Greetings, fellow readers! How are you this Tuesday? I hope you're having an amazing day and if you're not, don't worry, the days will get better - just be patient, loves <3 <3

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of THE 3 and that this chapter will make you do so, too :)

Enjoy!

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"Wake up, birthday boy!"

I groan pitifully and hide my face under Yuri's arm to block out Data's still very annoying voice.

"I told you he didn't want to celebrate his birthday," Ivan's equally annoying voice says and I can feel him nudging me with his foot.

"Leave me alone," I whine, burying my face further in Yuri's hot embrace.

"No can do, Raven. We need your boyfriend's expertise to bake a cake," says Ivan and I can hear the grin in his voice. I raise my head and blink a few times until I can focus on their grinning faces properly.

"Huh?" I mumble. "Yuri can't bake."

"He basically means steal a cake from the bakery since, you know, none of us has the money to either bake or buy one," Data smirks and does this weird fist bump with Ivan who nods along with his words.

"Right, so wake up Yuratchka because we will be leaving in thirty minutes!" Ivan says gleefully and pulls Data with him out of the room; ignoring his loud protests. I flop down on the mattress and look at Yuri who's sleeping so peacefully.

I can't remember the last time I slept peacefully...

Without the constant nightmares to remind me of what I did...

Or what I can do...

I sigh heavily and put my hand on Yuri's broad shoulder, shaking him lightly. "Wake up, handsome."

"Ngh," Yuri grumbles, and just like me, he hides his face further inside the lumpy pillow. I chuckle lowly and slide closer to him, not surprised to feel something hard poking me in the hip.

"Horny fucker," I mumble affectionately, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to the back of his neck. "Yuri, Ivan needs your help."

"Tell him to go fuck himself or better yet, go fuck Data." Yuri groans, pulling the blanket up and over his head; blocking out the world.

"They said it's something about my birthday," I tell him softly, sliding my hand under the blanket to slide my fingertips softly against his back. I giggle when he shudders under my touch and I don't miss the way his hips stutter against the mattress.

"Birthday, huh?" Yuri mutters, poking his head out of the blanket and I can't help but laugh at his hair poking in every direction possible. I pull my hand through it and try to make it look as presentable as I can.

"I guess someone told Data and Ivan that it's my birthday today," I say, sliding even closer to Yuri who watches me with eyes filled with different kinds of emotions; ranging from love to lust.

"I just thought it fitting to celebrate that you're still alive after all that's happened," Yuri tells me, stroking my arm absently and actually avoiding my eyes.

Am I happy that I'm still alive after everything's that happened...?

"Thank you, love, but it's not necessary to celebrate someone like me," I say with a shrug but Yuri just narrows his eyes at me.

"Of course it is!" he argues. "I want to celebrate your birthday and so does Nikolai and Boris and everyone in the Street Rats. You mean so much to us Aleks and I wish you could see that."

"I will try," I say with a small smile leaning up and pressing a soft kiss to his pouty lips. "Now go, Ivan and Data are waiting for you." I pat his backside lightly and giggle again when he jumps.

"Aleks, don't do that if you don't want to-"

"Shush, just go!" I laugh when Yuri growls and bites the juncture between my neck and shoulder. He jumps up and pulls on a shirt and jeans before leaving the room. I exhale slowly and close my eyes, searching my mind for something.

Alexandrei?

He's probably still asleep or out somewhere with Vladimir; too busy to answer his own twin on his birthday. Is it his birthday today, as well, or doesn't it count since we weren't technically born on the same day?

"Aleks?" Look who it is.

Happy Birthday, Alexandrei, I tell him and laugh at his pleased squeal.

"I didn't think you would remember!"

And how do you know which day is your birthday, mister? I ask, knowing fully what his answer will be.

"V-Vladimir told me..." why is he embarrassed?

Alexandrei, is everything okay between the two of you?

"Y-yes, why wouldn't it be?" something is definitely going on here and I intend to find out just what!

I'm not stupid, your emotions are all over the place. Alexandrei, are you- do you have feelings for-

"No! What are you talking about, Aleks?! I only love you," Alexandrei is quick to respond and his emotions are overflowing.

Okay...that's good. But like a brother, right?

"Um, I'm trying to ignore the feeling that I want to kiss you so...yes?" I chuckle at his words.

You can kiss my cheek when we meet.

"I miss you, Aleks," he whines. "I can't wait until we meet again."

Same, and it won't be too long. I hope Vladimir will deem it safe enough for us to meet soon.

"I hope so, too. Oh, I have to go! Vladimir brought breakfast," he giggles adorably and his feelings of admiration spikes up to the sky and I shake my head at him.

Go, have a great birthday. Talk to you later?

"Yes, definitely! And you have a great birthday, too!" I send him an emotion of gratitude and close our connection for now. I slide out of the mattress, shivering from the sudden cold hitting my warm body. I quickly slide on my black pants and equally black sweatshirt; slipping the hoodie over my head and make my way out of the bedroom to the living room.

I'm surprised to find so many of the Street Rats putting up colorful balloons and strings.

"Happy birthday!" they all say when they spot me shuffling over to them. I give them a small smile and a nod.

"Thank you,"

Before I can make my way to the bathroom, a small body collides with mine and I almost topple over but manage to hold my stance.

"Happy birthday!" a familiar voice squeals and almost breaks my eardrums. I pull my hand through his curly hair and hug him back.

"Thank you, Nikolai," he looks up gleefully and I can't believe how much he's grown in the past three years. His hair is a mess of brown curls and his eyes are as innocent as they can get. And just as I figured, a few steps behind, Boris is watching us with glaring eyes. I shake my head at him and his obsessive nature.

So much like the original Boris...

"I think your boyfriend is getting jealous," I tell Nikolai who puffs his cheeks almost comically and crosses his arms.

"He not my boyfriend! He's just a boy who happens to be my friend – best friend, even."

"Good for you, Nikolai," I chuckle and make my way to the bathroom; my steps heavy against the stone floor. I turn back for a mere second and see Boris standing close to Nikolai once again. Those two never separate for more than a few minutes and that's during their bathroom breaks.

I lock the door after myself and stand in front of the mirror, staring back at my pale reflection.

Everyone is happier with celebrating my birthday than I am,

I use the toilet and afterward, I wash my hands with the cold water and a bar of soap the kids stole a few days ago from a nearby convenience store. I stare back at my pale eyes and long, black hair.

I'm so ugly. How come Yuri became so handsome and my face looks so sunken in and filled with disgusting pimples?

I splash my face with water and rub my eyes harshly – repeating twice before shutting the water and drying my face with a towel.

Am I the only one sad on my own birthday?

I hang the towel on the rack, breathe in deeply, and make my way out. This is going to be a long day with fake smiles and acting like I'm actually happy to live for another year.

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