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Kara was startled at his words, and immediately took a step back, but James grabbed her waist and pulled her smack close to his body so she stays in her place. He lowered the flower to her neck and his lips were immediately replacing the touch of the flower on Kara's lips, planting a soft kiss. His tongue stuck out to gently lick her bottom lip before taking it in his mouth to suck with teasing, slow strokes.
Then he pulled back a little, but his mouth moved sideways to kiss Kara's rosy cheek and then slid to her ear and whispered softly, "I love you."
Kara stayed stock still throughout his actions. She had closed her eyes when he had kissed her, and now when he whispered those words in her ear, she opened her eyes and found the colorful lights of the amusement park that had been irritating her barely a minute ago, now twinkle with brightness beautifully.
"I- I didn't even remember." she murmured, more to herself than to James because she had entirely forgotten that her birthday came on the same day. She had not celebrated this day since their death three years ago. This was the first time in three years that she had remembered something else than pain today.
James pulled back and then lifting the white flower in his hand he put it behind Kara's ears, attaching it to the hairpin that was holding her hair.
"Let me remind you then." James grinned and pulled her away with himself.
His hand dragged her to each stall, one by one he handed her things to play the games that were being displayed. Kara protested at first, not really comfortable with it but then gradually she got used to his insistence and gave in. Moving from the shooting range, to 'put a ring on the bear to win' game and then to the others, they moved from one shop to another, laughing at each other's stupid attempts and failing. When the stalls came to end, James pulled her towards the rides, but Kara backed out immediately, telling him that rides made her nauseous. He made a face at her, but then took her out of the amusement park.
But when they came out of the park, he started pulling her towards the side of the road instead of towards the car.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Food." he smiled and pointed at the street stalls that were lined up outside.
****
"Stop it!" Kara snapped when James would not stop trying to stuff her mouth with more chicken sticks that she had 'accidentally' praised. Now he was hell bent on making her eat the very last bit of those sticks because he wanted her to be full and eat till her heart was full.
"This is the last one." James lifted up the fork and brought it closer to her lips, "come on."
"Then you eat it."
"But you said you like it!"
"My bad! I will never dare to say those words ever again!"
James scowled at her sarcasm but then begrudgingly ate the chicken stick instead.
When they had eaten and tasted all of the stalls that were lined up at the street, James finally brought Kara back to the car. He saw how her mood had changed from depressed to a light one finally. She had looked so upset since the day he had brought her back and then today, even more. He had not planned on anything for her birthday but seeing that even his small efforts had not gone to waste gave him a sense of happiness
She fell asleep ten minutes after he started driving. As the night had already covered the sky, the traffic on the roads had also lightened. He drove slower to make sure Kara's sleep does not get disturbed. She had been staying awake for so many days because of stress. Now finally seeing her rest made him smile in triumph.
When they parked the car thirty minutes later, Kara still stayed deep asleep. Instead of waking her up, James rounded the car and lifted her up in his arms to take her inside the house. Only the outside light was giving illumination to the path. He walked with quick, strides to reach the door, and opened the lock with his fingerprint before opening the door and walking inside.
The automatic system lit up the halls with dim yellow lights, but strange thing was that James realized, he had not heard the sound of the door being shut and then the beep of the security lock.
He turned around immediately, ready to walk back to the door if necessary to lock it but then his eyes stopped at the person that was holding the door open and standing on the entryway.
James narrowed his eyes, his hands tightening on Kara's body protectively.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in a blank voice to Damon who was staring intently at the woman in his arms with clenched jaw showing the depth of his anger and frustration.