The air was thick and full of moisture as he walked up the long sidewalk to his home. Though he seemed to have picked up the pace of his steps to get into the welcoming air conditioned home that he shared with his wife and child, the humidity had seemed to take its toll on his body and he only slowed. Home was so close, yet so far away.

It was as if a weight lifted off of his shoulders when he pressed down on the doorknob and stepped into the foyer. Though his salary wasn't modest, his home was. He never felt the need to flaunt his earnings and wanted his daughter to have a sense of normalcy in her young life compared to the whirlwind his life had been in his teens and onward. The gray stone was his wife's pick, the wrap-around porch that had seen use because of the antique swing and toys strewn everywhere, railing covered in finger paints that he was pretty sure made his house a home.

"Em, I'm home," he called, tossing his cell phone and car keys onto the stand near the door. "Em?" Confusion etched on his face as his eyebrows knitted towards the center of his forehead, stepping into the quiet of his home that was usually full of sound and warmth. The warmth was there, but the happy coos or hungry cries of his daughter, along with the light voice of his wife were heard nowhere. Surely they were home. She wouldn't have forgotten.

She couldn't have.

Life had been hectic for the last few weeks, he going back and forth between studios in Los Angeles and helping produce another artist's album as he took a break from his own singing career to spend time with his new family (though it had been six months since Kaylee's birth). Emmerson (she hated that name with a passion) had been teaching a few yogalaties classes in the city as well, Kaylee spending time with her grandmother while both parents worked. He had probably seen his wife and baby together for a good two days before everything turned crazy.

A delayed album. Press releases. Promotion. Touring. All of these added up to the lack of family-time that he so desired and had taken advantage of while he had the time to, now yearning for it more than he ever imagined. He no longer was the man he was two years ago. He was no longer JC Chasez, performer, he was Joshua Chasez, family man. That title made him more proud than any award could ever possibly.

He made his way up to the bedroom he shared with his wife, it the largest room in the house with the most welcoming bed he had ever seen. 'This is going to be our kids' favorite place you know', he had said when she fell into it at the department store, a look of pure amazement sweeping over her own baby blues, 'this bed will no longer be ours when they're old enough to get up into it'.

'That's what so great about it', she had said, turning to look at him with a smile. She had been five months pregnant at the time, complaining about the 'rock hard' mattress that they had slept on beforehand, demanding that they invest in something that 'wouldn't make my back like an ironing board before I'm 40'. Hand resting on the mound at the top of her stomach as she inhaled deeply, she reached for his hand as he helped her up, she pulling him into the bed with him. 'This is our bed', she had stated, he bouncing a bit for effect and feel. At that moment, he agreed. It became their bed the moment he sat down, when he mentally saw his children climbing up into the bed after a scary dream, snuggling up to mommy and holding his hand in reassurance that no one was in fact going to get them, comforted by both parent's and falling into a deep slumber while they're eyes would meet over their child's head, a knowing smile on both of their faces.

But the thoughts were slowly pushed away when he saw a deep red envelope on his pillow, it a contrast against the white down comforter and pillows that rested around it. Stepping to it quickly and picking it up in his hands, he smiled when he saw her delicate hand writing addressing it to him, it simply saying, 'Happy Birthday, Joshua' with a heart below the words. He opened it, pulling out a three page letter with a smile on his face.

She didn't forget.

He lowered the letter, scanning the room for an abnormality, eyes centering on a piece of paper sticking to the mirror of her dresser vanity, turning it over and smiling to himself. In his hand, he held a piece of newspaper they had been looking at on their first 'date'. They sat for four hours in a coffee house doing crossword puzzles, teasing each other mercilessly at the lack of knowledge for the random and abstract that had been hinted for the ups and downs of the puzzle. Looking back at the letter, he shook his head and grinned. She had something up her sleep.

#2: Did I mention that I love the way your butt looks in jeans? Well, I do.
#3: And how your nose scrunches up when you smile. That's my favorite.

Oh, and you better get to the coffeehouse soon. Don't forget that Jake closes it at seven!

He grinned, looking down at his watch. He had a half hour to get to the one place that Emmerson took refuge in after her classes, it clear across town. Tucking the letter into his pocket, he then made his way down the stairs (but not before grabbing his keys and phone once more) and out the door, already hating the heat as he jumped into his car and back on the road.

