Ren slipped off the VR headset and was greeted with a huge surprise.

“Happy Birthday!” All the nurses gathered said. They were tempted to yell, but they didn't want to disturb the other patients.

“You... you... remembered.” Ren stammered, and brought a tear to his eye. He'd been practising doing that for a long time, and it worked like a charm. The nurses took turns giving him a hug and wiping off his face, and Ren could tell which of them enjoyed the hug as much as he did. He wasn't surprised that one of them was Denise, since he was pretty sure she had a crush on him. He'd seen her watching him a bit more closely than the other nurses when she took a turn taking care of him.

What had surprised Ren was that Lucy wasn't wearing a bra, and he very distinctly felt exactly how excited she was. He was also glad she'd waited until last to hug him, and he had a chance to adjust the blanket so that his response wasn't so obvious. Lucy had noticed his movements and helped him fluff up the blanket; then she smiled at him.

“Should we do presents or cake first?” Barbara asked.

“Definitely cake!” Ren said, and everyone laughed.

“Well... it's your birthday.” Barbara said. “Cake it is.”

“YES!” Ren yelled and everyone laughed again. He got the first piece and he took his time with it. He wasn't allowed to eat cake normally, so he wanted to savour it as much as he could. They're doing the same thing that my parents did. Ren thought angrily, but he didn't let the thought show. They wouldn't let me eat anything like this, either.

Ren was given a small glass of soda pop and he sipped it slowly. Everyone talked and mingled in the hospital room for about 20 minutes, and after the cake and pop was served and everyone had eaten a piece, it was time for presents. The presents were mostly just little knick-knacks, since Ren didn't have a lot of room for personal things in the hospital room. He thanked the gift-givers as if their tokens of attention meant the world to him, and then Lucy passed him her gift.

Ren looked at her as he took it, and she smiled sweetly at him. He unwrapped the 10 inch long box and gasped.

“Lucy! You... oh, my god.” Ren said and took out a very stylish watch that had the face split into 4 sections, so he could tell when it was day and night in the game. “Lucy...” He said, and this time the tears that rolled down his face were real.

“Oh, Ren.” Lucy said and sat on the edge of the bed to take him into a hug. He put the watch down and wrapped his arms around her neck.

“You... you shouldn't have.” Ren said.

Lucy didn't suspect that he knew all about her tight financial situation, and she assumed he was crying over getting the gift; but, it was actually over how expensive it must have been and that she would put herself into more dire straights for him like that.

“I think we'll call this an end to the party.” Barbara said and smiled. Ren let Lucy go and looked at everyone.

“Thank you all very much.” Ren said. “Especially you, Barbara.” He said. “This was a great party.”

“You're welcome.” Barbara said and helped get everyone else out of the room to leave Ren and Lucy alone.

“Let's get you changed and ready for physical therapy.” Lucy said, and Ren groaned.

“Can't I just skip it today?” Ren asked. “Come on, it's my birthday!”

Lucy chuckled. “I knew you'd make that argument.” She said. “How about you take a shower and we head out to the mall for a while?”

“Really?” Ren asked, and hoped beyond hope that she wasn't teasing him.

“I already cancelled your therapy.” Lucy said. “So get out of bed and get your butt in the bathroom.”

“Oh, Lucy!” Ren said and slid out of bed. “I'd give you another hug, but I've already tortured you with the sweat I've gathered all night.”

“I think I can stand a little more sweat.” Lucy said and hugged him, then let him go quickly. “The smell has to go, though!” She said and waved a hand in front of her face theatrically. “My eyes are watering!”

Ren snorted a laugh. “It's not that bad.” He said and walked into the bathroom, and Lucy stood by the door in case he needed her help.

Ren took a quick shower, got dressed and put on the watch she had given him, then Lucy pushed him and his wheelchair to the front desk. He was required to stay in the chair when he left the hospital, so he wouldn't potentially fall and hurt himself. Lucy went to get changed while Ren signed out for the day, and when she came back wearing a t-shirt and tight jeans, they took a taxi to the mall. He always enjoyed this time with Lucy, because she never treated him like he was special, or needed extra care. She knew exactly what he was capable of, and didn't baby him when he didn't want her to.

Lucy pushed his wheelchair and they browsed the shop windows; then they fantasized about all the different things they could do with the things they saw. Skiing in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, visiting Paris to watch fashion shows, and anything else that tickled their fancy.

They eventually made it to the food court and had big servings of gravy fries. They weren't the best, and his diet would be restricted even more for the next few days to make up for it; but, he didn't care. He was with Lucy and eating forbidden food. Life was good.

