Carth:

He watched Adalia as she anxiously walked from the dinner table to re-arrange the snacks they had made then back to the front door waiting for someone to knock.

"Sweetie, it's still early." He chuckled as he lounged in his chair and watched her repeat her rounds a few more times.

"I know." She sighed then walked over to Carth to stand in front of him. "How do I look, Daddy?" She asked fidgeting with her hair that was braided at either side of her head, which looked pretty good considering that he had never made a braid in his life before this morning and he even fixed a white bow into one of them.

He tapped his chin as if he were thinking it over, she was wearing a sleeveless, knee high purple dress with grey leggings and black boots.

"Looks to me like you're about to jump right out of your skin…" He smirked "Other than that, absolutely gorgeous, Birthday Girl."

She rolled her eyes then smiled at the goofy face he made at her. "Thank you, Daddy!" She giggled then continued where she left off: re-arranging the candy bowl, finding a place for it so that she could get easier access for her sugar tooth.

A few minutes later she ran to the door when there was a light tapping "Mission!" She cried even before she opened it.

Definitely progressing, he thought to himself as he felt an automatic pang of fear hit him like it would every time she unexpectedly used the force.

Don't ruin the five-year-olds birthday, he told himself grimly then forced a smile onto his face when Mission walked in with presents in her arms and Jolee Bindo right behind her.

"Mission!" Adalia cried again and hugged her leg tightly.

"Hey there, Kiddo!" She laughed. "Happy birthday."

"Glad you guys could make it." Carth said standing up to greet them.

"Eh. What else could an old man do who has too much free time on his hands?" He gave Carths' back a pat then said to Adalia "Happy birthday, kid, and many more."

She smiled her signature smile that could melt hearts. "Thank you, Jolee." Then showed their guests to the snack table where Jolee gladly followed.

They sat in the living room chatting and sharing laughs until there was another knock at the door then Dustil came barging in with at least five presents in his arms blocking his face from view. "Happy birthday to my favorite little sister!" He exclaimed as he brought the gifts over to the kitchen counter.

"Dusty!" She squealed and jumped into his outstretched arms to hug him tightly.

"You spoil that kid to no end!" He laughed and stood up to wrap his arm around Dustils' shoulders. "Nice to see you, son."

"You too, Pops" he smirked and poked Adalia in the rib-cage. "What has he been feedin' ya?" You're ten times bigger than the last time I've seen you."

She giggled and squirmed as he continued to poke her then put her back down onto her feet.

"Ready for cake now that everyone's here?" Carth asked.

"Yes." Jolee answered automatically as he joined them in the kitchen.

"I was asking the birthday girl." He laughed.

"I'll answer for her then. Yes." He said and Adalia laughed while Carth rolled his eyes.

"Hey, old man haven't you had enough to eat yet?" Mission asked walking in to lean against the counter.

"Why, hello there." Dustil grinned looking the twilek from head to toe.

"Oh not this again, lover boy, haven't I turned you down enough since last year?" She said jokingly.

"Hey," he wagged his eye-brows playfully. "Can't keep an Onasi man down-."

"Definitely time for cake." Carth said stopping the two love-birds before things got out of hand then lifted Adalia up into his arms taking her to the counter with the large, pink cake with white flowers and five candles on top.

Carth grabbed lighter from off of the counter and began to light each candle, remembering each birthday as he went and realized that her mother wasn't there for a single one of them…

Don't ruin this for her you idiot, Carth thought to himself then put his smile back on. It's her birthday, her special day…

Adalia:

She watched the flames on her birthday cake as everyone around her sang "Happy Birthday" with smiles on their faces.

Everything was so perfect and she never wanted this moment to end.

She leaned forward when they had finished and closed her eyes never wanting to lose this feeling of complete belonging in the place that she was loved…

She blew out the candles and the crowd burst into applause, Carth leaned forward to kiss her rosy cheek "Happy birthday, Adalia." He whispered against her skin.

Carth:

They all watched Adalia as she played excitedly with her new presents, they all lounged in the living room, still chit chatting. Nothing serious, just the way it needed to be around Adalia.

Mission had gotten her a bracelet and Adalia eyed the oddly shaped charms on it. "Those will let you slice through any door in the galaxy." Mission told her, proud of her work.

Carth had to thank her for that one later…

Dustil got her several toys from stuffed animals to dolls and a miniature ship that he made himself for her dolls.

Jolee had gotten her a pile of books that were full of pictures from all over the galaxy, she finally had some new bed-time reading material.

And Carth, he had bought her a custom, light blue fabric choker necklace with a dark blue precious gem hanging from it.

He turned his head to Adalia who was playing with her new toys and then looked over to Dustil who was still annoying the hell out of Mission as the lounged on the couch, he never got to spend time with Dustil like he does every day with Adalia and he still blamed himself for not being there for him when he most needed him even though Dustil had already forgiven him on many occasions.

But Dustil wasn't his 'boy' anymore, he was a twenty-two year old man ( flirting with anything that moved ) and he almost couldn't believe how quickly he had grown up.

It wasn't until he had watched his daughter blow out her birthday candles did he realize that his baby girl was growing up too and someone else is missing out this time…

Don't ruin this for her, he told himself for the hundredth time. Not today, not on her special day…

Adalia:

She slept soundly after everyone had left the party and drifted slowly into a dream, a very familiar dream that she only had once a year but still one of her favorites.

She sat on the surface of Telos, the place where her Daddy would take her every once in a while when they could get out of Citadel station to go and have a picnic and just enjoy the fresh air.

But this time she wasn't with her father, she sat under a large tree with the beautiful woman holding Adalia close to her, her head slumped against the woman's shoulder soaking in the peace that just seemed to roll off of her.

"Happy Birthday, Adalia." The woman whispered, her voice didn't sound like it was there, more like way off in the distance echoing off of the grand mountains. "I love you so much, sweet-heart."

Then there would be no more talking, they just sat there together holding each other close never wanting to leave this small piece of heaven that they had shared, everything perfect, everything peaceful.

She turned her head to the woman several hours later knowing that the woman couldn't stay for much longer.

She held Adalia's chin in her warm hand and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose then looked meaningfully into her eyes as the perfect scene had begun to fade away, as it always would and left her alone and in the darkness of her bedroom.