OOC note: Takes place before Romania

It was dawn September 19th 2009 a day to remember a day he had spent all day planning in fact it was the reason he hadn’t allowed his girlfriend to spend the night, after all he was planning for her, wouldn’t be a very good surprise if she knew he was up to something. The only reason he could think of that was good enough that had to force their nightly tradition of sleeping inches away from each other was a mission. He was supposedly in California and wouldn’t be back till later that night. He smiled as the rising sun greeted him and the hairy beastie beside him with a warm hello.

Reaching down and placing a hand on Bruno the master spoke, ”This is it boy, B-Day, the day we have been practicing for, you know what you need to do right?” The dog whined and let out a mall muffle of a bark. Oh yes, he was aware of what he had to do he had been practicing for it for some time. The dog let out an excited bark as he stood on all fours and turned around in a circle then ran to the door. There he waited whining to the door scratching it several times hoping it would open on its own.

Grinning slightly as he walked into his room from the balcony Sam called his dog, ”Bruno, you need your leash!” the hefty dog turned around and then bolted into the walk in closet and exited with a leash in his mouth his tail wagging excitedly. ”Good boy!” Sam said as he walked over to his dog and attached the leash to the collar. Seconds later when the door opened the Saint Bernard sped off down the hallway his nose sniffing for his intended prey.

Locking his door behind him Sam went off in a different direction to get the ingredients needed for the first part of the day. Clapping his hands tighter Sam raced off to the kitchen with hopes to make this the best birthday she has ever had.

Moments later Bruno arrived at Alex’s door tail waking and leash in mouth. He had to go to the bathroom and there was only one person that could walk him. The massive dog quickly got impatient. She was most likely sleeping but nothing could sleep through Bruno’s wake up call. Pressing his nose against the door a few times to try and push open the door Bruno soon stepped up to clawing the door followed by a few barks.

There was a moment of silence followed by some tag wagging and nothing. Bruno barked again and sat down as his tail continued to wag behind him as he heard movement. Raising his head up and lifting his lips Bruno started to howl till the familiar owner of the door arrived.

Alexandra had contradictory feelings when it came to birthdays. Well, her birthdays, anyway. Although she didn’t hate them she didn’t had a crushing urge to make a big deal out of it either. She actually never got it why people did celebrate them. Another year gone from your life. Maybe celebrate the things accomplished during that year? Thinking about it, Alexandra had nothing to celebrate in that department. She had done nothing to be proud of.

A sigh left her lips as she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, lazily reaching for a towel while immersed in her own thoughts. She’d been up since 5 AM, as every day and went on with her morning routine… just like it was any other day. But it wasn’t. Usually, she’d wake up next to Sam, spend a few more minutes just being lazy before actually getting up and deal with her daily business. Enjoy the simple fact that she wasn’t alone. And yet, today of all days, he wasn’t here. He said something about a mission. California or whatever, she stopped paying attention after hearing that he won’t be in the Mansion.

No, she didn’t want to make a fuss out of her birthday but having him next to her for the day would have been pretty nice. Nothing special, hell, she would have probably not cared if he didn’t even remember – that’s where her non-celebratory side kicked in – but the routine sounded like a very good schedule the day. But she wasn’t getting the routine either.

Sure, she had her suspicions. This mission had found the strangest of times to be brought up and Alexandra just hoped he wasn’t lying and that at some point she’d walk in on some surprise party – she was afraid she wouldn’t know how to handle those. She sighed again, not really knowing what to believe, and realizing that she’d been rubbing her skin with the towel for a few minutes now and that her musings on the subject weren’t really helping, she finally wrapped it around her body and walked out of the shower ready to find something more suitable to wear and head to the infirmary for – yay! paperwork and complaining patients.

Alexandra entered her room just in time to hear the scratching at her door – she knew she had to walk Bruno but she didn’t know the dog was this impatient. A few barks followed which made Alexandra walk faster toward the door and yank it open before the sounds will draw the other rooms’ occupants out to complain about being woken up.

Bruno greeted her by raising his rather large frame from the ground, his tail moving faster now as he let out another bark. “Shhh, Bruno. You’re gonna wake up the whole Mansion.” With understanding that sometimes Alexandra failed to see in human’s eyes, Bruno became quiet, now only his tail being the remaining proof of his excitement. Alexandra proceeded in opening the door further, leaving room for Bruno to get in – she couldn’t walk him in a towel, she couldn’t let him wait outside her door and she clearly couldn’t replace the towel with more suitable clothing with her door wide open.

