"Hey Daddy? I got something in the mail today that's different." I called out as I came in the door. My head was down, staring at the big white envelope with fancy writing scrawled across it. My address had never looked so impressive, not on any of the bills that had come before. I handed it over to him so I could take my jacket off in the front entryway.

"Huh. Well, let's see what it is." He tore the flap open and pulled out a stiff card with scrawling gold script across it. I leaned over to try and read it. All I could make out was invited, Gala, and some location information. I guess it was a fancy dress type thing like my parents used to go to. Edmund chuckled and tossed it on the table in the bedroom before helping me to get into my pajamas.

"Do you think we should go to the fancy party Daddy?" I asked in a mumble as he pulled my shirt over my head. He shrugged and smoothed my hair down for me.

"It's up to you baby. It looks like your company is one of the sponsors, so that must be why they invited you. Perhaps they were just impressed with your work and wanted to reward you?" Edmund let me climb up into his arms and carried me carefully down the hall to the living room. I slid down and crawled onto the couch where I had left my teddy.

"Will it be long before dinner Daddy?" I asked as I flopped onto my back and looked over the arm backwards. He shook his head with a grin. I yawned a bit and snuggled down with my eyes closed to relax until he called me.

"Brendan, wake up my prince." I heard the gentle voice in my ear and stirred. Didn't I just close my eyes? That was really fast. I blinked up at him and he grinned at me.

"Dinner ready?" I asked groggily. He nodded. "That was quick." He chuckled at me and I frowned up at him.

"Baby you took a nap. It's been a half hour." He replied. I was surprised at that and glanced at the clock on the wall to confirm it. He was right. I raised my brows and went to the toilet to pee and wash my hands. Daddy was serving my plate when I came in the kitchen and I thanked him before sitting down.

"Bless our family, bless our friends, bless those we may never meet. Give them love, give them understanding, give them enough food to eat." I held my head down respectfully and nodded, saying 'amen' at the end like Daddy had taught me before putting my napkin on my lap to dig in.

The food was delicious as usual. I was happy to munch away while Daddy told me about his day at work. I giggled when I heard about the mix up that day at the mail room. Edmund was so expressive as he told me the story, his eyes lit up and his arms gesturing. It was so exhilarating to me, seeing how much fun he had at work that day and knowing that he was happy.

I was so content as we ate our meal and I looked forward to cuddling up tonight to watch our movie together. I might even get some popcorn later for a snack with our show. When we were both done, he shooed me out to the living room again while he cleaned up. I waited patiently for him with my teddy on the couch. It didn't take long.

He went over to the tv stand and I watched him fiddle with a dvd, surprised that we were watching a movie that way. He grinned at me and I saw the beginning start up with excitement. It was a Disney movie I had wanted to see for awhile and I bounced on the couch excitedly. Edmund chuckled and sat next to me with his arm wrapped across the back of the couch comfortably.

I giggled, I cried, I got excited. All the things the best movies bring us. I got up to pee part way through and Daddy made me popcorn. I told him I wanted a pet fish and he argued with me that I wouldn't take care of it, he would, so I wasn't allowed to have one. I pouted and squirmed. I relented and decided that I shouldn't get one after all when I saw the part with the fish tank.

"I shall call him squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my squishy." I giggled at my teddy as Edmund tried to get my excited butt to bed. I was being incorrigible and he was being patient with me anyways. It was a fun night and it took me a long time to settle down before going to bed.

*

I was uncomfortable in my tuxedo. Edmund said I looked dashing and I complained that I was too hot. He had been convinced to go and get himself a tuxedo as well, and I sent him to a very good designer to have it made. He had complained about the cost, but I reminded him that he only ever needed the one and it should be quality so it would last a long time. He finally relented and I thought he looked amazing.

We took my car because it was that kind of an event and the valet looked impressed when we stepped out onto the red carpet to head inside. I saw a few flashes out of the corner of my eye and made sure to be smiling widely for both my company and my date's sake. I refused to let them swing any bad press our way because I couldn't fake a good smile.

I hardly knew anyone and a bunch of them knew me. It was more about my name and family though and I hardly paid attention as they reminisced about a past that I had found torturous and hateful. My bosses were indeed there and spoke very highly of me. That was kind of nice, and it appeared that Edmund was right about them treating this as a sort of reward for a job well done.

I got a hold of a glass of Champagne and I giggled quietly when the bubbles tickled my nose as I drank. Edmund told me not to have too much, but I really thought it was tasty when I had the cocktail one the man in the waiter's uniform brought around on his tray. A woman grinned and told me it was made with sugar and brandy. I grinned back and told her I was really in it for the cherries at the bottom.

