#somc

Colorful decorations hung on the walls of the pediatric lounge. A large Happy Birthday sign covered the window. Multicolored balloons bobbed around the room, bright and cheerful cards dangling from the ends of their long, shiny gold ribbon. The room hummed with hushed excitement as little faces hid behind whatever they could find to be out of sight of the doorway. 

"I'll be right back!" 

🎈 💝 🎈💝 🎈💝 🎈

Bryce wrapped his arms around Olivia as he found her filling out charts at the nurses' station. "Got a minute?"

She shook her head lightly. "Really? Right now?"

"I'll make it quick!" He whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. He pressed his lips to her neck, leaving a lingering kiss.

She shivered beneath his touch, her head clouding, thoughts of the file in front of her fading. Her face flushed, matching her copper hair. "Okay."

He grabbed her hand, pulling her forward before she could change her mind.

"Bryce," she giggled in reply as he practically dragged them at a sprint pace. "What's gotten into you?"

"You said quick." He shrugged with a wink in her direction, pressing onward.

Olivia's focus shifted back behind her as they passed by the supply closet they were familiar with (for reasons) without ever slowing. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." His words dripped with mystery, his smile covering his entire place. 

They turned the corner heading to the end of the pediatric floor that overlooked the front of the hospital. 

"Bryce will you tell me what's going on," she demanded as he guided her forward. 

"Here we are!" Bryce made a quick turn into the pediatric wing's lounge.

Her confusion faded to wonder. "What is all this?" She marveled, her bright eyes glistening, her hand still in Bryce's as he turned back toward her.

A loud chorus of "Surprise" and "Happy Birthday" sang around her cutting off Bryce's reply as children with smiling faces popped out and others rushed into the room.

Olivia didn't know where to turn first. The once quiet scene quickly erupted into pleas for her to read the cards, each child hoping theirs would be the first. They ushered her forward, leaving Bryce to watch as the children doted over her, helping her to the couch and placing a paper crown on her head. Hugs and laughter filled the space as Olivia's heart swelled with adoration and appreciation from all the special attention. 

As the wave of children began to thin, a soft tug pulled at the end of her sleeve. Olivia looked down, finding one of her young patients, curling her finger back toward herself, requesting Olivia to move closer. 

"Happy Birthday," she cheered, throwing her arms around Olivia's neck. 

"Thank you, Maddy." She hugged the girl back.

"Can I tell you a secret," she whispered.

"Of course, you can." Olivia turned her head to the side.

Maddy whispered in her ear, "I think Dr. Bryce like likes you. Not regular like, but the really like likes!"

"You think so?" She feigned shock.

Maddy nodded fervently. "He's looking at you right now!"

Olivia glanced up, trying to temper her growing smile as she met Bryce's warm, adoring gaze. 

"Don't look!" Maddy quickly warned, throwing her little hands in front of Olivia's face. "But did you see his smile?"

"I did!"

"He smiled A LOT when he was telling us about the party. He helped us with our cards, too." 

Olivia couldn't help but steal another glance at Bryce, who was helping a little boy with his juice box. 

"Dr. Olivia?" 

"Yes, Maddy?"

"Do you like like Dr. Bryce back?" Her green eyes shimmered with promise. 

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes! I'm real good at secrets. I never told anyone that my daddy took me for ice cream before dinner, twice! So, I'm a good secret keeper."

Olivia chuckled at the girl's innocence; she leaned closer. "I do like like Dr. Bryce."

"Eeee!" The little girl bounced up and down in place effortlessly as if propelled by an invisible trampoline. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" 

"Shh," Olivia attempted (and failed) to quiet her. "It's our secret, remember!"

"Oh yeah! Well, do you think you and Dr. Bryce will hold hands now? That's what people who like like each other do!" She nodded in agreement with her own words, her feet still bouncing as she danced in place. "Do you think—"

"Why don't we let Dr. Olivia get back to her party?" Maddy's mom swooped in to save Olivia from any more questions from her inquisitive daughter. "Sorry!"

"She's sweet. You know I love our Maddy girl!"

"Bye," Maddy waved before pointing to Bryce. "Go now!"

Olivia giggled, making her way to Bryce.

"What was that about?" His brow rose in question.

"A certain curious little girl seems to think that you might—" Olivia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and batted her lashes shyly. "Well, she thought you might like like me and that maybe if you did, we should hold hands. What do you think about that?"

He laced his hand with hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in reply. 

"So it's true?" She challenged with wide eyes, nudging him playfully with her shoulder.

"It is. I do like like you, Dr. Olivia."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Maddy bouncing again and tugging on her mom's arm while pointing at the two of them. Olivia smiled, brushing a kiss on Bryce's cheek. "I like like you, too, Dr. Bryce." 

