July 1, 1942, London

Arthur smiled as he went for the mail. Today was a happy yet somber day for him, but he tried to focus on the positives. It was easier to focus on the positives after having Alfred enter his life, that was for sure. After all, it was the day he gained a son and lost a wife. He looked down at his wedding band that he still wore on his finger and sighed. Oh, how he missed her on this day every year.

He flicked through the mail. There was a letter from Victoria, but then there was a letter that made his heart leap in his chest. Alfred had sent one to Leon as well! But how had he known it would get to London on Leon's birthday?! Victoria! It had to be! But there were still two more military letters! Arthur looked to see that one was for him, from Alfred. The other was for Leon, from Matthew.

Arthur smiled to himself. Those brothers were so thoughtful to remember Leon's birthday. He then thought back to a conversation with Alfred and remembered that today was Captain Williams's birthday as well. He would have to have Leon write Victoria and have her thank them for him. His smile almost couldn't fit on his face. Leon was going to love this!

The moment Arthur got inside, he put the mail on the table and snatched up his own letter from Alfred. He had wanted another letter from Alfred so badly that his heart could barely take it! He opened it carefully and unfolded it, eyes eagerly taking in every word.

Dear Arthur,

Be strong today. I know it's hard, but think of it as a milestone in your son's life. He's six today! I don't know what Mattie and I have planned today. He hasn't been feeling well these past couple days. He says it's back pain, but I don't know how he hurt his back.

I walk Victoria home nearly every night now. She appreciates my company on her way home from class. It's dark and dangerous here in France at night for a pretty girl like her. I would be worried if she walked alone, so it makes me happy that she trusts me enough to do a good deed for her like this.

Anyway, I hope today is easier this year than it has been for the past few years.

From,

Private Alfred Foster Jones

Arthur smiled and folded up the letter, putting it back in the envelope. Leave it to Alfred to be considerate of Arthur's feelings on his son's birthday. Arthur blinked back some tears. He was so happy to be in love with this man. He almost couldn't contain his joy.

.

Leon ran up to Arthur after school. "Daddy, I have a question!" he excitedly said. He tugged on Arthur's hand.

Arthur smiled down at Leon. "What's your question, Leon?" he asked, kneeling to Leon's level so he could fix the boy's tie, which had somehow become crooked.

"Is there a chance that Blair could come over and play tomorrow?" Leon asked. "And then her father could come and talk to you. That way if things get nasty between you two you could just ask him to leave."

Arthur thought it over in his mind. "I don't see why not," he finally decided. He had been thinking about Leon's friendship with his cousin for the past week. He was dreading the day this question would be coming up, but it didn't strike as much panic in his heart as he thought it would when it finally did.

Leon grinned widely. "Daddy, you seem happy again today!" He hugged Arthur when he finished with the tie.

"Why wouldn't I be happy? It's your birthday!" Arthur answered. "Also, you have three letters waiting for you at home. And all three of them are just for you."

Leon's eyes widened. "Who are they from? Is one from Alfred?! Or Captain Williams?! Today is his birthday too!"

Arthur shrugged and smiled back at him. "I don't know," he said. "They're back at home." He winked at his son. "Maybe we should get back home and find out."

Leon clung to Arthur's hand. "Yeah!" he excitedly agreed. "But first, can we find Blair and invite her and her daddy over for tomorrow?"

Arthur nodded. "Yeah, we can do that." He scanned the crowd for his brother. It shouldn't be too hard to find Allistor. How hard could it be to find a loud-mouthed redhead who was full of himself?

"Leon! Over here!" Blair called, waving to them. She was standing next to Allistor and holding his hand.

Arthur walked over, holding Leon's hand. "Hello, Blair, Allistor," he greeted. "Leon and I were wondering if the two of you would like to join us tomorrow after school in our home for a playdate."

Allistor looked to Arthur. "That sounds like it would be fun. And it would give us time to catch up, eh, Arty?"

Arthur clenched his jaw at the nickname, but tried not to make it noticeable. "Of course, Allistor," he answered, forcing a smile. "We live within walking distance of here, so we can all just meet up here tomorrow and walk to the flat after school tomorrow?"

