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“Okay kids.” Goldmary held a finger to her lips with a fond smile. “You know you have to be quiet. You’ll ruin the surprise!”
Several children gasped and clapped their hands over their mouths. In the ensuing quiet, little bursts of giggles still broke through. It didn’t ruin the surprise, of course, Goldmary saw to that. She even managed to get all of them tucked safely and easily behind the sofa! Call that a feat, she was the queen of pulling that off.
“Miss Lapis will be back from Brodia Castle soon, we want to give her a warm welcome. But we can’t do that if she hears us or sees us in the window!”
Wide eyed and serious, the kids nodded.
Streamers and other handmade decorations hung in the living room. Goldmary had decided the days leading up to this balmy, warm spring day would be less actual education via textbooks, more learning through crafts. Dozens of cards from the kids stood up in their many construction-paper sizes, various levels of doodles and blocky writing and misspelled words all across them. Glitter was likely never to come out of the wood grain of Lapis’ main living room; maybe if Goldmary worked her magic, the pinkette wouldn’t mind so much.
Nestled in the middle of the dining table, surrounded by disposable plates and utensils, a chocolate cake. Not just any chocolate cake, either; with the help of Lindon and his vast library of knowledge, Goldmary had stumbled across a cake recipe that used mashed potatoes as a core component. Rafal had, at Rosado’s cajoling, been a semi-willing taste tester of her previous cakes until she won a tiny grin from the Fell Prince. At that point, it was perfect — as all things Goldmary did.
The doorknob rattled. The lock clicked and Goldmary resumed putting her finger to her lips. She couldn’t help the conspiratorial little smile on her face, delighting in how infectious it was among the children.
“Goldmary?” Lapis called into the evening gloom of the house. “That’s funny… I thought she’d be home by now…” There came a crinkle and crackle of a parcel being juggled in her arms, the thump of a boot to her door before it clicked shut.
“Surprise!!” Goldmary jumped up from behind the sofa with all the kids, their timing a little off but no less enthusiastic. Lapis let out a cry of surprise, dropping the present she had been holding. With practiced (and perfect) reflexes, Goldmary dashed forward and caught the parcel in question.
Just in time for all of the kids to swarm them and shove them together in their desire to hug Lapis.
Reflexive but gentle, Lapis’ arm wrapped around Goldmary’s waist. Her free one took turns embracing the kids and ruffling their hair, a delighted flush on her cheeks and a bashful smile to complement it. Drumming her fingers on the gift — looked like some complicated gemstones warmed and formed into Lapis’ favorite flower, likely thought of by Alcryst and gifted by Citrinne — Goldmary snuggled against her. Her own free arm moved, tapping a finger under Lapis’ chin that seemed to wobble dangerously.
“Goldmary-!” Lapis started, eyes wide and teary. “Y-you didn’t have to go to so much trouble-“ Her breath shivered as a soft thumb stroked her bottom lip. The kids figured it was about time for cake, as everyone had their hug and affection from Lapis.
“It was no trouble at all,” Goldmary hummed, “I didn’t even break a sweat.”
Lapis’ brows furrowed briefly. “Isn’t that what Rosado says-“
“Never you mind, my dear.” Goldmary chuckled, though Lapis wasn’t wrong. Not like she could talk, with how during the war she often mimicked Alcryst in battle as well. “Happy birthday — let’s not keep the kids waiting, hm?”
“W-wait-!”
Lapis’ strength kicked in, holding Goldmary easily flush against her. Goldmary shifted the gemstone flower bouquet in her arms, leaning over. “Yes?”
“I… I want my present from you first.”
Goldmary, thinking of the present she had wrapped and tucked away in the closet of the bedroom, frowned. “I can go get it, I suppose,” she said thoughtfully. “If you cut the cake?”
Lapis’ cheeks were a pretty shade of pink, almost as pink as her hair, before she cleared her throat. “Um. No. The… other present.”
“Other…” Then, a soft smile warmed her face. “In front of the kids?”
“You- you! You never cared before-“
“Oh, true. You have a point.”
Pinching Lapis’ chin between her thumb and finger again, Goldmary tilted her head up and kissed her. The kids simultaneously ooh’d, aww’d, and eww’d as she smiled against Lapis’ sigh against her lips. When they parted again, Goldmary tapped her finger to Lapis’ nose.
“Now go enjoy your cake, birthday girl.”