●● Best Kept Secret

[Bryson Kyle Pierce]

Fallon had been working on this night for nearly two months now. She was determined to give her best friend the best surprise party ever. Devon did so much for the Hollywood blonde and Fallon wanted to give her something in return. She had made sure she rented the pub for the entire night, had gotten a favoured catering company to supply the meal and had even gone digging around for Devon’s parent’s address to ask them in person if they could attend. She got Bryce to talk to her Captain about getting the night off, no exceptions, which he happily gave plus the next day after he’d found out exactly why but declined the invitation to attend since he’d already had previous plans; which really just helped them a bit. And now everything was in place and they just needed Bryce to do his part of the plan. Fallon had even gone so far as to pick out a dress for Devon because she knew she would say no otherwise, and no one was giving the cop that option. The professor was dressed and annoying Gabe and Myles to get going because she needed to be there early and they just had to go with her. Not like they weren’t already dressed and waiting on her or anything but she was absolutely making it sound like it was the other way around.

She checked her clutch for everything she needed while Myles hailed them a cab and Gabe looked like he was going to topple with the gifts Fallon had shoved his way. There were only a couple but at least one of them was pretty heavy. Thankfully the cab pulled up almost immediately and the ride across town went quickly enough that they had the gifts on a table in no time at all. Fallon was still running around like some chicken without a head, making sure things were alright and answering and questions and phone calls about address. Fallon was so pleased her set designers hadn’t minded helping out with the decorations. She was putting everything she could into making this night incredible so she may have gone overboard, but it was pretty and that was what Fallon had been after. Fallon didn’t know many of Devon’s friends, but what she couldn’t get from a phone left around here and there a couple times, she enlisted Bryce, Myles and Devon’s parents to help figure out. And all of them went about inviting people to the evening weeks ago so there was plenty of time to RSVP and almost no reason to decline. With everything set, there was nothing left to do but wait.

Meanwhile, Bryce was at home tossing another tie on the top of his dresser. He was not wearing a tie. He didn’t care what Fallon said to him, he was not wearing that damn tie. And she wouldn’t kill him on Devon’s birthday so he had at least twenty four hours to live. She should have just been damn lucky he agreed to the suit! Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair, completely destroying what little he’d done to it before looking at his phone for the time. He had plenty of time before he really needed to get Devon to the pub for her party. He’d given himself the time because they all knew what Devon was like. He had his work cut out for him. Muttering to himself about what he had to put up with if he didn’t get Devon to the pub on time, Bryce picked up the perfectly wrapped dress box before patting the inside jacket pocket for his own gift to Devon. It wasn’t much but when he’d seen it, he had to get it for her. Grabbing his keys and his phone, he told Scotty to behave himself, as if the Newfoundland pup would do any real damage and locked up. He hailed a cab outside his building, giving the driver Devon’s address and sat back for the surprisingly quick ride. After paying the driver, Bryce got out, finished answering the text and rushed into the building and up the stairs. He knocked three times before trying to hide the dress box behind his back and look forward innocently.

Tag || Devon! (And everyone else...sort of! xD)
Words || 713
Clothes || Next reply!
Music || Better Man -- Lady Antebellum
Notes || Let the games begin! <3

[Devon Olivia Walker]

She was twenty-four now, not that it mattered any. Devon hadn’t really done much in the way of birthday celebrations for a few years now and no matter what age she turned she was still the baby of their little group of friends. She wasn’t even sure if most of them knew it was her birthday. The blonde officer had expected to be in work today, but her Captain had done his usual of putting his foot down and telling her she needed to use up some of those vacation days she seemed to be collecting. Devon had tried to argue back, had even checked right up until leaving the precinct the night before to make sure they didn’t need her in, but the answer was always a big ‘no’ followed by the request to enjoy her two days off.

That morning she had awoken to a couple of text messages from her close friends and family wishing her a happy birthday, but Devon hadn’t gone out and made any plans. It was just another day and technically she was a year older, but it was just another day. After the usual early start that Devon enjoyed, she did her typical workout and run with Atticus, came home, showered, and threw a Battlestar Galactica box-set on while she checked on Shelley. Since it was her birthday, she chose to neglect her chores until tomorrow which did mean her apartment had a few too many items of clothing scattered about the furniture and her refrigerator was almost bare, save for the takeout cartons from the night before. She knew that she should probably head over to her parent’s house for dinner, but there was a whole day to waste before that. Even then, the only reason she would go was to stop them from calling her and panicking come nine o’clock that night. No one had mentioned drinks or cocktails and Devon hadn’t asked. Her friends were busy people with their own lives and a twenty-fourth birthday was not some big thing to stop the press about.

