A/N: Alright guys I apologize for the immense delay in updating. I just couldn't seem to get this chapter going. It didn't help that my cousin drug me to a Jazz game last weekend and now I'm into watching the Playoffs.

I can't make any promises but to get the next chapter up on time. It would help if I got more than 3 reviews to (hint hint). Just a little note saying "Yo Update Already" On the plus side this is my longest chapter yet.

Chapter 3: Birthday

"Mommy, Daddy!" RJ squealed as he tore into his parent's room and jumped onto their bed landing in between them. He turned towards his mother and gently began shaking her legs. "Get up Mommy." Then turned and did the same to his father. "Get up Daddy."

Looking at the clock, Jackson noticed it was only seven o'clock and rolled over burying his head deeper into the covers. "It's too early RJ. Go back to sleep." he mumbled getting a pouty lip from RJ.

"Don't mind him, he's being a lazy butt," Lilly told her son. "Someone is sure happy this morning. Must be a special day." With a big grin on his face RJ nodded his head vigorously. "Hm let's see what could it be? It's not Christmas yet, we still have a few months until that one." Watching her son shake his head no, Lilly continued pretending to remember. "Hm maybe? Nope not that either. Oh I know it's my birthday."

"Not it's not. It's mine Mama."

"It is?" The little boy nodded his head again. Lilly reached out pulling him into her lap and began tickling him fiercely. He wiggled around, but not really trying to escape, he loved it when his mom played with him. When she felt he was sufficiently tickled she hugged him closer to her, resting her chin on top of his little head. "How old are you now?"

"I'm Five!" he yelled trying to catch his breath and holding up his hand with all his fingers out.

"No you can't be five, you're still my baby aren't you?" Lilly didn't have to fake the sadness in her voice. "I could swear we just brought you home from the hospital."

"No that was Grandpa." It was true. Robbie Ray had gotten in a car accident a few months ago. The only damage done was to his car but they had admitted him anyway to be on the safe side. The five of them sat around the hospital for a couple of hours before being allowed to take him home.

"Alright Mister Smarty-Pants, let's get you in the bathtub so you'll be all clean for your party."

"Oh man." He used the same tone of voice he'd heard his mother say it in many times before. "Do I havta?"

"Why do you always ask me that question when you already know the answer?" She watched as he just shrugged his shoulders with an innocent look on his face. "Yeah I don't know either. And for the record yes you have to."

They made their way to the bathroom, down the hall that housed all of RJ's stuff. Lilly filled the tub to the right temperature and depth that her son liked while he picked out the toys he wanted to play with.

Getting him settled she played with him for awhile before getting him all washed up, which he insisted on doing most of it himself. She was sad to realize soon he would be too old to need her help anymore. That day was coming up real soon.

The idea of having another baby entered her mind again. She missed the feel of holding the tiny body in her arms as she rocked him to sleep each night. She loved her son immensely. He was so much fun to be with and they enjoyed many activities together, but secretly she was now longing for a baby girl. To have another female in the house and have someone to share her more girly side with. She quickly dismissed the thought knowing now was not the time.

Pulling herself out of her thought she quickly helped RJ out of the tub. She wanted to dress him up knowing people were going to be taking several pictures and wanting him to look nice. In the end she'd nixed that idea though knowing not only would he protest but that he'd also just end up a mess anyway. He was a little boy who loved to play hard.

So instead she let him pick out his favorite blue surf shirt with his favorite cargo shorts and watched as he put them on without her help. When he was done, she put some gel in his hair getting it to spike just the way she loved seeing it.

By the time they had made it to the kitchen for breakfast Jackson was already showered and manning the stove making his Robbie Ray's famous pancakes, knowing it was RJ's favorite breakfast.

Lilly ran upstairs to shower herself, arriving back at the table just as Jackson was setting the plate full of pancakes down ready to serve. RJ being the son of Lilly and Jackson, could eat his parents to shame. He ate more than his fair share for a five year old before claiming he was full and skipped off to play video games.

The two adults went to work cleaning up the kitchen before getting everything ready for the party later this afternoon.

The hours flew by and soon people from both sides of the family and a few of RJ's friends started arriving. RJ soon took off into the corner of the living room where some of his toys rested and began playing with his friends. That's the one thing he'd mentioned he loved about living in their new house is, is he could play with his toys downstairs now.

While there weren't a ton of guests, they easily filled the downstairs of the house making it harder to move around but no one seemed to mind. Lilly tried to make the rounds and great each guest but was finding it very difficult.

"Wonderful party so far sweetie," Lilly heard from behind her. She turned around to find both of her parents standing a few feet away. "You did a wonderful job."

Reaching over she gave her mother a hug. "Thank you, Mom. I can't believe how crowded it is in here."

"It's a nice place you got here Lilly." She was surprised until she remembered her father hadn't seen it yet. Each time he had attempted to come over something came up and he never made it. "Seems your doing okay for yourself. I can't believe your boy is five already either."

Almost as if he knew he was being talked about, the little blonde devil appeared hugging his Grandpa's leg. "Grandpa T come see my room." he requested, grabbing his grandpa's hand and dragging him off.

"Guess he's going to give him the tour." Lilly sighed with relief not able to hide it from her mother very well either.

"He's trying honey."

"I know, but it's been five years. How long am I supposed to wait while he 'tries'?" She didn't let her mom answer though already knowing what she was going to say. When Lilly got pregnant her father had practically disowned her, making her leave her childhood home. It was almost a year later when he had gotten into a car accident and woke up having forgotten the previous two years.

