[fic] A Happy Birthday

[tgarnsl]

Nothing important happened today.
-- diary entry of George III, July 4th 1776

Happy 243rd birthday to someone who never existed! Also happy Independence Day if you're an American, if not, happy July 4th, a day much like July 3rd and probably like July 5th. (Do people say 'Happy Independence Day'? Genuine question.)

This is all a lengthy preamble to say I wrote something for the occasion. Set in the same verse as 'Fair Seas', but chronologically later.

--

Title: A Happy Birthday
Pairings: Hornblower & Bush
Ratings: G

Bush had been good enough to not mention it when they were out on the water, or even later over dinner, but when the table was cleared he could restrain himself no more, and pulled a sizeable parcel out of the sideboard, placing it on the table with an unusual amount of ceremony.

“Happy birthday, sir,” Bush said, a little shyly, and pushed the parcel towards Hornblower. He’d wrapped it up neatly in a large bright kerchief belonging, no doubt, to his sister, the gaiety of the cloth incongruous with who Bush was as a man.

“You ought not to do such things,” Hornblower warned, but Bush was not to be deterred.

“Open it, won’t you, sir?” he asked, sitting back in his chair, a worried look on his face. “I very much hope you haven’t already got them.”

Books, judging from the size and shape of the parcel. Hornblower reluctantly untied the square knot at the top and opened it up. Inside, the six volumes of Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. First editions, too, if their gilt spines were anything to go by.

“William,” Hornblower said, a trifle irritated by the gesture. “This is unnecessary.”

“Only I know you lost your books with the Sutherland, sir, and I know how much you value them. These are the best ones I could get; I found them in Portsmouth, and the bookseller assured me they were the proper ones. And I got the full set this time, sir, see?” Hornblower opened the first volume and flipped to the flyleaf. There, in Bush’s sure hand, were the words To HH, From His Old Friend WB. “I hadn’t learned you were a Sir then, elsewise I would’ve marked it down as such.”

Hornblower reached across the table and covered Bush’s hand with his own. “It’s a fine gift, truly. I will treasure it.”

“You’ll read them, won’t you sir?” Bush enquired. He could not fathom a man keeping books he did not read.

“Of course.”

Bush flushed with pleasure and Hornblower squeezed his hand, all irritation at Bush’s magnanimity forgotten. He looked at the inscription again and marvelled at the kindness and thought of the gift. Bush was a better friend than he deserved, but perhaps it did not matter. Happiness, unexpected and sudden, rose in him, and he squeezed Bush’s hand again, grateful for his friendship and company.

“Happy birthday, sir,” Bush said quietly, and Hornblower knew that it was.

--

A/N: May's story is still coming. I've given myself until next week to have it done.

Comments

[sanguinity]

Aw, he bought them after he brought in the Witch, while he was awaiting the Victory to come in with Hornblower for his court martial? That makes me melt a little bit: Bush in Portsmouth, eager for Hornblower to come in, buying a birthday gift for him. But of course it was just the three of them for ages: of course he's gonna feel Hornblower's absence like a missing tooth.

Re your genuine question, no, Americans don't tend to wish each other a Happy Independence Day, not in my experience. (In fact, it took me a moment to remember that "Independence Day" is the holiday's official name: I mostly only see it on calendars and in other formal contexts.) We tend to behave as if the holiday's real and official name is "Fourth of July," and wish each other a Happy Fourth of July (or bemoan that we hate the Fourth of July) accordingly. Grain of salt, though: it's a big country, and regionalisms exist.

And yay, the other story is still coming!

[tgarnsl]

Yes, he bought them while he was waiting in Portsmouth. There's two ways to read this story: either as a standalone or as part of my ridiculous over-arching 'verse. As a standalone, yes, Bush did buy these in Portsmouth, when he walked into a booksellers and found himself missing his friend. As part of the I-am-bad-at-titles 'verse there's a bit more to it: Bush spent some of the fabled Kingston £100 on several volumes of Decline and Fall as a farewell present after Hornblower received his commandership. The copies Hornblower loses on the Sutherland are these copies, and the loss of the books was personal for both Bush and Hornblower. I could have included that detail in there, but I elected to let it be a standalone, albeit one I consider part of my greater writings.

...and I'm rambling. Sorry :)

And thank you for answering! My knowledge of July 4th celebrations are limited to flag cakes and fireworks, so I was curious.

[sanguinity]

Excuse me, it's not a ridiculous over-arching verse, it is a lovely verse full of things that make me happy. Thank you for sharing the further details!

Backyard BBQs are also common celebrations of the Fourth -- I hosted one yesterday, and worked on Hornblower fic in between getting everything set up for it. (Because that's how American Hornblower fans celebrate the Fourth!)