(Ben p.o.v.)

I slammed the front door as the last person came in. Cyrus. I know this is very rude but I do not know how Cyrus is still alive and very in shape. He is like 100 I think.

I told everyone the plan and what was going to go on and no noise and I placed people in different places. Apparently Amber invited a lot of people. Including her friends and my friends and Erica's friends and lots of the adults had kids but everyone here knows Erica pretty well.

I went outside of the house and looked at my watch. I then decided to go into the house. The detector didn't realize me cause I took my DNA recognization out.

My phone then started buzzing all over the place. Phase 1 done. I then got a call from Zoe.

"Ben" I heard a voice that wasn't Zoe it was Erica. "Did you get the alert"

"Yeah, I did Erica. Hold on, Mike stop buying more popcorn for the kids" I said making it sound more like we were at the movie theater. "I'm gonna leave  Mike here with the kids and meet you up at the house. I am at the thirty minute away theater so your closer. Go figure out what's going on" 

I heard Erica say yes. "Also, Ben I'm sorry. I may of overreacted" Erica said. 

"It's ok baby. I'll see you when I get home" I replied smiling. 

"Ok. I'm on my way" Erica said and hung up. I hid in my hiding spot but I was going to act like a real attacker so I would jump at her.  

I heard the car pull up pretty quickly. I heard the door open and Zoe running after Erica and shutting the door. "Hello" Erica said. I leaned out onto her and knocked the gun out of her hands and pinned her down. 

I had the element of surprise. "Get off of me" Erica said. "I can break you apart and when my husband comes home I know he can tare you into shreds. No, I advise you get off of me or you will suffer the consequences and when my husband gets home the consequences will be 6 times worse"

"What if I am your husband" I asked smiling. 

I caught Erica surprised. "Huh" She asked.

I got off of her. I pulled her up into my arms and made it so she would later be able to see everyone. My lips found hers as I held her. I clicked a button turning on the lights and that was everyone's cue to get up. They all did and yelled "Surprise" 

Erica was so shocked she stumbled backwards. I caught her though. "Watch your feet Ripley" I smiled pulling her back up again. "Happy 39th birthday baby" I said kissing her again. 

Erica threw her arms around me so happy. "Thank you" Erica said. She then released our hug. "Let's Get this party started!" I yelled. Erica laughed.

Throughout the whole party people kept coming up to her and she kept saying thanks to them. 

We have had some large Bluetooth speakers since we first got married and we haven't used them so today I hooked them up and made a playlist of all of Erica's favorite songs and that was playing. I made myself Erica's personal butler.

Erica seemed really happy. We finally found a time just us 2 could talk together. "I'm sorry for doubting you" Erica said. "Your Benjamin Ripley for a reason" Erica smiled ruffling my hair like she used to when we were dating. 

"I love you with all my heart and always will" I said.

"You say that to me everyday" Erica smiled.

I kissed her again. What? She deserves all the kisses she can get. I smiled st her. "That's cause it's true. Doing big things for you is a way I like to show you I love you" Erica smiled and hugged me. My wife laid her head against my chest rocking us back and forth. Her arms around me and her fingers locked. I held her as tight as she was holding me. 

"I could never imagine a better life if there would be no you" Erica said.

I laughed. "Ok Erica lets try not to get so cheesy" 

"I'm not getting  cheesy" Erica said. "Ok maybe just a little bit cheesy but something you always say is at least it's the truth" 

Erica released me and she got sucked back into the crowd. I saw her talk to various people. I went to go make sure the cake was perfect. It was. I let each of my kids and Mike and Catherine add their own little touch to the cake. 

I blew a horn and everyone went quiet. Catherine dimmed the lights and Jake lead Erica to a chair and had Catherine sit next to her and leave the other seat next to her empty. My kids and Mike lead people to seats making sure everyone fit around the extremely large table. But, they all seemed to squeeze in. But, Zoe had to take my seat which was fine. 

I left the cake in the fridge and walked out to the big group of people sitting at a table, all untied. 

I grabbed the microphone. "This is a very special birthday for Erica. Not only is she just 1 year from her fourth decade" I said. People laughed.