The Grind was an laid-back, vintage looking place that served the best coffee he had ever known. Every Friday, there was an acoustic performance by a local artist or poetry reading (though he at first thought was completely boring but ended up loving) that he and Emmerson tried to catch when they had a night free (though, these days, they seemed fewer and further between).

"Jace, my man!"

He turned, smiling at the familiar face as he stepped up, holding his hand out in greeting as he shook it. "Hey, Jake, how's it going?"

"Good man," he smiled. "Happy Birthday, you old fart."

"Ah, I'm not old until I've got a walker and glaucoma," he grinned, Jake setting down a cup in front of him. "What's this?"

"Your coffee, of course," he smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets as he stepped away. "Fresh and on the house, courtesy of Jake for the birthday boy."

"And now I feel like I'm 13, not 31," JC grinned, taking a sip of the hot concoction, it welcoming, regardless of the weather that seemed just as hot. "So, Emmy sent me here -"

"I know," Jake smiled. "Drink up. I've gotta close down soon."

He looked at him, shaking his head in confusion. "All right man."

"I'll be back." Jake disappeared quickly, JC pulling the letter back out of his pocket. What exactly was she trying to do?

#4: Your abilty to question everything. Don't ever question my motives, Chasez! There is always a reason for my little scavanger hunt! Though, if you didn't question every little detail, every little question, you wouldn't be who you are and that would not be the JC Chasez I fell in love with! Especially after our first date and us deciding to fare the weather and play in the snow.
#5: No matter who you are, where you are, you always had the same sense of who you were, and that made me respect you so much more.
#6: The smile that I know is stretched across your face right now. Beautiful, even if you don't like it.

Now, take that amazing smile and get to the park. You can't build a snowman in a coffeehouse! (Nor can you do it in 97 degree weather ...)

At her cue, he took one last drink of his coffee and got up, turning and jumping as Jake stood there, a grin on his face. "Thanks for the coffee, man."

"Next destination, eh?"

"You know about this all, don't you?"

"Of course," Jake smiled, crossing his arms. "C'mon man, who wouldn't want to go on a scavanger hunt when the ending is a mystery?"

"The ending ..."

"Is the best part, trust me," he grinned. "So get on so you can get there! And don't read ahead!"

He chuckled, folding up the letter and saying goodbye to his friend. "I'll try and come back next Friday!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

The park was actually just down the road from the coffeehouse, so the ride itself was quick and a lot less rushed than it had been to get to the first destination. The park where he stood then was where the second half of their date had begun and quickly ended (she was too cold, his hands had gone numb), though it wasn't quick to be forgotten. They had found a spot near the large tree in the center, building the most disturbing snowman he had ever seen.

'Why is the top half bigger than the first', she had asked, laughing as she stood there, hands on her hips as he tried to place the larger part on the top, almost failing miserably before it finally settled on the medium-sized middle. 'Jace, are you sure you know what you're doing?'

'I'm not sure about anything at all right now', he laughed, brushing his aching hands off as he looked at her, brown hair covered in snow and cheeks a pink. 'You're gonna catch pneumonia'.

'I'll live.'

He looked back down to the paper, smiling at reason seven. So she did know him well.

#7: I fell in love with you on our first date. Did you know that? Even if you were a perfectionist and couldn't just put an answer in the damn crossword puzzle to figure out another answer, or that you had to have three sugars and half a cream in your coffee (not a whole, because you're crazy), I still fell. You know when I fell? The moment you took your coat off to put on top of mine to keep me warm. Nobody has ever risked anything for me, even if it was just getting sick from the weather. Nobody. You changed that, Josh. You changed my outlook on the opposite sex and how there is someone out there for everybody. You, my love, are my someone.
#8: Did I mention that mouth? The way you kissed me the first time is permanently imprinted in my mind: unsure, reluctant, yet so ready and so passionate. It only got better.
#9: Of course, your singing doesn't suck, either. I actually prefer it over anyone else's.
#10: The way you automatically transformed from bachelor to husband to father. Watching you with my daughter is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my entire life, and I can't believe that you were the same man telling me four years ago that you didn't see marriage or children in your future. I guess I changed that, huh? I know, I know ... I'm that good.

