She searched through the drawer and emerged with a handful of assorted, half melted birthday candles clutched in her fist. She raised them up to Wade and said, "These were all that I could find."

Wade looked behind him and saw that the contents of the drawer were everywhere; on the floor, on the counter. Something was even peeking out from under the stove. Rags and hot pads were hanging half out of the drawer and a cookie cutter was caught on the handle. Wade believed her when she said those were the only candles she could find and he laughed.

"Thank you sweetie," he said, picking her up and setting her on the counter next to him. She giggled and peered into the various bowls Wade had set out in front of him. "Do you think Daddy will like it?" she asked, blue eyes looking up at Wade earnestly.

Wade smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "I think he's going to love it."

She giggled again and went about arranging her candles in a line along the counter as Wade continued to mix things into the bowls, occasionally glancing at the cookbook to make absolutely sure he was getting everything 100% right. He didn't want to mess this up.

"Do you think he's going to like my present?" she asked, deciding her candles would look better in triangle shapes than just a plain line.

Wade looked over at her and smiled. "I don't see how he possibly couldn't."

She smiled as if she was pleased with herself and went back to arranging her candles. "What did you get for Daddy?"

Wade smiled to himself and said, "It's a secret."

She looked over at him and gave him a look that Wade could have sworn was taken right off of Justin's own face when Justin knew Wade was up to something. She certainly was her father's daughter. He couldn't help but laugh. "It's a grown up present. It wouldn't be interesting to you."

"You should draw him a picture. I like pictures." Deciding triangles were also boring, she began to spell out her name with the candles.

"I know you like pictures," he told her with a smile. "You're always looking through my art books."

She giggled. "Some of those pictures are so silly, Daddy."

Wade laughed and ruffled her hair. "You'll appreciate them more when you're older, I promise."

She nodded, like she didn't really believe Wade, but she'd humor him anyway. Wade shook his head, amused, and turned back to his cookbook.

"That's perfect," she said to herself and straightened out the candle-formed letters, perfectly aligned to spell out Jade.

"Daddy, is it supposed to be falling to one side like that?" Jade asked, peering at the cake from her position on Wade's shoulders.

"Uh... yeah. It's a leaning cake. They're relatively new, these kinds of cakes, so you've probably never heard of them. But they're going to be a big hit! Just wait."

Jade closed her eyes and shook her head. "Oh Daddy, you're not very good at lying, are you?"

Wade looked at her and she challenged his gaze. He couldn't believe, once again, just how much she looked like Justin when he was calling Wade on something. Giving in, Wade laughed. "No. No, I'm really not."

"And Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"We only have 14 candles. Isn't Daddy going to be 28?"

Wade thought for a minute, before saying, "Well, we can just say we only used 14 candles because we feel like Daddy is really 14 years old in spirit."

"But you always say that Daddy acts like a five year old. Even I'm older than that! So if you wanted to, you should just put five candles on the cake. And we'll even have nine left over!"

Wade grinned and kissed Jade's forehead. "You're so smart."

Jade beamed proudly. "Well thank you, Daddy. But we could just go buy more candles at the store, too."

"Yeah," Wade said. "That too."

Jade removed her hands from Justin's eyes and shouted, "Surprise!" with a laugh.

Justin opened his eyes and looked around, seeing the entire room decorated in streamers and balloons. There was a big sign that said, "Happy Birthday Daddy!" by the table. Sitting on the table was their dinner, Justin's present from Jade, and the lopsided cake.

Justin smiled widely. "Wow. I can't believe you guys did all this for me. Did you make that sign all by yourself, Jade?" he asked as he set her down and took a seat at the table.

She giggled and nodded.

"Hey!" Wade exclaimed, looking mock angry.

Jade giggled some more and said, "Ok. Daddy helped too. Just a little."

Justin smiled at Wade and took his hand. "Thank you."

Wade smiled back. "You're welcome."

"Look Daddy!" Jade exclaimed, showing him the food. "We made you pasghetti and breadsticks! There's only milk to drink, though. Daddy did get something bubbly in a big bottle, but he said that was for later. It's another adult present that I wouldn't like."

Wade laughed and shook his head. Justin just smiled. "Adult presents, huh?"

Jade nodded vigorously. "Uh huh. Daddy said there was lots of adult stuff you two were going to do once I go to bed. I don't think watching TV or reading a book is really just adult, though."

Justin burst out laughing and Wade blushed, reaching for the spaghetti.

After dinner was over, Jade ran into the kitchen and came back with five of her 14 candles. She got up on her chair and reached over, placing them carefully on the cake. "We have five candles on the cake because Daddy always says you're really five years old,” she told Justin. Then she leaned over and whispered loudly in Justin's ear, loud enough for Wade to also hear, "And we only had 14 candles in the drawer."

Justin laughed and smiled at them both. "I think five candles is perfect. I think you two did way too much for me."

