first to her mother, then back to Layton. "You were suppose to WAIT for me!" She quickly pouted. "We were going to harmonize it."

"Later." Layton promised.

Melanie shoved her daughter up to a sitting position facing Layton, gesturing to the teenager. "Well, I guess THIS answers my question?"

Alex quickly pulled herself about and began tunneling feet first under the covers. "It's cold in here." She stated.

But Layton stopped her. "No going back to bed." He stated.

Melanie looked up at him, already getting ready to join her daughter back under the warm, cozy blankets. "Is that just her or everybody currently in the bed?"

Layton gave her a mock stern look. "Everybody, lady."

Melanie pulled up to a sitting position, "Dare I ask 'Why?'"?

"Because it's your birthday!" Her roommate offered. "No one wants to spend their birthday in bed."

Melanie fell back in the bed. "Wrong."

Layton gave his hands a happy, solid clap. "Come on, birthday girl! If you stay in bed, you'll miss all the fun."

A solid groan answered him.

Sitting up, Alex gave her a good shake. "Come on, Mom! We've been planning this for weeks."

Another solid groan.

Alex quickly scooted back down in the bed until she was face to face with her mother.

"I promise you don't want to miss a minute of this." She whispered.

Melanie stared back at her, then turned one uncovered eye to Layton, who stood at the foot of the bed with the same happy smile he had been wearing all morning.

"If anything else sings at me this morning, I will kill it." She stated in a no nonsense tone.

The smile quickly disappeared, giving way to an apprehensive look as Layton gave her a quick nod.

While Alex quickly scurried out of the bed and off to her own room to change, Layton went out to the main area of the cabin to give Melanie time to shower and change.

Once both were ready, Layton's expression was back to the happy, enthusiastic smile.

"All ready then?" He asked his roommate.

Melanie frowned back at him. "I still do not understand why you are opposed to us spending my birthday in bed."

Layton gave her a disconcerted look. "Could you rephrase that? Because the way you just said it doesn't sound like something you should say in the presence of a child."

Alex gave a loud sigh. "I'm not a 'child'." She emphasized. "And honestly, at least you two are quiet at night."

"Not when someone is snoring." Layton quickly put in.

Alex shook her head. "Even that isn't as bad as back home."

Layton turned to the girl. "What happened back home?"

"Bennett would come to the farm with mom because the two of them 'had important work to do'." She added empirically with a barely held in smile. But she quickly turned to Layton. "And then they would sit up snogging on the couch until..." Alex adopted her empirical tone again, this time doing a decent imitation of Bennett Knox. "...'It's much to late to drive back to the city. Why don't I just sleep here tonight?'"

Layton favored his roommate with a smile. "Oh. Very original."

But Melanie had turned to her daughter. "We HAD to work late sometimes. And there WAS no point in his driving back to the city just to stay in a stall hotel room and then come out to the house in the morning just to pick me up again."

Alex shook her head as turned to her mother. "Honestly, Mom, you guys weren't exactly quiet about it."

Melanie stared down at her child. "You were five years old! What did you even know about...that sort of thing?"

Alex gave her an incredulous look. "Mom, I lived on a farm. What do you think pawpaw told me when Melvis went into labor that one night and he took me out to the barn to witness...'The miracle of birth'." She finished dramatically.

"Melvis?" Layton questioned.

Melanie gave a slight sigh. "One of our farm mules. My mother swore the animal was a female with a male personality."

Layton gave a chuckle as he turned back to Alex. "So what other fun things did your mom and Bennett think you weren't aware of?"

"Didn't you say you had plans for today?" Melanie quickly interjected.

The smile remained. "Well, at least she's more enthusiastic about it now."

Alex followed them out the door with a smile to match Layton's.

After a full day spent mostly in the market, Melanie collapsed back on the sofa of the cabin.

As hard as she tried, she simply couldn't keep a smile from pressing through the disgruntled look she tried to portray to the two people with her.

The day had started with a stop at her favorite restaurant on the Market for breakfast. The owner himself had come out to wish her a happy birthday, and offered them all breakfast on the house as his show of appreciation for all Melanie's hard work and dedication to the train.

From there Layton seemed to be doing little else for her 'big day' than to leisurely stroll through the Market, stopping at various stalls. But Melanie quickly noted that at every stall they stopped at, the vendor, while not saying anything outright regarding the day's significance, suspiciously had a small gift to offer her, stating it was in appreciation for her work for the train. Some gave her food or a new shirt or pair of pants; Mr. Brighton and his wife offered a completely new tailored suit for her, telling her to be sure to come by next week for measuring; while the same shop that made Layton's own treasured leather boots had a perfectly sized new pair of work boots waiting for her. Slipping them on, Melanie quickly realized why Layton loved his own leather boots so much.

