*Azami*

I smiled as I stared at my sleeping son. He was just the most adorable thing in entire world when asleep, especially in his tiger onesie.

It was hard to believe that he was three today. Time sure went by fast.

I turned away slowly. Unfortunately, I hadn't been around to witness him growing up. My job took up too much of my time.

I sighed. I had to find a way to make it up to him and Selena.

"Seeing our cub sleep?" Selena asked as she came up to me.

I snickered as I closed the door behind me. "I was going to wake him up, but seems he's still asleep."

My wife giggled. "Seems he's as much of a sleepyhead as his uncle Shi."

She grabbed my hand. "At least it gives us time to prepare today's big surprise."

I smiled. "Yeah."

Suddenly, a yawn echoed throughout the room. Little Serra rubbed his eyes as he turned his head to look at us. "Papa, Mama? Is it morning yet?"

I laughed. "Seems we spoke too soon," I whispered.

She chuckled. "Yeah." She took a step forward but I blocked her.

"I'll distract him while you prepare everything."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you forgetting that I can't cook to save my life?"

I laughed. "Hey, at least you can make toast. Not that that really counts as cooking. I guess that Serra will be playing with 'Doggo' today."

Selena nodded. "Yup!"

I lowered my eyes. Though, it would've been good if I could spend some time with him on this special day to make up for the time lost.

"Hmm," Selena said as she walked over to Serrano. "Hey, Serra, want to help your Papa cook?"

"Huh?" I said.

He smiled. "Yeah!" he said, swinging his arms into the air.

Selena picked him up and smiled at me. "Let's go and help Papa then."

"Wait, you're helping too?"

She nodded. "Yup. I can at least wash stuff and get the ingredients."

"True." I grinned. "Alright, let's do this!"

***

"First thing you do when you're in the kitchen is wash your hands," I said, staring at Serrano who I had put on a stool.

"I get it," he said, smiling as he covered his hands in foamy bubbles. He giggled as one wondered off and landed on his nose.

"Aww, he's so cute!" Selena said, flashing a picture of our son.

"Where did you get that camera from?" I asked.

"I always keep it on me. Remember, I used to be a fan girl!"

I laughed. "In a way, you're scarier than the paparazzi." I put a hand on my hip. "Also, what do you mean by you 'used to be a fan girl'? You still are one."

She giggled. "I guess I am." She took more pictures of Serra as he he turned to look at us with a confused expression on his face.

"Now that our hands are washed, let's start making the batter for the brownie-cookies," I said as I dried my hands.

"Cookies?" Serrano said, drooling a little.

"Yup! We're making a special kind of cookie! It's a mix of cookies and brownies," I said, winking.

"Yummy," he said, touching his stomach.

I laughed. "I'm sure you'll love it!"

"Well, the stuff's ready," Selena said, pointing to all of the utensils that were on the counter at the center of the kitchen.

How does she move so fast?

I picked up Serrano and sat him down on another stool. Slowly, I went over the directions of how to make the brownie-cookies. I also made sure to emphasize how much of each thing was needed. Sure he was a kid, but he was a bright one.

As soon as we finished with the mix, we put them into the oven.

"There we go! Now how about we go outside and barbecue some meat?"

"Meat!" Serrano said, raising his hands.

I glanced at my wife who was the one drooling this time.

I laughed. "You got a little something there," I said, pointing at my own lips.

Selena's face reddened. She wiped away the drool and turned around quickly. Moments like this were when her cute side came out.

I picked up Serrano and put him on my shoulders. "Off we go!" I said, running off.

The toddler cheered as we ran off.

As I roasted the meat on our grill, a doggy appeared to play with Serrano.

"Oh, hey there Doggo," I said, kneeling to pat her on the head. "Take good care of Serra, okay?"

The dog licked my face.

I laughed. "I take that as a yes."

"Doggo," Serrano said, hugging the dog. He raised his head and looked around for his mom. "Mommy gone again. I want to show Doggo."

"I'm sure your mom has met Doggo before. Right, Doggo?" I asked, winking.

The dog barked as she happily wagged her tail.

Of course she knew Selena, she was Selena in her animal form.

I smiled as I watched my son run off with his mother. If only everyday could be like this, free from the stress of having to appeal to the expectations of complete strangers.

"Hey, Azami!" a voice called out.

I turned around and saw my cousin Anis and her family.

"Oh, hey Anis!" I said, smiling. "You made it here rather early."

"Yeah, we thought we could help with the preparations," my brother-in-law said. He stared at Doggo and Serrano. "Wait, is that..."

I put a finger over my lips. "Don't say it. It's a secret!"

"What secret?" Anis' only daughter asked as she looked up at us with her big brown eyes. She reminded me of Selena when she was younger.

