I felt you in my life before I ever thought to

[neither_a_nor_b]

When she’d woken up on the morning of the 22nd and found herself still in one place, Bay had breathed a sigh of relief. The last couple birthdays had been kind of a crapshoot for her and Daphne, ending up in a new dimension every other year so it was nice to actually make it a year in one place.

Sure, it was almost Halloween and sure something was probably doomed to go to hell before the end of the month, but not today. Today Daphne had made a cake and some mexican rice and was planning a shrimp taco spread. Bay was cooking up some ground beef with spices while the contents of the alcohol cabinet waited for her to do some mixing later. They’d sent out invitations to their friends via text, and both were looking forward to a chill, low-key birthday party for their 19th.

Daphne had made sure not to book any catering jobs for today, but she still had her daily orders for some of the local coffee shops and service stations in the city. She’d gotten those taken care of, then come home and baked and frosted the cake and helped Bay clean and decorate. If she wanted to last more than 20 minutes at her own party, though, she’d decided a nap was a good idea.

She woke feeling much more refreshed and coherent and wandered out to find Bay cooking up ground beef for the red meat eaters that would be attending. “Hey,” she greeted her sister, peering over Bay’s shoulder into the pan before stepping back. “I’m going to get changed while you finish that up, then I’ll get the shrimp cooking while you get ready. Sound good?”

“Yeah, sounds good. I just got a slew of ‘on my way’ texts but the taco filling is ready.” Proving her point, she took the beef off the stove and tipped all of it into a serving bowl. “I’m gonna stick it in the microwave, so we can nuke it if we need.”

“Actually, I’ve got a better idea.” Daphne grinned and ducked into her room, coming back out with a large box. “I bought myself a birthday present, sort of,” she explained, opening one end of the box and starting to pull out the pieces to the new electronic warmer she’d picked up yesterday. “Just give the dishes a quick wash and we should be good to go. This should keep the food warm through the whole party. Beef in one, shrimp in one, and rice in the third?” She shoved the packing materials back into the box, ready to tuck into her closet just in case something went wrong and she needed to return it.

“That is so fancy,” Bay said, genuinely impressed as she scraped the beef into the first dish. “Okay, you change, I’ll clean.”

“Okay.” Daphne went back into her room, stashed the box and quickly changed, then stopped in the bathroom to pull her hair back and put a little makeup on before taking over in the kitchen so Bay could get ready, getting her shrimp cooking as she made sure all of the food and mixers were ready for people’s arrival.

It didn’t take much time for her to get ready. Bay took a quick shower to get the smell of food out of her hair and off her skin. By the time she was finished blow-drying, Bay heard the first knock on the door. The party had started.

Comments

(arriving with Rat; Grey's first b'day party!)

[silenttrainbaby]

The package Grey holds is wrapped in bright paper and has a bow. It seems strange to wrap something only to unwrap it in his mind. He's a little more tense too, despite knowing both Bay and Daphne at least a little; a new place, new people, new sensation. It makes him tired sometimes. He shifts on his feet, looking around at his surroundings.

[neither_a_nor_b]

"Hey, you made it," Bay came over, waving at him before switching to sign. Here in the apartment, it was just habit. "Thanks for coming."

Re: (arriving with Rat; Grey's first b'day party!)

[happy_dsign]

"Hi! Come on in," Daphne greeted with a smile when she saw Grey standing off to the side looking a little lost. "You can get some food, or just grab a seat and relax."

[plaguedrat]

He and Grey arrive at the same time, sharing a gift since it's a casual affair. That and he doesn't know hem well enough that he thinks it merits anything extravagant.

Their apartment is different from his, decorated, personalized. Lived-in. They've been here a while. It's weird to think about, that people are content to settle here.

"Happy birthday," he says, taking the sight of it in.

[silenttrainbaby]

The present has been set down and Grey approaches Rat with a plate of used-to-be-taco and some lettuce. Oh, and a fork. He holds it out to Rat. Tacos. Sort of. They are good.

[happy_dsign]

"Thank you," Daphne said, signing it, too. "I'm glad you came. It's only fair, since I celebrated your birthday with you, right?" She grinned.

