Birthdays were always a difficult thing for Steve, a reminder in a way of how much he changed his life and of the loss of his mother. She always went to such great lengths despite how little they had to ensure he had a perfect day. There were so rarely perfect days in life but she always managed to make it happen every single year without fail. After her passing, he doubted he could ever find something as magical but Matt managed it with the simplicity he planned and the tender thought he put into everything. It made him feel closer to how he used to be; how things were once simpler for them both.

"Hey, you didn't have to get me anything," Steve argued with a shake of his head. "This is more than enough - you are -" He broke off as he took the envelope. Matt wouldn't take no for an answer and sometimes he found it easier to go along with him. Opening the envelope, his breath caught in his chest because, of course, Matt remembered an offhanded comment he made months ago about wanting to go to the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Stupidly enough, tears stung his eyes and he made sure to set down the tickets before he ruined them in some way. Without saying a word, he wrapped his arms tightly around Matt. "Thank you," he whispered after a few long moments. "You really didn't - wait." He pulled back to look into Matt's face. "Are you actually going to leave Hell's Kitchen willingly?"