Author's Note: Sorry for SUCH a short first chapter, but it was the start and I didn't know what, but it was okay, right? Anyways, this chapter is longer. Hopefully it's interesting and not too cliché. Thanks again to my best friend for being my editor and supporter. I'll try updating at least once a week… But I can't promise. Enjoy everyone! :)

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Sunlight shone through the large purple curtains in Kate's bedroom. The little girl rubbed her sleepy eyes as she sat straight up with a huge grin plastered across her groggy face. Kate removed her blankets, a cold draft enveloping her legs, she shivered. She jumped off her twin size bed and sprinted to her parents' room.

"Mom, Dad! Wake up, wake up!" she shouted while shaking her mother's legs.

Johanna turned over to find her little girl in between herself and Jim. She whispered to Kate, "Good morning Katie, why are you up so early this morning, hmm?"

Kate sighed, "Seriously mom?"

Johanna smiled then gave her daughter her well-deserved birthday hug. "Happy Birthday, big girl."

Then Jim rolled over to his daughter, "Happy Birthday Katie, Happy Birthday. Now, let's go make some of our special waffles for breakfast and get ready for your big party." Then giving her a hug and kiss on the forehead.

Kate's eyes sparkled while she hopped off her parents' king size bed. She went to her bathroom quickly to brush her teeth. Then combed through her curly, brown hair. Kate then rummaged through her closet. She threw on her favourite pair of jeans, her grey long sleeve shirt and a thick patterned sweater over her hair. Kate hurried to the kitchen. Before entering, she giggled and whispered to herself, "I'm finally eight."

Drowning her thoughts, Jim called from the kitchen stove and over the music that was playing "Hey Katie, you ready to make and eat special waffles?"

"Yup. All ready Dad!" Kate hollered back.

Kate and her parents sang and laughed to the beat of the songs while creating the waffle mixture. Finally, they poured the ready mixture into the waffle makers. Jim made Kate hot chocolate and himself and Johanna cappuccinos. When the waffles were done, the three of them, sat at the kitchen counter eating and drinking their delicious breakfast.

"Before the party, your father and I were planning to take you to the place you've always…" Johanna started but then was interrupted by Kate's squealed then the clang of her dropping fork. "THE TOY STORE! IS IT THE TOY STORE?"

"Yes, Katie. It's part of your present." Johanna said chuckling.

"Oh my god! Can Rick come too? Pleeeaassse, he is my best friend!" Kate pleaded with her hands locked together and a massive cheeky smile.

Jim grinned at his daughter, "Of course, in fact after our breakfast we can go up to his apartment and see if he can come."

"REALLY?!" Kate said with her eye's widening with joy.

"Yes, Reaaaally."

After hearing that response she shoved the rest of her breakfast down her throat. Within seconds her plate was empty. "DONE! Now, let's go!"

"Whoa, slow down there Katie, you still need to put on your shoes, and mom and dad need to get dressed." Jim laughed.

"UGGGGH!" Kate huffed, but then an idea hit her. "Is it okay if I go up to Rick's apartment first, you can meet me there? I'm sure Mrs Rodgers wouldn't mind." She asked fluttering her eyes.

Jim and Johanna sighed, "Alright, be sure to use your manners."

Kate ran to her parents and gave them a huge hug. "THANK YOU MOM! THANK YOU DAD! I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!"

With that Kate rapidly put on her UGG Boots then bolted out of her front door and up two flights of stairs to Rick's. She grinned at the thought that her parents are bringing her to the toy store. Rick and Kate had always wanted to go there, but their parents were always working when the shop was open. Either that or it was always a school day.

At his door, Kate used her small hands and knocked on the thick wooden panel. On the other side of the door, Martha yelled, "Richard, could you get that please?"

Rick responded, "Yup, coming."

He swung open the door to find his best friend standing there. "Oh! Hey! And Happy Birthday Kate!" He exclaimed and gave Kate a hug welcoming her in at the same time.

"Thanks!"

"Wait, what are you doing here so early? Your party is at 1:00pm." He questioned.

She squealed gripping Rick's arm, "Yes! My party is at 1:00pm, and I'm here to ask you if you want to come with me and my parents to the toy store!"

"WHAT! THE TOY STORE? REALLY! YEAH, I'LL COME! Uh, I well, I have to ask mother first." Rick replied.

"Okay!" Kate said walking to the couch. "Hello Mrs Rodgers! It's very nice to see you."

"Hello Katherine, you look so lovely as always. Oh, and Happy Birthday Darling!" Martha said giving Kate a hug.

"Thank you!" Kate beamed hugging the woman back.

