"Could he be in the closet," Anyone could clearly hear the giggling little boy was safely hiding behind the couch. I flung open the closet and pretended to be really stumped at where he was.

Matt came in soda in hand and looked at me. "Dad, do you need help? I mean should I call Doctor Smith or what?"

I threw a pillow at him. "I am trying to find your little brother, but he's just way to good at hide and seek."

Matt nodded making an ahhh noise, "Well then let me help, I mean after all you are getting senile." I glared at my oldest son. "Ouch Dad you can stop with the daggers already."

I picked the pillow I'd thrown and threw it purposefully behind the couch. "Oh I missed, I better get that." The giggling had turned into squealing by this time.

When Sarah walked in moment later I could only imagine the scene in front of her. Matt Adam and myself had dissolved into a tickle fight after I had pulled Adam out from behind the couch. I was 'holding' him down while Matt unmercifully tickled his younger squealing and squirming brother.

"Looks like the birthday boy is having fun." She said smiling down at Adam who was simply beaming.

I need to take more days off like this. It was Adam's fourth birthday and I had taken off the whole week. Over the last year it kept getting harder to get Saturdays off, even get home for dinner on time. Unlike Sarah and the other three kids who were having a hard time adjusting to my increase in hours, Adam simply enjoyed every second I was home.

"Now now, look at this. Wrinkled your nice shirt, we can't have that now can we." I stood him up and tugged at the hopelessly wrinkled shirt.

The doorbell ringing signaled that guest had arrived. I had insisted to Sarah that having a full on birthday bash for a newly four year old was a waste, but Sarah being Sarah would throw a party for just about anything. Adam bolted to the door before I could even stand all the way up.

"Jim," I smiled finally arriving at the door. Was it my fault the kitchen just happened to be along the way?

"Philip," We shook hands.

"I'm so glad you could make it," I said giving my warm fake smile. I hate this guy. Jim Mcgill was Satan in human form. Unluckily for me he and his wife had Brian around the same time Adam was born. And the two had really hit it off. "Where did those kids run off to?" I asked Sarah emerging from the closet.

"Oh they've already taken off in that direction," She waved towards the back of the house.

"It's so great the kids get along as they do," Marta, Jim's wife spoke up. My wife linked arms with Martha leading her into the dining room chattering away about the boys. I grudgingly offered Jim to join me for a few drinks.

Guest quickly filled the dinning room. I glanced across the room to find Adam fidgeting with his tie as Sarah made him greet his guest.

"Hey Adam," I called over the crowded room. His bright blue eyes locked on mine. I head motioned him over here.

"Daddy," He catapulted himself up into my lap. After I pried him form the death hug I took off the tie for him.

Leaning forward I whispered, "Don't tell Mom," I stuck the tie in my suit pocket. With that I gently whacked his bottom and sent him on his way.

"Time for presents," Sarah announced a good hour later. Adam quickly weeded through the huge pile of gifts in front of him. "Oh look, this one is from Daddy," Sarah finally said getting down to my present. She read him the card before letting him annihilate the wrapping material. He pulled out his first pair of skates. I'd taken him skating several times before, but we'd always rented. Constantly he'd ask me if he was old enough to have a pair like Jason. He looked up at me with the biggest eyes before rushing over.

"Thank you Daddy," He nearly screamed in an ungodly high tone that only small children could hit.

"Your welcome son," I said patting his back.

"Can we go skating after the party? PLEASE?" His eyes daunting me with the 'puppy dog face', naturally I gave in.

"Of course."

(At the rink later that night)

"I'm going to be best hockey player ever," Adam told me as he nearly tripped over his own skate.

"Careful," I took his hand while he regained his balance. The rink was empty outside of the two of us. I had to call in a couple of favors to even get it opened.

"And I'll play for the Hawk, huh Daddy, just like Jason." It was very important to Adam that it was 'just like Jason'. At fourteen Jason found this endlessly annoying, he was going through the 'I'm inserting my independence' phase. And having a tag along little brother who copied everything you did was not cool at all. No matter how much he fussed you knew he loved it.

"Yes Adam, just like Jason."

"But I don't wanna be the goalie."

"Really?" I said stopping him for a moment.

"Nope," he shook his head. "I want to score goals just like Gretzky," He frowned scratching his head. "I can do that right, I can switch?"

"Of course you can, if you want to be a center, then you'll play center." He smiled again.

"This is the best birthday ever." I nodded, internally thinking it's not hard to have the best when you've only had four.

"And I'm going to be the best player ever. Right Daddy?" he slowly started testing his edges doing small circles around me.

"You can do anything you want Adam, even be the best hockey player on the planet." I encouraged him. All little kids want to be the best at something. Sarah argued that it was unhealthy to tell kids that they could do anything. I do understand her point, it's one in a million to make in the NHL, let alone me the best. Heck it's hard to get Colleges to look at you we were discovering with Matt. Call me crazy, but something in Adam just made me believe it. If he wanted to be the best, I'd do everything in my power to make it happen for him. Anything.

:END:

A/N: More fluff, hmm... What's wrong with me? Anyway I'm hoping to get this up as soon as will let me. Please leave me some more of those fabulous reviews they make my day!

SHOUT OUTS:

Jess: Thanks for the support! I defiantly love writing it and hearing from you.

Jenn: With the Jason thing you will have to wait and see, my lips are sealed. And honestly when I first came up with this I planned on going through the third movie, but will see when I run out of ideas. Thanks for the review!

Banksiebabe99: No overbearing Mr. Banks yet! Yes, I have used that plot line in other stories but for once I though I should explore a nicer version of the Adam/ dad relationship. And apparently you all agree! Thanks!

Katie aka Cake Eaters girly: Yay another good review! :blushes: an amazing story, thank you! But really your being way too sweet! I'll try my hardest to keep it up!

Katie aka PurePen: Yes I SO stole that from you lol deal. I'm going to take this opportunity to nag you about updating your stories!!!! Thanks for such a sweet review, more fluff, gah! When can I get to the angst! You get that butt to updating you understand!

Alright that's everybody, I'm so glad I've gotten such positive feed back, I just hope you guys like this one to! Please let me know!

Rachel