Lightning stared at the things on the table. it was Docs birthday tomorrow and he had vowed to make a cake, except he'd never made one before and he didn't know how to make one from scratch. he stared at the stuff on the table and groaned, slamming his head down on an empty spot on the table. Doc liked strawberry so Lightning was going to make a strawberry cake, if he could just figure out how to make one. he'd bought a bunch of stuff for it and even bought the stuff to make the frosting himself, something he'd done before and actually knew how to make taste pretty good, but the cake he just had no idea where to start.

"hey baby, I'm home." Doc called walking into the house. Lightning's eyes widened in panic.

"well leave again! you can't see!" Lightning said, jumping up from the table. he knocked the chair backwards and he ran to block the kitchen door way. Doc raised an eye brow.

"its nice to see you too Monty." Doc huffed.

"j-just stay out." Lightning glared up at him with a pout. Doc easily looked over him and into the kitchen, then looked down at Lightning, then back to the kitchen. he studied the stuff on the table before a small smile appeared on his face, despite the fact Lightning was trying to shove him out of the kitchen.

"awww, kid, are you trying to make me a cake?" Doc smiled at him. Lightning threw his hand over Docs eyes, though it forced him onto his tippy toes. he was trying to shove Doc out. he was strong, but Doc was stronger.

"DON'T LOOK!" Lightning shouted. "its supposed to be secret! you're not supposed to see! Sallys gonna be pissed!" Lightning shouted, trying to shove him out of the kitchen. Doc chuckled softly and grabbed Lightnings hand gently. he pulled it off his face gently, letting his arm go.

"let me see here kid. you've made a mess of my kitchen." Doc said. Lightning moved out of the way, watching him go with a sad look. there was flour and egg all over the kitchen, a half exploded burnt cake. the remains of the cake were all over the oven and the sink. there was remains of a fire were in the sink and the curtains over the sink were burnt. Doc looked everything over silently, before turning back to the kitchen table.

"m'gonna clean it up... I promise." Lightning said. "I just... I wanted to do something nice for you." he mumbled quietly, bowing his head. Doc chuckled softly and hugged him gently.

"come here kid." Doc soothed, holding him tightly. Lightning buried his face into the olders chest, lip quivering. he'd just wanted to do something nice for his boyfriend for once. "hey, its okay kid. don't start crying on me." Doc murmured, holding him tighter. "you got all the right stuff here, why don't I help you?" Doc ask. Lightning sighed.

"because it was supposed to be a surprise and now Sally's going to be pissed." Lightning mumbled quietly.

"okay, okay. Sally doesn't have to know I'm helping." Doc assured.

"I don't know how to bake." he admitted.

"I gathered that Monty. it'll be alright. come on I'll help you." Doc assured. he nodded and stepped back, rubbing his face. Doc kissed his forehead gently. "alright. come on." he murmured. Lightning walked over to the stuff on the table. "you did try." Doc said.

"I made a mess. I caught the kitchen on fire and your curtains... and I'm really sorry." Lightning said softly. he looked over at Doc with a sad look. "not really a good birthday present for you if you have to help me." Lightning mumbled softly. Doc kissed him deeply, pulling him closer, and holding him tightly

"just the fact that you want to give me a present is enough kid." Doc assured. "besides you own me a race anyway." Doc smiled slightly.

"thats not a present. thats something we do all the time." Lightning mumbled. Doc smiled.

"then bake with me. I'm always trying to get you to cook with me, bake with me baby." Doc murmured, cupping his cheeks gently and smiling at him. "please? thats enough of a present." Doc assured.

"don't tell Sally." Lightning said softly.

"what happens in our house stays in our house." Doc murmurs, kissing him. Lightning smiled slightly and nodded.

"can't bake... but I can make frosting." Lightning said.

"okay." Doc smiled. he looked over the table and grabbed a mixing bowl.

"didn't know you could bake." he mumbled. Doc chuckled.

"there's a lot you don't know about me kid. 67 years of experience." Doc smirked. "I didn't know you could make frosting." Doc said, looking over. Lightning shrugged.

