Nat came up the stairs still buttoning the red Hawaiian shirt.  That and his cutoffs made up his entire ensemble.  Jessy was already waiting for him dressed in an honest-to-god grass skirt with a lei around her neck that draped over her breasts.  To Nat she looked topless.  Even with that thought bouncing around in his head, Nat had to admit she was looking very good.

Her hair seemed to have grown longer in the short time he’d been there and she had tucked a single bright pink Hibiscus bloom over one ear that matched the lei and a flower anklet.  Gone was the dramatic makeup and smell of leather and motorcycle.  Yes, she looked very good and sixteen.

“Hey, Nat,” she said softly.  “I’m ready.”

“You . . . umm . . . look . . .”  Nat blushed.

Jessy looked up at him with her green eyes huge and innocent.  “You like it?”  she spread her arms and slowly turned.  “I got my mom and Rav help me with it.”

“You . . . um . . .”

Jessy was smiling up at him expectantly. 

“You look great!” he said.

“Thanks,” she said shyly.  “Let’s go.  This is going to be the best!”

“Ah . . .you umm . . . got . . .” Nat sputtered trying to get the words out.  When she’d turned he hadn’t seen a bikini top strap.

“Got what?” she said.  “Oh!  You need a lei.”

Jessy reached up to pull hers off.

“No!” Nat turned his back on her.

“Got what then?”

She moved around in front of him, the lei still in place.

“What’s wrong?” she said.  “You are acting funny.”  She tugged his arm.  “Come on party time.  You get to see how elves do it.”  Jessy giggled.

“Elves do what?” Nat said, suddenly leery.

“A birthday, of course,” Jessy shook her head and took his hand.  “Mom never had one so she took traditions from all the Earth ones to make ours.”

               She drew him out the French doors and unto the now dark lawn.  A full moon was already halfway across the sky.  Nat wondered at this since by his internal clock it was just sundown.

               “The food comes after the gifts,” she said.  “And I open mine last and I'm hungry, but I think I had my fill of chocolate.

               The forest a couple of hundred meters away sparkled with thousands of lights draped through the branches.  Archer had created a perfect Lothlorien night, complete with tree platforms and elvish music.  Nat stared in amazement.

               “Pretty night isn't it.”  Jessy heaved a deep sigh and Nat glanced down in time to see the lei, bleached to silver and gray, rise and fall.

“Bet this is part of daddy's gift,” she said.  “You got to love daddy.”  Jessy paused to stare at the moon.  She found a single brilliant star.  “Star bright, Star light Make my wish come true tonight. Wish me may wish me might let the wish be true tonight.”

Jessy close her eyes and made her wish and Nat turned his gaze back to the lights.

“This looks like . . . that forest . . .” he said.

“Yeah, this is going to be a great birthday,” she said brightly.  “I even got a present for Narel.  Had to really bribe the triplets, too.”

“Oh?” Nat wondered how good of an idea that might be.

“It’s a book of spells,” she continued.  “Not from this plane so it could be some he doesn't have.”

Nat sighed.  “You know I have nothing to give you . . .”

“Sure you do,” she said.  “You are attending my party.”  She looked up at him and gave him a soft smile.  “That means more than anything you could buy me.  There isn't much I really want, I got tons of stuff but I still want to know what the triplets got me.  It's huge!”

“I guess in a place like this . . . you pretty much have everything you want,” Nat agreed.

Jessy looked away, her gaze going to her feet as she frowned.

“No . . . but I guess others would think that,” she said.  “Some things just can't be bought.”

“Like what?”

“Like a friend.  Like a moment,” she said.  “A memory of a life time.”

Then Aaron was there, tugging on his sister’s hand.

“Hey, Aaron,” she said.  “I'm coming.”

“Luthien's stuck in the tree,” he said with a serious scowl.

Jessy smiled at him.  “How did she get there, I wonder? Looks like it’s a job for the super surfer and his rock girl sidekick.”  She giggled.  “Let’s see, one stone surfboard!”

The earth buckled and a long flat stone rose up under Nat’s feet.  As Jessy scooped Aaron off his feet a wave of dirt and rock piled up under the ‘board’ and started it moving.  With her arms around her little brother, Jessy stood in front of Nat as she had on the ocean.

“Which tree?” she asked the boy.

