"Avery, you're making things harder for Callie and I," Derek said from the third row

"And how did I do that?" Jackson asked from the driver's seat of the minivan

"We're going to have to top Disneyland" Callie answered, "What tops Disneyland?"

"Good point" Jackson acknowledged with a chuckle

It was the Friday before Lydia's birthday, and the crew were off to Disneyland. With his daughter having some struggles in school, he thought she should at least enjoy her birthday and decided to give her what she had asked for. So here they were, in a minivan, on their way to Disneyland. The parents thought it would be fun to drive there, wanting the kids to see the scenery. But it was late, and the four kids were now asleep. Derek was at the back with Zola and Bailey, struggling to adjust his son's creative sleeping positions. Callie was in the second row with Sophia and Lydia asleep on either side of her. April was in the passenger seat, fighting sleep herself.

"Who would have thought that my daughter and I would be going to Disneyland for the first time together," April said

"Same here" Derek added

"Wait, you guys haven't been to Disneyland before?" Callie asked, "Or Disneyworld?"

"Nope" April answered

"I've been there so many times" Callie added

"Me too," Jackson said "I've lost count of how many times I've been there"

"Rich brats" Derek coughed

Callie rolled her eyes at him "Oh shut up"

April chuckled at the to "Well Dr. Shepherd, at least we get to experience it with our kids"

And what an experience it was going to be. Jackson and April had gone all out for Lydia and they couldn't wait to see her reaction when she found out what activities they had planned out for the day.

________

Lydia held on to her mother's hand as they walked through the crowded streets of Disneyland.

"Where are we going mommy?" she asked for the hundredth time that morning

"I already told you, Lydia, it's a surprise" her mother answered

"Well can we hurry up and get to the surprise," the little girl said pulling her mother quickly through the crowd

Because of their early sleep on their drive there, the kids were up bright and early, much to their parents' dismay. The question of where they were going was quickly and often brought up, but the answer was always the same. "It's a surprise". Once they were all ready, and the mickey mouse pancakes devoured, they left the hotel.

Another ten minutes of walking and they finally arrived at their destination. Lydia, Zola and Sophia's eyes widened at the bright pretty sign hanging above their heads.

"Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique" Zola read out loud

"Are princesses in there?" Lydia asked

"No, there are no princesses in there" April answered causing the girls to frown "But when you're in there you can dress up like a princess!"

Their big childish eyes were now wide again.

"Really?" Sophia asked

"Uh huh" April answered "And once you're all dressed up, then we get to go see the princesses"

The girls squealed in excitement, but Bailey's groan could be heard through it all.

"I don't want to go in there," he said loudly

"Why not buddy?" Derek asked looking down at him

"I don't want to dress up like a princess" he answered with a frown

"It's ok Bailey, you don't have to dress up like a princess," April said turning to him "But wouldn't you want to dress up like a knight?"

"A knight?" he asked

"Mhm" April answered, exaggerating the excitement on her face

Bailey stood there with his brows raised, contemplating the idea.

"Do I get a sword?" the little boy asked

"Yes," the redhead answered, "And a shield!"

The young boy's face lit up at that.

"Let's go!" he said pulling his father towards the boutique door

They entered the building and was hit with the squeals and laughter of little girls, they were greeted by one of the "fairy godmother's in training" who explain the happenings of the boutique. Jackson had bought the most expensive package for his daughter and her friends, the "Castle package". This meant the girls got to chose dresses hairstyles, crowns, makeup, etc. Lydia's eyes widened at all the things she could have, and couldn't wait to get started.

After a few hours of hair combing, dress picking, blinding sparkles and tons of pictures from the mothers, the girl walked out dressed as their favourite princesses. Sophia as Princess Jasmine, Zola as Princess Tiana and Lydia as Belle. It took the birthday girl a while to choose her princess. Ariel was the first pick, but the dress wasn't puffy enough for her. Aurora was her second pick, but she was not feeling the shoulders of the dress. She eventually settled with Belle.

After their "professional" photo shoot, the group headed to the "Royal Hall" to meet the princesses and other characters. The Evil Queen was there, and the girls were not very keen on taking a picture with her. Bailey had no problem and gladly took a picture with her. The fairy godmother was also there, and the girls had no problems taking a picture and talking to her. But they were getting impatient because they hadn't seen any princesses so far. But they soon got their wish and screamed their lungs out when they met both Belle and Ariel. They took pictures and talked to the princess, Lydia doing a little too much talking.

Their time at the Royal Hall came to an end. And though they had a wonderful time, the kids didn't want to leave.

"Do we have to go? Can't we go back inside?" Lydia asked as they exited, tightly holding on to the takeaways

"No sweetie, we can't" April answered "All the other kids have to get their chance to meet the princesses"

"So what do we do now?" she asked

"Please don't let it be more princess stuff" Derek pleaded

He and Jackson could handle their daughters and their obsessions. They dealt with it on a daily basis. But being surrounded by little girls who were just like them was a different story. At least they got to see other fathers going through the same thing. They were all sending each other apologetic, understanding looks.

"Sorry Derek," Jackson said to his fellow surgeon

"What do you mean sorry?" he asked

Derek got his answer when a few minutes later they were in line for a tour of Sleeping Beauty's castle.