He laughed to himself. Typical Emmy. She was never egotistical, but she was definitely someone who took pride in herself and her accomplishments. The moment she had taken the pregnancy test and read it's positive results, she had said to him, 'looks like children are also in your future, Chasez'. He hadn't been able to say anything about her pregnancy for weeks, and when the first ultrasound showed him what would soon be his baby girl, he had changed. He longer felt as if his life didn't need to have children (he also felt that way about marriage until Emmerson), but suddenly, even without Kaylee's arrival, he wanted more.

She had changed him.

Now, stop thinking about our daughter and go to the grocery store for me. I forgot to pick up some formula. I may be good, but I'm not that good!

He shook his head, smiling widely as he went back to his car and headed towards the grocery store, excited about what was to come.

"Hi, welcome to Community Market," a woman greeted as he stepped in, she smiling at him as he returned one of his own. The air was much cooler than it had been outside, he welcoming it with open arms as he looked down at the letter, shaking his head once more as he saw the list of what was needed right below the reasons.

Formula
Baby Orajel
More binkies (where does she hide them all?)
Fruit (Strawberries)
Whipped Cream
Fudge (stop thinking kinky, baby, I know you are ...)

He grinned, face reddening even though he had not personally been caught, just verbally. She knew him all too well.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

He spun to look at the woman who he had seen earlier, she still smiling the same way. "Oh, no thank you," he laughed, holding up the letter to her, "my wife gave me stuff to get."

"Okay." She left him alone then, he slowly walking down the aisle of the fruits, lowering his eyes back to the letter. She really did know him all too well.

#11: The fact that you are so completely obvious when women are attempting to get 'with you'. Even after speaking to them two seconds before, when they appear again, you shrug it off as helpfulness and continue on your way. Did you really think that everytime you and I go into the grocery store that they are THAT helpful? Oh, love, you kill me. Accept it, they love you more than me; even when I spend $300 dollars on food for you and the baby.
#12: The way you always do things for me without complaining (though I know you would probably like to strangle me with sometime every so often ... more than often ...) and never, ever get mad at me when I whine about doing something for you (I guess I'm the lazy one of the bunch, eh?) - especially when I was nine months pregnant and larger than life.

He grinned, looking up as he turned the cart, heading towards the aisle that held the formula. Now what kind did she always get? Similac? Carnation? Enfamil? It was a pink container, non-spit up ... Enfamil!

Proud of himself, he put the formula in the cart, glancing down at the letter.

.. It's Enfamil, baby.

Now hurry up and get the rest of the stuff. You've got a few more places to go!

He picked up a few packages of pacifiers, thinking about his little Houdini that everytime she was put down for a nap or bedtime, when she'd wake a few hours later, the pacifier would be gone, almost as if she had eaten it. He was pretty sure that all the evidence was somewhere in her nursery, be it behind the crib or stuck between the mattress and crib itself.

That was his baby, and disappearing acts or not, he still loved her more than anything in the world.

His little Kaylee. Born in early February at a small six pounds. She fit in the palm of his hand and her feet just barely touched to his elbow when he held her just so. Now, looking at her, it was hard to believe that she had come nearly seven weeks early and weighed so much for a premature baby, yet looked so small. Then, she was fussy, full of colic and never happy. For three long months, the stress between both parents and child seemed nearly unbearable, but suddenly at fourteen weeks old (which seemed like fourteen years to him), it stopped. Now, a happy, bubbly and very talkative (in a baby sort of way) infant replaced her, the exact mixture of both parents: her light brown hair, his bright blue eyes, her hands, his fingers ... she had her mama's feet, though, small and chubby.

He stopped in front of the refrigerated section, remembering the moment he had proposed and found out that Kaylee was on her way. It happened in the same spot that the proposal came, they both out of nowhere and very surprising.

He had been standing at the cart just as he was then, and she was in the door of the freezer, debating on getting creamsicles or cherry popsicles. He had been teasing her about her sudden love of the frozen treats, she never a big fan of them until that summer. He remembered watching her, studying the length of her legs and how half of what seemed to be the longest set of legs he had ever seen disappeared beneath the soft fabric, the light pink of the dress making her skin darker. His eyes traveled up her body and almost felt his heart stop when her voice entered his ears.

