Comedic Timing

I wonder what birthdays look like from a dog's perspective. Like, all the humans gather round and look happy, then make strange sounds and magically summon things out of boxes. The concept definitely seems to confuse Ruby as she darts between us, now sitting in the living room. Finally she decides to settle on Elise's lap, allowing Rouge and I to open our presents.

I let Rouge go first, adding it to my list of 'subtle ways I've repaid Rouge's kindness' in my mind. The first couple of gifts are nothing too surprising, a bottle of champagne from Anya, Jessie, and Skye. A gift card from Kara. Makes sense, they were never the closest. Even Rob only splashed out for bottle of Vodka, though Rouge assures me it's very high quality.

The next few gifts are the ones that really stand out. Jenny's sent a framed copy of the photo from Rouge and Trish's wedding, I guess she got it from Gabriel but it definitely hits Rouge in the chest. Gabriel himself, and Henry attached, sent a small book filled with a copy of every love letter, confession, and outright begging he'd received to provide help for getting with Rouge. Some of them were just plain weird, but most were just hilarious to read. The phrase 'I'd tear my arm off and beat myself with it just for her to spit in my direction' is one I never thought I'd hear, but now one I can't stop giggling at.

Finally, we reach the family, me and Rouge have always had the agreement that not having to get each other a gift was the gift for each other, so I'm excluded, but everyone else seems to have come prepared. Elise produces a dress that Rouge had mentioned she'd love to get, kind of leading her into the present, but hey, it's still nice. Trish, however, takes the lead with her present...

"Italy?" Rouge scoffs in surprise, looking at the tickets in her hands, then to her wife.

Trish can't help but smile at Rouge's reaction. "Yeah, I knew I wanted to give you a proper honeymoon, it seemed like the place you'd like the-" She begins to explain, before she's cut off by a sudden kiss from her spouse. A kiss that goes on just long enough for it to be awkward.

"Alright, still waiting for you to look at our present, come on!" Jasper demands, trying to push past the public display of affection. Rouge simply flips him off, finishing her moment with Trish, before finally turning to Mum, Jasper's, and Minnie's gift. "We all chipped in, things are a bit tight since Sienna was born, sorry it's not much." My brother states pre-emptively.

This warning proves to be misleading.

Rouge opens the small gift box from our family and finds what looks like jewellery, but it's hard to tell form my angle. As I shuffle to get a better view, Rouge's hand covers her mouth to hide her surprise. In the box are two gold rings. Wedding rings. It may seem like nothing huge, but it shows a support for the marriage that I don't think my sister was expecting, as she begins to well up. Mum rushes over and pulls her into a hug. We all wait in silence for a couple of minutes as we wait for Rouge to regain her composure, but honestly, it's hard for me not to cry too.

My sister finally calms down enough to retrieve one of the rings from the box before turning Trish and placing it on her finger. Jasper offers the box to Trish, who takes the other and gives it to Rouge. Our own little wedding ceremony. No words needed. What could we have to say?

"Alright, your turn!" Rouge announces, looking to me while she wipes her eyes. Right, that, that would be something to say. Mrs and Mrs Cray-Patel cuddle up, sitting on the floor so Mum can sit down in the chair.

As before, some of these aren't too surprising, Rob and Skye actually paired up on mine to get me a make-your-own cocktail kit, I'm guessing Rob didn't know what to get me, poor guy. Anya, Jessie, and Skye (Again) gave me a small gift basket, including vouchers for free hair colouring, a fancy-looking journal, an intermediate French language book, and various soaps. It's cute, like they wanted to help me out in a million little ways. Kara's was sweet as well, a storybook about the fable of a rabbit on the moon in reference to mine and Elise's names for each other.

Then... Then these bastards decide to make me feel things. Jenny's is the first up, I unwrap it to find a familiar looking book, filled with notes and dates. It's the journal she was filling in when I went to confront her at Jasper's. The note on the front read 'My therapist said to give this to the person I'd trust with it the most. Happy Birthday.' Damn it Jenny, it used to be so easy to hate you, now I'd have an easier time hating Ruby.

