A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

A POV

"The balloons are going to be ready tomorrow at twelve thirty, and the cake is to be picked up at one so we can make one trip." Pacing the living room floor, I continue mentally trying to figure out what else needs to be done for tomorrow. It's a monumental day, Jamison's first birthday. We're celebrating with a zoo animal theme. My eyes float down to my sweet boy who's sitting in Christian's lap. "Mommy and Daddy are going to make sure it's the perfect day."

"Tell Mommy you already know it's going to be perfect.", Christian softly says to Jamison before meeting my eyes with his. "Ana, why don't you sit down and rest? You were up sick twice last night."

"I'm fine.", I tell him. When he doesn't seem convinced, I give in and move into the arm chair across from him and Jamison. "Ok. I'm sitting and going to rest for a bit. Then I'll get back to party planning. You can go and do some work if you'd like." Despite my insistance that I'd be fine dealing with some of the birthday planning while he was at work, Christian took the day off, saying he wanted to spend it with us.

"I've already made it clear to Ros that I'm not going to be at the office today and not to send anything work related to me."

"Make sure you keep to that.", Charles laughs as he joins us. After his interview Monday, the wait to find out if the job was his was short. He was called early Tuesday and told he was hired. He had considered making a quick trip back to New York and then returning tomorrow in time for the party, but he decided to hold off and leave after the party is over. His return to New York will only be long enough to get his things together and close out his place there. "Ana, your dad and Mary wil be tying the knot in only two more weeks, right?"

"Yes.", I sigh happily. "Most of the wedding planning is done. It's going to be simple and romantic just like my dad and Mary wanted."

"Charles, Carol's going to the wedding.", Christian says. Matchmaker Grey is determined to fix Charles and Carol up. I have to say, I think they could very well be good together. "And you're going to the wedding. The two of you could save gas and go together."

"I know you're trying your best to get me together with Carol, but you're forgetting one key thing, Carol might not be interested in me.", Charles shrugs, sitting down on the love seat. "She seems to like me as a person, but liking me as more is entirely different. The last thing I want is to make a fool out of myself."

"Now you're forgetting something. If you don't try, you won't know. It could fail, but it could also work out." Charles leans back in his seat and nods in silence. "I'm sorry if I'm across as being too pushy. It's not my intent. I know Ella is still in your heart and will always be there, but you deserve to find love again."

"It's not like I haven't tried. When I married my ex-wife Paulina a few years ago I went in not feeling the same kind of love I had for Ella, but I thought maybe it would grow. I was wrong."

"That doesn't mean you're never going to find someone to love like that. To me, it means you and Paulina just weren't meant to be.", I tell him as Jamison smiles at Charles. "You can't live in the past."

"Christian said you were in here resting.", April says, padding into the living room where I'm stretched out on the sofa.

"Did I doze off and not hear you come through the door?"

"I was at Uncle Taylor and Gail's and wanted to see you so I came in through the door in the kitchen. Bryce followed me with Alex and is now in the kitchen with Christian, Jamison, and Charles."

"Did Christian ask you to report back on whether or not I'm actually resting?", I giggle while pulling myself up on the cushion.

"He didn't." I arch a brow to her response. "I promise he didn't, but he did say he felt you overdid it today. From how tired your eyes look, he was right."

"I've just been trying to get the birthday party together. Jamison's only going to turn one once, and I want the party to be memorable. The nausea I've been experiencing hasn't helped. It's worse this pregnancy than the last."

"Ana, if you need me to help in any way, let me know."

"I appreciate that and might take you up on your offer. Can you help us decorate?", I ask.

"Yes ma'am.", she laughs with a salute. "I'm good at decorating. What time should I be here?"

"The party starts at two so twelve thirty. Christian's going to be gone to pick up the cake and balloons, but I'll be here with the rest of the decortations. I've got little tigers and lions to place on the tables as well as a banner with different animals."

"Awww, so cute."

"Jamison's got a blue shirt with a red number one on the front. Elliot used to tease Christian all the time about time flying, and now it feels like it's speeding up." I dab the tears in the corners of both eyes while April starts crying with me.

"You talking about Jamison turning one makes me dread Alex being one." I sniffle and see Christian and Bryce standing in the doorway with puzzled faces. Jamison toddles past Christian and to me as Alex cries for April. "Here's our little guys." Bryce moves from his spot and into the living room, placing Alex in April's arms.

"Why are you two crying?", Christian questions. He sits on the other end of the sofa.

"We're just thinking about the boys getting older.", April replies.

"Please don't do that.", Bryce murmurs. "Let's enjoy the here and now." He bends and kisses April's lips.

