Russell Howard Fanfiction - Love At First Laugh

Chapter 12 - Happy Birthday

A/N
I'm bored so you get another chapter 😂

Y/Ns POV

Luckily over the next couple days, Russell became a lot happier. He was working and he was eating properly and living life normally again. Of course he was still upset but he was getting over the grief slowly.
Russell's Birthday barbecue was all sorted. I had been planning it with Russell's mum while he was at work. We had bought all of the food and drinks, the invertations were sent and most people could come, and we had got really nice decorations for the garden where it would be. I had made his birthday cake and it was in his parents house so he wouldn't see it. All we had to do now was wait.

***

It was the morning of his birthday. I had been up early decorating downstairs with birthday banners. I set out all of his presents in a pile. They were all wrapped with paper in different shades of blue and they all had silver bows carefully tied around them. Later on at a more reasonable hour, I went downstairs and cooked him an English breakfast. Russell must have woke up to the smell of frying bacon and sausages as he came downstairs whilst I was cooking. I heard him step into the living room. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" I shouted from the kitchen. He ran into the kitchen with a wide grin on his face. "Awh Y/N you didn't have to do all of this!"
"I know but I'm a good girlfriend!"
"You are" He said, wrapping his arms around my waist whilst I was cooking.
"Oi bugger off I'm trying to cook here!"
He laughed at me and put on the kettle to make us tea.

Once I had made the breakfast we both sat down at the sofa to eat it. Russell noticed that we had both finished, and glanced at the pile of presents and back at me. He looked like a young child eager to open his presents. I rolled my eyes and said "Fine!". I couldn't help smiling at him racing over to the the pile and sitting cross legged on the carpet. I sat next to him as he opened the first present. One by one he opened them, continuously saying thank you. I didn't however put the special present in there. Once he had opened all of them he said "Y/N you really didn't have to get me that much"
"Oh I still have another gift to give you later"
Russell raised an eyebrow and smirked suggestively. Realising what he was thinking I said "Not like that you idiot!" as I smacked his arm. He laughed at my reaction as I scowled at him ... but eventually ended up in giggles aswell.
"Now get ready, I have a surprise for you."
We both raced up the stairs childishly and got ready. I dressed in the same mint dress that I wore on our first date. Russell noticed and smiled at me, then returning back to what he was doing.

When we were both ready, I made sure to text Ninette letting her know we were on our way. We both headed downstairs and into the car. I turned to Russell and said "Oh by the way you have to wear this" holding up a blindfold.
"Kinky" He said with a grin.
"Shut up"
We drove to Russell's parent's house and once we arrived I lead Russell out of the car and up to the door. I knocked and David, Russell's dad opened the door with a smile, staying silent. I lead him through the house and into the garden where a large crowd of his family and friends stood. The garden looked amazing. There was bunting and fairy lights around the fence and balloons tied down in the corners. There were a few tables next to the barbecue where food and drink was laid out and of course, the birthday cake I made on its own table.
"Ready?" I said. He nodded. I took off his blindfold and the crowd shouted "SURPRISE!!!". Everyone laughed while Russell stood there in shock at what was around him. He was then whisked away by some of his friends which left me alone. Ninette, Russell's mum came up to me and said "I think he likes it". I laughed at her comment as the music started playing.

The party was a huge success. The food that Russell's dad cooked on the barbecue was amazing and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Well I was having a good time.
I was clearing up some of the mess in the garden to help Ninette out and I went in to the kitchen to clear it away. As I was placing some of the dirty glasses into the dishwasher, a man walked in to the kitchen. I didn't know who he was. It felt really awkward, he wasn't saying anything. I froze before turning to him. He was watching my every move with a sleazy grin plastered on his face. "Can I help you?"
He took his time responding. He took two steps forward and said "Yeah I guess you could say that". He grinned at my reaction, making me frown and turn away, as I carried on loading the dishwasher. I felt him step closer to me and I carried on ignoring him. He stepped closer again. Suddenly I felt his hand slap my ass and he said "Don't be like that babe". I turned in horror at him and saw Russell at the door over his shoulder. The man turned to see who I was looking at.
"Ethan get the fuck out of here I swear to god" Russell said, his jaw clenching. Ethan grinned and strode out of the room, not giving a care in the world.
Russell stepped quickly over to me. "Y/N what did he do"
"Only what you saw .... Russell... who was that?"
"Ethan. The son of the neighbours next door. I was forced to be friends with him as a kid and he always bullied me. My parents wouldn't believe me when I told them."
"Oh."
"If he acts up again, let me know"
"If will"

I went round with Russell for the rest of the day. We were talking to some of his friends when Ninette tapped against a glass to get everyone's attention. "Its time for the birthday cake!" Russell was pushed over to the cake by the crowd and I followed him. The cake was lit up by the candles already. "Mum did you make this?" Russell asked. "Nope, Y/N did!" Ninette replied. Russell turned to me and planted a big kiss on my lips as the crowd awed. We both pulled away and everyone started singing 'happy birthday'. Russell blew out his candles and everyone cheered. Russell turned back to me with a massive grin on his face as everyone else went back to talking.

***

The party had finished and we were saying goodbye to everyone as they left. Once all of the guests had left, we said goodbye to Russell's parent's and then got in the car and drove back home. Before the end of the party I had put Russell's special gift in the car as I had left it in his parents house along with the cake. When we had arrived home, Russell unlocked the door and turned around as I was still by the car. "Are you coming in?"
"Yeah hold on I've just got to sort something out". He nodded and went inside. I opened the boot and took out the box that was wrapped up. I locked the car and stepped inside the house. I put the present in the living room and waited for Russell to come downstairs. I heard his feet pacing down the stairs and looked up when he entered the living room. Russell eyed up the box. "What's this?"
"The special present I was on about"
"Y/N you didn't have..."
"I know I know! You didnt have to get me it bla bla bla. Now bloody open it!"
He sat next to me on the carpet and untied the bow. He ripped the paper off to reveal a cardboard box. He looked at me with confusion and I gestured to him to carry on. He opened the top of the box.
A little jack russell popped his head out of the box. It gave out a sweet little yelp and stood up with its paws leaning on the edge of the box. Russell froze with his hands covering his mouth. He lifted the puppy up out of the box and placed it on his lap. It rolled around playfully and licked his arm. Just like Archie. I looked up at Russell who had a tear falling down his face. He looked up at me with an emotional smile. "Thank you" He said weakly, as the emotion drowned out his speech. We sat there playing with the little jack russell for the rest of the evening. He was very much like Archie, and we loved him already.

A/N
I hope you enjoyed! This was a bit longer than my chapters normally are but I hope it was ok all the same.