Disclaimers:I don't own any of the characters in Highlander universe. I've just borrowed them for a while. I'm not making any money off this so please don't sue me. All you'll get is my computer and my plants 'cause I'm a poor college student. Kelly, Kate and Amy are my creations. Please don't use them without permission.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby
by Sun Star This was written as a birthday present for a friend of mine. Happy birthday Kel. Follows my story "Cymbeline". You don't need to read Cymbeline to understand this one, but it explains the origins of Kelly and Richie's relationship. Comments are always welcome, flames will be used to fuel the creative fires. If you want to archive this, e-mail me.
Richie pressed the doorbell. He could hear the chimes ringing deep inside the house, followed by a clamoring of footsteps coming down the stairs. The door flew open and Kate looked up at him.
"Hi, Richie."
"Hey, Kate. Is Kelly here?" The house seemed unusually quiet.
"Nope. Just me. Her mom flew out for her birthday and Kel took her back to the airport today."
Richie looked alarmed. "Her birthday? When was her birthday?"
"It's tomorrow. Her mom came up early. Do you want to come in?"
He shook his head. "No, that's all right. Do you know if she has any plans?"
Kate smiled. "None that can't be broken if something better comes along."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yup."
"Thanks." He walked quickly back to his bike. "See ya later."
Kate waved from the porch as he started up the bike and roared out of the driveway.
"Kate! I'm home!" Kelly shut the door behind her and shed her coat.
"Upstairs!" A voice called back. Kelly bound up the stairs and to the end of the hallway where Kate's room was. Kate was on her bed, bent over her laptop.
She flopped down in an easy chair by the window. "Well, mom's on her way home."
"Did she have a good visit?" Kate looked up from the screen.
"Yeah. She said she really likes this area but she wished it was a little sunnier."
Kate shook her head. "Sun bad."
Kelly laughed. "What did you do all morning?"
"Nothing. And that's the joy of being a med student. On days off we're allowed to do nothing." Kate smiled. "Oh, by the way, Richie stopped by looking for you."
"He did? What did he want?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. I told him your mom was here for your birthday and you were at the airport seeing her off. I wouldn't be surprised if he calls you later."
"What did you tell him?" Kelly demanded.
"Nothing. He was just awfully concerned about possibly missing your birthday."
"I could kill you."
"For what? All I did was tell him where you were. He asked all the questions on his own." She shut her laptop and swung off the bed. "Are you hungry? I feel like ice cream."
"Sure."
Richie raised the elevator gate and stepped into Duncan's loft. "Hey Mac."
"Hi Richie." Duncan was sitting on the couch reading.
"Kelly's birthday's tomorrow. I want to take her out." He slouched in a chair.
"Where did you want to go?" Duncan set the book down.
"Some place nice. Like the places you took Tessa."
Duncan nodded. "I think I know the perfect place. I can make the reservations if you want."
Richie nodded. "That'd be great. I'll call Kel and let her know."
"Hold on, she's right here." Kate handed the phone to Kelly. "It's Richie."
Kelly took the phone, ignoring the looks Kate was giving her. "Hello?"
"Hi, Kel. It's Richie."
"Hi. What's up?"
"Do you have plans for your birthday tomorrow?"
"No. Why?"
"I wanna take you out. Get dressed up, go some place nice."
"Okay."
"Okay? Great. I'll pick you up at 7:00."
"Where are we going? So I know how to dress."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of the clothes."
"Okay." She said warily. "Tomorrow at 7:00?"
"Right. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye." She hung up and turned to Kate who was watching her. "He's taking me out to dinner. And buying me clothes."
She nodded. "He's buying you clothes? Hold on to him Kel."
The next evening, Kelly paced around the living room watching for Richie. Her hair and make-up were done and she was wearing a bathrobe. Amy lounged on the couch watching her, a magazine sitting in her lap forgotten.
"Kel, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet. Sit down. He'll be here." Amy told her.
She flopped down in a chair. "I know. I just can't wait to see what kind of taste he has."
Suddenly there was a shriek from upstairs. Kate came flying down the stairs. "There's a limo outside!" She exclaimed just as the doorbell rang. Kelly went to the door and opened it.
Richie stood on the other side dressed in an elegant tuxedo. He smiled and handed Kelly a large box. "Happy Birthday. Go get dressed."
"Thank you." She bound up the stairs leaving Richie standing in the doorway.