He was apologetic at first and tried to make things right. Over time he'd gained most of his memories back. As this happened he slowly slipped back into his old self. At least now he was talking to her, but even after all this time he was having trouble coming to terms with it all. He was getting better but it was a slow process.

For the next hour people continued talking and just catching up. Some filling up plates of the lunch that was set out. Lilly called all the kids together and they played a few games. When they were finished Lilly handed a prize to each child wanting no one to feel left out. Just as she was handing one to the last child the door swung open.

"Hey where's my prize?" Lilly was stunned to see who had just walked in. She had invited him of course but didn't think he'd make it back to down in time.

"Uncy Ollie!" RJ squealed running up and pouncing on Oliver Oken who easily caught him, holding him close.

"Happy Birthday kiddo." Setting him back on his feet he gave him a knuckle sandwich before completely letting him go. Reaching down he grabbed the present he had dropped on the floor minutes before, handing it to the rambunctious five-year-old.

RJ quickly tore through the paper not caring if it was time for present's yet or not. "Wow my own basketball. Thanks Uncy Ollie," giving his substitute uncle a hug.

"Well a little birdie told me you could now beat your dad so I figured it was time you had your own ball." Oliver turned a conspiratory grin to Miley. The two had grown even closer over the years. They had tried dating around the time RJ was born but it hadn't felt right then.

Recently they had shared several long talks over the phone, and now that he was moving back to Malibu she was starting to wonder if they should give it another shot. She just had to find out if he felt the same way. It seemed like he was as reluctant to hang up as she was each time they talked but she wasn't sure.

"Well I guess RJ has decided it's time for presents now. Guess the Birthday Boy gets what he wants today." He didn't have to be told twice and quickly made short work of the wrapped packages, getting more excited with each one he opened. Wrapping paper was flying everywhere as Jackson tried to keep up throwing all the discarded shreds into a garbage sack.

He watched in amazement as the last present was wheeled into the room. It was the bike he had been eyeing in his parents' store for the last month. It would also mean he'd finally get to ride without training wheels as this one didn't come with any. "Boo-yah!"

"Oh yeah he's definitely your child," Miley said turning a smile at Lilly.

"We'll work on riding it later tonight." Jackson told his son as he relinquished the prized possession to him.

Everyone then moved to the kitchen where they sang a round of "Happy Birthday" before he blew the candles all out in one breath. The cake was quickly cut up and the ice cream dished out and before long the crowd began to thin out as everyone headed home.

Soon all there was left was Lilly, Jackson, RJ, Miley and Oliver left to clean up the mess. Robbie Ray had wanted to stay longer but had to get a meeting at the studio.

"I'm glad you made it here Oliver." Lilly said as she walked by him giving him a half hug.

"Of course, I wouldn't have missed my favorite little boy's birthday."

As they cleaned the chatted comfortably, catching up on everything. Oliver filled them in on his new job in a company that looked promising for the field of business he had studied.

They were more than half way done when RJ began to get bored. "Can we be done cleaning now? I wanna ride my new bike."

"You and Oliver go ahead and take him out, Miley and I will finish up here." Lilly told her husband.

He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, halting her from what she was doing. "You sure?"

Turning to look at him, "Yeah go ahead, it's his day. He should be enjoying it." He leaned down to give her a quick kiss before headed out. Father and son looking identical from behind as they left the room, same posture and walk."

Once everything was finished the two girls walked outside to find the men busy watching the little boy ride around in circles on the end of the street. Lilly walked over to Jackson and slipped his arms around her, holding her close as they both stared in wonder at how big their son was getting.

"Hey uh… Miley can I uh talk to you?" the both heard Oliver ask Miley nervously. She said something back, but neither of them could hear.

Lilly watched out of the corner of her eye as they walked off down the street towards the beach. "Wonder what that was about?"

"With my sister who knows." Jackson shrugged it off easily.

Going straight to bed after tucking RJ in Lilly couldn't understand why she was so tired all of a sudden. She just chalked it up to the fact that it had been a busy day and didn't worry as she fell quickly to sleep.

She woke back up before dawn and head straight into the bathroom and losing the contents of her stomach into the toilet. As she cleaned herself up, she notice her head felt a little warmer than normal. Putting a cold towel on her forehead she crawled into bed and slipped into slumber once again, knocking the cloth to the floor in the process.

The next morning she awoke to a nauseated stomach once again and found herself hunched over the toilet. After cleaning herself up she realized Jackson had already gone to work and headed downstairs where RJ was already awake and laying lazily on the couch.

He was also under a blanket shivering. Feeling his forehead she noticed he was burning up. Realizing they must have caught the same bug, she called the doctor's office and made an appointment. After calling Jackson to let him know what was going on, she led RJ out to the car and they were on their way.

After both being examined thoroughly by the doctors and a few tests run on both, the doctor sat down to talk to both of them. "It seems you both have a nasty virus that's making the rounds right now. It should be gone in the next few days or so, just remember to drink plenty of fluids and you should be fine."

"Thanks doctor."

"Mrs. Stewart there's something else." He paused glancing at RJ wondering if he should continue with RJ in the room.

She knew RJ was smart for his age, but she figured he wouldn't understand anything else he might have to say, and the look he was giving her made her even more reluctant to let her son out of her sight. So she just motioned for him to continue.

"You sure?"

"Yes tell me. What else is there?"