For notes and disclaimer, please see part one. This one is unbeta'ed... Kinda ran out of time. Apologies!

Additionally, this is officially one of the longest stories, both time-wise and chapter-wise I have ever written. And I cannot believe it began a year ago as an adopted plot bunny from my dear friend Cindy Ryan. We've come a long way, baby!

I never cease to be amazed by the response to this story. Your enthusiasm for it, even nearly 50 chapters in, is incredible and humbling. I cannot thank you all enough. Happy anniversary to all of you, to those who have been with me from the start, and to those who've been picked up along the way. With love and a grateful heart, ~K

Here's a couple things you might need to know or maybe you just forgot: Alex dreams of a relationship like her father has with Ellie. Morgan tries to learn some pointers by shadowing the Colonel.

Anniversary

She straightened the cake plate on the table, nervous for reasons she couldn't discern. Streamers had been stretched all across the ceiling and over doorways. Some had even been woven into a runner for the coffee table, with the ends tied into knots for the day's celebrant. As expected, birthday cat Downy was intrigued by the rose and cream-colored crepe, batting at each of them in turn.

Casey, sensing Ellie's apprehension, tried to reassure her. "Everything looks great."

She wanted to believe him, but she still felt that there was something off, something amiss.

"What is it?" he pressed.

She shrugged. "It's like I'm forgetting something."

He wasn't sure how. The lunch buffet looked amazing, from the tiny tuna sandwiches to Ellie's famous seven layer dip. There was enough food waiting to feed an army. Convinced it was just her normal Bartowski jitters, he reached out, catching her arm and pulling her away from her spread. "I can't imagine you've forgotten anything. Ellie. It's perfect."

She smiled up at him a little.

When the doorbell rang, Downy scampered out from beneath her new "toy" table to see who had come to visit.

Casey smirked. "It's like she knows the party is for her."

"She always has been a smart cat," Ellie said, opening the front door. Instead of seeing who was on the other side, all she could see was a gigantic scratching post covered in gray carpeting. "Oh, my goodness!"

"Think she'll like it?" Chuck asked, peeking out from behind the post. "I mean, c'mon. It's not every day your cat-niece turns one. Y'know. Only the best for Downy."

Casey took the post, which clearly Chuck had issues in carrying for its awkward size and weight.

"Thanks, buddy," he said before welcoming the hug from his sister.

"I'm certain that she'll love it," Ellie assured him before embracing Sarah, too.

As soon as Casey set it down in the corner of the living room, Downy went to check it out.

"Lookie there!" Chuck said, pleased.

"Nice job, Walker," Casey said approvingly.

"I..." Chuck couldn't say that he'd selected it, because he hadn't. "I helped pick the color..."

Casey and Sarah shared a smirk as Morgan and Alex entered, too.

"So glad you could join us, too," Ellie said, giving Alex a hug before accepting the gift thrust at her from Morgan. It was wrapped rather poorly in a paper bag from the Pets R Us store at the mall.

"Wouldn't have missed it," Alex promised.

Lunch was a fun affair, with plenty of tasty treats for both the humans and for Downy. While the human cake was a delicious marbled layer cake, the one for the birthday girl was molded from wet cat food, topped with Downy's favorite treats.

After eating, Casey sat on a chair, and Ellie lingered on the arm of it, while the others piled onto the couch. Downy delighted in making rounds through the living room, visiting all of her guests.

Morgan cleared his throat, nodding at the brown paper package on the coffee table. "Aren't you gonna, y'know, open presents?"

Downy seemed less interested in the gift and far more interested in the attention that Alex was giving her. The cat purred loudly, enjoying the light scratches on her chin.

"Go for it," Casey said to Ellie quietly.

Morgan gleefully nudged it toward her.

As Ellie opened it, she wondered if Downy would ever really have a need or use for it, but it was certainly thoughtful on Morgan's part. She was rather proud of Casey, considering he didn't chortle as she pulled it from the wrapping.

"It's a cat Snuggie!" Morgan said excited. "And, it even comes in Buy More green! Like owner, like pet, 'ey, big guy?"

"I have never seen one of these for a cat," Casey said, looking at the... delightful... item.

Morgan grinned broadly. "I know, right?"

Ellie sat it on the coffee table. "Thank you, Morgan. Thanks everyone for-"

"I'm sorry, Ellie, but there is one other present."

The doctor turned to Alex. "You didn't have to..."

"Well, I didn't, not for Downy. It's more for the two of you," she said, looking from Ellie to her father.

Ellie glanced at Casey, but it was clear he was just as surprised.

Alex held out the flat package, wrapped in brightly colored polka dot paper. Inside was a scrapbook. The cover itself was black fabric with an embroidered set of paw prints across the front in a sandy color.

"Looks like my Crown Vic after a rainstorm, if Downy gets out," Casey commented, getting a laugh from the group.

Alex watched nervously as Ellie reverently turned the pages. They were filled with photographs taken from a very low angle. Some were of Downy by herself, others were of Downy watching the people around her, identifiable only by their shoes, from Chuck's familiar high tops to Sarah's black boots and Morgan's green sneakers. There were a few of Downy atop the washing machines in the laundry room, under the folding chairs, on the windowsill or in the shelf where she'd called home for months. Ellie laughed when she saw the photo of Downy in the laundry basket, looking ready to pounce.

Casey held Ellie closer, though, when they found the last page.

On a sepia-toned background, surrounded by what looked like a theater curtain was the photo from Morgan and Chucks' Grand Theft Auto Matchbox car camera from Ellie and Casey's belated Valentine celebration. The caption in Alex's careful script relayed the sentiment they all felt about each other.

"I may not have been on time, or at the right time, but my time begins and ends with you, my family. Those are the best times, the times I'm happiest and safest, when we're all together."

It was signed: "With love, Downy and Alex."

Ellie was moved to tears. Handing the book to Casey, she pulled Alex into a hug. "So glad that you're my family," Ellie whispered.

Alex squeezed the hug tighter. "Me, too, Ellie. Me, too."

When Ellie pulled back and saw Casey, when she felt his warm hand on her shoulder, she realized what it was she'd forgotten. Not only was it Downy's birthday, it was the anniversary of the tipping point, of what would make her life forever different. A year ago, on a rainy Sunday, everything had changed.

Stay tuned...