[8/3] happy birthday, jack!

[puckandpie]

There isn't any way on earth I'll be able to top the dinner date on the beach Jack gave me for my birthday a couple months ago, but seeing as it's still summer and still wonderfully hot out, I've decided a picnic is the right idea.

As little use as there is in being secretive, I still sent him sort of a vague text a couple hours ago, asking him to meet me under a tree with by the pond in the park and to bring Macha and Shannon. There are a lot of trees, of course, and I don't expect him to find me right away, but I'm hoping it won't take him too long. Besides, I've made it sort of obvious which one I mean with the red-and-white checkered blanket I've laid out and the few little streamers and balloons I have hanging from the branches.

The meal is entirely prepared by hand with a number of little finger sandwiches and a fruit salad. I tossed in some poutine even though I'm not at all confident in my ability to make anything at all as good as he's used to, along with several nanaimo bars. I even found a recipe for dog cookies and have made a half dozen decorated like the Canadian flag for the pups to share.

And, of course, a fresh maple sugar crusted apple pie.

Instead of murdering said pie with twenty-six different candles, I bought a number two and a number six, but they're both hidden away for until after the main dish.

I'd spent more time wrapping his present than strictly necessary, but it at least looks nice sitting under the tree with a large red bow. I hand drew a number of little maple leaves and hockey sticks all over the wrapping and I'm still busy making sure the plates and cutlery and cups of fresh lemonade are all set out nicely when I notice a familiar crop of dark hair heading up the path. Macha and Shannon are pulling him along, their tails wagging excitedly and I scramble to my feet to greet them, smiling wide.

"There he is," I say when he's close enough to hear me. "Didn't have too much trouble finding me, did you?"

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[eatmoreprotein]

"Yes sir," I reply with a smirk when he chides me about the fries, but my eyes light up right along with the dogs' when he hands me homemade treats. "Look at that, guys! Bits thought of everything."

I take the treats with a pleased grin and hand them over, making sure that they're distracted before I grab the perfectly wrapped box and sit cross-legged on the blanket with it in my lap. I have no idea what to expect when I open the box, but what I do see completely takes my breath away.

"Bits--" I choke out, carefully reaching into the box to gently lift the camera up and out of it. It's a really good, expensive camera much like the one that I had back home, and I hold it reverently against my chest as I look over at him with a stunned expression. "Bitty."

[puckandpie]

Every hour I'd spent researching on the internet and harassing that poor sales lady at the mall pays off ten fold when I see the look on Jack's face in that moment. His eyes go wide as he carefully pulls the camera out, cradling it in the way I've seen him do so often back home.

It's not the same model, I don't think. I sort of hope the one I got is newer, but I'm not actually sure. The woman was pretty insistent that Jack would be perfectly happy with it and I can only hope that turns out to be true.

"Now, it may not have everything you want or need," I rush to tell him, smiling sheepishly. "I hardly had any idea what I was lookin' for to be honest. But I still have the receipt so we can take it back and you can get that better suits you. I just thought you should have one that's a little better than a camera phone, you know?"

[eatmoreprotein]

"No, Bits. It's-- it's perfect," I tell him, throat tight. I loved photography almost as much as hockey, and while I've taken lots of photos with my phone, it doesn't compare to an actual camera. "But babe, this is too much. It must have cost a fortune."

I lower the camera and look over at him, eyes bright. "You didn't need to spend this much on me."

[puckandpie]

"Oh, honey, no," I tell him quickly, shaking my head. "I meant-- I suppose it was a bit more expensive than just buying one of those disposable cameras at the pharmacy, but it's not. I mean, this isn't the highest end model by a long shot. Just the bestI could afford. And before you go worryin' any further, I can afford it. I promise. I don't work two jobs for nothin', mister."

My smile softens a little then and I can't get over that look on Jack's face. In truth, the camera was no small chunk of change, but right now it feels absolutely priceless.

"I just want you to make sure it'll be what you need, okay?" I tell him, nodding down at where he's still cradling it in his hands. "I tried to do as much research as I could, but I'm no photographer and I really only understood about half the things I read."

[eatmoreprotein]

Bittle's reassurances make me feel better and I nod at him before looking down at the camera again. The one I had back home wasn't the most expensive model out there. It was up there, sure, but it was also the one that felt the best in my hands. This one feels even better.