'Josh, I'm pregnant'.

Never in his life had he been speechless. Every one of his friends and relatives knew him as the observer, but he had always had something to say. With this, nothing came to mind, nothing escaped his lips. Nothing but, 'you're joking, right?'

She looked at him as if he had grown two heads, shaking her head. 'I'm not joking, baby.'

He looked at her then. All of the little things that he had noticed were finally piecing together: her sudden enlargement of her otherwise lacking breasts (though he never complained); her getting sick over little smells that he couldn't even smell; the sudden cravings for things that she never had been fond of before; the small softness of her belly that had never been there. She had always been fit, always tone. He had teased her about her sudden love for sweets that she didn't even allow in the house, and now it all made sense. It was all clear to him now.

He was going to be a daddy.

He brought himself out of his memory, reaching in and grabbing the cherry popsicles that she had not put down since her pregnancy with Kaylee. Of all things that left, her love for the cherry sweet had not left.

"What else do I have to get?" He asked himself, looking down at the list and going in search of the toppings. His mind went back to that spot, remembering how they were getting ready for a family get-together, walking down the aisle in seach of freeze-pops, the ice flavored sugar rushes that his cousins loved so much. She was joking about getting her ice trays and filling them will kool-aid and just let them 'have at it', he grinning when he thought of her doing the same for their own children (and how she suddenly had him thinking of their children) when it suddenly dawned on him: she was it.

'It'd be so much cheaper and probably a lot more fun ...'

'Marry me', he said simply, she stopping mid-pull of the freezer door, eyes knitted in confusion while a small smile of disbelief formed. 'Emmy, marry me'.

'You're asking me here? Now?!'

He remembered stepping away from the cart, grabbing her hand and saying once more. 'I don't have a ring', he had said, she searching his eyes for any signs of sarcasm or joking. 'But I do know you have me wrapped around your little finger anyway'.

She had laughed then, reaching forward and hugging him tightly. She had whispered 'yes' into his ear, and two days later, had gotten a ring instead of him wrapped around her finger.

He paid for everything quickly, putting it in the trunk and getting back into the car, letter in his hands and hands on the steering wheel. What now?You got me those popsicles, didn't you? Get on home and put them in the freezer. Never mind everything else. Thank you for thinking of me and getting them.

#15: How, when you and I would be going on drive, just the two of us, your hand would always find mine and never let go until we reached where we had been going. I always loved how your hands covered mine completely and I felt so safe when those hands held onto me. I still do.

He grinned, driving home quickly so he could continue on with the little hunt. As long as she was at the end of it, it'd be his most favorite birthday ever.

When he pulled into the driveway, he saw his mom's car parked on the side, just where she always parked. Had she flew in from Maryland? Turning off the car and grabbing the things from the trunk, he made his way up the sidewalk, pushing open the door and getting the complete opposite of what he had gotten more than an hour ago.

"Grandma loves you," a happy voice floated through the air as Kaylee babbled, her little laugh like music to his ears, "yes she does!"

He approached the kitchen, seeing Kaylee in her bouncer as Karen sat at the island, feeding her a bottle. "Hey, mom," he smiled, kissing his mom's cheek. "What brings you here?"

"You birthday, obviously," she smiled, kissing him back. "Happy Birthday, baby."

"Thanks," he smiled, leaning forward and pulling the bouncer towards him, Kaylee's feet flailing about in excitement at seeing her father, cooing loudly as he kissed her, she grabbing his cheeks and opening her mouth in her own way of kissing her daddy. "Hi, baby girl," he smiled, nuzzling his face into hers gently. "I missed you."

"So where are you going?" Karen asked, looking at him as he pulled the popsicles out and put them into the freezer, holding the letter in his hand. "What number you on now?"

"You know about this?" He held up the letter, his mother nodding. "Does everyone know about it?"

"Yes," she laughed. "Unlike you, honey, we can keep a secret."

"Har, har," he said sarcastically, still smiling. "I just read fifteen. I'm not sure where I go next."

