I FORGOT ABOUT MICHIRU’S BIRTHDAY. Since the first I’ve been like, I feel like there’s something in the beginning of March?? What is it?? And then I woke up today and remembered.

SO. I decided to be cheap and write fluff paralleling last year’s fic, set 18 years later.

A Happy Birthday
~900 words

The curtains were open to let the sunlight in. That should have informed Michiru, but in her still-sleepy haze all she could do was appreciate how the golden light sparkled on Haruka’s neck and arms. She watched her breathe for a few long minutes before propping herself up to kiss her cheek. “Morning, love.”

“Happy birthday.”

Haruka was never so aware when waking up. It was then that Michiru suspected she was being played. “Have you been awake long?”

“I’ve been asleep this whole time.” Haruka tried and failed to hide her grin.

“Is that so?” Michiru sat up. “I’d better go get some coffee started.”

“No!” Haruka threw her arms around her. “I mean, it’s your birthday, you should relax. Stay here awhile.”

“I suppose I could do that.” Michiru adjusted her pillow against the headboard. “Though I can only imagine Himeka will be up soon, one of us is going to have to make her breakfast.”

“No!” came a shout from behind the door. “I made you breakfast.” It swung open to reveal their little daughter in pajamas– the ones Michiru had picked out, even though she loved Haruka’s race car ones best. Haruka had cleverly pinned a Happy Birthday banner to the corner of the door and the frame so the green letters fell into the sunlight as it opened.

Himeka bounced onto their bed. “What do you want first?”

Michiru laughed. “Whatever you would like to give me first.”

“Okay.” She looked to Haruka for guidance, and Haruka nodded encouragement. Himeka ran into the hall and walked back in very slowly. Haruka had poured coffee into a travel thermos and shut it tight, but she’d clearly also imparted the dangers of it to Himeka. Her little face scrunched up; she stared at the thermos she held in both hands as though she was willing every drop to stay put. A big sigh escaped her body when she set it safely on Michiru’s nightstand. “Okay, now food!” She ran back out.

Haruka pulled a second thermos from the bottom shelf of her bedside table. “I couldn’t make her do that twice,” she whispered. “Even though she wanted to.”

“You always were a kind soul.” She slipped her a kiss before their daughter returned, plate in hand. A truly terrifying stack of waffles balanced on top, covered in berries and whipped cream.

“We can share!” Himeka assured her.

“You certainly went all out.” Michiru smiled as she cut off a small bite and Haruka shoveled a much larger one. “Thank you.”

“This is only the beginning, Mama. We have presents, and lunch reservations, and Papa’s gonna take you to a concert.”

“Hey, those were supposed to be surprises.”

Himeka covered her mouth, smushing her hands against the dollops of cream stuck on her lips. “Whoops.”

Haruka laughed. “We’ll just have to hope Mama forgets.”

“Forgets what?” Michiru asked with a smile.

“It worked!”

They ate their way through the waffles, Haruka and Himeka taking the lion’s share. Michiru took a moment to let their happiness wash over her. Thirty-four years on this earth, eighteen with Haruka by her side and six with their daughter, and it still seemed impossible sometimes. Most times. Happiness was never meant to be something she could hold, but here it was, sticky fingers and all. She set the plate aside when it was empty and kissed Himeka on the head.

“Do you want your presents now?”

“If you would like to give them to me, yes.”

Himeka was gone and back again as fast as her little legs could carry her. She set three bags on Michiru’s lap. “This one first, it’s from both of us.”

Michiru pulled away the tissue slowly, watching her girls lean forward in anticipation. They were practically on top of her when she finally revealed the slim jewelry box. Inside sat a simple necklace with three little stick people attached– one in an aquamarine dress, one in a garnet square Michiru assumed was meant to be a shirt, and a smaller one with a round diamond body.

Himeka threw up her arms. “It’s us!”

Haruka smiled sheepishly. “I know it’s a little tacky, b–”

“It’s wonderful.” She handed it over a lifted her hair. “Put it on me?”

Haruka clipped it on with well practiced fingers. Himeka poked at the people-charms and smiled. “It makes you extra beautiful.” She pressed the second bag into Michiru’s hands. “Mine next!” She did not wait for Michiru to sort through the paper, instead pulling out the painting inside herself. It was a rough, child-watercolors version of one of Michiru’s own works, with the addition of several smiling fish and a handful of well-placed stickers.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s gorgeous. We’ll have to get it framed.”

Haruka’s present was, of course, concert tickets, and Michiru feigned surprise for Himeka’s sake. It was a performance of her favorite suite by a touring orchestra, she had considered getting tickets herself but, thankfully, had thought better of it.

As they got ready that night, Setsuna having come early to babysit, Haruka wrapped her arms around Michiru from behind. “You don’t have to keep it on, you know.” She kissed Michiru’s neck just above the necklace. “I know it doesn’t go with much.”

There was truth in that. Michiru’s skin and wardrobe fared better with silver; the chain was gold. And that was ignoring the gem colors. But she turned around with a smile. “I think this is the sort of thing that goes with everything.”