Allison smiled sweetly up at her father as he held her to him, giving her one of his warm, lingering hugs. His hugs were the best hugs ever... her father sometimes wasn't the best at displaying much in the way of emotions, but when he hugged her, Allison knew she was loved. Knew she was safe and exactly where she was meant to be. Up until recently, anyway, she'd felt like his arms were the right place for her. As of late, she'd found another pair of arms almost as appealing, though in an entirely unrelated manner. Peter had the kind of arms meant to give her a thrill any time he pulled her close. They'd gotten a little hot and heavy a few times, but Allison had never had the guts to go through with any thing more than heavy petting.<br/><br/>She'd been able to tell it frustrated him, but he had never seemed mad at her for putting a stop to things she wasn't ready for. As she stood there hugging her father, the tiny redhead wondered Peter would ever make her feel as safe as her father did... She certainly hoped so. That was how she'd know, she thought... how she'd know she'd found the guy for her... he'd make her feel as safe as her Daddy did. Her mother's voice broke through her thoughts, and Allison turned a happy smile in her mother's direction as she suggested that she show them what she'd bought so they could help her pick an outfit. She'd never been one for these little fashion shows, but her parents seemed to enjoy it, and there was something simply scandalous feeling about parading in front of them in clothes that cost more than most people made in a week and knowing they didn't mind at all.<br/><br/>Her father's joking about preparations and planning made her giggle, but Allison's eyes were rather trained on her mother's figure as she moved around the kitchen. She'd never admit it out loud, but Allison envied her mother. She was so... poised. Like all the time. Allison couldn't remember a single moment her mother hadn't been elegant and graceful and... well... perfect. Try as she might, her daughter never managed to live up to even a tenth of what Victoria put forth in such things, and it did a number on her self confidence at times.<br/><br/>At the tap to her nose from her father, hazel eyes turned back to look up at him and she nodded. "Okay, Daddy," she said, turning to go back to her bags. Part of her was tempted to hang around in the hallway and try to overhear what they were going to talk about... no doubt it was about her party, after all! But despite her desire to eavesdrop, she gathered up her bags and began to make her way out of the kitchen and toward the large staircase so she could make her way toward her bedroom with her haul of clothes from the mall.<br/><br/>It was just as she was reaching the steps that the doorbell rang, and Allison took a moment to consider the climb, her heels, and the burden she was carrying. Nope... that could<em>definitely</em>wait. Dropping her bags unceremoniously, she cried out. "I'll get it!" Leaving the pile of bags there at the base of the staircase, she scampered through the foyer and to the front door, pulling it open and finding herself greeted by... a massive bouquet of roses, orchids, and other flowers. "Uhm... hello?" she said, sounding perplexed by the bunch of flora that seemed to have sprouted legs and come to stand on their porch.<br/><br/>When at last the bouquet shifted and Peter's face came in to view, Allison's eyes went wide and a bright smile took over her face. Speak of the devil! "Peter?!" she got out on a barely restrained squeal, careful to keep it quiet enough that it wouldn't echo through the whole house. "What... what on earth are you doing here? Are those for me?!" The excitement and pure joy at seeing her boyfriend the day before her birthday, holding a massive bunch of flowers was written plainly on her youthful face. "They're so pretty!" she got out, her voice taking on a note of awe. In the short time they'd been dating, he'd never been particularly romantic or prone to things like giving her flowers, but she supposed if there was any time to start it, it would definitely be her birthday.