"the one thing my mom taught me." Lightning said. Doc nodded.

"okay so, why don't you sit over here, away from the oven." Doc murmured, pushing him towards the counter. Lightning shot him a dirty look.

"you know I can't get up there." he pouted. Doc chuckled softly and kissed him deeply.

"it's cute." Doc chuckled, putting him on the counter.

"thats not funny." he pouted. "everything in your house is set up for you, you 6'6 giant." Lightning pouts.

"kid you're a foot shorter than me, of course everything is set up to my size, its my house." Doc chuckled. "you just sit up there okay? and hold this bowl." Doc said. Lightning nodded taking the large bowl.

"not very useful." Lightning mumbled. Doc chuckled softly.

"I'm going to hand you the ingredients. its okay." Doc chuckled. he handed the younger each individual item and carefully told him how much to put in it. Doc smiled watching the younger mix up the ingredients. he walked over to the younger. "you, you have flour everywhere." Doc chuckled wiping some off his face. Lightning pulled his face back, his cheeks turning a bright pink as he pouted at Doc.

"leave me alone." he huffed.

"you're cute kiddo." Doc smiled, kissing him deeply. Lightning moved the bowl from his lap and wrapped his legs around the older mans waist, pulling him closer. he pulled back after a moment groaned.

"this is why you can't be here. I'm never going to get this thing done." Lightning huffed. Doc laughed slightly.

"yeah blame it all on me." Doc chuckled, wrapping his arms around the youngers waist carefully pulling him towards the edge of the counter.

"the cake batter, lemme go." Lightning said.

"look I'll pour the cake batter into a pan, you start on the icing." Doc smiled, grabbing the bowl and turning. he paused slightly. "strawberrys." Doc said.

"fresh." Lightning smiled. "I know they're something you enjoy. its your favorite flavor of cake." he mumbled. Doc stared at the strawberries on the table and slowly smiled. he mentioned strawberries once in a passing conversation a few years ago, he didn't really like sweets too much, so he hadn't really wanted to say anything about it, but the younger man had asked and Doc had told him. this kid really did love him. he smiled and poured the batter into the pan smiling.

"okay make your icing." Doc murmured.

"hand me the powdered sugar and the butter." Lightning said. Doc nodded and handed it to him.

"oh! and grab the umm... the strawberry stuff. the flavoring thing, no not that. the flavor stuff. like vanilla." Lightning said.

"extract?" Doc ask, handing it to him.

"yes! that." Lightning said, snatching the bottle. Doc smiled and watched him. he watched the younger mix up the icing happily.

"thats some pretty good looking icing." Doc said.

"its more of a butter cream frosting." Lightning shrugged, mixing. "but the way I make it's gotta sit for a few minutes in the fridge." Lightning said. Doc grabbed the bowl from his hand and put it in the fridge.

"you just going to stay up there?" Doc ask. Lightning shrugged.

"told me to stay up here and I just assumed you didn't want to pick me up and put me back up here." Lightning shrugged. Doc nodded slightly walking over.

"I can pick you up and put you up there as many times as I need." Doc murmured softly, smiling at him.

"I'm fine right here. at least I'm only a couple inches short sitting up here." Lightning muttered. Doc smiled slightly.

"so tell me why you're making a cake." Doc murmured, wrapping his arms around his waist.

"I can't tell you." Lightning mumbled, looking away. Doc smiled at him, pulling him closer.

"come on. tell me." Doc smiled, gently squeezing his thighs. it had taken him a while but he'd figured out that Lightning had the same problem he did. Doc would do anything he ask just for the simple fact Lightning ask him to, Lightning would do the very same for him, if Doc made him squirm just a little. if he could get Lightning flustered and make him squirm just enough, he'd roll over and tell him what he wanted to hear. Lightning pulled away from him, scooting back on the counter.

"I can't tell you." Lightning said, looking away. Docs eyes only more gorgeous when he was trying to get Lightning to speak something. "Hud, I can't tell you." Lightning mumbled. Doc chuckled and pulled him back over to him.

"come on kid, talk to me." Doc murmured, pressing his forehead against Lightnings. he pulled him closer and smiled.

