"Aria," He murmured, his smile widening when he saw the time on his phone. 'So, my girl remembered my birthday, and she is right on time to wish me.' A giddy feeling filled him, and he was already on cloud nine even before he heard her voice.

"It's me," Aria chirped from the side as she stared at Joshua from her chair. The man was sleeping peacefully, and compared to the last few hours, he seemed better. The medication was working on him, and Aria was sure that he would be out soon. He had good recovering ability, his training since childhood helping him to recover quicker than most people.

"I know." Noah laid on the bed, his left hand supporting his head. He stared at the ceiling, anticipating what his girl had prepared for him.

"Did you miss me?" Aria asked coyly, something she had never done before, and Noah was pleasantly surprised to see such a side of her. Although he was stunned, he did not hate it. He felt happy when she acted this way with him. It was as though she wanted him to spoil her, and that was all he wanted to do, spoil her rotten and love her for life.

"Will you come back if I say I am missing you?" He asked a question of his own, wishing for her to say a yes.

"Depends, Mister. If I like your reply, I might come back and surprise you." Aria bit her lip, wondering why she was even doing this when this was completely out of her character.

"In that case, let me tell you I am missing you a lot. I look at the bed, and all I think about is you. My hands are itching to hold you and cuddle with you." Aria blushed at his crude words, her mind wandering in a different route altogether. She covered her eyes with her free hand, embarrassment taking over her entire form.

"But I am only gone for a few hours. I will be back in the morning." Aria replied, still covering her eyes. She took another peek at the sleeping man, even though she knew that he would not be waking up anytime soon. His dosage of medication was strong and effective. Ian had prescribed him a strong dosage, for he knew that his body could take it, and he would recover quickly with their help.

"Love, even a minute away from you feels like a lifetime. All I want to do is take you away and look at you forever while I cuddle you." Noah revealed his desires, and Aria's face bloomed in happiness. Since the time they had got together, he had not stopped confessing his feelings to her, and now it was time for her to reciprocate the same. The man deserved it. However, before that, Aria was in the mood for some fun, and her eyes twinkled in mischief.

"Too bad. Your wish will not be fulfilled today." Aria sighed, biting her lip as she waited for Noah's reply.

"Why, sweetheart?" Noah frowned, wondering what had happened. "Is something the matter?"

"Yes, dear. I have a meeting with the administration at noon. So, I might have to stay back for some time." She masked her mischief with a dejected voice, and Noah almost bought it if he had not remembered that Ian called the shots at the hospital, and he would never call for a meeting in such a situation. Noah was well versed with the way Ian worked, and he shook his head, smiling at the girl's attempt to tease him.

"Too bad, dear. I had some plans for us. I will have to cancel them now."

"Don't." Aris almost shouted on the phone, and Noah's grin widened. She cursed herself for almost giving herself away. "I mean, please don't cancel. I will return by evening."

"Is it? But don't you have the evening shift again?" Noah pulled out the actor in him and put up a depressed tone, trapping Aria in her own ploy.

"I can take some time for you. I don't want..." Aria did not have the chance to continue, for Noah stopped her.

"Please don't, Aria. Don't skip your work for my sake. Your work is more important than me." Noah rejected her words at once. "I don't want you to get distracted from your work."

Aria's eyes widened hearing the man's words. However, they immediately narrowed when she sensed something fishy in the situation. 'Looks like Noah has already found out what I am doing, and he is doing the same with me. Ah..' She tapped her fingers on her knee, her lips raised in a smirk. 'This would be fun.'

"You are right, Noah. I guess we will not be meeting today. How will I survive without seeing you for a day?" She let out a deep breath as though she was already aggrieved at the predicament she was in. "I am going to miss you."

Now, it was Noah's turn to widen his eyes in shock. "What are you talking about, Aria? How can you not meet me today, when it such an important day? I will not allow you to hide from me."

"Ahh, yes. You are right. It is an important day today." Aria's words kicked Noah's doubt out of his mind, and his shoulders, which had tensed up, relaxed.

'Finally, she remembered. I knew it. How could my darling girl forget my birthday?'

"I forgot to tell you that Joshua woke up, and this time, he spoke to me," Aria stated, trying to stifle her laugh, imagining the poor man's face at being tricked.

Though Noah's hopes died hearing Aria's words, he still smiled, for it was good news for him. His friend had not only woken up, he had even spoken to Aria. This was great. His happiness soured, even though a nagging feeling started in his mind. 'Does Aria really not remember what day is today?' He thought to himself. 'Should I remind her?'

"Aria.." He started but stopped when he did not know how to continue. How could he say that it was his birthday and ask her to wish him himself?

"Yes?" Aria mused, biting her lip again.

"Nothing." Noah sighed, giving up the topic. "How is Joshua now? What did he talk to about?" He queried, and Aria smiled at his attempt to divert the topic.

'Wait for it, dear.' She promised, her heart filling with excitement, thinking about the plan she had prepared for him. "Joshua is good. We will be shifting him to the VIP ward in the morning. You can meet him."

"That's great to hear." Noah was still restless, and he wanted Aria to wish him. Just when he thought that the girl would not be saying the words he wanted to hear, Aria's sweet voice chimed from the other side.

"Noah, I want to say something to you." She stood up and walked towards the door. Noah did not have high expectations this time. Yet, he waited for her to continue. "I had to thank you."

"For what, Aria?" He frowned, pondering what he had done recently for her to thank him.

"For entering my life. You are the best thing that ever happened to me." Aria's words brought a huge smile to the man's face. Though this was not what he wanted to hear, he could make do with them, for they sounded better and sweeter than everything else.

"Please continue. I want to hear more." He urged her to continue speaking when he did not hear a sound from her.

"I will. But let it be a surprise until we meet. Please be patient until then."

"Aria," Noah almost whined when the girl stopped at the best part.

"Don't worry, dear. I have something else for you that will lift your mood." Noah's curiosity was piqued, and he raised his eyebrows, wondering what the girl wanted to tell him. And as Aria had said, her next words lifted his spirits, and all he wanted was to hug her and kiss her sweet lips.

"Can you please repeat it?" Noah almost begged, wanting to hear her again and again.

"I will, Noah. I will say them as many times as you want." Aria smiled, her cheeks blushing a dark shade of pink. "Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I love you. I will always love you, forever and beyond."