Nalani stirred beneath the warm covers, the sunlight peeking through the cracks in the hotel curtains. The clock on the bedside table glowed with bright red numbers: 3:05 p.m. She rolled over, her gaze landing on Noah, who was still half-buried under the comforter, his dark hair messily strewn across the pillow. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as if even in sleep he carried a secret happiness. She couldn't help but reach out and brush a stray strand of hair from his face.

"Mm, you're awake?" he muttered, eyes still closed but a lopsided grin forming on his lips.

"Technically, it's the afternoon," Nalani teased, her voice light with amusement. "We must've broken some sort of record, sleeping until now."

Noah cracked one eye open, the dark iris catching a glint of sunlight. "We deserve it. Last night was insane," he said, his voice gravelly from sleep.

Nalani snickered, propping herself up on her elbow. "You mean the part where Nick tried to out-sing the karaoke machine or when Jolly ended up attempting an interpretive dance to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?"

Noah's chest rumbled with laughter as he finally pushed himself up against the headboard. "Or when Matt pretended to be a bouncer at the entrance, demanding 'passwords' to let us back in after we stepped out for air."

"Which you failed miserably at," Nalani pointed out with a grin. "'Uh... music?' was your best guess."

"Hey, it's a solid answer," he defended, raising his hands in mock surrender. "In my defense, it was my birthday. The birthday boy gets a pass on everything."

"Oh, is that so?" she raised an eyebrow, playfully challenging him. "Does the birthday boy get a pass on being old too?"

He rolled his eyes, his smile widening. "Don't even start."

"I'm just saying," Nalani teased, poking his chest lightly. "Twenty-nine. That's practically ancient. Should I be worried you'll need a walking cane soon?"

Noah feigned a gasp, clutching his chest. "Wow. Here I was, thinking I'd spend my birthday with someone who appreciates me. Instead, I get roasted by my own girlfriend."

"You love it," she shot back with a wink, leaning closer so their faces were just inches apart.

"Maybe I do," he admitted softly, the playful air around them taking on a gentle warmth. His eyes searched hers, taking in every detail—the way her eyes crinkled with mischief, the way her hair was tousled from sleep.

There was a brief silence, filled only by the distant hum of traffic outside and the slow ticking of the wall clock. Nalani reached for his hand under the blanket, their fingers intertwining naturally.

"So, old man," she teased, poking his side playfully.

"Old man? Excuse me?" he chuckled, leaning back with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll have you know, 29 is peak age. You're just a child, barely out of high school," he joked, giving her a mock disapproving look.

"Yeah, right," Nalani said, rolling her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, Mr. Almost-30. Meanwhile, I'm a youthful 22, bringing all the energy this relationship desperately needs."

He raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face. "You mean the energy to fall asleep halfway through movies and claim it was 'too boring'? Face it, kid, you're not as lively as you think."

"Excuse me, I'm not the one who complained about his back after lifting a single amp last month," she shot back, unable to hold back a giggle. "What's next, Noah? Complaining about knee pain when it rains?"

"Hey! That amp was heavy," he defended, laughing as he pulled her closer. "And don't call me a grandpa when I distinctly remember you asking for 'old man advice' last week. You can't have it both ways, Nalani."

She stifled a laugh, leaning her forehead against his. "I ask for your advice because you're wise beyond your years, not because you're old. Although..." she pretended to study his face, "I did see a gray hair yesterday."

Noah's eyes widened in mock horror. "A gray hair? That's it, you're going to pay for that!" He rolled on top of her, tickling her sides until she squealed and squirmed, the room filling with their laughter.

"Stop! I take it back!" she gasped between giggles.

He finally let her go, and they both lay back, catching their breath. After a moment, Nalani smirked. "Happy 29th, Noah. It suits you, even if you're ancient. And admit it, you're lucky to have a girlfriend who's seven years younger. I keep you young."

"Oh, is that what you do?" Noah teased, turning his head to meet her eyes. "Well, if being 29 means waking up next to you, then I'll take it—gray hair and all. You make aging almost tolerable."

Nalani's teasing expression softened, and she leaned over to kiss him gently. "Good thing, too, because you're stuck with me," she whispered.

"You know," Noah said, breaking the silence with a smirk, "for someone who's calling me old, you're acting pretty cozy with the 'ancient' guy."

"Oh, don't get me wrong," she said, tilting her head. "I'm just making sure you don't break a hip before your big birthday plans."

He chuckled, leaning his forehead against hers. "You're the worst, you know that?"

"Am I?" she whispered, the space between them dissolving as their laughter softened into something more intimate. Their lips met, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just them, tangled up in the warm sheets and each other's company, savoring a moment that felt infinite.

When they broke apart, Noah sighed contentedly. "This is nice. No crowds, no noise, just us."

Nalani's eyes sparkled. "I told you birthdays could be special if you let them be."

He squeezed her hand and kissed her knuckles. "You were right. And I'm glad you're here."

She giggled, unable to resist another playful jab. "Yeah, well, someone had to keep you from using your senior discount too early."

"Alright, that's it!" Noah said, flipping them so she was under him, laughter spilling out as she playfully squirmed.

"Okay, okay, I surrender!" Nalani gasped between giggles, her eyes bright and cheeks flushed.

He looked down at her, his expression softening again. "You really do make everything better," he said, his tone sincere.

Nalani's smile turned tender, and she reached up to cup his face. "I'm glad. Because I'm not going anywhere, old man."

"Good," he said, brushing a kiss across her forehead. "Because this old man has plans for us today."

"Oh?" Her curiosity piqued, she looked up at him expectantly. "And what plans might those be?"

"Well," he drawled, leaning back beside her, "I was thinking maybe dinner at that place down by the water. We could watch the sunset. Low-key, just us."

