Birthday Gifts (Daphne fic)
Title: Birthday Gifts
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 823
Notes: Takes place in the Blood Kin Verse
The light knock on the door makes my heart leap in surprise. The music playing must have muffled the sound of someone approaching. I'd been fighting off the hope all day that Peter would show up and sweep me off my feet, that we could be what we were just for one more day. I rush over to the door and pull it open with a bright smile.
The smile is difficult to keep when I see that it's Jax on my doorstep with no sign or scent of Peter anywhere. His eyes meet mine and I can tell that he knows I'm disappointed. I back up so he can come inside without saying anything.
"I know I'm not who you want to see right now but I did come bearing gifts." He smiles at me and holds up the bag in his hands.
"Gifts? Why would you bring me a gift?"
Unless Peter told him, he wouldn't know what today was. No one knew other then Peter and Sylar. I'd gotten a nice birthday smooch from Sylar but Peter ... I think he must have forgotten. I clench my teeth and take a deep breath to keep the tears from forming. I blink at the touch to my cheek, looking up Jax.
"Happy birthday, Daphne."
"How did you know?"
He grinned. "My ability. I learn all kinds of shit about people by touching their stuff. Now do you want your presents or not?"
Now that was a rather stupid question. "Of course I do!"
He leads me over to the couch and the bag in his hand clinks loudly as we sit. What the hell does he have in there? I don't have long to wait because he takes out a pair of bottles, both wrapped with pretty red ribbons. I start laughing when I read the labels.
"You got me two bottles of Everclear for my birthday?"
Jax nods, laughing with me. "I know you like your alcohol and you need it strong. That's not it though. I got you something else before I knew it was your birthday so soon."
He pulls out this little black box and my breath stalls so quickly that I nearly choke. Oh, please don't let that be what I think it is! "Jax ..."
He smirks and pops it open for me to see. "Stop hyperventilating, it's not what you think."
I actually look at the ring as I take the box from him and my mouth drops open. "Oh, Jax, it's wonderful! How did you know?"
"I had a dream and put a rush order on it. It came a couple of days ago, perfect timing, huh?"
I take the ring out and stroke a finger over the silver designs. It was a Clan ring with the family crest on it. It was tradition at home to give one to each new Childe on their Turning Day. I'd completely forgotten to do this for Jax, our situation being so strange. Tears well up and spill over afterall as I slip it onto the middle finger of my left hand.
"I'm sorry I'm not a better Sire to you, Jax. I'll get you a ring, too. I-"
He covers my mouth with his hand. "I didn't give you this to make you feel guilty, Daphne. I know the tradition is for the Sire to give the ring to the Childe but I noticed you didn't have one on and I wanted you to know that ..." He bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair. "I wanted you to know that no matter what I accept you, I accept our bond. We're blood. Always."
I can't really describe the depth of what his words make me feel. I'd been feeling so out of place in my own life, like an extra part no one really needs. To know that he sees me this way when everything was dropped on him, takes some of that pain away. I scoot over to him and fling my arms around his shoulders, my face tucking into his neck.
"Thank you. This means so much to me, Jax, you have no idea. "
He kisses the side of my head, rubbing my back. "Lets dip into that birthday present of yours, huh? I know a recipe for Shit-Faced Punch."
I pull back and wipe away the tears with a laugh. "That sounds awesome actually. Shit-Faced Punch and all the vampire movies we can laugh at!"
Jax takes the bottles into the kitchen, rifling through the rest of my booze collection to make our drinks and I put in the first DVD. We curl up together as the beginning of The Lost Boys starts up, sipping the insanely strong mix. Getting drunk with my Childe and watching vampire flicks isn't how I pictured my birthday but it's not as bad as it could have been. At least I'm not alone.