One guy tried to interrupt their date, and Lucy told him to buzz off. The guy was persistent until Ren told him to buzz off, too.

“What are you going to do about it?” The guy asked. “Roll over my foot with your chair?”

“No.” Ren said. “What I can do is yell for help from a nasty man trying to take advantage of me.”

“Wh-what?” The guy looked at Ren with surprise on his face.

“Who do you think they'll believe? You, with your dirty clothes and awful smell; or me, freshly showered, well-dressed, and in a wheelchair.” Ren said and made a really sad face. “Yes, Mr. Officer, sir. He... he touched me... right... right in my special place.”

The guy's face drained of all it's color, and he didn't know what to say.

“Get lost, and don't bother us anymore.” Ren said.

The guy glanced at Lucy and saw a huge grin on her face, shook his head and walked away. They heard him mumble about weird kids and about the crazy things they said these days. When it looked like he was far enough away, Lucy started laughing and leaned over to take Ren into a hug.

“Thank you.” Lucy said, and kissed his cheek for several seconds. “I always have a hard time getting them to go away.” She said, and looked deep into Ren's eyes. “I think he's going to leave me alone from... now... on.”

Ren stared right back at her, and he could almost see the desire there. He let his eyes fill with the same thing, and Lucy took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Ren...” Lucy said. “I... well, I-”

“Lucy, when that guy touched your arm...” Ren interrupted her. “I... I was so mad that he... he had the gall to... to...” He shook his head. “I'm...I'm not saying this right.”

“What are you trying to say?” Lucy asked, her face so close to his that they shared the same air.

“I didn't want him to touch you.” Ren said. “He shouldn't touch you without your permission.” He said. “But, he did make me realize something.”

“What's that?” Lucy whispered, almost directly into Ren's mouth. He smells so nice. She thought as Ren reached up to caress her face.

“Lucy, I... I love you.” Ren admitted to her. Lucy caught her breath and it moved her face that infinitesimal distance that had been between their lips, and they kissed. They both felt a thrill go through their bodies at the intimate contact. It was their first kiss. They both knew it was also a forbidden kiss; and that sent another thrill through them. Ren moved his lips a little and tilted his head slightly, because he thought if he broke the kiss now, he probably wouldn't get another chance as good as this one.

Lucy felt Ren try to encourage her to keep kissing him; but, what he didn't know was that she didn't need the encouragement and wanted to kiss him. It had started only a month or so ago when she started to see him as a male and not as a patient. It had only been for a brief moment, when she had watched him work so hard in the game at the blacksmith shop, using fire to forge metal into different shapes, and had looked at him and wondered what he would be like if he hadn't been experimented on from such a young age. She wondered how tall he would be, how muscular, and how good he would be in bed.

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Lucy had frozen in shock at the time, and she squashed the inappropriate thought right away; but, it had started to seep in more and more as Ren's birthday approached. She'd taken care of him for years, held his hand when he cried in frustration after a particularly bad nightmare, and even bathed him after physical therapy when he worked too hard to stand up in the shower by himself.

The lynch pin had been when Ren had kissed Rosie in the back room of the Library. Lucy had felt a strong jealous urge to punch the television, and she'd caught herself before she did. She looked at Ren's inert form and didn't know what to do about it.

She knew what to do now.

Lucy gave in to her desire and kissed him like she had wanted to for weeks, then moaned as Ren mimicked her movements. After a full minute, Lucy let reason and reality come back to the forefront of her mind, and eased down her enthusiasm. Ren felt the change, and knew if he tried to keep going, it would scare her off before they could go any further. He broke the kiss before she could and looked at her slightly red face.

“That was the best birthday present I've ever gotten.” Ren whispered to her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Lucy said and her face flushed more red as she leaned back, then let her thoughts go where they shouldn't normally go. She glanced down to see how much Ren actually liked her kiss and was more than pleasantly surprised. “Oh... oh, my.”

Ren didn't try to cover himself or try to apologize, and Lucy looked at his face.

“Ren, you...”

“It's all for you.” Ren said. “I... I know this body is... well, I'm... look, it's... god, why can't... I just want to tell you...”

“I think we should go.” Lucy said and stood up.

Ren looked at her face, but it didn't show him anything, and he nodded. Lucy gathered up the remains of the food and tossed them in the trash, then pushed Ren out of the food court and across the mall. She called a taxi and they waited in silence, and when it arrived, she helped him into the back seat. She folded the chair up and gave it to the taxi driver, then got into the other side of the taxi to sit beside Ren.

