Work Text:
AMC
Lena took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. She was tired – the numbers on the spreadsheet had been blurring together for the last hour. It was time to stop.
She had been in the office since early this morning. She was in no rush to get back to her room at the inn. She knew she could go to the bar, enjoy a drink or two and get some sleep, but the thought of being around other people right now didn’t seem too... palatable.
Leaning back in her chair she fought back tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t experienced this before – what did it matter.
So, she was alone – again.
She was last year and the one before that. If she thought about it and she really didn’t want to, but the number came to her anyway. She had been alone the last five years.
“Enough of this,” she told herself out loud. Closing her file and cleaning off her desk, Lena decided it was time to go. She looked up as she heard someone knocking on her door. “Come in,” she called out. Who could be here at this hour? She wondered.
“You’re still here... that’s great! I mean, not that it’s great that you’re working but you’re still here.”
“Bianca...” Lena watched as Erica Kane’s daughter came into her office, using her foot to close the door.
“Hi,” she said as she put the small tray, she’d brought with her on Lena’s desk.
“I don’t understand.”
“Well,” Bianca explained as she removed items off the tray. “I... I read in your file...”
“You looked at my file?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it.”
“What is that?” Lena asked pointing to the dome covered plate.
“Close your eyes.”
“Excuse me?”
“Please... close your eyes.”
Lena very slowly did what Bianca requested. She heard the dome being removed then an odd noise, before Bianca said, “Open them.”
Lena gasped.
“I uh. . . I read that today was your birthday...”
Lena couldn’t believe it. On a piece of fine China was a cup cake and poking out of it was a candle, the flame flickering slightly.
Bianca held her breath – she prayed that Lena wouldn’t be offended by her paltry gesture. Lena had joined the company a month ago and Bianca could tell that there was something special about her. There was a connection she felt towards Lena, it was something she wanted to explore.
Finding out today was Lena’s birthday was a perfect way to start – or so she thought. Bianca was having second thoughts as Lena stared at the cup cake. Bianca wondered if Lena was going to blow the candle out soon as the wax was starting to drip down the side.
“Umm, Lena, you might want to blow out the candle,” Bianca suggested. ‘She didn’t like it. God, how could I have been so stupid to think this could impress someone like Lena.’
Blow out the candle.
Blow out the candle.
How could those simple words have such an effect on her? The tears in her eyes made it difficult to see. Lena quickly wiped them away, bent down, saying a silent thank you for Bianca Montgomery, blew out the candle.
Walking around the desk, Lena surprised Bianca by taking her into her arms and hugging her tightly. “Thank you,” she managed to utter, her throat tight as her emotions began to overwhelm her.
“You’re welcome?” Bianca answered as she hesitantly began to stroke Lena’s back. “Are you okay?” she asked after a while.
Without thinking, Lena placed a kiss on Bianca’s temple. “I’m fine, just amazed.”
She kissed me... Lena kissed me. She did... didn’t she? I know I felt her lips... I know I did.
They held each other until Lena realized what she was doing and slowly pulled away. “I’m sorry...”
“No. It’s okay. I don’t mind, really, I don’t.”
“Bianca...”
“Yes,” she replied her eyes locking on Lena’s.
“Would you like to go out? For a drink perhaps... if you drink that is.”
“You don’t have any plans?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I was going to go back to my room and get some sleep. I don’t feel like doing that anymore.”
Bianca smiled. “I’d love to.”
“Good. Let me get my bag.”
Bianca waited while Lena got her things together. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
They began walking out the door when Lena stopped and turned around.
“I can’t forget this,” she said as she wrapped the cupcake in the linen napkin. “I think I’ll leave the flowers here. Thank you again Bianca.”
“My pleasure.”
Lena took one last look at the white and yellow roses, plucking the card out and placing it in her purse. She knew she wouldn’t throw it away.
“Where would you like to go?” Lena asked as they finally left the office. Lena felt a surge of emotion settle around her heart as she thought about the card the words warming her soul – making this the best birthday she’d had in a very long time.
Happy Birthday Lena,
Love,
Bianca.
The End.