" What's with all the chickens?"

Mia giggled and put a hat on Morro. " It's your birthday party place!"

" Wait, there's a PARTY?!"

Mia slapped her head. " No, silly goose! It's you, me, and Emma."

Morro waited for the bombarding other people.

But it never came.

" W.... wait, it's just me and you and my wife?"

Mia nodded.

" YIPPIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

" Sheesh, you don't need to act so surprised." Mia grumbled.

Morro hugged Mia. " Oh, thank you so much, Mia!"

Mia couldn't help but smile. " You're welcome."

Then, Morro caught sight of a cow.

" What the heck is that?"

" A.... cow?" Mia replied.

" What do you do with it?" Morro asked, looking at it like it was some machine.

" Uh.... it gives you milk?"

Morro looked confused. " But milk comes from jars!"

Mia groaned. " Oh boy." She muttered.

Then, Blackie came.  When Morro caught sight of him, he let out a happy yell. 

" KITTYYYYYYYYY!"

Mia's eyes widened in horror, and quickly grabbed Morro's arms.

" Morro, no!" She exclaimed.

Morro looked at her with pleading eyes. " But it's a cat....."

Mia sighed. " Look, if you don't touch my cat, you'll get a better surprise."

Morro's eyes widened in excitement. " What is it?" 

" I can't tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Morro sighed. " What's first?"

" First we need to teach you about animals." Emma said, coming from the house with a chicken in hand. Her black hair was covered by a hat, and she looked dashing.

" You look good." Morro said as he observed his wife.

Emma giggled. " You're too cute."

Mia slapped her head. " How about animals first and flirting later?"

Both Emma and Morro nodded and saluted. " Yes, Sargent!"

Mia couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Emma and Morro saluting her, both with exaggerated seriousness. "Alright, cadets," Mia said, playing along, "let's get to it."

She led them over to a small pen where several farm animals roamed. There were chickens, a cow, a goat, and even a couple of ducks quacking around. Morro eyed the creatures with intense curiosity, his earlier confusion giving way to fascination.

Emma, still holding the chicken, grinned. "Alright, Morro, lesson one: chickens. They lay eggs. You eat the eggs."

Morro blinked. "But how does the egg become... food?"

Mia shook her head, trying not to laugh. "You... cook it. Or eat it raw, if you're feeling adventurous."

Morro looked at the chicken like it was some sort of mystical creature, then turned to Emma. "And you just... let them live here?"

Emma nodded, amused. "Yep, and they give us eggs in return. They're actually quite useful."

Morro, still processing this newfound knowledge, turned to the cow next. "So, this thing gives milk? Directly?"

Mia nodded, patiently explaining. "Yeah, you milk it by hand, or you can use a machine. Then the milk goes to jars, and that's what you drink."

Morro scratched his head. "But how do you know it's not... cow juice?"

Both Emma and Mia burst into laughter. "Morro, it is cow juice!" Mia said between giggles. "But we call it milk."

Morro's eyes lit up with the realization. "Ohhhhhh!"

Emma wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone call it 'cow juice,' but that's a first."

Mia decided to move on. She pointed to a goat that was nibbling on some hay. "Now, this one... the goat. They're stubborn and can eat almost anything, so don't leave your shoes lying around."

Morro stepped back, eyeing the goat suspiciously. "Wait... anything?"

"Pretty much," Emma said, gently placing the chicken back into its pen. "They've been known to chew on clothes, shoes, and whatever else they can get their teeth on."

Morro leaned closer, narrowing his eyes at the goat. "I'm watching you."

The goat simply bleated, completely unfazed by Morro's scrutiny.

Mia crossed her arms, looking satisfied. "Alright, that's enough animal education for one day. You've learned about chickens, cows, and goats. Now, for the surprise I promised."

Emma raised a brow and leaned in. " The surprise isn't ready yet!"

" I know," Mia whispered back. " We need to keep him entertained until then."

Emma sighed and took a deep breath. " You heard her. The surprise!" She gave a tight smile, but Morro didn't notice.

Instead, he perked up, his earlier skepticism about the animals vanishing. "Finally! What's the surprise?"

Mia grinned mischievously. "Follow me."

She led Morro and Emma around the back of the barn, where a huge trampoline was set up. It wasn't just any trampoline—it was a trampoline surrounded by foam pits and inflatable slides.

Morro's jaw dropped. "Wait... we're going on THAT?!"

"Yup!" Mia said, bouncing on her feet with excitement. "I figured you'd like something more... energetic. Go wild!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Morro dashed forward and threw himself onto the trampoline, his ghostly abilities letting him hover a bit before he landed with a giant bounce. He let out a joyful whoop, flipping mid-air, and landing in the foam pit. Emma followed closely behind, jumping up and down and laughing as Morro tried to show off with more flips.

Mia watched from the sidelines, her smile growing as she saw how happy the two were. For all their awkwardness with animals, they were having the time of their lives.

"Alright, alright!" Mia called out, hopping onto the trampoline to join them. "Let's see what you got!"

