mylandmyrules | A Celebration for Nell

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A Celebration for Nell

Nell had tried something a little different for dinner tonight. She'd made a large, and hopefully tasty, vegetable stir fry and had stir-fried some beef in a different pan so those wanting meat could have some. She also had homemade sourdough bread, salad, and a vegetable broth based soup to start the meal.

The apartment was spic and span, the cats were happily curled up on their cat trees, for however long that would last, and she thought she was prepared as she could be for her first ever birthday celebration. Now to wait somewhat anxiously for her guests.

[For those who know who they are.]

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"It's an honor to be here," Steven told her. "Kind of you to let us spend it with you."

Nell laughed. "I'm the one getting presents and cake!"

"But we get to share the enjoyment with you," Steven said. "And it being your first - it means a lot to be here."

"And I'm glad to have you here," Nell said simply.

"Have you thought about when you'd like to open your presents?" Steven asked. "Entirely up to you. Could even save ours for tomorrow if you'd rather have something on your actual birthday."

Steven and Marc wouldn't be there, of course, but Steven wanted to give Nell a polite excuse in case she might have been feeling self-conscious about opening her gifts while people were watching.

"Oh no, I'll open them while you're all here," Nell assured him. "Maybe after we eat and before Lana's cake?"

Admittedly Steven was glad he'd be able to see if Nell liked what he'd gotten. Obviously because he hoped she'd like it, but also it would help figuring out future presents to buy her when the occasion arose.

"Whenever you'd like," Steven said. "But that sounds lovely."

"Then that's what we'll do," Nell said with a nod. "Give our stomachs a few minutes to settle before we eat again."

"You know the nice thing is you can make your own traditions," Steven said. "Not that you've to commit to anything now. But you can try it out, see what makes a good birthday for you. There's some things that loads of people do, like the cake. But things like singing or games or anything else. Whatever you fancy."

"I don't think games are for me," Nell said, "And I'm not sure we'd all know the same songs. But I do like being able to get together with friends."

"Well you're off to a good start there," Steven said with a smile. "Well done, you. Singing is things like Happy Birthday or For She's a Jolly Good Fellow. But doesn't have to be done if you don't care for it."

"I think traditionally they sing Happy Birthday when they bring the cake out," Nell said. "So that will be okay."

Steven considered the other two guests at the table, then leaned in to whisper to Nell, "Do you know the words? Because we may have to teach them. Or shall I do it for everyone?"

Nell looked at him with wide eyes. "I only know that you sing Happy Birthday," she admitted. "So you're probably on your own."

She and Lana hadn't covered that in their birthday prep.

"Do you want us to sing it?" Steven asked. "Some don't care for it."

"I think maybe you'd better sing it and then I can decide if I want it sung next time," she said. "Hard to make a decision otherwise."

"All right then," Steven said. "Now of course in England we do For She's a Jolly Good Fellow but you're American so for you I can change it."

Also it wasn't like he didn't know the words. Even if he didn't share a body with Marc, American media wasn't exactly unpopular around the world.

"You can sing whichever you choose," Nell said with a smile.

"Might do both then," Steven said. "See if I don't."

Nell laughed. "I will be delighted with whatever you do."

"In fairness you haven't heard me sing," Steven said. That probably did need a warning.

"Oh dear," Nell said. "Well I'll take it in the spirit with which it was intended."

"Appreciated," Steven said. At least he made up for a lot with enthusiasm? "Dinner's great, by the way. I do like it."

"Thank you," Nell said. "I hope it's not too spicy. I like a lot myself and can sometimes not tone it down enough for others."

"Don't mind spice at all," Steven assured her. "Love a good curry. That'll be one of the things I take Llewellyn to tomorrow. My favorite takeaway. Give him a feel for what it was like for me, living there."

And a great deal of street vendors. Not that Steven was attempting to not so subtly bribe Llewellyn into liking the place.

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