Outside, the winter air was crisp—just comfortable enough to be outside without a heavy coat but still needing a jacket of some kind. It was an unusually warm winter this year in Manitoba, where the snow seemed to refuse to stick. It was strange but oddly comfortable. The stars above shone brightly, unobstructed, making it a perfect night. Simon sat quietly on the porch, letting the cool air surround him as he gazed up at the celestial display above. He had the door propped open, listening carefully for the oven as a sweet smell wafted through the air. It smelled like home.
Just a few days prior, Simon had been content with their situation. Sure, they were once again stuck in another place, isolated from everyone they knew, but this place was fascinating in its own right. What mattered to him was Wren's comfort, and she seemed to be growing fond of this place. They had fit right in, though they still worked on getting the Gateway up and running. When it was mysteriously destroyed, they didn't rush to rebuild.
The pair had spent a quiet evening together, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company with a box of pizza. Simon never saw the point in Valentine's Day. Why is there a dedicated day of the year to show someone you love them? Shouldn't you be doing that all year round? Regardless, Wren saw it as an excuse to get away from everyone, so they headed out to the city and found a little pizza shop, talking the night away. It wasn't much, but they had each other, and that was all that mattered.
The night ended, and they fell back into their usual nightly routine of getting ready for bed and drifting to sleep. Whatever peace they had felt was soon dashed when Simon was woken by Jesse. With the recent feeling of magic in the air, Jesse hardly needed to tell him what had happened. They moved quickly to get everyone situated. Now here he was, sitting on the porch, waiting for Wren to come back to consciousness. He knew it would take a while, so he would wait for her, as he always did. The thing this time was that she wouldn't be awake for her 24th birthday; instead, she would be deep inside her head, with no way out.
Simon wanted to celebrate her still, even with everything turning out the way it was. He wasn't going to let it deter him. He stood up from his spot, scanning the night sky before heading back inside, leaving the door open to let in some cool air. He was going to get this perfectly right. He went into the fridge, pulling out a couple of bowls he had prepared earlier in the day. He set them on the counter as he heard the timer go off, signaling that the cake he was making was ready. He quickly retrieved the baked good from its prison, allowing the house to fill with the smell he had grown to love.
Strawberries have always been a favorite of Wren's. When they finally returned to Earth after nine years trapped on Vita, the first thing she did was make a strawberry cake. She wanted it to be special. Granted, she wasn't all that good with Earth ingredients, and quite honestly, it had tasted terrible. Regardless, they finished the whole thing, not leaving any crumbs. They cherished being back, and it was one of the last things from her childhood that she had to hold onto, a reminder of simpler times. Simon and Jack didn't share the same feelings about the cake, but somehow it still felt like home.
Simon handled the cake with extreme care, as if it were the tiniest creature that could easily be killed. He carefully slid it onto the counter and stepped back to let it cool before applying the cream cheese frosting. He started sorting through the bowl of strawberries he had pulled out, discarding those that didn't quite seem right or were too small. He needed this to be perfect—for her.
He worked in silence as the cool air continued to flow in from outside. He could hear the wind blowing, ringing the wind chimes of a neighboring house, signaling that he wasn't alone in the world. Quite honestly, he had been content with being alone when growing up. All he had was his father, and that was all he needed until he got to know Wren better and Jack came along. Jack had been interested in him right away, quick to become friends. Although he now knew there were alternative motives behind Jack's behavior, they remained lifelong friends, close and trusting. With Wren, there was some resistance at first. She didn't seem to like him much, and he was fine with that, still supporting her in whatever way he could. She would soon learn to let down her guard around him, learning to trust and eventually love. The three of them had grown up together, and although they had their struggles, they always pulled through and always had each other.
Simon was snapped from his thoughts by the sound of flight. He quickly rushed to the door to find Coeur and Leo landing on the railing of the porch. They perched quietly, looking at him, signaling that they had returned with news Simon wasn't fond of but had to accept. He brought the pair inside, finally allowing the door behind him to close. Since that night, Jack had also been missing, nowhere to be seen. Simon refused to leave the house, needing to look after Wren knowing that no one else would. The problem was there was no one else to look for Jack either. So Simon often sent Coeur and Leo out to search for him or Marsh, but they always came back with nothing.
He released the birds into the air, allowing them to find places to roost for the night. He knew they were tired from searching all day, but he still felt as if enough wasn't being done. He shook his head and returned to work on the cake. He knew he could only be in so many places at once, and right now, he needed to be here. Jack was more than capable of taking care of himself, wherever he was, and Simon knew he would be back home soon enough. Besides, he had Marsh, and he would come get them if anything happened. Everything pointed to Jack being more than likely fine, so Simon would accept that for now and move on.
Simon worked diligently and efficiently, measuring out exactly how much icing was needed for precise coverage of the cake, ensuring the strawberries were evenly spaced, and making sure the candles didn't dig too deep into the cake, all while cleaning as he went. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of a completed cake, one that represented more than it was. It represented home. He lit the candles he had placed and took the cake outside to the porch. The wind was still blowing, and he lifted the cake to the starry heavens above, allowing the wind to make a wish in Wren's place. To him, there was no magic in making a wish, but over the years, Wren had taught him that there was hope in one. Hope that maybe one day, they'd all be okay.
He quietly brought the cake back inside, placing it on the counter. He examined it a bit longer before pulling out the candles and tossing them into the trash. He put the cake into the fridge, leaving it there for someone to find and hopefully enjoy. He wasn't going to eat it; he couldn't, not when it was for her. He went to shut off the lights, finally allowing himself to go upstairs to see her. It was her birthday after all, and he wanted to share it with her.
