In June 1980, Robert Brian Deacon celebrated his first birthday.

Though the doses in her treatments had to be increased, Taylor was allowed to go home to celebrate with her son and family. The doctors knew how much she suffered from being away from him and not being able to raise him like she wanted to, so they simply gave her the right medicines to enable her to survive the two days off she could spend at home.

John picked her up in the morning and drove her home. The first thing she did when she arrived was to hug Malo and kiss her baby. Malo was purring all the time, following Taylor everywhere she went to. The cat even climbed on her oxygen tank and would not leave, even if Taylor dragged it in the whole house. John was following them, in high spirits, holding his camera in one hand.

John and Taylor organised a private party for Robert's birthday: John's bandmates, Suzy, and John's family were invited. After a quiet day at home, resting in her bed with John by her side and Robert in her arms, Taylor was excited at the idea of seeing them all again. She had helped John cooking makis and sushis, for she felt like doing a Japanese-themed party, but sometimes was interrupted by sudden nauseas. Instead of being a sort of treat, food became a punishment for her, since all the morphine made it taste awful, and she would end up throwing up in a corner.

With the sushis and the makis, John followed a recipe his mother found for them in a magazine she bought. He cooked ramens and smiled at his soup proudly.

The guests came almost all at once. Taylor had dressed Robert in the lovely outfit Freddie got him a few weeks earlier. As for herself; she wore the dress she bought for their honeymoon in Japan. Now, it was way too large for her, but Julie arranged it so it would suit her well. Taylor thought about surprising all her guests by standing in the middle of the living room, with Robert standing up on his feet. One day when she was at hospital, John visited her with Robert, and the child was wiggling, wanting to stand all by himself. John held him by the hands, and their son showed he could take a few steps.

When Freddie arrived, and he was the first, John greeted him at the door, before leading him to the living room with a smirk. There he found Taylor and Robert, just like she planned it. Freddie's eyes widened as he never saw the child standing up.

“Robert!” he exclaimed. “Is it real? Oh my, he can stand up!”

“And that's not all he can do!” Taylor giggled. “Robert, darling, go to Uncle Freddie!”

Taylor let go of Robert's hands, and the child ran up to his godfather, though his mother stayed behind him just in case. Freddie shouted happily and knelt down to hug the child, before picking him up and making him sit on his shoulders.

“Uncle Freddie is very, very proud of you, dear! When did he learn to do that?”

“One or two weeks ago, at the hospital” John smiled.

“But darling, I've been out from hospital for five months!” Taylor said.

The two men turned to her, and John frowned.

“No, love, I picked you up this morning.”

“Impossible, Robert learnt to walk in his own room. Or in the empty room, I don't remember...”

Freddie looked at John quizzically. He knew Taylor arrived in the morning. Was she joking or did she really not remember things? He sighed and shook his head, trying not to worry about that for the moment. Somebody knocked at the door, and the other members including Suzy and her fiancé were there. John's mother and sister arrived around one hour later.

They all had lunch all together, tasting their Japanese recipes. No need to mention that Freddie was all excited and could not prevent himself from telling the story of each meal they had, like how it was discovered, and how it became famous. Freddie Mercury's knowledge.

Since sitting on a chair was too painful for Taylor, they all sat on the couches and on the armchair, some having to drag the chairs from the dining room. Robert was sitting on his high chair and was playing with a teddy bear. Being too impatient to give him his presents, Taylor asked John if he could go and get them in the empty room. He nodded and went to get them, bringing them back with him.

Taylor put the biggest present before Robert, and he immediately tore the gift wrap, discovering a cuddly toy. He shouted happily and hugged it, throwing his teddy bear on the poor Malo sleeping on Taylor's knees. She gave him another one and Robert tore the paper again: this time, it was a small book of tales. At last, she showed a way smaller packet, which she tore herself. She opened the box it contained and showed everybody what was hiding in it.

A golden chain with a small R, behind which was engraved Mummy loves you. She took it out of the box with the help of Roger, who was sitting beside her, and the drummer took Malo on him, so Taylor could stand up. Brian helped her walk to the high chair, and Taylor put the necklace around her son's neck, before kissing his forehead.

