sembell:

A series of drabbles based on the request:
Can you write something for Gillian’s and David’s birthday with Eaden and her siblings, please? Maybe in the Vancouver house.

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It was long after midnight, almost three hours into his 57th birthday, when David tentatively knocked on Piper’s bedroom door and waited for her reply before slowly pushing it open.

The only light in the room came from the lamp on the nightstand, which was turned around so it wouldn’t illuminate the bed, and bother the sleep of the little three year old who was sprawled out on it.

Her older sister was lying beside her over the covers with her legs crossed and a book on her lap. She was smiling tiredly at him, and he reciprocated it with an apologetic one. From what she’d texted him, and knowing his little daughter, it must’ve been one hell of an evening for Gillian’s eldest daughter.

“Hey,” David whispered and came closer.

Around midnight, Gillian had received a message letting them know that Eaden had woken up from a nightmare and was standing in front of their bedroom, crying heartbreakingly. Because of their birthday presents, apparently. During recess, Gillian had called Piper, who was still busy soothing a very upset Eaden, who’d apparently dreamed that she’d broken her promise by telling Mommy what Daddy had gotten her for her birthday. But what was really upsetting her was her thinking that Gillian didn’t have anything for David’s birthday. Which would obviously make Daddy very, very sad.

Oh this little girl with her big heart and the over-active, beautiful mind – she was keeping them all on their toes, that was for sure.

“Hey, David,” Piper replied and put her book aside. “How was the evening? Did you have a good time after all?” she asked quietly.

“It was fantastic. I just hope she didn’t give you that much of a hard time, even though I know she did.”

Piper chuckled and slowly pulled the covers from Eaden’s tiny form. She was lying on her back, sucking on her thumb while holding Ruben, the green bunny, close to her chest.

“It was okay. She cried a little more after we talked on the phone, but basically fell asleep once I lay her down. She just didn’t want to be alone. She’s out for a good two hours, though. I think you’re safe.”

“Okay, thank you very much, Piper.”

“I’m sorry the night ended like this. Bet you had a different outcome in mind,” she said with a rueful smile as David gently lifted Eaden off the bed.

“It wouldn’t be a proper date-night without such an incident, would it?” he quipped and kissed Eaden’s temple as her head came to a rest on his shoulder

“I guess not, no.”

“Good night, P. Sleep well,” he said and was about to turn around when she suddenly called out for him to wait and got up.

“Happy birthday, David.” She held out her arms and as he opened one of his’, embraced him and Eaden in a bear hug. “I hope it’s a good one! I love you,” she whispered against his chest and squeezed his back.

“Thank you, sweetie. I couldn’t have imagined a better start into my 57th year of life than being with you guys.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Good night,” Piper said and released him. “And don’t sleep in too long, there might be a special breakfast waiting for you tomorrow morning,” she winked and grinned up at him.

The times when Eaden didn’t wake up when putting her to bed were long gone, so David wasn’t surprised when a pair of crystal blue eyes were looking up at him when he pulled her colorful blanket up and tucked it under her arms, just the way she liked it.

“Hey, little slugger. How are you doing?” he asked softly and set down beside her.

“Good,” Eaden said sleepily and rubbed her eyes. “Where have you been, Daddy?”

“Mommy and I went out together for my birthday. Do you remember?” he asked and put the bunny right beside her on the cushion. 

“Did you get a pwesent from Mommy?” she asked, and suddenly, there was that familiar sparkle of curiosity in her eyes he knew all too well. He smiled.

“I did get a present from her, yes! She took me out to dinner to a very, very nice restaurant and surprised me with concert tickets,” he said quietly, stroking over her soft, blonde hair as she relaxed back into her pillow. “So we had a wonderful evening listening to some great music.”

“Did you dance?”

“Yes, we danced, honey.”

“Did you give her a kiss?”

“Yes, I promise I gave her a lot of kisses to show her how grateful I was for that wonderful present. Were you scared Mommy didn’t get me one?” he asked cautiously, not wanting to upset her again, but to make sure she was fine again. He felt guilty, very much so, for not realizing how much the whole thing had bothered her that she ended up being so overwhelmed by her emotions.

“No,” she stated, shaking her head confidently, and David had to bite on his bottom lip to hold back a laugh. “Mommy loves you, Daddy. I know that.”

“Oh?” he raised his eyebrow as in surprise.

“Yeah,” she nodded slowly, and David could tell that her eyes grew heavier by the second. “I’m sleepy now. We can talk tomorrow,” she murmured, turned to the side and buried her face into her bunny’s belly.

“Alright, I’m looking forward to it. Good night, sweetheart,” he said and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Sometimes, David wondered what they had done right to deserve this little girl, but when in the last seconds of consciousness she whispered, “Happy birthday, Daddy and Mommy,” before she finally drifting off to sleep, he said a silent thank you to whoever, or whatever, had blessed them beyond measure.