shimmerandsing | Happy Birthday!

The preparations had begun days before. Alison had sent letter after letter and made dozens of phone calls. Half of the calls had gone to her stubborn step-son. Shatterstar was hard to corral. The other half had gone out to other family and friends. Anyone Alison could think to invite, she had contacted. Her invitations were only part of the deal. She had enlisted her mother-in-law to invite the women from the clan. Whoever Longshot was close to. And given her husband's ability to make friends wherever he went, that list would be long.

After the guests were settled, she focused on food. The cake had been a big deal to her... it had to feed dozens of people, and it had to be appealing to her husband. It had taken ages to find a baker who could produce what she wanted. In the end, it had been worth it and she couldn't wait to show it off. For lunch, she had enlisted the help of Longshot's two favorite cooks: Momoko and Maria. The day of the party, the kitchen and dining room were piled high with the best food Italy and Japan had to offer.

The living room was the designated present area. A table had been set up along a mostly unused wall and had begun filling up with brightly wrapped packages of all sizes early that morning. Lisa and Gloria Jean had been assigned inside decoration duty and had roped Rogue into helping. She could fly and get to the high places, they reasoned. Dakota and the boys had pulled outside duty. There were balloons and streamers all over the place. The more the better, as far as Alison was concerned.

John had been stuck with the hardest job of the morning. He had been assigned the task of getting up dreadfully early and taking Longshot out of the castle long enough for them to prepare the party. Since he had been spending so much time at work catching up after his vacation, he used the excuse that he wanted to spend time with his son on his birthday before he had to go to work. And the best early rising activity he could think of was fishing. At a lake. Far away from the castle. He might be tired by the time they returned, but he knew Longshot would perk right back up when he saw the party dedicated to him.

It was early in the day, still, when the party was all set up and they just had to wait for the guest of honor. Alison had showered and changed. The babies were fed, clean, and dressed in new little outfits their Mommy had picked out especially for the occasion. They had picked up on the excitement around them and were giggling and babbling happily to anyone who would listen. Lisa and Glora Jean each had a baby in their lap and were laughing and making faces right back.

Alison shifted impatiently in her seat and tried to will her husband to appear.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Longshot eyed his quiet son. He wasn't used to his son being quiet. Aiden liked to babble and giggle at his Daddy. Hana was the same way. The blond Mojoworlder finished off his plate and fiddled with it.

"I didn't expect you to come." Because he had been relatively disappeared for awhile. There was an answering machine that said so. "But I'm really happy you're here!"

Alison took a seat on the floor in front of Longshot and 'Star. She held Hana gently under the baby's arms and let her 'stand' on her Daddy's bare feet. Hana giggled and bounced in place. The books and their doctor had said this was good practice for her learning to walk. It was also one of her new favorite games. Jumping on Daddy!

"We missed having you around," Alison piped up after Longshot spoke. She loved 'Star. He was family.

His brow furrowed a little. He waited to finish chewing before saying anything. "I have been... busy. I thought you would not mind with two babies to occupy your time."

He wasn't sure about them. Though he was still battling the feeling of being replaced.

"Well, busy's in the past." He was not going to pay attention to the pause. Busy could mean a lot of things. Longshot raised his feet on their heels to amuse Hana. "I mind. Aiden and Hana are the best babies ever, but you're still my son. I wanna see you more often. 'Sides, they need to get to know their big brother."

Tricky Daddy! Hana wobbled a second as she adjusted to the change and then she laughed louder. Her little hands clenched fistfuls of his pants to hold onto. More bouncin'!

"We love Hana and Aiden, but we love you, too. Hanas and Aidens do not fit into the Shatterstar shaped spaces in our life." Alison might just, maybe, have been spending a lot of time with a Mojoworlder and his particular brand of logic.

He glanced at the giggling baby but gave her no further mind.

"Mm." It was a non-committal noise. He knew they had promised nothing would change how they felt for him. But this felt dangerously close to when he picked up another sibling and was dumped for him. Though neither Longshot nor Alison was Spiral.

Longshot continued to bounce Hana on the top of his feet while talking to Shatterstar. No child would be left behind! Big and hard to understand or little and cute. He tilted his head and put it on Shatterstar's shoulder. He fluttered his eyelashes at him.

"We love you. Even the babies do. I want you to visit more. You need to help me brush up on my sword skills. It's an easy and non-confusing way to spend time with your Dad..."

Hana's giggling had tapered off and she went silent as she gummed a spot on Daddy's pants leg. She was still enjoying the bouncing even though she was distracted by the person Daddy was talking to. Probably the bright red hair. He was familiar! She recognized him a little bit.

And she really wanted to grab that braid.

"Yes! You should visit more. I'd like to watch you guys in sword practice. I might even learn something." She probably needed the practice more than Longshot did. But, he needed the time with 'Star more than she did.

Shatterstar eyed Longshot's head on his shoulder. What was he doing? His father certainly was odd. And slightly feminine with that eye fluttering.

"If you need my help, I will give it. Now, remove your head from my shoulder, father."

Call it a tiny birthday gift.

Longshot sat up straight and BLINKED at Shatterstar. Were his ears working right? Did he just hear what he thought he heard?

Alison hid her grin. But, just barely. She knew little things meant a lot to her husband. Hearing Shatterstar call him 'father' would make his day. If he ever stopped gaping like a fish...

"Come over any time, sweetie. We have plenty of space for practice. And your father has his own swords."

Hana missed her Daddy's funny face. She was still looking at the shiny, red man. Pretty hair!

Shatterstar stared back at Longshot. "Is something amiss?"

Though he was getting a disquieting feeling from the baby staring at him.

"My son!" And Longshot pounced and tried to hug the stuffing out of Shatterstar. Which was hard to do sine his son was bigger and more solid than he was. But that didn't stop him from trying, dammit. His eyes were also quite misty.

Alison quickly moved Hana when Longshot pounced. The baby got to sit in her Mommy's lap while her Daddy hugged his biggest son. Hana didn't mind. She happily went about sucking on her big toe as she watched Daddy being silly with the shiny man.

Mommy just smiled. Those two needed more moments like this.

Shatterstar didn't shove Longshot away, but he didn't exactly hug back. it was kind of hard with his arms pinned to his side.

"I believe that has been established," he grunted a little. Then he nudged Longshot with an elbow. His instincts to lash back at being confined was rising.

Longshot sniffled happily but let go of his son. He didn't want to make him any more uncomfortable. And his elbow was certainly hard.

"Thank you. For making today the best day ever." He wiped away his happy tears.

"I'm very glad you came," Alison reiterated as she reached out and squeezed Star's knee lightly. He might not yet believe that they loved him, but they were going to keep trying until he did.

"Ahh!" Hana cooed in agreement. She reached grabby hands at the shiny man. Pretty hair!

Happy Birthday!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject