Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character except for the brief mention of Stephen who I made up.

Author's Note: I mention in this story that Suze's birthday was over winter break. If it says differently in the books I'm sorry. I just used deductive reasoning that she moved to Carmel in January and was sixteen and Jesse came alive in the middle of December when she was still sixteen.

First Birthday

Jesse's been alive for five months now. He's enrolled in pre-med. and works at the Coffee Clutch as well as the museum so that he has extra money. What does he do with the extra money you ask? I'm sure that you're thinking that it's for books, or maybe he uses it to buy stuff for Spike. Maybe you think he's saving up for a car. Well, actually he does put half of it away for a car. But the other half he uses to take me out on Saturdays.

I've told him several times that he should save it all for a car or only use a little to go out to someplace cheap every now and then. But of course being Jesse, he won't listen because he thinks he owes it to me. So every Saturday we go to dinner and a movie. He won't even let me pay for half. And sometimes the places he takes me cost about fifteen dollars a plate not including drinks.

There. I'm done with my ranting now you can stop rolling your eyes. I really do think that it's sweet of him. But it really is highly impractical.

Anyway, Next week is Jesse's first birthday in this life. I want to do something big for him. I've already got the perfect gift for him (a fifty dollar gift card and a membership/discount card to Barnes & Nobles), but I want to actually DO something ya know. So what do I do? I de what any romantically confused seventeen-year old does… I talk to my best friend.

"Did they even have birthday parties back when he was alive the first time?" CeeCee asks me whilst we sit on the beach watching Adam try to teach Jesse how to surf. The operative word in that sentence being "try".

"I don't know! I'm sure that they had some kind of celebration," I reply. I mean, really, why is she asking me? I don't know all about the nineteenth century just because my super hot boyfriend was born in it.

"Maybe we could have a party here on the beach or something. Or maybe a picnic would be better," She sounded pretty uncertain about that. "Can I take a rain check? Here come the guys all sweaty and wet and everything!"

You see how confusing it is for a seventeen-year-old to throw her super-hot-ex-ghost-of-a-170-year-old-rancher-boyfriend a birthday party?

I had no choice but to call in the experts… Mom and Andy.

Let me describe my 17th birthday party to you. All I need is three little words. Just eleven letters… BRAND NEW CAR. That's right I got a car for my B-day. Sleepy and Dopey were very upset about this. Mom and Andy said it was because I hot such good grades last semester, (all A's and two B's thanks to Jesse's tutoring) but I know It's because Mom loves the fact that I finally have a real boyfriend.

The party was great too. Just a few friends and family and of course, Jesse. Andy had a barbeque set up outside while we all lounged around inside and watched Jesse try to keep Dopey from Butchering his native language. Jesse's language I mean. Although Dopey does have some problems with his own native language as well. Then after we ate I got my green 1977 beetle bug and we went for a drive down to the Big Sur and back home. Then we watched movies until twelve. At that point the guys had to go home while CeeCee and Gina (who was there fro Winter Holidays) who both badgered me for details on Jesse's "resurrection" as they called it.

I figured Mom and Andy would do it seeing as they love Jesse so much and take pity on him(we told everyone that his family perished in a fire while he was at a friend's house.) I approached them after my talk with CeeCee.

"Hey Mom: I was wondering if you and Andy could help me with something." That really surprised them. I never ask for help on ANYTHING.

"What is it Susie?" My mom asks me worriedly. I quickly explained my dilemma and see my mother's eyes light up in anticipation of a huge event.

"Just a few friends Mom," I told her. "I don't want to scare him by bringing in D-Brad and Sl-Jake's friends." the fire in her eyes died down a little as she laughed at that.

"Of course Susie," she says. "Now. We need a list of people to invite. And a time. Maybe in the afternoon so that you can go out for dinner afterward. He's turning twenty-one right? Good. Bring him home with you after dinner and Andy and I will have some wine for him and some grape juice for you. Andy can make some Spanish food and a cake. Oooh we can have Spanish music and a few Spanish games. A PIÑATA! Oh we'll have a piñata!"

I let her go on. You see? I told you she was an expert. Ladies and gentlemen my mother is a party-planning-mad-woman. I never even thought of dinner! I was in a good mood when I went up to my room.

The week went by quickly until it was Saturday morning. Jesse came over at noon expecting that I would be the only one he would spend the day with. We were sitting on the front porch when Paul pulled into my drive way followed by three other cars. CeeCee, Adam, Father Dom, and Jesse's friend and lab partner in college, Stephen.

"Querida. What's going on?" Jesse asked me after they all went inside. I winced when I heard the reproach in his voice.

"It's your birthday party," I said slowly. I hoped he wasn't angry with me. It would be just my luck if he didn't want a party after all. I just can't leave well enough alone.

"Why?" he asked. That's it. That's all he said. Just "why".

"Well I thought maybe you should have some sort of a party. I mean you're supposed to be turning twenty-one and that's like a big deal and all and…" I trailed off as he started laughing at me. He stood up and pulled me up with him. He then held me close to him so that I could feel his beautiful heartbeat. His breath was warm on my cheek. I still haven't gotten tired of those lovely sensations. He lowered his mouth to mine. Just before he kissed me so sweetly he said three words into my mouth.

"Thank you Querida."