[theresalwayshope]

Allison liked how things were a little busier as of late. With Kate and Newt's wedding, Porthos and Aramis getting engaged, things opening up completely with Jason...add school and work, and Allison felt blissfully normal despite her late night activities. It was a good reminder of the most important reasons she had for being the Alpha: all these people she loved needed protecting from the people who would hurt them. People she and Jason could stand against...together.

She didn't know Daphne as well as she knew Bay, at least it didn't feel that way...she'd only met Daphne the one time, right after she'd gotten to Darrow, and Bay was not only dating Scott, she'd been part of Allison's pack as a werewolf. She still sort of felt that tie, just like she did with the rest of her pack: Bay and Dave were always going to belong to her, so Bay's birthday was something she wouldn't miss for the world.

To that end, when she arrived, she had two small wrapped boxes in hand for the birthday girls, each of them containing the same red bracelet. For Bay, it was a friendly reminder of that bond they shared...and for Daphne, it was a private gesture on Allison's part.

Bay was part of her pack...and any family of Bay's was family to Allison.

The party itself was low-key...and it had tacos, so Allison was more or less set for the evening. She'd told Jason about the party, but she'd assured him he wasn't required to appear...there were a lot of people she hadn't introduced him to as of yet, and she wanted to do it right so he wasn't uncomfortable. She was going to start with the family at Bramford: Porthos, Aramis, D'artagnan...and if he came to his senses, Athos.

So it was mostly a solo affair, and she'd probably leave the party a little early to hit the streets for her nightly rounds. She had body armor now, and she was having fun testing its limits.

Until then, however, she was going to pig out on awesome food, meet some new people...and pray that Daphne and Bay both liked their presents.

[neither_a_nor_b]

"Hey, you made it!" Bay said, coming out from behind where she'd been mixing drinks for everyone. A few months ago, she would have thought this was really weird, but ever since they'd been Pack it had all just made sense. Everyone was on good terms and that was what mattered. It was good to have friends and family, wherever they came from.

"We've got taco fixings and...lots and lots of booze. I swear I don't know how we accumulated this much but there you go."

Grinning she gestured to the drink selection. "Thanks for coming."

[thecautionarywhale]

"Hey there," she says to the other girl, happy to see her. Since leaving high school she hadn't seen much of Allison, and that was in part because she'd been so busy ver the summer. Being at the U filled even more of her time than senior year had, and that baffled her completely. Add to that the fact that Allison probably had a life of her own and it made sense. It didn't make it any less good to see her sometimes friend here. "Try the shrimp tacos. They're amazing."

[happy_dsign]

Daphne didn't know Allison that well, but she was very good at being welcoming. It was just something she'd gotten used to over the years, trying to put people at ease in all situations.

She approached the other girl and waved, smiling. "Hi. Thanks for coming."

[reformingfury]

Dave was running little late, but he thinks the gifts he prepared for the girls was totally worth it.

He struggled a bit with Daphne's present, since he didn't know her quite as well as Bay, but he had the luck of finding a novelty apron as well as a set of fancy infused oils. He hoped she got a kick out of it, even if he's pretty sure a lot of the holsters made the apron more for grilling than any practical kitchen use.

In the other hand, he's got a bag full of art supplies to replenish what he knew Bay needed. That part felt a little more impersonal, but after doing a little research, Dave added a couple of spray bottles of a muddy looking solution along with a print out booklet of inspiration and a note promising assistance with it.

All in all, he felt pretty proud of what he managed, and it showed through his grin as he wished them a happy birthday at their door.

[neither_a_nor_b]

"Hey! You made it!" Bay hurried over for a bear hug, tugging Dave inside.

"I hope you're hungry because we went a little crazy on the taco fillings."

All in all, she figured the party was a success. People looked like they were having fun and the food was good. A couple of rounds of Kings and everyone would be well sloshed and laughing.

[happy_dsign]

"Hi, Dave. Thanks for coming," Daphne replied to his birthday wish with a bright smile. "There's food and booze, and we'll probably play some games or watch a movie or something later, so just make yourself at home."