Jasper insists that I open his and Minnie's next. I'd love to say it's less heart-rending. I'd be lying though. Inside is simply a piece of paper, a document about Sienna's birth, but what draws my attention is the section towards the bottom 'Designated Godparents: Scarlet Cray, Elise Monroe.' It's not flashy, or even a gift really, but the knowledge that Jasper would want me to raise his daughter if he couldn't... That almost breaks me down right there. I hold it back, knowing I've still got gifts to go through, but I make sure to show my sincerity as I thank my brother.

Gabriel and Henry are next, though again Henry seems to have left the real gift thought to his boyfriend, I'm guessing Henry's gift will be being the life of the party later. This one's a picture in a frame, similar to Rouge's from Jenny, but this one's of me and Elise... At the cinema. I knew Gabriel had seen us that day, but I didn't realise he'd taken pictures. Rouge always said he had trouble with social expectations, it probably seemed fine to him at the time, and I can't bring myself to be mad. The picture shows me and my girlfriend just looking into each other's eyes, but the expressions on our faces? It's easy to tell how Gabriel figured out we were a couple, that look of pure joy is a dead giveaway.

I pick up Trish's next, which is a significantly bigger box, I open the wrapping paper to find... A box. A deep red box, with a white ribbon. Why does this seem familiar? Instinctively, I undo the ribbon and pull the lid before Trish can step in to stop me. The contents of the box immediately reminds me where I know this from. This is one of the party kits that Trish showed us the first time we went to visit her work. The opened box reveals a collection of dildos, vibrators, beads, lubes, pretty much anything the average pervert can think of.

"I thought you'd recognise the box!" Trish gasps between outbursts of laughter, matched only by the laughter from my mother. Such a shame that I dyed my hair, now would be a good time to see if my face can go redder than my hair. Rouge seems amused but in the dark, Jasper looks plain confused. I quickly explain the story of us visiting Honey's when we first became friends. Mum laughs even harder after I explain. I awkwardly replace the lid on the box and try not to make eye contact. "Yeah, I got the go ahead to give one away, old stock, you know? Didn't think you'd immediately open it." She cackles.

By this point my siblings have joined in the laughter, but Elise simply hides her face, trying not to show how much she was enjoying my embarrassment. I reach for the next gift, Mum's, trying to move on from everyone slowly recovering from the faux pas. I pull off the wrapping paper much more carefully this time, revealing a disk with the word 'Memories' written on it. Suddenly, it hits me what's on it.

"Is this... The video from when we went to the restaurant?" I attempt to confirm. Mum, now more composed, simply nods her head. I remember her recording that day... And a couple of others, now that I think about it. She wanted to make sure I had all my best memories saved... She must've been planning this for months, maybe years? I don't know how to react. All I can do is thank Mum, how can you put a value on your most precious memories?

My last present is one that I've been the most excited and the most terrified for. Elise's gift. I can't contain myself as I pick up the small box and unwrap it, revealing what looks like a jewellery box, similar to the one containing the rings, but when I open this I see something different. A key. A door key.

"These two getting married so quickly gave me an idea. If you can expedite marriage, you can rush a tenancy, can't you?" She explains. Wait. Is she saying what I think she's saying? "When my parents left they gave me the state allowance I would have had if I still lived at home for the last six months... So I put it towards the deposit... We can move in tomorrow." Elise confirms, my shock slowly fading, and unyielding excitement taking it's place. I look her in the eye, as if expecting her to say it's a prank, but she looks entirely honest.

I let out a small scream as I can't help but kiss her. Our own place. After all this time. All this worry, all the drama, all the arguments. We finally get to experience the results of our work. We get our home.

I can tell people are talking, but I can't make out what they're saying. It doesn't matter.

Today can't do anything more amazing than this.