#rochambeau contest

This is my entry for the Rochambeau Contest by the Rochambeauuniverse.

The conversation started out with Lyra talking to Usnavi about his home, Washington Heights. He told her about his little shop, his favourite customers that would come in, how Sonny was known for sneaking snacks out of the shop under his eyes. "Sounds like Lee's pick-pocketing." Lyra laughs. Usnavi smiles to her. "He still owes me a big bill from all the food and drinks he free-loaded from the store. I make sure to take a little bit off each year on his birthday though, as a little present to him." Usnavi tells the child as he takes a drink of his coffee.

"Why on his birthday?" Lyra asks.

"Well, it's his birthday, and it's a present for him." Usnavi tells her.

"So people get presents on their birthday and Christmas?" Lyra asks, making sure she was getting her facts right. Usnavi gives her a look of confusion.

"Yeah, its your birthday. Of course you get presents." Usnavi looks at her closely. "You've had birthday presents, right?"

Lyra shakes her head. "Birthdays were just normal days growing up. The scholars would lets me cut my lessons short so I could hang out with Roger but that's it. I didn't think they were a big deal."

Usnavi was almost sure his heart began to break a little at the young girls words. How could someone of never celebrated their own birthday before? What kind of world did she and Lee come from? Do people even celebrate birthdays in their world?

"Well, I guess we're just going to have to celebrate your birthday when it comes around." Usnavi tells her.

"Celebrate it how exactly?" Lyra wonders.

"Maybe we could have a little party, or go out shopping in the city," Usnavi suggests.

"Can we even go into the city?" Lyra asks.

"Once everything is over, I'm sure we'll be allowed to. We've got plenty of time." Usnavi says as he takes another drink off his coffee.

"My birthday's tomorrow."

Usnavi is only just able to control himself from spitting the coffee out of his mouth. He swallows it down and looks at Lyra with wide eyes. "You're birthday's tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Lyra says likes its no big deal. Usnavi scratches the back of his head, looking a little shocked and disappointed.

"Well, I guess there's always next year."

XxxxxX

Night began to fall on the Barracks. Everyone has just finished eating their dinner. It was Alexander's turn to wash the dishes, which Pippa was helping him with. Alvie was sat with Ruben at the table, talking quietly, while Lee as sat drinking a coffee. Usnavi had just watched as Lyra left the room to head to bed.

"Did you guys know it's Lyra's birthday tomorrow?"

Everyone turns to Usnavi simultaneously. Everyone, including Lee, looks at Usnavi with a shocked expression.

"Her birthday's tomorrow?" Pippa repeats.

"Yeah, she just told me earlier." Usnavi tells her. Alexander looks over to Lee.

"Did you know?" Alexander asks.

"I didn't actually, with everything that's been happening since we met, birthdays were kind of the last things on our minds." Lee confesses. "Wonder why she didn't tell me."

"Maybe because she didn't think it was a big deal." Usnavi says. "She told me how she's never see birthdays as a big deal, never even celebrated hers."

"She's never celebrated her birthday?" Alexander says in shock. Usnavi nods sadly.

"Then we should celebrate it!" Alvie jumps up from his chair. "We should throw her a big party, get her a big cake and lots of presents! We could get a piñata!"

"Okay calm down," Ruben stands up and places his hands on his boyfriends shoulders, a soft smile on his face, "All great ideas, but I don't think we have anything to do a party with."

"That might not be the case." Pippa mutters. "There's a small shop in the town that does some party stuff. Nothing fancy but its got some cool stuff in there."

"You think we should throw her a party?" Alexander says in a almost surprised tone. "You think we could get it done in time?"

"We can set it up all day and have it in the evening." Pippa suggests.

"A surprise party! We can surprise her!" Alvie says with excitement.

"I think that will be kind of tricky with her in the same building as us." Usnavi points out.

"Maybe not." Lee says. "I could take her out for the day through the mountains, gives you guys time to set up."

"You don't want to set up with us?" Ruben asks. Lee smiles sheepishly.

"I've never even been to a party, I wouldn't know where to begin." Lee laughs as he gestures the group in front of him. "I think I'll leave it to the experts."

"What about presents? Can we get her any?" Alvie asks.

"I'm sure we can find some stuff in the town." Pippa reassures him. She then looks at each of the men. "So, we gonna do this?"

