Author's Note: We're going back to when the kids are older now. This chapter, once again, mainly focuses on Ellie. The next chapter will be mostly Nick, I promise. :)

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"Dad," Ellie said in a specially-designed tone of voice. She had been working on the tone for months, and today was the day when she was finally going to get to use it: two weeks before her 14th birthday. She must admit, her formula was brilliant. A touch of sweetness, a dash of insecurity and firmness, and a whole boatload of butt-kissing. Though Ellie couldn't take all the credit. It was a simple technique, really.

Her father, Nick Lucas, looked up from his guitar and set it down. Perfect, Ellie thought to herself, I've got full eye contact. She lowered her gold-dusted eyelids slightly.

"I'm terribly disappointed," Ellie cried dramatically, then lifted her eyes slightly to see her dad's reaction. A concerned look.

The trap was falling into place.

Ellie took the look on his face as a signal to continue and she began pacing. Pacing says: "I've been thinking about this all night", Ellie reminded herself. The rubber soles of her high tops squeaked against the hardwood floor of the sunroom, and Ellie, knowing that her dad hated loud noises, stopped pacing immediately and searched for an alternative. She rocked back on her heels. Rocking says, "I'm so embarrassed to have to ask you this."

"All my friends are disappointed in me, and I'm afraid that my self esteem is dropping lower and lower by the—" perhaps showcase her brilliance in math? "—nano second." Ellie ran her slender fingers through her dark brown hair—that said she was hurt—"They've all been neglecting me. Because they think I've been neglecting them. Which, I must admit, I sort of have."

"Well," Nick leaned forward in his chair. Ellie panicked. This wasn't in her mental blueprint! Ellie decided to fast forward through her slight monologue.

"Unless…" Ellie allowed her caramel brown eyes to brighten a bit—a definite show of hope—"oh, never mind." She sighed loudly and flopped into the chair, head hanging down. Disappointment.

"No, what is it?" Nick asked, slightly amused. Well, I'm certainly glad you asked.

"Well, it's—oh, never—oh, fine." Ellie forced her cheeks to redden a bit so that she looked bashful. "it's a little idea of mine. I don't think it will ever work."

"We might as well give it a shot, right?" Her dad was smirking now. Definitely a problem. Ellie remained in character.

"I was wondering if, maybe—just maybe—I could have a birthday party." Ellie brightened. "After all, I didn't have one last year." Firm reason number one. She was coasting through this. "and it would be a great chance for my friends to see how much I appreciate them." Firm reason number two.

Ellie corrected herself. "Of course, I know from your teachings, Daddy, that I never need friends to be happy. But this is for me to meet some more people. So I can be happy."

Nick's eyebrow arched. "So you're going to ask people you don't know?"

"No, of course not," Ellie said hastily. "I know them vaguely, from school, of course, but I haven't gotten a real chance to get to know them. And I think that I nice, calm, boy-girl party would be the perfect way to do this."

Ellie sat back with her hands clasped. "And I totally respect your judgment on this," Even though I can just ask Mom, because you, Father dearest, are WHIPPED.

Nick's smile broadened and he leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly plucking his guitar strings. "Hmm…" his eyes rolled up to the ceiling and back. "alright, sure."

Ellie fought the urge to squeal-gasp and squeeze her father into oblivion. Instead, she shuddered with pre-party excitement and allowed a huge grin to creep onto her face.

"Really?" she slapped a hand to her heart. "You would do that…for me?"

Nick chuckled. "Yes, honey…for you."

"Aww…" Ellie squealed and ran over to hug her dad. She ignored her brain's impulse to kiss him all over his head and scream "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"

After about two minutes of conditions and cheek-kisses(all received by Nick from Ellie), Ellie casually walked up the stairs and into her bedroom.

She closed the door.

And she started happy-dancing.