Work Text:
Conrad Fisher never cared much for birthdays. Wait. That’s not true. Conrad Fisher never cared much for his birthday.
An entire day that hinged on the celebration of him just being born…something he had very little to do with when he really thought about it. It felt self indulgent in a way that embarrassed him and unnecessary in a way that annoyed him.
His 12th birthday was the last he’d truly allowed himself the typical adolescent joy of balloons, streamers and a themed cake. He’d told his mom that in a year he would officially be a teenager, and teenagers didn’t need birthday parties. She just shook her head, giving him a knowing smile as she said “we’ll just see how you feel next year, Connie” before sticking 12 candles in his constellation themed cake.
But, despite her belief that he’d change his mind and despite her gargantuan efforts to talk him into an epic 13th birthday celebration, he simply declined. Her face fell in a way that made him consider it just to make her happy, but a bigger part of him was too stubborn to back down. So, instead of the party of his mother’s dreams, he ate pizza at the dining room table of his Boston home surrounded by his mom, his brother and his dad. He’d allowed a small cake so long as there was no singing of the birthday song or candles to blow out.
Even though Conrad didn’t like his birthday, he was always happy to celebrate other peoples. He would be the first to insist on singing happy birthday to his mom every year or cram his car full of an absurd number of balloons to surprise his brother with. He was always game for birthday dinners or outings with friends, buying rounds of drinks and even occasionally participating in a little birthday karaoke if enough alcohol was in his system.
Most of all he had loved celebrating Isabel Conklin’s birthday.
Every summer at the Cousins house they would all gather around in the kitchen in goofy birthday hats and sing to Belly before she blew out the candles on her Mickey Mouse pancakes. He loved watching her eyes shine and her smile stretch across her face while she looked around at everyone singing. The way her eyes would close and she’d lean in to blow out her candles, concentration written across her brow, made him think that maybe there really was something to the whole birthday hype after all. Belly had always been pure sunshine…but on her birthday it was like another level. As the years went by, he realized her birthday was his favorite day of the year. Even later on, after he lost her. Even all the years he didn’t see her, didn’t speak to her. Still he would think of her with her eyes clamped shut and her lips pursed and think that the day she had been born would forever be precious to him.
--
It was the morning of Conrad’s 24th birthday and he’d woken up to a string of texts wishing him a happy birthday. Suspiciously missing from the list was his girlfriend, Belly. They had facetimed the afternoon before and Belly had apologized profusely about the fact that she had to work that evening and all the next day. He’d insisted that it didn’t matter, reminding her that he didn’t like celebrating his birthday anyway, but some part of him woke up wishing for more.
Against his better judgment, he’d agreed to a birthday lunch with Agnes at her favorite taco spot. She’d asked him to pick, saying it was her treat, but he knew she didn’t like the place with the good lobster rolls that he loved most, so he refused to choose knowing she’d default to her choice.
He also made her promise not to insist on going to the bar with their usual group that night, knowing she’d make it a birthday outing even if she promised otherwise. His plans for the night consisted of a Lord of The Rings movie marathon and a 6 pack that had been chilling in his fridge for a week.
After a morning run and shower, he replied to all his birthday texts which then led to a call from Jeremiah. They talked about his current rotation at the hospital, the restaurant pop-ups Jere had started hosting in and around Boston, Adam’s newest “child bride” and how things had been with Belly. Things were still awkward, but getting less so every time they talked. Jere didn’t sound like it pained him to say Belly’s name anymore, which Conrad considered a win.
After he’d shown up in Paris on her birthday the year before, and after their dramatic reunion on the train to Brussels, Conrad had gotten home and called his brother to break the news. Jere wasn’t angry, but he certainly wasn’t thrilled. That made sense though. They’d ended that phone call with Jere floating the idea of coming out to California once Steven, Taylor and Denise all settled in and said they should get together and go surfing.
Conrad eagerly agreed, telling Jere he’d love to see him and meaning it. Part of him thought it was all empty promises, but a few months later there they were- surfing together in the Pacific. Brothers again. Friends again.
After talking to Jeremiah, Conrad called Laurel. She answered on the second ring, launching into a version of the birthday song that was peppered with laughter and made Conrad smile so hard his cheeks hurt. It was their tradition, and he’d decided long ago not to deny Laurel the joy she found in celebrating him. She was the closest thing he had to a mom anymore, and after years of wishing he’d let his mom celebrate his birthday and sing to him longer, he genuinely cherished the times Laurel did.
