Patton's POV

I woke up slowly that morning with a yawn, but my eyes soon widened with excitement as I realised what day it was.

MY BIRTHDAY!

I was practically bounding with excitement.

I loved birthdays. I always planned them for the others and they were so fun! But now it was my birthday! I wonder what they planned.. ah, I can't wait!

I loudly got ready for the day, I always tried to be quiet for the kiddos because I usually woke up earlier than them, other than Logan, he's always up before me. But I like to wake up before everyone so that I can have breakfast ready for when they all wake up, even if Virgil usually wakes up at noon. But today I was just too excited to be quiet!

I put on my signature light blue polo shirt and white jeans, finishing it off by tying my light grey cardigan loosely around my shoulders and neck and putting on my glasses.

I hopped down the stairs giddily and was quite surprised at what I found.

Everyone was up. Logan, Roman.. even Virgil! Unfortunately Deceit, Remus, Remy, Thomas and Picani were nowhere to be seen, though it wasn't usual they came around, this was a special day, my birthday.. I at least expected Emile or Thomas to come since I was closer to the two than anyone else.

But that's okay. It is still early!

"Hey everyone!" I greeted, happily.

"Hello," Logan greeted, monotone as usual, barely glancing up from his laptop as he sipped his coffee.

"Greetings, Padre," Roman smiled and waved as he ate his cereal, but he sounded a lot less cheery than usual.

"Sup," Virgil called from the living room where he lazily was half laying, half sitting on the couch, not looking up from whatever he was doing on his phone.

It felt like.... A normal day..? Did I get my calendar mixed up? No. I know for certain it's my birthday. Then.. what's happening..? .. maybe they need a little reminder to jog their memory, they might have just forgot! And that's fine, I'm forgetful too! I mean, not with birthdays or the people that I love, but I forget other, less important things..

"Sooo, do you know what day it is today~?" I asked, slurring my words a bit. I don't know what that was doing, but I did it.

I began walking into the living room, checking to see what we had.

"Mmm, sorry Padre, can't recall." Roman said, humming a bit at the start and glared at his cereal in thought.

"Nope, and whatever it is, probably couldn't care less." Virgil yelled from the living room.

Ouch, that one stung...

"There was nothing recorded in my calendar for today." Logan said, not even glancing up, but his eyebrows furrowed a bit. Probably at whatever he was looking at on the screen.

My heart sunk.. Logan's calendar was never wrong..

"Oh, a-are you sure?" I asked, hopefully.

"Mhm"

"Yep"

"Positive."

I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Uh," I cleared my throat a bit, "looks like we need more milk. I'll be back soon." I said, beginning to walk out.

A few 'bye's and 'see you later's sounded from behind me as I closed the door and began walking.

I wiped away a few years that were beginning to form.

Geez, it's just a birthday, why are you getting so worked up about it?

I asked myself, though I knew why.

I always tried to make everyone else feel special. Especially on their birthday. I never forgot, I planned weeks ahead of time and made if perfect for what they would like. Each year I tried to top the last, which was pretty hard, but I always managed to do. Now on my birthday, they couldn't even remember..? At this point, even a small "happy birthday" would be nice.

Though it was true that we needed milk and I was going to the store to get some, first I wanted to visit an old friend in hopes of at least my best friend remembering my birthday.

I wondered to the trait complex, looking for a specific light brown house with the pastel pink door. When I finally found it, I knocked and waited. ... And waited.

Maybe he didn't hear me!

I knocked again, this time a bit louder.

Nothing.

Maybe he was coming to see me to say happy birthday and left already and is at the house right now!

Or maybe he forgot too....

I ignored the thought and continued on my way to the store.

-Short Time Skip-

I took a deep breath outside of the front door. It didn't take long to get the milk since it was quite close to our home in the mindscape. I don't even know why we need to go to a store to get food- that doesn't make sense when we're in Thomas' mind! And how do we even get money if none of us work??