Luthien proved to be in plain sight and on a lower branch, waiting patiently, small feet swinging back and forth.  Jessy looked back over her shoulder at Nat with a smile.

“Get ready,” she said.  “You have a big rescue, Nat.”

The ground surged lifting them all to the height of the little girl but she held out her hands in a stop gesture.

“Not Nat,” she said firmly.  “You, Jessy.”

“Okay,” Jessy said.  “Hold me Nat.”

With Nat’s hands on her hips the earth wave crested and Jessy looped an arm around her sister and held her on her hip.  The mound of dirt just flowed back into the ground with barely a ripple.  Jessy laughed and tickled Luthien.

“One last childhood adventure for the books!” Jessy cried.

 Luthien gazed up at her sister, unblinking.

“Okay, scope out the party for me,” Jessy told her.  “Me and Nat will be right behind you two.”

“No,” Luthien said firmly.  “I want to stay with you.”  The little girl wiggled to be put down and Jessy obliged.

“Come on,” Jessy said, offering Luthien her hand.

The child ignored her and moved over to Nat, taking his hand.

“Give me a piggyback ride, please.”

“Wish he would give me one,” Jessy said wistfully.  “Come on, Nat, give her a ride!”

Nat picked the little girl up as if she were dandelion fluff and seated her on his shoulders, her thin legs on either side of his head.

“Where is Nicky, you guys,” Jessy said suspiciously.  She gave them both a baleful glare.

Aaron shrugged nonchalantly.  “Somewhere.”

“We aren't getting ambushed are we?” Jessy said sternly.

“No,” Luthien said.  “We're safe.”

“Okay, lets hurry I got lots of stuff to give out.”

Jessy took her little brother’s hand and skipped ahead, the grass skirt swishing back and forth giving Nat a good look at everything underneath.

“I got a good view from up here!” Luthien crowed.

“Best seat in the house I bet,” Jessy did a pirouette, the grass spinning out nearly horizontal.  She was wearing a white thong.

Nat, engrossed in watching Jessy, felt a hard tug on one ear.

“Hey,” he said.  “I am not a horse and those aren’t reins.”

The path curve to the right and opened up into a luau scene complete with tiki torches, palm trees and bonfire.  Dozens of people, all dressed in colorful Hawaiian dress milled about talking in small groups.  Sans costumes, Nat was hard pressed to identify those he knew had to be some of the greatest superheroes of the age.  Kids ran everywhere shrieking at the top of their lungs obviously already wired on the sweets arrayed on a long table.  Barbeque smells filled the air and that strange music Archer’s played at the beach haunted the background.

The first to notice Jessy, of course, was her father and everyone turned to face her.  In unison their voices rose in song, Happy Birthday to You overwhelmed the quiet of the surrounding forest.  Nat and Luthien joined in and all cheered at the end.  Jessy lowered her head and blushed furiously.  She looked back at Nat, for the first time since he’d met her she looked like a shy teenage girl radiant with happiness.  On his back Luthien regarded her sister with solemn eyes.

The party crowded in on Jessy, hugging her, giving her kisses and offering best wishes.  Raven appeared like magic between the towering Nat and her daughter.  She was dressed in a grass skirt and lei as well and her diminutive size gave Nat a view of the skin beneath the flower necklace.  Unlike her daughter, Raven WAS topless and Nat quickly looked away.

“You should give out the things you have,” Raven suggested to Jessy.  “Everyone is hungry.”

“Yeah and grandma made some cakes for the party too!” Nicky, who had appeared between Nat’s legs piped in.

Nat hear Luthien’s whispered “Yucko!”

“Luthien,” Raven said to the little girl who was easily nine feet off the ground.  “That is not polite.”

“I don’t think I am THAT hungry, Nicky,”  Jessy said then whispered up to Nat.  “Don't even try to eat her cakes, you will get sick."

Nicky snagged her hand and tugged her toward a huge cart laden with colorfully wrapped gifts.

“Come on!” he said.  “I want my present!”

Jessy allowed the boy to pull her though the center of the party and all eyes followed her, except for one.  As Nat stood at the edge of the forest he saw Wren Collins just behind and to the left of the cart watching him, her lips curled up slightly in an amused smile.  Wren was dressed in a sarong that was predominately white with splashes of color, vibrant red, rich green, brilliant yellow and a blue the perfect color of the sea.  Against her dark complexion it made her dazzling.  Nat returned the smile and Luthien chose that moment to thump him on the head.

