"Are we ready?" Esteban asked.

Esperanza nodded. "Si, Papá. Alé and Ro put up the streamers, I've placed the gifts over on the table and Lio's helping Bisabuela with the cake."

"And I have Caz," Rosalia added, holding up the squirmy, smiling baby. "It's only a matter of time before Mamá comes looking for him. She ought to be back from her afternoon walk any minute. All we need now is for someone to go get her and bring her here."

"I'll do it," Emilio offered.

Esteban quirked an eyebrow at his second son. "I thought you were helping Abuela with the cake?"

"I can put the finishing touches on myself," Luisa assured him. "Lio knows how to get Shuriki's attention. If anyone can get her down here without spoiling the surprise, it's him."

"This is true," Esteban admitted. "Alright. Go get your mamá, Lio, and bring her into the ballroom. Everyone will be there ready to surprise her."

"Si, Papá."

Emilio ran out of the kitchen leaving a small trail of white flour footprints in his wake.

Esteban shook his head. He couldn't remember how the child had spilled the bag.

He must have dropped the sack while carrying it to the kitchen. Lio was covered from his messy haired head to his tiny bare feet.

Esteban couldn't help chuckling. His son looked like a happy little ghost skipping down the hall. He just hoped he wouldn't make too much of a mess for the cleaning staff to tidy up later.

Shuriki was on her way to the nursery after her walk to give Caz another feeding when she spotted her second son Emilio trotting down the hall.

Her day hadn't started off well. She'd woken up after only four hours of sleep to a fussy baby who'd refused to latch onto her breast, then she'd gone down to breakfast where she and Elena had gotten into a argument all because Emilio had put a non-venomous snake inside Elena's shoe-and a baby one at that-to get back at her for all the rude things she'd said to his mother earlier in the week. Apparently the tiny snake had latched onto Elena's pinky toe. When Shuriki had suggested Elena look in her shoes next time before sticking her feet in them, the queen had taken a pitcher of ice water and doused Shuriki with it.

Things had only gotten worse from there. She'd gone for her afternoon walk in the gardens just to trip and break her heel. As if that wasn't enough, she'd been stung by a bee while she was hobbling her way back to the palace. The sight of Emilio covered in flour and knowing he'd made another mess after she'd explicitly warned him to stay out of trouble proved the breaking point for Shuriki.

"Emilio Herrera Flores!"

Emilio froze the moment he heard his name and her tone then stood rooted in place as Shuriki towered over him.

"What did you do now?" she demanded. "Is that flour?"

Emilio recoiled a bit. "Um...si, but-"

"Why are you wasting flour? Don't you realize how expensive such ingredients are? Have you no respect for anything? I ought to bend you over my knee and whip you!"

"But, Mamá-"

"No more 'buts'! I'm sick of all your shenanigans! Go to your room and stay there," Shuriki snapped, pointing toward the nearest staircase.

Emilio knew better than to argue with his mother. She didn't favor sparing the rod to spoil children, especially when they were being unruly or disrespectful. He went to his room and curled up in the tub of his washroom where he'd be alone and no one would hear him cry.

Shuriki walked into the throne room to give Esteban an earful for not keeping a better eye on their son and nearly suffered a heart attack whenever a crowd of people suddenly surrounded her and shouted "Surprise!"

Once the initial shock wore off, Shuriki couldn't help but laugh as she gently swatted Esteban's forearm. "You frightened me!"

Esteban grinned. "Did you really think I'd forget your birthday?"

"Well...you've been so busy of late, I thought you might have," she admitted.

Esteban kissed her tenderly on the cheek. "Never. We've been planning this for months."

"Papá did most of the planning," Aléjandro corrected, "We did all the manual labor."

Shuriki chuckled. "Is that so, Alé?"

Esteban ruffled his eldest son's hair. "Oh, muy funny."

"Where's Lio?" Esperanza asked searching the crowd for her little brother.

Shuriki frowned. "Lio?"

"We sent him to go get you," Esteban explained.

"Maybe he went to wash up?" Llorona suggested. "He was covered in flour after helping Bisabuela with Mamá's cake."

Shuriki put a hand to her mouth. "Oh..."

Esteban's smile faded a bit. "Is something wrong, mi amor?"

"I...I have to go," Shuriki replied. "I'll be right back."

She left the ballroom and ran up to her son's private apartments. He'd fallen asleep in the empty tub of his washroom. The sight of his tear-stained cheeks broke Shuriki's heart, especially since she knew she was the cause of his tears.

She gently shook his shoulder to wake him. "Emilio, darling, wake up. I want to speak to you."

Emilio sat up and rubbed his eyes. He seemed afraid. That upset Shuriki even more. She hated the very thought of her children being scared of her.

"Darling, I'm so sorry...I didn't know about the party. I would have never said what I did if I had known you were trying to surprise me. Not that that's an excuse for how I reacted. I was having a bad day and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have. I had no right to. Can you ever forgive me?"

Emilio sniffled. "I just wanted you to have a bueno birthday."

"I know," Shuriki assured him. "My birthday is going well, but there's one thing missing at my party, something important and irreplaceable."

Emilio frowned. "There is?"

Shuriki nodded.

"What is it?" Emilio asked.

Shuriki wiped his tears away. "You."

Emilio perked up a bit. "Me?"

Shuriki nodded again and gave him a warm smile. "Yes. Will you attend the party with me? It's the only gift I really want."

Emilio smiled back at her. "Si, Mamá. I'll go with you."

Shuriki didn't care whether she got flour all over her gown. She hugged her son tight and kissed his forehead.

"Let's get you cleaned up so we can go down and have some of that cake you helped make."

Emilio's smile widened and he nodded excitedly. "Alright. Um, Mamá?

Shuriki quirked a curious eyebrow. "Yes?"

"May I have the first birthday dance with you this year?"

"Your Papá usually gets the first dance," she reminded him.

Emilio's smile faded a bit.

"But I can make an exception just this once," Shuriki added wanting her son to realize he would always have a special place in her heart.

Emilio threw his arms around her. "Gracias, Mamá!"

Shuriki chuckled. "You're welcome, dear."

"Mamá?"

"Hmm...?"

"Te amo."

Shuriki smiled softly. "I love you too, Lio. More than you will ever know."