"Nothing is enough for you," Wade said, kissing Justin's forehead. He grabbed the pack of matches next to the cake and lit one, holding it up to the candles until the flame caught on the wick. He blew the match out once he had lit all five candles and sat back. "Should we sing to Daddy, Jade?" he asked.

"Yes!" Jade exclaimed excitedly and stood up in her chair, arms ready as if she was going to lead a chorus. "Ready, and..." She waved her arms about wildly as she sang Happy Birthday with Wade. Justin watched them both with a warm and happy smile on his face. Once they were done, Jade took a bow and Justin clapped.

"That was the greatest example of song leading skills that I have ever seen in my life," he said.

Jade grinned at Justin and waited for her piece of cake. "Naturally."

Justin laughed and looked at his cake, which was indeed lopsided and had "Happy Birthday Justin" written across the top in messy, loopy frosting writing. "Sorry the cake is a little funny, Daddy." Jade said. Justin looked up at Wade and saw him blush slightly, as if he was embarrassed that it hadn't turned out perfectly.

Justin squeezed Wade's hand and smiled at Jade. "It's not funny at all. It's absolutely perfect."

After the cake had been eaten, the table cleared, and the leftovers stored away in the refrigerator, Jade grabbed her present off of the table and handed it to Justin.

"Here, Daddy. Before you two go and open adult presents, here's mine."

Justin smiled and took it from her, opening it eagerly. He set the box down, taking off the lid and looking inside.

"Jade!" he exclaimed. "Look!" he held up two brand new, high quality, top model blue and white tennis shoes. "I don't have these."

"Which is a shocker," Wade said teasingly, and Justin gave him a look before turning his attention back to the shoes. He quickly took of his off and slipped the new one on, trying it out.

"They fit perfectly," he said. "Thank you, sweetie. I love them." He gave her a big, tight hug. "But not as much as I love you."

She smiled and said, "Silly Daddy. I know that."

Wade and Justin tucked Jade into bed and offered to read her a story, but she told them she’d be ok without one. “You still have birthday stuff to do. But Daddy, I have another present for you." She reached under her pillow and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper.

"It's a picture.”

Justin un-rolled the picture and saw that Jade had drawn the three of them, at Justin's party. Justin and Wade were holding hands, and Justin was wearing his new shoes.

Smiling warmly, Justin leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Thank you, Jade. I love this too. Do you think I could frame it and put it up in my room?"

Jade smiled, glad Justin liked the present, and said, "Well, it's your room Daddy."

Justin laughed and kissed her again. "Good night, sweetie."

Wade kissed her goodnight also and then followed Justin out, turning off her light and shutting her door.

The champagne bottle sat in its bucket, half empty. Two glasses were next to it, both holding only the tiniest hint of liquid left. Clothes were strewn about the room in various places; a pair of pants by the dresser, two shirts next to the bed.

The sheets rustled softly as they fell down Wade's back to rest on his waist, almost revealing the small line leading to lower places. The only sounds that filled the room were soft moans and gasps for breath.

The dim light cast the lovers in an almost ethereal glow. Justin's hand slid down Wade's back slowly, as if it was savoring every single inch of soft skin. Wade moved inside of Justin slowly, touching his forehead to Justin’s, taking Justin's free hand in his own and lacing their fingers together.

Their kisses were soft and chaste, their eyes never leaving one another's gaze. The thin film of sweat covering their bodies seemed to enhance their glow. They were completely connected, in every way. It seemed to last forever and at the same time it was over far too quickly. Wade kissed Justin when he felt his release, pouring all of his love and devotion into it. Justin's breath hitched in his throat as he followed Wade into the sweet after oblivion, holding him close and kissing him sweetly, never wanting to let him go.

"Thank you," Justin whispered softly.

Wade smiled down at Justin, love shining in his eyes. "I love you."

Justin returned the smile. "I love you too."

Wade leaned over Justin and reached under the bed, searching around for a moment before finding Justin's present.

"Here," he said, handing it to him. Justin sat up and took the box, opening it with a smile. He took out a small glass figurine of the world, about the size of an orange. Engraved on it were the words "I Promise".

Justin looked at Wade curiously and Wade smiled. "It's the world. And I promise... I promise that even if it takes my entire life, I'll... I will give it to you."

Justin looked at Wade for a long moment, before looking back at the gift for even longer. When he looked up again, Wade could see that his eyes were wet. "Don't you know," Justin whispered softly, "That you've already given me the world and so much more?"

Wade smiled softly and leaned in, kissing Justin. Justin returned the kiss and wrapped his arms around Wade, holding him tightly.

"I love you," Justin said.

"I love you too, Justin Timberlake. Until the day I die and forever after that."

Justin smiled and kissed Wade again. "And when I've given you the world," Wade told him, "I'm going to give you the stars."

"You've already given me those, too."

They smiled at each other and laced their fingers together, looking at each other like two people who couldn't be more in love.

And they kissed, yet again.