Special thanks to Ella for help editing/proofreading.

Sherman Peabody's 1st birthday was made up of a guess and cupcake icing. Though they were never really sure when his actual birthday was, a guess had to be close enough. The boy could barely talk, let alone tell his entire backstory, leaving the case of his absent parents out of the question. The only piece of information they managed to uncover was his name, on a note, pinned to a blue blanket. So, all there was left to do was celebrate on a guess and careful to watch the baby so he doesn't catch himself on fire.

With that celebration came a time machine. Sherman's adopted father knew an apartment was no place for a growing boy, no matter how big and overwhelming it is, thus creating what is known today as the WABAC. And boy, did Sherman love it. It was from that moment forth the pair of them had no doubts that things would never go back to being the same. But, then again, Mr. Peabody knew that from the very start.

Sherman's 2nd birthday was made up of no lies and a better cake. His 3rd was made up of safety procedures and an even better cake. His 4th was of retreating back to cupcakes and a greater history lesson. This went on until the week before his 10th, made up of promises and I love you's. It became a tradition to use cupcakes instead of cake after his 4th, and a tradition for a special birthday WABAC trip after his 1st.

But that all changed once Sherman started school, and things changed for better, at least, Peabody hoped. He even had a briefcase full of things Sherman related in case someone had comments, complainants, or concerned about the said child. But nothing he was prepared for could help him when he heard the news. Sherman had gotten into a fight with a girl, and bit her.

Sherman knew he shouldn't have done it, but what choice did he have? She looked like she was serious enough to choke him. So he did what had to in order for her to leave him alone. He bit her. And after all that, they were going to take him away from Mr. Peabody all because they thought he was raised by a dog, and dog can't be trustworthy 100% of the time. And to think, it all started with "You're a dog."

Peabody loved his adopted son more than humanly possible, and he'd do whatever he had to to keep his son in his custody. And if that meant going through a crazy, unneeded adventure in time, so be it. Even if it meant almost plunging to their certain death. Even if it meant convincing his son not to fight in the Trojan War. Even if it meant sacrificing himself to make sure his son was going to be safe. Even if it meant relying on natural instincts to get his son back into his paws.

Everything turned out for the better in the end, which was something everyone needed. Sure, the past might been tampered with to the point of no return, but, nevertheless at least the war was over.

So much can change, though, in only 3 years. And just as soon as Sherman's birthday rolled around for another year, everything in Peabody's world had come crashing down. But he had to stay strong for his son's birthday. But the said birthday, though, is going to be different this year. Sherman wasn't going to be there at all today. What they thought was a normal trip through history turned into a total tragedy. And worst of all, it's all Peabody's fault. For, you see, this birthday of his beloved son is different for only one reason.

Sherman Peabody is dead.