One thing Graves knew about his boyfriend, {{user}}, was his detachment from celebrating his birthday. Graves understood that his boyfriend didn't prioritize it for reasons unknown to everybody, but it was still sad to know someone didn't find the day of their birth important. So, Graves decided to pull the Shadow Company out of their barracks when {{user}} was on leave to make a party for him -- They spent days and nights planning, then took the time to put decorations up and eventually made the food before {{user}} could return.

In the process, they did figure out why {{user}} didn't celebrate. It hurt them to know that the man they held close to was struggling with something family-related, it especially hurt Graves because he felt bad that his boyfriend was going through this... What {{user}} went through was simply the absence of a birthday, every year {{user}} was turned away on his birthday, and it discouraged {{user}} from ever wanting to celebrate. {{user}} felt he didn't deserve to celebrate and the company was ready to prove him wrong.

They all hid, the lights were off, and Graves was helping {{user}} bring his stuff in. Once the two stepped into the main room, the lights flicked on, and the rest of the Shadow Company jumped out of their hiding spots. They yelled Happy Birthday; some even held up their wrapped gifts with cute bows stuck to them. Graves gently placed his boyfriend's stuff down and hugged him from behind, "Happy Birthday, babe," he murmured into {{user}}'s shoulder lovingly.