"That sounds like a plan, Arthur," Allistor said.

Arthur smiled. "See you tomorrow, then," he said with a nod before walking away with Leon. "How was school?"

Leon smiled widely. "School was a lot of fun!" he enthused. "I really like it! I'm one of the smartest in my class!" He hopped over a crack in the sidewalk. "Me and Blair are the smartest!"

"Anyone with the last name Kirkland is smart," Arthur told him. "I thought I've told you that before." He smiled at Leon.

Leon grinned up at him. "I guess you're right then!"

"You guess?" Arthur scoffed. He rolled his eyes playfully while Leon giggled. "Thanks, Leon." He smiled at his son and squeezed his hand. "Did anything fun happen at school today?"

The boy thought for a moment. "Nothing especially fun," he decided after a moment. "I'm just really excited to get home and get my letters! I'm almost certain there's one from Alfred! What if there's one from Captain Williams? What about Victoria? She hasn't missed any of my birthdays before!" He grinned excitedly. "This will be the best birthday yet if none of them forgot it!"

Arthur smiled widely. None of them had, and that made him overjoyed to know that it made Leon so happy. He swung their interlocked hands between them as they walked. He wasn't about to ruin the surprise. It made him happy to leave Leon to wonder excitedly to guess who had written to him, even if he only knew those three people.

.

Dear Leon,

Happy Birthday, Big Guy! How does it feel to finally be six? I bet it's pretty swell! I remember being six, and it was a lot of fun! I hope you have the best birthday ever! You deserve it more than any other six-year-old on the planet! Wanna know why? Because you're my very favorite! That's why I hope today is extra special for you!

Be good for you daddy, because he loves you very much! Here's to many more great days!

Love,

Private Alfred Foster Jones

Dear Leon,

Happy Birthday! Did you know that today is my birthday as well? It's pretty neat that we share a birthday, don't you think? Anyone born in July has to be pretty swell, I'd say! Alfred's birthday is three days from today!

I hope that you get to spend your special day with your dad and that it's extra special this year! You deserve it, Leon!

Love,

Captain Matthew Williams

Dear Leon,

Happy Birthday, Buddy! I was able to measure the time it takes for letters to get back and forth between us so I could tell Captain Williams and Private Jones when to send their letters so they could get to you on your special day! That's my special present to you! I hope your birthday is extra special this year, Leon!

I miss you a lot! I hope you are doing well! Are you enjoying being six years old? I bet you have made so many friends at school! Are you and Blair still getting along? I wish all the happiness in the world for my favorite boy in the whole world!

All my love,

Victoria

Leon grinned happily up at Arthur. "All three of them wrote to me, Daddy! Not just one, but all three!"

Arthur couldn't remember the last time he had seen a smile that wide on his son's face. "Looks like they did, doesn't it?" He smiled back at his son. It made him glad to see Leon so happy. "Are you happy about that?"

"You bet!" Leon excitedly said. "This is the best birthday ever!" He hugged Arthur tightly. "Thank you for reading me their letters, Daddy! I'm so happy that you did!"

"You're welcome, Leon," Arthur said. "And now for your present from me." He went to his room and got a small box out from his closet, bringing it to the living room where Leon patiently waited. "It's from both Alfred and I."

Alfred had saved up chocolate from his rations for Leon's birthday. Since everyone in Europe had been on sweets rations for the past few years, Alfred thought it would be special to give Leon some American chocolate for his birthday, which Arthur thought was a lovely idea until Alfred mentioned that it was superior to British chocolate anyway. Either way, Arthur saved the chocolate for Leon, making it special for his son.

Leon carefully unwrapped the box, opening it to find five Hershey's bars. "What are these?" he asked, staring at them with wide-eyed fascination.

"That is American chocolate," Arthur answered. "Alfred thought you would like it, so he saved some for you while he was here."

Leon looked up at Arthur and smiled, yet his eyes looked as if he were holding back tears. "He did?" the boy asked, touched. He scrubbed at his eyes for a moment with the back of his hand. "Is there any way I can thank him?"