"Let's do it. Let's give Lyra her first birthday party." Alexander tells the group.

XxxxxX

Lyra awoke from her dream to the light coming through her curtains. She moans and turns away from the light, throwing the covers her head. She was so not ready to get up just yet.

"Lyra,"

A hand softly touches her arm. Lyra lazily turns over and comes face to face with Lee's smile face.

"Happy Birthday." Lee smiles down at her. Lyra gives him a small smile.

"Thanks."

"Now, normally we all eat in the kitchen with everyone, but since today is your birthday," Lee leans down next to the bed and begins to lift something up from the floor. Lyra's mouth begins to water and the sight and smell of the toast, bacon and beans, "We thought you deserve a nice breakfast in bed."

"Really?" Lyra says with surprise.

"Of course, but don't expect this everyday." Lee jokes, making Lyra laugh. "And I was thinking, since we haven't got anything special planned, how about we go for a walk in the mountains today. Just the 2 off us?"

Lyra smiles and nods her head. "I'd like that."

"Okay, well I'll let you dig in. Take you time, we can go in a bit, whenever your ready." Lee stands up from the bed and makes his way over to the door. As he opens it he turns back to Lyra, who has already dug into her breakfast, exchanging a conversation with Pan. Lee smiles before exiting the room.

He enters the main room of the Barracks. Everyone except Alexander was at the table eating their breakfast. Alexander was stood by the counter, drinking his coffee. He looks over to the aeronaut. "She buy it?"

Lee nods his head. "She's eating her breakfast now, thanks for that by the way," Lee quickly pats Usnavi on his shoulders, who lifts a thump us as he eats his own breakfast. "Afterwards we're going to head out. Should give you guys plenty of time to get what you need and set up. How long are you going to need anyway?"

"Few hours maybe? Should be safe to bring her back around mid-afternoon." Alexander guesses.

"That long?" Lee says in a surprised way. "Parties really take that long to set up?"

"Some take longer. Some have to be set up the night before." Pippa tells the man.

"It's true. First birthday I set up for Sonny, I had the store closed for 2 days so I could get everything ready." Usnavi says with a smile. "Lost a bit of money, but it was worth it in the end with the look on his face."

"You think she's gonna like it?" Lee says to the group. Pippa smiles.

"I'm sure she will, just as long as we keep it secret from her."

XxxxxX

Lee takes in a deep breath as he and Lyra make their way up the hill. Lee walks ahead with Lyra tailing behind him, with Pan in a Lynx form.

"Were are we going Lee?" Lyra suddenly asks. Lee looks over his shoulder to the girl.

"You'll see. It's just a bit further up." Lee tells her.

"And why didn't the others come again?" Lyra asks for the second time.

"Like I said, they had to head into town to grabs some bits for the place." Lee explains.

"But all of them?" Lyra says, sounding a bit suspicious. Lee quickly begins to think.

"Pippa needed to grabs some bits, so Alex went with her. Usnavi wanted to buy some ingredients for the next few dinners and Ruben needed some stuff for the lab so Alvie went with him." Lee looks behind him, trying to read Lyra. He gives her a cheeky grin. "It almost sounds like you don't want to be alone with me.

Lyra shakes her head. "It's not that."

Lee catches her words and stops walking. "Is something bothering you?" Lyra shakes her head. "You sure?"

"I'm sure. Come on, are we going to get to this place or what?" Before Lee could say anything, Lyra speeds past him. Lee looks confused as he watches Lyra walk away in front of him.

"You think she's okay?" Hester asks.

"No clue, something is defiantly bothering her though." Lee says before walking, trying to catch up with Lyra.

Its not long before they make it up to the top of the hill. Lyra starts to slow down her walk as she takes in the view. Her eyes widen a little as she gazes at the view in front of her. There was nothing but green and trees in the distance ahead. Lyra almost believed she was looking at a picture and not the actual setting itself.

Lee smiles a little as he walks over to her. "Something, isn't it?"

"It's beautiful." Lyra comments. "I almost thought I was looking at a picture, or even looking down from the sky."

"That's what I was going for." Lee guides Lyra over to a tree, allowing them both to sick down as they lean back against the trunk. They sit in silence for a few moments. Lee looks over to Lyra, who is looking out into the distance, Pan and Hester sitting next to each other. "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday today?"

