#🎂🎂🎂 and happy birthday mandi! 🎂🎂🎂 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rainbowbobatea · 2 months ago

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Happy Birthday 🤍🎂

The cafe bustles with activity as the last customers linger, savoring the final sips of their drinks and bites of dessert. Hugh, ever the gracious host, moves from table to table, bidding farewell to the patrons with his signature charm.

His eyes, however, keep darting back to Shar, who's wiping down the counter with a distracted air.

As the last customer leaves, Shar approaches Hugh, a curious glint in her eyes. "Whatcha doing after the cafe closes?"

Hugh's gaze softens as he takes in her appearance. Flour dusts her cheeks and speckles her chocolate brown hair, giving her an endearing, slightly disheveled look.

In his mind, he thinks how adorably cute she looks after a long day's work…

Outwardly, he simply shrugs, pulling her close and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Unfortunately, not in your arms," he murmurs.

Shar rolls her eyes, a blush creeping up her neck. "Stawwp," she giggles, swatting his chest playfully. "Seriously, what are you doing? I wanna know your hobbies and stuff!"

A flicker of panic crosses Hugh's face. His mind races, images of his nightly activities in the mafia - shootings, smuggling deals - flashing before his eyes. He can't tell her the truth, not yet.

…maybe not ever.

"I'm gonna hang out with Oscar and Ava," he lies smoothly, his expression betraying nothing. "Might stay in tomorrow since it's my birthday-"

Shar blinks, shock evident on her face. "Wait, your birthday? Babe, why didn't you tell me yet? I could've planned a party with Le Festin!"

Hugh's mind grimaces at the thought. He can picture it all too clearly: MBJ ranting about his latest conspiracy theory, Jess saying long-winded prayers over the food, Brit and Mandy shamelessly flirting with him, and Aaron...

Well, Aaron fucking up something, be it beatboxing the birthday song or worse.

"Aw love, you're too sweet," Hugh says out loud, his voice warm despite his inner reservations. "Trust me, I don't need a party."

Shar's shoulders slump slightly, but she perks up again almost immediately. "Fine... well, can you at least tell me what kind of cake you like?"

Hugh pauses, his mind drifting to a time before the mafia, before the danger and deceit. He's back in his childhood kitchen, the air sweet with the scent of baking, his mother's gentle hands guiding his own.

It's no wonder he ended up with a cover job at Le Festin - subconsciously, he's always been drawn back to those moments in the kitchen with his mum.

"Crème Caramel cake," he says softly, his eyes distant with memory. "My mum would call me 'Hughby,' and we'd make it together. At the end, she'd always say, 'Cooking is an act of love…”

“Aww, really?”

Hugh nods, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Why do you ask?"

Shar's lips curl into a secretive smile. "No reason..."

“…Okay my love. Take care.”

Hugh gives her forehead a gentle kiss once more before leaving shortly after, his mind still caught between past and present. Shar, however, lingers behind, approaching Lizzie with determination in her stride.

"Liz, can I use Le Festin overnight to bake Hugh a cake?" Shar asks, her eyes pleading.

Elizabeth caresses her pregnant stomach, considering for a moment before nodding. "Okay, but someone should stay with you for safety."

"Sure!" Mish pipes up from nearby. "I can help."

As their manager disappears into the night, Shar and Mish set about gathering ingredients for the Crème Caramel cake. The kitchen soon fills with the clatter of bowls and the whir of mixers, punctuated by giggles and snippets of conversation.

As they work, Mish casts a sly glance at Shar. "You see the way that man looks at you? He is so in love."

Shar's eyes widen in shock, her hand jerking so suddenly she nearly drops the bowl of batter. "Love!? Are you sure he's... in love?"

Mish rolls her eyes dramatically. "Yes, I'm sure the sky is blue. Duhh."

Shar carefully sets down the bowl, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pours the batter into the pan. "You sure?" she asks again, her voice small and uncertain.

Mish starts ticking off reasons on her flour-dusted fingers. "Well, Hugh makes sure to lie to customers that your favorite dessert ran out so you can take it home with you. He constantly shows up for family dinners even though your sister Soph always calls him hairy. And, he helps change Goya's diapers even though he changes his daughter's too..."

Mish pauses to lick the spoon, savoring the sweet batter. "Should I go on?"

Shar's cheeks flush a deep red. "Noo..." she mumbles, focusing intently on smoothing the top of the batter. “I just…I dunno. I hope he thinks I’m not doing too much baking him something. He didn’t even want a party.”

As they finish up the cake, sliding it carefully into the oven, Mish places a comforting hand on Shar's shoulder. "Worry less," she says softly. "It will go all right."

Shar takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Okay," she says, turning to wrap Mish in a tight hug.

"Thanks, Mish Mish."

"No prob, Shar Shar."