"Uh, Mother, Kate asked if I was allowed to go to the toy store with her and her parents. Is that okay? It's only for the morning." Rick asked nervously

"That will be fine Richard, as long as you behave and act like a gentleman." Martha trailed off into the kitchen.

Rick turned his head to Kate. "Yes, mother." He shouted in the distance.

Kate giggled at her best friend.

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The two kids hung out around Rick's loft for an hour playing rounds and rounds of lazer tag until Kate's parents arrived. Her parents and Martha greeted each other and began a small chat before Kate shouted, "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy! Are we going to the toy store yet?" said still wearing her lazer tag suit.

"Hey Katie, and yes we're just about to get you two." Johanna replied tapping her nose.

"YAY! Rick, Rick! We're going now!" Kate cheered while skipping into the living room removing her blinking lazer tag suit.

Martha, Johanna, and Jim shared a laugh of the relationship between their children. Kate's parents thank Martha, and she said "See you in a bit at the party," then planted a kiss in her son's hair.

In the car, Rick sat on the right and Kate was on the left in the back. During the car ride, Johanna told stories which caused the other three in the car to laugh. Finally arriving, Kate unbuckled her seat belt then sent the car door flying outwards almost knocking the parking meter. Rick was much calmer though, trying to act like a gentleman. That failed when he walked through the doors to Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Rick ran into a pole. Kate burst into a fit of laughter.

"OWWW." Rick rubbed his forehead.

"Are you okay Rick?" Jim asking patting his back.

"Yes, all good." Rick replied with a hint of pain.

Kate shook her head and began to wander around the store, fascinated by the shelves of toys. Rick followed.

"Wow, it's so cool. All the toys you can ever dream of." Kate mumbled.

The four of them spent the next two hours there playing and browsing for toys. Kate found a mysterious puzzle while Rick bought a toy chimpanzee. After purchasing the toys, Kate's parents drove back to the apartment building. The two kids carefully placed their toys in Kate's room.

The doorbell rang and Martha waltzed in. The parents prepared the food while Rick and Kate decorated the apartment with streamers and balloons. The first guest arrived a bit early but then within an hour the whole apartment was filled with kids. The kids made superhero costumes. Most of the children made, a batman mask, or a superman cape, but Rick made the Thor hammer and Kate created a spider girl suit. After running around the loft being superheros, Johanna and Martha settled the kids onto the table set on the balcony.

They were giving out lunch and then to break the chit- chat amongst them, the red velvet cake was revealed on a cart to Kate's side by Jim. Rick began to sing happy birthday to her. The rest of the kids chimed in. Kate smiled then made a wish. Finally, she blew out the eight purple candles arranged in a circle on the cake. One by one she open all the gifts she received from her friends. She opened Rick's last. He gave her a leather bracelet with the word partners, then a space, and a letter i printed on it. She froze then looked up at him. Rick gave her a tiny grin.

"Thanks Rick, it's really charming."

"Oh, yeah I have one too, it like our friendship bracelet. You wear your bracelet on your right hand and I wear mine on my left." He rolled up his sleeve and showed her his one. It had the word crime with the letter n a space before. She chuckled at it.

"So, now you're my partner in crime?" Kate smirked, then joined her friends at the piñata.

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The guests of the party left a little after 4:00pm leaving only Kate, Rick, Martha, Johanna, and Jim. Rick and his mother stayed for dinner and a bit longer so the two best friends could finish Kate's puzzle. Martha and Kate's parents chatted about the day and other adult topics. Finally, the two of them finished the 500 piece puzzle. It was a strange image, but the thought was put aside.

Martha and her son hugged the Beckett family and told Kate happy birthday for the last time today, then waved good-bye. Kate then stretched her back and strode to her parents in the living room giving each a hug. Her parents looked at their daughter.

"Katie, the last part of your present is something really special." Johanna explained.

Kate eyes widen and she grew curious as each second passed by. "Okay Mom, so what is it?" she questioned with caution as she gently rested onto the couch.

From Jim's back he pulled out a box. "Katie, since you are eight now and more responsible we decided to give you this."

Her face was written with confusion but accepted the box her father handed over. Kate carefully unwrapped it. She gulped when the figured was revealed. Tears filled her eyes as she moved her hand around it to pick it up. It was the thing she first wanted when she learned to talked.

"It's the puppet doll grandma used to have." She spoke softly into the eyes of it.

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Yes, it's a cliff-hanger... I think... Thanks for being patient... I hope you all enjoyed it! Reviews please? Feel free to PM me too. Thanks so much for reading, means a lot!

-C