Nana ran to Aphmau's bedroom door, knocked, and then hustled inside. Sitting on the bed were Aphmau and Aaron in the middle of a very heated make-out session, deprived by the separation, they'd broken apart as Nana shut the door behind her. 

The sound broke out with a slam as she caught her breath. She wasn't paying attention as the married couple braced themselves (and their ears) from Nana's, more so Kawaii~Chan's, well-known squealing moment. Yet, Nana hadn't even flinched when she saw them. The girl had other things on her mind.

A few moments later, Katelyn and Garroth cautiously made their way into the room, vaguely followed by Lucinda, Vylad and unexpectantly Zenix. 

Aaron and Aphmau made faces at the group who'd happened to show up inside their room unannounced. 

"Okay, just last night, something came to my attention that I drastically almost forgot," Nana began. 

For some reason, only Zenix had known what she was talking about. For the remainder, the situation and hints went right over their heads. 

Katelyn sighed, "Whatever you have better be quick, I have a reservation dinner with Travis in less than an hour."

Aphmau rolled her eyes toward her step-sister. She turned to Nana, "What's up, buttercup?"

"It has come to my attention that the day after tomorrow is..."

Garroth's eyes widened as Vylad tried to resist swearing under his breath. Zenix bit his tongue. "The twins' birthday," they said in unison. 

"Ooh," Lucinda whistled. 

"Hmm," Zenix hummed. 

"Shit, it's their thirteenth too," Aaron whined running a hand through his sweaty hair. 

"How did we manage to forget something like that?" Vylad rhetorically asked, slumping against the wall in a huff. 

"So, what do we do?" Aphmau questioned swinging over her legs to the edge of the bed. 

"I do have a plan, but the only way we're going to get it done in time, is if we all collaborate, cooperate and work together," Nana said sternly. 

"Cliche," Katelyn mumbled. 

"Yes, mother," Lucinda said with an eye roll. 

"No, I'm serious. One mistake and it all goes down the toilet." 

"Okay, I'd better get the flush ready," Aaron said beginning to stand up. 

"I want a new plan," Vylad whined.

"Shut up, now, here's what I'm thinking..."

- - - AUGUST FIFTH • 08:16 - - -

Two days later, Zane woke up cuddling into his fiancé. Unexpectedly, he get positive about the day to come, and he savoured his future wife, kissing her cheeks, nose and neck until he woke her up. Nana groaned and pushed him away so she continue sleeping. 

"Zane, no, I wanna sleep," she mumbled burying his face against the pillows. "Bye," she added, her voice completely muffled by the pressure. 

"Good morning to you, too," he answered, playfully rubbing her arm and fiddling with her sleeve. 

Again, Nana groaned and turned to face Zane. "Hello," she mumbled, resisting the urge to close her eyes again. 

"Come on, up," Zane urged. "I'm spending the day with Becca and my mum, why can't I enjoy my fiancé beforehand?" 

"What if your fiancé wants to sleep?" She sighed, "fine." Nana threw one of her pillows at him. "There, you've enjoyed me. Go hang out with Becca now."

Zane rolled his eyes at her fight to stay in bed. "All right, but it's only eight. Would you like to help me make some blueberry pancakes?" 

Nana turned and rolled out of the bed with a thump against the floor. She took the blanket with her. Nana sat up and glanced toward the alarm clock. "I'm coming, but you'd better make the chocolate maple syrup, too."

"Only for you, my dear," he answered. 

Nana stood up on her feet and caressed Zane's cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too," Zane replied.

- - - 09:42 - - - 

After the pancakes and breakfast, Zane found it off that no one was wishing him a 'happy birthday. Sure, they gave him the normal morning greetings, but nothing that he wanted to hear. Nana hadn't even said it to him. 

After a shower and applying his favourite cologne, he texted his beloved twin sister. 

ZANE PAYNE: happy birthday to the greatest, loving, wonderful and marvellous twin sister in the universe. I can't wait to spend another reigning birthday with you. Love you lots ❤️ - Zane (I'll be there in ten)

REBEL PEBBLE: Ty, baby twin brother. Man, do I feel old.