The taxi left the mall and Lucy and Ren stayed silent, and then he felt her hand take his. Ren looked down at his hand, then at Lucy's face. She didn't show anything, but Ren didn't mind this time and he intertwined his fingers in hers and smiled. The taxi ride passed quickly after that, and when it came to a stop, Ren didn't recognize where they were.

Lucy let his hand go and got out, prepped the wheelchair, and helped Ren get in it. She paid the taxi and it drove away, and left Ren and Lucy on the side of the road.

“Lucy?” Ren looked at her.

Lucy didn't say anything, and pushed his wheelchair down the driveway to a small house, then she unlocked the door.

“Welcome to my home, Ren.” Lucy said.

“You... you brought me home.” Ren said, his voice full of wonder. Lucy's face changed from the emotionless one she had worn since the mall, to one that had the bright smile he liked so much.

“It's only small, but it's all mine.” Lucy said.

Ren stood up and walked past her as he ventured into Lucy's place. “It's so nice.” He said as Lucy brought in his chair, then she told him to sit. He did, and she took him on a little tour. He commented on everything he saw, and then the tour ended with the last room in the house. The bedroom.

“I am so jealous.” Ren said without thinking, and he didn't notice Lucy's surprise. “All of this is yours, and you can live a normal life.” He touched the soft bed. “You even get to sleep in a real bed every night, and all I have is a hard hospital mattress.” He sighed. “I don't know if... if I'll ever get to sleep in a real bed.”

Lucy put a hand on his shoulder. “I think we can change that right now.”

Ren looked up at her. “I said that out loud, didn't I?”

Lucy nodded and helped him stand, then had him sit on the bed. She moved the wheelchair out of the way and knelt in front of him.

“You can't very well sleep with your clothes on.” Lucy said and started to unbutton his pants.

“L-Lucy... I... there's something... I mean...”

“It's okay.” Lucy said. “You don't have to explain anything.”

“I don't?”

Lucy shook her head and pulled his pants down. “I've seen it all before.”

“Not... well, I mean...”

Lucy smiled and slipped off his shoes, then took off his pants. “Ren, trust me. I know what it looks like.”

“Lucy!” Ren pointed a finger at her. “You peeked on me!”

Lucy laughed and folded his pants to put on a nearby dresser, then she started to unbutton his shirt. Ren helped, and she folded it up and put it on the pants. Lucy stood up and looked at him in just his underwear, and her mind had fully switched from seeing him as a patient to someone who was almost naked in her bed. She shivered slightly, and Ren saw it.

“I... ah... think it's your turn.” Ren said, and Lucy smiled at him. She hooked the bottom of her t-shirt with her thumbs and lifted as she crossed her arms, and the t-shirt slipped up and off in one smooth motion. It left her in just a white bra, and he could see that she was excited.

“Oh, wow.” Ren said.

“You haven't seen anything yet.” Lucy said and started to take off her jeans.

“Lucy?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you turn around?”

“What for?” Lucy asked and stopped undressing.

“Is it okay to say that I want to see you from behind when you bend over?” Ren asked.

“It's more than okay.” Lucy said sweetly and turned around. She wiggled her ass a little, and she heard Ren take in a sharp breath. Her heart beat faster, because she was indulging herself and teased him a little, then she started to slide her jeans down. They were tight and they fit well, so they peeled down without much effort. She bent over at the waist, to make sure Ren got a good view of her, and he gasped.

“Good god.” Ren said.

Lucy was so happy that he was enjoying her little show; but, she held in her laugh because she didn't want him to think she was laughing at him. She left her jeans on the floor, stood up and turned around, and noticed the significant bulge in Ren's underwear had grown. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside him, and her heart went pitter-patter as he stared at her.

“You have such beautiful eyes.” Ren said to her, and Lucy caught her breath. She was surprised he was staring at her face right then, and not at anything else. She reached back and unhooked her bra before she changed her mind. She was really self-conscious about her chest; but, that faded away as her bra slid down out of the way and she saw how Ren stared at her breasts.

“Oh, wow.” Ren said and reached for one. “Can I...”

“You can do whatever you want.” Lucy said, and Ren took her at her word. He touched the sensitive tip and Lucy caught her breath as the feeling of naughtiness increased. I can't believe I'm letting him... “Ah!” She gasped as Ren started to suckle. She ran a hand through his hair as he sucked and played, and her breathing became heavy as she became very excited. He stopped suddenly and looked at her.