Lyra shrugs her shoulders. "Never came up I guess. And I didn't really see the point. Birthdays aren't that specially for me."

"Didn't you ever celebrate your birthday at the college?" Lee wonders.

"Not really. The scholars would sometimes let me cut classes short so I could hand out with Roger, and the people in the kitchen would sneak me some sweets, but that about it." Lyra explains. "Did you ever celebrate your birthdays?"

Lee laughs a little. "Um, not a lot. When I was little, my mother would bake me a little cake for the morning and knit me something. We didn't have a lot of money, so she couldn't afford to buy me anything, but I didn't mind. She even," Lee trails off as he lifts up his right arm and pushes the sleeve to his coat back, showing off a braided leather bracelet, "made me this. It was the last present she made me."

"What about all of your other presents?" Lyra asks. "What happened to them?"

"I out-grew them or they got ruined. Had to leave most of them in Texas when I left my father." Lee gives Lyra a sad smile.

"But, I've still got this to remember her by." He looks up from his bracelet and back over to Lyra, who is now looking down at her hands. "Hey, you okay?"

Lyra hesitates for a moment before speaking, "Is a wrong of me to be happy that I don't have anything to remember my parents?"

Lee shakes his head. "No, not at all. Why? Is that's what's been bothering you?" Lyra shrugs her shoulders.

"A little." She mutters. "As a kid, on every one of my birthdays, I would wait by the window in the morning, waiting to see if Asriel-my father would turn up and surprise me. And every year, he would never come. Now, I just feel stupid ever thinking he would care."

"Hey," Lee places a hand on Lyra's shoulder, "you're not stupid for thinking he would come. He's your family, of course you would think he would come a surprise you."

"I just wish I could stop thinking about him, all it does is make me feel stupid." Lyra crosses her arms against her chest and pulls her knees up to her.

"Well, that can easily be sorted." Lee quickly stands up and walks over to his bag. Lyra watches him, looking confused as to what he was doing. Lee then pulls out a small black hand gun. Lyra looks at the weapon with shock and surprise. "Now, before you get excited, it's a fake. Apparently they call these nerve guns, or something."

"But they shoot like a real gun?" Lyra quickly gets up from her spot and rushes over to Lee.

"Yes, but this isn't for you to keep. I will be keeping it for now, but we can use this for practicing." Lee tells Lyra as he walks over to her. "I did promise I'd teach you, and I can't keep in using the excuse: you're to young, anymore."

Lyra smirks. "That's true."

"Come on, we can practice on the tree." Lee says as he pulls out a target sheet from the bag.

"Can I get a real gun after this?"

"Hell no!"

XxxxX

"Why are girls so hard to shop for?" Alexander receives a smack round the head from Pippa.

"Why are men so hard to shop for?" Pippa throws back at him.

"I don't mean in a bad why, there's just so much to choice from." Alexander says as he looks through the shelves of the store they were in.

"Hey guys!" Alvie comes rushing over holding a bunch of different present choices, from stuff animals, to clothing, to make-up. "Is this to much?"

"Just a tad." Pippa smiles as she approaches the young man. "Maybe skip the make-up, I think Lee will have your head that the though of Lyra wearing make-up."

"Lee will have anyone's head at the thought of anyone giving Lyra something that makes her look grown up." Alexander tells her.

"Maybe just stick with the clothes. I saw some nice t-shirts that she might like." Pippa suggests. Alvie's eyes fill with excitement as a sudden thought comes into his mind.

"I saw some cool ones in the back." Alvie rushes off before Pippa could say anymore. He runs by Ruben, who quickly calls to him.

"Put everything back where you found it Alvie!" Ruben walks over to the pair, holding a plastic bag in his hand. Alexander nods his head to it.

"You already bought some stuff?" Ruben nods his head.

"Just a couple of little bits. I just hope she likes them." Ruben says as he scratches the back of his head.

"I'm sure she will love them." Pippa tells him. She then turns to Alexander. "Do you think we should buy something from Lee?"

"That didn't even cross my mind. Do you think he's bought her anything?" Alexander wonders.

"I don't think so. Maybe we should buy some for him." Ruben says just as Usnavi comes round the corner.

"You guys wondering if Lee's bought anything for Lyra?" They all nod. "He hasn't and I've just seen something that I think will be perfect."

