Rose p.o.v

Today was the day. I could not be more excited. I pushed my blankets off me. Wiped the hair out of my face and left my bed. Well, I tried to leave. I bumped my head against the bars of my crib.

Ouch.

I rubbed my forehead; tears were stinging in my eyes. But no tears today. Today was the day. I stood up in my crib and tried to climb out when I failed again. I was too tiny to climb out. I sat down and a huff escaped my mouth.

I wanted to go to daddy.

Today was the day.

I tried to go through the bars. Failed again. Why was it so hard to leave this crib? Maybe that's why daddy put me in my crib. Last night I could not fall asleep. I went down to daddy three time until he got mad at me. He picked me up and put me in my crib instead of laying me down in my big girl bed where I had been sleeping.

I did not mind that I could not sleep in my big girl bed. I wanted to sleep in my crib. But then I could not go to daddy next morning. So, yeah, maybe he put me here to stop me from going to him.

I picked up Aurora and played with her for a while. I let the soft material slip through my fingers. I talked to her. Talked about the big day that was ahead of us. I missed her friends. Our friends. Daddy had taken Koya and Stormy from me as a punishment because I did not want to sleep.

I heard them calling for me. And Aurora of course. Can not forget her. I snuggled with her for a couple of minutes when I really wanted to go to daddy.

I tried to leave my crib again with no success.

"Daddy!" No sound.

"Daddy!"

I heard footsteps in the distance. I jumped up and down of excitement. I giggled. Daddy was coming. I made grabby hand before he even saw me.

"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" I chanted.

"Well, good morning to you too birthday girl." Daddy smiled. He came up to me and picked me up. I clung to him like a koala. I liked his body warmth. I tightly clutched my hands to his shirt.

"Happy birthday Rose." Daddy whispered and kissed my cheek. I blushed a bit and hid my head in the crook of his neck. I still was not used to him giving me kisses. It was only on my cheek, still I got shy. Even little me.

Daddy explained to me that with the kisses he gave, he showed how much he cared about me. That he loved me. He said it did not have to be in a romantic way, like I thought it would mean. I knew mommy's and daddy's kissed each other because they loved one another. But daddy explained that parents gave their children kisses too and that people could give kisses to each other in a non-romantic way.

I did love daddy, but I did not love-love him. At least I think so. I just want him to protect me from my evil father and the scary world. My daddy was my hero.

"I have a surprise for you." Daddy said with a smirk. "I have a whole day full of surprises for you little one." I giggled. I was happy. Really happy. This would be my first real birthday. A birthday full of rainbows and sunshine. Daddy has even planned a party for me. A party! A party with gifts and cake.

"But first we need to get this beautiful girl in her birthday clothes." Daddy put me on the changing table. He had put a pink pull-up on me. When it sat snuggly around me, he put a training bra on me. It was because my boobies were really small and those were the only ones that fit me. It was pink to but a lighter pink than the pull-up.

Daddy sat me up and shortly left the room after assuring me he was right back. When he came back, he had the most beautiful dress in his hands. I squealed. "It's so pretty daddy."

It was a princess dress. It was pink, it had sparkles and glitter. It had glitter! So, it was totally a princess dress.

"But this is not a finished look without a tiara."

I squealed again and daddy laughed. "You're the bestest daddy ever!" I jumped up and down in my seat.

"Alright little one, you need to sit still for daddy so I can dress you and if you ask Stella nicely, she might braid you hair so you can wear your tiara even more like a princess, okay?" I nodded my head and let daddy dress me.

When he was done, he picked me up and set me in front of a mirror. "Of course, your look is not complete but look how beautiful you are, my little Rose." Daddy said, giving me a kiss on my head.

I slipped out of my little headspace. Tears appeared in my eyes. I never felt as love and as cared as now all because of Derek. All my birthdays excited of me hiding from my father in my room so I could play with my stuffie Belle. Once I tried to buy a cake because I had to do the groceries but when father found out I could barely walk for a week. I had so much pain and the worst thing was that he threw away the cake.

I turned around and hugged Derek. "Thank you." I mumbled against his chest. "Thank you so much Derek."

He stayed still for a second. Then, soon his arms made their way around me and he held me tight. Shielding me from my bad thoughts of my father. After a couple of minutes, he let go of me. He held my chin in his big, comforting hand and tilted my head upwards.

"Don't cry Rose," he wiped the tears from my face, "don't cry Rose. Let me, let daddy make you happy by giving the best birthday ever. Okay?"

• • •

Daddy and I entered the kitchen and the whole place was decorated. Even my highchair. The decoration was in my favourite colours, pink blue and purple. Although I like all the colours of the rainbow, they just stood out to me.

I was so busy with admiring the decorations I had not even noticed that Stella and Jack were present in the kitchen as well.

"Happy birthday Rose!" They both had party heads on and were shooting confetti around. I giggled. This was the best day of my life!

Daddy put me in my highchair and set a plate in front of me full of waffles, fruit, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I clapped my hands. "Thank you!" Before anyone could say anything, I started to eat. They all chuckled.

"Rose how about I braid your hair while you eat your lovely breakfast?" Stella asked me. I nodded my head, spreading around the whipped cream and chocolate sauce around on my tray while I was taking another bite.

"Easy there baby girl we don't want your dress to get dirty, do we now?" Daddy scolded me. Clearly, he did not want to take any risks as he bound a bib around my neck.