Obeying the silent order, Bruno picked up the leash in his mouth again and walked inside the room, posting himself next to the door not relinquishing the hold his mouth had on the leash. Alexandra guessed it was his way of telling her to hurry up. Which she did. Minutes later, dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and a simple black shirt and also wearing some comfortable sneakers, Alexandra was putting the leash on Bruno, and took him on the much awaited walk.

Five minutes that all he needed and that is all he expected to get, the sun now peeked over a small gap in the trees as he looked up to the morning sky, decorated with a pinkish orangish haze creating a few colors of it’s own. It was the only perk of the city; emissions often obscured the normal sunrise and often panted a beautiful canvas in the sky. Sam smiled as he raised his hands and activated his mutation. By his count Alex should be where he was within a few minutes. While he was creating the scene he smiled and started to hum knowing she would enjoy the sheer surprise of seeing not only him but also the scene he created.

---

Across the mansion grounds and by the entrance of the building Bruno placed his nose to the ground, he had to pull the woman behind him she was far too slow on the way out of the mansion and when nature called no one other than the master forestalled the call. The first thing the large dog did when they were outside was finding a nice place to use the facilities. No clean up needed here, it was still to early for that, however once he was finished with his business he looked up and then placed his nose to the ground and started to whine. The master was near; he could smell it, that and the smell of bacon and eggs.

Tail wagging excitedly Bruno crouched down and used his powerful legs to kick off the ground pulling the woman behind him again. A familiar set of trees with an even more familiar hammock (Sam’s) caused Bruno to detour from his destination only for a moment. He walked to one of the trees and sniffed the hammock and let out an excited bark one that echoed for a short distance before dying off. Tail wagging excitedly again Bruno picked up the scent of bacon cooking once again. Another bark and he was off dragging the woman into the woods behind the mansion.

---

The crackling of bacon sounded as he flipped another strip and turned his attention to the frying pan making sure the eggs wouldn’t burn or stick to the pan on the grill. Yes, it was cliché to make your girlfriend breakfast for her birthday but he didn’t think it was that cliché to do it in the woods after he made some mortification to the scenery. An ice swan here, a tree made of ice there, even the ground off to the side was covered in a smooth sheet of ice. Next to it laid a pair of women’s ice skates (ones that fit, oh yes he was a good boyfriend) keeping an eye on the food Sam reached with one of his free hands and flipped the a piece of toast. Before setting it on a plate with a few of its crunchy friends.

After a few moments he heard a rustling from the bushed behind him seemed like all that time teaching Bruno to find something paid off. Looking back to the pair who had just arrived Sam wiped a spatula on his ‘Kiss the cook’ apron. ”Good! You guys made it just in time.” pointing his free hand to the table and two chairs Sam smiled, ”Have a seat and your breakfast will be ready in a minute!” he winked with his left eye then looked back to the grill before realizing he forgot something super important, ”Oh! Happy Birthday!” yeah, he was a good boyfriend alright!

Bruno was certainly far from being patient. With a sigh, Alexandra quickened her pace almost wanting to complain to Bruno that she had already done her morning jogging. She wasn’t sure what exactly the dog picked up after relieving his bladder but he was certainly anxious to get there. So, of course, he started to drag her in the direction that had managed to get his interest. After trying to keep up with the dog for a while, she finally decided the best was to let go to his leash and follow the dog at her own pace. “Sorry Bruno, I don’t have four legs.” She muttered as Bruno continued to get deeper into the forest behind the Mansion.

---

A smile appeared on Alexandra’s lips as soon as she could see the location where Bruno led her and expanded into a grin as she approached and Sam’s efforts were now completely visible. Now, now, she knew that the time of that mission was just wrong. “Thanks Sam.” She moved closer to him, following the instruction written across the apron – kiss the cook, a small peck on his cheek – before heading toward the chair to have a seat and letting Sam finish breakfast. “So…” A smirk was now forming on her lips as her eyes lazily watched him flip another strip of bacon. “Weren’t you supposed to be in California?”

She kissed him on the cheek like this was expected, ”You don’t seem to surprised…” Sam said the smile on his face turning into a smug grin, it was clear he would have to step things up if he was indeed going to impress her with the birthday festivities. He flipped another strip of bacon and nodded his head, ”Called in sick today!” lied Sam as he looked back to Alex with a smile, there was no mission but he was sure now that she knew it but of course Sam wasn’t going to come out and turn himself in.

The eggs slid off of the spatula and onto the plate he had prepared for Alex, bacon, eggs and toast now looked back at him as he added a small side of hash browns. It wasn’t the healthiest breakfast but no need to be healthy on ones birthday right? Walking the plate over to the table Sam picked off an extra strip of bacon he left on the plate and tossed it to Bruno who took the strip and walked over to a tree where he chewed the meat then decided he had done far too much work for so early in the morning.

Looking over to the now snoozing Bruno and letting out a small laugh, ”Seems like the training did pay off.” placing the plate in front of Alex and taking a step back to grab his he smiled, ”So I hope you know how to ice skate, cause that’s out after breakfast activity… and I already talked to Doc, he told me I can have you for the entire day, as long as you make up the paper work tomorrow.”

Now laughing Sam loaded up his plate, ”So I made a deal with him, you get the day off and not a ton of work tomorrow as long as I don’t end up going to the infirmary due to a injury of mine or one of my students,” sitting down from across Alex he continued, ”Basically I turned your birthday into a holiday, no class today for any of the classes I teach, however their amount of homework increased so to sure if people with congratulate you or scowl at you when they see you in the hallway today.”

Taking the first bite of his eggs he leaned forward, ”So what I am trying to say is I have the day off and you have the day off…” he paused and bite into a crunchy piece of bacon and then asked, ”If you could do anything or go anywhere for the day what or where would you go?”

A grin spread across her lips when Sam mentioned that she didn’t seem very surprised. Now, now, did he expect not to suspect anything about a mission in California going on right on her birthday? The grin broadened slightly upon hearing his response. He called in sick. Legs crossed and hands on lap, Alexandra looked at Sam amused. “Riiiight.”

As the plate was delivered to her, she eyed the contents, the grin turning into a soft smile. “Good thing birthdays are once a year or else I’d be getting fat in no time.” She joked, while picking up a bacon strip to munch on it. After shifting her gaze at the ice covered ground for a moment and swallowing, Alexandra looked back at Sam, nodding. “As for skating, yeah, I know a thing or two but don’t expect me to do any ballet jumps or something.” But, apparently Sam forgot something – she was supposed to be at the Infirmary in 15 minutes.

”… and I already talked to Doc, he told me I can have you for the entire day, as long as you make up the paper work tomorrow.”

Or maybe he didn’t. Also: paperwork. Meh. Although if no one was sustaining any injuries during the day, Sam included, then there shouldn’t have been much paperwork to make up for. After all, most of the injuries were somehow obtained because of either Danger Room or Self-Defense.

Taking another bite, Alexandra pondered on her answer for a few seconds. “Well, I never made a big deal out of celebrating my birthday so… I don’t think have any special place I’d want to go. If there’s a place I’d like to go most likely I won’t wait for my birthday to come in order to visit it. I was actually thinking earlier that doing the usual stuff would be a good way to spend the day. Maybe watch a movie in the rec room if it’s free. I don’t want people to cong-” Wait. Wait. “Sam, tell me you didn’t share with your students the reason of getting a free day…”

A smile touched his lips as he chewed on a piece of bacon as well, ”Don’t get used to it I’d only cook you this stuff once a year any how, not every day I can play hooky.” Sam said with a smirk as he reached for a glass of orange juice and sipped it before continuing to converse with the birthday girl, ”Good, you won’t slow me down on the ice then.” Sam said with a playful wink as before he leaned forward and scooped some egg into his mouth.

”Really?” Sam asked in between bites of food, there is nowhere you wanted to go but couldn’t cause you were too busy? Even small places could be important a walk in the park, a night under the stars.”[/color] he wiped his mouth and waited for a response before he added, ”Birthdays are meant to be a big thing any who, I remember a certain someone entertaining me on my birthday, figured I’d repay her the favor.”

it was true he was having a pretty bad day on his birthday but with a little time with her and she turned his rainy day into a warm summers day. It was an important day for her even if she didn’t want to admit it, which was the reason why he was making such a big deal about it because she would not.

”Yep, told them “you see Alex wish her a happy birthday! For she is one of the only reasons I would ever give you the day off.” Or something like that.” Sam said nonchalantly, ”You can get mad if you want but it won’t change anything now.” he smirked and looked up to Alex and smiled. He had a feeling she wouldn’t be to happy with him but no sense fussing about the pass what’s done is done. If she really wanted to be upset with him she could be because it’s her party and she can cry if she wants to, cry if she wants to.

At this point Alexandra’s mouth was slightly open. Did he really say that? Somehow, she knew that he was perfectly capable of doing it. Her mouth closed. Like he said, what was done, was done. “Not sure if I should kiss you because that sounded sweet or smack you every time I hear a ‘Happy Birthday’.” She replied, smiling. Anyway, that was a decision she’d have to make later.

Meanwhile, she chewed on another bite she took from the strip of bacon. After swallowing, she spoke again. “Anyway, maybe you can show me Central Park. Never had the chance to visit it properly. And we can spend an hour or two under the stars while we’re there too.” Shrug. Whatever they did was fine with her, as long as Sam was next to her.

”It’s your birthday, you can do what you like, thought I think I’d be more in favor of the kiss…” Sam said with a quick smirk as he took another sip of his drink. ”Central park it is, a picnic under the stars perhaps?” Sam asked as he already knew where he was going to take her, his spot known to few but seen by many. All you had to do is wander through some trees and tall shrubs but when you found the hidden pathway to the lake… that’s when you would find paradise.

Anything else? He wondered as he finished the last bit of his food and then looked to Alex, ”So, thumbs up or down on the breakfast? I’m a little rusty when it comes to bacon the eggs however I felt were good enough…” he looked up to the sky and spotted the sun rising in the sky now looming well over the trees, ”Care for a skate?” Sam asked as he stood up and extended a hand to Alex, hoping she would be willing for a skate even though she just ate.

“Maybe.” Alexandra answered. Kiss or kick, her decision to make. She had pretty much made her decision. That, however didn’t stop her from painting a playful smile on her lips. Sam would have to find out her answer later. “Picnic under the stars? My, my, Sam Johnson, you are spoiling me.” A grin followed her comment, and then, she resumed the eating. She was far behind Sam with the nomming and she didn’t want to offend him after he’d done so many things to turn her birthday into something special.

As she was just finishing her breakfast, Sam asked for a review on it. Still chewing on the food, Alexandra actually raised her thumbs to signal that it was great. Moments later when she finally swallowed the last bit of food, she spoke. “Even with a full stomach skating sounds good and the breakfast was delicious. Thanks!” Placing her hand in his, she got up from table and next to Sam. Planting a small kiss on his lips, she stepped back, grinning. “Shall we?”

She took his hand and pecked him on the lips, he smirked as her lips pressed his, ”I take it kiss it is then isn’t it?” he teased glad she wasn’t planning on kicking not yet at least. ”And why shouldn’t I spoil you, you’re my girlfriend I should spoil you on your birthday!” Sam said as he lead her to the makeshift skating rink he had created that circled a large oak tree in the dead center of the rink.

Leading her over to her skates that he had got her for a birthday present Sam released her hand and gave her a few moments to get the skates on. He smirked and stood onto the ice and raised a few inches as he created a pair of blades under his shoes. There was a time when he had to deal putting on skates as a kid and never remembered those moments fondly it always took far too long to tie the skates and when he did his footing always seemed awkward in them.

But now, sliding backwards towards the tree Sam kept his eyes fixed on Alex waiting for her to get the skates on. He turned slightly rotating his foot and glided across the ice getting a better feel for his creation than before. Looking over towards the table they were before Sam spotted Bruno curled up enjoying a nap in the morning sun.

Looking over to the grill Sam nodded his head slightly adding the fact that he snuffed the flames before he started to eat. Looking back to Alex he skated towards her and then extended a hand out to her once again. She said she could skate the question was could she keep up with Sam?

“Maybe.” was her answer once again. Alexandra grinned. That could hardly be considered a kiss and Sam should have noticed that. Being leaded to the skates, Alexandra let her hand slip from Sam’s as she proceeded with putting on the skates, half paying attention to her actions, half paying attention to Sam’s.