"you're no fair." Lightning said, smacking the olders hands off. "let go. you can't break me this time old man. I promised I'd keep my mouth shut." Lightning huffed. Doc snorted.

"kid you couldn't keep your mouth shut if it was glued that way." Doc chuckled. Lightning flushed a dark red and he glared at Doc.

"your cake is burning." Lightning muttered.

"let it burn." Doc smirked. Lightning scold and shoved him away.

"no! I can't let a third cake burn." Lightning said.

"fine! fine! I'll get the cake. shhh. just relax." Doc soothed gently. he went over to the oven and grabbed the cake, putting it on the counter. Lightning hopped off the counter, heading for the fridge. Doc grabbed him. "okay your cake is safe now, tell me why the cake is important." Doc said.

"its your birthday. I'm trying to do something nice." Lightning said, backing away from Doc a little. unfortunately while Lightning didn't seem to realize he could make Doc do anything, he did realize Doc could make him speak. he was trying to keep his mouth shut, he really was. Doc chuckled and followed him until the younger had backed himself against a wall. "I'm trying to do something-" Lightning tried.

"no no no. I don't buy that crap. whats Sally have to do with it?" Doc ask. he smiled at Lightning, boxing him in with his arms. "now Monty, come on. tell me whats really going on here." Doc murmured. Lightning pouted at him.

"or what you'll grope me until I talk like always." Lightning huffed. Doc paused a moment.

"hey now, you can't... I don't...." Doc trailed. he sighed after thinking a moment. "okay maybe I do. you're cute when you're flustered, and it's easier to get you to talk when you're all cute and flustered." Doc chuckled softly, kissing him.

"I promised to keep it a secret." Lightning said, glaring at Doc.

"come on Monty. just tell me why this is important." Doc murmured. Lightning huffed at him.

"secret." Lightning glared. Doc sighed slightly and kissed him deeply.

"be honest with me." Doc smiled. Lightning huffed at him.

"honestly, my frosting has been in the fridge too long." Lightning said, ducking under his arms and heading over to the fridge. Doc frowned at him, leaning against the wall.

"you really think all I do is grope you?" Doc ask.

"when you want something out of me other than sex or love." Lightning said, turning to look at him.

"I mean I'll fuck you right there on the counter if you can tell me why this is a secret or at least what the secret is." Doc said with a shrug, crossing his arms over his chest.

"that sounds like bribery." Lightning said, turning to look at him. "aren't you a judge?" he ask. Doc smirked at him.

"bribery only counts when the court is in session." Doc smirked. Lightning huffed and looked at him.

"you're trying to bribe me to tell you about the sur- secret!" Lightning hissed. Doc raised an eye brow smiling a little.

"what was that?" Doc ask, walking over to him.

"don't make me throw frosting at you." Lightning said.

"I mean you've already made a mess of the kitchen trying to make this cake, whats a little frosting?" Doc chuckled. Lightning glared at him, cheeks turning bright red.

"I'm trying to be nice!" Lightning huffed. Doc put his hands up innocently, walking over and cupping his cheeks gently.

"I get it, trying to be nice." Doc murmured, kissing him. "and thats really sweet, but I want to know why." Doc said.

"Doc, lemme go." Lightning said. Doc sighed slightly and shook his head.

"okay don't tell me, I'm leaving for Thomasville tonight you want to go with me?" Doc ask.

"what?" Lightning ask, whipping around quickly to face him. Doc looked confused.

"I'm going to Thomasville for my birthday to see my old friends. been 54 years since I've seen them." Doc said.

"you can't go you'll miss the-" Lightning cut himself off again. Doc raised an eye brow. Lightning made a sour face before shoving Doc hard. "fine! damn it! you can't just let me keep a secret!" Lightning glared. Doc stepped.

"look kid you don't have to tell me. it's fine. are you going to Thomasville with me or not?" Doc ask.

"you are trying to make me tell you whats happening." he huffed.