XxxxX

It was around 2 o'clock when Lyra asked if they could head back to the Barracks for some food. Lee agreed, praying everyone was done setting up for the party. They take a slow walk back, heading down the trail.

"You ain't done too bad for your first time shooting a gun." Lee comments. "You hit the target more times than I did my first time."

"How old were you when you started learning?" Lyra asks.

"I've been handling fire arms since I could walk." Lee tells her. Lyra gives him a look of confusion.

"And you say I'm too young to learn." Lyra rolls her eyes, causing Lee to laugh.

"Well, that was different. I grew up around guns, you grew up around responsible adults." Lee points out.

"Who were boring." Lyra moans.

"Well, you won't have to worry about life being boring anymore." Lee moves closer to her and places a arm round her shoulder. Lyra smiles up at him and leans into him.

The pair soon make it back to the Barracks, however Lyra immediately notices something off. "Why are all the curtains closed?"

"Huh, not to sure." Lee says in a innocent tone. "Maybe we should go in a find out." Lyra looks up to him, giving him a suspicious look. Lee smiles down at her, which she finds more suspicious. She then moves towards the front door. She grabs the handle, turning it enough for the door to open-

"SURPRISE!"

Lyra jumps back in shock at the sight in front of her. The Barracks has transformed from its normal everyday look, to being filled with different coloured balloons, Happy Birthday banners, a table filled with cold food and wrapped presents underneath it.

"What...what is this?" Lyra says slowly as she looks round the room more.

"Its a surprise birthday party! Your birthday party!" Alvie say before blowing a foil blower. Lyra stills looks a little unsure as she steps into the house.

"This is what a party looks like?" Lyra says as she turns around in circles.

"Yep, what do you think?" Usnavi asks. Lyra however doesn't answer him, instead she turns to Lee.

"Did you know?" Lee smiles a nods his head. "And you did all of this for me? For my birthday?"

Pippa smiles at the young girl. "Of course we did. Everyone should have a birthday party."

Lyra could feel the tears starting to fill up her eyes. Everyone quickly rushes over to her and begins to hug her. She thanks every single one of them, feeling more love than she has ever felt in her whole life. No one has ever done anything like this for her before, not because they loved her. And these people did.

"Okay, enough tears!" Alvie quickly walks over to the table and picks up a pink party hat with tinsel hanging from the end.

"Birthday girl needs a birthday hat!" Lyra laughs as she allows Alvie to put the pointy hat on her head.

"Lee needs one!" Lyra tells Alvie, who grins and rushes to grab another one.

"Nah, I'm good thanks." Lee tries to back away, but Usnavi and Pippa stop him.

"Nope, we all need to wear one. Party rules." Usnavi says with a grin. Alvie quickly returns with a blue navy party hat. He places the hat on a not so enthusiastic Lee.

"Alright, who's ready to party?!" Alvie yells, earning a cheer from everyone.

The day soon started to get more exciting after that. Alvie got music blaring through the speakers. He and Lyra soon began to dance to it, which led Lyra to pull Pippa up with her since Lee was refusing. Alvie then got Ruben to come up and dance. Usnavi quickly joined in on one of his favourite songs. Pippa then got Alexander to dance. And then every helped Lyra into getting Lee to dance with them.

Once they were finished with the dancing, Alvie brought out a Unicorn Piñata. Everyone took turns in hitting it blindfolded. Ruben and Pippa were very weak when it came to hitting it. Usnavi and Alex hit it with enough strength for the item to swing side to side. Lee kept on missing, and Alvie was swinging the stick left and right, barely hitting the target. Lyra was soon the one to hit the Piñata with enough strength for it to crack open, everyone cheering at her.

As everyone began to calm down from all the excitement, Usnavi reminded everyone about the presents.

"Hey, don't forget, you've got some presents." Usnavi tells Lyra as she picks the sweets up from the floor.

"I do?" Lyra says with surprise.

"Sure do, come on." Usnavi leads Lyra over to where all the presents were piled up by a table. Everyone takes a seat on the floor as he hands Lyra the presents, one by one.

"That's from me." Pippa tells her. Lyra rips the pink wrapping paper away, revealing some new bath and body products, including some smelly body spray and smelly soaps.

"Thanks Pippa." Lyra smiles as Pippa gives her a quick hug. Alexander passes his present over to her. Lyra takes it and rips the wrapping paper. Inside was a couple of different fiction books and note pads.