Soon enough, the three of them were bouncing and flipping, their laughter echoing through the farm. Every now and then, Morro would try a ridiculous trick, only to flop into the foam pit in a heap, much to Emma's delight.

Eventually, they all collapsed onto the trampoline, panting and laughing, gazing up at the sky.

Morro turned to Mia, still grinning ear to ear. "This was the best surprise ever. Seriously."

Mia smiled, feeling accomplished. "I'm glad you liked it. But the party's not over yet—there's still cake!"

Emma perked up. "Cake? Now you're speaking my language."

Mia winked and stood up, brushing off her jeans. "Yep, chocolate cake waiting inside. But no more cow juice questions, Morro."

Morro chuckled, sitting up and dusting himself off. "Deal. No more cow juice."

As they stepped inside, the trio was greeted by the sight of an enormous, sage-colored cake towering over everything else in the room. It was a 40-tier masterpiece, delicately decorated with intricate designs and florals in soft greens and whites. The room itself smelled of sweet frosting and chocolate.

Morro's eyes widened, his face draining of color as he stumbled backward, reaching for the doorframe for support. "W-What is that?!"

Mia grinned proudly, stepping forward and motioning toward the cake like it was a piece of art in a gallery. "That, my dear Morro, is your cake!"

Morro blinked several times, trying to process the sheer size of it. "That... that's for me?! It's taller than I am!"

Emma burst out laughing, shaking her head as she nudged Mia. "You went a bit overboard, huh?"

Mia shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Hey, if we're going to celebrate, we might as well do it right!"

Morro, still wide-eyed, approached the cake cautiously. "How am I supposed to eat all that? There's enough cake here for a hundred people!"

Mia patted him on the back. "You don't have to eat it all today, genius. It's just for fun! We can share with everyone, but you get the first slice."

Emma walked around the cake, admiring the artistry. "Honestly, Mia, this is beautiful. Did you hire a professional?"

Mia smirked, crossing her arms. "Of course. Only the best for our resident ghost."

Morro, still staring at the cake in awe, muttered, "I think I might actually faint. How do you even cut something this big?"

Mia rolled her eyes playfully. "Relax, Morro. We'll start from the top and work our way down."

With that, Mia grabbed a cake knife and sliced into the top tier, revealing layers of rich chocolate and vanilla. The cake was moist and perfectly baked, the frosting smooth and creamy. She handed the first slice to Morro, who hesitantly took it.

He stared at the piece for a moment, then took a bite. His eyes widened again, but this time in delight. "This... this is incredible!"

Emma laughed as she took a slice for herself. "See? No need to be so dramatic. It's just cake!"

Morro, his face now filled with joy rather than shock, turned to Mia and Emma. "Alright, I'll admit it—this is amazing. You two really outdid yourselves."

Mia smirked, taking a bite of her own slice. "That's what we do best."

As the three of them enjoyed the cake, the room filled with laughter and chatter. Despite the overwhelming size of the cake, the moment felt intimate and warm, just the three of them celebrating together. Morro's initial shock faded away, replaced with gratitude and happiness.

Looking at his friends, Morro smiled, his heart full. "Thanks, Mia. Thanks, Emma. This is the best birthday I've ever had."

Mia grinned back. "You deserve it, Morro. Now, who's ready for more cake?"

*************************

After they finished the cake, Mia grabbed Morro by the arm and led him outside.

" Okay, birthday boy. We're gonna go to a waterfall."

Morro looked at Mia with wide eyes. " What?!"

Emma giggled behind him. " I told Mia you love water."

Morro groaned. " Traitor."

Mia tugged Morro's arm towards the door with a playful smirk. "Come on, Morro, it’s going to be fun!"

Morro planted his feet firmly on the ground. "Mia, I’m a ghost. Water and I don’t exactly get along."

Mia laughed, waving off his concerns. "You’ll be fine! It's not like you’re gonna dissolve. It’s just a little adventure."

Emma followed behind, laughing at Morro’s reluctance. "Besides, we thought you’d enjoy a peaceful, scenic spot for your birthday. You’re always floating around with that serious look. You need a break!"

Morro grumbled as Mia continued dragging him along. "Why do I get the feeling this is going to be more than just peaceful and scenic?"

When they finally reached the waterfall, the sound of rushing water filled the air. The place was stunning, with crystal-clear water cascading down into a shimmering pool below. The mist from the falls created a cooling breeze, and vibrant green plants surrounded the area, making it look like something out of a fantasy novel.

Morro stopped in his tracks, staring up at the waterfall in awe. "Okay... this is actually pretty amazing."

Mia grinned triumphantly. "See? Told you it would be worth it."

Emma leaned over, nudging Morro playfully. "It’s not so bad, is it?"

Morro shook his head, his previous reluctance fading as he took in the view. "Alright, alright. I admit it. You two were right. This is... nice."

Mia patted his back. "Glad to hear it, because we’re about to jump in!"

Morro’s eyes widened in panic. "Wait, what?! Jump in?!"

Mia was already pulling off her shoes, her grin widening. "Yep! What’s the point of coming to a waterfall if you’re not gonna get wet?"