I turn the camera on and lift it up to my face, pointing it at Bits and taking a few quick photos. The sun is setting and it lights his hair up gold, makes his eyes bright, and I try to capture just how beautiful he is.

"Perfect," I breathe out, pulling back from the camera to glance down at the display before looking up at him again. "Thanks, Bitty."

[puckandpie]

I'd had the foresight to buy him a memory card along with the camera and, thinking he might want to start using the camera right away, I'd even juiced the battery before wrapping everything. And I'm glad I did when Jack lifts the camera and points it right at me to take a few pictures.

My cheeks go a little warm as I let out a laugh, but I don't duck away. Not when he's clearly so happy.

"If you find anything wrong with it or really do want a different model, you just tell me, okay?" I order him, reaching to start pouring us each a cup of lemonade. Glancing over at the pond a few yards away, I add with a grin, "You could try it out on some of those ducks over there."

[eatmoreprotein]

"I think it's going to be just fine," I say without looking away from the camera. Well, I'm looking at him, really. Just through the lens. I lose count of how many shots I take, but I can see that Bits is a little embarrassed. As alluring as those pink cheeks are to the lens, I finally lower the camera.

He mentions the ducks and I look over, chest clenching a bit as I remember the ducks at Samwell. Without saying anything, I get up and make my way towards the pond, camera to my face as I snap a few shots. "Bits!" I whisper loudly from the edge of the water. "There are baby ducks."

[puckandpie]

Without a word, Jack stands right up to head toward the pond, both Macha and Shannon lifting their heads to watch him go, whining softly from their locked spots.

"Jack!" I call after him, laughing a little as I set down the thing of lemonade. He's clearly so happy though, camera held at his face as he takes picture after picture. When he turns back, his eyes are wide and bright and so excited and I get up without a word, wiping my hands across my pants as I head over.

"Did you get any pictures?" I ask him, stepping in to stand beside him, still marveling at how closely I can stand to him, how I'm allowed.

[eatmoreprotein]

"I did, yeah!" I tell him excitedly, switching the screen to preview and holding it out as I scroll though a few shots of the ducks. "The lens on this thing is incredible."

I lean over to press a happy kiss to his temple and then I look back at the picnic, and the dogs who are straining against their leashes to get to us. Instantly, I feel a bit embarrassed and I smile sheepishly at him. "I juts ran away from our picnic. Pretty rude, eh?"

After taking his hand, I lead him back over to the blanket and settle down, but I can't stop myself from taking a few pictures of the dogs before finally setting the camera down. I can't stop smiling and with my camera next to me, and my hands on my dogs as I watch Bits, I realize that I'm the happiest I've been since I got here.

Since maybe even before that.

[puckandpie]

He never stops smiling, his blue eyes so so bright as he angles the preview screen toward me, showing off all the pictures he's just taken of the ducks, both the older ones and the babies, too.

"No, sweetheart, it's fine," I assure him, grinning up at him as he drops his hand into mine again and we head back to the spot under the tree. "We can spend today doing anything you want, even if that includes taking pictures of water fowl while the pie gets cold."

I say the last with a wink as he clicks a few more pictures of the pups before setting the camera aside. "You don't have to stop," I tell him, just so glad that he seems to really like his present. I'm pretty sure I'll never ever get tired of seeing that smile on his face, that's for sure. "I was jokin' about the pie. It'll heat up again just fine later. In fact, we can take all this home right now if you'd rather. We don't have to stay here at all."

[eatmoreprotein]

"No, I like it here," I assure him honestly. Bittle went to all this trouble to set this up for me, and I want to enjoy it. I give the dogs another set of treats to distract them and then move closer to Bittle, watching him fondly before reaching for my plate of poutine again. It's cooled off a little by now, fries gone a bit soggy, but it's still delicious. "What other amazing Canadian delicacies await me, eh?"

[puckandpie]

It's possible he's only humoring me, but there's nothing in his expression to show that, really. His smile is as open and sweet as ever and he really does look like he just wants to be here for now.

"Oh, I made nanaimo bars!" I tell him, grinning as I reach into the basket to pull out another container, popping open the lid and holding them out to him. "There are a ton of recipes for these so I just picked out the one I liked best. You can tell me what I need to do to tweak them to what you like."