"I know you're not a big fan in reading, but these are aimed towards kids your age. I also figured since you're going to be in some education here, you could do with some equipment." Alexander explains.

"I like them, thank you." Lyra tells the man. Alexander smiles at Lyra, watching as she takes another present from Ruben. Pippa elbows him slightly, earning a smile from him.

Lyra rips the paper away, revealing a box with night-lights inside and a couple of scented candles. "I figured you haven't got a lot of stuff for your room, so maybe they could help shape up the place."

"These smell so nice. Thanks." Lyra sniffs each of the candles, loving the smells.

"Me next!" Alvie grabs his presents and passes them over to Lyra rather fast. Lyra laughs at his excitement. She quickly rips the wrapping paper away, revealing 3 different coloured t-shirts. A white one with a yellow smiley face on it, a yellow one with a brown cowboy hat on it and a light blue one with white writing saying 'Born To Be Wild'.

Lyra laughs at them, giving Alvie a smile. "I love them, thanks!"

"Yes!" Alvie punches the air, happy with her answer. Lyra holds the t-shirt with the cowboy hat on to Lee, who is shaking his head slight with his own smile on his face.

"Here you go Lyra." Usnavi passes Lyra his present. Lyra quickly unwraps it, revealing a couple of different hair clips and short denim dungarees.

"This looks comfortable." Lyra says as she observes the dungarees.

"They've very comfortable, and easy to put on in the summer. I figured with the amount of shirts Alvie got you, this could go well with them." Usnavi says.

"Thank you, I love it." Lyra smiles over to him, before looking back under the table. "Is that all of them?" Lee nods his head.

"Looks like it." Lee looks down at his hands with a disappointed look on his face, clearly feeling guilty about not getting Lyra a present.

"Nah, I think there's one more under there." Usnavi leans towards the table and pulls out a small wrapped up box. "This is from Lee."

"It is?" Both Lyra and Lee sound surprised by this. Usnavi gives Lee a wink as Lyra looks over to the man. "I mean, yeah it is." Lee quickly says.

Lyra looks back down at the box and unwraps it. She then lifts the lid up. Her eyes open wide as she looks at the charm bracelet inside. She slowly and carefully takes it out, looking at each of the charms. There was the letter 'L', a little rabbit, a hot air balloon, a ferret and a boat attached to it.

Lyra smiles as she looks up at Lee, who is looking a little surprised himself. "I love it, thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetheart." He places a arm round her and brings her in for a hug. They hug for a moment, everyone else watching the scene with a smile on their face. Lee then helps Lyra attach the bracelet to her wrist.

"So what do we do now?" Lyra asks as she look around at everyone.

"Food!" Alvie charges over to the table where all the food was laid out. Everyone quickly follows suit and grabs their own plate.

The rest of the day consisted of some fun games, more music and lots of food. It was around evening time when Usnavi brought the cake out. Everyone sung a very out of tune version of 'Happy Birthday' to Lyra, who was grinning like crazy. Her cake wasn't anything special. It was covered in pink icing and had 'Happy Birthday Lyra' written in blue letters. Lyra made sure to thank Usnavi for taking his time to make it for her.

After the cake, everyone gathered on the couch and began a movie marathon. Lyra could feel her eyes begin to drop during the second movie. She curled up closer to Lee, bringing the blanket over her more. She decided to close her eye for a moment, just to let them rest. No one will mind.

Lyra let out a soft sigh as she slowly opens her eyes. She surprised to see that the night had turned to day. She had slept all night. In the living room, with everyone. She looks up enough to see Lee was still next to her, his head resting on his arm while his other arm was wrapped round her. Usnavi was next to her on the couch, laying his head on the arm. Ruben and Alvie had taken the floor. Ruben was leaning against the couch while Alvie was laying on his back, using Ruben's legs as a pillow. Pippa and Alexander had also taken the floor, both laying on their backs with Pippa curled up against Alexander.

Lyra looks down at Pan, who was laying on the floor in his ferret form with Hester next to him. "What a party." He comments. Lyra smiles.

"I know, right?" She says to him. She then hears Lee begin to groan a little as he moves in his sleep. She watches a Lee slowly opens his eyes. He looks round the room before looking down at her. He gives her a small smile.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"So, fun night?"