She was invested in the re-runs that she could probably quote if she put the effort in. The box-sets that lined her shelves were what she had grown up watching with her brother, the pair of them teasing each other over their celebrity crushes and shameful wishes for the shows. Frankie had grown out of them by the time Devon had left for college, but the tiny blonde never went too long without throwing a disc into the player and sitting back to enjoy. No matter how many times she watched them she still loved them and all the teasing in the world wouldn’t change her affection for them. Devon also thought it to be a pretty good way to spend her unwanted time off and her birthday, although she knew plenty of others might disagree with that. She didn’t suspect a single thing, just figuring that most people thought she would be working or have other plans today. Devon might have been young but she didn’t need to hit the clubs all the time or live some Sex in the City kind of lifestyle. She was much happier working out, taking pride in the uniform she wore, and then retiring home to movies and sleep. There was very little for Devon to complain about and she enjoyed the lack of drama and the blissfully quiet life she was living.

The knock at the door caught her attention. Usually people sent her a text or called before they came over, but her phone hadn’t chimed for a few hours now and it was only on the coffee table in front of her. Untying herself from the pretzel knot she had managed to find herself in, Dev shimmied over to the front door, telling Atticus to quiet down as she did. No matter how much training she put her Labrador through, he was always excited whenever there was a knock at the door, or some rare person used the mostly faulty buzzer downstairs. Pushing herself right up on to the tips of her toes to see through the peep hole, a smile instantly appeared when she saw the devilishly handsome CSI on the other side. Tugging the door open, she grinned up at Bryce and then checked out the suit he seemed to be overdressed in. “Did I forget the policeman’s ball again? Or did you feel the need to really suit up for court?”

[/color] She asked, arching her eyebrow and smirking, leaning slightly against the doorframe for a second before waving him inside. “Although, I do have to say that you look really good right now.”[/color] Devon teased flirtatiously, closing the door and stepping closer, only feeling distracted when she spied his hands holding something behind his back. “Bryce? What have you got there?” [/color] She asked curiously, leaning around him to take a peek.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bryce, Fallon, the rest of NYC! <3
WORDS! 825!
OUTFIT! BIRTHDAY BORE!
LYRICS! Summer Alive - - - The Wanted
NOTES! <3

[Bryson Kyle Pierce]

Neither Bryce nor Fallon had talked much about Devon’s birthday to Devon. Both had wanted this one to be a good birthday, a nice surprise for the petite officer. Bryce knew there was a chance Devon wasn’t going to want to go to this party or celebrate her birthday, it might have been a sore spot but he also knew Fallon wasn’t going to let Devon get away with not showing up. And of course, the blonde professor put a lot of work into making this night really nice for Devon. Even Bryce’s head spun just hearing Fallon go on about what all needed to be done and what he needed to do to get that done. But Bryce was always willing to help out when it was for someone he cared about. His problem with what he needed to do was actually getting Devon out of her apartment and to the party! She was stubborn as a mule and wasn’t about to willingly follow anywhere blind. Bryce may have only had one real thing to do but it was going to be the toughest one.

He hoped he could lie his way into the pair of them stepping out of the apartment within the hour. Bryce knew he had plenty of time to get them to the pub for the party but with Devon, they could be walking out the door when they should be walking through another. Still, he kept the box behind him, smiled when Devon opened the door and he rolled his eyes at the response his choice in clothing got him. “No and no though they would absolutely take me at my word.” He joked before stepping inside. Devon’s place was small but it was just like her and Bryce liked that about the place. He was going to say something cheeky but because he was carrying that box behind his back and it was obvious and Devon noticed it before he could open his mouth with a sarcastic remark.

