"Philip!" Alexander called from downstairs, sitting in front of the pile of birthday invitations. He had bright coloured pens and many different little lollies to put inside. He waited for his son to come running down the stairs and sit beside him before pulling him close. Wrapping an arm around the boy as he twitched and looked up with a goofy grin. Philip had a few things wrong with him, he was epileptic, (forgot what it's called) he has a constant twitch. Alex loved his son more than anything. Though...some kids thought he was strange, it was hard for him to make friends. "Who are we inviting to your birthday, son?" He smiled, rubbing his boys back. He tried his hardest to make each day of his life worth it. The doctors say one serious seizure and he may not have him anymore. He couldn't live with himself if that happened. He held Philip with holding the pen after he twitched softly and dropped it on the table. "You're alright" he assured "Just concentrate" he smiled "Who's coming? Anyone you want"

Philip looked up to Alexander as his eye twitched for a moment "Could I invite my class, Pa?" He asked softly, pulling out the paper of the all the names "Pl-please?" He smiled, placing the list with 28 names on the table.

Alexander chuckled and nodded "Of course." He started to write down the names of the children, his phone number, address, date and time. Making sure there was no confusion. He added some candy and kissed his son on the forehead "Go get some sleep, we can visit your mother upstate this weekend if you like" he said simply, placing the envelopes in his son's school bag. He looked up and tensed for a second before running to the boy's side before he fell to the ground. He let him lay down carefully and made sure not to to let him hit his head. He wished he could hold him. He couldn't risk it, he couldn't risk the boy's muscles tensing so much he'd break a bone. Once he'd stopped shaking, he carefully laid the boy in the recovery position until he'd regained his energy. He left a gentle kiss on his forehead "I'll get you water, baby...You relax..." He whispered before walking to the kitchen and getting a glass of water for the boy, he was so scared each time this happened, his wife-Ex-wife already left with their other kids, he couldn't lose Philip.

Philips bottom lip quivered as he pushed himself to his knees, small tears streamed down his cheeks as he waited for his father to come back in the room. He made grabby hands and choked back a dreadful cry. Breaking Alexander's heart into small pieces. He quickly lifted the boy into his arms and rocked him like a small baby "Shh...Papa's got you..." He whispered "Don't cry, my darling..." He cooed "You're so beautiful when you smile...Can you smile for me?" He asked softly, sitting the boy on the couch and tucking his hair behind his ear. He wiped the 11-year-old boys tears and smiled sadly "C'mon, let Papa see those pearly whites"

Philip twitched softly and let a meek smile curl his lips, he wiped his nose with his sleeve and gave Alexander a toothy smile.

Alex leaned in and faked smelling the boy's breath "Oh my god-" he choked "It's like toxic gas-" he snickered, holding his own throat and falling to the floor dramatically "I'm dying!"

Philip giggled and kneeled beside him "Oh nooooo"

Alex placed his hands-on Philips shoulders "Tell Jefferson...I say...He's a diiiii-" he stuck tongue out and pretended to die.

Philip laid his head on Alexander's chest and faked weeping until the man would get up. He wasn't prepared to get a wet, sloppy wet Willy into his ear. "PA-" He screeched loudly and pushed away, wiping his ear "EWWWW"

"It's not ew, you came from a small hole in my extremely large manhood. That's ew"

"Oh my god, kill me." He boy muttered "Why'd you have to say extremely large?!"

"Because it is."

"NOoOOooOOoO"

Alexander chuckled and lifted the boy, carrying him upstairs and laying him in bed "Sleep, son"

"Yes, Pa"

He smiled, kissing his nose and walking out "Goodnight"

"Night..."

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Monday.

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Philip skipped into the door and hugged Alexander tightly "Pa! I gave out all the invitations!" He chirped "Will you tell me if anyone says they'll come?!" He grinned, twitching and tugging on the man's sleeve.

"Of course, go do your chores, darling."

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Tuesday

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Philip yawned as Alex tucked him into bed "I can't wait for Saturday. It's going to be so much...so much fun" he smiled, cuddling into the sheets

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Wednesday

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"Pa! Pa! Pa!" He laughed, running in the door "What time is my party again? I want to make sure I'm ready! It's gonna be the best day ever!!"

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Thursday

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Philip got so excited he caused himself to have a seizure. He mumbled that he didn't mean to get so happy, he just couldn't handle it.

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Friday

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He couldn't find himself falling asleep until ungodly hours in the morning, telling Alex how he didn't care about gifts, he just wanted friends.

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Saturday. Party day.

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Over the last few days, Alexander waited for any RSVP's. His heart raced on Saturday morning as he waited and waited and waiting. He didn't wake Philip up in case nobody ended up coming. He prepped the food and drinks, set up the house and looked at the door. Nothing. No one. The party would have started an hour ago and not one child out of 28 arrived. He took a deep breath before falling to his knees and crying. Never once had he felt so bad for his son. He shook his head and wiped his tears. He investigated his bank and sighed weakly. He was going to give his son a good birthday if it was the last thing he ever done. He packed them both a suitcase and booked the soonest flight to fucking a Hawaiian resort. He lifted his sleeping son into the car and forgot about the party. Hopefully Philip won't mind.

When Philip woke up, he looked around fanatically at his environment. "W-Why are we at an airport? W-What about my party?"

"I changed my mind; your friends were excited to come but I wanted to take you somewhere better"

"O-Oh?"

He nodded, doing airport things and boarding the plane "You'll see when we get there..." He sighed. He would need to work his ass off for the next...long while to make sure they stayed on their feet. He sighed as Philip once again fell asleep. He lifted him to their room and let him sleep, it was his birthday, he could do whatever the Fuck he wanted. This was better than risking seeing his boy in tears again. He'd take a bullet if it meant Philip was never hurt so badly, he cried. It's just...what you do as a parent...You want to shield them...protect them from anything that could hurt them, make sure they're safe forever, but...you can't...you can't just hold them close and make sure the world never gets in...All Alexander knew, was that he was never going to give up. He wouldn't hide his son from the harshness of the world. But he would never let the world pain him for no reason. No child should need to know what true pain is like...But alas...They all end up knowing...some worse than others. He looked at son who slept peacefully, his arm twitching softly as he dreamt. "Stay safe, my son."

((And I'm done, the end!!