I chewed on my bottom lip as I stared at my reflection.

After he had given me my gift, Alastor pulled a very nice dress out of thin air.

I glanced over at the music box that I'd placed front and center in my bookshelf.

My eyes flicked back to the mirror, and I shifted nervously under my own stare.

The dress was beautiful...

The girl wearing it...eh.

It hugged my waist and chest, and became loose and flowy near the bottom.

It was a very soft lavender color, and it made my eyes pop. Yet, my brain just couldn't convince itself that I looked good.

I'd been "changing" for about 20 minutes at this point. Alastor was surly getting impatient.

As if on cue, there was a soft knock to the door.

"Darling?"

Alastor's muffled voice made my eyes dart to the door, and panic swept my chest as the knob began to turn.

The door cracked open and I basically threw myself at the door, causing it to slam shut once more.

I can only imagine the startled look on his face. It nearly made me snicker.

"Sweetheart, there's no possible way you're indecent," he said, and I stumbled for an answer.

"Um...y-yes! I am—I haven't...I...I'm naked," I fumbled my words and then mentally face palmed.

There was silence on the other side of the door and I pressed my ear against it, trying to get any hint of what he was doing.

"Liar," his voice behind me made me shriek and I spun around, pressing my back to the door.

My eyes widened at his appearance.

He was in his human form, those eyes looking straight through me. I swear, it's like if a person with red eyes put in brown contacts.

His normally fluffy brown hair looked styled, and I couldn't stop the heat rising to my cheeks.

He looked hot.

I swallowed hard, and tilted my head, observing his outfit.

He was wearing a light purple dress shirt, the exact same color as my dress. Adorning his shirt were the same gold cufflinks he wore a few weeks ago to go to the grocery.

I wonder if those are real...they definitely are.

He wore a sly grin, and I feigned disgust.

"And what if I hadn't been lying?" I scoffed at him, crossing my arms.

He put his hand to his chest and bowed slightly, "then this poor sinner would have had the honor of seeing heaven," he replied smoothly and my cheeks immediately flushed.

"You've already seen it..." I mumbled, but he obviously heard me because he chuckled.

"Ah, but that was an accident!" He stated, pointing into the air. I shook my head and smiled, but then shrunk as I realized he could now see me wearing this dress.

He seemed to come to the same realization as me, his eyes scanning down my body as his perfect smile widened.

"I surely hope the hold up wasn't you pestering yourself about your appearance," he raised an eyebrow as he met my eyes, taking a few steps closer.

I shrunk away from him and nervously hugged my stomach.

My silence told him the truth.

He sighed and I felt his fingers gently turn my face up to look at him. His eyebrows raised up and his smile lessened as he spoke.

"You look beautiful...I mean that," he said softly. My legs felt weak and I whimpered softly as he stared down at me.

Shit! Pull yourself together, Ariel!

"T-thank you," I squeaked back, and his smile turned into a smirk.

Ass.

With that, he held me at arms length and hummed as he looked over my appearance.

"My...you look gorgeous...you need some accessories," he said, and I tilted my head.

"But I don't have..." my words died off as his hand came up to my throat, and his fingers gently touched either side of my neck as he drug them down to my collar bone.

I felt something against my skin, and reached up, feeling a necklace.

I turned and looked into the mirror and gasped. Around my neck was a diamond necklace, the chain looked so thin it might fade away.

I looked back at Alastor who seemed proud of his work.

He came and stood behind me, still an entire head taller than me even disguised as a normal human.

At least my head came to his shoulders instead of the middle of his chest.

"Alastor you need to stop buying me things..." I said, slightly as a whine. I was beginning to feel bad about the things he's buying me.

"Don't worry about that, darling," he said, and placed his hands against my shoulders. The touch sent sparks through my chest, and I wanted to lean back into it.

I wanted his arms around me, and I wanted to feel his heat as he held me.

I shook my head quickly, ridding my brain of such thoughts.

"Now are you ready? It's 7:25," he said, and I nodded.

"Yes, I'm ready...let's go,"

And with that he snapped his fingers, making us teleport to...

The most expensive restaurant in my city.

My mouth fell open, and Alastor simply hummed.

My hands found his arm as we walked, and I looked around. Everything looked like it could pay off half the worlds debt just by existing.

He was warm, and looked down at me amusedly, "surprise!" He exclaimed softly, and I scoffed.

"Yea! No shit, Alastor...how long ago did you make these reservations?" I asked him, and he looked away and shrugged.

"About...5 weeks?"

I nearly choked. He's been planning for my birthday for 5 weeks?!

