Maeve's POV

I woke up the next morning, groaning and in a desperate need to stretch. I blinked to adjust to the sunlight streaming in from the curtains.

The clock read eight, confirming my late start. Because of my sudden movement, the quilt covering my innocence fell, letting my very naked upper body be a victim of cold air. I picked up the corner to cover my chest and looked to my side to find empty tousled sheets. My husband was clearly missing but not for too long.

Seth, who was fully clothed, was standing at the doorway with a tray full of what looked like breakfast.

"Good morning, birthday girl." He was smiling at me, his eyes gleaming in the sunlight. I got lost for a moment just observing him, his dimpled cheeks, his expression that warmed my soul, I tried to catch myself but my heart was pulling me down.

"You will be the death of me, Seth Flynn!" I exclaimed covering my eyes for added affect. He laughed at my childish antics and placed the tray before me. The aroma of coffee, eggs and bacon all crowding my senses.

"I swear, Seth, I will die right now." I sipped the coffee.

"Well, I can't have that, now, can I?" He kissed me and took a seat at the edge of the bed. Every second I stopped and just appreciated where I was in my life, I had never been this happy and it felt surreal.

"This is all very beautiful, so was last night." I looked straight into his eyes, hoping he understood my gratitude but I was met with just mischief.

"That's one adjective for it." He smirked and I lightly punched his shoulder.

"This looks different," I said, cutting into the stuffed omelet that I had never seen Mrs. Rose prepare but before Seth could explain, I let out a moan. The omelet melt in my mouth like butter.

"Oh mother of god, that is amazing!" I was in paradise; it was like a cloud in my mouth, disintegrating with the softest of touch.

"Sweetheart, you better stop moaning like that," I just dismissed him.

"This is new for Mrs. Rose! I must get the recipe from her." I trailed off talking animatedly about the most delicious breakfast I had ever tasted.

"Actually," Seth started but I raised a fork full of food to his mouth.

"Just taste it."

"I know how it tastes, sweetheart, I made it." My hand froze mid air.

"Are you serious?" My eyes were round in amazement.

"Yeah, I always wanted to cook for you, so I thought why not." He was shifting under my gaze, if I wasn't so shocked I would have enjoyed watching him squirm better.

"How could you hide this talent from me?! I can't believe this is the first time you are cooking for me!" Shy Seth vanished after a second of my fan girling.

"If I knew you would have this reaction I would have cooked on our wedding night." His sexy smugness returned with a new vigor.

"You would've found me in your bed quicker, that's for sure." That wasn't a joke.

"Hell, if only you had told me this before." He chuckled, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I'm so late, I need to be there by nine; latest. Which brings me to question your tardiness, Mr Casuals."

"I am more than willing to take them off, if you wish."

"Oh, boy, do I wish, but duty calls." I wrapped the quit around myself and was almost out of the door when I remembered I was forgetting something.

"Thank you, Seth, for everything. It was beyond perfect." I bent and kissed him, meaning for it to be just a thank you peck, but he pulled me closer.

"I need to go!" I laughed, pushing him between kisses with the least amount of force I could master.

"Try to come back a little early, I thought we could go out for dinner?" I nodded, pulling him in for one last kiss.

I left his, correction, our room with the biggest grin on my face. My birthday was perfect before it even began and I was beyond elated. Growing up, birthdays were more of a social call. Having friends over, throwing a big unnecessary party, the whole she bang. So, I never really looked forward to them or anything. But after meeting Seth, that changed. He was always thoughtful, somehow things I hated participating in before I met him, I actually loved doing with him.

My first birthday that I spent with Seth, we had met only a few times but he was a gentleman and had sent me flowers with a handwritten note and that was a big thing for a business tycoon I was betrothed to.

The office was running as usual when I arrived, though my assistant was eyeing me with caution.

"Is Marcus in?" I asked, picking up another cup of coffee that she handed to me.

"Yeah, he is right through there." I thanked her but as I pushed open the door to hear a loud bang and confetti soon followed.

"Happy Birthday, boss!" Helen greeted me and the rest of the employees followed. It was lovely, they brought a cake, bunch of cards and flowers. I had a strict no gift policy. I hated people wasting money for a courtesy.