[thecautionarywhale]

Juno doesn’t know Daphne that well and Bay much at all, but she’s happy to get the invite to the party. A gift is harder to come by, her usual default to some cds she likes or even an old school mix tape not seeming appropriate. Which is fair, really, but it leaves her struggling. In the end she decides on a plant, bamboo which the woman at the shop told her is lucky. That and a six pack of cider seems like a good enough gift, at least she hopes that it is.

She’s left them in a bag near the door, digging into the tacos and smiling at the other people there. Maybe this would be fun after all.

[neither_a_nor_b]

"Hey, welcome," Bay said, waving at Juno. They hadn't really talked much after the first arrival, but friends were friends. Besides, Bay had learned about hosting from Kathryn Kennis; she knew how to bust it out.

"I'd ask how you're doing, but that would probably detract from the taco quest."

[happy_dsign]

"Hey, you came. Thanks," Daphne said as she crossed the room to Juno. When they'd been making the guest list, she'd realized that she needed to make more friends. There were only a few people here outside of Bay and Cissie that she was really close to, and she knew that was her own fault.

So this was her attempt to do that, to reach out to some of the people she'd met that seemed nice, people she'd like to get to know better. She just hadn't been sure any of them would actually show up at a party for someone they had only met a few times. She's glad to be proven wrong, at least on one of them.

"Do you know anyone else here? I can introduce you if you need them."

[fuelforthefire]

Bay's invitation had been nice. It was probably agood thing that I even thought to check my phone, sometimes days would go by without me doing it; a habit that got me into endless trouble with Claudia. But I got the message and I'd come, a gift in the form of a cake with berries like my father used to make when Katniss could get him some, and a painting of Bay and Daphne at the park. It was a watercolour and indistinct, but I hoped there was enough of them in the shapes for them to see it.

This is the sort of party that I like, I've realised. People in a house; friends coming together. These don't have any negative association for me and that's a good thing. I need more of those things.

[neither_a_nor_b]

Bay swept over to give Peeta a big hug. "Thanks for coming," she said, grinning. "Do I need to put that in the fridge?"

[happy_dsign]

"Hi! Thank you for coming," Daphne said with a smile. She didn't know Peeta all that well, but she remembered him from the art show. He'd been kind, and she was glad for a chance to get to know him better, in a relaxed setting where she was comfortable. "Grab some food and something to drink and relax."

[alphomega]

Scott arrived after the party had already gotten going, and he was happy to see people were enjoying themselves. Bay and Daphne hadn't wanted to make a big deal of their birthday, and he honestly thought this was the perfect way to celebrate.

He set their presents off to the side and made a beeline for the food, waiting for Bay to finish her conversation so he could greet her properly.

[neither_a_nor_b]

Bay grinned and excused herself, slipping over to Scott and hugging him from behind. "Going for the tacos first, I see. I know where your love really lies."

[theresalwayshope]

When he reached the food, Allison was going back for seconds, grinning when she caught sight of Scott. Seeing him with Bay, and having Jason on her end...she'd never be able to look at him without that little twist of pain, but everything just felt so balanced again. Like the pieces fit, like everything was just the way it needed to be.

"Normally? I'd say you're gonna get in trouble for hitting the food before even kissing your girlfriend hello...speaking as your ex-girlfriend," Allison declared, gesturing at her own plate full of taco fixings, "but this? This food is amazing, and you will be completely forgiven. Anyway, uhm...hi."

[arrowette]

It might be a casual birthday party but that didn't mean that Daphne and Bay weren't getting something from Cissie. It had taken her awhile but she had made them each a charm bracelet. She had cast the metal for the bracelets herself then gone around hunting for the perfect charms to put on them.

She set the carefully wrapped gifts on a table then went to look for the birthday girls. First the greeting and then the taco feasting. And okay, greeting the other guests too.

But tacos. Tacos were important.

[neither_a_nor_b]

"I swear, we told you people no presents," Bay teased. She gave Cissie a quick hug. "But thanks for coming."

[happy_dsign]

Daphne grinned as she saw Cissie come in and excused herself from her conversation, hurrying over to give her friend a hug. "Hi! Thanks for coming." She beamed, glad that her and Bay's oldest friend was here.