MILLIWAYS

[fallen_april]

Let's pretend it's still September 23rd...

That means it's April's 23rd birthday.

She's sitting on a couch in front of the fireplace, scribbling in a sketchbook.

Feel free to wish her a happy birthday.

Comments

[bohemian_mark]

Sneaking up from behind her is a filmmaker. Grinning, he pokes her on the shoulder. "So, a little bird reminded me that it's a certain day today."

[fallen_april]

April practically glows. "Mark, you remembered!" she squeals happily, pouncing him.

[bohemian_mark]

Mark hugs her tightly. "Of course I did, April." He grins, pulling back and holding out a brown-paper-wrapped package. It is the size and shape of a book, tied with film instead of ribbon. Inside are pictures, developed film cells, actually, of April with Roger, and himself, and everyone back in New York. All are happy pictures, from the good times before everything went to hell in a handbasket.

[fallen_april]

April grins at the ribbon, and opens the package carefully.

Flips through the pictures.

And tries very hard not to cry. She rather fails, but... well, they're not exactly happy tears, but they're not upset tears, either.

"Mark, thank you..." she whispers.

[slightlymonkish]

And out of nowhere - as per usual - comes Monk, who peers over her shoulder with a wide grin and something behind his back.

Yeah, he knows.

"Happy birthday," he chimes.

[fallen_april]

April puts down the photo album she was flipping through (for the past half hour since Mark wandered off) and beams at him. "Aw, Adri, you remembered!"

[slightlymonkish]

"I did," he smiles, and places the most perfectly frosted cupcake ever into April's hand. "And I made that just for you! I'm not the best baker, but I used one of Trudy's old recipies."

[fallen_april]

April beams even brighter (if possible) and takes a good look at it. "Well it looks absolutely perfect, and if you used one of her recipies, I'm sure it'll taste good, too." She blows him a kiss over the back of the couch. "You're a dear, Adri."

[the_antiangst]

"So Mark mentioned your birthday's today."
And with that, Angel hands April a pcakage. Inside is a patchwork skirt; she's likely to recognize some of the fabric.

[fallen_april]

April grins up at Angel. "Oh, thank you, you didn't have to get me anything..." she opens the package and gasps.

"Oh, Angel, it's great!" a squint at one of the patches. "Is that..."

[[...as, y'know, I have no idea what's there... >.>]]

[the_antiangst]

"One of Roger's old shirts - Mark scrounged up some stuff for me. Val made me something similar last year, and I figured, well, why not run with a good idea?"
It's not just Roger's old stuff, either - there's bits of things from everyone who was around the loft while April was, with the possible exception of Benny.

[fallen_april]

She sees it, too. That was one of Maureen's skirts, and this was a pair of boxers she'd seen Collins in more times than she could count, one of Mark's flannel shirts, there, and again there.

And Roger. So much of Roger. All this things she recognizes, some she doesn't, but her friends, and god she misses them, and after Mark's gift...

She buries her face in the shirt and takes a few hitching breaths. But she's not going to cry this time.

Really.