"I'm sure Victoria can thank him for us," Arthur said with a smile. He was glad that he raised a child who was grateful for the things given to him. His hand patted Leon's head lovingly. "We'll write back to her and ask her to thank him, okay?"

Leon nodded. "I would like that a lot." He smiled. "And I have to thank Miss Victoria for being so smart and figuring out how to get all the letters here on my birthday!"

Arthur smiled widely. "Yes, we'll have to do that, won't we? I can help you spell it, but you should write it. It will mean more if it's in your handwriting."

Leon smiled. "Oh, I can write it if I know how to spell it," he assured, smiling. "I'm smart enough!" He smiled and tapped his finger against his temple.

Arthur grinned back. "That's my smart boy," he proudly said. "I'm glad that I have a genius for a son!" He pulled Leon onto his lap and snuggled his son, who didn't seem to mind. He kissed the boy's cheek. "Happy Birthday, love."

Leon grinned up at him. "Thanks, Daddy! It's the best birthday ever!"

Arthur smiled happily. "I'm glad." And that he truly was. He was so happy that he was close with his son and no longer depended on alcohol to take his sadness away. His relationship with his son was what kept him going through the day. It was something he was more proud of than anything in the world.

Leon yawned a little. "When is dinner, Daddy?" he asked. "I'm getting sleepy?"

Arthur checked the grandfather clock in the corner. It was around seven. "I suppose I should get started on dinner, shouldn't I? All right then. How about you get to work on your homework and I'll let you know when dinner is ready?"

Leon smiled. "Sounds swell."

Arthur smiled and did not correct his son. The term "swell" when used in that manner reminded him of Alfred, so he allowed it, especially since it was Leon's birthday. "I'll get dinner ready then." He got up and set Leon to work on homework, going to the kitchen.

His mind was filled with thoughts of the day. He was still surprised that he was able to be so civil with Allistor, even after all the stuff his brother had put him through. He was also so happy that Alfred, Victoria, and even Matthew had all written to Leon on his birthday! That had made the day so special for both of them! He began to hum happily as he cooked, feeling in high spirits.

He soon called Leon into the kitchen, having fixed chicken and noodles, his favorite. Leon ran in, smiling widely as he sat at the table with Arthur and ate happily. Arthur had never felt more content as they sat together at the table. It was a perfect dinner to end the perfect evening of a perfect day.

,

"Daddy, I think this is the greatest day I've had since Alfred left," Leon admitted as Arthur tucked him in that night. "I really mean it. Today was a great day!" He smiled widely. "I don't know how I'll sleep tonight!"

Arthur smiled. "I'm glad that you had a great birthday," he told his son. He kissed his forehead. "I hope tomorrow is just as great of a day. Remember, Blair is going to come over and play with you."

Leon yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open. "Yeah, I know," he softly said. "I can't wait! It's going to be so fun!" He yawned again.

"Perhaps you should rest now," Arthur suggested, laughing. He smiled and pulled the blanket up to Leon's chin. "You had a big day, and you'll have a big one tomorrow as well. You'll need a lot of rest, Leon."

The small boy yawned and held Arthur's hand. "I'll say the prayer tonight," he offered. He closed his eyes. "Dear God, thank you for the best day ever! I'm so happy that I got to spend it with Daddy! Thank you for the letters from Alfred, Victoria, and Captain Williams! They really made me happy, but I'm pretty sure you already know that! Please let tomorrow be just as good, if not better! In Jesus's name, amen!"

"Amen," Arthur quietly agreed.

Leon's eyes barely fluttered open. "Goodnight, Daddy. Sweet dreams."

Arthur smiled at him. "Sweet dreams, Leon." He turned out the light and kissed Leon's forehead before leaving the room.

Leon was right. It was one of the best days the two of the had had since Alfred left. If only Arthur had a way of talking to Alfred to let him know how special the day had been because of the letters. Instead, he had to wait until Alfred came back to tell him. Oh, how he couldn't wait until that day came!