De's Birthday Whatsit - [ssshhhhhhhhhhh] - [Actor's Quarters]

[canadianbill]

[tag on this post whenever, guys. :)]

It wasn't exactly a party, not really. Bill and Len weren't sure De was up for a party just yet, although he was showing distinct signs of improvement. Nor was it a dinner, or indeed - thank God - anything quite so sedate and affected as a tea partyTo Bill's mind, it was a whatsit. That would do. There was

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[len_not_spock]

Leonard, completely oblivious to Spock's ruminations on both the fruit punch and himself, took another sip himself before handing De a card in deep red envelope.

"Let's start with this, then."

[de_forest]

De carefully ripped open the envelope, and pulled out the card that was within. He was greeted by a gorgeous picture of a rose, and opening the card, De stood there, staring at the message, struck silent by the content. They had got him a plot, a rose plot, in botany. Len and Bill had got him a rose garden. Of his own. Somehow.

"I...how?..." He gave up, started again. "Thank you," he said, quietly, overcome with emotion and a sudden rush of intense friendship and love for his two friends.

[canadianbill]

Bill smiled at the look on De's face. "Len did it," he said. "You know he works miracles."

He shrugged. "You can do your gardening, now, if you like. We all knew how fond you were of it."

[de_forest]

"Thank you," De repeated softly. It looked like he was going to be saying 'Thank you' rather a lot at this gathering. He didn't mind, he was just still overwhelmed by the party in the first place, let alone that Bill and Len had somehow managed to give him this, somewhere else where he could go, and sit, and enjoy. Remembering the happy moments. He stepped forwards, wrapping his arms around Len in a tight, implusive hug, with a look over at Bill that plainly invited him to join in this gesture of gratitude.

[canadianbill]

Bill rolled his eyes in a semi-futile acknowledgement of the undeniable sappiness of the invitation, but went anyway, in truth not minding in the least. On the contrary, it was so nice to see De like this again - enjoying things; being overwhelmed by things in a good way; initiating things and demonstrating thanks with more than a weak smile - that squishing them both tight came quite naturally.

[len_not_spock]

"I'm glad you like it," Leonard said with a smile, as he finally withdrew. "Helen helped a little with the red tape on that, by the way. Bill and I thought you'd appreciate having a space around here that feels a bit closer to home, at least."

He hadn't forgotten how De had veered straight for the roses in his own garden, and how they'd somehow seemed to put him at ease a little.

[de_forest]

"It's perfect," De said with a smile, stepping back a little. Thoughts were already begin to occur to him, as he thought about the garden - would the roses grow as nicely, without the fresh air he was accustomed to? Would they be the same? He wondered if there were any new varieties of rose now, more hardy ones, maybe. But then, there probably weren't any pests around to spoil the blooms here...which would be quite welcome. Keeping the aphids and the like at bay was never fun...what about the fungi infestations, would they have been irradicated? It was so much to think about, so much to suddenly take in, De became quite lost in his ruminations over what he might do with the little plot he had been given. A rather faraway look appeared on his face, as he looked back down at the card, but combined with a smile, it was obvious he was pleased, and lost in good thoughts for a change.

[headnursechapel]

Christine waited a moment, giving De time to thoroughly absorb his present. She was looking forward to seeing what he did with his garden plot, after all his fond reminiscing about his own rose garden.

Finally, she picked up the package she'd brought with her, and held it out to him.

"Happy birthday, De," she said, smiling gently.

[de_forest]

"...you didn't have to get me anything, Christine," De said, returning his attention to the room, and taking the present that Christine held out to him. It was something soft, he could feel. His brow furrowed a little as he tried to figure out what it could be, before giving in and opening the gift.

Carefully wrapped inside were three silk scarves - navy blue, light green, and a striped one - a light orange with cream.

De stared at the scarves for a moment, before picking one up and running his hand through the fabric. He looked back at Christine. "...Thank you," he almost whispered, "They're wonderful."

[headnursechapel]

Christine leaned forward impulsively, wrapping her arms around De in a quick hug. "You're welcome," she said, before drawing back. "You said you missed yours and...well, I hope they're your style."

[canadianbill]

Bill laughed. "That's what he's been missing all this time, Christine," he said. "I couldn't put my finger on it, but you've identified it: he isn't quite De, without his scarves."

[de_forest]

"Damn right I'm not," De said, eying the scarves critically for a moment, before choosing the green, and wrapping it deftly around his neck. "How does it look?"

[canadianbill]

"Exactly like De," Bill told him, smiling.

[de_forest]

"At least I look like myself now, then..." De smiled as he spoke, but it probably didn't hide that fact that he didn't feel exactly like De still. It was difficult, for him, to know exactly what De was, without Carolyn. Maybe it just took time, finding yourself again.

[len_not_spock]

A gentle squeeze to De's shoulder.

"This needs to be properly documented, I feel. First transdimensional present any of us have ever received, right?"

Leonard moved to grab his camera off a shelf.

"Smile!"

[headnursechapel]

Christine smiled at De, moving closer to get into the picture. "It looks wonderful," she told him. And it did; the scarf looked right on De, somehow. As if he were slightly more himself, wearing it. She squeezed De's hand lightly, and turned to smile for the camera.