At other stalls, she noted that Layton seemed every bit as surprised as she was when the vendor would come running up to her to offer a present and wishing her a happy birthday.

All in all, the day wasn't as bad as she had anticipated. And it became even more interesting when she noted that, while Layton had obviously tipped off several of the vendors about the occasion, others seemed to have found out after the fact and made their own plans.

Finally making it back to the cabin late in the afternoon, Melanie collapsed on the sofa, with Layton and Alex depositing the pile of gifts on the table in front of her to admire.

Picking up one of the gifts, Layton looked it over. Basically the item looked like a long, brightly colored plastic hollow tube.

Holding it up for her to examine with a sly smile, Layton asked, "What's this?"

Melanie looked the item over. "What does it look like?" She answered in a plain tone.

Layton looked the object over again, then turned back to her. "Nothing I'm going to say in the presence of a child."

Melanie gave him an exasperated sigh as Alex gave the man a mockingly deep scowl at the term. "It's a 'Banana Bunker', Mr. 'Mind-in-the-gutter'."

"A what?"

"A Banana Bunker. Mr. Jameson, who runs that small fruit stand, gave it to me. He said it's perfect for carrying around a banana, or other small fruits or candy in a pocket for snacks since he heard I spend most of my day in the engine. Which," she added, giving Layton a pointed look, "leads me to question why so many people in the Market were so eager to present me with gifts today."

Layton dropped down on the sofa next to her. "Maybe because you so rarely go down there and they saw an opportunity to give you some small show of appreciation for all they know you do for this train still. Even though you refuse to acknowledge it yourself."

"And all those vendors just happened to have gifts readily available."

"The ones who ran gifts shops would." Ales quickly offered.

"And the rest?"

Layton put on a very innocent look. "Are you suggesting some covert, previous information was spread about the market about the significance of today?"

Melanie gave him a flat expression in return. "I am."

Layton quickly raised his hand with a happy smile. "Guilty." He stated. "But only as far as Mr. Brighton went. The rest were on their own."

Melanie turned back to the pile of small gifts with a thoughtful expression.

"Look," Layton said, leaning a little closer to her, "whether you want to admit it or not, you are not the most hated person on this train anymore. More people respect and appreciate what you do now than hate you for what you did in the past. And as for 'The most hated person on this train' title goes, I am not about to give it up without a fight."

Melanie gave him a soft laugh as she leaned her head against his shoulder, looking up at him. "I told you many times this wasn't a job for the prestige or glory, Mr. Layton."

"And lady, you did not lie." Layton lamented.

Alex quickly dropped herself on the other side of Melanie on the sofa.

"Did you at least have fun, Mom?" She asked with barely contained excitement.

Melanie smiled down at her, realizing despite her previous misgivings, she had indeed enjoyed the day.

Gathering her daughter up to her, she gave her a warm hug. "I really did, Allie." She stated. "It was a nice birthday surprise from you two."

"Layton said you never celebrated your birthday on the train that he knew of, since no one even seemed to know when it was."

"And I wonder where he learned that." She replied with an utterly false note of sternness in her voice.

Alex looked up at her with sincere innocence. "No idea."

"OK." Melanie stated, trying to sound exhausted. "You two had your fun. Am I free now?"

Layton shook his head. "We have one more surprise for you."

Just then the doorbell to the cabin rang.

Layton smiled at her. "And I'm betting there it is."

Melanie leaned back on the sofa trying to look disgruntled. But the smile kept making its way to her lips. "I swear, if that sings in anyway, I will personally push it off the train."

Layton paused at the door, then gave slight nod after considering her threat. "I think we're safe here."

Layton opened the door to a very impressively dressed Knox, standing in the doorway with a full dozen roses in hand.

"Do you sing?" Layton asked bluntly.

"What?"

"Do you intend to sing at any time while you are in this cabin?"

Bennett considered the question, then shook his head.

Layton stepped aside. "Then you are safe."

Quickly following the other man into the main room, Layton enthusiastically presented him to his roommate.

"Look, Alex an I got you a 'Bennett'. And we even dressed him in some nice cloths. Sort of like...gift wrapped."

Melanie smiled up at the man. "So you're part of this, too?"

"Only for the rest of the day." He commented, returning her smile. "And my part of the evening starts with flowers." He added, handing them to her.

Melanie paused to take a deep inhale of the fragrance before turning back to him. "And the rest of it?"

