"Dada! Dada! Wake up, wake up!" Edward jumped excitedly on my bed. Usually I didn't have to pretend to sleep in the morning because I was up first. But not this morning. No today Edward was up and jumping at an hour any weary parent would groan in horror at. "Dada!"

Feigning a yawn, I rubbed my eyes and moaned. "Edward, it isn't even light out yet."

"No time for light dada! Up, up, up!" He tugged the covers off me and started pulling on my foot. "Up!"

Deciding I would oblige him, I jumped up quickly. He squeaked in surprise and fell off the bed. "Too fast dada." I grinned at him as he picked himself up. "Sorry buddy. Now why am I up on this very early morning, hmm?" He tilted his head, like he always did when he was thinking.

"You forgot?" He asked, wrinkling his nose at the idea. "Forgotten what?" He worried his bottom lip a bit. "Today's 'pecial dada. Tink hard." I put my fist under my chin. "Hmm, what's today? Oh yes. We are getting visitors today, no?" He smiled nodding. "More!"

"More? We're going to have visitors, and we don't have that ever day. So, are we celebrating something?"

"Yes dada, we ce…ce…havin' a party!"

"A party? Really? Oh that's good fun. What's it for? Oh wait don't tell me I'll think of it." Edward sighed in frustration. "Birfday."

"What?"

"Birfday, dada. We havin' a birfday party!"

"For who?" Poor kid looked like he was ready to smack me. "ME! My birfday! I four!"

"Four? No! How did you get so old?" He giggled. "Not old as you."

"Watch it now. I would hate to have to give all those presents back."

"Presents?"

"Of course, it is your birthday. A young man doesn't turn four everyday." He hugged my legs. "You 'membered!"

"How could I forget." I helped deliver him, I could never forget this day.

I must admit, I loved and hated this day. It was the day Edward was born, making it one of the best in my life. But with each year, I grew one step closer to losing him. He was human and I was a vampire. One way or another I would outlive him. And I feared if Edward ever found out what I was he would become scared of me and runaway.

I thought of changing him, but I knew I could never go through with it. I couldn't stand to see those brilliant green orbs turn red, I just couldn't.

"Dada, you're being slow."

"Sorry sweetheart. Would you like to open some of your presents now?"

"Yay!" I banished thoughts of losing my precious son from my mind. He was only four, I had a long time before I had to worry about it.

"Dada, can we have snails tonight?"

"Snails? Why?"

"They taste good." Slimy garden dwelling slugs with shells? Sounds lovely.

"Have you had them before?"

"Yes."

"Where?" Please don't say in the garden. "Mommy use to love them." He was smiling. He hadn't really spoken about his mother since her death. I was glad he smiled when he did, even if it involved snails. "Can we dada? Pwease?"

"Of course. Snails are considered a delicacy I suppose, and you deserve the very best, my little prince." Edward clapped his hands excitedly. 'Hooray, Snail, snails, snails! I bet this is the best party eva dada!" I picked him up in my arms and spun him around the room, delighting in his giggles. "That it will be son, that it will be."

It was a lovely party. Many of Elizabeth's and Edward Sr.'s friends came with their children. Some of my colleagues came as well. Edward had a ball. He seemed to be bursting with excitement and joy.

By the end of the day Edward was exhausted. We had been listening to Mr. Jones tell about his travels to England when Edward came over to me. I was about to excuse myself to take him up to bed, but before I could he climbed into my lap and settled himself. "Fank you dada."

"For what my little prince." I began stroking his bronze locks. "For da party. It was fun."

"Anything for you sweetheart." I kissed his head. We sat listening to the stories. I was sure Edward had fallen asleep when I heard a mumbled. "I love you dada." I just about burst with happiness. "I love you too, my son."