happy birthday [for Belle]

[quileutejacob]

Jacob hadn't really made plans for his birthday, not formally, but he was pretty sure that Belle knew when it was. It was one of those things you just took for granted in a relationship, the whole birthdays and anniversaries thing, and it was pretty amazing that he'd been with her for almost a year. A year was practically a lifetime in teenage

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[provincialbelle]

Belle had been in a hurry to get everything together. She knew the date, knew the importance of it, and had been rushing to put together a picnic of French cuisine and finding a swimsuit that she felt would be something of a treat for him. She was aware that she wasn't plain, but she had never used her looks for anything before.

Maybe, just maybe, in the face of not having finished any inventions, she was relying on it, but she felt fine with that, creme brulee, beef bourguignon and red wine in a picnic basket. "Entrée!" she beckoned, still packing things away.

[provincialbelle]

Belle closed her eyes, indulging in the feeling of being kissed by someone who loved her and whom she loved back. When she parted, there was a breathless gasp on her lips. "It's just like a fairytale."

[quileutejacob]

"I hoped so," Jacob said, giving her a little smile that was softer than his usual grin. "C'mon. We're supposed to go have that picnic, right?"

Maybe it was a little silly of him, but Jacob reached for her hand and squeezed it. It was almost Valentine's Day, so he was allowed silly gestures of affection, right?

[provincialbelle]

Belle also had the outfit that she had found. It was a strange gift, she thought, but it was one that he would probably like. She clasped his hand tightly, unable to help swinging it mildly side to side. "I have something else for you when we get there."

[quileutejacob]

"Oh? Any hints?" Jacob asked, grinning a little. "I mean, it has to be pretty creative if it's a surprise on a deserted island. Do you think I could guess what it is?"

[provincialbelle]

Belle couldn't help a bemused grin. "You could guess," she encouraged, sliding her hand to the small of his back and giving him a fond look. "But you'll know as soon as we arrive what it is."

[quileutejacob]

"I guess I will just have to hold my breath and wait," Jacob teased. "Is it bigger than a breadbox?"

[provincialbelle]

Belle laughed warmly and pretended to think it over for a long moment. "Yes," she agreed, drawing out the word as she tugged him along. "But you won't guess, not really."

[quileutejacob]

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," Jacob said, squeezing her hand. "Is it something you made, maybe? I know you're all about working in the workshop. Secret projects and all that."

[provincialbelle]

"It's not," she insisted, practically laughing between her nerves and his persistence. She was feeling bubbly and anxious all at once and just wanted to get to their destination so she could show him. "You'll see soon enough, I promise."

[quileutejacob]

"I guess I just have to be patient," Jacob said, squeezing her hand again and falling quiet as they walked. He had no idea what the gift could be but one thing about being on the island meant creativity, and anything she could have come up with he knew he'd be happy about. It was just the way things went.

[provincialbelle]

Belle clasped his hand tighter as they walked, letting the picnic basket sway in her other hand. She hid a secret smile on her lips until they found something of a private area. "Obviously, this will make more sense when I tell you that I intended for us to go swimming after."

[quileutejacob]

"Obviously," Jacob said warily, giving her a little smile. "Should I be really excited or really scared, Belle?"

[provincialbelle]

"Well, if things go well, I hope it's really excited," she said, even though there was a flutter in her tone that said that maybe she was a little bit scared. She set the basket down atop the blanket and knelt down to start unearthing the food. Then, maybe then she would coax him to untie the knot of her cover-up.

[quileutejacob]

"Then I'm banking on excited," Jacob said, laying down on the blanket and relaxing a little. "You usually come up with pretty ideas anyway. It's the whole inventor thing, isn't it?"

[provincialbelle]

Belle shook her head and smiled as she leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. "I hope I inherited that gene from my father," she agreed, a little nervous as she reached back to unknot the tie. "Close your eyes," she said.