"One you'll need to find out," I said, smiling.

Teresa pouted. "I see. Then I'll figure it out!"

"Doggy!" her younger brother said as he rushed over to Doggo.

Serrano turned around and ran off as his cousin rushed toward them. For some reason, he was afraid of the kid.

"Come back, Tetsu!" Takuya yelled, running after his kid brother.

Teresa giggled as she ran off after her brothers.

***

The kids returned, completely tired out by the time the food was done.

"I can't run no more," Serrano said, plopping to the grassy floor.

Tetsuya yawned as he sat down on the grass. For a plump kid, he sure had a lot of energy. It was easy to see how he was related to Serena. Doggo didn't seem to have broken a sweat at all.

"Food is ready," I said as I put down some roasted potatoes I had covered in aluminum foil and put over the grill.

"Potatoes," Takuya said, smiling.

"I hope that we aren't late," a voice called out. I turned and saw my mother-in-law. Accompanying her were Serena's other siblings.

"Woolsey!" Takuya said, waving at the youngest of Serena's siblings.

"Taku! Ready for a rematch?" he asked.

"Do ya only think about fightin'?" Taku asked.

Woolsey spun his arm around. "I got to get stronger! Challenging others is the only way to do it."

"If your uncle keeps challenging you, it probably means you're strong," Rocio said, smiling slightly.

Takuya blushed. "I'm strong?"

"Of course you are," Anis said, patting her son's head.

He grinned. "Then my hard work is payin' off!"

"I bet it is," I said as I sat down at the large picnic table I had set up outside. "Feel free to serve yourselves anything you'll like. We got plenty."

"Don't mind if I do!" Skah said as he went in for a pair of grilled corn cobs.

***

The kids ended up playing the rest of the day until the sun began to set. Even Tetsuya had fallen asleep and had to be carried away by his father at the end of it all.

"See ya! Hope to see you at Tetsu's party in a few months!" Anis yelled as she waved good-bye.

"I'll try to see if I can attend!" I yelled back at my cousin.

Serena sighed. "They're gone now..."

"You're lonely?" I asked, glancing at her.

She hugged our sleeping son. "A little. You'll be going back on tour soon." She laughed. "It's kind of ironic. In the past, I always liked whenever you were on tour, but now that we're married..."

I reached a hand out and stroked her face. "I understand. But it's my job. I'm not only a father or husband, I also uphold the dreams of many others."

She nodded. "I know. I was like them too, back in the day."

I patted her head. "Yeah, and now you want to monopolize me," I said, grinning.

Her face reddened.

I stared at our sleeping son. "Tell you what, tomorrow, we can go out on a trip. We should make the best of the time we have together."

Serena's face beamed. "I would love that!" she said, jumping up and down.

"Now, now, fan girl. It's time to go put the birthday boy to bed."

"Papa? Mama?" Serrano said, opening his beady little eyes.

"What's wrong, Serra?" Serena asked.

"Thanks!" he mumbled. On his lips was a slight smile.

I chuckled. "I think he liked his birthday."

"Maybe we should start planning his next birthday."

"True. Wonder if he'll have any new cousins by then," I said as we started to make our way back to the house.

"Maybe. I hope that they get along with him as well as Shi's kids do."

"I'm sure they will. Hmm, I should introduce him to my niece," I said as we entered the house and starting making our way to Serrano's room.

"Setsuko? I heard she's headstrong."

I laughed. "Yeah. That's what my brother told me too. Wonder if Serra will like her."

Serena laughed nervously. "I get a feeling that she'll be another Tetsu to him."

"Stop chasing me, Tetsu," Serra mumbled in his sleep.

The two of us burst into laughter.

Serrano opened his eyes and smiled. "What's so funny?"

I poked his nose. "You, little tiger!"

He gave me a confused look. "Me?"

"Yup. You and your sleep talking."

Serrano tilted his head. "I sleep talk?"

Serena snuggled the boy. "Yup, but that's fine by me! Makes it easier to know what you're thinking or dreaming about."

Serrano blinked. "Okay..."

I laughed. "Don't overthink things, sport!" I said, ruffling his hair. "Look, we made it to your room."

Serra hugged his mom and shook his head. "I want to stay up longer and play with Daddy and Mommy!"

"Aww!" Serena squealed. "So cute! Of course you can stay up and play!"

"You should get some sleep. Tomorrow we can play. I plan to take you to see what lies outside this village."

Serrano's eyes sparkled. "Okay, I sleep!" he said.

Serena pouted. "Fine," she said, putting him down into his bed.

I picked up his blankets and tucked him in. "Sleep tight, little tiger," I whispered as he drifted back into dreamland. "Happy third birthday, Serra."

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^_^. This will likely be the last birthday-based special in this book. Any thoughts on Serra's family?**