Canon

Cynthia woke to the soft hum of birds outside the window and the faintest trace of sunlight streaming through the curtains. For a moment, she thought it was just another day, until she noticed how quiet the house was.

Usually, by this time, Ariana would be up and about, her soft humming or clatter in the kitchen a comforting morning soundtrack. But today, there was nothing.

“Strange,” Cynthia mumbled, sitting up slightly and stretching.

Just as she was about to swing her legs over the bed to investigate, the bedroom door creaked open.

“Don’t move!” Ariana whispered, poking her head in. She was a mess of bedhead and excitement, her hands gripping a tray piled high with food.

“What on earth…?” Cynthia said, her voice groggy but filled with amusement.

“Happy birthday!” she sang, stepping into the room.

Cynthia sat up, propping herself against the headboard. “What’s all this?”

Ariana beamed, setting the tray on the bedside table. “Breakfast in bed, duh! For my birthday queen.”

On the tray was an ambitious spread: vegan pancakes, tofu scramble, avocado toast, a lopsided bowl of fruit, and a cup of tea. The pancakes were slightly misshapen, the eggs looked a little too wet, and the toast—well, it definitely explained the smoky aroma.

Cynthia’s heart melted at the sight. “You made this for me?”

“Yup!” Ariana plopped onto the edge of the bed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I woke up early and did it all myself. Try it! I promise it’s edible. Mostly.”

Cynthia stifled a laugh and picked up the fork, spearing a piece of pancake first. The edges were crispier than they should’ve been, and the center was a little undercooked, but she smiled warmly as she chewed.

“Well?” Ariana asked, leaning forward, her hands clasped.

“It’s…” Cynthia paused, her voice catching. “It’s perfect.”

Ariana’s face lit up. “Really? You like it?”

“Absolutely,” Cynthia said, reaching for the toast next. She bit into it, and the unmistakable crunch of overcooked bread made her pause—but she kept her smile intact.

“You’re not just saying that, right?” Ariana tilted her head, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“Of course not!” Cynthia said quickly, taking another bite to prove her point. “It’s delicious. I can taste all the love you put into it.”

Ariana’s face softened, a shy smile tugging at her lips. “I wanted to do something special for you. You’re always taking care of me, so I figured it was my turn.”

Cynthia set the toast down and pulled Ariana closer, kissing her temple. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

Ariana relaxed into the embrace. “You deserve it. But honestly, I was so nervous I’d mess it up.”

Cynthia chuckled, deciding to skip the eggs entirely. “You didn’t mess it up, baby. It’s perfect because you made it.”

Ariana leaned back to look at her, studying her expression carefully. “You’re really not lying?”

“I’m really not lying,” Cynthia said, placing her hand over her heart.

“Good.” Ariana sighed in relief, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

—

Hours later, after their lazy morning filled with laughter and sweet moments, Ariana seemed a little too casual, even though Cynthia didn’t pick up on it. She was getting ready to go out, but Ariana had insisted they go for a drive.

"Come on, Cyn, let’s go," Ariana said, nudging her toward the door, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

Cynthia looked at her curiously. "Where are we going?"

Ariana shrugged, her eyes twinkling with a playful secrecy. "It’s a surpriseee."

The drive was quiet, the hum of the engine blending with the soft music playing from the radio. The further they went, the more Cynthia’s curiosity grew. She glanced over at Ariana, who was acting completely normal—too normal.

"Are you sure I’m not going to regret this?" Cynthia asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Ariana glanced at her, grinning widely. "I promise, you’ll love it."

The landscape shifted as they drove further from their neighborhood, the familiar streets of their town giving way to more scenic, open areas. Cynthia couldn’t help but feel the excitement in the air, though she still had no idea where they were headed. Ariana had a way of keeping things so mysterious, and despite the quiet, Cynthia could feel the anticipation building.

When they finally arrived at a large house, tucked away in a more secluded area, Cynthia was completely lost. "Ari, what is this place?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and excitement.

Ariana grinned, turning to her. "You’ll see. Stay here for a second." She got out of the car, walking toward the front door of the house, leaving Cynthia sitting in the car with a thousand questions.

A few moments later, Ariana returned with a wide grin on her face. "Okay, you can come in now."

Still unsure, Cynthia followed Ariana inside. The moment the door opened, Cynthia was greeted by a chorus of voices shouting, "SURPRISE!"

The room was filled with familiar faces—the Wicked cast, including Jon Chu, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, and Bronwyn James, all there with balloons, streamers, and a massive birthday cake. Cynthia stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide in shock.

"Happy Birthday, our Elphie!" Jonny called out, waving enthusiastically from across the room.

Cynthia’s heart fluttered, the realization hitting her that this had all been a well-kept secret. Ariana stepped beside her, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Surprise," she whispered, giving Cynthia’s hand a soft squeeze.

Cynthia turned to her, her smile brightening as she pulled her into a warm hug. "You did all this for me?"

Ariana nodded, her smile matching Cynthia’s. "Of course. You deserve it. You always take care of everyone, so today was about taking care of you."

Tears welled up in Cynthia’s eyes, her heart full. She squeezed Ariana tighter, overwhelmed by the love and thoughtfulness surrounding her. "I love you," she whispered.

Ariana kissed her forehead softly. "I love you too, my Elphie. Happy birthday."

The room erupted in cheers as Cynthia stood there, frozen, her heart racing. Her eyes darted from one familiar face to another—Jonny’s beaming smile, Michelle Yeoh’s elegant grace, Bowen Yang’s playful grin. And there, standing in the midst of it all, was Jeff Goldblum, raising a glass toward her with his signature eccentric charm.

Cynthia’s heart felt like it might burst. She hadn’t expected anything like this—not this overwhelming show of love from the Wicked family and her closest friends.

Ariana guided her toward the center of the room, where a large birthday cake sat, decorated with intricate details that Cynthia could only assume had taken hours. The entire space was filled with balloons in green and gold—the iconic colors from the musical, of course—and streamers that hung from the ceiling in delicate patterns. It looked like something out of a dream.

"You... you did all of this?" Cynthia asked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and emotion. She glanced at Ariana, still trying to process it all.

"Well, I had some help," Ariana admitted, her voice soft. "But I wanted you to feel celebrated. You deserve all of this and more."

Cynthia smiled, her chest tightening with affection. She pulled Ariana in for a hug, her heart full. "I can’t believe you did this for me. You’re incredible."

Ariana held her close, her arms wrapping around Cynthia’s waist as she whispered, "I’ll always do whatever it takes to make you happy."

Cynthia pulled back slightly, looking into Ariana’s eyes, in their own little world. "I already am," she said, the sincerity in her voice clear.

The group around them clapped and cheered, encouraging them to cut the cake. Cynthia, still feeling the warmth of the surprise, grinned at the thought of celebrating with everyone she cared about.

Jonny, standing nearby, waved his hand toward the cake. "Alright, Cynthia, it’s time for you to make a wish!" he called out with a grin.

Cynthia glanced at Ariana, who gave her a teasing wink, and then turned back to the cake. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, her heart full of gratitude. She thought about the people in her life, the opportunity she had to be part of something so incredible, and the love that surrounded her—not just today, but every day. She blew out the candles with a single breath, the room erupting into cheers again.

Cynthia smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. "Thank you all," she said, her voice carrying across the room. "Thank you, Ariana. I can’t even begin to explain how much this means to me."

Ariana smiled up at her, her eyes soft. "You don’t have to explain. You’re everything to me."