Let Them Eat Cake

by Loui

Earth: Final Conflict is copyright © Tribune Entertainment and Roddenberry/Kirschner. No infringement of that copyright is intended by this story.
"Let Them Eat Cake" is copyright © Loui.
Author's Notes: I know the timeline is off but I really don't care. <g> Wanted some silliness so I wrote some.

Renee Palmer stepped out of the elevator and into the subterranean sanctuary under St. Michael's. She was surprised to see the lights had been dimmed to half power, Street had called saying she needed to see her on an urgent matter. If that girl had been messing about again... anyway... where was Street?

"Hello? Street? Where the hell are you?" Renee heard herself getting louder and louder and more and more angry. In fact, she was concentrating so much on that that she failed to notice that she was not alone. At least not until a voice materialised near to her, saying, "Renee? What are you doing here?"

Renee felt that the muffled scream she let loose was positively restrained under the circumstances and said, "I'm going to buy a damn bell to put round your neck if you keep sneaking up on me like that, Kincaid!"

She bit back a sigh at his slight flinch and downcast eyes. What the hell was wrong with him? He'd been distracted for days; it was starting to get a bit worrying. "Sorry, Liam," she apologised. "It's been a long day. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"It's all right, Renee," he said softly, though a questioning expression appeared on his face. "Why are you here, anyway? The review of the field data from the active cells is scheduled for tomorrow."

"Street called me. Said it was urgent that she meet me here."

"Huh?"

"I said--"

"I heard, Renee. It's just that she left two hours ago... she's got a date." He winced at the expression that appeared on his partner's face. Street was going to be in so much trouble.

"Well," said an irritated Renee. "I'm here now. I may as well start going over the data now. Is that why you're here?"

Liam shrugged. "I was just hanging out. Didn't feel like going home yet. Reviewing the data seems as good a way to spend the evening as anything else I might do."

They were making their way towards the main computer consoles when Liam's global signalled a message. He flicked it open to see the grinning visage of their AWOL genius hacker. He opened his mouth to start the lecture she'd earned but she beat him to the punch.

"I know. I know. You can yell at me tomorrow. Just wanted to say that I left something for you in the kitchen. Enjoy."

She was gone before he had the chance to say anything. He turned to look at the less than pleased countenance of Renee and shrugged. Street was young and exuberant and there wasn't a heck of a lot that they could do about it. Curious in spite of themselves, they diverted their path and headed for the kitchen. True enough; a box was waiting on them... a cake box.

An expression of fond indulgence replaced the initial horrified expression that had graced Liam's face when he'd seen the box. "Kincaid?" The one word query related Renee's curiosity and confusion.

With a sigh, Liam carefully opened the box to reveal his favourite type of cake, Mississippi Mud Pie. There were a few revealing words artfully decorating the surface – with vanilla icing if he was not mistaken.

Happy Third Birthday.

"Liam?"

"Uh, did I mention that today's my birthday?"

"No, you didn't," said Renee pointedly. "Besides, I thought it was--"

Liam shook his head and cut off her question saying, "No. That's Kincaid's birthday, not mine."

Renee didn't even blink. She'd got used to the fact of her partner's true heritage, but, even so, she sometimes bought the public persona without stopping to think.

"Why didn't you say something?"

"We've been busy," was the simple reply. "Besides, I don't really celebrate my birthday."

"How did Street know?"

That produced a smile. "Cause ever since she found out about my heritage she's bugged me for every little detail..."

Renee smiled too as his voice trailed off. She had to hand that much to the girl. She was persistent when she wanted to be.

"Do you want to go out for a drink or something? Leave the data till tomorrow like we planned?"

Smiling, Liam shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, Renee, but really, I don't mind. I'd rather just get the field data analysed... if you don't mind."

It was his birthday and he was asking her if it was all right if they worked. Sometimes, this man was weird.

"A compromise."

"Such as?" he asked warily. The grin was worrying him.

"We review the data but you have to feed me cake. You know I love chocolate."

"Deal."

"And tomorrow--"

"Yes?" was the exasperated interruption.

"And tomorrow, I take you out for a drink. No arguments."

Liam looked at Renee and saw the teasing glint in Renee's eyes and knew he was in trouble. "All right... you win. Just please don't get too carried away tomorrow. I know what you're like when you decide I'm being too..."

"Boring?"

"Sensible."

"Boring."

"Sensible."

"Shut up and cut the cake, Kincaid."

Moving to get a knife, Liam stopped at the gentle pressure of her hand on his arm. He felt a friendly kiss on his cheek and looked down into her sparkling blue eyes with surprise, grinning when she said, "Happy Birthday, partner."

"Thanks, Renee."

She made a shooing motion and said, "Cake. Now."

"Yes, ma'am."

She patted his cheek in mock fondness and said, "You're such a good boy."

"Don't push it, Palmer..."

"Ooh, you are so easy."

"You want cake then you get us some plates. Hop to it, woman." Liam grinned at her shocked expression. She'd make him pay and pay and pay for that expression... and it would be worth every second.

A birthday celebration with his best friend. Maybe this year's birthday wouldn't be so uneventful after all.


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Last modified August 5th, 2002.
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