Little stories of love and joy.

lockwood and co

Chapter 1: A Birthday Surprise

Lockwood stumbled through the front door of 35 Portland Row, his usually impeccable suit now torn and stained with blood. Cuts and bruises covered his face and arms, evidence of the dangerous mission we had just returned from. Lucy and George followed closely behind, equally battered and exhausted. We had faced a particularly vicious ghost tonight, one that had put up a fierce fight before we finally managed to banish it.

Lockwood winced as he gingerly touched a deep gash on his cheek. "Well, that was a close one," he muttered, his voice strained. "But we did it, team. Another successful mission."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his attempt to downplay the severity of our injuries. "Successful, yes," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I don't think our suits would agree with you, Lockwood."

George chuckled, his own suit in tatters. "I think we should start investing in some sturdier clothing. These fancy suits aren't exactly built for ghost hunting."

Lockwood shot us a playful glare before heading towards the kitchen. "Well, while you two complain about fashion, I'll go get patched up. And maybe grab a snack while I'm at it."

As Lockwood disappeared into the kitchen, the shrill ring of the telephone echoed through the empty hallway. I exchanged a puzzled glance with George before following the sound to the study. Lockwood was already there, holding the receiver to his ear.

"Hello?" he answered, his voice cautious.

I stood beside him, curiosity getting the better of me. George leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed.

"Happy birthday, Lockwood!" a cheerful voice greeted from the other end of the line. It was Lockwood's Aunt Clara.

Lockwood's eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced at us, unsure of how to respond. Aunt Clara believed that his parents were still alive, a secret we had all kept from her to spare her the pain of knowing the truth.

"Thank you, Aunt Clara," Lockwood replied, a forced smile on his face. "I'm actually having a party tonight, so it's perfect timing."

George raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Lockwood's quick thinking. I, on the other hand, felt a pang of guilt. We had never celebrated Lockwood's birthday before, always too caught up in our ghost-hunting adventures. And now, here he was, making up a story to keep his aunt happy.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Aunt Clara exclaimed. "Are your parents there as well?"

Lockwood hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. "Yes, they're here," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Safe and well."

I watched as Lockwood's face tightened, his eyes clouded with memories. I knew how much he missed his parents, how much he longed for their presence in his life. And yet, he had to pretend they were still alive, just to keep his aunt's hopes alive.

As Lockwood hung up the phone, a heavy silence settled over the room. George cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Well, happy birthday, Lockwood," he said, his voice laced with sincerity.

I nodded, my guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. "Yes, happy birthday, Lockwood. I'm sorry we didn't realize sooner."

Lockwood smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's alright, guys. We've got more important things to worry about than birthdays."

But as I looked at Lockwood, his tired and battered form, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. We were a team, a family, and we should have celebrated each other's milestones, no matter how small. From that moment on, I vowed to make it up to Lockwood, to show him that he was loved and appreciated, even in the midst of our dangerous and unpredictable lives.

Little did I know that this decision would lead us down a path filled with unexpected surprises, both joyous and heartbreaking. But for now, as we stood in the study, I couldn't help but hope that our next mission would bring us closer together, and maybe, just maybe, give us a chance to celebrate Lockwood's birthday properly.