"Well, read and find out!" She turned to put the bottle back into Kaylee's mouth, talking to her first grandchild adoringly. "I'm sure it's somewhere interesting."

He laughed, looking down at the letter. Indeed, it was.

#16: How, unlike a typical male, you remember everything: my birthday, our anniversary (both from dating and marriage), my favorite foods, favorite book. How you took the time out to read those books, take me to those restaurants, send those flowers.
#17: How, you have a song for every little moment of ours. How everytime I hear one of our songs, I can close my eyes and remember that exact moment and still smell that same scent you wear.
#18: How we 'had' a song, but you felt that our wedding needed a song that is all our own. How you slaved for days, weeks on end to make it perfect, and finally finished it only minutes before the ceremony itself. How I will never forget you sitting down at the reception in front of that baby grand and singing it to me with so much emotion, so much love.
#19: How you now sing it to our daughter the day she was born and every single night that she'd be up crying because her stomach pains were so uncomfortable. How you never just pushed me off the bed to tend to her, that you got up and handled her when I was too tired to even move. How, even if you had to be up at four in the morning, you'd stay up all night with her.
#20: How, looking at her, all I can see you. All those days when you are gone haven't been half as bad because I have the spitting image of you staring up at me every time I see her. Those eyes, that mouth, that smile. You were the very reason I was given her, and I will always, always love you for that.

He turned the page, the second page not a letter, but a photo of the three of them the day she was born. Emmerson was lying in bed, holding a fresh out of the oven Kaylee, she looking tired but elated, while JC was lying in the bed sideways, Emmerson's head on the burrow of his shoulder and neck, his head atop of hers with a wide, tired smile on his face. This was his family.

Now get back into that car of yours and drive to my old house.

He chuckled, shoving the letter back into his pocket. At least she didn't live too far away.

"All right," he said, walking towards his daughter and lifting her up, she automatically grabbing onto her daddy's face as he grinned, smothering her in kisses, "I have to go again. I take it your babysitting?"

"Until later," Karen nodded. "About another hour or two."

"Do you know where Emmy is, even?"

"Of course I do," she grinned. "You'll find out in due time, my dear."

He shook his head in disbelief, still holding Kaylee as he kissed his mother. "I figured. She's being all mysterious on me." He patted Kaylee's back, urging her to burp. When she did, a triumphant smile stretched across his face as he kissed her once more, handing her back over to Karen as she fussed a bit, protesting the loss of her father's arms. "I'll see you in a little bit, baby girl," he soothed, her hand gripping his finger tightly. "Call if you need anything, mom." He pulled his hand away, leaving the house once more for another destination.

"Josh, hey!"

He looked up, his eyes meeting those of Emmerson's little sister, Evelyn. "Hey, Evie!" He returned the hug that she had given him, shocked to see that the young girl he had met four years ago was now a young woman who looked nothing like she had before. "How are you doing?"

"Good," she smiled, pulling away and looking at him. "Happy Birthday. How's my favorite brother-in-law?"

"Your only brother-in-law," he laughed. "I'm doing good. And thanks."

"Come on inside," she said, grabbing his hand. "There's a gift in there for you."

"You didn't have to get me a gift."

"I didn't," she smiled. "It's from Emmy. She asked me to keep it here for when you came."

"That's ... odd."

"Not when she knows her little snoop of a husband will look for it in their house," she grinned, turning to look at me over her shoulder. "Don't give me that look! We all know you are the sneakiest person around and the worst person to buy gifts for!"

He laughed, following her inside as both of her parents greeted him, giving him birthday wishes. They were engrossed in some television show, Emmerson's mom the only one to get up and hug him. "Go get your gift," she laughed, hearing Evelyn's calls for him to stop talking and to continue walking. "Don't want oh-patient one to get cranky."

He laughed. "That, we don't."

"I heard that, Chasez!"

Her mother rolled her eyes as he grinned, following her through the kitchen and towards the den, she holding a small box in her hands. "I'm going to change, I've got plans tonight. Enjoy the gift. Read the letter first." With that, she was gone.

Silently, he sat down on the leather reclining chair, head against the back as he let the small light next to him aid him in reading Emmerson's bubbly lettering. He fought against the urges to read the ending, reading the the words before the twenty-first reason.

