2010

A/N: Hey girls and guys! First, scratch the part in the A/N about the diamonds. I have diamonds on my document, but they didn't show up on the website. Sorry, I just realized this now. So, in this chapter it's a long line. Sorry for any confusion! Hope you enjoyed those last two chapters and if you have somehow landed yourself on this chapter and have not read the other two, I would go read those. That is all for now, so enjoy. Oh, and if my (somewhat) long author's notes are annoying you, just skip to the good stuff (I won't mind), but you might miss important information!

2nd A/N (about this chapter): This will have a few lines from 2x24 (Ben There, Done That), and will—pretty much—follow the path line of that episode. Again, those lines will be in bold. Also, if you didn't pick up on this during the first chapter, thoughts in someone's head are in italics. Also, I don't own anybody, except for character's you do not recognize (well, theoretically, if you have read my other stories, you do recognize them, but that's beside the point). I also don't own Cherrios, in case I need to state that.

"Ok, so I guess it's my turn to tell part of the story," Amy said, nudging Ricky away from the microphone. "And I'm going to tell the story of why we always have a mini-party the night before your birthday where you get one present and a cupcake. " John smiled at his mom, and Amy smiled right back. It was something that they have always done, just the two of them, and it was special. "That tradition started on your first birthday, which was the day before your dad was going to have you stay at his house for the first time."

"Ricky, it's just your family and my family at the park. My mom's making the cake and you are doing everything else." A prominent hint of annoyance in Amy's voice could be found as she spoke. Why is he even calling now? I need to get John to bed soon and I'm not getting him to bed until we have our mini party. That way we all win. Amy continued to talk Ricky through the plans and they said a prompt goodnight, as Amy really wanted to get on with her planned evening.

"So baby, no one else knows this, but you and I are going to have your birthday right now. It was a year ago that you started making your way here so I figured 'why not?'" Amy spoke to John. He looks so cute in that little tux. This really was the perfect idea. "And anytime Daddy has you on a birthday or a holiday we'll have our party the night before. Does that sound good?" Amy felt happy; she made it through a whole year of parenting, and she loved John more than anything.

"So that's how the whole tradition started. You were jealous that Dad got to have me on my birthday and so you had a party the night before?" John asked with a smirk.

"Well…umm," Amy started before Ricky cut her off.

"Yes, John, that is exactly why she did it. But I forgave and times have changed. Though if I do remember correctly, I was pretty mad the next morning when I found out."

"That's not the point Amy; we are supposed to be doing this together as John's parents." Ricky said fiercely.

Well this is going well. I didn't realize that he would be this mad about this. I mean, what's even the big deal? I'm his mother. "We ARE doing this as John's parents. I just did something ALONE with him as his mother." Amy responded, clearly annoyed. "I have to get to class anyway. I'll see you at the park."

Why does she do this stuff? She is always so angry at me and it just ticks me off! Oh God, here comes Ben. Why is he still obsessed with Amy anyway? They aren't together anymore. "I don't really want to talk right now. I'm sorry, but Amy just makes me so crazy sometimes."

"Yea, she used to make me crazy sometimes too." Ben said, with trickles of longing in his voice.

The school day passed slowly, and both of the parents wanted to get out of there. Amy didn't want to be at school anymore because she wanted to spend as much time with John as she could before Ricky came and took him for the weekend. Why does he even have to take John? I mean, it's his birthday and I'm his mother. At least I got to celebrate part of it with him. Ricky also did not want to be at school so he could spend as much time with John as possible. I'm still really upset at Amy for doing such a stupid thing, but she is his mom. Maybe I should invite her over for the party. The three of us could just hang out together. Yea, that could work.

Later, after school and work were over, Ricky arrived at Amy's house. They said there hellos and John was handed over to Ricky. "Come on Amy, come to the party. I want you at the party. You have to be at the party, you're the mom. He loves you." Ricky said.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had a party without you. I just cannot control myself! I just want to stomp my feet and scream! I know what we worked out was fair, but it just seems so unfair still." Amy said, letting her feelings come out. She knew that Ricky was trying his best and he was doing a really great job, but it could be difficult. John was her son after all; she loved him and didn't want to have to share him. And I know that he wants more time with him, but he really hasn't been that great of a help this past year.