“Down,” she demanded and scampered into the crowd pushing to the front just as Jessy called her name.

With Luthien off his shoulders, Nat began to move clockwise around the edge of the party toward Wren.  About half way around, Jessy called her name and she stepped into the clearing.  Before everyone, Wren opened the box and pulled out a beautiful silk sun dress and the line from a song ran through his mind. ‘She came out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain’ he hummed to himself as Wren replaced the cover on the box and accepted a hug and peck on the cheek from Jessy.  She disappeared back into the crowd and Nat lost sight of her.

Matt came forward to accept a thick book full of color plates of animals not of this world.  He was delighted, seeing an opportunity to practice other forms and immediately shifted into something like a huge bunny with mouse ears.  Christie, Laurie and Shay began to coo over him and stroke his fur.  Nat thought he could hear Matt purring over the rumble of the crowd.

The packages thinned quickly as each and every guest was called to stand before the birthday girl and receive some very carefully thought out gifts.  With only three packages remaining Jessy called her father and presented him with a large flat package.  A moment later he drew a bow of white wood from a matching case and held it up to the light of the torches.  Golden runes flashed in the fire light and Archer hugged his daughter.

“Thank you, baby,” he said.

“You like it?” Jessy said almost shyly.  “They used the best stuff so you wouldn’t break it.”

He ran his hand over the smooth wood as if caressing the skin of his lover.  Jessy beamed then snatched up the second to last package and held it out to her mother.

“Hmm . . .” Raven said.  “I wonder what it is.”

Jessy fairly quivered with anticipation as Raven very slowly and unwrapped the gift carefully.  Once the box was revealed she lifted the lid just enough to see inside then smiled at her daughter.  Without revealing the contents she closed it quickly and hugged Jessy.

“Thank you,” she said then kissed the girl’s forehead.

Only one gift remained, a small box shape wrapped together with a three foot tube.  Jessy didn’t call out a name but stepped over to Nat and held them out.

“These are for you,” she said shyly.

Nat half smiled,  “A folding surfboard?”

“Not quite,” Jessy said, not cracking a smile.  “Open it.”

Unlike Raven, Nat did as he was bid quickly, finding a DVD of the as yet to be released Sean Thornton/Gabrielle du Morte movie.  In the tube was a thick sheaf of play bills for the same movie.  As Nat opened his mouth the thank Jessy, she grinned mischievously.

“Spock, NOW,” she said.

To forms began to materialize before Nat and he almost stepped back when Sean Thornton and Gabrielle du Morte appeared.  Instantly he blushed, his eyes wide and mouth open.  Gabrielle smiled at the tall boy and his knees got weak.

“I was told I needed to autograph something for my number one fan,” she purred in a voice like liquid honey.

“Umm . . .” was all Nat got out.

“I guess that would be you,” She release Thornton’s hand and drew a pen from his pocket. 

               “Ah . . . um . . .” Nat said.

               “How would you like it to read,” she said looking up into Nat’s eyes.

               He fought to keep his feet as an urge to drop to his knees before her flooded over him.  Her eyes were incredible, so sexy and full of promise that Nat would have done anything for her.

               “Hope you like your present,” Jessy said.

               He swallowed hard,  “Wow. . .” he managed, blinking at her.  “But how?” He looked at Jessy for an explanation.

               “It was Sam,” she said, indicating a stunning woman Nat hadn’t met.  Sam waved to Jessy and grinned.

               “Plus,” Gabrielle said.  “I am a big fan of the Seattle Hunt and anything I could do for any of them or their kids . . .”

               Gently she took the movie from Nat and signed it.

               “I supposed you’d like my husband’s autograph too?” she said.

               “YES!” Nat said as if they would both vanish if he didn’t say it quickly.

               Sean Thornton chuckled and said “Anything for the children.”  He looked up at the towering Nat as he said it.

               When Sean had signed, Gabrielle returned the DVD package to Nat and he read ‘To my most favorite super to be, Nat.  Love and kisses, Gabrielle.’

               “Want the posters done too?” she said with a smile.

               Nat’s head looked like a bobble head doll as they signed each poster.  When she was finished she looked up at Nat.

               “Oh and one more thing,” she said.  “Could you bend down here?”