As the aroma of freshly baked Crème Caramel cake fills the air of Le Festin, Shar and Mish put the finishing touches on their creation. She steps back, admiring their handiwork. The cake sits proudly on the counter, its golden surface glistening under the kitchen lights.

She can't help but smile, imagining Hugh's reaction when he sees it.

"Girl, we outdid ourselves," Mish declares, wiping her hands on her apron. "Hugh's gonna flip when he tastes this."

Shar nods, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I hope so. I just want it to be perfect, you know?"

Mish's eyebrows shoot up, a glint in her eye. "Hold up, girl. How old is Hugh anyway?"

Shar freezes, her hand hovering over the cake. She bites her lip, thinking about what he had told her months earlier. "He's... turning 31, I think,” she admits quietly.

Mish's eyes widen, a slow grin spreading across her face. "Ooo, ten years older? Okurr, get yourself a sugar daddy!"

Shar's cheeks flush a deep crimson. "Mish!" she hisses, mortified. "It's not like that!"

Mish laughs, nudging Shar playfully. “Just kidding.”

As if on cue, the bell above the cafe door chimes. Shar and Mish exchange a puzzled glance – they'd locked up hours ago. Cautiously, they peek out from the kitchen, only to see Channing sauntering in, a broad grin on his face.

"Sup," he greets them, his voice warm and playful. "Burning the midnight oil, I see?"

Mish's face lights up at the sight of him. She rushes over, flour-dusted apron and all, throwing her arms around his neck. Channing chuckles, wrapping her in a tight embrace before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Hey babe," he murmurs, his eyes twinkling. As he pulls back, his gaze falls on the kitchen counter behind them. "Ooo, is that cake for me?"

Shar shakes her head, hiding the cake behind herself protectively from his hungry stare. "Sorry. It's for Hugh's birthday."

Channing's face falls. "Aw man, I get a slice later? Or will I have to dance for it?"

Mish rolls her eyes, swatting his arm. "C'mon babe, let's go," she says, already tugging him towards the door. She turns back to Shar, shooting her a wink.

"Don't stay up too late, girl. And good luck tomorrow!"

As Mish and Channing disappear into the night, their laughter echoing back through the cafe, Shar finds herself alone with the cake and her thoughts. She carefully places it in the refrigerator, her mind already racing with plans for Hugh's surprise tomorrow…

The next day dawns bright and clear, a perfect autumn morning.

Shar, her heart fluttering with excitement, makes her way to Hugh's house. Tucked under one arm is a large, carefully wrapped box containing the Crème Caramel cake. At her heels trots Lila, her small black dog, tail wagging happily. She decided to bring Lila along since everyone at the house was too busy to care for the dog.

As Shar approaches Hugh's front door, she takes a deep breath, steadying her nerves. She's been here many times before, dropping in to say hello to Hugh and the kids, but today feels different.

Today, she has a mission.

Hugh answers the door, his face lighting up at the sight of Shar. "Hey, beautiful," he says, pulling her into a warm embrace. Lila yips excitedly, circling their feet.

"Hi," Shar replies, her voice muffled against his chest. She pulls back, smiling up at him. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by."

That’s a rhetorical question, of course. Ever since they started dating, they always visit each other. spending hours watching Disney movies together, playing with the kids, or even doing silly stuff like broadway karaoke, since Hugh was a secret broadway nerd.

"Never," Hugh assures her, ushering her inside. As they enter the living room, Oscar and Ava look up from their toys, their faces breaking into wide grins.

"Shar!" Oscar exclaims, jumping up to hug her legs. Ava babbles happily from her playpen, reaching out with chubby hands.

Shar laughs, ruffling Oscar's hair. "Hey!" She sets her jacket on the box, carefully hiding it out of sight.

Hugh watches the scene with a warmth spreading through his chest. Seeing Shar with his children never fails to make his heart swell. It's in these moments that he almost forgets about all the mafia shit he has to deal with, the dark sacrifices he has to take…

Shar turns to Hugh, her expression suddenly serious. "Oh, I just remembered. I think there were no more diapers for Ava. Remember? You said there wasn’t any yesterday.”

Hugh's brow furrows. "Really? I could've sworn I just bought some."

Shar nods emphatically. "Yeah, but you know how it is with babies. You should probably get some more, just in case."

Hugh hesitates, glancing between Shar and the kids. "Aww, but you just got here... I wanted spend time with you."

Shar bites her lip, her mind racing. "But what if Ava has a blowout?"

Hugh's eyes widen comically.

"Oh, you're right," he says, already moving towards the door. He pauses to give Shar a gentle kiss. "I'll be back as quick as I can."

As the door closes behind Hugh, Shar springs into action. She turns to Oscar, a sneaky grin on her face. "Okay, buddy, want to help me with a surprise for your dad?"

Oscar's eyes light up. "Yeah!"

Shar pulls out secret bags from Target, filled with decorations. "Let's make this place look amazing for your dad's birthday!"

“Yayy!”