After about an hour, the office fell back into normal. I checked my phone to find it littered with wishes. I took time to reply to distant relatives and a bunch of friends that I only spoke to during birthdays.

Ella had given me ten missed calls and I mentally flinched at the thought to of calling her back. I didn't have the time to check my phone since last night and I had put it on silent hence all people calling to wish me at twelve, got my answering machine.

By four I wrapped up everything, dinner reservations were at six, according to the message I received from Seth. So, I needed couple of minutes to get ready but just as I was leaving Seth gave me a call.

"Hey, I'm on my way home."

"Oh, great, me too." He sounded nervous, which was new.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's great. I will see you in a while!" We exchanged small good byes and I just shook my head, he was probably just busy.

I opened the apartment door and got the second scare of the day.

"Surprise!" About thirty people screamed together. I scanned the room briefly, I saw my college friends, school friends, university friends, a bunch of my close relatives and most unfortunately my parents and also Stella. I maintained as steady smile as I started thanking people once again.

"Hello!" Ella exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

"How dare you not call me back?" I winced, it was obvious I was going to be murdered on my birthday.

"Well," I dragged, what exactly was the reason?

"Remember during first year of college, you ignored my calls during your birthday?" I watched Ella's expression change from confusion to realisation to utter surprise.

"You dog!" Our conversation was cut short as our school gang joined us. Whom, I hadn't met since the wedding.

"Busy bee, your husband tracked us all down to come surprise you." Said Margery, who was one among the six girls I hung out in school with.

"Yeah," Chorused the others. My school gang, per say, consisted of eleven people, out of which ten were present including me.

"Jason!" I was so happy to see such a familiar face after so long, Jason was second to Ella in my priority list in high school.

"When did you come to town?" His warm brown eyes looked down at me and I felt nostalgic. I missed these guys so much. I was never really close to all the people at the party, but at some point in my life some of them meant the world to me.

"Just flew in for my girls twenty fifth birthday." He flung his arm around my shoulder and ruffled my hair like he would have done to a six year old.

"Hey! No bullying the birthday girl!" I cried out, patting my hair down. But I was laughing, I was happy. I never knew I missed them so much.

"Till when are you here?" Our relationship waned over the years, he's a photographer and went to places without any connection to the city and I ended up in the corporate struggle. But every time we met, it was a time machine taking us back.

"Hey, hey, Jason isn't the only one you missed, I hope!" Everyone fell into laughs at Terri's pout. I shook my head and pulled her into a hug.

I spoke to them for a little while, then my eyes drifted to look for the man responsible for it all.

Seth was at the bar, talking to some of our mutual business relations. I excused myself from the trap of memories and made an attempt to go to him. But, on the way, I got bounced around groups who I had a lot of catching up to do with. I did my best to avoid my dear parents after exchanging pleasantries. But after what seemed like ages, I did end up reaching Seth.

"Hey, I heard you're the man to thank for all of this." His arms wrapped round me naturally and I inhaled his scent. I was home, he was my home. He had the ability to make me completely forget all about the world.

"Did you like it?" His hesitant eyes made my heart hum, I could see he knew how I spent all my birthdays over the years and that parties were not what I requested yet he figured I would want this. He had me pinned.

"I loved it, thank you, Seth. I know all this must have been a pain to organize." He shrugged at me.

"Anything for my dear wife." He kissed me briefly but I leaned into him, "Now, go, people are missing you."

"Happy birthday, Auntie Maeve." A small voice caught my attention in all the noise, a small tug at my skirt.

"Hey, John, what's this?" I asked as he thrust a page towards me. It was a really cute crayon drawing that had me playing with him.

"It's beautiful, honey." I took his arm and went to the fridge to put it up. John's chubby cheeks were stained red.

"You don't have to hang it." Stella appeared behind him with a smile I've seen on many mothers but I was not a fool to miss the devilish glint in her eyes.

"But it's really good." I complimented, focusing on anything but the woman before me.

I felt a hurricane nearing, with her at the vantage point and me in the way.

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