Overland Park, KS, October 1st

[vanillajello]

October 1st, 2011. Kate's 18th birthday.

Again.

Also, November 1st, 2011. Bod's 18th birthday.

Interdimensional time differences were a pain in the ass, but occasionally they produced fun coincidences like a once-in-a-lifetime joint birthday, and that was why Bod had been invited over to Kansas today.

There'd been much cheer earlier from the Gregsons and their assorted posse, and there'd more family partying later, probably (in her honor, not his). But for now, the outsiders had cleared off to do other stuff, mostly to give Kate and Bod some time alone, and so alone they were, in the kitchen of Charmaine's house, with a birthday cake that was missing whatever pieces her family had already eaten. And Kate was currently adding '+ Bod' at the end of the original 'Happy Birthday Kate' in icing. "Look, I'm making you a birthday cake!"

[ooc: NFB, and for the boooy and some truly epic SP.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

"I would still get quite the look from any of your family," he said, shaking his head and laughing. "Your memory is far too good sometimes. It's an evil thing."

[vanillajello]

"It's not," she snorted. "This wasn't even really a memory thing so much as it was an... 'I want to give my boyfriend handcuffs' thing. I promise my last gift is nothing blushworthy, though."

[therewaslife]

"We'll have to find a situation to use these in," Bod said, deciding he could give her that one because he wanted to do the same. He put them away and laughed again. "You're still evil."

[vanillajello]

"Maybe a little." Maybe a lot. But not right now. She reached into the bag one last time, and produced a hard, book-shaped item. "Last one. Happy birthday, Bod."

[therewaslife]

Bod carefully opened the package and his eyes widened again but not with embarrassment.

"Kate..." He trailed off and put a hand over the cover. "I don't even know if I'm going to travel."

He wanted to though and she knew that.

[vanillajello]

"But you want to, right?" Kate replied, shrugging a shoulder. "And for what it's worth, I think you're going to."

She wanted him to, because she knew he wanted to. And hell, she was wanting to move to Japan. She could not be the more travelled one out of them.

[therewaslife]

"I want to," he said, nodding and looking down at the top of the book, "but I want you to be a part of my life too. You don't doubt that, right? Even if I do travel?"

[vanillajello]

"I want to go to Japan," she retorted. "Do you doubt whether I still want you in my life?"

[therewaslife]

"I know that," he said, nodding and looking up at her. "I just wanted it to be completely clear. That's all."

[vanillajello]

"Crystal," she replied with a light smile. "Everyone wants to see the world, no one wants to ditch anyone."

[therewaslife]

"And I love you," he said, pushing himself to his feet to come closer to her. "I love you so much."

[vanillajello]

"And I love you too," Kate replied, holding out her hands for him. "I love you, my blushing English Muffin."

[therewaslife]

Bod laughed at the nickname and took her hands, stepping closer to her. "My evil Cuddle Bunny. I love you."

[vanillajello]

"Enough to deal with handcuffs and keychains?" She gave his hands a little squeze. "Enough to deal with the evil?"

[therewaslife]

"Enough to deal with everything," Bod said, leaning forward to kiss her nose. "Everything."

[vanillajello]

"Everything's a lot of stuff," she murmured, scrunching up her nose under that kiss. "Are you sure?"

[therewaslife]

"I'm more than sure," he murmured quietly. "More than sure."

[vanillajello]

"Mm, excellent," Kate decided, reaching up for a quick kiss. "'Cause you're not getting rid of me, ever."

[therewaslife]

"Good," he said, murmuring those words against her lips. "That's what I want."

[vanillajello]

"Then that's what you shall have," Kate whispered. "Now, is there anything else you'd like for your birthday?"

[therewaslife]

"I had nothing specific in mind," Bod answered, shaking his head. "I'm just enjoying being here with you."

[vanillajello]

"Easy," she teased. "So easy. Easy Bod. You are the opposite of difficult."

[therewaslife]

"I know I am," Bod said, shrugging, "but I like being that way and I think you like that I'm that way as well. Easy means I make things easier too. It's a fact of life."

[vanillajello]

"Yeah well I make things difficult," Kate pointed out, "so does that mean we balance each other out or something?"

[therewaslife]

"I think it does," Bod said, nodding. "I think that's exactly what it means which is good because I don't want anyone else to balance me out."