"How about it's just you and me? No parents? Pack your bag and come over and spend the night. I'll sleep on the couch. Just you and me and John at his first birthday party. John will have his mommy and daddy. How about that?" Ricky said with a smile. He been doing that more lately, smiling. It's sweet. Amy grabbed her coat and went to her room. While packing her bag, Ricky and John played simple games like Peek-A-Boo and Airplane. He really is a good dad with him. And he really loves John. Once Amy was done, they headed off to the butcher shop.

"No, it's raining!" Amy said with a laugh as she opened the door to the car.

"Oh, oh come on Amy. It's rain. It won't kill you." Ricky said with a smile. That smile again. Once inside, they came across Ben, who gave them a hard time with phrases like 'Are you spending the night', 'Of course, I won't be coming to the party' and finally 'Oh, it's a sleepover kind of birthday party, no wonder why no one was invited'. Thoughts like: 'Oh, give it a rest Ben. It's just Amy and me spending time with John on his first birthday. I'm not trying to sleep with her' or: 'Ben, we've already broken up and what I do with Ricky is none of your business' ran through the young parents heads. Luckily, Bunny saved them from an even more awkward moment, as she sent them upstairs.

"Yea, if I had to choose anytime in our relationship that Ben was the most of an awkward third wheel, I would have to say it was those couple of months. And I mean, that's really when we started to realize that we should try going out. So, thanks Ben!" Ricky shot a knowing smile at Ben as Ben laughed—and started to blush—before Ricky smiled at Amy.

Amy quickly returned the favor before responding, "And it was the next day that Ben found out he had gotten Adrian pregnant, and that really pushed us together. But hey, we probably would have gotten together at some point anyway." John smiled at his parents flirting, it's still cute…I guess.

"So, let's get settled—I'll take your bag and John's bag, Amy—and then presents, then cake? And I hope you like all the decorations. And after you told me that your mom wasn't coming this morning, I just went out and bought a cake myself during lunch." Ricky asked Amy after the two walked through the door.

"That all sounds really great Ricky. Thank you so much for doing all of this. It was really nice of you." Amy said, looking around with a glint of surprise in her eyes. Wow, he got a lot of stuff. And I will have to thank Bunny for putting it up. It all looks really good. After settling down, the two had John—with help from them of course—open his various presents. He got toys that lit up and spun around, clothes, even a few baby necessities, along with a toy truck from Amy—with lights, and "yes, Ricky, it is completely safe for small children"—and new sheets from Ricky—"for the bed Amy, he needs sheets for the crib at my apartment": both parents were very happy with the gifts.

After settling down from dinner of Cherrios, tiny pieces of chicken and spaghetti, and a bottle of milk for John and normal portions of chicken and spaghetti for Amy and Ricky, the family watched some DVD's of some of John's favorite T.V. shows. "These T.V. shows are sort of addicting. Did you watch these as a kid?" Ricky asked.

"What, did you never watch T.V. as a kid?" Amy asked, only realizing a moment too late it was a bit of a stupid question.

"No, I didn't have access to a T.V. until I was in a few of my foster care homes. And even then I usually couldn't watch. And I would have been too old for most of these shows." Ricky said, looking down.

"Ricky, I'm sorry. That was sort of a stupid thing to say."

"Amy, it's no big deal. Look, I'm going to go put John to bed, and you can go to bed too if you want." So, off the three went to Ricky's bedroom. Ricky and Amy both said their 'goodnights' and 'I love yous' to John and said an awkward goodnight to each other as they parted ways. That was actually way more fun then I expected it to be. They both thought to themselves as the drifted off to sleep. Maybe having him in John's life won't be as bad as I thought it would be.

Maybe this whole parenting thing really could work out. Amy and I really can do it.

"And that is how the whole night-before-your-birthday celebration started. And that's also part of the reason we find spending your birthday all together as a family so important. After that, we spent every single birthday both with you. And also, now you know why your father was always watching those little kids show with your brother and sister, John," Amy said, laughing.

"And that moment is also important because we finally—it only took a year, I know—that we had to work together to take care of you. Neither one of us would be able to raise you by ourselves. And, thankfully, we didn't have to. And I do not always watch them, Amy," Ricky said, smirking at Amy.

Yea, I guess my parents' flirting is still pretty cute.

A/N: Two updates in one day! Yea buddy! But, I go back to school tomorrow (this break was WAY too short), so updates may start to space out a little. Also, I would still love prompts and any constructive criticism or nice comment you may have! Thanks!