They did their usual catch up, talking work and friends and books and if he’d been eating and sleeping enough. Laurel mentioned Belly being so busy and how she knew it was killing her not being more available on his day and Conrad just said he understood and that they’d have plenty of birthdays together in the future. He could practically see the smile on Laurel’s face when she said “that you will”.
Adam was last and the call was thankfully quick. He told Conrad that he’d meant to send him a gift but had been so busy with work lately that it slipped his mind. He told Conrad to just buy himself whatever he wanted on their shared card. “No budget, Con. Go crazy. Well…not too crazy. Not like a new car or something. You get what I mean”. Conrad just sighed and thanked him, thinking maybe he’d try and carve out a long weekend soon and use Adam’s card for a last-minute flight to Paris to see his girl.
Lunch with Agnes was filled with their usual banter. She handed him a gift wrapped box and told him to shut up when he gave her a look like she was in trouble. Inside were new running shoes, which he actually had been needing.
“Yours have been looking disgusting, Con. It’s a gift to you…but also to all of us that have to be around you when you run. It was getting a little embarrassing, to be honest"
He tried to buy lunch, and Agnes physically knocked his card out of his hand, tapping hers before he had a chance to pick it back up. Before they left, she made one last attempt at getting him to go out that night and even offered to come “nerd out” and watch LOTR with him so he wouldn’t be alone, but he told her he was fine.
“It’s just another day. I don’t need special treatment, Ag”
“Celebrating your birthday isn’t special treatment, dude. It’s like…incredibly normal”
“It’s literally celebrating myself…which I think may be the definition of special treatment”
“You’re so lame, Fisher”
“Yeah, but isn’t that what you love about me?”
“You got me there”
They hugged and she told him to text if he changed his mind, but they both knew he wouldn’t.
--
Walking into his apartment, he reached for his phone to text Belly. He knew she was working, but missed her and wanted her to know he was thinking of her.
Conrad: Missing you, baby. Hope you’re having a good day
He slid his phone back into his back pocket then toed his shoes off, lining them up by the door. Walking into the kitchen, he considered opening a beer but figured it was too early for that- birthday or not.
Right as he was moving toward the couch, the sound of something dropping echoed from his bedroom. He stopped, standing still to listen for anything else. A few seconds later he heard a soft shuffling sound from the same direction and turned to take a few steps in that direction.
“Hello?”
He wasn’t yelling, but his voice was loud in the quiet of his apartment. There was no reply as he moved closer and closer. He realized his bedroom door was closed and was about 99% sure he hadn't closed it that morning.
Taking a few deep breaths, he tried to calm himself. The quick thud of his heart proved he wasn’t doing a great job.
It’s probably nothing
Maybe you DID shut the door and just forgot
Maybe a…bird got in?
Reaching for the doorknob, he realized maybe he should have grabbed a bat or knife or something just in case. It was too late though, so he decided to push ahead.
When he opened his bedroom door, it took a triple take to really believe what he was seeing.
Sitting on the end of his bed, one leg crossed over the other, was Belly. Her arms were planted on the bed a little behind her back, causing her upper body to arch forward. She had on a plum demi cup lace bra with matching panties and a garter belt holding up thigh high stockings. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, skimming the top of her breasts that were straining against the lace of her bra.
Conrad’s mouth had fallen open and his eyes scanned the room, trying to find something-anything-to prove to him that this was real and he wasn’t having a stroke or experiencing some other medical emergency.
A suitcase sat in the corner of his room with what looked like a pair of jeans and shirt folded on top and a pair of tennis shoes set to the side. Balloons covered the floor and a “Happy Birthday” banner was haphazardly taped to his dresser, looping across the front of the drawers.
When his eyes met Belly’s again, she was smirking, clearly proud of herself.
“Belly…what…how…”
“Surprise, birthday boy”
The sound of her voice was all he needed to realize it wasn’t all a mirage. She was there. She was really there.
He took two giant steps toward her, bending forward and picking her up into his arms, kissing her like his life depended on it. She kissed him back, looping her arms around his neck and tugging him closer so she could properly get her tongue into his mouth. He groaned at the contact and she laughed against his lips, pulling back after a minute to look at him.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought…you said you were working”
“I lied” she whispered, eyebrows wiggling.