"Al..." I started but didn't know what to say. Luckily, he had to talk to the hostess, who retrieved our reservations and led us to a secluded table.

As she sat us, her eyes lingered on Alastor and she bit her lip before scurrying away.

I leaned forward slightly, whispering, "I wonder if there's anything that sees you and doesn't want to sleep with you."

He choked and his cheeks flushed, "w-what?" Was his high pitched response and I snickered.

Just then our male waiter came to the table and his eyes observed both Alastor and I, then lingered on Alastor.

Jesus Christ.

He took our drinks, and it was obvious he was paying special attention to my "date" but I didn't really care.

I'm the one eating with him.

They're just lucky not to be eaten by him.

When the waiter walked away, Alastor's smile widened as he looked towards me. The atmosphere of this restaurant was purely romantic, and it brought a heavy blush to my cheeks.

Whatever compelled him to bring me here, I'll never know.

I smiled back at him, my eyes falling to my hands under his stare. Ugh, he always does this! He knows he's hot! He loves teasing, and it's so frustrating.

My eyes focused on the soft glow of the candle at the center of our table. The white table cloth danced with shadows and I couldn't help but feel grateful.

Grateful for this, grateful for Alastor, grateful that he's my friend...

"Thank you..." my voice came barely above a whisper, my thumbs rubbing against my knuckles as a nervous habit. I looked up and his smile had lessened, his eyes seemed less flirty and more genuine.

"I haven't...celebrated my birthday..." I shook my head with a soft chuckle, "...ever."

My mother wasn't a woman for sentiment.

Once again my eyes fell to my hands, and then widened when Alastor's fingers pried my hands apart and he took the liberty of lacing his fingers with mine.

I felt my heartbeat in my throat, and I let my fingers tighten around his.

"Darling, I'd give every single dollar I have to see your smile..."

My eyes widened and I quickly brought my hand to my eyes, unable to stop the tears building or the smile that stretched across my face.

"A-Alastor...c'mon, this is the second time in one night..." I chuckled and sniffed and he hummed. I fanned the tears, not wanting them to fall and ruin my makeup.

Our waiter came back and glanced between us, a curious glint in his eyes as he looked from our hands to my glossy eyes. I quickly felt embarrassed, but Alastor had it covered.

"Ah, hello son!" Sometimes I forget how old Alastor is, and what time he's from. This kid is like 19.

He tilted his head when the boys eyes turned to him, "how are you tonight?" He asked enthusiastically.

I giggled softly, and his eyes flicked to me, that smile widening briefly before his eyes were back on the waiter.

"Just fine, sir, what can I serve you two tonight?" The boy spoke smoothly. He almost sounded like he was flirting. I rolled my eyes discretely.

"Ah, I'd like your venison loin, extra rare," Alastor spoke just as smoothly. Both the boys looked at me, and I blinked.

"Um...I'll have the same thing? B-but, medium on mine, please," I said, and Alastor winked at me.

I blushed furiously and the waiter walked away to put our orders in.

"Oh, you're an asshole!" I whispered at him. He snickered and his eyes flashed red before returning to that odd brown color.

"I know."

He then sighed and sat back, tapping his fingers on the table, "you may as well have just asked for rubber, the way you're making them ruin that meat," he said with disgust.

I scoffed, "and you may as well have just asked them to hand you a living deer," I returned and he shot me a smirk.

"I would have if that was an option," his teeth sharpened and then went back to normal and I choked on my wine.

That's when I came to a sudden realization, my brows furrowing together, "wait..." I looked up and met his curious expression. He tilted his head at me, his hair shifting as he did.

"Yes?"

"You're a cannibal?"

It was his turn to freeze, his eyes widening just barely.

"......yes..." he said quietly, barely meeting my eyes. Of all the things he's told me, this is the one he's ashamed about? I shrugged, letting him know I didn't really care.

"Well, Ok then," I said and he perked up. He looked confused, but also pleased. There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite place.

Relief? Maybe.

We talked for a bit more, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy himself. His eyes would fade between red and brown I noticed, being red whenever he seemed most relaxed and brown whenever he thought people may be watching us.

Our food arrived and I almost drooled. It looked beyond fantastic. I cut into mine and it was a perfect pink.

Then I looked to Alastor's and almost gagged.

It was blood red and still bleeding.

I shook my head, chuckling softly. He took some meat between his teeth and made sure they got stained with blood.

Then he ran his tongue over his teeth, looking me right in the eyes. My cheeks burned up and I covered my mouth. He chuckled, obviously amused with himself.

This is perfect...

He's playful...he's cute...he's sweet (to me, at least.)

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday...

Nor could I have asked to spend it with a better man.