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[Backdated to the 29th]

Today was Noah's birthday!

Peyton had gotten up early, earlier even than she normally did, so she could get her usual morning work out out of the way, so she'd have the majority of the day free. There were presents to wrap, well...decorate, more than wrap, considering what they were.

A small, twisty little bonsai tree. Not the traditional pine, but a miniature Japanese maple. It had pale, pinkish leaves, and the trunk was already nearly an inch thick. A mature bonsai, but still shapable in it's newer growth. The saplings, she had learned, were tricky to care for, and she hadn't wanted it to die, so she'd spent the extra money for something with a more guaranteed longevity.

There was also the ring. A replica of the one from their wedding in wonderland. Peyton had had one made for America as well, and she had her own two, now both on the chain that rested around her neck. She'd had it for a while, since the end of June, and now she was finally going to get to give it to him.

Last, but not least, the Sun's attire. Originally she'd considered a little sundress. Something simple and sweet, but after staring at herself in the mirror, she'd changed her mind. Now, instead, she had on a pair of her favorite kneehighs(black, folding down at the top with a pair of buttons on the outer sides.), a pair of her shorter jogging shorts, and what looked to be one of Noah's hoodies zipped over it all, the cuffs folded back off her hands so she could finish the cake without making a second mess.

She was just finishing up as four o'clock rolled around, and she was licking frosting off the tip of her finger as she nudged the cake stand into the center of the counter, either gift sitting beside it.

Perfect!

Back, before Deus, Peyton has been the one in charge of making sure her sister had good birthdays. Dad bought presents, tucking them into the back of what ever closet they had agreed on ahead of time, and Peyton world wrap them. She would hang up balloons, bake a cake, and come up with something fun they could ask do, since neither girl ever had much in the way of friends. If she'd known Noah's birthday was usually fairly subdued, she'd have done more. Planned something of island, probably. Next time.

The knock on the door had the petite Sun looking up from the sparkly confetti she was sprinkling around the cake and presents, it was flower shaped, which might have been girly, but she knew Noah would appreciate it, our hoped. Plants. She'd managed to find it yellows and greens and orange, rather than blaring pink.

"Come in!" With a grin she turned, hoisted herself up to sit beside everything she'd just finished, and waited until he'd opened the door and gotten a good look in her direction before smiling up at him. "Happy birthday, baby."

an incredibly pleased smile followed tat 'wow', but her head tilted at the following comment, curls sliding over her shoulders. "Of course I remembered." Because I love you, silly. She'd had a dream, some time back, where she'd told him, murmured it softly into a quiet room where he'd been with her, arms wrapped protectively around her. Or at least she thought it was a dream.

As he approached she leaned forward, watching him eagerly as he looked over what she had waiting for him. "I did, do you like it?"

She hand't hopped off the counter yet, so she was actually tall enough to lay a kiss on his chin when he came up to hug her and drop a fond peck on her nose. "No dying allowed," she murmured, grinning, before kissing him again. "Not even from a sugar overload." She hadn't even considered that his comment was anything but the compliment she took it as.

Keeping one arm around his side, she made a gesture down to the little wrapped box and the tree with it's ribbon tied around the ornate planter it had come with. "I got you a couple things."

"Mmhmm!" It was most certainly for him. Peyton didn't know enough about them to be able to keep it alive longer than the week she'd had it. Even then, the leaves might be a touch droopy. She was terrified of over watering it, having been overly cautioned by the vendor she'd bought it from. "It's twelve years old, that's what the guy told me. He also made me assure him that whomever it was going too knew what they were doing before he'd let me buy it. I know it's going to good hands." Absently she curled her legs around his loosely, ankles crossed against the side of one knee.

When he got to the ring she tipped her head up to watch his face anxiously. This was the gift she'd been nervous about giving. With America it was different, the rings symbolized a bond of friendship and partnership. With Noah, there was a very definite romantic connection, and she was a little afraid it was too much.

At that stunned look she pulled in a breath, holding it, until she realized what it meant. Then she nodded, smiling sweetly up to him, as a hand came up to touch the chain that held her own ring through the material of the hoodie. "Do you like it?"

He liked it! His little squeak was echoed by one of her own, a purely pleased sound. "Well, I got both, so we'd have the set." She reached inside the hoodie, causing the zipper to slip down another inch, and pulled the long chain out into the light. It held her most prized trinkets, the little things that reminded her of the people she loved. "I got the idea back in June, and I had the idea to get replicas made, for Our's, and for mine and America's as well. I love you guys, and I just... I thought it'd be a good way to show it."

It took her a second to realize what she'd said, and when she did color rushed up to paint her cheeks a soft rose that had hr freckles standing out darkly. "I mean. Um."

<Don't back pedal, be honest.>

The necklace was released as she brought her hands up to gather curling hair to one side so it all hung over one shoulder, fingers tangling into the ombre coloring as she dug deep in the search for courage. Honesty came fairly naturally to her, as did bravery. Usually she didn't have any trouble admitting how she felt, but when it had to do with strong feelings of a romantic nature? She tended to freeze up when the time came to admit them. "I really like.. I mean, I really.. I.."

<Just say it! What are you afraid of?>

What if he doesn't say it back? Or what if it's too much? What if it ruins everything?

<Are you crazy?>

She had to fight the urge to drop he gaze, eyes looking anywhere but those soft, earnest greens as he looked down at her, but she kept her head up cheeks flushed, fingers working nervously through her hair. The movement was enough to have the looser fit the hoodie sliding over one thin shoulder, but she ignored it, giving her lip a quick lick before pressing teeth into the top.

<Just say it, Jack, you are not this much of a scareling!>

"I love you." It came out quickly, almost startled, but she didn't try to back peddle this time. Instead glossed lips pressed together in a nervous line as she looked up at him. Now it was her turn to wait.

"I, I love you."

She blinked, a little shocked. There was a part of her, despite the confidence she'd gained since she'd come to the island, that was still that insecure, boy shy girl that had flustered at the first sign of attraction. Convinced she wasn't good enough, not pretty enough, not girly enough.

That part tried to rear it's ugly head now, and she crushed it down, shoved it away, and buried it deep. It wasn't welcome, and she was finally strong enough to banish it away.

As she looked up at him, met those earnest eyes, the corners of her lips ticked. A soft smile glowing on delicate features as she let what they'd just said to each other sink in. It made her chest swell, pulse speeding, and the tips of her fingers were tingling when she reached up to him, cupping that handsome face between her palms and drawing him down, if he'd let her, down so she could catch his lips in a kiss, strong legs tightening around his hips.

He loved her. He loved her!