Happy Birthday!

[shimmerandsing]

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.

Comments

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"I'm falling behind on my present duties," Alison chuckled as she got to her feet and balanced Hana on her hip. It crossed her mind to hand the baby to Shatterstar, but she decided not to traumatize him today. Maybe next time.

She grabbed the present labeled: To Daddy, from Aiden and Hana. Then she presented it to him with a grin. It was a fairly big box. It was an unassembled, two-seater jogging stroller. For baby walks at Longshot's pace. He'd have to get John to help him put it together, though. Mommy wasn't good with tools.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Hmm." Longshot rubbed his chin and eyed the present given to him by his children. Then he ripped into it. "Oooh. Now Mommy will have trouble keeping up with all three of us!"

He grinned at Alison.

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

"Alison could use her motorcycle," John suggested from the safe distance of the other side of the room.

"Or ride Mordred!" Lisa piped up. She thought it was a great idea. Alison could definitely keep up, then!

[laertes.livejournal.com]

"Hey, little flower, why don't you help out Alison by passing out more presents," Dakota suggested as he bounced Aiden on his legs. "Or taking Hana. Presents might be more fun though."

Gloria Jean looked thoughtfully up at Alison. "Which one should I do?"

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Go ahead and help Lisa hand out the presents, sweetie. Since you two were already doing such a good job." She smiled and took Hana over to an empty spot on the floor. They could sit there and watch the fun without getting in the way.

"Whatcha think Daddy's gonna get next, huh, baby girl?" Alison asked her tiny daughter as she snuggled Hana on her lap. And where was her son? Ahhh... there he was. Uncle Dakota was giving him a horsie ride.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Longshot set the stroller box to the side and bounced in his seat. More presents! He wondered what he got from his Dad and Robbie. Dakota and Rogue might have a present in there. Maybe even the twins! Oh, and Tasha. And ninja presents, hwah!

He wiggled and waited, trying not to nudge Shatterstar too much.

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

"Yay!" Lisa grabbed Gloria Jean's hand and tugged the other girl back to the present table. "You can pick one. Then I'll pick one. An' we'll switch. Okay?"

She bounced excitedly as she eyed the table. She would hand Longshot her Dad's present next. If Gloria Jean didn't pick it. She knew what was in it. She was there when her Dad bought the case of various marinades and barbecue sauces. There was also a funny chef's hat that looked like a top hat.

[laertes.livejournal.com]

"Okay!" Then Gloria Jean looked over the present table with all due seriousness. Hmm. Daddy and Mama Rogue's present then. She grabbed the package and carried it over. It was wrapped much more proficiently than Gloria Jean's had been. Must have been done by Rogue.

It was a pair of comfy beaded moccasins for around the house. And then a little slip of paper to see Rogue later for a present for him to use with Ali.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Yay!" Alison cheered the gift and clapped Hana's little hands together. She liked Daddy's presents. Although, Alison suspected she might just be eying the colorful wrapping paper.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Longshot rubbed his hands together in anticipation before the girls handed them to him. Then he ripped the paper off with no lack of glee. He made a happy 'eeee' sound at getting grill stuff. He needed to do some grillin' soon!

The moccasins got promptly put on. No Japanese slippers for him inside. Nope. He had comfy feet now! And he slipped the piece of paper in his pocket. He would track down this mysterious other gift later.

He made grabby hands. "Present me!"

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

Oooh. What to pick next? Lisa hummed thoughtfully and then reached for a package unfamiliar to her. It was one from Miyuki! Lisa wondered what the ninja girl had gotten Longshot.

When Gloria Jean joined her, she nudged her toward the one with Robbie's name on it. She wanted to know what was in it!

Her brother didn't miss the nudging and rolled his eyes from where he leaned against the doorway. His present was a black t-shirt with white, jagged lettering that said "I'm a Ninja!" in big, bold letters. Then in smaller parenthesis underneath, it said "You can't see me!"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Miyuki watched Gloria Jean pick up Robbie's package. Then she watched Lisa give hers to Longshot. She fidgeted slightly. Longshot was familiar yet very hard to get presents for. Though she managed.

She managed to get Longshot a light happi for summer wear. It was grey with white kanji on it for prosperity and long life.

Longshot opened his presents and went 'oooh'. He took off his shirt to put on the next one Robbie gave him. Then he put Miyuki's present on over it. He left his new happi open in the front so everybody could see he was a ninja.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Oh no!" Alison laughed. "Daddy disappeared!"

She covered Hana's eyes gently. "Where's Daddy?" Then uncovered him, much to the squealing delight of the baby in her lap. "There he is!"

[shatterstar.livejournal.com]

Shatterstar watched the goings on with half-interest. It was good Longshot got things, but the other Mojoworlder wasn't particularly interested in what anybody else got his father. Though he did want to see the reaction to his own gift.

He looked over at John Preston's little girl. Piercing, unwavering look, but it should have gotten her attention. "Please get my father his gift from me."

See? He could be polite.

