"(Y/N) coffee's ready," I heard from afar.

It was Saturday, March 14th. The day before my birthday. All I wanted to do was lay low. Andy agreed with my request. But, I was woken up earlier than I wanted to be.

I flipped to see Andy was still laying next to me.

"Wait how did you get back so fast?" I asked half-asleep.

"I've been here this entire time darling," he told me.

"B-but I heard someone say that coffee was ready," I remarked as I heard footsteps in the hall.

Was I dreaming?

"Didn't you hear me? Coffee is ready," Violet said from the doorway.

I sat up and stared in confusion.

"Am I dreaming? Andy?"  I asked as I turned to see him smiling.

"Happy Birthday," Andy commented as Violet stood at the doorway.

"Violet?" I remarked as I stood up.

"You aren't dreaming. I'm here," she told me.

Half-asleep, I walked up to her and hugged her. It wasn't a dream. My best friend was here in my house for my birthday.

"How is this possible?" I asked as we separated from the hug.

"Well I possibly did my homework for 2 weeks straight to get ahead and talked with my professors and they gave me the option to go away to come see you. The only thing I have to do is pick a place to photograph and then turn it into some sort of art piece," she explained.

"Wait is Grandma Mary here too? When did you guys get in?"  I asked.

Andy sat there smiling. He had been planning this with Violet the entire time.

"We flew in last night. We went straight to the condo," Violet explained.

"God I feel like I'm still in a dream," I remarked.

 It was then I realized I was still in my pajamas and felt very behind with Violet standing in front of me dressed and ready.

"I'll be here till Wednesday. We fly back Wednesday night," Violet commented.

"I didn't think I'd see you till the fall I am so happy," I told her.

"Darling why don't we get ready and we can go to breakfast somewhere?" he suggested.

"That sounds perfect," I told him as Violet went back out to the hall to the living room.

"So how do you like your surprise?" Andy asked me.

"Like? No, I love it I'm in a state of shock can you tell?" I asked him as I went to hug him.

He sighed happily.

"Do you know how hard it was to keep this a secret?" he asked as he kissed my forehead.

"Actually yes I can," I told him.

He chuckled.

"That's true I'm asking the biggest secret surprise keeper how hard it is to keep a secret," he remarked.

I chuckled this time.

"But you like surprises, don't you?" I asked him.

"Yes I do," he remarked.

"Come on were burning daylight!" Violet shouted from the living room.

Andy and I laughed.

"I guess we better get our asses in gear," I commented.

"Very much so," Andy remarked.

And so, we got our asses in gear and were headed out to brunch by 11.

"Poppy and Rose right?" Andy asked.

"Yes," I remarked as we all headed to pile up in my car.

"I cannot believe you didn't have a clue I was coming," Violet remarked before settling into the car.

"I've been doing overtime at work and honestly barely seeing Andy so I'm pretty much clueless 99% of the time," I told her as Andy started the car.

"Aw, this feels like AA on Thursdays," Violet remarked.

"It's been weird not having you around," I told Violet as we began the drive to the restaurant. 

"I do agree on that one. (Y/N)'s best friend now is her work and I don't like how she's being treated," Andy commented.

"Wait you are being treated wrong now?" Violet asked.

I shook my head.

"No, well, I just have been putting in a lot of overtime. I even had to work late on Andy's actual birthday. I'm hoping to get a second interview at the Apple Company's office in the Burbank area," I told her.

"I hope you get it. You need something new," she told me.

"She doesn't listen. She's just as stubborn as me," Andy teased as we arrived at the restaurant. 

We arrived at the brunch spot and conversed while we ate.

After brunch, we headed back to the house. Andy had an errand to do so he dropped me and Violet off. And of course, we got to gossip and chit-chat.

"Grandma is working on dinner for us tonight. That's why she didn't tag along this morning," Violet told me.

"I cannot believe that you are here," I remarked again.

Violet chuckled.

"It is hard to believe," she told me.

Then, I remembered I needed to tell her something. It was about Andy's health. I hadn't had a chance to talk to anyone about it.

"Not to turn this into something sad but can I talk to you about something?" I asked Violet.

She looked at me worried.

"Somethings wrong or?" Violet asked.

"Well, not really. I just, Andy a few weeks ago began seeing a cardiovascular doctor. He fucked up his body with drug and alcohol use. But, the doctor said he could live a long life if he keeps up with the lifestyle he currently has. But the thought of him passing or having a heart attack is stressful," I told her.

"Oh my, I didn't know that. I mean one can gather the damage one does to their body. I should know I am also in a similar situation. Have you talked to him about it?" Violet asked.

I shook my head.

"No. I'm afraid too. But you know the thought of even something going wrong," I began to comment.

Damn, I shouldn't have thrown those cigarettes away. 

Violet stopped me in my tracks.

"The universe knows you two are supposed to be together. Hell, that's why he was at Betty Ford when I was. Don't live in the future of what-ifs. Live in the present," Violet told me.

I sighed.  I hadn't been able to talk to anyone like this in months.  Do you think I would talk to his parents in person about this? No. I had no one. I trust Deja from work but she's not like Violet. I couldn't even talk about it on the phone with her. Or letters either.

"Live in the present," I replied.

"I feel so validated getting asked for advice," Violet remarked.

I smiled.

"That's good I mean you have become so wise," I told her as Andy walked in.

It's like the universe knew when to stop my rant.

"Hello ladies," Andy remarked as he walked in with a a bouquet of flowers.

"Hi honey," I remarked.

Violet nudged me.

"He loves you so much," she mouthed.

"Here I know they are a day early but happy birthday," Andy told me as he handed me the flowers.

"Andrew you shouldn't have,"  I told him as I took the flowers from him.

He remembered I loved lilies.

"Don't worry this isn't all you are getting for your birthday," Andy told me.

I stood up and kissed his cheek.

"This right here is the best birthday gift anyone could ask for," I told him as I gestured to him and Violet.

"Awww," Violet commented.

Andy kissed my forehead.

"And it's only just begun," Andy remarked.

To a birthday weekend full of surprises.