“Lay back on the bed.” Ren said, and Lucy didn't question him this time. She moved back and laid down, and Ren smiled at her. He put his hand on the edge of her underwear and tugged. Lucy didn't try to stop him from pulling her underwear down, even though she knew she probably should have. She was a bit too far gone into her fantasy to stop now.

When he moved her legs apart and kissed her thigh, she tried to tell him that she didn't need to be pleased like that. Ren used his mouth to respond, but he didn't respond with words. He kissed her like he'd kissed her at the mall, only he kissed her between her legs instead. Lucy was at a loss for words as Ren kept kissing her, over and over. He had laid down between her legs so he could conserve his energy, and only moved his mouth and tongue.

How... how can he be so good at this? Lucy thought. He's still a virgin!

Lucy didn't know that Ren had thought about doing this to her over and over for a long time. He wanted to pay her back for all the years she had taken care of him, and this was the only physical way he could think of to do it. He knew when it came to actual sex that he was going to be severely lacking in the endurance department, so he had to do as much as he could with as little physical effort as possible.

Lucy went several times as Ren kept kissing her, and her body went limp after the fifth time. When her body stopped reacting, Ren stopped and looked at her.

“Lucy?”

“Give....give me... a minute.” Lucy said, dreamily.

Ren nodded and moved up on the bed to lay beside her, and she turned her head to look at him.

“I... covered your face... with...” Lucy tried to say as she reached out to wipe off his face.

“Don't worry about it.” Ren said, and licked her wet hand. “You taste delicious.”

Lucy laughed and her chest jiggled. Ren reached out and caressed her breast.

“I must be dreaming.” Ren said, his voice full of wonder again. “I've imagined doing something like with with you, but...”

“The reality sure is different.” Lucy said as she recovered. “Lay on your back.”

Ren laid back and she slid down to his mid-section. She pulled his underwear down to reveal that he was very ready for her, and she smiled.

“That looks like it hurts.” Lucy said and smiled wickedly at him. “Do you want me to kiss it and make it better?”

“Yes, please.” Ren said.

Lucy kissed it and he caught his breath, then she moved it up and did more than just kiss it.

“Oh, god!” Ren gasped.

Lucy revelled in the feeling of his throbbing flesh in her mouth, and the rush of adrenaline from finally crossing that line made her quite vigorous in her actions.

“Lucy! I'm gonna.... I'm... AHHH!” Ren yelled as he went, and Lucy plunged down onto him. He stared at her as he kept going, and she stared right back at him. This went on for nearly a full minute, and then she felt him relax slightly. She very carefully removed him and took several deep breaths.

“That was surprising.” Lucy said, and Ren laughed.

“I was going to say the same thing.”

Lucy let his member go and waited for the swelling to go down; but, when it didn't, she looked at him with wide eyes.

“Ren? Why isn't it...”

“It's going to stay like that for a while.” Ren said. “Going just once isn't anywhere near enough to calm it down.”

“Oh, Ren.” Lucy said with wonder in her voice. She moved up to straddle across his abdomen, and positioned herself on top of him. “Tell me if this hurts at all, or if you want me to stop. Okay?”

Ren nodded to her, and she gently sat down. Lucy gasped as he entered her, then she stopped breathing as they fully joined. After a few moments to get accustomed to him, she started to move. It didn't take long for Ren to finish again, and Lucy thought he would be done; but, true to his word, Ren could still keep going.

“I can't... believe that... you can keep going... like this!” Lucy leaned down and kept moving.

“Good god, Lucy.” Ren said and held onto her hips. “I never want you to stop!”

Lucy nodded and kissed him. It was great, because all he had to do was lay there, and she could move around as much as she wanted. And she did. They lost count of how many times they had sex that day, and it honestly didn't matter.

It was the best birthday Ren had ever had.

They took a shower together when they were done, which led to a bit of playing with each other; then they finished washing and got dressed. Lucy called another taxi and while they waited, she turned and spoke to him.

“No one can ever know what we did.” Lucy said. “At the very least, I'll be ostracized at work and probably shunned.” She said. “I could even lose my job.”

“Lucy.” Ren said. “I'll never do anything to jeopardize your job.”

“We can't do anything at the hospital, okay?” Lucy said. “We can't let on that...”

Ren stood up and put a hand on her face. “No one but us will ever know.” He said. “I love you.”

Lucy took in a deep breath and nodded. “I love you, too.”

“Now give me a kiss before I have to pretend this wasn't the best day of my life.” Ren said and grinned at her, and Lucy smiled as she gave him one last kiss.