[For Terry]

[assured_of_this]

Maybe it's island life that makes the milestones loom so much larger, or maybe it's just them: Collective them, four pieces of a puzzle, all connected and bigger than Nate can really fathom. There's something momentous simply about surviving, more so about actually thriving, that makes Nate think it's worth celebrating when they can

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[faithanbegorrah]

There are stretches of time, sometimes entire days, where Terry has absolutely nothing to do. Sometimes she'll seek someone out to pass the time, but others, she likes being alone.

Alone time only goes so far, however, and Terry's almost relieved when a knock startles her out of a book she's been reading. She barely remembers what she's read in the last half page.

"Nate? Hey!" Terry isn't sure who she'd been expecting, but she'd have guessed Mary Jane or Meredith or even Brad before Nate. Not that she isn't pleased at the surprise, and Terry gives him a smile before stepping back and holding the door open. "Come on in."

[assured_of_this]

Thanking her, Nate accepts the invitation and steps inside, finding Terry's hut isn't so unlike his own. Briefly, he wonders if, early in the morning with sleep still clinging to his senses, Brad ever gets confused about where he is.

"Sorry to barge in like this," Nate apologizes, turning to offer Terry a smile. "It's just that it's Brad's birthday today, and I nearly forgot completely. I don't think he's aware that I even know."

[faithanbegorrah]

"His birthday?" Terry repeats. "Today's his birthday?"

These are the sorts of things she's supposed to know about, though she can't say she's truly surprised or angry. Maybe a bit disappointed she hasn't gotten the chance to do something. Thank God for Nate, at least.

"It's a bit late to do anything now, isn't it?"

[assured_of_this]

"I don't know about that," Nate counters. "It's the thought that counts, right? I doubt he'll be complaining if we do something a little late. It could be a surprise, even, although I have my doubts that Brad's much for surprise parties. Maybe a dinner?" he hazards, distinctly hating how difficult the island made it to plan for things like this.