Before Morro could protest any further, Mia took a running leap and dove straight into the pool at the base of the waterfall, disappearing beneath the surface with a splash.

Emma burst into laughter. "She’s crazy!"

Morro crossed his arms, shaking his head. "Absolutely not. I am not jumping in there."

Emma grinned mischievously. "Who said anything about jumping?"

Before Morro could react, Emma gave him a playful shove, sending him tumbling into the water with a loud splash.

Morro resurfaced, sputtering. "Emma!"

Emma doubled over in laughter, holding her sides. "I couldn’t resist!"

Mia popped up beside Morro, laughing. "See? It’s not so bad!"

Morro glared at both of them but couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto his face. "You two are impossible."

Emma kicked off her shoes and jumped in as well, joining them in the cool water. The three of them floated there, laughing and splashing around, with the waterfall roaring behind them.

Morro finally let out a deep, contented sigh. "Okay... this might actually be the best birthday ever."

Mia flashed him a grin. "Told you!"

Mia swam over to the edge of the pool, her face lighting up with mischief. She motioned to Emma and Morro, who were still catching their breath from all the splashing and laughing.

“Alright, birthday boy and traitor wife,” Mia said, grinning. “I’ve got a surprise for you both. But you’ll need to head back up to the top of the waterfall.”

Morro wiped water from his face, looking suspicious. “A surprise? What now, Mia?”

Emma raised an eyebrow, intrigued but also wary. “Is this one of your crazy ideas again?”

Mia just winked and pulled herself out of the water with ease. “You’ll see! Come on, follow me!”

Despite their hesitation, Emma and Morro climbed out of the water and followed Mia up the narrow trail that led back to the top of the waterfall. The roar of the rushing water grew louder as they neared the top, the mist from the falls clinging to their skin.

When they reached the top, Mia turned around and smirked at them. “Okay, now both of you stand right here, at the edge.”

Morro crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. “I don’t trust that look on your face, Mia.”

Emma chuckled, stepping closer to the edge, the sound of the water crashing below sending a thrill through her. “Come on, Morro. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Mia stifled a laugh. “Oh, you’ll find out!”

Before either of them could react, Mia gave them both a firm push, and with wide-eyed gasps, they tumbled forward, straight into the waterfall.

"ENJOY THE WATERFALL!" Mia yelled as they disappeared over the edge.

The world seemed to spin for a moment as Emma and Morro plunged through the curtain of water, their shouts of surprise mixing with the roar of the falls. The cool water enveloped them, and for a split second, everything was a blur of rushing liquid and mist.

Then, with a huge splash, they hit the pool at the base of the waterfall. Emma surfaced first, laughing uncontrollably, her hair plastered to her face. “Oh my god! That was... incredible!”

Morro came up next, sputtering and pushing his wet hair out of his eyes. “Mia!!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the cliffs. But there was a hint of laughter in his voice now. “I am never trusting you near a waterfall again!”

Mia stood at the top, peering down at them with a grin. “Told you it’d be fun! How was the surprise?”

Emma swam over to Morro, still catching her breath. “That was actually amazing,” she admitted, glancing at her husband, who was still recovering from the shock. “You’ve gotta admit, it was a pretty epic birthday surprise.”

Morro wiped the water from his face, finally allowing himself to smile. “Okay, fine. I’ll admit it. That was kind of awesome.” He looked up at Mia, shaking his head. “But you’re still crazy.”

Mia laughed, her voice ringing through the air. “Come on, Morro! What’s life without a little craziness? You’ll thank me later!”

Emma floated on her back in the water, looking up at the sky, still laughing. “I think I’m going to need a nap after this.”

Morro nodded, floating beside her, staring up at the sky. “Same. But... this was pretty great. Thanks, Mia.”

Mia gave a mock bow from the top of the falls. “Anytime, guys. Anytime.”

Emma grinned as she glanced over at Morro. “You think she’ll pull another stunt like that?”

Morro sighed, but his smile didn’t fade. “With Mia? Absolutely.”

Emma laughed, giving him a playful splash. “You love it.”

Morro shrugged, the sound of the waterfall behind them filling the silence. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

They floated there for a while, enjoying the peace after the excitement, the sound of the waterfall creating a calming backdrop. The cool water felt refreshing after the adrenaline rush, and for the first time in a while, everything felt perfectly still, like they could stay there forever, just enjoying the moment.

From the top, Mia called down to them, her voice full of energy. “Hey, you guys ready for the next part of the adventure?”

Emma groaned, but there was a smile on her face. “Oh boy, here we go again…”

Morro chuckled, already knowing they were in for another wild ride. “I’m starting to think we’ll never have a normal day with Mia around.”

Mia laughed and shook her body. " Come on" she said. " We have one more superise."

**********

" Can I open my eyes now?" Morro groaned.

Mia laughed. " Sure."

Morro peeked through his hands and gasped.

There was a grey tabby with dark grey stripes.

A kitten.

This

"Awwww!" Morro cooed as he scooped the kitten up. " This is the best surprise ever!"

But he didn't notice Mia and Emma exchange a look.

A mischievous look