So, he did.

#21: Everytime I see you with Kaylee, I feel a sudden love for you that I never had before. The way you had spoken before she was born about how you never had that paternal wanting, never thought you could love someone the way they deserved to be was something you had not known of. The moment I found out I was pregnant, you were a completely different person: one that I didn't think I could love more than I already did, but I did. The way you took care of me, handled my cravings and my moodiness, spoke and sang to my belly ... it was something that I took complete advantage of. I loved to hear you sing to me and our baby, and now ... open the box.

He opened the box, eyes knitting in confusion as a stick looked up at him, it looking just like Kaylee's thermometer. Turning it over, he was greeted with a digital message: Pregnant.

With shaky hands, and a fast-beating heart, he looked back at the letter, mouth suddenly dry.

It seems as if I'll be able to take advantage of you singing to us once more. Baby, seven months from now, you're going to be a daddy again. A daddy to little babies. I know you're going to be just as amazing with this one as you are to Kaylee. And I know you're probably in shock because well, it's so soon after her birth, and we didn't plan on another until another year, but by the time this one is here, it'll be almost a year and at least we won't have to wait, right?

He looked up, meeting the gaze of Emmerson's mom, a wide grin forming on his face. "So you knew before her, huh?"

"I knew everything before her," she grinned, stepping into the room and meeting him mid-way as he hugged her tightly. "Congratulations, Josh."

"I'm gonna be a daddy again," he said softly into her hair as he hugged her still, shaking his head in disbelief. "Another baby. Kaylee is going to be what ... thirteen months old when this one is born?"

"It looks as if you two started trying almost immediately," she laughed, pulling away and studying his face. "You're not disappointed at it, are you?"

"What? No, definitely not," he said, shaking his head and smiling. "I'm happy. So happy. It makes me want to forget about the last ten reasons just so I can go find my wife and celebrate this with her, and not my birthday."

"There will be chances for that," she smiled, patting his cheek gently, "just finish up those last ten reasons and you will find her at the end."

"I will," he smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "Why don't you go see your first grandbaby at the house? My mom is over there and I'm sure she'll enjoy company."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll see her sometime," she said, reaching down and gripping his hand tightly. "We've got plans for later, though. So perhaps after?" She glanced over at the clock, studying the time. "It's nearing nine, you may want to get on your way."

He nodded. "Thank you. For knowing everything good that has come out of this relationship. And for giving me your daughter."

She hugged him once more, hand rubbing his back gently. "Thank you for coming into her life and giving me two grandbabies."

He laughed. "Well, one and a half. The second one isn't here yet."

"Oh, I know, but he is in my daughter's belly."

He grinned, she leaning forward and kissing his cheek. "We did get you a birthday card," she smiled, leading him into the living room and handing it to him. "I know it's nothing special compared to Emmy's gift, but it's the thought, right?"

"The thought is always special to me," he smiled, shaking Emmerson's father's hand as he stood to say his goodbye. "Thank you for housing me for the small amount of time I have been here today, and I'll see you guys tomorrow?"

"Perhaps," her father smiled, gripping his hand. "Now, go get your last ten reasons."

He laughed, stepping out onto the front porch and inhaling the cooler summer night air. "I think I've gained about a billion more reasons why I love your daughter."

"Well, go on and get your ten reasons from our daughter."

He gripped the box and letter in one hand, nodding his head. "I intend on getting her, too."

"Well, go on then!"

He laughed, still in disbelief as he looked down at the pregnancy test. He was going to be a father again. A father of two babies. The man who never thought he'd ever have kids or get married was now married with one child and one on the way. Oh, how life had thrown him a curve ball.

He was growing more and more excited as he looked down at the test, sitting in his car and still having not looked at the letter for further instructions. He was far too excited about the baby growing in his wife's belly than the growing reasons as to why his wife loved him. He had all his proof in the two children that she beared.

"Get going, Chasez!"

He jumped, looking up and seeing Evelyn hanging out of her bedroom window, a bright smile on her face. "Emmy's not gonna wait all night for you!"

