Three Years

eighteen

"Sierra, when we get inside the apartment you need to be very, very quiet, we don't want to let Mummy know about the surprise," Avi held up a single to finger to his lips in order to signal his daughter. 

It had been about two months since the two had first met and now they were inseparable. Sometimes, Kirstin even got jealous of their close relationship. Avi had even moved to London permanently so he could be with Sierra and was staying with Kirstin until he could find his own apartment. 

Well, at least that's what Kirstin thought. 

In reality, Avi hadn't even been searching for apartments, he was positive that things would work out between himself and Kirstie. It had been two long months of constant flirting, cuddle sessions and there had been way too many times where the two had nearly kissed. 

"Okay,  Daddy," Sierra whispered quietly, petting the white husky that she was holding in her arms. 

Avi and Sierra had left at the crack of dawn in order to surprise Kirstin for her birthday and finally buy her the puppy that she had always wanted. Avi opened the door ever so slightly and let out a sigh of relief when he noticed that the apartment was quiet - which meant that she was still asleep. He allowed Sierra to walk in first and followed behind her, carrying the birthday cake and decorations in one hand, and the dog necessities in the other. 

Avi - and with a little bit of help from Sierra- spent at least an hour decorating the entire living room with balloons, streamers, banners. He lit the candles on the birthday cake and when he finally thought everything was perfect, he decided to wake her up.

"I'm going to go wake up Mummy now, you go on and hide the puppy in the bathroom and then wait patiently for Mummy to come," Avi said to his little princess, kissing her hair before entering Kirstin's room - where he would occasionally share a bed with her. 

The first thing he noticed once he walking to her room was how she cuddled with a pillow; he swear he could also hear her mumbling his name in her sleep. Avi crawled over to the empty side of the bed and whispered sweet nothings in Kirstin's ear. She was a very light sleeper so she was awake within a few minutes and smiled sleepily once she saw who was next to her.

"Good morning," Kirstin yawned, still feeling quite tired.

"Happy birthday, Kirst," Avi beamed while planting a sweet kiss on her forehead. Kirstie grinned in response, hopped out of bed started to make her way towards the living room while Avi followed behind with a smirk on his face, waiting to see her reaction. She gasped once she saw the entire room covered in birthday decorations and gasped once again, even louder, when she saw her favourite type of cake laying upon the kitchen counter.

"Mummy! Happy birthday, Mummy!" Sierra popped out from behind the counter. She ran towards her mother and embraced her in a loving hug. "I made this for you!" Sierra handed her mother a crumpled, white sheet of paper that had a very squiggly drawing of the three of them on it.

Kirstin clutched it to her chest and brought Sierra in for another hug, "Thank you. sweetie, it's the best gift that I've ever received."

Sierra started to giggle like crazy. "No, I think you'll like Daddy's gift more." Kirstin turned to where Avi was standing and raised a single eyebrow.

"Technically, the gift is from both me and Sierra, but I'll go get it," Avi smirked before strolling over towards the bathroom. The little, white husky looked up at him with big, blue eyes and Avi swore he could've melted on the spot. "Okay, buddy, time to do your adorable, puppy magic." The little fur ball of energy practically jumped into his arms and made himself comfortable. "Okay, Kirstie, I'm going to need you to close your eyes!" He yelled from the bathroom.

"They're closed!" She shouted back in reply. Avi crept slowly towards Kirstin and put the dog close to her face so he would lick her. Once she felt a hot, wet tongue on her cheek, she immediately opened her eyes and laid them upon a gorgeous, white husky. She took him from Avi's arms and asked with a look of surprise on her face, "Is this my gift?"

"He's all yours," Avi beamed. Kirstin's eyes flickered from the currently sleeping pup in her arms and the gorgeous man standing in front of her. If she wasn't one hundred percent sure that she was in love with Avi before, she definitely knew now. 

She quickly but gently placed the new member of the family on the ground before grabbing Avi's face in her hands and planting a movie star-type kiss on his lips. Avi was so shocked that it took him a second to become aware of what was happening but when he did, he moved his lips in sync with Kirstin's and rested his hands on her waist. His entire body was on fire while his mind was racing. 

It's finally happening! He thought to himself. I'm finally kissing Kirstie! 

"Gross, Mummy and Daddy kiss!" Sierra pulled a disgusted face, almost as if she ate something bitter. The familiar voice caused them to separate quickly; they almost forgot they had an audience. 

Kirstin laughed nervously and detached herself completely from Avi. "Sorry, sweetie. Let's go make some breakfast, shall we?" She offered, wanting to change the subject. Sierra latched onto her mother's hand and the two disappeared into the kitchen, leaving a dumbfounded Avi in the living room. 

It might have been Kirstin's birthday, but he was sure he had just received the best gift in his life.