I'm afraid that I shall be off on my summer holidays at the end of this week (hope the sun shines). So seven more days of story with lots of twists and turns and then a break until Monday June 9th. I hope you can bear it!

Thank you for those of you still sticking with this tale and yes wonderful reviewers, I'm missing Bianca too (but it will be worth the wait).

SPOILERS – this week – Jackson has a pleasant surprise, Jesse and Krystal's date is interrupted, and David makes a break through.

…

Jackson awoke and was surprised to find Erica already gone. He had stayed the night at her Penthouse; she had been keeping him close after Bianca's complications and her feud with Kendal. Erica was normally a person to enjoy a leisurely morning and she hadn't spoken of any early meetings so where was she? Had there been news of Bianca… No, she would have woken him!

Jackson stretched and got up to grab himself a coffee, he could hear the rest of the household downstairs, already up. Maybe Reggie would know where Erica had gone.

He came down the staircase to find, Erica, Reggie and Camilla with little Ayesha on her hip, standing around a breakfast spread fit for a king.

"Happy Birthday!" they cried as one.

Jackson couldn't hide his astonishment.

Erica came forward with a wide smile and pulled him down for a tender kiss.

"Did you think I'd forgotten?" she asked.

Jackson had a broad grin on his face to mask his surprise.

"You might not have, but I did." He admitted. "It's my birthday!"

"Well Happy Birthday," said Camilla kissing his cheek. "Dare I ask how old you are?"

"You can ask but he won't tell you." said Reggie coming forward to give his dad a hug.

"How vain do you take me for?" asked Jackson jokingly, "Of course I'll tell you… I'm as old as my tongue and slightly older than my teeth."

"Cute." said Reggie slapping his father jovially on the back.

Jackson examined the breakfast spread, there were pastries and croissants, pancakes, bacon and eggs…

"Is all this for me?" he asked.

"It's just the start." said Erica inviting him to take a seat as they all settled down for a family breakfast, "We are having your real party this evening at Confusion."

Reggie pulled a parcel out from under the table, badly wrapped in blue and green paper.

"Here is your first present." He said.

"You will have to wait until this evening for mine." added Erica.

Jack nodded and eagerly opened the parcel.

"For the man who has everything." said Reggie as introduction.

Jackson laughed in delight.

Inside the parcel was a sea captain's cap, a wind-up toy boat and a mug with the message 'Retired Pirate'.

"Perfect." He said, leaning across the table to give his son a hug. "Thank you."

Jackson turned to Erica.

"And thank you for this wonderful breakfast." He said, kissing her lips. Erica smiled back indulgently.

"And thank you too." He added to Camilla, aware that she would have done most of the cooking. "You too sweetie!" He couldn't forget little Ayesha who looked very excited by the whole thing.

"Can I sing it yet?" Ayesha asked throwing her little arms up in the air.

"Yes you can." said Reggie.

Ayesha took a deep breath and sang 'Happy Birthday to you' only she sang the '…Went to the Zoo' version.

"You think I look like a big monkey, do yoo… ooo…oou?" asked Jackson, making monkey noises as he pulled a face and scratched himself under the arm. Ayesha giggled with delight.

"Well, shall we eat?" asked Erica, aware that breakfast was getting cold.

"Dig in." agreed Camilla.

Jackson turned back to the table and rubbed his hands together eagerly as he took in the array of food.

"It all looks delicious… but where to start?"

Breakfast drifted into friendly family banter. For someone who had forgotten it was even his birthday, Jackson decided this was certainly the best way to start the day.

…