"I know!" He gave her a smile that matched her own, looking back down at the letter. He was going to be a father again. What good were the last ten reasons? That 21st reason was a good enough gift for him to last his entire life. He didn't care if she liked his eyes, or his butt; he cared about her, period. He knew she loved him and she was carrying his baby, while his first baby was on her hip the entire ride.

She was his baby. That was good enough reason to know that he loved her. He didn't need a letter.

But, curiosity got the best of him, and he found himself looking down to read more of what she had to say.

#22: I know you, Josh. I know you inside out. What's scary is that on our first date, I knew everything about you just by looking at you. I knew how caring, opinionated, strong, honest, loving and an all-around good person you were. I love that even when we're not talking, I know everything you are saying. I know everything you are saying just by looking into those blue eyes. Those baby blues (that sometimes seem a little more gray) that I could get lost in. But your eyes were the first reason, am I right? Your ability to say it all without saying anything is something I love. When you're angry, how your eyes darken to the deepest blue, when you're sad, how they get a tinge of gray, and when you cry (you can't hide that from me, baby), especially when Kaylee was born, how blue they are. I can read you like a book and though you may think it's a bad thing, it's the best thing when you are giving me the silent treatment after a bad day. I know exactly how you feel the moment you walk in the door. But one touch to your face and all seems well again.
#23: How, when I was in the hospital for a week, you were the last person I saw when I fell asleep, and the first person I saw. I am so glad it was you.
#24: How you do not care how skinny, how small you are (though I wouldn't say 5'10 1/2" is small ...) weight-wise compared to anybody - you are always my protector. Like, on our third date when we were at the same bar we met and some guy kept trying to take me home with him, you stood up for me and actually made the guy (who was probably a hundred pounds heavier than you) look as if he had lost his best friend. You have always been my best friend, my protector, my lover, my everything.
#25: On the day we met, my horoscope said, 'true love waits for you', and I truly believe you did wait for me at the bar that night. You are my true love. My reason for not going crazy, for being a wife, a mother ... for being the best person I can be. You have driven me to the best. I see stars each and every time I see you.
#26: How you never pressured me to be something I'm not. For example, at the bar when you tried to 'buy me a drink' and I declined (and basically ignored you), you never pressed it. Instead, you sat your little butt down and asked me if I wanted a 'refill on whatever you have in that glass of yours'. I even declined that (it was water, by the way).

Come to the bar and get me that refill, Chasez.

He grinned, putting the letter on the passenger seat and starting his car up. Five more reasons and he'd be at the home stretch. Though he was sad to see the reasons go and sad to see that his smile wouldn't be stretched with anymore 'Pregnant' words, he'd be able to see the author behind those reasons, and that, that was the best reason of them all (well, besides being pregnant, obviously).

When he pulled into the otherwise vacant parking lot (it was a Tuesday), he cut the engine and took a deep breath. It was almost as if he were going back in time (it was a weekday the day they had met, too) and doing it all over again. He remembered coming in with his friend Byron, they both in search of some alcohol for a party for the end of the week (they always stocked up beforehand) and seeing her across the room, near the pool table with a couple of her friends. She had on jeans and a bright purple tank top, her hair much longer than it was (he teased her about her shorter, layered 'mommy 'do', though it really wasn't - he liked it a lot on her) and a pair of heels that made her 5'2" frame seem endless. He almost expected to see the same people waiting by the doors.

They obviously weren't.

He looked back down to the letter, the smile widening on his face as he read the rest of the reasons. #27: How you walk quicker when you get excited and fidget like a child. How can I resist seeing that face when you know something good is going to happen?
#28: Even when I'm mad at you, all I have to do is think back to the day we married and see that look of relief, mixed with pure love and all those emotions suddenly come spilling out in that one dazzling smile. Just one look, and I began to fall all over again.
#28: How I never was a romantic, until you came along. Who knew I'd try and romance you every single anniversary since we met?
#29: Hearing you say 'I love you' never grows old. That has to mean something.
#30: Well, you'll see.

He paused, suddenly aware of how quiet the bar was. Was it not open? Had they forgotten to lock up? Was this the right bar? He folded up the letter, shoving it into his pocket. Suddenly, he was more aware of his surroundings than anything else.

"Hello?" He called, looking around at the somewhat dark bar area. "Anybody here?" He pushed the door open, greeted with even more darkness. He heard his phone ding, pulling it out of his pocket and seeing that he had received a text message. It was from Emmerson.