C POV

"Where's the birthday boy?" Ben holds his hand over his eye during his "search" for Jamison who's standing right in front of him. "Mia, have you seen him?"

"I haven't." Thinking he's being ignored, Jamison begins whining. "There he is." Mia scoops Jamison up and kisses his cheeks before handing the baby over to Ben. "Jamison, this time last year I was seeing you for the first time, and now we're going to be having birthday cake together."

"I have to get the cake first along with the balloons. You can come with me if you'd like Ben."

"I think April and Bryce are going to be here soon to help put up some of the decorations.", Ana says. "Have you talked to Elliot or Spencer?" Mia and Ben each grimace. "What?"

"I wouldn't count on Elliot or Spencer being here until the actual start time for the party. Ben and I went by Spencer's on our way to see if Elliot was there so we could ask them to ride with us."

"Elliot was there.", Ben groans. "And the door was unlocked." Silence falls upon the room until all eyes widen in recognition to what Ben's alluding to. "They didn't see us, but we saw them."

"I'd bleach my eyes out, but I figured I wouldn't be able to see everything going on at Jamison's party.", Mia says. "Ana, point me to where I'm needed." Dressed in a white sundress with a yellow rose on the front, Ana stands and nods for Mia to follow her into the kitchen. The sun's rays are streaming through the curtains and shining on Ana, making her look even more like an angel than usual. My angel.

"Nancy's making some dip from a recipe she had, and I figured we could go ahead and lay chips and cookies on some of the trays. It's going to be basic snacks along with the cake."

"Baby, Ben and I are going to go. We'll be back soon." Jamisn hands reach out to me while Ana begins taking him from Ben. "You can't go baby boy. Daddy and Ben are going to go and get your cake and balloons. When we get back, we're going to have your party."

"Daddy won't be gone long.", Ana whispers to Jamison who calms down in no time.

"Where's Charles?", Ben asks once we're on the way to the SUV. Taylor who's been outside with Gail and Riley rushes over and goes to the driver's seat.

"He went to my parents' for a while.", I answer, thinking how some might see it as odd that my biological dad is friends with my adoptive parents, but I don't see it like that at all. They get along well which is great for everyone. We get into the SUV and start out down the driveway and on to the road. "I can't believe I'm going to pick up my son's first birthday cake. It's kind of surreal."

"Tell me about his cake."

"It's two layers with light blue icing. Multicolored dots and stars surround each layer. A zebra and a giraffe are on the bottom layer, and the a lion is on the top along with a number one."

"I don't think we could've had better weather than what we have today.", Elliot says. All of the guests have arrived and made their way to the backyard where the party is being held. The sun is out in full force along with a moderate temperature of about eighty.

"Jamison, you've got a crowd of people here.", Gail tells him while I'm sitting at the main table with him in my lap. Taylor's standing next to her with Riley who's just woken up from her nap

"Of course he has a crowd. The boy is loved by more people than can be counted.", Taylor laughs.

"Have you guys seen Ana?", I ask, roaming my eyes around the backyard with Ana not to be found.

"She went inside to the bathroom.", Spencer answers. I'm about to get up but see Ana and Mary step out of the house. "There she is." Ana slowly sits down in the chair next to me. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better now.", Ana sighs. She elbows me and moves her eyes to Charles and Carol who are immersed in a conversation. "They're getting along well."

"It appears that way." I'm silently doing a fist pump in hopes they'll work out. "Mom?", I call to my mom. She leaves the spot where she and my dad have been talking to April and Bryce. "I think we're going to do the cake now." Ana and I weren't sure how we wanted to handle the cake until my mom made the suggestion that all of the grandparents could carry it. Even though it's not a huge cake, each grandparent is going to have a hand on it on the way to the table. It was also her idea to have Mary and Charles included in it. That led to some happy tears.

"Everyone, we're about to serve the cake.", my mom announces. She and the other grandparents go to the side table where the cake is placed and gently lift it. I look down at Jamison's eyes that are glued to the cake.

"Let's sing!", Ros shouts. The yard fills with the voices of everyone singing happy birthday to Jamison. As it winds down, Ana places her head on my shoulder and takes a deep breath. My dad places a single candle on the top of the cake, but Jamison crinkles his nose at it.

"Mommy and Daddy will help with your candle.", I tell him. "As you all can see, today's a big day. We're here celebrating the milestone of Jamison turning one. He's grown so much this past year, but one thing that hasn't and won't ever change is the love for him. Ana and I want to thank all of you for not only being here but also sharing in that love."

"It really, truly means the world to us.", Ana says. "Let's take care of this candle, shall we?" Together, we blow out the candle and hear everyone clapping,including Jamison.

"Happy birthday baby boy."