"Dinner and a movie?"

Melanie gave him an incredulous look. "What's showing?"

"The rest of him?" Alex offered up.

But Bennett simply offered her his hand. "The rest of your evening awaits you in the engine room."

Melanie gave up any protest as she let him help her to her feet.

After putting the roses in water first, she allowed the overly eager trio to all but drag her to the engine room.

As they walked, Melanie tried to figure out what she was in for this time. But as they approached the door, her first clue something was up was that the engine room door was closed. Something it almost never was.

Melanie slowed her steps slightly as they approached. "Bennett?"

Knox turned to her.

"You didn't do anything foolish here, right?"

"Foolish in what way?" He asked as he reached up to the mechanism to open the door.

"I don't know. Like maybe mention what today was to..."

Just then the door slid open, revealing every last one of her apprentices standing there.

"...the Horde?" Melanie finished quietly.

As she stood there she heard someone strum a cord on a guitar and the whole group burst into 'Happy Birthday', although from Melanie's perspective, it sounded like they were each singing it in their native language, which would have allowed for at least five different versions by her count.

At the end, the whole group burst into cheers and now stood waving wrapped packages at her.

Melanie gave Bennett a look that promised the evening was not likely to end the way he hoped.

"And there's more." He offered hopefully.

"More?" she questioned.

The group in front of her immediately parted to reveal behind them a completely set table with food and drinks and even candles.

"I thought you might like to have dinner with your family." Bennett offered with a smile, then leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.. "Happy Birthday, Melanie."

Melanie couldn't help but smile at all the trouble she knew Bennett and the others in the engine room must have gone to in arranging this.

Turning to him she gave him an appreciative smile. "You are amazing." She whispered to him.

Grabbing her arms, the Apprentice Horde quickly dragged her into the engine room and to the appropriate seat at the head of the table.

At the end of the meal they had even arranged a cake for her, which she ate while opening presents given to her by her apprentices.

All in all, Melanie had to say the day was a complete, and wonderful surprise. And she deeply appreciated all the effort everyone had gone through to make the day memorable, making a small speech to that effect before cutting the cake.

But by the end of the dinner, she found herself, with a small amount of guilt, grateful when Bennett informed her with an unhappy expression he had to drive the train that night to cover for Javiar. She honestly was so tired all she wanted to do after stuffing herself with food was sleep.

She still managed a dutiful pout, but forgave him while trying not to sound too relieved.

But as the party wound down in the late evening hours, Melanie, Layton, and Alex bid everyone goodnight as they headed down to the subtrain and back to the cabin.

Melanie swore despite the short trip she fell asleep at least once...maybe twice. All she remembered was the jarring of the train waking her out of a half sleep.

"All right," Layton commented as he got out of the small car and turned back to her, "we made it back. And from someone's practically sleeping the whole trip, I'd say not a moment too soon."

Melanie innocently turned to her daughter. "Feel free to go straight to bed, Alex." She offered.

"It wasn't me." Alex replied.

"Can you make it up the stairs, or do I get to do a fireman's carry on you?" Layton asked his roommate.

Melanie gave him a light scowl as she headed for the stairs.

Back in the cabin, Melanie started to make a beeline for the bedroom when Layton grabbed her arm and redirected her to the sofa, allowing her to all but collapse on it as she sat down.

"I know you're tired." He said. "But we have one more gift for you tonight."

"We?" Melanie asked, glancing between the two now suspiciously smiling face looking back at her.

"Alex and I have a present for you." Layton explained.

Melanie's suspicions ramped up. While she was happy Alex melded so well into her relationship with Layton, the two seemed more partners in crime against her than just friends at times.

"What gift?" She asked carefully.

"A special gift." Layton went on.

Alex had already disappeared back into her bedroom and had come out holding a small box that she happily handed over to her mother.

"Happy birthday, Mom." She stated. "We hope you like it."

Melanie began to carefully open the box. "I'm sure whatever it is, I'll..."

But Melanie stopped suddenly as she glanced inside the box. Very carefully she reached in and pulled out a small, finely crafted miniature train car. Noting the detail, she knew only one person on Snowpiercer who could have produced such a work of art.

"Layton and I each gave Hes some metal to make it with. Something special and personal so it would mean more than just being something he made."

Melanie looked up at them, trying to blink away the tears that threatened to brim over and failing miserably.

"Something personal?" She asked.

"Pawpaw and Nanaw gave me a small wrench for my fifth birthday. Pawpaw said it was so I could start helping fix engines on the farm equipment. He said since you had loved doing that when you were a kid, he knew I would be a natural at it."

