Doc was being oddly secretive lately. Lightning hated it. his birthday was coming up and Lightning was getting nervous, because Doc had been acting shady for the past two weeks. he wouldn't tell Lightning anything. it was driving him crazy, to the point he was sleeping less and spending half the day, while Doc was gone, pacing between the living room and kitchen. Doc hadn't seemed to notice the change in his young lover, not that he would've had the chance. he was hardly ever home and Lightning was convinced he was setting something up for his birthday. he had to be. Doc wouldn't cheat and Sheriff was really the only other person he hung out with.

Lightning was currently pacing back and forth lost in thought. his birthday was in 3 days.

"hey baby, you okay?" Doc ask walking in. he closed the door behind him, watching Lightning carefully.

"no." Lightning muttered. Doc walks over.

"whats wrong with you?" Doc ask worriedly.

"me!?" Lightning shouted. Doc stepped back worriedly.

"Monty? whats wrong?" Doc ask softly, gently grabbing his shoulder.

"you! you're whats wrong!" Lightning glared.

"me?" Doc ask curiously.

"yes you! sneaking around! being all secretive! won't answer any of my questions! won't talk to me! you're barely here! what the hell is going on!?" Lightning snapped. Doc sighs a little and walks over grabbing his face gently.

"breathe kid." Doc murmurs. Lightning smacked his hands off, stepping away.

"not until you tell me what the hell is going on." Lightning hissed. "its three days to that damn day and I know you're-" Lightning started.

"planning a surprise trip to Thomasville." Doc said. Lightning cut himself off.

"h-huh?" Lightning ask.

"I was planning to take a trip on your birthday." Doc said. Lightning snapped his mouth shut and looked at Doc silently. "I didn't think you'd get all worked up about it if you thought I was planning something for your birthday, not like this at least." Doc shrugs a little. he pulls the younger to him and holds him tightly. "told you last year, I was gonna do something for your birthday." Doc murmured.

"and I told you I hate my birthday." Lightning mumbled, cuddling to his chest.

"okay. I'm sorry baby." Doc murmurs, kissing his head.

the evening of the younger birthday. Doc found him curled up in bed, staring at a wall.

"hey baby, getting ready for the road trip, how about breakfast at Flos?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded slightly, not bothering to look behind him. he stood and headed over to Doc. "whats wrong?" Doc ask.

"just hate today." Lightning mumbled. Doc nods and leads him to Flos. he's staring at the ground the whole walk over, even when they walked in. he froze and looked up when everyone shouted. "oh god no." Lightning muttered.

"Happy Birthday Stickers." Sally grinned. Doc didn't seem too impressed, gently pushing Lightning into the seat. he stepped back. Lightnings eye twitched and he stared down at the cake in front of him, face growing red and fists balled in his lap. he kept telling them to stop, but they were ignoring him. he wasn't sure what made him completely snap, Sally putting a stupid birthday hat on his head, staring at the 27 candles on his cake, or his friends singing that stupid song, but suddenly he snapped. he jumped up with a scream, throwing the cake onto the floor in rage. he grabbed the hat off his head and threw it onto the floor with the cake. everyone jumped back in surprise. he grabbed one of Flos bar stools and threw it at the window.

"do I have your fucking attention now!?" Lightning screamed. the room went quiet, watching him pant. he turned and pointed at Doc. "you promised you'd keep your fucking mouth shut! you fucking promised!" Lightning shouted, throwing part of the broken bar stool at him. Doc watched him. "I told you I hated my birthday! I told you I didn't want anyone to know! I trusted you to keep your fucking mouth shut!" Lightning hissed. Doc took a step back, opening his mouth to say something. "shut your fucking mouth!" Lightning growled. Doc snapped his mouth shut watching him. "did you ever think there was a reason I don't celebrate my birthday!? did you ever stop to think maybe it's traumatic!?" Lightning shouted.

"we just wanted to do something nice-" Sally tried.

"just shut up!" Lightning screamed, facing her. "you really wanna know, how bad you've all fucked up? how much I hate my birthday and why!?" Lightning screamed, looking around.

"boss you've gotta calm down-" Mack tried softly.

