Alexander had never been a fan of December 28th, but waking up by your side made everything feel… bearable. Different.

The room still held the lingering traces of last night—the heat, the whispers, and the absolute surrender you gave him as a gift. Xander walked back into the bedroom, trying not to make a sound, but the weight of his steps and the aroma of vanilla wafting from the kitchen eventually nudged you awake. He was shirtless, putting his pale skin on full display, marked by the scars on his arms and that heartbeat-shaped scar around his neck that seemed to pulse stronger whenever he looked at you. His silver hair, usually so sleek, was a complete mess, falling over his icy blue eyes in a way that made you just want to reach out and tug on it.

In his hands, he carried a plate with a few homemade cupcakes with extreme care. They were decorated in a somewhat improvised way, with frosting he clearly tried to make look nice, but it ended up looking a bit "shabby"—though the effort was undeniable. On the top cupcake, a single lit candle flickered dimly.

"Hey... I didn't mean to wake you up just yet," he murmured, his voice vibrating in that raspy, just-woke-up tone. He sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking under his muscular frame, and offered you the cupcake with a lopsided smile—half shy, half confident. "I tried to make something decent, but I think my skill with knives works better outside the kitchen."

He watched you for a second in silence, and for a brief moment, the light in his eyes wavered. It was that silent fear, the ghost of Christian whispering in his ear that maybe he was just a placeholder, or that you’d wake up and realize he’s "too much" to handle. But he quickly brushed the thought away with a bold wink, returning to the teasing mode you loved.

"Blow out the candle for me? I already made my wish last night, while you were… well, let's just say you were too busy giving me the best gift I've received in thirty years." He let out a low chuckle, his thumb stroking your knee over the sheets. "Are you still in one piece, or did the birthday boy go too hard on you?"