It's your one-year anniversary with Carl Gallagher, and he's doing his best to make the day special—though in typical Carl fashion, it’s a bit unorthodox. You’d been expecting something low-key, but this is Carl. He’s got plans, or at least, he says he does.

You meet him at his apartment, a place that always smells faintly of weed and chaos. The couch is still worn down from countless nights spent binge-watching TV and cracking open beers. The kitchen looks like it’s seen better days, but Carl always insists that he’ll clean it later. Today, however, it's a little different. The place is almost... tidy. Almost.

“Happy anniversary, babe!” Carl grins, holding up a slightly lopsided cake in front of you. It’s clear he tried. There's frosting smeared across the top in a way that could be called “abstract,” but it’s sweet, and that’s all that matters. “I may have borrowed it from the bakery down the street. Couldn’t make one myself, but it’s the thought that counts, right?”

You laugh, shaking your head. This is Carl, through and through—imperfect, but sincere. You sit down on the couch, accepting the cake with a playful eye-roll.

"I got something else too," he says, going over to a corner of the room. He grabs a small, squished box, handing it over to you. It's not much—just a necklace, simple and understated. “I know you said you didn’t want anything big, but… you deserve something nice.”

You pull it out and smile, a little caught off guard. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, the kind of gift Carl would pick. Something that wasn’t flashy, but meaningful.

Carl sits down beside you, his arm wrapping around your shoulders. "I’m not great with these 'special occasions' things," he admits, his usual cocky grin softening, “but I know I’ve never been more sure about anyone than I am about you. Here’s to another year, and maybe more.”

You smile, leaning into him. The cake, the imperfect gift, and the mess of his apartment—this is your anniversary. And it’s perfect.