When the skates were secured on her feet, Alexandra placed her hand in Sam’s once again, glancing at the skating rink. “Well, it’s been a while since I’ve done this. I hope I won’t embarrass myself.” With a nervous laugh, she looked at Sam. A while was… 4 or 5 years. Maybe more. She really didn't remember clearly the last time she had skated. Hopefully, her skills didn’t get that rusty. Taking a deep breath, Alexandra made her first attempt at skating in a really long time, hoping the results won’t be disastrous.

[OOC: Feel free to have her lose balance, manage to skate properly, whatever works for you.]

”Doubt you would,” Sam said as his hand laced around hers holding it tight, ”I wouldn’t let you fall.” Sam said as he skated forward a bit trying to put her at ease after detecting the nervous laugh. He guided her along a little before they reached the center of the ice. Not knowing that the surface of the ice wasn’t a hundred percent smooth he turned his attention to Alex and guided her over a small imperfection in the ice. A pebble or a small rock it seemed to create a small bump in the ice one large enough to force one to lose balance if one wasn’t careful.

Her hand shook and Sam’s body turned accordingly as one hand still locked with hers as his other hand was on her waist his face towards hers with a smile on his face, ”Guess it wasn’t as perfect as I thought…” Sam said as he smiled and made an attempt to make the bump less of a bump and more of a smooth curved surface on the ice. ”Close call…” Sam said his hands still where they were when he caught her. His eyes locking on hers, ”You alright?”

After a moment he smirked ”Thought you said you were a pro at this,” he winked with his left eye and turned slightly so he could start skating again, he knew she never said she was a pro but he had to give her a hard time, he was found of a little teasing after all. ”So when was the last time you went ice skating?” Sam asked not really feeling he had to discuss the last time he went skating, he was an icemancer after all. He on occasion skates to the shower in the morning.

Well, she didn’t do too bad for setting her foot on ice after a few years. So, relaxing slightly, Alexandra let herself be leaded on the ice.

At some point, her feet felt suddenly a lot less reliable. A leg, in particular, started to slide away from the other, and away from her control. Out of instinct, her hand grasped Sam’s harder, waiting for the moment when her other leg would follow and she’d be sprawled on the ice, her dignity lost.

And yet, it didn’t happen. A hand was wrapped around her waist, keeping her up. Alexandra used the support provided to pull herself back and gain her balance.

Darn. Maybe she had rushed into thinking.

Alexandra smiled too, more of an embarrassed smile. “I’m fine. Told you it’s likely I’m gonna embarrass myself if I set my foot on ice.” She also smacked Sam’s arms jokingly when he said she’d told him she was a pro. “Never said that.” Although she did try to keep a serious face on, she only managed to widen her smile. Oh, and stick her tongue out at Sam.

Anyway. When Sam started skating again, she followed. A bit more cautious this time. Which, fortunately, resulted in not falling on her butt the moment Sam’s hand was away from her waist. Paying much more attention to both the ice underneath her feet and her movements, Alexandra spoke again.

“Uhmmm, I think that was a few years ago.4 or 5. Maybe more. I can’t remember.”

A shadow of a smile formed on Sam’s lips when she used him to help her regain balance enough to stand on her own. Once she was up and took a swat at him he moved slightly on the ice and rubbed his arm and shook his head, ”Here I thought I was getting kissed for telling everyone, can’t make up your mind can you?” Sam said with a smirk as he continued to rub his arm even though it was a playful bat.

”Been a while I guess then… can’t remember the first time I went ice skating…” he tried to trace back all he could remember about his childhood before T.A.T. because he remembered being able to skate when he arrived there. Giving up on the long forgotten memories he looked back to her, ”Can’t really remember the first time I skated, been doing it ever since I can remember…” with that he let go of her hand and skated a few feet in front of her and turned to face her.

Skating backwards he kept his eyes on her and continued to smile, ”Sides wouldn’t be very good at being an ice manipulator if I couldn’t skate could I.” his legs swayed back and forth propelling himself backwards as he kept a few feet in front of Alex, ”Oh and you should keep that tongue in your mouth, I don’t want it to stick to anything…” he laughed and acceded a few inches in front of her to get out of the way if she decided to throw another playful swat.