Kate shook her head. "Come on in. You can wait in the living room."
Amy waved as they came in. "Hey Richie. How are you?"
He sat down. "Good. How are your rotations going?"
"Tough. But I like it."
"I think we have to or we wouldn't be able to do this." Kate added. "I'm gonna go see how Kel's doing."
She ran upstairs and knocked on Kelly's door. When she answered, Kate went inside.
Kelly was standing in front of the mirror. Richie had brought her a black velvet sheath dress with slits running high up either side. She curled her hair and left it down and was just touching up her lipstick.
"Wow. I'd say he has pretty good taste." Kate flopped onto Kelly's bed.
Kelly turned around. "He even got me shoes." She picked up the hem of the dress to reveal strappy high-heeled sandals.
"Nice."
"Yeah." She tossed her lipstick into a small black clutch. "I'll tell you guys all about it tomorrow."
"You better."
They went downstairs and into the living room. Richie's jaw dropped when he saw her.
"Wow, Kel. You look -" he began.
"Great." Amy finished for him and he nodded.
"Yeah. We'd better get going. We have reservations."
She nodded. "Okay. I'll see you guys later."
They waved. "Have fun."
Richie held the door for her and she stepped out into the brisk night air. She wrapped her coat around her tighter and followed him to the limousine waiting for them in the driveway. The chauffeur opened the door for them and helped Kelly into the car. Richie slid into the seat next to her.
"Now I can give you a proper birthday hello." He murmured and leaned down to kiss her.
When they broke apart, Kelly leaned against him. "Where are we going?"
"Can I just tell you it's a surprise?" He asked with a grin.
She shook her head. "No. I wanna know."
"Okay, okay. Antoine's."
Kelly gasped. "How did you get reservations there? You have to book months in advance."
"Mac's got some pull there and he helped me out."
The chauffeur pulled up in front of the restaurant. He opened the door and Richie slid out, turning to help Kelly out of the car. She linked her arm in his as they walked to the door. The doorman swung the door open and Richie guided her through, his hand on the small of her back.
The maitre d' seated them at a small intimate table. A few minutes later, a waiter came to take their drink orders. When the waiter came back they ordered dinner.
"You like the dress?" Richie asked, a little uncertain. They had only been dating for a little over a month and he still wasn't sure of some of her tastes.
"Yeah. I love it. Thank you."
"Amanda helped me pick it out. She said it was you."
"She was right."
When dinner was over, he took her to Joe's. Joe was playing a set when they came him but he nodded to them. They sat at a darkened booth in the corner of the bar. Joe finished up and came over.
"So how's your birthday evening going?" He asked Kelly.
"Great. I can't remember the last time I had to get dressed up for a date."
Joe signaled to Mike, who brought over a small cake. He went back up to the stage. "A friend of mine is having a birthday this evening and I'd like you all to help me wish her a happy one." He started in with "Happy Birthday", motioning for the other patrons to join in.
When they finished, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles on the cake. The patrons applauded before going back to their drinks.
"I think I'm going to kill you." Kelly said quietly.
"Yeah, but I'll come back." Richie was having way too much fun.
"Good, then I can kill you again."
Joe sat down in the chair across from them. He set down plates and forks and handed Kelly a knife. She looked at it for a moment and back up at Richie. Joe caught the look and gently took the knife back. "Maybe I should cut the cake."
Kelly laughed. "Do you actually think I'd do something to Richie?"
"Not in public." Richie stated.
"Thanks Joe." Kelly accepted a slice of cake.
He smiled. "No problem. I live to embarrass friends. Wait until its Richie's birthday."
They waved to Joe as they got in the limo.
"So whose idea was that?" Kelly asked.
Richie shrugged. "Both of us. I was going to bring you to a club and Joe suggested his place 'cause that's where we met."
"That's sweet." Kelly leaned against Richie, her head resting on his shoulder. He looked down at the top of her head.
"So did you have a nice birthday?" He asked her softly.
She nodded. "Yup. Thank you."
Richie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Would you like to come up to my place?"
Kelly looked up in surprise and nodded. "Okay."
Richie told the driver and settled back in the seat.
"I should warn you it's a mess." He told her as he fit the key into the lock.
She laughed. "You've obviously never seen my room."
"I bet the CDC isn't threatening to declare it a toxic waste dump."