"shut up or you're fired Mack!</i>" Lightning hissed. everyone was silent. "23 years ago my mother managed to escape the man who dared call himself my father, with both our lives! 22 years ago he found us! he broke into our apartment! he walked straight up to her while she begged for her life and the life of her 5 year old child sleeping in the next room! he put the gun to her head and fired! and then when he heard a noise, he swung around at shot me! when I poked around the corner to see why my mom why sobbing and begging for her life. when I finally got out of the hospital, dirt bag threatened to kill me and leave my murder unsolved just like my moms!" Lightning snapped. "so tell me again why you thought I'd think about celebrating my mothers death!" Lightning hissed. he looked around silently a moment, panting and trying to keep control of the tears threatening to fall. when he couldn't keep them under control any longer, he shoved Doc to the ground and out of his way, stomping out of the diner. Doc slowly got up and took off after him. he almost managed to get himself hit with Lightnings everyday car as he sped off. Doc watched him go and headed for the house with a sigh. the little box he'd left on the bed had been thrown against the wall. he sighed and knelt down picking up the ring from the floor.

"Monty." Doc sighs. he grabs his keys and runs for the Hornet, stashing the ring in his pocket. he backed out and took off after Lightning. he checked the Butte first, but he should've been smarter than that. he knew Lightning knew that would be the first place he checked. so he took off for the Wheel Well, it was closed for renovations. by the time he got there, it was dark. he found Lightning sitting on the hood of his car, an empty six pack beside him, chunking pebbles over the drop off. Doc parked beside him and got out, walking over and leaning against the youngers car. "Monty?" Doc ask softly.

"fuck off Doc." Lightning huffed. "I trusted you." Lightning mumbled.

"I didn't tell them." Doc said softly.

"oh yeah? how'd they find out then?" Lightning snapped.

"Sally ask Sheriff to do some digging. he found an old missing child report for 14 year old Montgomery Fallen. it had your birthday on it." Doc murmured.

"so you told them my birth name?" Lightning ask.

"no. he's heard the story of you running away, so he entered your details. hair color, eye color, possible height, age, and the year you went missing. I didn't think he'd find a missing kid report so I didn't say anything. I was surprised your dad ever filed one on you." Doc murmurs.

"I doubt he did. it was probably my aunt. I was supposed to go live with her when I ran away, but decided it was safer not to." he mumbled.

"this wasn't my idea, but I thought, if you had a bad time, you'd go back home with me and find the present I left on the bed and it might turn your day around." Doc murmurs.

"I hate presents." Lightning snapped. Doc shrugs a little and walks around to his front. Lightning looks over his knees, theres tears down his face.

"I dunno, but kinda figured an engagement ring would be different." he murmurs, pulling it from his pocket and holding it out to the younger. "I had a whole thing planned with my class ring, but it disappeared, so I got you a ring." Doc mumbles. Lightning looked at him and sniffled.

"you really didn't tell?" Lightning ask. Doc shook his head.

"and I had to threaten Sheriff not to tell your birth name." Doc murmured. he holds the ring out to him gently. "so, you too mad at me to accept a proposal?" Doc ask softly. Lightning looked at the ring and sniffled a little.

"no, guess not." he mumbled.

"I thought it was something like this... I should've told them to shut the idea down, but I honestly thought if something good, like maybe a small party and an engagement, might make it a little better." Doc murmurs, slipping the ring onto the youngers finger.

"it doesn't." Lightning mumbled. Doc wrapped his arms around him gently and held him.

"I know that know... I was hoping maybe your birthday was the day you left home, not the day your mother was murdered." Doc murmurs.

"I have so much guilt from that." Lightning mumbles quietly.

"why? you were five." Doc ask. Lightning looked away.

"I, uh, her murders never been solved... and I could've had that fixed years ago." Lightning mumbled.

"how is that? they're not gonna believe you kid. you were five and traumatized at the time." Doc murmurs quietly.

"because I know where the gun is." Lightning said quietly, looking him dead in the eye. Doc looked confused.

"what?" Doc ask. Lightning sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve, before looking away again.

"my dad made me help hide it. s'back home, in Ohio." Lightning muttered. Doc frowned and pulled the younger down off the car to hold him tightly.

"its gonna be okay kid. I promise." Doc murmurs. Lightning cuddled to him, content to stay there until he could get himself together. Doc stared off in thought, he was going to make this right, no matter what it took. "you still gonna go on that trip with me?" Doc ask. Lightning nods slightly. good. Doc could do something good with his mistake for once. he just had to wait.