𝓜𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝓕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓

𝓒𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝓣𝒘𝒐 - 𝚂𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚢'𝚜 𝙾𝚛𝚙𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎, 𝙻𝚘𝚜 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜, 𝙲𝙰 - 𝟽𝚝𝚑 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟷

Four years later Addison smiled as she poked her head around the door and saw him asleep in bed. She ran in and launched herself onto the bed almost knocking the wind out of him. He awoke with a start and gasped for breath. "Addy what are you doing?"

"Happy Birthday Temp. I wanted to be the first to say that to you."

He grinned at her as she lay down facing him. "Addy, you will be the only one to say that to me. Nobody else calls me by that name, which is a shame because I really like it."

Resting her head on her arm she bit on her lip nervously. "Do you really like the name Templeton Peck that much?"

"You know I do and I appreciate your help in coming up with it. Templeton Arthur Peck is a grand name and so much better than Alvin Brenner but that's who I am so what can I do?"

Addison reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper tied with a red ribbon. "This is my birthday present to you."

He pushed himself up in the bed and propped his pillow up behind his back so he could sit comfortably. "Did you draw me something?"

She looked at all the pictures on the wall and shook her head. "I could never be as talented as you. No, I got Father Maghill to help me with something." She sat up next to him and put the rolled paper in his hands. "Open it."

Carefully untying the ribbon he looked at her suspiciously before unfurling it. Slowly his eyes read over the typed script on the page and his mouth slowly fell open. "This is real? You actually did this?"

Once again she nervously chewed on her lip as she nodded at him. "Yes! Did I make a mistake?"

A huge smile crept across his face and he dropped the paper so he could hug her tightly. "No you didn't. It's the best gift I've ever received. Thank you Addy."

"You're welcome, Templeton."

He released her so he could look at the paper again. "I still can't believe you managed to talk Father Maghill into getting my name legally changed."

"Oh it was hard work because I don't have your gift of persuasion but I eventually wore him down. After that it was just a lot of form filling. The final documents arrived two days ago and I've been dying to tell you."

He lay his head on her shoulder and read over the papers again. "I'm really Templeton Peck. Remember that name Addy because one day I'm going to be famous."

"And I will be your biggest fan Temp."

"Just like I will be yours when you finally admit to how talented you are in the garden."

Addison rolled her eyes and leaned her head against his. "Don't hold your breath Temp."

The sound of footsteps on the staircase had them both staring at each other with wide eyes. Who would be up this early? There was a small tap on the door and Father Maghill came in. "Somehow I knew I would find you here Addison, however it's not really appropriate for you to be in Templeton's bed."

Both of them smiled at him. "You called me Templeton" he said happily.

Father Maghill nodded. "Well that is your name child. Now Addison, get back down to your dorm please. I need to talk to Templeton."

She kissed her friend on his cheek. "Happy Birthday Temp." Before he could reply she was out of the bed and running down the staircase.

"She really is a good friend for you young man" smiled Father Maghill as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.