We got along great after that, chatting until we were told to sit down for dinner. At that point my head was starting to swim slightly and Edmund was looking at me concerned. I told him about the cocktails and the little crackers they were coming around with while he was chatting with someone from the office building we worked at.

"You do know that the little bubbles you are talking about are fish eggs, right?" He looked at me with concern when my face paled.

"Oh my god. Daddy, are they eating Nemo's brothers? I... I can't believe people actually do that!" I stared at him with tears starting to form in my eyes.

"Jesus Brendan, pull yourself together. Now is not the time for this." He breathed into my ear harshly. I started to hyperventilate as I thought about all those people eating the little crackers. They were killing baby fishes! I was surrounded by fish baby murderers. Those bastards!

"But Daddy they killed all those fish babies..." I whined quietly into his ear. He rolled his eyes at me and looked at me like I was stupid.

"Idiot. Those aren't fertilized eggs like in Finding Nemo, they are like the chicken eggs with no chance of being babies." He explained to me in a whisper as the salads were distributed on the tables. I sighed in relief but was still kind of grossed out. I poked at my salad and thought about how weird these dinners were. I wanted another cocktail, but all they had on the tables was gross wine.

"I don't like blueberries." I mumbled as I pushed them off the salad. I mean really, who puts blueberries on salads?

"Brendan, are you drunk?" Daddy hissed into my ear. My eyes widened and I tried to deny it. My head shook back and forth but I felt it swimming a little and giggled really quietly. Then I changed my mind and sheepishly nodded a little.

"Sorry! The cocktails were really yummy. I will be quiet and pretend I am not. Okay?" I blinked up at him innocently and he just shook his head at me.

"Eat your dinner, that should help. Then we are leaving. Understood? And no more alcohol for you." I nodded as he took my wine glass away from me and handed me extra water. Nobody was really paying attention to us anyways, so I didn't see what the big deal was. When my lobster dish arrived, I snorted a little and Edmund glared at me.

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." I sang under my breath. He looked a little bit amused but was trying hard to ignore me. I picked up a claw and turned to him. "Eat me! Eat me!" He finally broke down and snorted in laughter, pushing my hand down so others wouldn't see.

"Is something wrong?" A man on the other side of him asked Edmund.

"He is just having troubles getting into the claw. I'll give him a hand." He explained quietly. He took the claw from me while a warning glare and I grinned as he cracked it open for me. Yum. It was good when you put it into the butter container and let it sit for a bit before eating it. Edmund said I was going to get a heart attack eating it like that. I shrugged. Who cares. It was tasty like that.

"I'm tired. Can we go yet?" I whispered to him. He shook his head and pointed to my vegetables still left on the plate. Man, I hoped he wouldn't notice I didn't eat those. I wanted to go home and watch cartoons. I was swinging my leg into his under the table and he growled at me after about the twelfth time I hit him with my fancy shoes.

"They have dessert coming soon, can you behave a little longer please?" He whispered to me. I smiled and nodded. I sat up a little and tried to eat the boring boiled vegetables with weird spices. It wasn't as good as what Edmund makes though. I told him that and he grinned at me a bit. "Thanks baby." He whispered.

They cleared our dishes and brought out carts of desserts. I wasn't sure if they were even worth eating my vegetables for. I asked the waiter which one was the sweetest and he gave me a white and brown layered mousse cup with raspberries on top. Edmund took the red velvet cake slice, and told me the icing was actually a bitter dark chocolate with those orange curls making it look pretty.

Mine wasn't terrible, but I was full and tired of being there. I wanted to go home and get in my pajamas. I fidgeted as the speakers droned on at the front of the room and we clapped unenthusiastically at the various things the other cheered for. I didn't really know what this was all about, and I didn't care. It was free food and that was about it.

It was with a sense of relief that the music started up and the dancing was announced. Edmund and I would not be expected to stick around for that. I was sure that they would be scandalized if we went up together to dance with all the old fashioned people like my parents here. Edmund asked me if I wanted to go and I told him I was ready when he was. We made our way towards the door.

"Brendan, darling, would you have a dance with my daughter? Your friend wouldn't mind a quick dance would he?" I turned incredulously to the older woman who looked at me expectantly. Edmund put an arm around my waist and stared down the surprised old woman.

"I am sorry madam, but his boyfriend does mind. We were just leaving." He said decisively. I smiled up at him lovingly and relieved. I couldn't have put it better myself.

"Yes, let's go love." I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the valet stand to request our car. The tag was handed over and the keys given back into my lover's care as he slid into the driver's seat. A flash went off as I leaned over to kiss him and we drove away before the first song was over. It was alright though. I never did like dancing.