He hoped Longshot liked the ornamental dagger with flying cranes etched onto the blade. Also, there was a small pouch with golden beads. In case he ever wanted his son to braid his hair again.

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

Lisa was not afraid of much. And although she found Shatterstar's stare a little odd, she wasn't too worried. He was here as a guest. It wasn't like he'd attack!

Besides... he'd braided her hair once. He was fun!

"Okay!" She chirped and ran back to the table for the gift. That made it easy to choose this time. She hurried back with the gift and handed it to Longshot. "Here!"

[laertes.livejournal.com]

Gloria Jean raced back to the table on her friend's heels. She picked up the present from her brothers. It felt a little wobbly, like it was a soft-back book or something.

The boys had given Longshot something to do with his babies when they were older. Or he could do it now. Either way, he got three coloring books and a package of crayons. One of the coloring books covered the Lakota. Another was on horses. The third was on all different tribes for him to color. There was also a little education stuff on the pages, but the boys figured coloring was the better part.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Longshot sniffled slightly. He got called 'father' again. Hee! He opened Shatterstar's gift carefully. More to show he was going to respect what he was given. He looked at the dagger and oohed. His eyes got misty when he saw the beads. He carefully set them aside and tried hugging the stuffing out of his eldest child once again.

When he calmed back down, he opened Rodney and Will's gift. He held it up triumphantly. "Colors! Now, I can practice staying in the lines! Before Aiden and Hana beat me."

He cuddled the books. He didn't have many coloring books. They were definitely better than any old book. "Thanks, guys! Now, where's more presents?"

He winked at the gift-bringing girls.

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

"Quick, Dakota," John teased, still at a safe distance. "Get that man a bookshelf."

"Then we can get him more coloring books." Lisa agreed as she poked through the remaining gifts to see what to give out next.

She couldn't read the writing on the present she picked, but it was sure wrapped pretty. Longshot's mommy made sure of it.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Alison may cover Longshot's western-style clothing, but he had a mother who kept him in Japanese clothing.

From the jonin, Longshot got a pair of black hachimaki (headbands). One had a golden sunburst in the middle and the kanji for 'Divine Wind' on either side of it. The other one had a golden dot in the middle with the kanji for 'Fighting Spirit' on either side. He also got a cotton yukata robe with the kanji for happiness and fortune. It might be a way of his Mommy saying he could put a robe on instead of run around the castle in his underwear.

Gloria Jean picked up his gift from Asuka. It was a little big and she struggled with it, but he got a Shoji screen with a print of a monkey fighting a dragon on it. The monkey looked most likely to win.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

Alison oohed and ahhed over over Longshot's gifts. The Japanese clothing buying was best left to a Japanese native, she had reasoned. And the jonin's gift was proof. Alison would never have known what to pick.

She really liked Asuka's gift, too. "Oooh, that can go in our room," she teased.

"Ooh!" Hana mimicked her Mommy's sound.

[shifters-shame.livejournal.com]

Graydon had been watching Lisa and Gloria Jean pass out presents beside his Momma. Though when they started to get to the random ninja ladies presents, he slipped up to the table to grab his. He wanted to give it to Longshot himself.

"Here, Longshot. This is for you." He held out the package. Inside was a PlayStation Portable game unit. (It helps to have a Momma with money.) With a couple of games. So, Longshot could play against Graydon on some of the games. It had been awhile since Longshot stayed at Tasha's and played some games with Graydon. Also, in the package was two handwritten tickets for free visits from Graydon to go mountain climbing.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Oooh. I'll have to practice so you don't beat me so bad," Longshot commented as he looked at the games. Also, this could be a way to keep Longshot in place for a bit. Particularly during the rainy season when he liked to go puddle-hopping and nearly ending up with a cold.

He reached out for a hug from his little brother. "Thank you a lot, Graydon. I like 'em. We'll see when we can do a gaming session on top of a mountain. Okay?"

[clericpreston.livejournal.com]

After Graydon gave Longshot his gift, Lisa figured she'd better get Alison's out. It was small and had been hidden under a lot of the other ones. It also had probably gone on the table first.

She handed him the thin, square shaped box. "This one's from Ali!"

Inside the neatly wrapped box was a photograph (http://tru-link.com/recreation/_images/rec_northwoods.jpg) of an elaborate jungle gym. On the back, in Alison's handwriting, was the message: I couldn't wrap that many boxes. They're in the stable. Dakota has power tools.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Hurray! Stuff to climb all over with my babies!" Longshot cheered and clutched the picture to his chest. He batted his eyelashes at Dakota. "An' I get to spend some quality time with Dakota and his power tools."

Little things that go voom in his hand, here he came!

"Thank you, buttercup! I love it!"

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome sweetheart. I figured if I give it to you now, you'll be all practiced up to chase your children on the monkey bars. Lisa and Gloria Jean can probably help with the practice." She grinned.

Hopefully, Dakota (and probably John) wouldn't mind a being drafted for a good cause. She'd bake them cookies!