Author's Note: This is just a random wee gift of pure fluff for MissD721, Happy Birthday my friend! Rest assured the bunnies that are hopping will be making their way to a story near you soon ;)

Birthday Interlude

Genre:Friendship

Pairings:Greg and Molly, Phillip and Jackie

Main characters:Greg, Greer, Phillip, Ciana

Ciana Jane Anderson couldn't have been more content.

She had spent the day with her daddy, being appropriately spoiled, and then at the end of Greg's shift, had been passed off to him, who as usual, had managed to soothe her tired cranky mood just by talking to her.

Greer couldn't have been happier either. SHE got to spend the day with her own daddy, and when Uncle Phillip had come by to drop off her little friend Ciana, she had been rewarded by being picked up and cuddled.

"Oh my word Lady Greer," Phillip declared as he picked her up. "You're not missing any meals Milady, are you. What a pretty little thing you are too," he said softly, as she wrapped her arms around his neck happily. "Have you been a good girl for your old dad today?

"Silly Uncle," Greer said lazily, "I'm always a good girl!"

Phillip glanced at Greg, grinning to see Ciana settling against his boss's chest, having her inner pissed off beast soothed by his quiet baritone.

What was that he was doing? Was he seriously reciting test results from his own lab from earlier in the day?

Phillip shook his head, wondering not only at the whims of girls, but at the apparent dull nature of his own life's work, and tightened his grip on the young lady in his arms. Greer was beginning to nod off, he noted, so he opted to sit on the couch in Greg's office. She wasn't getting any lighter by the minute.

"Funny how a girl has her preferences," he said softly, adjusting Greer's arms. "Greer likes a little song, Ciana prefers it if you just speak to her."

Greg said nothing, only nodding in acknowledgement. When Ciana was slumbering to his satisfaction, he finally spoke out loud.

"So, what are the plans for Ciana's birthday on Friday? Hard to believe she's a year old already, seems just yesterday I was making myself scarce in fear of Jackie going into labour," Greg laughed softly.

Phillip smiled, gently adjusting Greer, who had gone completely limp, but no lighter in his arms. "Just a small gathering of friends, I think. Jackie's only decided this morning. I actually did want to speak to you about that, we were hoping you'd make plans to be there, if the notice isn't too short. John's already agreed to make a cake, apparently."

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," Greg said, picking up the slouching blanket that had slipped away from Ciana and draping it over the sleeping girl. "Actually I believe I'm on shift early that day so I should be clocking out early as well barring disaster. Molly's taken the day off to attend a school function for the boys."

"Excellent," Phillip said, nudging Greer into more of a recline against his torso. He swung his legs around to recline himself, relaxing against the back of the sofa. "Long day in the lab," he explained sheepishly, as he kicked his shoes off. "I really needed this. A little cuddle from Lady Greer goes a long way, but I suppose you already know that."

Greg nodded as he moved his hand up to rest on Ciana's back. "My kids are the best part of my day, no doubt you've found that with Ciana as well." He paused a moment as Ciana seemed to stir, then fell back into slumber.

"Wouldn't trade it for anything," Phillip simply said, as he laid his head back on the cushion and closed his eyes.

"Yeah," Greg agreed, sitting back himself and swinging his legs up onto his desk.

"Wouldn't trade this for all the world."