A mix of cheers and ooo's surrounded them. Some patients covered their eyes and pulled their faces.

"Thank you for everything."

A/N: Today is Olivia's birthday so I wanted to write something special for her. I hope you enjoy this silly little story with my two favorite rays of sunshine. I know it's not perfectly polished but if I wanted to post on her birthday, I needed to finish up, so here we are.

"It's not—" She panicked for a moment, hoping she hadn't gotten her days wrong, but no, it was definitely still the thirteenth. "Valentine's day is tomorrow."

"I know!" 

"So what are these?"

"You were so excited about them that I thought you deserved an early gift."

Her puzzled expression quickly gave way to warm, rosy cheeks. "Oh... Oh! From my text? You really bought them?"

"How could I not?" He wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Her face scrunched as she bit her lip nervously. "Do I want to look? How cringy are they?"

He nipped her ear softly, whispering, "only one way to find out."

She inhaled deeply, preparing herself. "Okay. I'm ready. Wait—where are we hiding these?" She panicked. "We can't let anyone else see them. Ohmygosh, where is Keiki? I can imagine her commentary if she found them."

"Relax." He held her tenderly, nuzzling into her neck. "Keiks will be staying with friends for a couple of days. It's just us. This is for us. No one else needs to know if that's what you want."

"Are you sure?"

"This is for you, for us, whatever makes you happy."

Olivia nodded, her smile growing. "Do you know which is which?"

"Yes."

"Should we open them together on the count of three?"

He pressed a kiss on her shoulder and moved beside her, taking one of the two boxes. "Ready?"

"Yes... 1...2...3..." Olivia closed her eyes as she opened the box quickly. 

Bryce laughed, watching as she opened one eye and then the other, stealing a peek inside the box. 

Her worry faded quickly, a smile growing wide. She lifted a stuffed bunny dressed in a white robe with bunny slippers, a mask, and rose wine. "What is this?"

"I went to order two from the ones you sent me, but while I was on the Build-a-Bear After Dark website, I found this one, and I felt it was much more you than the other two."

"Bryce!" Her eyes widened as she hugged the stuffed animal to her chest. "She's adorable, but what about yours?"

Carefully, he opened his box, revealing a sophisticated bear in a silk robe and pajamas, pouring a glass of champagne. "I thought this would match yours better. I mean he's a handsome bear, and he doesn't need to be lounging in front of a fire in his boxers to be handsome. He knows he's got it."

Olivia stifled her giggle in her stuffed animal as she held it to her face. "They're perfect. Thank you. I love them so much... I love you so much."

"I love you too, Liv." He extended his hand to her. "But you're not done. This gift has a part two."

She laced her fingers with his. 

"What? There's more? Bryce. It's not Valentine's day."

"I know." He took his bear from the table. "Your bunny needs to come too."

"Why am I suddenly nervous again?"

"Don't be." He led her to the bedroom. The soft glow of candles bathed the room in their warm light. A white robe lay on the bed, bunny slippers on the floor below it matching that of her Build-a-Bear. 

"What is all this?"

"How can you have a spa day rabbit without a spa day for yourself, or in this case, a spa evening?"

"Bryce, I—" She shook her head, searching for the words as she took in the tranquil scene. "I can't believe you did all this."

"You deserve it." His thumb brushed over hers as he released her hand. "I'll take your bunny. SpaOlivia and ClassyBryce will be over here enjoying their evening together. You relax, have a glass of wine, wash up from work, and when you're ready, I'll be here ready to give you a massage."

"A massage or a massage," she smirked, knowing all too well how this could end up.

"A massage, the very best, satisfaction guaranteed. My magic hands are ready to pamper you all night."

"What did I do to deserve you?" Her finger traced his jaw as she studied his face. 

He leaned down, meeting her lips softly, capturing her in his arms once more.

"Bryce?"

"Yes?"

"Will you be my valentine?"

"Always."

"Even if it's not technically Valentine's day for a few more hours?"

"Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. I will always be your Valentine."

"Good. Me too!" She rocked up on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss on his cheek before grabbing the robe and slippers and retreating to the bathroom to wash up for her spa evening.

I wrote this in about 20 minutes and didn't really have time to edit/revise so I apologize for any errors, I really just wanted to share this story now incase I never had time to fix it up.

I absolutely loved the original Build-a-Bears Olivia sent in her text. I totally could see Bryce getting them for her, but upon further review of the "After Dark" part of the B-a-B website, I found these two others that I feel perfectly capture each of them a bit better. I hope you enjoyed this, I know a few of you were curious to see which Bryce bought and I hope you were not disappointed