speechless | roger taylor

sixteen

"Who knew Freddie could cook?" Elise laughed, leaning back in her chair and pushing her plate forward on the table slightly.

"I can cook some things, I just can't boil an egg," Freddie told her.

"Doesn't it have something to do with hot water?" Roger asked as he ate the last slice of bacon on his plate. He was the last to finish and Elise broke out laughing.

"I can't believe you two don't know how to boil an egg. It's easier than knowing your own name," she said. 

John snorted, "apparently it isn't for them."

Elise had to admit that she was having one of the best birthdays she's ever had. She had laughed more in the last half hour than she had in the last year and she felt good. 

John, Brian and Freddie stood up, taking their plates into the kitchen, collectively deciding to leave Elise with Roger for a moment. She turned to the man beside her and smiled, her heart warming at everything he's done for her. 

"Happy birthday, petal," Roger chuckled, pulling her in for a hug. She buried her face in his chest, the smell of his cologne enveloping her. Once she pulled away, she noticed how dressed up he was, and how underdressed she had been. 

Roger wore a black, long-sleeved button-up, with the first four buttons undone and the sleeves rolled to his elbows. It was tucked neatly into a pair of black trousers that fit him perfectly, and Elise was practically drooling over him at this point. All she wore was her pyjamas.

"Thank you, Rog. For everything," she said softly. 

"Now," Brian said, turning around to face them. "Do you want cupcakes or presents first?" 

Elise giggled giddily and clapped her hands as if she was a small child, "both!" 

Not long after, Brian walked over to the dining table with a tray of cupcakes balancing on his hands. He set it down in the middle of the table and sat down as he waited for John and Freddie to manage the presents.

Elise watched with joy as her two best friends attempted to balance her presents in their hands without letting them drop on the way to the table. They placed them in front of her and she felt like a damned princess.

"You guys seriously didn't have to do this for me, you know?" she told them honestly, pulling her left leg under her right, making herself more comfortable. 

"Maybe we didn't have to, but if you haven't quite noticed, I love parties," Freddie chuckled, "even if they are just for us."

Elise chuckled and rested her elbows on the table, holding her head up with her propped hands. "Where do we start?"

John immediately passed her the gift that he'd made for her. She let out a small giggle and took it from his hands, placing it on the table in front of her. She looked like a giddy child on Christmas as she ripped through the wrapping paper, pulling the black leather book out and balling the wrapping paper up.

She opened the black leather book and was immediately brought to tears as she recognised the small polaroids that were enclosed in the laminated pages of the book. There were photos of him and her when they were ten, playing in a field near Elise's childhood home, photos of them when they were thirteen sharing an ice cream cone with ice cream dripping down John's chin—there were photos of them that Elise didn't even know existed.

"Deaks," she chuckled through her tears, "this is so amazing. Thank you."

"Anything for my little munchkin," he smiled, reaching over the table and ruffling her hair playfully. "Flowers were also my idea since I know how much you love dahlias."