Melanie stopped trying to stop the tears. "And you were." She remembered with a small laugh. "He could hardly keep you from climbing into every engine on the farm, breaking something just so you could 'fix it'."

"I admit to nothing." The girl declared.

"If you'll notice," Layton quickly added, "you'll see Hes even included a tiny coupling link so you can attach it to your engine."

Melanie had quickly became engrossed in the tiny train car, moving it back and forth on her hand as she watched the parts move in synch with her actions. But looking at the small addition Hes had made, she got up and took it over to where her small engine sat alone on it's own private shelf.

Despite what it had originally represented, she had fallen in love with the tiny engine and had treasured it since Hes first presented it to her. Now she took the small train car and linked it to the engine and centered them both on the shelf.

Stepping back she carefully admired her new gift before turning back to Layton and Alex. "You two aren't planning some secret coup are you?"

Layton turned to Alex for a moment before turning back to Melanie. "Busted." He admitted. "We were planning to wrestle you back into power so I can sleep in in the mornings from now on."

"Fat chance." Melanie replied in a flat tone. "Unless you intend to suddenly learn how to keep the engine running."

"Busted again!" Layton exclaimed. "And what exactly did you think my lessons with you have really been about?"

Melanie shook her head, then walked over and gave her daughter a kiss on the head. "I love it, Allie." She stated. "But I wish you hadn't given up your own present for mine."

"But that was part of it, Mom." Alex replied, looking up at her mother.

"Part of it?"

"Using the wrench. It was like Pawpaw and Nanaw were part of having the train made, too. So it's from all of us."

Melanie paused for a moment, then tightly hugged her daughter. "Thank you, Allie." She whispered to her. "That does make it even more special."

"All right." Layton said. "Gifts are all distributed. Time for bed."

Alex gave her mom one last hug. "Happy birthday, Mom." She said before heading off to her room.

Melanie gave an exhausted sigh as her roommate gathered her in his arms and gave her a tight hug. "I hope I am forgiven now." He said.

"For what?"

"For violating the 'No birthday celebration' rule you seem to have set up for yourself the past seven years."

Melanie laughed softly into his chest. "You are very forgiven, Mr. Layton."

Layton gave her a quiet chuckle. "So, since you turned down our present of Mr. Knox..."

"I didn't turn him down." Melanie stated, pulling back and looking up at him. "He's driving tonight so Javi could attend the party and still get some sleep after working all day to help arrange everything for the dinner."

"Well, since you'll be staying in the cabin tonight anyway," he offered, nodding slightly towards the bedroom and giving her a playfully suggestive leer, "how about sleeping with me tonight instead?"

"Eight hours curled up with my personal bed-warmer? That sounds perfect."

"Sounds like a reason for the kid to leave the cabin for the night to me." Came the quick quip from Alex's bedroom.

"Go to bed, Alex." Came the reply from both adults.

A bit of shuffling about could be heard in the bedroom as Layton and Melanie made their way to their own room, looking forward to a peaceful night's sleep.

Settled finally into the bed, Melanie laid back on the pillow with a contented sigh.

"Well, that sounded like someone indeed had a good day." Layton smiled at her from the other side of the bed.

Melanie nodded. "It was a very nice day." She agreed. But turning to him, she gave him a questioning look. "There's just one part of it that's missing."

Layton turned to her. "Forget it, lady. I'm too tired and I have a headache."

Melanie gave a small chuckle at the insinuation.

"Nooooo." She replied. Turning back to him, she gave him a perfectly serious look now. "You may think I didn't notice, Mr. Layton, but you never said what you gave Hes to make my present."

Layton turned back to the ceiling. "It wasn't important, Melanie, that's why. And Alex's part in it was much more significant."

Melanie pulled herself up until she rested her head against her hand, looking across the bed at him. "As far as I can recall, Mr. Layton, you only own one thing of metal that's so important to you I know you would guard with your life."

Layton quickly answered her. "I can assure you that miniature train car is not hauling any gold, lady."

But Melanie shook her head. "Not your ring." She answered. "It was something else."

Layton just stared back at her.

Melanie gave him an saddened look. "Layton, did you give Hes your shield?"

Layton paused for a moment as he schooled his expression. "Alex and I agreed we wanted the train car to be special to you. So we each donated something that would mean something just as special to us." Was his only answer.

Melanie's expression soften into a small smile. "Thank you, Layton." She whispered. "It does mean something special to me."

Layton returned her smile. "Happy birthday, Melanie."

Melanie laid back down in the bed. "That it was, Layton." She replied. "That it was."