Bryce shook his head, laughing at the glimmer in Devon’s eye at the surprise behind his back. “I haven’t even gotten a proper hello and you want whatever I have behind me? For shame.” He said, pouting, so disappointed in Devon. The turned to a grin though as he pulled the box from behind his back and held it out to the pretty officer. “Happy birthday, Dev.” He said, even though the gift in the box wasn’t from him. It was all Fallon’s idea and part of her plan because they knew Devon well enough. Bryce didn’t know about Fallon but since he’d met Devon, he’d seen her in a dress maybe twice! And Fallon was nothing if not determined. So she’d gone shopping in the busy schedule she already had and found something she approved of and wanted to see on Devon. He didn’t know what was in the box but he trusted Fallon and hoped she picked out a nice outfit.

Tag || Devon! (And everyone else...sort of! xD)
Words || 498
Clothes || handsome Hero!
Music || Better Man -- Lady Antebellum
Notes || <3

[Devon Olivia Walker]

Devon didn’t even know how many people knew that today was her birthday. She wasn’t the kind to get excited about it or make big plans for it, so it could very easily slip on by without anyone even noticing. Hell, she had even planned to be in work today until her Captain had decided otherwise. She was honestly content to spend the night in, potentially in her own company, with takeout and a good box-set. It had been a number of years since she had made a big to-do over her birthday and then it had suddenly seemed like not such a big thing after all. Friends were often on vacation when this date came around, summer jobs were a popular necessity and growing up sort of happened. There wasn’t anything she really wanted in terms of presents or plans, so she hadn’t seen the point in setting anything up. She was so bad that her parents had long stopped asking her about gift ideas for her birthday or even for Christmas. Devon just always shrugged it off like it was no big deal. She had everything she wanted or needed already.

She hadn’t expected Bryce to show up, but now that he was here Devon was hardly surprised. Really, she ought to have known he would appear sooner or later since he was one of the few who did know the date of her birthday. Plus, she had complained to him about being ordered to use some of her vacation time; just like she did every single time the Captain brought that up with her. “Oh, well good. I have a dress for that first one and if I don’t wear it I probably need to eat it for the amount it cost me.”

[/color] It had been a purchase the year before and yet it still hung in her wardrobe in the dress bag with price tag still attached. “And more fool them.”[/color] She teased playfully, flashing Bryce a big toothy grin. Closing the door, she clicked her fingers for Atticus to move away from Bryce and behave himself. “So, why are you so dressed up?”[/color] She asked suspiciously, eyeing him up and down again. Devon did not let secrets lie. She prodded and poked as though she was working a case and after information.

“I gave you a compliment! What kind of ‘proper hello’ would you like?”[/color] She asked, arching her eyebrow as she looked up at him. Reaching out for the box he handed to her, Devon couldn’t stop the smile crossing her lips. “What the hell is this?”[/color] She asked, shaking the box gently, yet childishly, before opening it up. Glancing inside, her blue eyes spied the scarlet fabric and then her suspicions mounted some more as she dropped the lid back down and eyeballed the CSI. “It’s a dress. You’d never buy me a dress, so why has Fallon sent this with you and not delivered it herself?”[/color] There was only one person in the world who would try to put Devon in a dress and it was her fellow blonde. More questions were growing in her inquisitive mind and Devon kept her eyes fixed on Bryce, looking for a flicker in his composure. “Why do I need a dress, Bryce?”[/color] She asked finally, knowing that there was definitely an answer and something was being kept from her. And that was the one thing Devon did not enjoy; being kept in the dark.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bryce, Fallon, the rest of NYC! <3
WORDS! 623!
OUTFIT! BIRTHDAY BORE!
LYRICS! Summer Alive - - - The Wanted
NOTES! <3

[Bryson Kyle Pierce]

Despite being aware of Devon’s aversion to parties or holidays and gifts, neither Bryce nor Fallon particularly cared about that though. Thankfully, showing up on Devon’s doorstep wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary since he did in fact know about her birthday. And Bryce had never been the type for just a simple text message to the people who meant the most to him. High school and university friends got text messages, everyone else got in-person birthday wishes. With what Bryce saw in the day-to-day, he felt even more compelled to show the people he really cared about how glad he was that they were in his life. “I’m sure you’ll get the chance sooner or later.” Bryce said with an easy smile. He had plenty of suits and tuxedos in his wardrobe for all the functions but he hated wearing them, and usually chose not to wear the shiny black shoes to match. “Oh, ha-ha.” He said absently, rolling his eyes. Bryce grinned, shaking his head. He wasn’t going to tell her anything unless she put up more of a fight. A simple question wasn’t going to be good enough and he could hold out on telling her longer than that.