For the next half hour, the living room becomes a whirlwind of activity. Shar and Oscar hang streamers and balloons, transforming the space into a festive wonderland. Lila races around excitedly, her tail wagging so hard her whole body shakes.

Oscar, caught up in the excitement, starts playing with the balloons, popping them near Ava's playpen. The sudden loud noises startle the baby, and she begins to cry.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

“Wahhh!!!”

It’s pure chaos.

"Oscar, honey, be careful," Shar calls out, trying to soothe Ava while simultaneously attempting to hang a "Happy Birthday" banner. The banner keeps falling, until it rips in the middle. Her heart sinks as she looks at the ruined decoration.

Great, just great.

In her distraction, Shar doesn't notice Lila sniffing around the table where she's placed the cake. The dog's wagging tail catches the edge of the tablecloth, and suddenly, the whole thing starts to slide down…

Down…

Down.

Shar turns just in time to see the disaster unfolding. With a gasp, she lunges forward, arms outstretched.

“No!!!”

Time seems to slow as the cake box teeters on the edge of the table. In a move that would make any action hero proud, Shar manages to catch the box just before it hits the ground.

“Got it!”

She breathes a sigh of relief, carefully placing the cake back on the table. But her relief is short-lived as she hears a familiar Australian voice behind her.

"…Shar!?!"

Her heart skips a beat. She grimaces as she looks up, hoping it’s not him (which, of course, it is him).

“W-what’s going on?!”

Hugh stands in the doorway, his eyes wide as he takes in the scene before him. Streamers hang haphazardly from the ceiling, half-inflated balloons litter the floor, and Lila is enthusiastically humping a throw pillow.

Ava is still crying in her playpen, while Oscar wildly popping balloons into her face.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

“Wahhhhh!”

Shar straightens up, her cheeks flushing. She runs to Hugh, her mouth running miles per hour.

"I... I was just trying to prepare a party and..." she begins, words tumbling out in a rush. "I wanted to surprise you for your birthday because you're always so good to me and the kids, and I thought it would be nice to do something special for you, but…”

Another balloon pop startles her. Shar and Hugh flinch before she starts speaking again.

“…then everything started going wrong, and Lila knocked over the table, and the cake almost fell, and Oscar was popping balloons, and I'm so sorry, I just wanted everything to be perfect, and-"

As Shar rambles on, Hugh finds himself captivated. He barely registers the chaos around him, his focus entirely on Shar. The sunlight streaming through the window catches in her curly hair, giving her an almost ethereal glow. Her eyes, wide with worry and excitement, sparkle like stars.

Even with a streamer tangled in her hair and a smudge of what looks like frosting on her cheek, she's the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.

“…and I messed up,” Shar says, tears brimming her eyes. “I did. I’m…I’m sorry.”

“Shar…”

Hugh gasps, stepping further into the room. Yes, it’s a mess, but…his heart swells, nevertheless. It’s an emotion so powerful it nearly takes his breath away. No one has ever done anything like this for him before. No one has ever made him feel so... special.

No one, except Shar.

Hugh walks up to the cake, dipping a finger in and tasting it. The familiar flavor floods his senses, transporting him back to his childhood kitchen. When it was just him and his mum in Australia. No mafia, guns, and blood.

"...this...this is the Crème Caramel?" he asks, his voice soft with wonder.

Shar nods, her rambling finally coming to a halt. "Yeah..."

A slow smile spreads across Hugh's face. "Delicious," he says.

Shar’s face lights up. “R-really?”

"Am I allowed to have the whole cake?"

Shar lets out a breath, relief washing over her. "If you want. You're the birthday boy. But..." her face falls slightly. "I'm sorry, I forgot to buy gifts so-"

Shar gasps as Hugh interrupts her with a kiss, pulling her close. His lips press into her soft mouth, his hands around her waist bringing her in closer. She pulls back in surprise, out of breath.

“B-babe.”

“Come back, love.”

Hugh brings her into another gentle kiss, the chaos around them fades away as he loses himself in her embrace. Even little Oscar making a gagging noise. In his mind, a chorus of thoughts rings out, all centered on one overwhelming truth:

He loves this girl.

He loves her kindness, her enthusiasm, her ability to bring light into even the darkest corners of his chaotic mafia life. He loves the way she cares for his Oscar and Ava, the way she makes him laugh during busy shifts in Le Festin, and even smaller things too:

The way she scrunches her nose when she's concentrating icing a cake with Brit and Jess, the sound of her laughter, the feel of her hand in his. He loves how she sees the best in everyone, even him, especially him.

Shar gasps as he pulls back once again, her face flushed. “H-hugh…”

Hugh tilts her chin up, looking into her soft brown eyes. "I don't need any presents. I have you."

Shar's heart swells at his words. She gives Hugh another kiss, pulling him close and whispering against his lips.

“Well then…Happy birthday, babe."

“Thank you, my love. You’re the best gift I’ve ever had.”

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