"no I'm really going to Thomasville. I've been talking to Smokey about it all week." Doc shrugged. "I've had two plane tickets booked for days. I thought you'd like to come with me." Doc said. he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the tickets. "I was going to show you tonight." Doc frowned. Lightning looked at the tickets and sighed.

"fine. Sally was setting up a surprise party. I was supposed to make the cake." Lightning mumbled.

"I hate parties." Doc said.

"it wasn't my idea. I just volunteered to make the cake." he mumbled. Doc sighed and shook his head.

"okay well, we have to tell them the party is off." Doc said.

"I'll tell her, so at least she won't think I just spilled." Lightning said.

"no I got it kid." Doc murmured softly. he ruffled the youngers hair and headed out of the house. Lightning groaned and let himself sink to the floor, covering his face. Sally'd been planning this party for months. she was going to be upset when she found out he told Doc about the party. he stood up and looked at the cake, the least he could do was finish it, so he grabbed the frosting and started putting it on the cake. he couldn't believe Doc got the surprize party out of him.

"idiot." he mumbled.

"hey." Doc said coming up behind him. "if it helps, I already knew about the party." Doc said. Lightning turned to look at the man who had come up behind him.

"what? how?" he ask.

"Red. he and Mack had been putting up banners for it and Red put a nail in his foot." Doc said. Lightning's eye brows furrowed.

"so... you didn't hear it from me then?" Lightning ask.

"no and I made sure to tell Sally that." Doc assured. he walked over. "you finished the cake." Doc smiled.

"yeah I mean I already had you help me make it." he muttered. Doc smiled and kissed his head. he scooped up some of the frosting.

"very nice shade of pink." Doc smiled. Lightning shrugged a little.

"pink yeah, but it tastes pretty good." Lightning shrugged. Doc tried it and nodded.

"yeah you did pretty good with it." Doc smiled. he chuckled and swiped his finger across Lightnings face, smearing frosting under his nose. "well aren't you cute with a little pink mustache." he chuckled. Lightning huffed at him.

"you can't make up for being mean to me by smearing frosting on my face." he huffed. "thats still being mean." he frowned, turning back to the counter to continue spreading frosting on the cake.

"I'm sorry Monty." Doc murmured. "how can I make it up to you?" Doc ask, wrapping his arms around the youngers waist. Lightning turned around quickly, shoved a hand full of frosting into Docs face. the older man stepped back in surprise, blinking at Lightning. there was a nice big pink handprint on Docs face.

"thats a start." Lightning laughed.

"oh its on kid." Doc huffed. Lightning snatched the frosting bowl and ducked out of Docs grasp. "oh thats a cheap move." Doc said, facing him.

"can't fight back if I have the frosting." he smirked.

"I mean." Doc said. he reached and swiped some off the cake.

"not the cake!" Lightning huffed, pouting.

"I didn't damage the cake, I just took icing." Doc said.

"frosting." Lightning corrected.

"come here and let me frost you." Doc said. Lightning stepped back.

"no way old man. I'm faster than you." Lightning said.

"you're forgetting kid, I'm taller, I have longer arms and legs, I don't need to be faster." Doc smirked, reaching out and wiping his hand down Lightnings face, leaving a smear of frosting down it. Lightning threw a handful of frosting at the older man. the kitchen was already a mess before, but by the time the two finished, it was covered in pink frosting and burnt cake. they were covered in frosting, laughing, giggling, chasing each other around the house and having the time of their lives. not even cleaning up the house ruined their fun. the two ended up flopping in bed, dripping wet from the shower they'd had to take and naked from being too lazy to get dressed, ready to curl up and fall asleep for their flight tomorrow. Doc smiled, laying on his back and pulling the younger closer. Lightning smiled, resting his head on Docs shoulder.

"I know its a day early, but happy birthday Doc." Lightning murmured. Doc smiled and pulled him closer.

"thanks Monty. get some rest." he murmurs, pulling him closer and kissing his head. Lightning nodded curling up with him and letting his eyes fall shut. Doc held him tightly, closing his eyes. the first birthday he'd spent with his lover was amazing and it wasn't even his birthday yet. he wouldn't mind if every day of the rest of his life was like today. he sighed happily and let himself fall asleep.