“God baby. You’re fucking perfect. You look…fuck, you look incredible”
“You like it?”
Conrad set her on her feet, stepping back just far enough to look her up and down. A blush crept up her chest and neck and on to her cheeks but she stood in place letting him ogle her to his heart’s content.
“Okay, turn around”
She rolled her eyes, but turned slowly. His eyes swept over her body from head to toe and he felt himself getting hard already.
“Bend over for me, baby”
Belly’s head whipped around and she looked at him like he was insane.
“Conrad!”
“Come on…it’s my birthday after all”
“You don’t even like your birthday”
He stepped forward, placing the front of his body against her back and settling his hands on her hips.
“Yeah well I like this birthday. Actually…I fucking love this birthday”
She bent forward slowly, pressing her ass against the front of his jeans. His hands stayed on her hips, digging in a little harder as she folded in front of him.
“Good girl”
Belly wiggled her hips, causing more friction between their bodies. He moaned at the feeling, dragging her closer against himself before hooking his fingers into her panties and peeling them down.
“You’re not wasting any time are you, Con?”
He laughed and reached for his belt, unbuckling it while looking down at her pussy displayed for him. She was dripping already, puffy and pink in the way he always pictured when he was getting himself off.
Belly’s breath hitched at the sound of his zipper sliding down and he palmed himself through his boxers, desperate for a little contact. Once his jeans were off, he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped to his knees, shuffling forward until he was only inches from what he really wanted.
“Conrad…what are you…”
His mouth closed on her clit before she could finish her question and her knees started to buckle as he licked into her. He reached around, holding her up while she reached forward to brace herself on the dresser, spreading her legs wider and begging for more.
Her slick was covering his mouth and chin and the taste of her was overwhelming. He was drunk on the sounds she was making above him and the way she clenched around his fingers and tongue.
He brought her to her first orgasm quickly, holding her body weight up as she gushed against his lips. His fingers continued moving inside her and his tongue stayed on her clit, determined to get her off again.
While he ate her out, his right hand moved down to pull his cock out and he started stroking in rhythm with his tongue. He was leaking from the tip and harder than he’d been in months. Each stroke brought him closer to the edge, and he could tell Belly was almost there again too.
Groaning into her, his hips thrust forward, pushing into his fist. Completely wrapped up in the sensation of Belly on his tongue and his cock in his hand, he was momentarily stunned when she stepped forward and out of his reach.
Before he could ask what was wrong, she turned and pressed at his shoulders, pushing him on to his back before straddling him and sliding down on his cock in one quick motion.
Conrad reached forward for her hips and around to her ass, grabbing on as she rode him. On either side of him were balloons in every color of the rainbow and he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Belly fucking him in a sea of birthday balloons.
Her head was tipped back, mouth agape as she rocked her hips against his. She looked gorgeous. Perfect. The sight of her had him almost at his peak again in no time and when she moaned his name and clenched around him with her own orgasm, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
Slamming his hips up, he came deep inside her, filling her up just the way she liked.
They stayed like that for a few minutes before she rolled off of him, landing on a balloon before she pulled it out from under her and rubbed it on the top of Conrad’s head. He could feel the static pulling his hair up and sideways and they fell against each other laughing.
Belly stood up, running toward her suitcase and coming back with her phone.
“Stay right there, Con. I wanna get a picture”
“Belly...no. I’m naked”
“I’m not gonna like post it on facebook or something. Come on, babe. Pleeeeease”
He rolled his eyes but smiled. She was impossible to say no to. Before she snapped the picture, he grabbed a bright blue balloon and placed it over his softening cock.
“Oh, so can I post it on facebook now?” She joked, kneeling back on the floor and kissing his cheek.
“Let’s not horrify people on my birthday, Belly”
“Ugh fine Mr. Modesty. I don’t want them to see anyway. You’re all mine”
He grinned, pulling her against him, still trying to let it sink in that she had actually flown across the ocean to surprise him.
“There’s a cake in the fridge. And candles. And yes…I am singing to you and you are blowing out candles. Got it?”
“Sure baby. Whatever you want”
She beamed at him before leaning down to kiss the tip of his nose.
“Happy Birthday, Doctor Fisher. I love you. Like really love you”