Silently we ate our breakfast as I was too busy with my food to talk. The food was so good. So good. The whipped cream was so light, the chocolate sauce so sweet, the fruit so juicy, the waffles just so perfect.

So perfect.

When I was done, Stella was done as well. "Did you even enjoy breakfast?" Daddy chuckled. "It was gone before I knew it."

I only nodded my head as my mouth was still full of my last bite.

Daddy cleaned my mouth, cheeks, and hands. "What are we going to do today daddy?" He turned around from the counter and gave me a big smile. The smile that brought me joy, the smile that calmed me, the smile that assured me everything was going to be alright.

"That is a surprise." He answered me.

"But I wanna know." I whined.

"And you will but not right now. Right now, Stella is going to make you prettier as she is going to put that lovely make up on you Jack bought for you." I smiled. I looked around for Jack but saw he had already left the kitchen while I was too busy with my waffles.

"Is that okay dear?" Stella asked a bit concerned as I did not respond immediately.

"Yes, yes that's okay."

While Stella was doing my make-up, daddy had to do certain 'things', as he liked to call it. From time to time, I giggled as the brushes tickled me. "Why are you laughing dear?"

"Because you tickle me." I giggled.

"Do I now? And does this tickle as well?" She poked at my belly. A fit of giggles escaped my mouth again.

"Yes, yes it tickles!" Stella had to laugh as well.

"Now are you ready for the grand reveal your highness?"

I nodded my head frantically. She got me out of my chair but before we could move, I heard daddy yell, "Hold up!"

"Hold up, she needs her tiara before she looks in the mirror." Daddy held up the shiny piece of jewellery. He put it on my head with the assistance of Stella, checked it one more time and then escorted me to the mirror.

"I. Am. A. Princess!" I could not believe it. I looked like an actual princess. I twirled around in my dress and looked up close at my tiara and make-up. I was a princess.

• • •

I was sitting between daddy legs as we were watching Winx. Daddy said we had the morning to ourselves. He said we had not spent as much time with each other as he had liked to. He was indeed loaded with work and I had my lessons with Olivia.

I liked it.

My birthday was already perfect. I did not need anymore, just daddy and I. But that changed soon. Sooner than I wanted.

"I invited some friends for the afternoon to celebrate your birthday. Some you already know and some you don't know yet. But I thought this would be a create opportunity to learn some new people."

I got slightly nervous at that. I was never good with making friends or being social. I just hoped they would like me, like daddy did.

"Rose is that okay? Or is it too soon?" Daddy asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "I personally think it would be good for you. So, with that being said we need to prepare some things."

Daddy picked my up and set me on my feet. "Do you want to help me, your highness?" I giggled at his silliness and nodded my head.

The backyard was already decorated. The same decorations we had in the kitchen and living room. The basket with the outside toys was also put in the backyard. I wanted to go off and play but daddy said he needed me to finish the last things.

I just think he did not want me to ruin my dress before his friends came.

When we were done, I went up to daddy. "Daddy hug?" I made grabby hands to him. I felt a bit smaller after helping him.

"Of course, sweetheart." He picked me up. "Are you tired princess?" I nodded my head as I yawned. I laid my head on his shoulder and relaxed.

"Okay, let's snuggle on the couch until the guests come." Daddy moved around and after a while I felt the rubber of my paci against my lips. I took it without a second thought and before I knew it daddy and I were laying down with my blanky surrounding us.

• • •

It was too short. Too short. My nap was too short. I wanted to sleep longer but the guests were already here. I felt daddy lifting me in his arms, settling me on his hip. I was too groggy to open my eyes.

I kept sucking on my paci as daddy rubbed my back in an attempt to wake me up. "Come on little one. Wake up for me."

I whined.

"I know, I know. Maybe we can schedule a little power nap later, okay?" I nodded my head against his shoulder.

Just as daddy opened the front door, I rubbed my eyes to open them. "Hello guys, come in, come in." I heard daddy greeting his friends.

"Uncle Derek!" I heard someone say.

"Hey buddy, how is it going?" That was daddy. Who was he talking to?

"Good, I got to see a tiger yesterday and I get to eat as many candies as I want to today. Well until he says I can't anymore, but that is still more than one!" I winced a bit because of his yelling. Still too tired to hear loud noises.

"Okay Max, remember inside voices." Another male said. Well, scolded more so.

I hear a quiet 'yes daddy' and than the other male started to speak again. "Derek, good to see you. And good to see your little girl, finally."

I heard daddy laughing. "Good to see you too Nathan. Both of you. If you will excuse me for a sec, Rose is not awake yet. You can go to the backyard. We have set up some drinks and snacks. There are also toys for Max if he gets bored."

I heard the other male chuckling. "I think we can handle ourselves for a minute. Take your time."

The sounds of footsteps were disappearing, and daddy set me on my feet. I whined. "I know, I know. But you need to be awake to say hello. Do you want to keep your paci or shall I put it away?"

"Keeping." I slurred behind the comfort item.

"Okay than, let's get your clipper." Daddy took my hand and led me to my room. Clipped my paci to my dress and adjusted my hair and dress.

"Let's get this party started." 

A/N: my special gift to you; an extra long chapter. Please let me know what you think! 

Thanks for reading and stay safe!