From: Emmy

I guess you're wondering exactly where I'm at, huh?

CB: 767-442-1106
Wed, Aug 8, 9:53PM

He chuckled. Obviously.

To: Emmy

I'm standing here, alone, on my 31st birthday in a bar where no one is at.
So yeah, I'm wondering, ha ha.

CB: 767-442-1984
Wed, Aug 8, 9:55PM

Grinning, he stared at the front of his phone, waiting for it to ding again. Just as he opened it to say something else to her, it alerted him.

From: Emmy

But, my love, you aren't alone <3

CB: 767-442-1106
Wed, Aug 9, 9:59PM

Just as he was about to respond, the lights turned on and he nearly jumped out of his skin as every person he ever cared about stared back at him with wide grins on their faces and all wearing birthday hats, they all looking incredibly happy and completely into the birthday mood.

"SURPRISE!"

He placed his hand on his heart, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe any of you," he laughed, opening his arms as everyone came to him, hugging him tightly and smothering him in kisses as they wished him a happy birthday. "Hiding this from me for how long?"

"Months," his mother grinned, kissing him once more as she stepped away for everyone else to get their love in.

"So hard to keep from you," Evelyn grinned, hugging him tightly once more. "So how does it feel? A surprise baby and a surprise birthday party!"

"Good," he said softly, kissing her forehead, "very good."

"Good," she laughed, leaving as everyone stepped away, he seeing the only two people (well, make that three ... kind of) he had been wanting to see all day.

His face hurt from how wide his grin had formed, seeing Kaylee dressed in the pink and white striped dress that he had bought her only a month before when he was in New York, her bloomers even matching. She had the toothless (well, almost toothless, she had one bottom front tooth emerging) grin and was kicking her pink sandaled feet excitedly as she saw her daddy, squealing as he neared. Emmerson was dressed in the same thing he had met her in (with the exception of the soft belly - how had he not noticed it before?), the grin just as wide as he wrapped his arms around both of his girls, kissing Kaylee's face as he took her from Emmerson, balancing her on his hip. "Now, I can thank you properly," he grinned, kissing her deeply as everyone around them let out hoots and hollers, they both pulling away as he waved them off. "I never saw this coming," he stated, bouncing Kaylee and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, placing his chin on her head as he took it all in. "None of it."

"Well," she laughed, shrugging and kissing the crook of his neck as he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "A birthday, a baby, and thirty-one reasons."

"Which reminds me," he said, pulling away and digging into his pocket, Kaylee tugging at his chin as he looked over at her, making a silly face before kissing her as she giggled. "Thirty one, thirty one ..."

"You haven't read it yet?"

"No," he said, managing to unfold the letter and scan the letter, finding where he left off.

For all the years we've been together and for all the times you've made me smile, cry, and so proud of you - this day is yours, baby. I love you, so much and I hope you realize just how much you mean to me and to Kaylee. Just how much I thank my lucky stars I found you. I love you. Forever and ever, babe.

He grinned as he read the words, the commotion going on around him all a blur. Where was thirty one? What was her thirty first reason?

He felt her laugh, pressing herself against him, he looking down at her. "What?"

"Can't find it, eh?"

"Find what?"

"Reason thirty one," she laughed, watching as he looked down at the letter, shaking his head. "That's 'cause it's not written, it's verbal."

He raised an eyebrow, hearing the echoing chorus of 'Happy Birthday' as he looked down at her, she placing her lips on his once more, holding his face and leaning into his ear, his hand on the small of her back, "What's that?"

"The biggest reason why I love you?" She said, a statement more than a question, "you're mine."

He laughed, kissing her again as they both turned, he taking his hand and wrapping it around his daughter once more as Emmerson as she joined in on the song.

"Make a wish, man!"

He looked at everyone, slowly meeting his wife's eyes and then to his daughter. He didn't need a wish.

"Come on, old man, the candles are gonna set off the fire alarm!"

He laughed, rolling his eyes. Old man. That, he was not. Thirty one. He could grow to love thirty one.

Thirty one.

No closer to forty than it is to twenty.

He could get used to that.