“Happy birthday, my love.”

After that, evey guest gave the baby their gifts. Cuddly toys, clothes, simple toys, shoes... Robert was covered with them. Taylor and John thanked everybody, before Lilian cleared her throat and asked Taylor if she could carry her grandson on her knees; John gave the child to her, since Taylor could not really carry him. As soon as Robert sat on his grandmother's lap, he turned to Taylor and stretched out one of his little chubby arms.

“Mama!”

The room turned silent. Everybody turned to the child, and Taylor looked ath im proudly, since it was not the first time she heard him call her. Brian laughed and tickled Robert's neck.

“He can say mama, how great! Weird he can't say mum!”

“If he says mama, it's only because Freddie has a lot of bad influence on him!” Taylor laughed, soon imitated by the others. “He improved himself a lot since last time, don't you think?”

“Oh yeah, he did!” Roger smiled widely. “But you cat still hates me a lot.”

“I don't know what you did to her, though” John sighed, shaking his head. “Malo's nice with everybody, it's just with you she isn't well!”

“Perhaps you should tame that tiger.”

“Rog, you're not nice!” Brian chuckled.

They laughed, and John suggested that they could play some music. Freddie stood up and said he had a good record: he walked up to a bag he brought and took out their brand new album, The Game, with Another One Bites The Dust on the A-side, just like Freddie promised Taylor. John showed him the way to the turntable, and the singer carefully put it on the platter. He gently rested the cartridge on the empty grooves. It took a few seconds before Play The Game started.

Freddie walked back to the others with a huge grin on his face. His eyes were caught by Taylor, who gently pulled John's sleeve, whispering something to him. He nodded, yet looking worried about her. Firmly clutching her oxygen tank, Taylor stood up, with John holding her by the waist. Her husband turned to Freddie and gestured him to come closer. The latter bypassed the couch and joined the other two, while Brian and Lilian were talking about Robert. Roger had gone to the toilet, and Julie was preparing Robert's birthday cake.

John looked at Freddie sriously at first, then grinned.

“Mrs Deacon wants to aks you something” he said.

“Can I dance with you?” she asked.

“Sure, darling!”

John showed Freddie the spots where he could not touch her, and they trid to find a good way to dance together. Remembering she had her oxygen tank to carry, Taylor removed her nasal cannulas, making John blench.

“Tay... Taylor, no.”

“Come on, a dance won't kill me. I've been longing for such a thing for ages!”

She winked at her husband and looked at Freddie, who was carefully and slowly making her spin. She held on to him like she would hold on to life, as if she would just crash into pieces if she pulled away. Freddie chuckled and leant in to whisper something in her ear.

“You said you wouldn't be there naymore for the release of the album. But look, you're listening to it right now, and it's just been released!”

“You were right. I thought I wouldn't last 'til then.”

“I promised you would still be there, see? Freddie never is wrong!”

Taylor softly laughed, and they heard Julie coming with the birthday cake. Everybody started to sing Happy Birthday, turning to the confused child on his grandmother's knees. Robert was biting his fist, looking curiously at the burning candles on a chocolate cake. Julie skilfully held it and knelt down before her mother, and her nephew and godson. Everybody gathered around them, while John grabbed his camera and immediately aimed at the scene: he took many pictures in a row, until he and a weak Taylor knelt down beside Robert, blowing out the candles for him and applauding the child.

Taylor could not believe it: she had already gave birth to this bright jewel one year before. It seemed like it was not that long, since she spent her time at hospital, not being able to raise him, as a normal mother would have done it.

Freddie helped Taylor sitting on the couch, and while Julie put the cake on the coffee table to cut it, Roger holding some paper plates, Lilian gave her her son, letting go of him only when she felt that her daughter-in-law had both of her arms holding him. Taylor pressed her hairless forehead against her son's brown curls. She closed her eyes and kissed his nose.

“Happy birthday, Robert” she whispered. “Mummy loves you dearly, sweetheart. Never forget that. Never.”