"I'm not that old" Erica said. I nodded sarcastically. Erica smiled back.

"I'm just gonna start with this small speech before the long speech I will start crying while saying it. Each year that passes by is a different year for Erica. As Erica gets older the more she can see from history. The more she knows. So, each day not only is she getting more old but she's becoming a better person each day, each week, each month, each birthday" I said. I got Erica crackling up a bit.

"How many times do I have to tell you Benjamin Ripley. I am not that old!!" Erica laughed. 

"Ok, then your ancient" I smiled.

Erica and everyone laughed again. "Ben!" Erica screeched as I laughed my head off. Erica had a wide grin on her face.

I waved it off. "Oh well. Now on with the other speech"

"This is a special birthday for her cause I her husband has been a terrible husband the past years and it took me till now to realize it. All those other birthdays she had to spend her birthday with other people other then her biological family" I paused trying to keep the tears in. "I've been a terrible husband for the past years cause the last time I remember that we celebrated her birthday together was the first 2 years we were married. I did a terrible job with my role. But, finally got to the year I realized this is Erica's day and this only happens 1 time a year and I should learn to spend more time with my wife and not so much working. This day is special to her cause it's her day. It's the day the whole word should be centered around her. It's also the day I proposed to her. She was turning 22 and I took her out to dinner birthday dinner and proposed to her cause I knew that it was a special day for her and I wanted to make it a more special day. What I do know is I have not been a good husband for the past years and Erica is the best person ever and she deserves the world to herself. I might not of been a good spouse but Erica is the best most amazing and I wished it was her birthday everyday so people would realize how much she does and how little we do for her. Also, so people would remember Erica is apart of all of our lives and is always there. I love you Erica. I hope this is as special as you want you day to be" 

I was crying at the end of my very long speech. "Thank you for listening " I said wiping some tears. "Erica you are truly the best. Erica, I hope you still remember how to dance cause I am inviting you to dance to the song we danced to on our wedding. The first song we danced together as officially married Make you Feel my Love by Adele" I held my hand out.

Erica ran up to me and embraced me in another but I apparently wasn't the only person crying. She was too. Erica looked up at me. "Ben, you are the best. You are the best husband and father. Yes you can be stupid and forget things at times but you always make it up to me later and you show me your love for 24/7. Also your the sweetest guy I've met. That makes up for lots of things  Now, let's get on with the dance" 

I took her hand as the music started. The room was very emotional. I stopped paying attention to the lyrics of the song, the people around me, the soft crying once we started dancing. I pulled Erica in closer to me. We got through most of the song and then she stepped on my toes. Erica looked up at me. "Sorry" Erica laughed.

"It's ok babe" I replied smiling, enjoying my time. We finished off with me dipping Erica and spinning her at the same time. I pulled her up. "Cake time" I said. 

Erica went and sat back down as I brought the cake out and we all started to sing. It was funny when we got to calling her a name like that happy birthday to ____. Cyrus used buttercup. Alexander used princess. Catherine used princess buttercup. Zoe, Mike, Chip, Jawa and their spouses used Ice Queen. Half the kids used Aunt Erica. Part of the room used Erica. My kids used mom or mommy or other. I used my love. But, I simply found it amusing listening to all the names jumbled together.

I set the cake down in front of her as we finished the song. "Make your wish" I whispered in her ear after people were done singing.  Erica thought for a second and then she blew out the candles. 

"Are ya 1. Are ya 2. Are ya 3" The kids started to say.

Erica laughed. "It's gonna take a while to get to how old I am. I am 39" I kicked Erica out of her seat for a second. I then lifted her up and set her on my lap and wrapped an arm around her. Erica leaned back into me as Zoe cut a piece of cake for Erica and I to share. Zoe finished cutting everyone else a piece. 

 "Ok, Erica and I have to get going. Leave the house a mess. It's fine. I can clean it up later" I said grabbing Erica.

"No let us clean up" Catherine suggested. Everyone else agreed.

"No" I said. I pulled Erica with me outside in the car.

"Where are we going" Erica asked.

"Our own la la land"