"They are not." She said.
He shrugged. "No, but Mac is." He opened the door and let her go in first.
His apartment was small and L-shaped. The kitchen was in the corner by the door and the bed in an alcove created by the L. An old couch sat in middle of the room, in front of a beat up coffee table and a television. The door next to the television led to the bathroom.
"It's not that bad." Kelly exclaimed.
"Take your coat?" He asked, his hands on her shoulders. She nodded and shrugged out of it. He put it in a small closet next to the front door. "Have a seat."
Kelly kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs up under her on the couch.
"Can I get you coffee or something?" He seemed nervous, unable to stand still.
"Yeah, coffee would be nice."
A few minutes later, the smell of fresh coffee invaded the small space. He poured them two cups and sat down on the other side of the couch. She took a sip and smiled.
"You make good coffee."
"Thanks. Tessa taught me. I used to make this god awful sludge but she showed me the finer points of good coffee." He set his mug down and slid closer to her. "Happy birthday."
"You already said that." She giggled.
"I did?"
"Yeah." She nodded, putting down her own mug. "But thanks."
He leaned over and kissed her. She put her arms around him and pulled them both so they were lying on the couch.
"Do you want to stay?" He asked her, his mouth moving up her neck to her ear.
She nodded and started undoing the buttons on his shirt.
Kelly tucked her head further under the pillow. Something woke her and was making an insistent noise. She groaned and opened her eyes. Bright sunlight streamed into the room. She could hear the shower running and an angry buzzing noise. Recognizing the buzzer, she grabbed the first article of clothing on the floor and put it on while she walked to the intercom.
"Yeah?" She punched the button to talk.
"Is this Richie Ryan's flat?" A familiar British accent came over the intercom.
Kelly groaned and pushed the button. "Yeah. Is this Adam?"
Silence. "Yeah, who's this?"
"Kelly. Hold on, I'll buzz you in." She pushed the button to let him in and looked for her underwear and a pair of pants to put on. All of Richie's jeans were too big but she found a pair of well-worn sweatpants and slipped them on. A knock on the door and she looked out the peephole. Methos stood on the other side looking bored.
Just as she opened, Richie burst out of the bathroom, sword in his hand, towel barely wrapped around his waist. There was still soap in his hair.
Kelly and Methos laughed when they saw him.
"Wonderful fashion statement you're making Ryan." Methos said dryly as he scavenged in the fridge. "Don't you have any beer?"
"No. You drank it all last time you were here. What do you want Adam?" Richie rested his sword against the television and got a better grip on the towel.
"Go finish your shower. I'll tell you when you get out. Kelly can keep me company while I wait." He raised his eyebrows at Kelly who giggled. Richie growled and Kelly pushed him back toward the bathroom.
"Go on. You're dripping on the floor."
He looked down at the puddle he was creating and retreated to the bathroom.
Kelly sat down on the bed because Methos had taken up the whole couch and picked up the remote.
"So, how's things?" He asked innocently.
"Fine. What are you doing here?"
"MacLeod wanted me to call Ryan and find out why he was late for work. I thought since I was in the neighborhood, I'd just drop by and see, you know, make sure he wasn't dead and all that."
"Lair. You knew I was here. Amanda told you or something." She accused him.
He shrugged. "Actually, Amanda told Asher who told me but the part about MacLeod was the truth. He did want me to call Richie."
Richie finally emerged from the bathroom, wearing jeans but shirtless and barefoot. He threw his wet towel at Methos.
"What was that for?" He sputtered indignantly.
"I heard you." He went into the kitchen and poured coffee. "Now that you've ruined our perfectly good morning, get out."
"You want me to leave? I'm hurt." He looked at Kelly, who nodded in confirmation. "Unbelievable. I was just doing a friend a favor."
"Get out, Adam." Richie pointed to the door.
"All right, all right. I'm going." He walked to the bed. "Happy birthday, Kelly." He kissed the top of her head, slipped on his jacket and left.
"I'm going to kill him. Right after I get done with Amanda." Richie drank the coffee and put the mug in the sink.
Kelly wandered over to him. "Relax. He wants you to get riled up. Just ignore him and he'll forget all about this." She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.
"You think so?"
"I know so. And I think I know just what will help you forget Adam." She leaned up and whispered something in his ear. He laughed and swept her into his arms, carrying her to the bed.
Le Blues Bar
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