Susan's Birthday Party

by Jill Kirby

August 1995

"Nicola! Did you bring more balloons?"

Nick held up the bag of multi-colored balloons. "I don't really understand why you need these," he called as he entered. "You're not exactly a balloon person..."

Nick's voice trailed off as he regarded the inside of the Raven in stunned amazement. Balloons and posters festooned every wall, chair, table and post. Glitter covered much of the floor. A mirrored disco ball had been hung over the dance floor, and it was busily reflecting the colored lights that had been installed just for tonight. A large banner was stretched across the bar, reading "Happy Birthday Susan - We Love You (Most of the Time)." There were also streamers everywhere that would hold a bit of tape.

Pink and turquoise streamers, primarily.

"I didn't realize this was going to be a party," said Nick, annoyed. He set the balloons down, frowning at Janette. She stood behind the bar, expertly tying a silver bow on a gift, and he admired her dress - a strapless, black silk sheath that went down to the floor and was slit up to her thigh. She was even wearing a choker, for old times' sake. "I thought we were just taking her out to dinner."

"Would I wear this dress for anything but a party?" Janette laughed, then leaned over the bar and kissed Nick lightly. "Don't be so antisocial - it will be fun. I let it slip that it was Susan's birthday, and everyone wanted to come. Besides, we are not good dinner companions. Not even Susan wants two vampires watching her eat."

"How many people are coming?"

"A lot," said Janette vaguely.

"But Susan mainly writes about us..."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that others do not want to wish her a happy birthday, Nicola," admonished Janette. "For instance, there are a number of people coming from the Internet lists." Nick took an involuntary step back, and Janette hurried to reassure him. "They've all promised to be on their best behavior, though several mentioned something about a nightgown..."

Though logically Nick knew he wasn't able to blush, he felt his cheeks growing warmer. "That damn nightgown..." he muttered, trying to think of a way to change the subject. "I don't know why you're going to all this trouble for Susan anyway, Janette."

"Because she writes about me, of course!" Janette's laugh indicated clearly that she wondered why Nick would even ask.

Nick, confused as always, continued to press her. "But... sometimes her writing isn't all that pleasant."

"But it is always good." Janette trailed one finger lightly along his cheek. "She does get a little annoyed with you sometimes, Nicola," she added impishly. "She questions your - technique? - with women."

Nick frowned and pushed her hand away. "Don't even bring up the word 'brick,' Janette, if you want me to behave myself tonight." She was looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Besides - Susan has not always painted you in the best light, either."

"I do not always find her writings on me to be pleasant," said Janette, frowning slightly. "However, they are... accurate." Janette stopped as Natalie entered, heavily loaded up with packages, food and balloons. "Hello, Natalie." She turned to Nick, and spoke in a voice that only he could hear. "Please keep an eye on Natalie tonight. She may have... a bit of a headache." Nick could see the worry in Janette's eyes.

"A headache? How do you know?"

"Trust me on this. It will all become clear sometime this summer." Janette muttered something incomprehensible about "the next novel," and Nick could have sworn she said "Dorian" - but Dorian was out of the picture.

Wasn't he?

"Hey, Nick." Natalie breezed by him, handing a bunch of mylar helium balloons to Janette. "Here you go, just as requested. Plus, I picked up more food from the caterer - it's out in the car. If the guest list keeps growing, we'll run out of hamburgers."

Janette grimaced. "Red meat - I hate entertaining mortals." Holding the balloons, she surveyed the room critically. "I think these should go... there!" She flew across the room and began attaching the balloons to a railing.

Nick leaned against a post, his forehead wrinkled in confusion. "You're invited to this?"

"Mmm hmm... After all, she writes about me too, Nick." Nat handed him a covered cake pan. "Here - put that on the food table for me, would you?" She looked around the room, smiling. "This place looks great. Everyone is going to love it."

"Everyone, meaning who?" pressed Nick, adding the cake to a table already laden with more food than he could name.

Natalie shot him an inquiring look. "Doesn't Janette tell you anything?" She sighed at his blank look. "Apparently not. Well, there's us, of course. Schanke and Myra should be here any minute, but they decided Jenny should stay home - they thought that some of the guests might be bad influences on her." She began ticking attendees off on her fingers. "Cohen and her husband will be late, but they'll be here. Stonetree is coming in especially for this. Then there's the usuals - Alma," she made a face, "and Miklos, of course - I saw him outside starting the grill. Plus lots of the non-speaking part-vampires that've been around the Raven, and some of the cop extras - Susan likes the cop stuff, you know."