I shook away those thoughts, again, geez, intrusive thoughts, what the heck Remus! It's probably silly author logic anyway!

The milk felt cold in my hands, mixed with the still quite cold weather outside and my lack of warm clothing, let's just say I was pretty cold and Logan was probably going to scold me once I walk inside.

I let go of my deep breath and turned the handle, opening the door and walking inside. My face scrunched a bit in confusion at why all the lights were out and the windows were blocked.

"Hello??" I called out hesitantly.

No response.

I put the milk on the counter and walked over to the light switch, flipping it and turning it on. I nearly had a heart attack next-

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATTON!" I heard everyone, even Logan, yell. It was unsynchronized and a little messy, but I loved it.

Everyone was there. Roman, Logan, Virgil, Deceit, Remus, Remy and Emile.

Decorations of all colours were everywhere, rainbow conffeti littered the entire living room. A large baby blue banner that said "HAPPY B-DAY DAD!" Hung at the top.

Happy tears filled my eyes and I was smiling so much it put emojis to shame.

"You all remembered!" I cried.

"Of course we did." Virgil smiled.

"You didn't think we'd actually forget, did you, Padre?" Roman asked.

"Well.." I shrugged, trailing off.

How could I have been so blind? Must have put on the wrong glasses this morning!

"Come on, everyone in for a group hug!" Emile called.

Everyone came up for the group hug, Deceit, Virgil and Logan a bit more hesitantly.

"Wait a second, where's Thomas?" I asked, as everyone began pulling away from the group hug.

"Oh he's holding your present in the closet!" Roman blurted.

Everyone groaned and Virgil reached up to smack the back of his head lightly. Remus followed soon after, but a bit less light.

"hEY-" he whined, rubbing the back of his head like a baby while everyone except Logan glared at him.

"Well, I guess the cat- er- dog is figuratively out of the bag, as people say. Thomas, come out of the closet!" Logan said, adjusting his glasses.

"IM GAY-" Thomas yelled.

"No- I- I meant literally!" Logan sighed.

"Oh..." There was some shuffling then the closet door burst open, "TA DA!" He said, holding a small golden retriever puppy, my favourite dog breed.

My eyes went wide and I was trying so hard not to scream. I looked around at everyone with a 'are you serious?!?!' face. They all smiled at my reaction.

Thomas handed me the puppy and I held it in my arms.

"She is two months old, mixed breed but mostly golden retriever." Remy explained.

"Remy found her at the shelter and we adopted her for you as a birthday gift, she doesn't have a name so you can name her whatever you want." Virgil continued.

"Awww, I love her!! But.. what should I name her...?" I asked, looking up at the others.

Remus opened his mouth excitedly but before he could say anything, Deceit covered his mouth with one of his extra arms.

I looked to Remy since he was the one that first found her.

"Honey, I don't know!" He shrugged.

"Honey... Honey..." I repeated. "I like it!" I smiled.

Remy looked around, "girl, what I do?"

I ignored him and looked down, petting the prescious pup in my arms.

"Honey..!" I gushed over her.

She looked confused, but not uncomfortable, more relaxed. I always did have a way with animals though.

After that we did common birthday things. We had dinner, made by Logan  and Roman, and cake, made by Emile. We played lots of games, Remus and Roman won most of them and got really competitive. Remy secretly brought alcohol and got drunk, sharing a bit with Virgil, who got a bit tipsy, but not drunk. Remus wanted some as well but Deceit wouldn't let him. Emile scolded Remy and I scolded Virgil. I opened a few more presents and went on a sugar high.

All in all, it was a pretty fun day and I would change none of it for the world.

I love my famILY!

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Yay!! Happy birthday to my son! Haven't updated this book in forever so when I heard that it was Patton's birthday, I jumped at the opportunity to write something really quick for my boi at 2am!

Word Count: 1,5086

Date Published: January 15th, 2020