Zane, happy birthday to the best, most resilient, understanding and most clear-thinking man I've ever known. I love you so much I don't even have the words to explain it. Enjoy the birthday with all you have, you deserve it! 

Love you ❤️ - Becca. I'll see you then. 

Oh, sorry the last was for Zenix. 

ZANE PAYNE: sure it was. 

REBEL PEBBLE: I know, I'm kidding. I'll see you soon. :)

- - - 09:58 - - -

Zane locked his phone with a soft click, and headed out the door, kissing Nana on the cheek before he left. He walked down to the Shadow Knight's villa and was welcomed in by his mother who'd beat him there. 

Zianna enveloped him in a hug, squealing a happy birthday. Zane smiled and saw his sister in the kitchen, eating white grapes from a bowl. On the other side of the floor, by the TV, Sasha and Gene were resisting the urge to sleep as they streamed, holding steaming cups of coffee in their hands. 

"Not morning people, are they?" Zane questioned walking up to his twin sister. 

"Nope," she answered popping a grape in her mouth. Zane noticed Becca's yellow dress against her tanned skin bulging so much the bump was barely unnoticeable. The girl was now six months through, but she liked much further than that. Zane couldn't help but think the bump looked larger than she was carrying only one. 

Either Becca looked small or she was carrying the baby differently. 

"Ready to go?" Zianna asked her twins. Becca nodded putting her phone away into the pocket of her denim jacket. 

"All ready," Becca answered placing her grape bowl in the sink and dusting off her hands. 

Zianna grinned, "To the carnival!" 

- - - 14:07 - - -

Meanwhile, on the upstairs deck of the backyard and villa, their friends were scrambling to finish decorating the area. They trusted Zianna to know she'd manage to keep the twins busy, but they didn't take any unnecessary risks. 

As they decorated with Aaron in charge, Aphmau, Nana and Remmi were frantically baking and cooking the birthday cake, small buffet and sweets. 

Sylvanna came downstairs to speak with her daughter regarding the rest of them upstairs. "Mija? Do we have any tape?"

Aphmau frowned as she cracked an egg, "we gave you some tape, why do you need some?"

"We ran out." 

The girl sighed, "Sorry, silly question. The second drawer over there, if not, get Aaron to toe them around nails in the walls." 

"Thank you," she tried, passing Nana and Remmi's frenzy of concentration as well as durability. "You okay there, girls?" 

Remmi nodded then pointed to her headphones blaring in music as she worked. Nana sighed, "just have a lot to do," she grunted. 

Sylvanna mumbled an okay before leaving the room with a large roll of sticky tape. Aph shrugged but gave her mum a warm smile on her cheeks. 

- - - 20:23 - - -

Zane and Becca returned to Zane and their friends' residence. The front glass doors weren't locked, but from what the twins could see, it was eerily dark, the only light transmitting inside was from the commercial fridges and the late sunset behind them. 

No one was to be seen. Becca rolled her eyes as Zane sighed. "Not another surprise party," he mumbled. 

With a groan, Becca pulled out her sub-coordinate meifwa ears and listened around like a cat. Zane out the same. "That's... weird, there's no one here at all," Becca said slowly. 

Zane pulled a face but agreed with her. He walked cautiously and turned in the nearest light. Waiting on the empty kitchen counter was a folded piece of paper, inside was a short message. 

"Yeah, that'll clear things up," Becca grunted. 

Thought you were having a surprise party. Not exactly. But, there's a gift waiting for you two upstairs. :) 

 "Can you recognise the handwriting?" Zane asked passing the note to his sister. 

Becca squinted and shrugged. "Not that I can tell, but we have two dozen people around here to choose from," she considered. 

"What do you think is upstairs?" Zane questioned and Becca mumbled 'I don't know. "C'mon." 

They headed upstairs, then exited the floor to the balcony from Zane and Nana's room. Used their enhanced hearing from their meifwa features and turned to the upper deck. Not only was it dark, but fairy lights hung around the open room.

Becca reached for the light switch, but someone grabbed her hand and it wasn't Zane. She and Zane screamed as someone turned on the lights. Their friends, brothers, partners and parents, jumped out from their hiding places yelling, "Happy Birthday!"

"You scared me!" The twins yelled in unison. 

"I think I had a heart attack," Becca mumbled.