She nodded, her heart swelling at the simplicity of the idea. It was perfect—just like him. "I'd like that."

They lay there in comfortable silence for a while, exchanging occasional looks and gentle touches, recounting more stories from the night before. Every now and then, one of them would burst into laughter over a remembered moment, like when Nicholas had tried to serenade a waitress with an impromptu rap or when Jolly had attempted a handstand, only to nearly take out a table of drinks.

"I think that party alone gave us enough stories for a lifetime," Nalani said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Noah grinned, a hint of pride flickering in his gaze. "Yeah, but the best part of the whole night was seeing you there."

Nalani's teasing expression melted into something softer. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world, Noah. And I hope you know that birthdays or not, every day with you is special to me."

His smile faded into something deeper, his eyes locked onto hers. He didn't say anything at first, but he didn't need to. The look in his eyes spoke volumes, and Nalani felt her heart skip a beat.

The restaurant was cozy, tucked away in a quieter part of San Diego. Soft lights cast a warm glow over the room, and the gentle hum of conversations provided a comforting backdrop. Noah and Nalani sat at a table near the window, where the moonlight spilled in, casting silvery patterns on the tablecloth. Plates of gourmet food were laid out before them, half-eaten as they lingered in the moment, enjoying each other's company more than the meal itself.

Nalani leaned back in her chair, tracing her finger along the rim of her wine glass. "I can't believe we will finally have time," she said, a grin tugging at her lips. "Two whole months, just us. No tour schedules, no chaotic travel. Just...us."

Noah's eyes softened, a smile forming as he reached across the table to take her hand. "It's been too long," he agreed, his thumb brushing against her knuckles. "No backstage meetings squeezed between shows, no late-night phone calls. Just us, living like normal people for a change."

She laughed, the sound light and melodic. "Normal? With you? I highly doubt we'll ever be normal, Sebastian."

He chuckled, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Fair point. But as close to normal as we can get." He paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Did I tell you how Jolly and Nick haven't stopped teasing me about you? Every time I walk into the studio, there's some new joke or comment."

Noah smirked, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. "Well, the latest was Nick claiming that he needs to take notes from me on 'how to win the heart of a rock star.' Jolly just keeps asking when I'm going to serenade you on stage."

Nalani giggled, imagining the scene. "Please, tell me you actually considered it."

"Never," he said with mock seriousness. "They'd never let me live it down."

The conversation flowed easily between them, weaving from the band's antics to stories from War in the Hell. Nalani shared tales of Jeremy and Edward's time back in their hometowns, painting vivid pictures of their escapades.

"Edward called me the other day," Nalani said, eyes alight with mirth. "He told me about this Halloween party in Seattle where he got roped into being a 'vampire DJ.' Apparently, some kid requested 'Baby Shark,' and he considered retiring from music right then and there."

Noah burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Only Edward. What about Jeremy?"

"Oh, he's been living it up in Boston with his parents. He sent me a picture of himself dressed in his dad's old baseball jersey, claiming he was going to challenge the local kids to a game. I told him not to embarrass himself."

"Sounds like something he'd do," Noah agreed, a fond smile playing on his lips. "It's good they're getting that time. They deserve it."

"And so do we," Nalani said, the mood softening as she met Noah's eyes. "We deserve this."

The weight of her words settled between them, warm and real. Noah squeezed her hand, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the world outside the restaurant fading away.

When they returned to Noah's hotel room, the air was thick with contentment. The lights were dimmed, casting soft shadows that made the space feel intimate. Noah kicked off his boots, stretching out on the couch while Nalani slipped away to the small kitchenette.

"Don't get too comfortable," she called over her shoulder, her voice teasing.

He raised an eyebrow, propping himself up on one elbow. "Should I be worried?"

"Maybe," she said, returning with a small cake adorned with candles. The flames flickered, casting a golden glow over her face. She stepped closer, holding it out to him. "It's still your birthday, Noah. Make a wish."

A rush of emotion filled him, and for a moment, he just stared at her, at the way the light danced in her eyes and the gentle smile on her lips. Taking a breath, he leaned forward, closing his eyes briefly before blowing out the candles. The room fell into a comfortable darkness, broken only by the faint glow from the city outside.

"So, what did you wish for?" Nalani asked, setting the cake down on the table.

Noah smirked, pulling her down beside him. "If I tell you, it won't come true."

She rolled her eyes but leaned into him, their shoulders touching. "Fair enough. But if it involves serenading me, I'd like to put in a request."

He chuckled, the sound rumbling low in his chest. "Noted."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared time pressing down in a way that was both comforting and bittersweet. Finally, Noah turned to her, his gaze more serious. "I never thought I'd care about birthdays," he admitted. "But you being here changed that."

Nalani's smile softened, her eyes glistening. "Even if this day doesn't mean much to you, it does to me. Because it brought you into the world."

Emotion tightened in his chest, making it hard to speak. "You really have a way of making an old man feel loved," he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.

She laughed, nudging him gently. "Seven years isn't that big of a gap. But don't think I'm letting you off the hook for being old."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said, a grin breaking through.

He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips—soft at first, then deeper, the kind that spoke of everything unsaid between them. When they broke apart, their foreheads touched, breath mingling in the small space.

"I love you," he said, the words slipping out before he could second-guess them. The vulnerability in his eyes made her heart clench.

"I love you too, Noah," she whispered, her voice full of emotion.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the quiet certainty of their love. The world outside could wait; tonight, it was just them.

A knock at the door interrupted their moment, followed by Jolly's voice. "Hey, birthday boy! Are you two coming, or should we start this party without you?"

Nalani sighed, laughter bubbling up as she pulled away slightly. "Looks like the world won't wait for us after all."

Noah groaned, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. "It never does."