Bryce raised his brow, grinning mischievously. “I could do for a hug, a little peck on the cheek for the surprise of my company.” He suggested, knowing he would be lucky if she didn’t punch his arm. The young CSI grinned at Devon but said nothing because it was more fun that way. "I made the mistake of telling Fallon a while back, that lunch we had, she said she told you." He shook his head as if pushing himself along. "Anyway, I told her that I was planning on making plans for your birthday. And you know Fallon, tell her something she's going to run a mile with it and decided right there she was going to buy you that for your birthday. There's a note underneath it she said." It was as good a lie as any other and it was surrounded by bits of truth. Bryce had plans to make reservations at a nice restaurant and give her the gift he'd had in the top drawer of his dresser since the week before that lunch, when he'd seen it while out with his sister-in-law buying Tristan's birthday presents and party supplies. Fallon had changed a bit of those plans by planning this party but the truth of the matter was, what he'd told Devon had been his plans at one point. Plus, there was a dinner happening at the party planned just for her so it was still not a complete lie. “Reservations, Dev, for dinner. So, thanks for ruining that surprise, Dev.” Bryce said dully, rolling his eyes. Those had been the original plans after all.

Tag || Devon! (And everyone else...sort of! xD)
Words || 473
Clothes || handsome Hero!
Music || Better Man -- Lady Antebellum
Notes || <3

[Devon Olivia Walker]

Devon never expected much for her birthday since she never went out of her way to make a big deal about it. She knew people who counted down for weeks, reminding others daily about the date. She had never been like that and it was more common for people to enquire if it was her birthday whenever they glimpsed a card on her desk, or a wrapped gift getting put into her drawer or locker until a more appropriate time. Twenty-four was by no means old, but Devon still felt as though she was beyond the point of cakes, candles and celebrations. She didn’t mind singing the song for someone else and spoiling them on their birthday, but it just wasn’t for Devon. “Plan on taking me, do you?”

[/color] She joked flirtatiously, knowing full well she would still be one of the first to volunteer to cover shifts when that night came around. It was the reason she hadn’t been to any formal event since college. In Devon’s small corner of the world, work was precedent to everything else. “Oh, come on, you know it’s the truth.”[/color] She teased lightly, nudging him playfully. Around Bryce Devon couldn’t help but to act a little silly from time to time. He pulled that out of her even on the toughest of days.

Arching her eyebrow, a mischievous twinkle glimmered in her eyes and a smirk to match crossed her lips. Within the next second Devon had gone back to her old cheerleading tricks to lightly jump up from her toes and tangle her limbs around Bryce, hugging him close before he had a chance to drop her or even respond. “Happy now?”[/color] The next time Devon arched her brow it was with curiosity rather than the chance to rise to an implied challenge. “You made plans for my birthday?”[/color] She asked, wondering what they could be and why Bryce would do it in the first place. Although she wasn’t surprised to hear that Fallon had run with something. It seemed to be what the blonde did best and sometimes those antics left Devon with a headache and a desire to crawl into her bed long before Fallon would let her.

Dropping back down to her feet and letting Bryce go, Devon turned her attention back to the box. Balancing it without upsetting the neat dress inside, Devon searched for the note, flipping it open when her fingers found it. She read it and simply shook her head and gave a silent roll of her eyes. Making a mental note to call and scold Fallon later, Devon closed the box up again and then looked back up at Bryce with a slight pleading look in her blue eyes. “We could stay in you know. Order Chinese, watch some bad movies, let me unwrap my birthday present…”[/color] She trailed off, running her free hand down over Bryce’s chest, moving back up just to pop another button teasingly, and hopefully. Devon wouldn’t mind going out for dinner, but staying in was just so much more appealing to her in that moment.
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• • •

TAGGED! Bryce, Fallon, the rest of NYC! <3
WORDS! 558!
OUTFIT! BIRTHDAY BORE!
LYRICS! Summer Alive - - - The Wanted
NOTES! <3