               Nat leaned down a little puzzled and almost jerked back when Gabrielle’s warm arms encircled his neck and she kissed him on the cheek.

               “Hugs and kisses,” she whispered and released him.

               Jessy was grinning from ear to ear and Nat remained bent over as if frozen, his mouth hanging open.

               “Okay, my turn,” Jessy said and something woke up Nat.  He quickly stood up looking around at the people watching him.  He blushed again.

               Jessy, obvious to the watchers, made her way over to a new pile gifts.  Nat leaned against the boll of a tree and watch.  After the fifteenth doll he began to wonder just how many dolls one girl needed and it WAS her sixteen birthday.  Wasn’t there a rule about dolls after about ten but with each and every one Jessy was delighted, complimenting the giver on their beauty. 

               When the strange little man in the red robes and a tiny elfin looking girl presented their gift, Nat about fell over in shock.  It was another doll but this one walked and talked and acted just like a tiny person.  Narel, the man in red explained it was a magical construct and that it was in no way alive but would do anything Jessy commanded.  This brought a squeak of excitement from the girl and she kissed Narel on the cheek and hugged the young girl with him.  It was only a few days later Nat found out that girl was Narel’s wife, Neku.

               At long last, the gift pile dwindled down to only a huge box but when Jessy moved to open it, Nicky stopped her.

               “Nope!” he proclaimed.  “It’s last!”

               “Guess it’s your turn, daddy,” Jessy said looking around hopefully for her father’s gift.  “I don’t see a box?”

               “Hmmm . . .” her father drawled then patted his pockets.  “I thought one was around here someplace.”

               “Ooooh!” Jessy’s lips formed a perfect ‘o’.  “Should I close my eyes?”  She was bouncing in place, the suspense killing her.

               “I was going to give you my bike . . .”

               “REALLY!?”  She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.  “Oh, DADDY!”

               “But then . . .” he said.  “I thought . . .”

               She pulled back from him and looked into his face.

               “Then thought what?” she said hesitantly. “What could be better than that?”

               Archer shrugged.  “Well . . . I couldn’t part with it . . . “

               Jessy seemed to deflate.

               “So . . .” Archer was teasing the hell out of her.  Nat grinned.

               “And?”

               “I had a talk with Paulie . . .”

               Jessy’s eyes grew wide.  Nat had no idea who Paulie was and didn’t remember hearing Jessy call his name when she was handing out her gifts.

               “And?” She said again.

               “He got together with his son, Paulie Jr.  . . .”

               “And, and?”

               Jessy looked like she was about to explode.

               “They built something just for you.”

               The air shimmered and a form took shape.  It was low, lean and mean but incredibly beautiful. Jessy grabbed her father and kissed him but didn’t linger.  She slowly ran her hand over the curves of the bike as she walked around it.

               When she looked up she said, “Oh, daddy, it’s AWESOME!”

               Archer held up a ring of keys and jingled them then tossed them to her.  She snatched them out of the air like a frog nailing a passing fly.  Falling to her knees she inspected the engine and designs that had been incorporated into the build.  Nat shook his head with a rueful smile.  No, Jessy wasn’t spoiled at all.

               “It is AWESOME!”  She ran her hand down the leather of the seat then squatted beside the bike to gaze lovingly at the powerful engine.

               “HEY!”  Nicky’s shrill voice broke Jessy’s revelry and she blinked at her little brother.  “You got one more!’ he said.  “And it's the best!”

               The remaining two of the triples pushed a huge box that appeared to be suspended in mid-air, through the crowd and into the center of the clearing.  It was wrapped in gay birthday paper with a single bow as large as Nicky.  Like the little showman he was, he gripped the end of the ribbon.

               “Just ‘cuz we don't want an old maid in the family,” he proclaimed grandly then tugged the ribbon.

Like an opening flower the external walls fell away to reveal the contents.  Though only six, the triplets had done surprisingly well constructing the booth from 4x4’s and sheets of plywood, cut to size by the obliging Spock.  Though many of the nails had been bent over and the soft pine was dented from hammer blows the structure was stable and only betrayed the builders’ ages by the crudely painted sign across the front of the booth, ‘Birthday Girl Kissing Booth’.

               “Now everyone’s got to give you a kiss!” Nicky announced folding his arms across his chest with an air of victory.