"Really Avery?" Derek asked

"I wanted to go all out" he answered "See how happy they are" he added pointing to Lydia and the girls who couldn't seem to stand still

The walk through the castle was an amazing experience, especially for the girls. Even Derek had to admit it wasn't that bad. He was rather grateful for the lack of screaming girls.

"Where do we go now?" Lydia asked as the group walked away from the castle

There was a final surprise for the birthday celebration, but they had some time before that started.

"Now, we go on rides" Jackson informed

The kids cheered and Derek released a sigh of relief.

"Finally, some cool stuff," he said

"I'm not gonna lie, I was getting tired of all the girly princess stuff" Callie confessed

"We all were" Jackson added

"We better go on some grown-up rides cause I'm not sitting in a teacup!" Derek stressed

"Me either" Jackson chorused as April lead the way to the closest rides

________

Stone cold looks were on fathers' faces as they sat in the spinning teacup. Their daughters' faces, however, were filled with grins.

"Why are we here?" Jackson asked as he held onto the handles in the centre of the cup

"Because we're cowards who can't say no to our daughters" Derek answered

They had already been on the Flying Dumbo ride and the carousel, and the men claimed they were done with the kid rides. But the pouty lips and puppy dog eyes were pulled out and they couldn't say no. So now they found themselves sitting in a colourful spinning teacup with their screaming daughters. April and Callie were in another teacup with Sophia and Bailey. The mothers seemed to be having more fun than they were.

Some minutes later they were off the ride and figuring out where they should go next.

"I saw this cute roller coaster earlier, we should go there next" Callie suggested

"Yes!" April agreed "Looks like something the kids would enjoy"

"Can we opt out on this one?" Jackson asked

"Yeah, I don't think I can deal with more kiddie rides" Derek added

"So what are you going to do? Just stand there and watch us?" Callie asked

"We'll find some rides to do on" Jackson answered

"Some grown-up rides" Derek added "That doesn't have cute music playing in the background"

Jackson gave April a pleading look, copying his daughter's actions from earlier. It didn't always work with April, but it didn't hurt to try.

"Fine, you guys can go" she finally answered, "Just meet us at our next stop by six thirty Ok?"

"Yes ma'am" the two men answered

"Can I come too, daddy?" Bailey asked

"No, you can't buddy. The rides may be too scary for you" Derek said stooping down to his son's level "You'll have to stay here with April and Callie, ok?"

"Ok" he answered with a frown

"And the both of you..." he added getting up and point to his daughter "...be good"

The Shepherd kids nodded.

"See you later munchkin!" Jackson said as they walked away from the group

"Bye, daddy!" Lydia said before eagerly turning to her mother, waiting for her to lead the way

Jackson frowned, his daughter didn't seem to care he was leaving. He turned to Derek when he felt a pat on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Avery, it happens" he said, remembering when the same happens with his daughter "Sometimes Zola doesn't even see me"

"Does it get better?"

"Nope" Derek honestly answered "It gets worse"

Jackson groaned at the answer

"I heard it's even worse when they're teenagers" his friend added

"I don't want to think that far ahead"

The thought of their daughters as teenagers wasn't something they liked to think of often.

"So, where do we go?" Jackson asked, quick to get the thought out of his mind

Derek smiled "I know exactly the place"

________

It was getting late, and the women stood with the children waiting for the men to show up. They had to meet up with them thirty minutes ago, but they hadn't shown up yet

"Where's daddy?" Lydia asked

"I don't know sweetie" April answered

"Are they lost?" Zola asked

"Maybe" Callie answered

April's phone rang, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw who it was.

"Where are you guys?" she asked answering the phone

"We had a little issue," Jackson said on the other end "We'll be there in a few minutes"

"Ok, hurry up"

"Was that them?" Callie asked once April hung up

"Yeah, they're on their way"

True to their word, Jackson and Derek showed up a few minutes later. The later didn't look too good as he held a barf bag in his hands.

"What happened to you?" April asked

"Turns out the grown-up rides weren't just too scary for Bailey" Jackson smirked

"Derek," Callie said in disappointment

"Too many spins" was all he said

"Let's hurry up before we miss it," April said hurrying everyone along

"Miss what mommy?" Lydia asked

"You'll see"

________

Lydia's eyes were wide in amazement as she sat on her father's shoulders staring at the fireworks.

"It's so pretty," she said

"I know" her mother smiled up at her

"This is the best birthday ever!" the little girl screamed raising her hands in the air

Jackson smiled, making sure to hold on tightly to her feet. It certainly felt good to hear her say that. Now he knew all that money he spent didn't go to waste.

"Thank you for bringing us here mommy," Lydia said smiling at her mother

"You're welcome sweetie" April answered "But your dad is the one who paid for all of this, so you should thank him too"

"Thank you, daddy, for the best birthday in the world!" she said wrapping her small hands around his head, blocking his eyes

"You're welcome munchkin" he chuckled "Now move your arms so daddy can see"

________

And there you have it guys, chapter 27! Today is my birthday, so I thought I'd give you guys a little filler about Lydia's birthday. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Don't forget to comment and/or vote.

With school starting soon, I have no idea if i'll have the time to post new chapters. So if it takes a loooong time for another chapter to be posted from now on, just know that I'm in bust trying to get good grades.

So, until next time...whenever that is.