Nick didn't want to ask, but he had to. "LaCroix?"

Natalie shivered. "Janette asked him... He may or may not come. He's such a wet blanket at parties, anyway, that I hope he doesn't. He just stomps around obsessing over you. And with Susan being the guest of honor... well, we don't know what could happen." She brightened. "Susan isn't a Cousin, though, so she won't miss him too much."

Janette had moved over to the food, and was arranging the plates in a more aesthetically pleasing fashion. "She has far too much fashion sense to be a Cousin." She smiled over at Nick. "Then, of course, we have the gate-crashers - all the people who insist on attending. There's this Micki person and her cousin Ryan - she said something about how Susan 'used' to write about them."

"Of course, she found us more interesting," said Natalie, looking somewhat satisfied.

"They were canceled," Janette reminded Natalie.

"Well, so were we, for a while there," Natalie snapped back. She stopped, putting one hand to her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude on such a festive occasion - I don't feel all that well." Natalie missed Janette's meaningful look to Nick as she fumbled in her purse. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go grab a glass of water to take an aspirin with."

Nick and Janette watched her head for the bar. Janette shook her head slowly. "Please, keep an eye on her, Nicola."

"I will." Nick followed Janette as she walked around the room, assessing the arrangements. "Who else?"

"Wait and see, Nicola. It's a very diverse group of people. Everyone from a Mountie to several people who say that they are from a starship, whatever that is. There's even some man who claims he's Robin of Sherwood." She chuckled. "I can offer personal testimony that the true Robin of Sherwood is dead, cherie." Nick rolled his eyes - Janette had gone through more men in tights than any vampire had a right to. "Everyone wants Susan to write about them, and they think they can - what do mortals call it? - 'suck up' to her tonight." 'Suck up' - such an appropriate term for vampires." Her smile held a hint of fangs. "There are also two people named Kevin and Lucy coming."

"Who are they?" Nick didn't think they sounded familiar - not that people from a starship rang any flashback bells, either.

Janette shrugged. "I'm not sure - they're from a place called Port Charles. Susan doesn't write about them, but since this is Jill's story she invited them. Oh, well." With her usual skill at accepting the inevitable, Janette conceded the two additional guests. "Apparently Kevin is a very attractive man."

Natalie adjusted a crooked poster as she came back towards them. "I forgot to tell you, Janette - Mulder and Scully are coming." She checked her watch. "They found their way out of yet another forest, and were able to get a late flight after all."

Janette made a face. "I like her, but that man drives me crazy. So nosy - he always wants to look at my fangs. I think he has a thing for vampires. Speaking of flights, what time is it?"

"Just after ten. Susan's plane lands in about half an hour."

Janette shrieked. "Merde! The guests will be arriving any minute, and my makeup is not done!" She started towards the back room, then turned. "Natalie, could you start the music? Nicola, leave now."

"To where?"

Janette threw up her hands, exasperated. "You're picking Susan up at the airport! Go! Can you remember nothing but your supposedly traumatic experiences?" An unintelligible string of French followed as she stormed off to perfect her party look. Just before she closed the door to her office, she turned and addressed Natalie with a smile that made Nick's knees weak. "Natalie, when a Duncan MacLeod arrives, would you direct him back here? I want to welcome him personally."

"Of course." The door shut, and Natalie shook her head, a determined look in her eyes. "Not if I can get him first, girlfriend," she whispered. Nick started, shocked.

"I heard that, Natalie!" Janette's voice drifted out from the back room.

Laughing, Natalie pushed Nick towards the door. "Go. You're going to be late, and it wouldn't do for the guest of honor to miss her own party."

"I'm going, I'm going."

"Susan is meeting you down by the United baggage claim," Natalie called after him as strains of Sarah MacLachlan began to echo through the room. "I told her to look for your car - she loves your car, after all."

As Nick left, he brushed by several guests entering, all bearing brightly wrapped packages. He heard Natalie's delighted greeting. "Amanda! And is that you, Sam?" She paused, continuing in a less ecstatic tone. "Alyce. I'm so glad you could all come."

Nick stopped dead in his tracks.

Alyce?

He had to get rid of her - before Susan got any ideas...

End

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